Stewardship Reflections for Bulletins 5 th Sunday of Ordinary Time “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said, ‘send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8)
For Bulletins Below please find the text and PDF of the letter from Bishop McManus for the Home Missions Collection to be announced on the weekend of Feb. 2. Thank you. January 30, 2025 My dear...
Stewardship Reflections for Bulletins The Presentation of the Lord “Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18) When we...
The Diocesan Dispatch
Please 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 rdelisle@worcesterdiocese.org.Have space available in your bulletin this week? Consider including one of the ongoing resources: Click HERE for ONGOING RESOURCES
February 10, 2025
Stewardship Reflections for Bulletins
6th Sunday of Ordinary Time “Blessed are you when people hate you…exclude and insult you, and denounce your name…on account of the Son of Man.” (LUKE 6:22) All of us have been in situations when someone has made a negative comment or joke about God or our Catholic faith. How did you respond? Did you stay silent or pretend to go along with the crowd because you didn’t want to cause waves and then, later, you felt bad? Know that God is with you all the time; the Holy Spirit will put the right words in your mouth. Pray for the strength and courage to proclaim our faith to others, especially during uncomfortable situations.
6o Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario “Bienaventurados ustedes cuando los odien, los desprecien, los insulten y hablen mal de ustedes por causa del Hijo del hombre.” (Lucas 6:22) Todos nosotros hemos estado en situaciones en las que alguien hace un comentario negativo o una broma acerca de Dios o de nuestra fe católica. ¿Cόmo respondió usted? ¿Permaneció callado o fingió estar de acuerdo con la multitud porque no quería causar problemas y luego se sintió mal por eso? Sepa que Dios esta con usted todo el tiempo; el Espíritu Santo pondrá las palabras correctas en su boca. Ore para tener la fuerza y la valentía para proclamar su fe a los demás, especialmente en las situaciones incómodas.
Vocations Reflections for Bulletins
Bulletin inserts in English and Spanish for vocations awareness. For weekly Vocations Intercessions, CLICK HERE for English (en espanol)
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.” Are you being called to deepen your trust in the love of the Lord by serving Him as a priest, deacon, sister or brother? (508)630-4473or email: donato.infante@gmail.com.
Sexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario "Bienaventurados los que confían en el Señor." ¿Está siendo llamado a profundizar su confianza en el amor del Señor sirviéndole como sacerdote, diácono, hermana o hermano? (508)630-4473o correo electrónico: donato.infante@gmail.com.
The following notice is too late for bulletins but perhaps can be shared in your weekly Flocknote to parishioners: "Jubilee Guest Speaker Series" at Divine Mercy Parish Blackstone Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC (Fr. Kaz) from the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge MA will present "Divine Mercy: A Source of Renewal for our Church and our Spiritual Life." Saturday, Feb. 15at 4pm Fr. Kaz will be the Homilist during Saturday Mass. At 5:15pm he will begin his evening talk in the church. Sunday, Feb. 16 at8am & 10:30am Fr. Kaz will be the Homilist for both morning Masses. At 9:15 am he will repeat his talk in the church. Fr. Kaz is a priest and theologian, and a recognized authority on The Divine Mercy message and devotion. He is an author and editor of several religious works. For more information, contact Toni at Divine Mercy Parish 508-883-6726 x3.
Pro-Life Awards Nominees Sought The Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Worcester seeks nominations for two annual pro-life awards to be presented by Bishop McManus at the 27th annual Mass for Life on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Further information and nomination forms are available at www.worcesterdiocese.org/mass-for-life-annunciation. Completed nomination forms may be emailed to aledoux@worcesterdiocese.org and must be received no later than February 14.
Lenten Fish Dinners in Douglas St. Denis Church, Douglas will hold Lenten Fish Fries on Friday March 7 and April 11 ONLY! $15/adult, $5/child - includes baked fish, cole slaw, tartar sauce and your choice of baked potato or rice. Also available - Clam Chowder ($5/cup, $8/bowl) and Mac & Cheese for children ($5). Order tickets in advance online at SaintDenisChurch.com/fish-dinners or at the door while supplies last!
