January 2010 - Diocese of Bridgeport

Cadets Win
State Title
Walking
for Peace
Catholic Schools
Week is coming
Character is as important
as wining: page 20
Through cities, mountains
and cornfields: page 12
Special supplement
starts on page 13
Gerrie and Jean-Paul Musicco, chairs of 2010 Appeal
“Its about reaching out”
By PAT HENNESSY
Gerri and Jean-Paul Musicco, members of Saint
Aloysius Parish in New Canaan, have graciously
accepted Bishop Lori’s offer to represent the diocese
as the chair couple for the 2010
Living Our Faith Annual Bishop’s
Appeal. “As a young couple with
children in middle school and high
school, Gerrie and Jean-Paul have
first-hand experience with many of
the ministries supported through
the Appeal,” says Bishop Lori. He
mentions in particular the couple’s
energy in teaching in the religious education program
at Saint Aloysius, and the entire family’s dedication
to helping at New Covenant House Soup Kitchen in
Stamford.
The bishop also emphasized the need for every
Catholic in the Diocese of Bridgeport to recognize the
importance of the Appeal, especially in difficult economic times. “Some of our neighbors are struggling,”
he says. “If God has blessed you
with stability, it’s more important
than ever that you are generous in
sharing that blessing. Every single
gift counts.”
The Musiccos were drawn to
their leadership role in the Appeal
by their knowledge that the diocese, through Catholic Charities,
is the second largest provider of charity in the area
behind the government. “While the stock market is
significantly off of its lows, the real economy has not
“How can I not
help?” says Jean-Paul.
“I’m honored that the
bishop asked us.”
➤
see ABA on p. 4
EXPANDING THE CAMPUS – Kolbe Cathedral Principal
Jo-Anne Jakab stands in front of the newly-acquired building at 299 Washington Ave. in Bridgeport, with the high
school building and Saint Augustine Cathedral in the background. The new site will help with a growth in enrollment
and academic programs. For a photo of the new location
turn to page 18.
(Photo by Brian Wallace)
Kolbe Cathedral
High School
announces
expansion
By BRIAN WALLACE
Kolbe Cathedral High School has announced
plans for expansion with the acquisition of a
nearby 11,130 sq. foot property that is now vacant
in the Hollow section of Bridgeport, according to
Principal Jo-Anne Jakab.
The school plans to convert the one-story,
former Fletcher-Thompson Architects building at
299 Washington Avenue into an annex with four
➤
see Kolbe on p. 18
2010 APPEAL CHAIR COUPLE – Jean-Paul and Gerrie Musicco have been named Chair Couple of the 2010 “Living Our Faith”
Annual Bishop’s Appeal. The New Canaan couple, members of St. Aloysius Parish, bring a deep and renewed faith along with their
commitment to building a more compassionate community. They believe the Bishop’s Appeal offers a unique opportunity to reach
out to those in need throughout the region.
(Photo by Pat Hennessy)
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Wednesday, January 06, 2010 5:54:37 PM
2
January 2010
Papal Statement to Climate Change Meeting
“The Earth is a Precious Gift of the Creator”
VATICAN CITY – Pope
Benedict XVI sent a videostatement
to the U.N. summit on climate
change. It contained his message on
this issue, given August 26, 2009,
during the general audience.
I wish to reflect today upon
the relationship between the
Creator and ourselves as guardians of his creation. In so doing
I also wish to offer my support
to leaders of governments and
international agencies who soon
will meet at the United Nations
ity” (no. 49) not only between
countries but also between
individuals, since the natural
environment is given by God to
everyone, and so our use of it
entails a personal responsibility
towards humanity as a whole,
particularly towards the poor
and towards future generations
(cf. no. 48).
of global development be transformed through a greater, and
shared, acceptance of responsibility for creation This is
demanded not only by environmental factors, but also by the
scandal of hunger and misery.
Indeed, we are all called to
exercise responsible stewardship
of creation, to use resources in
such a way that every individual
and community can live with
dignity, and to develop “that
covenant between human beings
and the environment, which
should mirror the creative love
of God” (Message for the 2008
v
World Day of Peace, 7)!
Future Generations
How important it is then,
that the international community and individual governments
send the right signals
to their citizens and
succeed in countering harmful ways of
treating the environment! The economic
and social costs of
using up shared
resources must be
recognized with
transparency and
borne by those who incur them,
and not by other peoples or
future generations. The protection of the environment, and the
safeguarding of resources and
of the climate, oblige all leaders
to act jointly, respecting the law
and promoting solidarity with
the weakest regions of the world
(cf. no. 50).
“The protection of the
environment, and the safeguarding of resources and
of the climate, oblige all
leaders to act jointly.”
to discuss the urgent issue of
climate change.
Personal Responsibility
SAVE
THESE DATES!
