You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' - John 8:32
VOL. 70, NO. 53 DECEMBER 31, 2021 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HOME DELIVERY $39/YEAR
FREE IN PARISHES & ON NEWSSTANDS
BY THE CATHOLIC FREE PRESS
JANUARY
The year began and ended with great concern over the spread of the virus that plunged the world into a pandemic. But the work of the diocese continued with a new resolve as ministries pivoted to remote digital tools to spread the Good News. In early 2021 while reflecting on the pandemic and capsulating the pandemics effect on the church, African Ministry Chaplain, Father Enoch K. Kyeremateng, said, With God, we stand in faith and hope. This, too, shall pass. The annual March for Life was dealt a serious blow by the pandemic. Instead of going on the traditional March in Washington, D.C., diocesan students made signs for an online slideshow. It was called a Virtual March for Life. The year marked the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. The day was designated a day of prayer and penance. Allison LeDoux, director of the Worcester Dioceses Respect Life Office usually coordinates the diocesan trip. Since we cant participate physically in the D.C. events, we decided to do a virtual March for Life, she said. The diocese added two new revenue sources to help alleviate the annual deficit in the priests' retirement account. Parishes were to be assessed an additional 1 percentage point on their cathedraticum payment, to be used exclusively for priests retirement expenses in years when needed. Also, a diocesan wide parish collection for retired priests was held on Ash Wednesday. It will continue each year.
FEBRUARY
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Ash Wednesday reception of ashes was also affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Msgr. James P. Moroney, director of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship, advised parishes about a more safe process that involved the sprinkling of ashes with holy water without saying anything. Bishop McManus recommended that to avoid transmission of the virus, yet maintain the usual manner of distribution, that ashes be applied to each persons forehead with a Q-tip, with each Q-tip discarded after it is used once.
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The College of the Holy Cross named its first lay, and its first black president in its 178-year history. Vincent D. Rougeau, dean of the Boston College Law School, was chosen as the colleges 33rd president. Mr. Rougeau succeeded Jesuit Father Philip L. Boroughs, who announced in September that he would be leaving the college at the end of June, after serving as president for almost a decade. President Rougeau was installed Oct. 22. As the second Lent affected by the coronavirus pandemic approached, parishes looked at ways to enable worshipers to safely and conveniently participate in devotions and receive faith formation. Among options were in-person gatherings with masks and social distancing, online get-togethers, programs and devotions that individuals could access - live or later - and printed material. Among the many programs offered in the diocese, Romeo Marquis, faith formation facilitator at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Worcester, SEE 2021 , 8
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WORLD NEWS 2 NATIONAL NEWS 3 POPE AUDIENCE 4 COMMENTARY 5 FUNDAMENTALS 5 CATHOLIC QUIZ 5 AROUND DIOCESE 6 LOCAL NEWS 7
GRACE to the Finish brings fundraising for Uxbridge building closer to goal. 7 New partnership helps two Catholic organizations serve more people in Diocese. 7
said he created an online Lenten program similar to the one he offered for the first time in the previous Advent. The pandemic created hardship, but also opportunity. Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, pastor at St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, said, It forced us into the 21st century. Attendance at Mass dropped because some people did not feel safe around others, so pastors needed to find ways to reach parishioners. Like many pastors, Father Cardinale continued to hold Masses in person at the parishs two churches, Notre Dame and St. Mary, for those who felt comfortable attending, but for those who did not, he live-streamed Masses for the irst time. It's helped us appreciate most intensely what you might take for granted when times are good, Father Cardinale said of the pandemic. In one way, youre worrying that its hurting your faith community, but in some ways its an opportunity to grow.
MARCH
In his letter accompanying the annual report for Fiscal Year 2020, Bishop McManus stated the mission of the Church did not stop because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission continued, adapting programs and services as so the face of Christ was present to offer hope during these dark times, he said in the letter. The report showed operational deficits of $1.74 million, but a total surplus of $2.96 million, after accounting for realized and unrealized gains on investments, bequests, and forgivable PPP loan proceeds.