Bereavement Support Group in Jefferson As you travel along on your grief journey, know there are others who are experiencing the same confusion, despair, and loneliness as they navigate through a different life without their loved one. You are invited to be with others who also share similar losses, feelings and difficulties. Through listening and sharing we explore and learn how to live again and find that joy is possible. We are faith based, open to the public, and free. We meet on 6 consecutive Tuesdays, March 11 through April 15 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm in the Gathering Room of St. Mary Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. RSVP please by March 5 to Beth. Call or text 508-272-6923 or email beth@stmaryjeff.com.
SAVE THE DATE! Join the Sisters of Life on April 12 for the first Feminine Genius Brunch in Worcester! St. John Paul II’s 1995 Letter to Women, emphasized the important role women play in society and the Church. The Pope spoke of the distinct attributes of women—receptivity, sensitivity, generosity, and maternity—all of which make up the feminine genius. This brunch borrows its name after those amazing God-given attributes endowed to you as women! Why? Because it is our hope that the talks and experience of this brunch will reveal to you your amazing gifts as women and open your heart to the Holy Spirit who longs to spark these gifts to life! Come join the Sisters of Life for a beautiful morning set aside to marvel at the mystery of God and His plan for each of us on Saturday, April 12 at 9:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Maronite Catholic Church, 341 June St., Worcester. Cost is $30 per person. Register by April 6 at www.cedaroflebanonfcc.com/fgb.
TO: Parishes
Additional Jubilee Pilgrimage Booklets and Prayer Cards If you need MORE Pilgrimage Booklets or Prayer cards, please EMAIL Ray Delisle at rdelisle@worcesterdiocese.org. We printed a limited additional amount given that some parishes were looking for more. If you have NOT picked up your materials, please do so this week from the Cathedral Office - call 508-799-4193 to find out when the office is open. If you serve a Hispanic Community in your parish, Pilgrimage booklets are now available for them in Spanish. Please EMAIL Ray Delisle to arrange for pickup from the Chancery.
PAST DISPATCH NOTICES
Indoor Yard Sale in Worcester St. Christopher Church, 950 West Boylston St. will be having its annual Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, March 15 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Tables (8 ft. long) are available to rent at $25. each or two tables for $40. Payments for table reservations are non-refundable and will be made upon receipt of payment by March 1. Checks should be made payable to “St. Christopher’s Retired Club” and mailed to: Elizabeth Knott, 9 Hillcroft Ave., Worcester, MA 01606. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Knott at 508-852-2348 or at knotte@charter.net.
St. Patrick Irish Festival in Worcester On Saturday, Feb. 22 from 5 -10 pm, St. Joan of Arc Parish will hold a St. Patrick's Irish Festival at the Arc behind the Church. Live Irish Music, Irish step Dancers (McInerney School) Grey Corned Beef Dinner ($15.00) Corned Beef sandwich ($10.00). Admission $5.00 at the door.
Bereavement Support Group in West Boylston Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 111 Worcester Street, West Boylston will hold its next 6-part series of "A New Day" bereavement support group starting on Monday, March 3 from 1-2:30 pm and ending on April 7. For more information or to register (required prior to the start of the sessions) call Renate Isbell (508) 835-3286.
Calendar Raffle Fundraiser The Guild of Our Lady of Providence is sponsoring a calendar raffle. $10 for the month of March with 31 chances to win $100, $50 or a gift card worth $50. Calendars can be purchased by calling Carolyn Hicks at 508-865- 3263. Proceeds assist the Guild in its mission to assist with medical and educational needs in the Diocese of Worcester.
FREE CPR and AED training with UMASS Med School at Spencer Parish UMass Chan has partnered with the Worcester Diocese to provide Hands-Only CPR and AED training to parish members (FREE). Our next training session on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 9 - 11 am will take place at Mary Queen of the Rosary Parish Hall in Spencer. Attendees will learn how to recognize and respond to signs of cardiac arrest. You will practice “Hands-Only” CPR and the use of the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for cardiac resuscitation, in a small group setting with our CPR trainers. In order for them to prepare and staff, please register for this free training at maryqueenoftherosary.org/cpr-aed-training.
Job Opportunities
The Resident Care Facility at Saint Joseph’s Abbey, 167 North Spencer Road, Spencer has openings for part-time and full-time CNA’s and a part time facility cook. Flexible and permanent hours available. Hourly wage negotiable depending on experience and related skills. Requirements: High School Diploma or GED. Ability to speak and read English required. Must be able to understand written policies and procedures. Must be able to work unsupervised at times while following food safety protocols and resident care procedure guidelines in a variety of tasks. For more information and to apply, contact Wally Connor, Facility/HR Manager at (508) 885-8700 Ext. 550 or by email: wally@spencerabbey.org.
