Worcester parishes to get news
Closings, mergings to be announced
Catholics in Worcester will find out this weekend the future of their particular parish. A letter from Bishop McManus is to be read at all Masses in the 29 city churches. The bishop will outline the first phase of reconfiguration of parishes in the city, which will include some parish closings.
“The bishop wanted to deliver the news first to the people through their pastor,” said Raymond L. Delisle, director of the Office for Communications, vice-chancellor, and member of two panels involved in the so-called pastoral planning process.
“In letters to those parishes most immediately affected by the changes, the bishop will address in greater detail his decisions and the process which has led to those decisions,” Mr. Delisle said in a press release. No details were given to The Catholic Free Press. full story...
Help for the weary
Chinese priests work around disruptions to assess damage
BCHENGDU, China (CNS) — Chinese priests had to work around disrupted telephone systems and damaged roads as they tried to assess the damage from the May 12 earthquake centered under Sichuan province.
Responding to appeals for aid and prayers on Catholic Web sites, Catholics across China have begun donating money and clothes to help survivors, the priests told the Asian church news agency UCA News.
The magnitude 7.9 earthquake, which hit just after midday May 12, had its epicenter beneath Wenchuan County in Sichuan province. Wenchuan is less than 60 miles northwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital. full story...
Process of converting to stewardship way of life is discussed
By Mary Donovan
and Tanya Connor
WORCESTER – “I was born and raised a Catholic, but I’m a convert.”
Before this conversion – “to the stewardship way of life” – the North Dakota pastor might have illustrated a book on the topic with dollar signs or a collection basket. Now he’d use a painting of St. Paul, knocked off his horse, reaching up.
Father David Zimmer, pastor of St. John the Apostle Parish in Minot, N.D., told this story at the Worcester Diocese’s third annual Stewardship Education Conference, which organizers said drew about 300 clergy, religious and laity to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Center Tuesday. full story...
Partners reaches 81 percent of goal
The annual Partners in Charity Appeal has raised $3,795,816 so far, or 81 percent of the $4.7 million diocesan goal, according to Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development.
The diocese needs another $904,184 to meet the goal. So far, 47 parishes have now exceeded their goals, with 78 parishes still under their goals.
St. Paul Society members have now donated $698,280.28, another record. full story...
Activists voice opposition to Planned Parenthood’s move
By Tanya Connor
WORCESTER – Citing reports of women’s deaths, “genocide” of black babies, unreported rape of minors and fraudulent business conduct connected with Planned Parenthood abortion providers around the nation, pro-life advocates asked that the local Planned Parenthood center be denied permission to move from 631 Lincoln St. to 470 Pleasant St.
Employees and supporters of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts advocated for the move, saying the Lincoln Street center is overcrowded, outdated and inefficient, with too little parking, and that the planned Pleasant Street facility would offer better security, ample parking and patient access to needed services.
More than 25 people testified for one side or the other Tuesday at a Massachusetts Department of Public Health Determination of Need hearing held at Clark University. full story...
