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SPENCER – Trappist Father Timothy Scott felt at home at St. Joseph’s Abbey when first visiting – and he’s still at peace there. He’s focused on Jesus and this community. The now-Abbot Scott spoke this way to The Catholic Free Press about his life and the Abbey, where he was elected and installed abbot there on July 23, for a six-year term.

Want to see snapshots of Catholic summer vacations? Come along for the adventure. It’s July and St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge is holding its vacation Bible school, called “Families who walk with Jesus.” St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster is using the “Rainforest Falls” Bible school program. Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in Leominster is “shining a light on who Jesus really is” and St. Joseph Parish in Charlton maintains that “with God we can tackle anything.”

Urban Missionaries will be able to offer a lot more fresh produce thanks to the creation of the Community Garden of Hope. The hydroponic garden was planted in the LittleStore’s parking lot July 25.

WORCESTER – An outdoor statue of St. Christopher transporting the Christ Child was moved last week from St. Christopher Church to Our Lady of the Rosary Church, where a new shrine was created for it. Father Jonathan J. Slavinskas, pastor of Our Lady of Providence Parish, blessed the shrine and statue after Saturday’s Lord’s Day vigil Mass there.

Bishop Robert P. Reed, an auxiliary bishop of Boston, was celebrating Mass Sunday, the feast of Sts. Anne and Joachim, to close the shrine’s 139th annual Novena to St. Anne.

All four Massachusetts bishops are urging Catholics “to pray for a renewal of reverence for all human life,” as the state senate considers a bill removing current limits on late-term abortions – at 24 weeks of pregnancy and later – in the Commonwealth during the final days of the current legislative session.

"...The proposed elimination of any legal restraint on late-term abortion is, in our judgement, a radical measure which is gravely immoral. Our hope is that the state Senate will not follow the House on this measure." (click for full statement)

PRINCETON – Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where visionaries say the Blessed Mother has been appearing since 1981, is “a very holy place,” and going there is “an opportunity to experience the love of God.”

Now, the CLI is helping the Diocese of Worcester prepare for the retirement of Bishop McManus and make a smooth transition for his successor.

Traveling to the July 17-19 conference together from the Worcester diocese were 110 teenagers, 25 adult leaders and five priests, in groups representing nine parishes and St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School in Worcester, said Timothy Messenger, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, organizer of the trip.

Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng is a big soccer fan, so when he found out that Ghana, where he was born and raised, would be playing a World Cup game in Foxborough he was determined to attend.

The St. Vincent Healthcare Online Grant applications process has opened for 2026. Visit worcesterdiocese.org/st-vincent-healthcare-grants-2026 Completed applications must be received by September 4, 2026 for consideration. Only online applications will be accepted.

WORCESTER – Sister Paula Kelleher (Sister John David), beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in the Jewish Healthcare Center on July 11.

​WORCESTER – Father Thirburse F. Millott, 80, passed away Thursday, July 9 in the Lutheran Home.

For the semiquincentennial of the United States, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Worcester has a display of American saints – posters with biographies and pictures of them lining the church walls.

Technically, this year is the school’s 101st anniversary, Father Daniel R. Mulcahy Jr., pastor of St. Brigid and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, said at the celebratory Mass, at which present students served. The Mass, held in Our Lady of the Assumption Church on May 31, was followed by tours of the school, food, and fun.

(OSV News) – On July 1, the Society of St. Pius X, widely known as the SSPX, illicitly consecrated four bishops without authorization from the Holy See, leading Pope Leo XIV to declare its bishops, clergy and formally affiliated laity to be in schism with the Catholic Church. Here’s a short primer on the SSPX, what happened and why it matters.

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) – As the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage concluded amid the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, “the journey continues,” said Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia.

When any bishop turns 75-years-old, canon law requires him to offer his resignation to the pope – though, the timeline for when the pope accepts the resignation is uncertain. Below is a transcript of the interview.