Father Gregory Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations Each year we celebrate the start of November with the feast of All Saints, followed by the feast of All Souls Day. This month also marks the celebration of Thanksgiving, while the end of the month closes the calendar year of the Church with the Feast of Christ the King. These occasions are opportunities for us to deepen our spiritual lives. November also gives us an opportunity to renew the gift of silence in our own lives, particularly in prayer and reflection. Silence assists in opening the soul to God. As we bec...

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Vocations, Norwich, Catholic

  Father Gregory Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations Signs of fall’s arrival are popping up everywhere. The leaves are changing colors and cooler air has arrived. Before we know it, we’ll prepare to cook a turkey with all the fixings as we visit our relatives and give thanks to God for our many blessings of faith, family and country. Fall is here, and life has quickened from the slower, more relaxing months of summer. School students and seminarians returned to their studies within the past month. While these changes take place, the Diocese o...

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Vocations, Norwich, Catholic

Join us at St. Francis Church in Lebanon at 6pm on September 19, 2019 as we pray for men to answer the call to be instruments of God’s grace as priests and for women to answer the call to consecrated life.  St. Francis Church 67 West Town Street Lebanon, 06249

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Sister Mary Rita Clare Hoffner, 91, a Sister of Mercy, died on August 17, 2019 at St. Mary Home in West Hartford after a brief illness. Born of the late William and Olivine (Gardner) Hoffner in Manchester, CT she was also raised there. After graduating high school, Rita became a Sister of Mercy on December 28, 1946 and pronounced her vows on June 28, 1949 taking the religious name, Sister Mary Rita Clare. She began teaching primary grades in parish schools within the Hartford Archdiocese, earning a B.S. degree in education, studying on a part time basis. She continued to...

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Archbishop Fulton Sheen, beloved American television catechist in the 1950s and 60s, has moved closer to becoming a saint. On July 12, Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to the Archbishop, making his beatification possible. The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints promulgated the decree approving Sheen’s miracle on July 6. According to the Catholic News Agency, the miracle involves the unexplained recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, born apparently stillborn in September 2010 to Bonnie and Travis Engstrom of the Peoria- area town of Goodfield. He sh...

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Archbishop Sheen, beatification, miracle

  Father Gregory Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations In memory and honor of Monsignor Thomas R. Bride, who went home to his heavenly reward on June 26, please offer one Hail Mary, one Our Father and one Glory Be, in thanksgiving for his dedication to the priesthood and especially for serving as former Director of Vocations for 34 years. Thank you. Monsignor Bride was instrumental in assisting many of the men who are serving as priests in our diocese. He was my vocation director as well as a very good friend. He loved the Church and he loved Christ in the Eu...

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Vocations, Norwich, Priests

Join us at St. Edward's Church in Stafford Springs at 6pm on August 8, 2019 as we pray for men to answer the call to be instruments of God’s grace as priests of Jesus Christ. St Edward's Church 6 Benton St, Stafford Springs, CT 06076

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Join us at St Patrick Church in Mystic at 6pm on July 18, 2019 as we pray for men to answer the call to be instruments of God’s grace as priests of Jesus Christ. St. Patrick Church 32 E Main St. Mystic, CT 06355

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Vocations, Prayer, Holy Hour, Mystic

A celebration of the ordination to the priesthood of Reverend Michael Castiblanco for service as a priest in the Diocese of Norwich took place June 29, 2019. The Ritual Mass for the Conferral of Holy Orders took place at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, with the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, as the ordaining celebrant. Father Castiblanco is a native of Columbia, and his parents traveled from there to Norwich for the ordination.  For photos from the ordination, click the photo or this link to be taken to a gallery.

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Norwich, Castiblanco, Priest, Connecticut, Ordination, Columbia

Reverend Monsignor Thomas R. Bride February 23, 1940 – June 26, 2019 Norwich – Reverend Monsignor Thomas R. Bride PA, KCHS, of the Diocese of Norwich, was called to eternal rest with the Lord on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. Monsignor Bride faithfully served the parishioners of the Diocese in various capacities during his 52 years as a priest. Positions of note include: Director of Vocations for 34 years; Vicar General for 21 Years; Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Quaker Hill and Pastor of Christ the King Church, Old Lyme. Ordained May 4, 1...

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