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Father Derek A. Mobilio will give a talk on reconciliation titled: “His Mercy Endures Forever- Biblical Insights for the Sacrament of Reconciliation” at this year’s annual Worcester Diocesan Men’s Conference.

The Little Store distributed 7,990 pounds of free food to 245 families last year. That was up from 7,347 pounds in 2023 and 3,247 pounds in 2022. The number of families receiving food has soared so other Urban Missionaries expenses had to be curtailed in order to purchase more food.

A local priest being named a bishop elsewhere led to administrative changes in the Worcester diocese.

WORCESTER – The Worcester diocese’s 75th anniversary was on some people’s minds for St. John Parish’s 102nd annual Novena of Grace in honor of St. Francis Xavier.

The common denominator in these young adults’ stories? The Catholic Church. They were among people who filled St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester Sunday for the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. This liturgy is for people preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation – baptism, first Communion and/or confirmation – at the Easter Vigil in their parishes.

Mr. Blair is a passionate Catholic with experience leading elite teams of men around the globe. He has taught leadership and ethics at the United States Naval Academy, and helped screen, select and train over 90 future SEAL officers.

The first bishop of the Diocese of Worcester – Bishop John Joseph Wright – was installed there before much larger crowds on March 7, 1950. It was reported that more than 2,100 people filled St. Paul’s and an estimated 15,000 lined surrounding streets to watch dignitaries coming and going.

PAXTON - Sean J. Ryan, most recently from Bellarmine University in Kentucky, is to become the 12th president of Anna Maria College, the institution announced March 6. Mr. Ryan is to succeed current president, Mary Lou Retelle, who announced her retirement last July and has led the college since 2015.

When they’re young, Catholics learn about Lent at Mass, in religion classes at Catholic schools or in religious education classes at their parishes. Many Catholics continue to practice Lenten regulations, but if you need a refresher course, here it is.

WORCESTER - With gratitude, rejoicing and hope members of the Worcester diocese celebrated its 75th anniversary Sunday with a Mass and reception at St. Paul Cathedral. Bishop McManus brought them together to thank God for their faith and the diocese’s history, traced to March 7, 1950, Msgr. Francis D. Kelly, a retired priest, said in his homily.

Priests and their parishioners are being encouraged to sign up for time slots to pray outside a Worcester abortion facility this Lent, according to an email from local organizers of the 40 Days for Life campaign.

Before his conversion to Catholicism, Father Calloway was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice and thrown in jail multiple times.

Father Edward M. Ryan retired early for health reasons. But now he’s back in a parish – as sacramental minister for St. Stanislaus in Warren.

Before each field hockey and lacrosse game, Brigid and her teammates pray the “Hail Mary.” “I’m not praying to win,” she said. “Praying to me is calming and it grounds me and makes me realize win or lose, it doesn’t matter to the rest of my life. The bigger picture will always be my religion and the end goal is to go to heaven and be with God.”

On Saturday, Bishop McManus called for prayers. “I ask all Catholics and people of good will to join with me in prayer this weekend for the recovery of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who is reported to be in critical condition,” he said. “May Jesus Christ the source of all healing restore him to health and the continued guidance of our Church as the Vicar of Christ.”

Father Michael J. Roy, 77, of Worcester, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, Feb. 21 at the Notre Dame Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Feeling lonely one day, a Fitchburg girl built a “chapel” of pillows and blankets – and called out to God.

St. John’s announced Saturday the hiring of Mr. Senecal, 39, to replace John Vassar, who parted ways with the school after coaching the Pioneers to records of 5-6 and 3-8, including 1-9 in the Catholic Conference, over the past two seasons.

Catholic Charities Worcester County programs continue, basically unaffected by Trump administration policies, according to Timothy J. McMahon, the agency’s executive director. The administration has apparently scared some immigrants – whether or not they are here legally – away from seeking emergency services, even though Catholic Charities will not report them to the U.S. government, he said.