News - February 2026 RSS Feed

The annual Partners in Charity campaign has a new fundraising goal and a new theme, but the purpose remains the same – to help support as many people in need in the Diocese of Worcester as possible. Partners in Charity helps fund 25 charitable, educational and pastoral ministries in the diocese with donations from parishioners and clergy.

Life-changing experiences of God led some 
people to St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester 
Sunday for the next step in their journey of faith and initiation into the Catholic Church.

Father Joseph M. Freedy, senior parochial vicar at Divine Grace Parish in Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and former Division 1 starting quarterback for the University of Buffalo, will present a talk titled, “Return: Drawing your Loved Ones Back to the Church” at the 25th annual Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference March 21 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester.

WEST BOYLSTON – For much of his life, the late Father Walter J. Riley, a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, was passionate about visiting Civil War battlefields and collecting Civil War memorabilia.

WORCESTER – With temperatures that dipped below zero and a record number of homeless people in Worcester County, St. John Parish opened a winter overflow shelter at the St. Francis Xavier Center.

Deacon Joseph T. DuVarney, 96, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Feb. 11 surrounded by the love of his family and the grace of God, whom he served so devotedly throughout his life.

A retired priest spoke with The Catholic Free Press about advances in his ministry with couples last Saturday, as National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) began. World Marriage Day was celebrated Feb. 8.

A Lutheran life-issues coordinator and a Catholic with a new baby are co-leaders of this spring’s 40 Days for Life campaign in Worcester, which begins next week.

Kevin Matthews, a midwestern radio personality from Chicago’s “98 The Loop” will headline the 25th Annual Worcester Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday, March 21, at the DCU Convention Center.

(OSV News) – Venerable Fulton J. Sheen will soon be beatified, now that the Vatican has given the green light, the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, announced Feb. 9. No date or location for the beatification was given.

SHREWSBURY – It was Super Bowl Sunday and Autism Sunday. And, an opportunity for a local Catholic to tell his fellow Knights and their guests about challenges he and others on the autism spectrum face, and headway being made.

Conor, 18, said his faith is just as important to him as playing hockey and baseball. “God gave me the ability to play sports,” he said.

Noah Hajdu wants to feel closer to Jesus and he’s chosen a special way to do it. This Noah will build a cross, not an ark. Mr. Hajdu, 23, of Sterling, plans to carry a 12-foot high wooden cross up Wachusett Mountain to raise money for Campus Ministry in the Diocese of Worcester. He calls it “Operation Carry the Cross.”

Catholic schools scheduled a variety of types of service and people to serve for Catholic Schools Week last week, but winter weather changed or extended some plans.

A Massachusetts novena for peace and the canonization of a European ruler, with connections to the Worcester diocese, was held Sunday at St. Paul Cathedral. Bishop McManus celebrated Mass, the fifth in a novena of monthly Masses honoring Blessed Karl of Austria (also called Charles, of the Habsburg monarchy), Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary from 1916-1918 during World War I.

WORCESTER – Students at St. Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School got a lesson from the bishop and the campus minister at Catholic Schools Week Mass Jan. 29.