Indoor Yard Sale and Bake Sale St. Christopher Parish is hosting an Indoor Yard Sale and Bake Sale on Saturday, March 15 from 9 am - 3 pm at 950 W. Boylston St., Worcester. Table Rentals (8 foot) at $25 each or 2 for $40 (non-refundable). Reservations must be made in advance and payment prior to the sale day. Call Liz Knott at 508-852-2348 for details. Other food and beverages will also be available for purchase during the day.
Register Early for the Worcester Catholic Men's Conference April 5 The Worcester Diocesan Catholic Men's Conference will be held Saturday, April 5 at the DCU Convention Center, 50 Foster Street, Worcester. Registration begins at 7:30 AM with the first speaker beginning at 9:00 AM. Men of all ages are invited to hear inspiring talks from Fr. Donald Callaway, MIC; Retired US Navy SEAL Sam Blair; Fr. Derek Mobilio; Dr. Edward Sri; and Mr. Artie Boyle. The day will feature an all day adoration chapel; dozens of priests will be available for confessions at the lunch break; and over 50 relevant vendors will be present. The closing Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Robert McManus at 4:00 PM. Tickets (which include lunch) are $50 for adults through March 26; $60 thereafter and at the door. Student tickets are always just $30. Tickets and further information are available at: www.catholicmenworc.com Any questions may be directed to catholicmenworc@gmail.com.
Vianney Dinner The next Vianney Dinner is Tuesday, March 4 at Our Lady of Hope Parish at Saint James Church, 89 Main St, South Grafton. The evening begins with 6 pm Mass, followed by 6:30 pm dinner, and 7:00-8:30 pm social. These are nights for men, high school aged and up, interested in learning more about a priestly vocation. Don't want to come alone? Bring a friend! You are welcome to come to all or part of the evening as your schedule allows. An RSVP is not needed but it is helpful in getting an accurate count for food. Email:donato.infante@gmail.com.
Shrove Tuesday Fundraising Brunch for WQPH WQPH 89.3 FM 2nd Annual Shrove Tuesday Brunch will take place on Tuesday, March 4, 10 AM to 1:30 PM at Slattery's Restaurant, 106 Lunenburg St. Fitchburg. Speaker will be Msgr. James Moroney from St. Cecilia Parish. Price $45 /($40 If purchased before 2/10) 2 for $85/($79) 4 for $165/($155) 10 for $400/($375). Tickets can be purchased at the WQPH web site. (Hit donate and put Shrove Tuesday in the comment line) or call or text 617-459-8735.
SAVE THE DATE
Diocesan 75th Anniversary Mass on March 2 at 3 pm All are welcome to St. Paul Cathedral as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Worcester which was established on March 7, 1950. Mass will be Sunday, March 2 at 3 pm. More details to follow. We look forward to seeing you there!
Volunteer Opportunity
Help Advocate for Seniors! At Senior Connection, we are looking for dedicated individuals to become Advocates for Nursing Home Residents (we call this an Ombudsman volunteer). If you have a passion for helping senior citizens and want to make a positive impact on their lives, we invite you to join our mission. Help is needed throughout the central Massachusetts area. Call 508-853-1373 and press 2 for the Ombudsman program, then 2 again. Or email omb@seniorconnection.org for more information. Thank you!
Resources
Free online Videos to Strengthen Families Men and women, young and old, strengthen and grow in your faith for your families with five short videos produced by the Knights of Columbus called the “Mission of The Family”. The videos can be found on the Knights of Columbus website for free! Use the QR Code (artwork below) to find “The Mission of The Family” videos: https://www.kofc.org/en/campaigns/into-the-breach.html The five videos are less than 14 minutes in length. You can also find the original “Into The Breach” video series by rolling down on this webpage and under CATEGORIES click on “Into The Breach”. This series is also free of charge and is sure to help you grow in your faith." Catholic Moms Group Are you looking to connect with other Catholic moms? If you’d be interested in a Catholic moms’ group in your area, please let us know by emailing catholicmomsworcester@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
NEVER Trust emails that just don't "feel" right! If you see an email that SEEMS to be from someone you know that is asking for gift cards, or cash, or something that simly reads out of character. Look closely - the email is actually a scam. Don't blindly trust email requests without verifying addresses.
