WORCESTER – Father Norman A. Meiklejohn, A.A., 94, died Sunday in the Rose Monahan Hospice Home. He was a former pastor of St. Anne-St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge. His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Assumption University Chapel of the Holy Spirit, 512 Salisbury St.

Kayla Light-Pereira said she has a big circle on her calendar. The circle highlights April 8, the night before Easter Sunday, when she is to be initiated into the Catholic Church. She and 169 others were called to St. Paul Cathedral Sunday for a special liturgy.

March 13 marks the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. Father Thiago Ibiapina, associate pastor of Annunciation Parish in Gardner, who contributed to a new book about the pope, will speak that evening about Francis’ papacy at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church at 135 Nichols St.

A loss in the state playoffs Thursday night doesn't take away from the successful team-building that St. Paul's hockey team has undergone this season. And with such a young team, they will continue to improve, Coach Jay Monfreda predicts.

World champion surfer “Bear” Woznick will speak at the annual Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference, scheduled for Saturday, March 25, at the Plourde Center at Assumption University. His talk is titled, “12 Rules of Manliness.”

Sister Theresa Khen Doan, MPV, 91 of Worcester, passed away peacefully Feb. 18 at St. Mary’s Healthcare Center. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Vilna Church, 151 Sterling St., Worcester.

WORCESTER – The St. Francis Xavier novena that still draws crowds to St. John Parish on Temple Street marks its 100th anniversary this year. The March 4-12 devotion survived the coronavirus pandemic and has drawn prominent preachers and longtime devotees

Lent is a time of self-examination and adjustment that better prepares us to celebrate Easter and to attain the end for which God created us, Heaven. The measure of that examination is the Gospel, including the Commandments and the Beatitudes.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, residents and radio co-hosts, Adam Minihan and David Niles, will speak at the Annual Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference, scheduled for Saturday, March 25, at the Plourde Center at Assumption University.

BOYLSTON – Partners in Charity helps children attend Catholic school, struggling families get support, and young people renew and share their faith. It’s a way for people to “be the face of Christ” to others – to evangelize. Those reminders were shared at the annual appeal’s kickoff Feb. 16 at St. Mary of the Hills Parish.

Two years ago, we began an Ash Wednesday Collection to support the retired priests of our diocese. We appreciate your past generosity and ask you, as part of your Lenten almsgiving, to consider prayerfully a sacrificial gift to support those, who through the decades have supported you and your family

DUDLEY - St. Anthony of Padua Parish's social justice ministry has joined Father Daniel Moreno in trying to raise $25,000 for 28 solar panels to provide power for a soup kitchen in Colombia.

WORCESTER - With federal pandemic-era benefits scheduled to be cut next month, Massachusetts legislators should be urged to pass a supplemental budget and continue free school meals for all students. That was a key message presented Monday at the third annual food pantry summit.

SHREWSBURY - The annual Ash Wednesday Collection assists the Diocese of Worcester in providing for the needs of retired diocesan priests. Oftentimes, it is the retired priests themselves who help each other nurture their spiritual and physical well-being.

Father Chris Alar, a member of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, will be a featured speaker at the 22nd Annual Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference, scheduled for March 25 at Assumption University.

SHREWSBURY – Autistic individuals are usually excluded from religious services and other social events, and have difficulty getting a job, Gregory Rosen told fellow Knights of Columbus on Autism Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD – Sister Patricia Johnson, 87, formerly Sister David Robert, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in Baystate Medical Center on Jan. 28.

Bishop McManus is to give opening remarks at the third annual food pantry summit at the St. Francis Xavier Center at St. John Church, 44 Temple St., Worcester.

Assumption University junior Emilie Janelle has attended several Catholic retreats since she was in high school, but the SEEK23 Catholic conference in St. Louis, Missouri, taught her something she’ll never forget.

WORCESTER – Vocations – especially parenting, teaching and religious life – were highlighted during Catholic Schools Week at Venerini Academy. Eighth-graders hosted a Mass, a religious sister told about her vocation and student council officers and members were inducted.