Stories Archived for Two Months

Vermont diocese to sell headquarters, camp to pay for abuse claims
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The statewide Diocese of Burlington, Vt., is preparing to sell its headquarters building and a now-closed camp to help pay for claims and judgments stemming from clerical sexual abuse.

Proposed alliance for New Hampshire Catholic hospital draws criticism
NEW YORK (CNS) – The largest Catholic hospital in New Hampshire is poised to effect a legal arrangement with a secular health provider that its supporters call a lease agreement and its detractors say is a takeover and an attack on life.

Annual Catholic Appeal off to a good start in Springfield Diocese
SPRINGFIELD – Diocesan officials have released the first complete report on the 2010 Annual Catholic Appeal. As of Feb. 23, the 2010 diocesan campaign has received $1.27 million in pledges and one-time gifts from 11,673 donors. This represents slightly more than one third of the diocesan goal of $3 million.

Hundreds attend Rite of Election ceremony at St. Michael’s Cathedral
SPRINGFIELD – One hundred and sixty people from 26 parishes took an important step in their spiritual journey this weekend in the Springfield Diocese’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program.

Bishop celebrates Ash Wednesday liturgy, urges participation in sacrament of penance
SPRINGFIELD – The sound of sirens filled the streets outside St. Michael’s Cathedral here as worshippers filed into the church for the noontime liturgy on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Three hilltown churches close, make way for new Holy Family Parish
RUSSELL – Before voicing their hope for a stronger faith community, parishioners of three area churches experienced the sorrow of closing Masses the morning of Feb. 14.

Catholics respond with generosity to earthquake victims in Haiti
SPRINGFIELD – As of Feb. 11, donations for Haiti relief efforts made through local Catholic parishes and institutions, as well as directly to the Diocese of Springfield, have reached $478,400.05.

Bishop launches Annual Catholic Appeal with press conference at Holy Spirit Chapel
SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell launched the 2010 Annual Catholic Appeal at the Holy Spirit Chapel behind St. Michael’s Cathedral, here, on Feb. 9.

Archbishop says Saints' win another
sign of hope city is rebuilding
NEW ORLEANS (CNS) – New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond said the New Orleans Saints' win in Super Bowl XLIV win was "not just a football victory."

Study: Catholics at Catholic colleges less likely to stray from church
WASHINGTON (CNS) – A new study finds Catholic students at Catholic colleges are less likely than Catholics attending public colleges to move away from the church's teachings on a variety of issues.

Missionary image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to visit National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Missionary Icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be on display at The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park St., here, from Feb. 5-14.

Locally supported Sacred Heart Hospital in northern Haiti treats patients from capital
MILOT, Haiti (CNS) – When the earthquake shook Port-au-Prince, the three Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace began to prepare the 73-bed Sacred Heart Hospital in the northern city of Milot.

Religious orders give initial death, damage assessment in Haiti
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Haitian Conference of Religious has released an initial assessment of the deaths of personnel and destruction of property suffered by religious orders in the Haiti earthquake.

World Youth Day 2011 launches English version of official Web site
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Organizers of the 2011 World Youth Day celebration in Spain launched an English-language Web page offering registration information, schedules and social networks to help spread word about the event.

Brightside residential and school programs to close, Sisters of Providence announce
SPRINGFIELD – The residential and school programs of Brightside for Families and Children will cease operations by April 2, the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS) has announced.

Scott Roeder convicted of murdering Kansas abortion doctor
WICHITA, Kan. (CNS) – A Kansas jury deliberated just under 40 minutes before convicting a man of first-degree murder for killing an abortion provider.

Little kindnesses change the world, CRS coordinator tells local audience
SPRINGFIELD – Some of the world’s biggest problems can be solved by a little snack. That’s what Thomas Awiapo told his audience Jan. 31 at a 4:30 p.m. talk at Blessed Sacrament Parish here.

Night at the Nest kicks off Catholic Schools Week
SPRINGFIELD -- The largest crowd of the season, due in large part to the support for Catholic education in the Diocese of Springfield, turned out Jan. 30 for Catholic Schools Night with the Springfield Falcons at the Mass Mutual Center here.

Recent student suicides highlight need for bullying programs in schools
SOUTH HADLEY – Bullying is just part of growing up. After all, the victim teased in the movies always ends up on top. Not so in real life.

New law allows US taxpayers to take 2009 deduction for Haiti relief
WASHINGTON (CNS) – Under a new U.S. tax law, people who have donated to charities providing relief to Haitians since the Jan. 12 earthquake can take a tax deduction for the contribution on their 2009 tax return instead of their 2010 return.

