News - June 2021 RSS Feed

“I don’t know where the time went,” says Father William F. Sanders, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Webster, about his years as a priest. He is retiring July 1.

About 200 people came to St. Paul Cathedral last Saturday for the ordination of Fathers Lucas M. LaRoche and John L. Larochelle, who both grew up in the Worcester Diocese.

His vocation suddenly became clear – at the Hour of Divine Mercy. Father John L. Larochelle, who was ordained a priest Saturday, tells how it happened.

It’s been a somewhat atypical journey for Father Lucas M. LaRoche, who was ordained a priest Saturday. He shared some of his experiences.

WORCESTER - Sister E. Julie Donovan, 84 of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, died June 17 after a short illness. Her funeral will be June 25, at the Notre Dame du Lac Chapel, 555 Plantation St., Worcester.

Nearly a century of combined service in the Worcester Diocese will come to an end when Msgr. Michael G. Foley and his brother, Father John J. Foley retire on June 30.

Headmaster Alex Zequeira is proud of the fact that despite the pandemic, St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury held classes in person for the entire school year.

WEBSTER – The people of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish found ways to observe their parish’s 150th anniversary despite the pandemic.

Rising above difficulties was a repeated theme at the first graduation of St. Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School, held June 12 on the school’s football field.

WORCESTER – The staff and residents of St. Mary Health Care Center were honored June 11 for taking care of one another during the pandemic.

Numerous changes for priests and parishes in the diocese this summer include a different rector for St. Paul Cathedral Parish and priests leading multiple parishes.

A group of diocesan priests recently gathered for a five-day retreat sponsored by the Diocese of Worcester’s Office of Ongoing Priestly Formation.

The son of one of the diocese’s first permanent deacons was ordained last weekend, along with a former Baptist and a retired police detective who now teaches at a Catholic school.

The Worcester Diocese has 117 deacons, 71 active, 42 retired, one unassigned and three on leave of absence, according to Deacon William A. Bilow Jr., director of the Office of the Diaconate.

About 200 people, including Bishop McManus, participated in a Corpus Christi procession from St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Church, through the streets of Clinton Sunday.

CFP: What will bring Catholics who stopped Mass-going to return? Susan Windley-Daoust: The return will happen through the power of the Holy Spirit and the quality of our invitation.

St. Paul Diocesan Junior-Senior High School of Worcester and St. Bernard High School of Fitchburg announced plans to begin a Thanksgiving football rivalry next fall.

St. Peter Parish in Petersham reopened for indoor Masses Sunday to the applause of parishioners. The church was too small for social distancing, so it had been closed during the pandemic.

Saturday’s recycling day and food drive at St. Patrick Church in Whitinsville will also collect children’s and religious books for St. John Vianney Orphanage in Tanzania.