The Diocesan DispatchPlease Cut & Paste items in your bulletin as appropriate to your parish.    
The Diocesan Dispatch is usually published on Monday mornings by 8 am via email. Submission must be received by the previous Friday for inclusion and should be at least 2 weeks before an event date in order to have an opportunity to be included in parish bulletins before your event. You can email submissions directly to [email protected].

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For April 6, 2026 

Stewardship Reflections for Bulletins

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Vocations Reflections for Bulletins

Men's Prayer Group in Shrewsbury
Calling All Men: Feeling isolated? Lacking connection? Looking for brotherhood? Cor is the answer! On 2nd Mondays of each month, experience Christ-centered brotherhood at the Shrewsbury Cor Men's Prayer Group. Strengthen your faith and virtue, building bonds of friendship to become better men and disciples through prayer, formation, and fraternity. The next session, a conversion story, will be on Monday, April 13, 7:00-8:30 pm in St. Anne Parish - Father Smith Center, large classroom. Can't join us? Then please pray for us! Contact Eric at [email protected], www.shrewsburykofc.com/CorFamily Holy Hour in Webster
On Friday, April 17 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm, a Family Holy Hour will take place at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, East Main St., Webster. Following will be a social with light refreshments at the parish hall, 11 Day St., with crafts and table activities for kids. (shareable snacks welcome). From 7:00 - 9:00 pm, a teen "hangout" with games in the hall and the gym will be held for students in grades 7 - 12. For planning, RSVP for any of the social activities if possible to Nicole at [email protected] with the number of people in your family attending.

PAST DISPATCH NOTICES

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Divine Mercy Sunday Notices

Blackstone
Divine Mercy Parish 48 St Paul St Blackstone, Sunday April 12, 1:00 - 3:00pm: Penance; 1:00 - 3:30 pm: St. Faustina Relic & Icon exhibited for veneration in the St. Therese alcove; 1:00 - 2:15 pm: Silent Prayer; 2:15 - 3:00 pm: Rosary and Prayer of St. Faustina; 3:00 - 3:30 pm: Benediction, Repose of the Sacrament, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Day 9 Novena & Litany of Divine Mercy. Questions? Contact Toni in the parish office at 508-883-6726 ext #3.

Charlton
St. Joseph Parish, 10 H. Putnam Ext. Charlton, invites you on Sunday, April 12 from 11:00-4:00 pm .  Following the 10:00 am Mass, the day will include the Divine Mercy Chaplet, St. Faustina’s Way of the Cross, Adoration, and observance of the Hour of Mercy at 3:00 pm.  Please note that Confession will not be available.

Leicester
Saint Aloysius-Saint Jude Church, 489 Pleasant St., Leicester invites you Sunday, April 12 from 2:00-3:00 pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Homily, Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick & Healthy, and Final Blessing.

Clinton, Berlin and Lancaster
On Sunday, April 12, St. Joseph, the Good Provider, Immaculate Conception, and St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parishes invite you to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday at St. John's Church, 80 Union St., Clinton. A Prayer Service will be held at 3:00 pm which includes: a brief talk on the Divine Mercy Devotion, Procession of the Divine Mercy Image, Eucharistic Adoration, Diary Readings, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Benediction, and Veneration of the Relics of St. Faustina. Confessions will be available at 2:00 pm, but to receive the great graces of this glorious Feast Day, it is important to go to confession before Divine Mercy Sunday. Please come join us in honoring the magnificent Mercy of God!

Gardner
Annunciation Parish invites you to join us for Divine Mercy Sunday devotions, April 12th at Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols St. in Gardner. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions will begin at 2 PM. Confessions will be available in multiple languages including English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. At 3 PM the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed followed by Benediction. All are welcome to join us for a light reception after.

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Pancake Breakfast in Leominster
St. Leo Parish, 128 Main St., Leominster will host Knights of Columbus Pancake breakfast on Sunday, April 12 from 8:00 - 10:30 am. Irish Step Dancers will perform. Tickets are $8/adult and $24/family of 4 or more. Menu includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, drinks, deserts.

Drive Through Polish Dinners in Dudley
On Saturday, April 18 from 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., pick up a compete Polish Dinner to go. Dinner Cost:$20. he meal consists of one cabbage and one cheese pierogi, bigos, kielbasa and a gołąbek.  The next dinner will be in June.

Mass for Bereaved Parents in Worcester
Annual Mass to Honor and Remember our Children will take place on Monday, May 4 at 7:00 pm at St George Church, 40 Brattle St., Worcester. You are invited to attend the Pieta annual mass to honor and remember all of our children. Refreshments will be served following the Mass. Please invite any families who have lost a child. For more information, please call Terry Gentile at 508-284-0796 or email [email protected]. Sponsored by Pieta Support Group for Bereaved Parents.

On Thursday April 9 all are wlecome to a Healing Service and Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish -  Confessions at 5:30, Mass 6:00, Healing Service 7:00 pm with Fr. Larry Brault, Fr. Stephen Mullaney, and Maureen Capistran. Located at 151 Mendon St., Upton.  Visit straphaeloil.com/schedule/.

