Welcome
Pastor Rev. Daniel M. Caughey
February 25, 2026 Letter from the Diocese
GOSPEL MEDITATION March 15, 2026 4th Sunday of Lent John 9:1-41
If you are like me, it’s easy to fixate on our shadows: failures, guilt, shame. Especially when we suffer, it is easy to want to blame ourselves or others. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples ask about the blind man, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” (John 9:2) They, like us, focus on blame. But Jesus sees the entire situation differently: “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” He does not deny sin, but he sees deeper — through the light of mercy, not the lens of judgment. The scene hinges on Jesus’ strange claim: “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He sees things differently than everyone. They see shadows and light. He is the light.
Thought experiment: imagine you are the sun looking at everything on the earth. What do you see? Everything. What do you not see? Shadows. Everything is illuminated. If you see it, it is illuminated. For the light, nothing is dark. Because he is the light, Jesus sees us in the glow of his redemptive love. Even our sin becomes a place where his glory can shine. The man’s healing is not just about sight — it is about seeing as Christ sees. Lent is not a season of staring into darkness. It is a time to step into the light — to let Christ’s gaze reframe how we see ourselves and one another.
Lenten challenge: Spend 10 quiet minutes this week asking Jesus to show you how he sees you. Not through shame or fear, but through the light of his mercy.
— Father John Muir ©LPi
Light is on For You Confessions will be heard: Monday, March 30th 4-7 PM at St. Malachy, Sherburne 4-7 PM at St. Paul, Norwich
STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be held at 5:30 pm on Fridays during Lent except Good Friday and will alternate between St. Paul/St. Bartholomew and St. Theresa/St. Malachy.
SStations continue on Friday, March 6th at St. Paul and St. Theresa and on Friday, March 13th at St. Bartholomew and St. Malachy.
Opportunities for confession:
St. Malachy’s: Saturday afternoon 3:10—3:40 PM & Tuesdays, 6—7 PM (with Adoration)
St. Theresa’s: After these Masses: Sundays at 11 AM; Mondays at 5:30 PM & Wednesdays at 9 AM
St. Bartholomew’s: Saturday 3:15—3:45 PM (Oct—Mar) & when requested
St. Paul’s: Saturday 3:15—3:45 PM (Apr—Sept) Sunday, 10:40 AM
The Norwich Community Kitchen is serving dinners on Tuesdays at St. Bartholomew’s Parish Center, 81 East Main St., Norwich. Doors open at 4pm and serving starts at 5:00 pm. ALL ARE WELCOME!
The Knights of Columbus would like you to join them in reciting the Rosary and The Chapel of Divine Mercy at St. Paul’s Church on the first Wednesday of every month from 6—7 pm. Let’s pray for healing for our friends, family and the world.
GOSPEL MEDITATION March 15, 2026 4th Sunday of Lent John 9:1-41
If you are like me, it’s easy to fixate on our shadows: failures, guilt, shame. Especially when we suffer, it is easy to want to blame ourselves or others. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus’ disciples ask about the blind man, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents?” (John 9:2) They, like us, focus on blame. But Jesus sees the entire situation differently: “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” He does not deny sin, but he sees deeper — through the light of mercy, not the lens of judgment. The scene hinges on Jesus’ strange claim: “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). He sees things differently than everyone. They see shadows and light. He is the light.
Thought experiment: imagine you are the sun looking at everything on the earth. What do you see? Everything. What do you not see? Shadows. Everything is illuminated. If you see it, it is illuminated. For the light, nothing is dark. Because he is the light, Jesus sees us in the glow of his redemptive love. Even our sin becomes a place where his glory can shine. The man’s healing is not just about sight — it is about seeing as Christ sees. Lent is not a season of staring into darkness. It is a time to step into the light — to let Christ’s gaze reframe how we see ourselves and one another.
Lenten challenge: Spend 10 quiet minutes this week asking Jesus to show you how he sees you. Not through shame or fear, but through the light of his mercy.
— Father John Muir ©LPi
Light is on For You Confessions will be heard: Monday, March 30th 4-7 PM at St. Malachy, Sherburne 4-7 PM at St. Paul, Norwich
STATIONS OF THE CROSS will be held at 5:30 pm on Fridays during Lent except Good Friday and will alternate between St. Paul/St. Bartholomew and St. Theresa/St. Malachy.
SStations continue on Friday, March 6th at St. Paul and St. Theresa and on Friday, March 13th at St. Bartholomew and St. Malachy.
Opportunities for confession:
St. Malachy’s: Saturday afternoon 3:10—3:40 PM & Tuesdays, 6—7 PM (with Adoration)
St. Theresa’s: After these Masses: Sundays at 11 AM; Mondays at 5:30 PM & Wednesdays at 9 AM
St. Bartholomew’s: Saturday 3:15—3:45 PM (Oct—Mar) & when requested
St. Paul’s: Saturday 3:15—3:45 PM (Apr—Sept) Sunday, 10:40 AM
The Norwich Community Kitchen is serving dinners on Tuesdays at St. Bartholomew’s Parish Center, 81 East Main St., Norwich. Doors open at 4pm and serving starts at 5:00 pm. ALL ARE WELCOME!
The Knights of Columbus would like you to join them in reciting the Rosary and The Chapel of Divine Mercy at St. Paul’s Church on the first Wednesday of every month from 6—7 pm. Let’s pray for healing for our friends, family and the world.
________________________________ Please Note, Tuesday & Thursday Masses are now at 9:00 AM
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