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“The point of this project,” Mrs. Holmquist said, “is to get the face of Christ and his Blessed Mother out into a world where there’s so much ugliness that we have to see. So we wanted to bring that mission of bringing the face of Christ to passersby.”

WORCESTER – What do icons have to do with Advent? And how might creating them be part of prayer, priesthood, evangelization and aid to immigrants?

He also brought pilgrims the pope’s congratulations on the occasion of the diocese’s 75th anniversary, being celebrated locally this year.

“For more than 35 years, this program has been committed to our mission to assist students whose families would otherwise be unable to send their child to a Central Catholic school in the Diocese of Worcester,” Bishop McManus said in a letter thanking supporters.

They make their products at home and sell them at conferences, fairs, local stores and online at HoneyMoonHillMarket.com.

That first team reached the playoff semifinals, but more importantly, Calvin was baptized and confirmed that year and Mr. DiPaoli was his sponsor for both.

Religious communities of women and men were devoted to establishing Catholic schools, hospitals, and charitable agencies. Often this progress came at great sacrifice, and many older sisters, brothers, and religious order priests served for little to no pay.

Want to keep Christ in Christmas? One way you might do that is to buy religious gifts and gifts that support the work of the Lord.

WORCESTER - When Deacon Walter F. Doyle attended a party at Leo’s Ristorante about 10 years ago, a woman told him that she recognized him. “You’re Santa Claus,” she said. Then the woman called over her son and told him, “This is the guy that gave you all the Christmas presents when you were a little kid.”

That message was proclaimed at the women’s retreat that the Commission for Women of the Diocese of Worcester hosted at St. Anne Parish in Shrewsbury Nov. 15. Pamela Ashmankas, one of the organizers, said 80 people from 36 parishes in four states attended.

"Your principal concern was for those who were sick, as well as their family members,” Msgr. Sullivan continued, noting that Jesus loved the sick and “laid out a pattern … for us.” He thanked Guild members for all they and their predecessors have done and all they will do.

The St. Vincent Community Healthcare Fund Committee announced that it has awarded 29 grants totaling $104,459.

The granting of this “nihil obstat” means that nothing stands in the way of the Worcester diocese moving forward on the cause. Ruth can now be called a Servant of God, the first step in a long process that could result in her being canonized a saint someday.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz, bishop of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, and chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, spoke Nov. 6 at the College of the Holy Cross about “God, Migration and the Struggle for Human Dignity.”

Mr. Messenger said the rally, which also included music and games, drew approximately 250 teenagers and 50 adult leaders from more than 30 parishes.

JEFFERSON – Peter Gerardi planned to retire as music director at St. Mary Parish at the end of 2023 after spending more than 40 years on the job, but he thanks God that he didn’t.

“When you come into this church, you want to pray.” That’s what Stigmatine Father Richard A. Scioli, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Milford, says visitors tell him.

Notre Dame Church at 446 Main St. in Southbridge is scheduled to partially close on Saturday, due to structural damage on the facade on the south elevation of the building that could pose a safety risk, according to Father Carlos F. Ardila, pastor of St. John Paul II Parish.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ “... to bring good news to the poor ... release to captives ... sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free” (Luke 4:18).

At the gala, Bishop McManus announced that in the past 12 years, a total of more than $2 million has been raised for priests' retirement. This year $350,000 was raised – the most of any subsequent year – with about 1,800 gifts of support.