Waterbury Native One Step Closer to Sainthood

Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell has just signed the documents of the investigation into a possible miracle attributed to the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Fr. Michael McGivney. The information is now being sent to the Holy See, where a team of medical experts and theologians at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints will investigate the potential miracle.

Make sure to watch Crossroads Magazine this Saturday for the full story. Crossroads airs Saturday on WTXX at 10:30 a.m., and My TV 9 at 10:35 p.m.

New Catholic Charities Center

It’s official! Archbishop Henry Mansell cut the ribbon and blessed the brand new Catholic Charities Family Center in Waterbury. The facility will offer services including a child guidance clinic, family support, parenting education, adoption services, employment help, and treatment for mental health and substance abuse. The Archbishop says, "Today we see the Archbishop's Annual Appeal at work, the results and the effect and the dedication of this new Catholic Charities family service center of Waterbury: three floors of offices that will be delivering services of such importance, making wonderful differences in people's lives.” Catholic Charities already serves about 10 to 15 thousand people in the Waterbury area. The former rectory of Sacred Heart Parish was converted into the center. This Saturday, Crossroads Magazine will introduce you to this new space. Watch us at 10:30 a.m. on WTXX and 10:30 p.m. on My TV 9 (WCTX).

Ambulance to the Congo

A priest in Waterbury is gearing up to ship out goods and medical supplies to the Congo. It's part of an effort to help women there survive childbirth. The World Health Organization cites more than 30 thousand women dying in the Congo during birth every year. Many times they cannot get to a proper facility, and end up giving birth in their villages, without proper supplies. Many die of infection, still others die of routine complications of the birthing process.

When a family in Texas donated an old van to Father Honore Kombo of St. Peter and Paul Parish, he started fixing it up, and stacking it full of medical necessities. He plans to ship the van overseas to be used as a mobile clinic.

Before that can happen, Fr. Kombo needs more supplies and more money. Crossroads reporter Jason Calvi took a tour of the van, and heard the personal stories of several women denied proper care in the third world country. Click here to see the touching story.

If you would like to help Fr. Kombo in his mission, you can email him at HONOREKOMBO@YAHOO.COM

Live Mass at The Shrine of St. Anne, Waterbury

Each month, ORTV broadcasts a Mass in a different parish live for TXX. On May 3rd, we will be at St. Anne's Church, in Waterbury.

The Shrine of Saint Anne, in Waterbury, became a church in the 1880s after French-Canadians living in the city decided to open a parish of their own. Now, more than 600 families worship there. In 2006, Archbishop Henry Mansell declared the church a Shrine. This means the site is now marked for pilgrimage, where motherhood is honored.

Over the years, St. Anne's has gone through two fires, and it has had some major reconstruction work done. Its sanctuary was recently completed; brought back to its original gilded splendor, and slowly the church is being restored to its former glory.

The Office of Radio and Television, through the generosity and facilities of Counterpoint Communications, Inc., is honored to share with all of Connecticut this prayerful celebration of the fourth Sunday of Easter.

If you would like to attend, the address is 515 South Main St., Waterbury, CT. The Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., May 2, 2009.