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 January 5, 2025

Stewardship Reflections for Bulletins

The Baptism of Our Lord 
“John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, yet you are coming to me?’” (MATTHEW 3:14) The Catholic Catechism states that “Jesus’ immersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will.” In other words, as baptized Catholics there is only one gift that we need to give to Jesus – the gift of ourselves. Surrender yourself to God, place your trust in Him and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you for the greater glory of God. 

El Bautismo de Nuestro Señor
“Juan les respondió, ‘Yo bautizo con agua; pero ya viene el que es más poderoso …él los bautizará con el Espíritu Santo...” (Lucas 3:16)El Catecismo Católico establece que “la inmersión de Jesús en el agua es una señal para todos los seres humanos de la necesidad de morir para cumplir la voluntad de Dios”. En otras palabras, como Católicos bautizados solo necesitamos darle un don a Jesús - el don de nosotros mismos. Ríndete ante Dios, coloca tu confianza en Él y permite al Espíritu Santo trabajar a través de ti para la mayor gloria de Dios.

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Vocations Reflections for Bulletins

Baptism of the Lord
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) God’s delight in His Son mirrors the joy He takes in those who follow His call. As a child of God, He desires what is best for you. Take time this week to pray and listen for His guidance in how He wants you to serve Him. Talk to your priest or reach out to the Vocation Office at (508) 630-4473or via email: [email protected].

El Bautismo del Señor
"Tú eres mi Hijo amado; en ti tengo complacencia." (Mateo 3:17) El deleite de Dios en su Hijo refleja la alegría que siente por quienes siguen su llamado. Como hijo de Dios, Él desea lo mejor para ti. Dedica tiempo esta semana a orar y a escuchar su guía sobre cómo quiere que le sirvas. Habla con tu sacerdote o comunícate con la Oficina de Vocaciones al (508) 630-4473 o por correo electrónico: [email protected].

Silent Discernment  Retreat For Single Catholic Women 
On January 30 – February 1 (6 pm Friday to 2 pm Sunday) Little Sisters of the Poor at 1365 Enfield St., Enfield CT are holding a Silent Discernment Retreat for Single Catholic Women age 18 – 35 years old including Holy Mass, Adoration, Talks and abundant silence  in which your heart may listen  for the Lord’s voice. At the beginning and end of the  retreat, participants will enjoy a time  of conversation and sharing with the  Little Sisters of the Poor and with  the other young women in vocational  discernment. To register contact Sr. Carolyn at [email protected] by Jan 28. Questions? (860) 402-4478 There is no charge for the retreat, but early registration is appreciated.

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.

PAST DISPATCH NOTICES

Ecumenical Prayer Service in West Boylston
An Ecumenical Prayer Service to begin the Week of Prayer For Christian Unity will be held on Sunday Jan. 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 111 Worcester St., West Boylston. All are Welcome. THe Theme is  "There is One Body . One Spirit,  just as you are called to the One Hope of your calling. " Ephesians 4:4

March for Life Bus Trip – limited seating still available!
There are a small number of seats still available for the bus trip to the 52nd annual March for Life in Washington, DC on Friday, Jan. 23!  Buses will leave from St. Paul’s Cathedral on Thurs., Jan. 22 following the Respect Life Mass at 7:30 p.m., and will travel to the Basilica of National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC in time for Friday morning Mass followed by the March for Life at noon. Buses will return to Worcester immediately following the March, arriving back at St. Paul’s at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.  Cost is $150 per seat. Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. For more details and to download registration forms visit www.worcesterdiocese.org/respect-life.
 
Join the National Novena for Life!
Join thousands of Catholics nationwide in the annual 9 Days for Life novena, January 16 – 24.  Sign up to receive daily emails and reflections by text or email at www.9daysforlife.com! 

Pro-Life Morning of Reflection
All are invited to attend a Pro-Life Morning of Reflection and Enrichment on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 38 High St., Worcester.  The day will include reflections by Msgr. James Moroney, Mass, and light lunch.  There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required.  To register, send your name, parish, and email address to [email protected], or contact the Respect Life Office at 508-929-4311.
 
Pro-Life Mass
All are invited to join Bishop McManus for the annual Pro-Life Mass on the eve of the March for Life on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 38 High St., Worcester.  Please join us to pray for and with our pilgrims who will be travelling to Washington, DC for the annual March for Life on Jan. 23, and to pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of our nation. All are welcome!

Open House at St. Mary School
On Saturday, Jan. 25 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Saint Mary School in Shrewsbury will be hosting a Catholic Schools Week Open House for prospective new families interested in enrolling their students in our school next fall.  Learn more at https://school.stmarysparish.org/

Save the Date: 2026 Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference 
“Be Not Afraid” - The 25th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference will be held on Saturday, March 21 at the DCU Convention Center in Worcester.  Adult Tickets are just $60 (through March 11) and Student Tickets are always $30. All tickets include lunch. For ticket sales or for more information regarding this years conference & speakers, please visit our website at: catholicmenworc.com.

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].

Alpha Program starting in Sturbridge
St. Anne and St. Patrick parish will be starting another Alpha session, a program that fosters spiritual enrichment, invites people to bring friends for a conversation about faith, and serves as an exercise in community building.  It will begin on Friday, Jan. 16 from 6:30pm - 8pm and continue until March 27.  It is held at the Parish Center at St. Anne - St. Patrick in Sturbridge.  It is free. To register email Ashley C. at [email protected].  Feel free to check it out for the first few weeks but you still need to register ahead of time.

Job Opportunity

Store Associate at The Little Store in Worcester
We’re looking for team members who are friendly, dependable, and eager to help customers while keeping our stores running smoothly. If you enjoy providing great service, staying organized, and working as part of a team, this is the role for you!
Please contact Rod Pfannenstiel 508-831-7455 [email protected].