Study "The  Acts of the Apostles" in Gardner
This Easter Season we invite you to join a Bible Study at Annunciation Parish exploring some of the key events in the Acts of the Apostles. Come and find out how Jesus’ Resurrection and the Gift of the Holy Spirit shaped the lives of his apostles and the community that grew into the Church.  We will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning April 8  from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Parish Center at 142 Regan St in Gardner. Please use the ramp entrance at the rear of the building.  

St. Aloysius Parish, Gilbertville and St. Augustine Mission, Wheelwright will hold a Mass followed by a Brunch Social at Hardwick Crossing on Sunday April 12.  Mass 11:00am--Brunch 11:45am. Featuring Raffles & Entertainment with DJ Brian O’Malley. Tickets are $25.00 ea. Raffle items include: big screen TV, dinner for 6, sports items, theatre tickets, and other great items! For tickets call 508-413-6493 or email [email protected]. Hardwick Crossing is located at 262 Lower Rd., on route 32, Gilbertville. Last day to purchase tickets: Sunday, March 29.

Cancer Support Rosary Group in Auburn
The Cancer Support Rosary Group is a gentle and welcoming space for individuals living with cancer to come together in faith, fellowship, and hope. It provides a prayerful community where no one walks alone, and where faith can be a source of courage, healing, and light. Gatherings will be facilitated by Carlene Sherbourne, a parishioner of North American Martyrs who brings both personal experience and deep faith to this ministry. It will meet weekly beginning Wednesday, March 18 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. and will be offered in a hybrid format: virtually via Zoom and in person at North American Martyrs Church, 8 Wyoma Drive, Auburn.  Please contact Carlene at 774-696-4812 or [email protected] for more information about the group or to register.

Operation Carry the Cross
On June 6 at 9 am, local native Noah Hajdu will be carrying a life-size cross up Mount Wachusett. Father Derek Mobilio will offer Mass near the summit. If you would like to learn more how to sponsor his effort or join the hike, please check out worcestervocations.com/operation .  All proceeds support college campus ministry in the Diocese of Worcester. 

End of Life Workshop in Northbridge
St. Peter Parish, Northbridge, will hold a special four-part series entitled “Follow Me: Glorifying God in Our Life and in Our Death” offering Catholic teaching on preparation for death, planning the funeral and estate planning. Workshops will be held in St. Peter Parish Hall on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm on March 10, March 24 and April 7. A Mass of Remembrance will be held in St. Peter Church on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 pm. Presentation include: March 10: Catholic Theology and Morality and End of Life Decisions with Msgr. Peter Beaulieu and Fr. Michael Lavallee; March 24: Praying for Our Deceased Loved Ones: Planning the Wake, Funeral and Burial with Msgr. F. Stephen Pedone and Gerald Jackman, Funeral Director; April 7: Giving Thanks to God for The Gift of Life: Estate Planning, Creating a Legacy of Love with Attorney Thomas Wickstrom of Wickstrom-Morse and Tina Marie Anderson, Diocese of Worcester; April 14: Mass of Remembrance and Question and Answer Session. All are welcome. For more information and to register for the workshops, please call the Parish Office at 508-234-2156 or email us at [email protected]. Located at  39 Church Ave.

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Save the Date for Visitation House Annual Dinner
On Saturday, April 18 from 5:30  - 9:00 pm. The Visitation House 2026 Annual Dinner will be held at the College of the Holy Cross Hogan Campus Center, Tickets are $120 per person (cash bar). The theme is "The House that Ruth Built" and will feature speakers Atty. Dwight Duncan, postulator for the Cause of Ruth Pakaluk and Meghan Tallarita, Exec. Director of the Ruth Pakaluk Foundation. Tickets can be purchase online at www.visitationhouse.org or call Rebecca at 508-798-8002. 
Special Religious Development for Adults
Adult SPRED (SPecial REligious Development) is now meeting the first Sunday of the month (except April 2nd) at 12:30 PM during the school year. This is for intellectually challenged adults 22 years of age and older. Location is Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Hall, 11 Day Street, Webster.  Please contact Linda at [email protected] for further details  

BEWARE of Email Scams that appear to come from the parish
All too often, email scams are appearing that use the pastor's name or a parish staff name asking for gift cards or donations of some sort. BE VIGILANT and delete these. If you look closely they often use an email address that appears to be very close to the real email address of the pastor or some staff person, but is not real. Know that our parish will only seek donations through normal, announced requests, not an individual email looking for donations to be personally sent to someone. When in doubt, DELETE. Don't even open them.

Volunteer Opportunity

Divine Mercy Ministry to Seniors
Volunteers are needed to spread Jesus’ message of Divine Mercy to seniors in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As a volunteer prayer group leader, you would lead a weekly 30-minute Divine Mercy prayer group using a simple prepared model of readings, prayers, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. If you feel that the Lord is calling you to this ministry of mercy, please contact Mary Higgins (413) 552-7231 or email Mary at: [email protected].