NORWICH – Parishioners at St. Bartholomew’s and St. Paul’s Catholic Churches in Norwich received a shock this weekend when Father Douglas Cunningham announced he will be resigning at the end of June due to health reasons.

“It’s going to be a terrible loss to this community,” said St. Bartholomew’s Trustee Linda Natoli of Norwich, who said the news came as a “total shock.” The announcement stunned many, she said, when it was made to the congregations of both churches during masses held on Saturday and Sunday.