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Bishop McManus visited two Worcster hospitals, St. Vincent and UMass, Monday to offer a blessing on those "who work and rest in this house of healing."

Catholics in the Diocese of Worcester found alternative ways to celebrate Palm Sunday, the popular holy day, in light of coronavirus restrictions.

Parishes around the Diocese of Worcester distributed palms - many in their parking lots.  See photo album.

 As turbulent as things are with this pandemic,  “I’m very much at peace and feel incredibly blessed … that God has brought me to this point,” said John Larochelle, a seminarian in the Diocese of Worcester.

About 16 Theology on Tap participants met at their regular time March 24. But rather than at the group’s normal meeting place, the Compass Tavern in Worcester, they met online, via Zoom

Vehicles lined up in the parking lot of St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge on April 2 despite social distancing.  Why?  It was Father Nick Desimone's birthday.

Nineteen priests in the diocese have been trained to be designated ministers to the sick, according to Msgr. James P. Moroney, director of the Office for Divine Worship.

    “This time of pandemic must also be a time of prayer,” Bishop McManus said in a letter to priests. He asked them to invite their parishioners to participate in a new prayer initiative so that someone in the diocese is praying every hour of the day until Easter Sunday.

There will be palms on Palm Sunday. But parishioners are prohibited from populating pews for Mass, as a pandemic precaution. Many parishes, however, will be offering palms outside their churches, with appropriate social distancing.

WORCESTER –  The Diocese of Worcester is joining with dioceses around the country to promote a nationwide system to report abuse by a bishop. 

Teachers and administrators at two Worcester Catholic schools sensed early on that something serious was unfolding that would drastically change how their students would receive their instruction.

Catholic educators throughout the Diocese of Worcester are demonstrating a creative response to teaching their students during the COVID-19 crisis.

The liturgical life of the Diocese of Worcester continues in these extraordinary times, albeit in unusual ways. Plans are made for Holy Week liturgies in the event churches are still closed.

Since parishioners couldn’t come to church for Mass because of coronavirus restrictions, the priests went out to them. Some met in the parish cemetery others at their church window.

St. Mary in Uxbridge, was one of the parishes in the diocese that offered people the chance to receive the sacrament of penance from their vehicles.

Praying at six churches Wednesday, Bishop McManus traveled around the diocese entrusting it to the Blessed Mother’s protection.

Many adoration chapels in the diocese are closed for now. Some churches are open for private prayer and adoration.

Father Robert A. Grattaroti, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Charlton, imparted special blessings on parishioners who lined up in their cars outside the church Saturday.

Drive-up confessions are to be offered at St. Mary Parish in Uxbridge. From 4-6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting March 21, people can go to confession behind the church at 77 Mendon St.

Since you are unable to attend Mass, you may wish to read commentary on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent by our diocesan priests, Father Conrad Pecevich and Father Michael Lavallee.