Dana now has an even more important connection to St. Kateri. She posed for a painting of St. Kateri for one of four 25-foot-high murals that were unveiled last month in the foyer of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

By offering such programs, the Mental Health Training Institute is going beyond what directly benefits Anna Maria, helping the community, as did the college’s founders, the Sisters of St. Anne, explained Professor Pratico.

“What do the Lithuanians have to do with the Vietnamese?” Bishop McManus asked at the Mass. “The commonality between these two great countries is the gift of faith,” for which many of their forebears suffered. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,” the bishop said, and spoke of sharing faith with one’s family.

“We want our students to see themselves as people who can make a difference – even in small ways like prayer,” Sister Jeanne explained. “They’re learning that … they can be missionaries of hope.”

It is titled, “Evangelium Vitae: Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Gospel of Life and its Enduring Legacy in Roman Catholic Moral Theology.”

“I thirst for the salvation of souls” (expanding on Jesus’ words from the cross), was the theme of the conference, held Saturday at St. Joseph School. About 370 participants came from Massachusetts and neighboring states for worship, talks, fellowship, and visiting of exhibitors’ tables, according to organizer Corinn Dahm.

The importance of service was highlighted at the 2025 Parish Ministry Awards Banquet Friday at the DCU Center in Worcester, as leaders praised parish workers, speakers offered inspiration and awardees celebrated with supporters.

GARDNER – The community at Holy Spirit Church is a family – a family that should stay together. This desire was expressed Sunday at the last Mass at Holy Spirit, Annunciation Parish’s chapel at 50 Lovewell St.

Notre Dame Academy in Worcester announced that Linda D. Anderson will succeed Marilyn Tencza as head of school on April 1, 2026.

CAPPA launched in January after two years of planning and now has 182 members from throughout the country.

For the Jubilee Year of Hope and 75th anniversary of the Worcester diocese, an annual procession and Mass honoring the Blessed Mother was expanded. Joining people from the United States and Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries this year were representatives of Haiti, Vietnam, Poland, Lithuania, and African countries.

Holy Spirit Church at 50 Lovewell St. in Gardner is to close on Oct. 1, according to a Sept. 24 decree from Bishop McManus.

The story of Juan Diego and Our Lady is fascinating in itself, but even more fascinating are both the symbolism and the scientifically documented miracles discovered on the image left on St. Juan Diego’s tilma in 1531.

“As parents, you are the first teachers of your children. Fortunately, state law in Massachusetts allows parents to opt their children out of sex-education programs. The Worcester Public Schools, however, have made it necessary for parents to opt their child out of the program each new school year.” Parents choosing to do that need to submit the form this fall even if they submitted forms other years.

WORCESTER – Father James A. Houston, 84, entered peacefully into the arms of Christ on Wednesday, September 17, at Oasis at Dodge Park in Worcester.

Tim’s mother never gave up hope. In 1999, she sent him a VHS tape of the FOX program “Signs from God – Science Tests Faith.” He tucked it away for years and a decade later he watched it and began to understand the significance of the miracles highlighted in the show.

The annual Partners in Charity appeal came to a close Aug. 31 with a reported 91% of the $5 million dollar goal met. The theme of this year’s appeal was “Sharing the Gift of Hope,” a nod to the universal Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope. Bishop McManus expressed his gratitude for the generosity of donors.

CLINTON – A double celebration was held here on Sunday. Bishop McManus’ visit to the diocesan pilgrimage church named St. John the Evangelist, and the 175th anniversary of St. John’s first church building, were commemorated with vespers in the church and a picnic outside St. John’s gym.

To help support evangelization, Catholic schools, seminarians, and retired priests, the diocese now has a permanent, full-time director of major gifts, who started Sept. 2.

WORCESTER – Through teacups, SPICE, and a “letter from God,” women and girls were told about their worth and potential Saturday at Our Lady of Mercy, the local Maronite Catholic Parish.