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The annual SEEK conference held by FOCUS inspires college students and those of college age who do not attend college, to pursue and deepen their relationship with God. The conference gets its name from John 1:38 in which Jesus asks his disciples, “What do you seek?”

The year 2025 was a significant anniversary year for the Diocese of Worcester as it celebrated 75 years since it was established by Pope Pius XII in 1950. The diocese celebrated its 75 years with a Mass and an awards banquet among other activities including a multicultural Marian procession. With the anniversary in mind, The Catholic Free Press recalled significant anniversaries throughout the year for parishes and other groups in the diocese and published a commemorative book about the diocese’s history.

Bishop McManus, joined by Archbishop Michael W. Banach, and several other clergymen, celebrated the closing Mass Sunday at St. Paul Cathedral.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The “confrontational” tone dominating both global and national politics is “deepening instability and unpredictability day by day,” Pope Leo XIV wrote in his message for World Day of Peace, Jan. 1, 2026.

A few years later, on December 8, 1975, Pope St. Paul VI published On Evangelization in the Modern World. It was, and still is, an inspiration and a challenge to find more ways to bring Christ into our everyday lives. Here are ten individual challenges from Pope St. Paul VI’s document.

(CNA) – Massachusetts has omitted language that required prospective foster parents to affirm gender ideology in order to qualify for fostering children.

The latest of what the parish calls Lord’s Day dinners was held last Sunday when 145 people attended a tribute to the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the hall on St. James’ campus.

“The point of this project,” Mrs. Holmquist said, “is to get the face of Christ and his Blessed Mother out into a world where there’s so much ugliness that we have to see. So we wanted to bring that mission of bringing the face of Christ to passersby.”

WORCESTER – What do icons have to do with Advent? And how might creating them be part of prayer, priesthood, evangelization and aid to immigrants?

He also brought pilgrims the pope’s congratulations on the occasion of the diocese’s 75th anniversary, being celebrated locally this year.

“For more than 35 years, this program has been committed to our mission to assist students whose families would otherwise be unable to send their child to a Central Catholic school in the Diocese of Worcester,” Bishop McManus said in a letter thanking supporters.

They make their products at home and sell them at conferences, fairs, local stores and online at HoneyMoonHillMarket.com.

The Catholic Free Press will publish submissions in a few weeks, as the Jubilee Year of Hope comes to an end.

That first team reached the playoff semifinals, but more importantly, Calvin was baptized and confirmed that year and Mr. DiPaoli was his sponsor for both.

Religious communities of women and men were devoted to establishing Catholic schools, hospitals, and charitable agencies. Often this progress came at great sacrifice, and many older sisters, brothers, and religious order priests served for little to no pay.

Want to keep Christ in Christmas? One way you might do that is to buy religious gifts and gifts that support the work of the Lord.

WORCESTER - When Deacon Walter F. Doyle attended a party at Leo’s Ristorante about 10 years ago, a woman told him that she recognized him. “You’re Santa Claus,” she said. Then the woman called over her son and told him, “This is the guy that gave you all the Christmas presents when you were a little kid.”

That message was proclaimed at the women’s retreat that the Commission for Women of the Diocese of Worcester hosted at St. Anne Parish in Shrewsbury Nov. 15. Pamela Ashmankas, one of the organizers, said 80 people from 36 parishes in four states attended.

Mr. Wallen said Pernet expects to distribute more than 10,000 pounds of food for Thanksgiving to 300-350 families.

"Your principal concern was for those who were sick, as well as their family members,” Msgr. Sullivan continued, noting that Jesus loved the sick and “laid out a pattern … for us.” He thanked Guild members for all they and their predecessors have done and all they will do.