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.

NORTHBRIDGE – Barbara E. (Greene) Lavallee, 88, of Emond Street, died Monday, Sept. 15 at Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford.

WORCESTER - It’s easy to spot the new St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School boys’ soccer coach during games. He’s the one wearing a cassock.

The theme of this year’s Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference is “I Thirst for the Salvation of Souls.” One of the five scheduled speakers is Noelle Mering who will give a talk titled, “Identity and Invitation: Let your life and home be a witness to a searching world.”

School projects, social media messages, relics, and a live viewing of the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica helped spread the word, especially about St. Carlo, the first millennial to be canonized.

What does it feel like to be 100? “It feels [like] a blessing,” Sister Jeanne replied. “I was born on Labor Day in 1925.” She said “it was a work of labor” for her mother, and every year on her birthday she looks at a picture of her mother and says, “Thank you for giving me life and that I can walk and don’t have to use a wheelchair.”

The 2025 Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference includes in the speakers lineup, Adam Janke, from St. Paul Street Evangelization.

“We live in this world where there’s a lot of technology,” Miss Van Hoosen said. It’s special getting a handwritten letter addressed to her from her pen pal – the only person she communicates with that way. “It reminds me to slow down and enjoy,” she said. “I don’t need everything that instantly.” It reminds her to “be happy with the little things.”

For the first time since St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School and Holy Name Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High School merged and formed St. Paul on the former Holy Name campus in the fall of 2020, championship banners from the two merged schools will adorn the gym walls.

Father Matthew Norwood, of the Boston Archdiocese, is to speak at this year’s Worcester Catholic Women’s Conference, Sept. 27 at St. Joseph School, Webster.