MASTERPIECE OF GOD’S CREATION

The Four County Catholic has been delivered to readers’ mailboxes for 34 years. Many of you have been with us from the first issue. We are grateful for your generous support and encouragement over the years as we continue our mission of bringing you truthful news with a Catholic perspective. The first thing you will notice in this issue is that it covers two months-October and November. That is so we can prepare for a major change that is coming in December. Read Bishop Cote’s column on the facing page. An expanded look into the details of the change can be found on page 16.

Thank you in advance for responding to our annual request to help defray the production costs associated with the Four County Catholic. This year we are saving the expense of including envelopes in the issue.

You can make a donation by mailing your check to Four County Catholic, 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-4419. You can also visit our website at NorwichDiocese.org/FCCgive or use your smartphone to scan the QR code below.

Whether it arrives in your mailbox or your inbox, it is our pleasure to continue to deliver the news from around the Diocese to you and your family.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Four County Catholic Editorial Team

ON THE COVER October is Respect Life Month. Every October, we consider more deeply why every human life is valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death.

Made Possible in part through your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal

ESTABLISHED IN 1989 AND PUBLISHED EACH MONTH EXCEPT JULY.

PUBLISHER

Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. 860.887.9294

Bishop of Norwich

EDITORIAL OFFICE

25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613 Fax 860.859.1253

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Wayne Gignac, 860.886.1281 wgignac@norwichdiocese.net

MARKETING/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Deacon Benedict LoCasto, 860.887.3933 deaconlocasto@norwichdiocese.net

SENIOR WRITER/SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Ryan Blessing, 860.887.3933 rblessing@norwichdiocese.net

THEOLOGICAL ADVISOR

Very Reverend Ted F. Tumicki, S.T.L., J.C.L., J.V. 860.887.9294

PRINTING/LAYOUT

The Hartford Courant, 285 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 060115

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING SUBMISSION DETAILS AND DEADLINES

Deadline for advertising and editorial is the first Monday of the previous month. Articles limited to 500-word max; letters to the editor limited to 200-word max and must include name, address and phone number for verification. Email photos as JPEG attachments and MS Word copy to editorial@norwichdiocese.net. Publication not guaranteed. The Editor reserves the right to reject, omit or edit all editorial and advertising copy. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this newspaper.

POSTMASTER - SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO:

Four County Catholic, 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613. Four County Catholic Issue 9, OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER (PE 9934) is published monthly except July by The Diocese of Norwich, 25 Otis Street, Norwich, CT 06360-3613. Periodicals postage paid in Hartford, CT 06101 and at additional mailing offices.

© Copyright 2022, Diocese of Norwich. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced without expressed consent.

To report inappropriate conduct of any kind by a Diocesan Bishop please contact ReportBishopAbuse.org or call 1-800-276-1562

To report inappropriate contact of any kind by a representative of the Diocese of Norwich or for assistance for victims, please call: The Diocesan Reporting Line @ 1-800-624-7407

If the incident involves a minor (persons under the age of 18), you must also call:

State of CT Department of Children and Families Care Line

1-800-842-2288 -OR

–State of NY Child Protective Services

1-800-635-1522

Incidents involving abuse of vulnerable adults aged 18-59 should be reported to:

Connecticut Department of Developmental Services - AID Division for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

1-844-878-8923

Incidents involving abuse of vulnerable adults aged 60 and over should be reported to:

Connecticut Department of Social Services for the Elderly

1-888-385-4225

Please be sure to notify us of an address change, a name change of a recipient of the Four County Catholic, or a request to discontinue receiving the newspaper. You may notify us via email at subscriptions@norwichdiocese.net or call 860-887-3933. Thank you for helping us maintain accurate mailing information to better serve you.

Para reportar una conducta inapropiada de cualquier tipo por parte de un obispo diocesano, por favor contacte ReportBishopAbuse.org o llame al 1-800-276-1562 Para reportar contacto inapropiado de cualquier tipo por medio de un representante de la Diócesis de Norwich o para asistencia a víctimas, por favor llame a La Línea de Reportaje de la Diócesis de Norwich 1-800-624-7407

Si el incidente involucra a un menor (personas menores de 18 años), también debe llamar a Departamento de Niños y Familias de CT 1-800-842-2288 -O-Servicios de Protección de Niños del Estado de NY 1-800-635-1522.

Incidentes relacionados con el abuso de adultos vulnerables de 18-59 años de edad deben ser reportados a Departamento de Servicios al Desarrollo del Estado de Connecticut-División de Ayuda para Personas con Incapacidad Intelectual 1-844-878-8923.

Incidentes relacionados con el abuso de adultos vulnerables de 60 años de edad o más deben ser reportados a Departamento de Servicios Sociales Para Ancianos de Connecticut 1-888-385-4225.