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The diocese ended the year with an operational deficit of $166,303, as compared to a deficit of $762,077 the previous year, prior to allowing for unrealized gains on investments and other income restricted to non-operational use.

“Rarely have I worked with such a large group … from such diverse backgrounds … as willing to explore the faith,” Father Adam R. Reid, St. Anne’s pastor, said at the Easter Vigil. He told The Catholic Free Press that he sees the large group as “an outer expression of our cause for hope – during this Jubilee Year and always – our hope that is grounded in the reality that our Lord is at work all around us.”

“I know he will be missed because on Easter Sunday when we watched him ride in the popemobile we were so happy to see him. Many were shedding tears, and I too shed a few of joy to see him again with his flock,” Mr. Tillotson said.

BERLIN – Robert D. Rainville, 86, passed peacefully at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester, April 18.

“For 12 years as our Holy Father, Pope Francis consistently preached to the world that one of the key tenets of being a follower of Jesus Christ is to accompany others who seek God’s love,” Bishop McManus wrote.

U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, announced that Pope Francis had died at 7:35 a.m., April 21.

Seeking to accurately portray Christ’s Passion in artistic form, a local Catholic designed what he named the Turin Crucifix™, after the Shroud of Turin.

These priests are to be recognized at the Chrism Mass at St. Paul Cathedral. All clergy and the public are invited to participate in this Mass, at which priests renew their priestly commitment and Bishop McManus blesses the oil of the sick and the oil of catechumens and consecrates the holy chrism, to be used for sacraments in parishes and other places of worship throughout the year. After the Mass, representatives pick up the oils to take back with them.

WORCESTER - St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School boys basketball coach Jason Chavoor wasn’t surprised that he found out that Jim Manzello was honored as Athletic Director of the Year for District 2 by the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association.

Reports of Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, factored powerfully into the conversion stories of two of the Worcester Diocesan Men’s Conference speakers – Marian Father Donald Calloway and Arthur “Artie” Boyle, a husband, and father of 13. And, by their accounts, they desperately needed heavenly help.

WORCESTER – Follow Jesus – despite the cross. Pray daily and live virtuously – for your family’s sake. Go to confession – even if you’re not the worst person. These were among challenges speakers gave 950-plus attendees of the 24th Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference Saturday at the DCU Center.

The annual Mother’s Day Rose Campaign is being reignited this year, the Jubilee Year of Hope, following a hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Worcester’s first “Feminine Genius Brunch” with the Sisters of Life will be on April 12. It is sponsored by the diocesan Respect Life Office, the Maronite Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn and Cedar of Lebanon FertilityCare Center.

WORCESTER – In a collaboration of Catholic institutions, the St. John’s Cemetery System dug a trench for outdoor lighting at St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School.

SHREWSBURY – Months of work and time spent after school came to fruition March 27 when St. Mary Elementary School held its first middle school science fair since the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHARLTON – Patricia M. “Patty” (May) Motyka, 75, died Monday, March 31, at UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester.

Sister Teresa Rose Carchidi, MPV, 99 of Worcester passed away peacefully March 30. Sister Teresa dedicated over 60 years to religious life as a Venerini Sister.

McAuley Nazareth Inc. in Leicester, an outgrowth of a Sisters of Mercy ministry, became officially “affiliated with” Mount Prospect Academy at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Both serve troubled youth through education and residential treatment.

SOUTHBRIDGE – An eighth-grader from Virginia sang Christian songs – including two of hundreds she’s written – for the Musical Stations of the Cross March 21 at St. John Paul II Parish’s St. Mary Church. Playing guitar with her and leading the music was her grandmother.

Arthur “Artie” Boyle, of Hingham, was a regular hockey dad and the father of 13 when a diagnosis of six months to live led him to Medjugorje in the year 2000. Artie’s testimony speaks both of his physical healing, as well as a spiritual transformation.