Image of Scott Brown as pro-life Catholic is inaccurate
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The positive views expressed by some Catholics and pro-life advocates following the election of Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate led many to believe that Brown is a Catholic who takes a 100 percent pro-life stand.

Diocesan collection for Haiti tops $275,000; Temporary Protection Status workshop to be offered Feb. 9
SPRINGFIELD – Two weekends of special collections for Haiti relief efforts have yielded significant donations. As of Jan. 27, 65 parishes and schools in the Springfield Diocese have collected $276,172.35.

Local teens embark on journey to nation’s capital, plan to ‘speak for’ the unborn
CHICOPEE – With lifted voices, hundreds of youths from the Diocese of Springfield praised God and prayed for strength for their long journey as they gathered at St. Stanislaus Basilica here Jan. 21 for an evening Mass before heading to Washington, D.C. for the 37th annual March for Life.

Catholic Relief Services global coordinator to speak in Springfield Diocese
SPRINGFIELD – Thomas Awiapo, global solidarity coordinator with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Ghana, Africa, will speak in several locations in the Springfield Diocese on Jan. 31, Feb 1 and Feb. 2.

Catholics respond with tremendous generosity to those in Haiti; parish collections to continue through end of January
SPRINGFIELD – As of Jan. 21, donations for Haiti relief efforts made through Catholic parishes and directly to the Diocese of Springfield have reached $106,140.79.

Diocese files suit against city’s designation of Our Lady of Hope historic district
SPRINGFIELD – The Diocese of Springfield filed suit Jan. 21 in State Superior Court seeking a permanent injunction against a recent designation by the city of Springfield which placed the former Our Lady of Hope Church and its rectory in a single parcel historic district.

Survivor accounts of earthquake mark Haitian Mass
SPRINGFIELD – As his neighborhood was literally crumbling all around him, Marc-Donald Leon-fils grabbed his girlfriend and said, “If you’re going to die, you’ll die with me.”

Bishop McDonnell authorizes special collection for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti
SPRINGFIELD – Responding to the pope’s urgent call for assistance for the people of Haiti, Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell has authorized Catholic parishes in western Massachusetts to conduct a special collection on behalf of relief efforts. The timing of this collection is at the discretion of the pastor.

U.S. bishops call on Catholics to help stop abortion funding in final health care bill
SPRINGFIELD – The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has put out an urgent call to all Catholics to help stop abortion funding in the final health care bill.

Catholic communities in Huntington, Russell and Chester to merge; new parish to be inaugurated Feb. 14
SPRINGFIELD – Acting on a recommendation submitted by representatives of St. Thomas Parish, Huntington, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Russell and St. John Mission, Chester, Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell has approved a plan to create a new, single Catholic parish.

Board recommends historical district for Indian Orchard parish
SPRINGFIELD – Again rejecting a suggestion that it first consult with a city attorney, Springfield’s Historical Commission unanimously voted Jan. 7 to recommend the creation of a historic district at Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard.

Seven parishes in the Diocese of Springfield close as New Year opens
SPRINGFIELD - A well-known Springfield parish, five Northampton parishes and one Ludlow parish all held closing Masses over the New Year’s weekend as the most recent pastoral planning changes were implemented in the Diocese of Springfield.

At close of 2009, Our Lady of Hope Parish in Springfield closes its doors
SPRINGFIELD – Parishioners at Our Lady of Hope Parish here gathered on New Year’s Eve in the hundreds, not to close out the year, but to close their beloved church.

Legal battle probable over historic designation of Springfield church
SPRINGFIELD – A legal battle seemed likely Dec. 29 after the Springfield City Council voted to designate Our Lady of Hope Church and its attached rectory here a historic district.

Providence pastor ordained as auxiliary bishop to serve his diocese
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (CNS) – For the kid raised by his mother in humble circumstances on the second floor of a tenement house just a few blocks west in Providence's Italian enclave of Federal Hill, the day's pomp and circumstance at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul seemed a bit overwhelming.

Catholic diocese to unveil new initiative on Christmas
SPRINGFIELD- Recognizing that some Catholics have become estranged from their faith in recent years, and especially in the last few months because of the closing of beloved churches, the Diocese of Springfield will unveil a new initiative this Christmas called “ChristMass.”

Father McInnes, former president of two Jesuit universities, dies
WESTON, Mass. (CNS) – Jesuit Father William C. McInnes, a former president of Fairfield University in Connecticut and the University of San Francisco, died Dec. 8 at Campion Center, a Jesuit residence and retreat center in Weston.