Mother’s Day is a time to remember our mothers and all they have done for us. But for the women of St. Denis Parish in Douglas, Mother’s Day signals the beginning of their annual campaign - “Mother’s Love” -to help other mothers in need.

WORCESTER – Blessed Sacrament Parish received a $10,000 grant this week to educate and support families dealing with addictions. The project is to be carried out at the church and in neighborhoods and homes.

The Assumptionists are rededicating themselves to St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish in Sturbridge by establishing a new local community of men there. Assumptionist Father Dennis M. Gallagher, provincial superior of the North American Province, made the announcement last weekend.

Parishes around the diocese have embraced Pope Francis’ teaching on the environment in different ways. But now, at the urging of Peter Dunbeck of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, the diocese has established a ministry team to address ecological issues.

WHITINSVILLE – St. Patrick Parish’s video ministry has been thriving. Its goal is “to share the Word of God with our friends, neighbors and fellow parishioners around the world.” It’s been doing so by live-streaming the church’s Sunday Mass each week.

A young woman’s concern about a slain police officer led to Blessed Sacrament Parish sending 500 rosaries to the Yarmouth Police Department.

A diocesan priest and deacon recently published a book about teenagers discerning a vocation. No, it’s not an autobiography or a “how to” manual. It’s a brief fictional story – which could have really happened - “Nicholas Gilroy: Our Lady and the Guardian.”

WORCESTER – In college Christopher T. Slattery was “personally pro-choice,” but after his awakening he opened the first pregnancy center in New York City, blocked and prayed at abortion facilities and befriended and converted a long-time abortionist. Mr. Slattery was the keynote speaker at the 13th Annual Visitation House Benefit Dinner.

Msgr. Francis J. Scollen, pastor of St. Peter Parish and St. Andrew the Apostle Mission, will receive the 2018 Madonna Della Strada Award on April 29 at Boston College High School. The award will be presented by the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, New England, to recognize Msgr. Scollen’s 46 years of service and outreach to people in need.

SOUTHBOROUGH - St. Matthew Parish has what amounts to a new church. Construction was done in about six months. It’s all paid for.

Young people at a Theology on Tap forum question Bishop McManus about controversies at the College of the Holy Cross, the role of Catholic students, vocations, and being good witnesses to the faith.

Bishop McManus told people who filled St. Paul Cathedral Monday that they have been drawn into one of the most important conversations in history. He was preaching at the diocese’s annual Mass for Life on the feast of the Annunciation. During Mass Bishop McManus presented the annual pro-life awards.

WHITINSVILLE – This past winter, St. Patrick Parish started a new ministry to help the homeless in its community. It became a host church for the Blackstone Valley Emergency Shelter.

FITCHBURG – Seeing the sin in the world, Christians can view mercy as too lenient. But mercy is at the heart of the Gospel, Father Joseph M. Dolan told an estimated 300 people attending last weekend’s Divine Mercy Sunday celebration at St. Bernard Parish.

WORCESTER – Two sides faced off across the street outside the College of the Holy Cross Saturday, at times shouting or singing over each other. The controversy was over writings of Tat-siong Benny Liew, who holds the endowed chair in New Testament Studies at the college.

Parishioners from St. Joan of Arc Parish reenact The Way of the Cross from Tacoma Street to the church on Lincoln Street.

Bishop McManus led Good Friday Way of the Cross through downtown Worcester. Hundreds joined him on the walk from St. John Church to St. Paul Cathedral. Click photo to see album.

Statement by Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, STD, Bishop of Worcester on the writings of Professor Tat-siong Benny Liew about the true nature of Jesus Christ March 30, 2018, Worcester MA – A few days ago I learned of the highly controversial writings of a local Holy Cross professor, Tat-siong Benny Liew, that cast doubts on the male sexuality of Jesus Christ based on Professor Liew’s seriously flawed analysis of some texts of the Gospel of St. John. I am deeply troubled and concerned to hear that someone who holds an endowed chair in New Testament studies at the College of the Holy Cross has authored such highly offensive and blasphemous notions. Such positions have no place in the biblical scholarship of a professor who teaches at a Catholic college and who, as such, should be supportive of the college’s Catholic identity and mission. (CLICK TITLE FOR MORE)

Critically ill patients at St. Vincent Hospital are being wrapped in comfort, care, and love with prayer shawls made by St. Matthias Parish Prayer Shawl Ministry in Marlborough.

Bishop McManus urged priests to remember their ordination and take seriously their promises. He asked everyone to pray for priests and vocations. He was preaching at the Chrism Mass Tuesday at St. Paul Cathedral.