EMAIL NOTICES We often hear from pastors and parishes saying they are not getting emails from us, even when we have a correct address. No Email system is foolproof (Gmail, MSN, Outlook, aol, Charter.net, Verizon.net, etc.) and your provider may be very aggressively blocking emails from your inbox based on general algorithms. Please remember to check your junk mail regularly to see if emails from our Flocknote system or from worcesterdiocese.org or other sources are being inadvertently blocked. You can always use your email system’s rules when this happens to “always accept email from this sender.” Usually that option appears when you “Right Click’ on the email in question with your mouse.
TO: Pastors & Administrators
Third Party Usage of Parish Property As a reminder, any and all third parties who are using Parish property, whether for a fee or not, are required to sign the Catholic Mutual Facility Usage/ Indemnity Agreement and provide proper insurance. (see attached) This agreement provides a level protection from liability by having indemnification language as well as requiring the 3rd party user to provide the parish with general liability coverage, naming the Parish as additional insured, in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence. This policy applies to all third parties that use Parish property. This includes such things as: civic groups, parishioner and non-parishioner families that rent or use parish facilities for wedding receptions, family reunions, anniversary parties or other similar activities; as well as any other organization, municipality or county organization that uses parish facilities for a meeting or function that is non-parish sponsored. Parish ministries or parish affiliated events/groups are generally covered under the Diocesan insurance coverage with Catholic Mutual and do not need to sign the form or provide additional insurance. However, there are clear guidelines of what constitutes a “parish entity”. Generally, the parish has to have control of the group, both financial control and organizational control; lead by parish staff or Priest designated volunteers; must be open to all parishioners; and promote a mission of the church. Groups that do not fit the definition of a parish controlled group are required to sign the 3rd party agreement and provide proper insurance. Please keep a file of these 3rd party documents for a period of time greater than a year, but less than 7 years from the event date. In the unlikely event of a claim made by the 3rd party, the parish may be asked for the signed Facility Usage Agreement and and insurance document. For full definitions, insurance requirements and details, as well as the document itself, please see the Diocesan website, under Finance, Facility Usage Forms. For additional information or further assistance, including a cursory review of any related documents, please contact Parish Liaison Officer, Stephen Sycks. ssycks@worcesterdiocese.org
Department of Unemployment Letters & Notices Many parishes have been receiving letters from the State Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) informing them of a delinquency in submitting quarterly DUA forms. Please do not ignore these. While the Diocese and all parishes are exempt from paying for State DUA, as we are self-insured through our transitional assistance program, we ARE required to submit quarterly payroll reports. As all known 3rd party payroll companies provide this as a routine service, it appears that the parishes who are self-producing payroll (either through a bookkeeping system or bookkeeper) have been contacted by the DUA. If you have received a letter, please:
Register your parish on the DUA website.
Complete all required forms.
If you have been levied a fine, you may dispute it or may consider paying it as you file the delinquent forms.
Please confirm with your payroll person all quarterly DUA forms have been filed.
Please let Stephen Sycks at the Diocese know, as he will assemble a master list.
Young Adult Prayer Group in Gardner Join with other young adults age 18 - 35 and pray the St. Michael Chaplet!Greater Gardner Young Adult Group meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 7 pm at Annunciation Parish Center located just behind Holy Rosary Church in Gardner. For more information about this event and/or about the greater Gardner Young Adult Group, please reach out to Jonah Kattau at jdkattau@gmail.com.
Vigilance against Fraud A parish shared with us how someone tried to redirect an employee's paycheck via an alternate direct deposit account. ALWAYS BE CIRCUMSPECT! Before even considering such a change, never act just from an email. Consider the following:
Have the employee complete a properly signed form along with the bank information Routing # , account etc
Provide a voided check to be kept on record which matches that information
Process the request thru the payroll service.
