Around the Diocese

WESTBOROUGH - St. Luke the Evangelist Parish’s organic community garden has a waiting list. And despite the challenge of a wet, very hot summer, the Heirloom Harvest Farm continues to produce vegetables for its shareholders.

“We are grateful to God that thousands of people responded with great generosity to this year’s appeal,” said Bishop Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester. The Development Office for the Diocese of Worcester release its final report today, showing that it had received 16,454 gifts and pledges totaling $5,076,252, thereby exceeding the $5 million goal for the third consecutive year.

STURBRIDGE – Facing dark times in the Church, clergy, religious and laity made a consecration to Mary Saturday in front of a new statue at St. Anne and St. Patrick Parish and St. Anne Shrine. “I think it’s time once more to go back to the Mother,” said the new pastor, Assumptionist Father Alex Castro, mentioning news reports about abuse and scandal.

NORTH OXFORD – “The bell of St. Ann’s will be silent no longer,” Father Michael N. Lavallee, pastor of St. Ann Parish, proclaimed Saturday, shortly before the church bell rang for the first time in years.