News - January 2019 RSS Feed

Catholic Schools Week is being observed throughout the Diocese this week. Students took in a Railers game Saturday. Bishop McManus celebrated Mass at a number of schools. Classrooms had special guests, and creative projects. Check out photo albums too.

LEOMINSTER – January 27 was Sister Anna Farragher’s birthday, but it was no ordinary observance for the member of the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sitting in her wheelchair and surrounded by family and friends, she celebrated her 100th birthday. “It feels wonderful,” she said.

WORCESTER – When David Tittle and Mark Lorusso discussed the pro-life movement in their men’s prayer group, they had no idea that they would someday combine their musical gifts and their faith to play a bigger role in that movement.

Six speakers, including Catholic apologist Trent Horn, will present at the 19th annual Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 6, at Assumption College.

Linda Anderson will take over the helm at St. Bernard Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg in June. Bishop McManus appointed Ms. Anderson principal of the high school, at the recommendation of Catholic Schools Superintendent David Perda and Michael J. Clark, associate superintendent of secondary schools. Ms. Anderson succeeds Robert Blanchard Jr., who has been principal since 2004.

Three Catholic school students were among the four essay contest winners at the 34th annual Worcester County Community Breakfast Jan. 21 honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Quinsigamond Community College.

A conference about homelessness gave St. Peter-Marian students the chance to apply what they’ve learned at school about human dignity – and to plan a Catholic Schools Week project. Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 27-Feb. 2, is using the theme: “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

“Everyone should have the choice to live and it’s important to stand up for that.” That’s why Emily Johnson said she went on the March for Life in Washington, D.C., January 18.

Legislation to legalize physician assisted suicide in Massachusetts has been filed again. Roger Dubuque, a member of Christ the King Parish in Worcester and co-chair of Witness for Life, said he senses that it could pass this time because “we’re starting to lose more and more pro-life representatives."

The Second Annual Food Pantry Summit drew about 30 people to St. John Parish’s St. Francis Xavier Center Monday.

Recently, while listening to a podcast, Sarah Berry, a mother of two small children, was inspired after hearing about Endow, a nationwide association founded on St. John Paul II’s “Letter to Women,” which advocates for the dignity of women.

Bishop McManus will dedicate the Early Childhood Center at St. Bernadette School to the memory of Sister Marguerite Timothy Young, SND, on Jan. 28.

The new year started more than a month ago, with the start of the new liturgical year, for the diocese’s African Ministry. “On the first Sunday of Advent we declared the Year of the Family, with the theme “Ut Omnes Unum Sint (that they may be one),” said Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, chaplain.

“Only older Catholics like to go to Mass, adoration and confession. The faith is dying. It should be more fun.” Friends say such things to Dale Brown, a student at Nichols College in Dudley. But he has a different perspective after attending the SEEK2019: Encounter Something More” conference.

The Hispanic and the African communities were active in 2018, growing, sharing and evangelizing. Three bishops celebrated significant anniversaries, and so did the diaconate program. Both men and women hosted conventions this year and youth met at rallies, all to build up the faith. The Catholic faithful continued their financial and prayerful support of diocesan ministries. Looking at the highlights for 2018, one can easily see that the people of the Diocese of Worcester are doing their part to transform the culture.

They can’t – or won’t – contain it. It’s bubbling over – to fellow parishioners, neighbors, even strangers. It’s the deepened commitment and joy of people who consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary, and pastors who consecrated their whole parishes.

Nine-year-old Natalie Jane Smith, a fourth-grade student at St. Joseph Elementary School in Webster, donated more than 100 toys to the Christmas campaign of the Knights of Columbus Council at St. Bernard Church. Her effort put the campaign over the top,