Keep the information in the employee's personnel file
Coming to Chancery for Appointments - Protocol The chancery remains closed to the public except for scheduled appointments. The front vestibule is OPEN during business hours and a phone is present to call your appointment to notify them of your arrival. If you are dropping off material for a department (e.g., Marriage Tribunal, Partners in Charity or Finance, please call that department to let them know. Phone messages will be checked regularly and we encourage parish staff to use the direct dial numbers for each department which are listed in the Diocesan Directory.
eCatholic tip: online payments and donations The monthly fee to use eCatholic payments is waived for parishes in the diocese and transaction fees are as low as it gets in the industry. The site is very secure, and the money goes right into your parish bank account and you get a report letting you know! You can also use eCatholic Payments for one time or recurring payments and donations for offertory, religious education tuition and more! But, if you already have an online offertory platform you can use eCatholic Payments with their web forms alongside that platform for one time donations for events, etc. Questions: email worcester@ecatholic.com anytime.
Promoting events? Use your eCatholic and Flocknote Resources! It is EASY to set up an event announcement and registration/ticket form on your eCatholic website. If you have not yet done so, contact them for an online account to accept credit cards via your site. Not only will it make it more convenient than “come to the rectory for tickets;” you can reach more people and plan better for your event. Costs are as low as it gets in the industry, the site is very secure, and the money goes right into your parish bank account and you get a report letting you know! PLUS you can then send everyone a link by Flocknote to go to the site with one click from their phone, tablet or computer and get the tickets, make the donation or at least be aware of the event details to share with family and friends. Let your Communications Ministry tools work for you! Contact Luke at worcester@eCatholic.com if you need to get set up or to learn more.
Senior Fraud Hotline RSVP’s Senior Fraud HelpLine is a toll-free resource for seniors and their families to call when they are concerned that they are being targeted by scammers. If they are in doubt, they should check it out by calling 1-800-297-9760. Confidential. Knowledgeable. Local. Supportive.
REDUCED-FEE LEGAL SERVICES IN WORCESTER The Worcester County Bar Association has a Reduced Fee Program where household income exceeds the requirements for free legal assistance but makes hiring an attorney unfeasible. You must be a Worcester County resident and legal services include bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosures, wills, divorces, custody and evictions. Call 800-622-9700 800-622-9700 for more information, indicating your interest in the Reduced Fee Program.
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON ONLINE LEARNING (DIOCESAN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM) Have you ever had a desire to expand your knowledge of the faith in areas such as Scripture, Liturgy and Worship, Prayer and Spirituality, Sacraments, Creed, or Church History? Check out the on-line courses available to adults through our Diocesan Partnership Program with U Dayton and the Virtual Community for Faith Formation. You can receive a substantial discount while learning in your own space during your personal hours of availability. If you have any questions, please call Barbara Ramian at 508-929-4308.
PROJECT RACHEL CAN HELP WITH THE PAIN OF A PAST ABORTION Hurting from a past abortion? We can help. Project Rachel is the Catholic Church’s ministry of healing and reconciliation to those who have been wounded by abortion. Our services are free and strictly confidential. Call Project Rachel at (508) 791-HOPE.
FERTILITY CARE PROGRAM There is an alternative to artificial methods of birth control and IVF. Learn about The Creighton Model System of FertilityCare, the reproductive science that is 99% effective to avoid pregnancy, highly effective to achieve pregnancy and offers couples who are experiencing infertility hope to achieve their dream of pregnancy without artificial reproductive technologies. This is accomplished while following the teachings of the church. To learn more about the program contact Barbara Meier, RN, FertilityCare Practitioner at 609-457-0108 609-457-0108 or fertilitycare@ymail.com.
CAR DONATION PROGRAM Did you know you can donate your car, truck, motorcycle or boat to Catholic Charities and help us help your Worcester County neighbors? It’s quick and easy to do. Just visit our website to donate your vehicle online atwww.ccworc.org or call 1-888-CAR-7308 1-888-CAR-7308 to arrange a convenient pickup time and confirmation of your donation from Catholic Charities Donation Angel Program. The car in your driveway can help us to continue to offer many services to children, families and elders in our community so that they may regain home for a brighter future. Thank you!
Employees or Independent Contractors? The Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has issued new guidance on the classification of hired personnel as employees or independent contractors. Hired personnel are considered employees unless: (1) the individual is free from the employers direction and control in connection with the performance of the service, both under his or her contract for the performance of service and in fact; (2) the service the individual performs is outside the usual course of business of the employer; and (3) the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business of the same nature as that involved in the service performed.