WORCESTER – For more than 55 years, the Bishop of Worcester has hosted holiday dinners provided by Catholic Charities Worcester County.

Parishes in the second wave of Legacy of Hope are in the commitment phase. Some $11.1 million in pledges have been received.

The Worcester diocesan Respect Life Office is working to renew parish respect life ministries, according to the director, Allison LeDoux.

Jason Menard’s sacrifice fully answered the question, “Can anything good come from Worcester?” Father Walter J. Riley said at the fire lieutenant's funeral.

Assumption College is to be renamed Assumption University next August, the school has announced.

Campus Ministry at Assumption College has invited missionaries from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) to campus this year.

Father Francis A. Roberge and St. Bernard Central Catholic High School students received thanks for their service at a Veterans Day cemetery celebration.

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles was elected president of the USCCB. Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, was elected chairman of Committee for Religious Liberty. Bishop McManus had been acting chairman since July.

Father Louis J. Gould, 89, died Nov. 8 at University of Massachusetts - Memorial Hospital, Worcester. His funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's in Fitchburg.

Pope Francis greets Bishop McManus during a meeting with New England bishops at the Vatican. The bishops were making their "ad limina" visits. (CNS)

SHREWSBURY – You could say that the makerspace at St. Mary Elementary School is a multi-purpose room. It is a “space in which to make things,” Gabriel Beltran said.

SOUTHBRIDGE – Deacon Teodoro Camacho, 65, died Monday. Calling hours 5-8 p.m. Nov. 8; Funeral 10 a.m. Saturday both at Notre Dame Church, 446 Main St.

Need a spiritual recharge? Visit the Worcester Art Museum. About 40 people from various parishes in the diocese did that recently.

“We have inherited a legacy of faith from our ancestors; now it is our turn to pass on a Legacy of Hope to our children and grandchildren.”

Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope has sponsored nearly 100 refugee/immigrant families since its inception 40 years ago.

Our Lady of Providence Parish opened the doors of St. Bernard's Gym Thursday night for a giant Neighborhood Halloween Fest. An estimated 300-400 attended.

This might be a good time to review a few Catholic principles regarding government and public service.

SHREWSBURY – Eighty-five women attended the diocesan Commission for Women's mini-retreat Oct. 19 at St. Mary’s Parish Hall.

Today Catholic Charities Worcester County held a ribbon cutting and open house at its new family shelter at 4 Caroline St., Worcester, the former St. Stephen's Parish convent.

About 40 youngsters and their families spent the afternoon at Assumption College at the Faith & Family Celebration hosted by Pflaum Publishing Group and the Diocese of Worcester.