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Because of gathering size restrictions imposed by government officials during the pandemic, the 20th annual Worcester Diocesan Catholic Mens Conference was remote. Participants watched a pre-recorded welcome by Bishop McManus, talks and Mass - while either at home or in small groups in churches. Traditionally, the conference has drawn more than 1,000 men to Assumption University for a day of talks, confessions and fellowship. Among speakers was theologian Scott Hahn. He told a virtual audience about spiritual journeys and Gods stance on the global pandemic.
APRIL
For his Easter 2021 message, Bishop McManus told the faithful it was time to prepare for a return to Mass and the Eucharist. On this Easter Sunday, after a year of COVID isolation, when we seek peace and joy amidst doubts and losses, we can profitably reflect on the importance of gathering at the Eucharist. As Jesus came to the disciples gathered together in Jerusalem so, too, He is most present to us, not in our individual reflections upon the Scriptures, but when the Scriptures and Eucharist are celebrated at Mass. It has been a long year with necessary and prudent precautions keeping many of us from Sunday Mass. Given the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID pandemic, personal prayer, reading the Scriptures and watching the Mass live-streamed have been prudent choices for many. However, such choices are all inferior to being present at Sunday Mass and receiving the Holy Eucharist, which the Second Vatican Council proclaimed as the source and summit of the Church. Like St. Thomas and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, it is harder to recognize Jesus, ward off doubts and avoid being downcast by the trials and tragedies of life when we are not nourished by the Eucharist at Sunday Mass. As signs of progress in the COVID pandemic begin to give way to hope for a return to a more normal life, and as vaccines become more widely available, it may be time to begin to consider prayerfully a return to Sunday Mass
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The former St. Marys Schools and Visitation House property was sold. The school building will house a new school and Visitation House will remain in the former convent building after purchasing it from the new owners. CIG The Daniels Building LLC purchased the properties on Richland, Dorchester and Endicott streets for $2.45 million. The school, a former convent, a playground and a parking lot were part of the property. Visitation House helps mothers in need and their babies. Catholic Charities Worcester County began its planning to prepare for an expansion of its 50-year-old Crozier House to serve dozens more men in recovery - at a time when pandemic stresses contributed to increased substance abuse. Crozier House, for men addressing substance use and post-traumatic stress disorders, is attached to the Catholic Charities administrative office building at 10 Hammond St. in Worcester. The long-term goal is to find another location for the offices, renovate the building and add Crozier House beds where the offices are, according to Timothy McMahon, executive director of Catholic Charities Worcester County. All three Catholic colleges in the Diocese, the College of the Holy Cross, Assumption University and Anna Maria College, announced requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations for on-campus students in the fall. Each said they would allow exemptions from the requirement. The Diocese offered guidance on the varied COVID vaccines. The Catholic Church made it clear that, in general, getting vaccinated to both care for your own body and as an act of charity toward others by helping to stem the spread of the virus, is important and worthy of support. Each individual, however, has the right to accept or decline a vaccine, the guidance stated. The guidance referenced a statement by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that it must be voluntary. Also affected by the pandemic in 2021 was the Partners in Charity campaign. It wasnt the same as previous years. Before COVID we were always recommending that parishes conduct in-pew Sundays as the backbone of their appeal, said Michael P. Gillespie, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development. Obviously in 2020 that approach would not have worked, given that churches were first closed, and then in-person Masses only saw partial attendance. The 2020 appeal was a learning experience, according to Mr. Gillespie. There was a much heavier reliance on using mail appeals and online invitations to participate through Flocknote, a contact management system in place in most of the parishes. By the end of the campaign, Partners in Charity reached 89 percent of $5 million goal. Abbot Francis Xavier Connelly, O.S.B., who stepped down from his post at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River in March, died April 8. He was succeeded by Abbot Marc Crilly. In August, Bishop McManus participated in a Rite of Blessing of an Abbot at a Mass for Abbot Crilly at St. John the Evangelist Church in Clinton.
MAY
Bishop McManus ordained Carlos Francisco Ardila and Jose Fernando Carvajal the two latest Colombians to become priests for the Worcester Diocese. Family and friends, locally and from Colombia, gathered at St. Paul Cathedral for the ordination.
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