During these months of 2025, I was blessed to study the life and teaching of St. John Paul II at the Tertio Millenio Seminar in Krakow, Poland, as well as to visit two missionary communities.

The College of the Holy Cross has appointed a Jesuit to report to its lay president and to oversee the formation of students, faculty and staff.

Assumption University is bringing in students, faculty and a dog from Anna Maria College by launching Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degree programs this fall.

Sister Katherine Mc-Kenna, formally known in religious life as Sister Mary Joan, died Aug. 14. She was born Sept. 9, 1943, to Mary T. (Burns) McKenna and J. Joseph McKenna in Central Falls, Rhode Island. At the time of her death, Sister Katherine resided at Notre Dame Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester.

There are about 35,000 religious sisters in the United States, including 147 in the Diocese of Worcester. But that number doesn’t account for those whose journey to discernment may have made a stop in Worcester County. At least that is true for Mary Whitney.