The earth is indeed a precious gift of the Creator who,
in designing its intrinsic order,
has given us guidelines that
assist us as stewards of his creation. Precisely from within this
framework, the Church considers that matters concerning the
environment and its protection
are intimately linked with integral human development. In
my recent encyclical, Caritas in
Veritate, I referred to such questions recalling the “pressing
moral need for renewed solidar-
Benefit all People
Together we can build an
integral human development
beneficial for all peoples, present and future, a development
inspired by the values of charity
in truth. For this to happen it is
essential that the current model
Day of Recollection
for College & Young Adult Men
February 13, 2010 –
“The Joy of Priesthood”
10am - 4pm
A Day of Recollection
with Bishop William Lori
At Saint John Fisher Seminary
Stamford, Connecticut
RSVP to Fr. Robert Kinnally
at 203-416-1512
or [email protected]
High School Discernment
Group for Boys
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Meetings will be held at St. John Fisher
Seminary Residence in Stamford beginning
at 5:30pm and concluding by 8pm.
(Evening Prayer, Dinner, Discussion).
RSVP to Fr. Robert Kinnally
at 203-416-1512 or [email protected]
College Visits for High School
Junior & Senior Boys:
Consider adding St. John Fisher Seminary
to your list of college visits. It seems
to be such a mystery what life is like in
a house of discernment. We are offering
the opportunity to live the schedule and
life of the house for 24 hours.
For more information and to
schedule your visit, please contact
Father Robert Kinnally: 203-416-1512
or e-mail [email protected].
MEETING THE POPE – Bishop Lori introduces Father Joseph Marcello, priest secretary to the Bishop, to Pope
Benedict XI on a recent trip to the Vatican as part of a delegation from the Knights of Columbus. Bishop Lori
serves as Supereme Chaplain of the fraternal organization headquartered in New Haven. The Bishop accompanied Supreme Knight Carl Anderson on the visit.
Lives of “Heroic Virtue”
Sainthood causes advance
for John Paul II, Pius XII
VATICAN CITY – Pope
Benedict XVI advanced the
sainthood causes of Pope John
Paul II and Pope Pius XII,
declaring that both had lived
lives of “heroic virtues.” In
signing the decrees Dec. 19,
the pope confirmed the recommendations of Vatican officials
who have studied the causes for
several years. Both popes can
be beatified once a miracle is
attributed to their intercession.
ers should stop pressing the
issue. In the end, Pope Benedict
paired the announcement of
Pope Pius’ “heroic virtues” with
that of Pope John Paul, who
is remembered for his acts of
friendship and bridge-building
with the Jewish community.
That does not mean, however, that both popes would be
beatified together. There is no
Vatican timetable for verification of a miracle, and in some
The decree on Pope John
Paul was expected, and it
fueled hopes for a beatification
ceremony sometime next year.
Church experts are already
studying a possible miracle,
the cure of a French nun from
Parkinson’s disease, the same
disease from which Pope John
Paul suffered. The decree on
Pope Pius came as a surprise.
His sainthood cause has been a
point of contention with some
Jewish groups and others who
say he failed to do enough to
protect Jews during World War
II -- an accusation strongly
rejected by Vatican historians.
After the Congregation for
Saints’ Causes unanimously
recommended the heroic virtues
decree for Pope Pius in 2007,
Pope Benedict put the cause
on hold and put out the word
that both critics and support-
“That does not
mean, however, that
both popes would be
beatified together.”
Possible Miracle
cases sainthood causes have
waited many years for that step.
In 2005, Pope Benedict set
Pope John Paul on the fast track
to beatification by waiving the
normal five-year waiting period
for the introduction of his sainthood cause. That seemed to
respond to the “Santo subito!”
(“Sainthood now!”) banners that
were held aloft at Pope John
Paul’s funeral. In April, the
Church marks the fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul’s death.
The initial diocesan phase
of his sainthood cause was
completed in April 2007. In
November 2008, a team of
theological consultors to the
Congregation for Saints’ Causes
began studying the 2,000-page
“positio,” the document that
made the case for Pope John
Paul’s beatification. After their
favorable judgment, the cardinal and bishop members of the
sainthood congregation met last
month and gave their go-ahead
for the decree of heroic virtues.
The presumed miracle for the
Polish-born pontiff, meanwhile,
is being studied in a five-step
process that involves medical
experts, a medical board, theological consultors, the members
of the congregation and, finally,
Pope Benedict.
Criticism
The advancement of Pope
Pius XII’s cause prompted
immediate criticism from
Jewish representatives in the
United States, Israel, and
Europe. In Italy, Jewish leaders suggested the decision was
premature, since the Vatican’s
archives on the World War II
period remain sealed. An Israeli
Foreign Ministry official also
said it was difficult for historians to reach a judgment about
Pope Pius until archives were
opened, but he added that beatification of the wartime pope
was an internal issue of the
➤
see Sainthood on p. 8
3
January 2010
Loving the Church
I
t’s not too late to add one more New
Year’s resolution to the list. In addition
to the usual pledge to lose weight and
exercise, we might also resolve to grow in
our love and appreciation for the Church. No
doubt, the most important way to do this is to
thank the Lord for giving us the Church and to
ask Him to guide and protect her in these challenging times. Please pray daily for the Church
– for your parish, for the Diocese, and
for the Church throughout the world.
Another way for us to grow in love
for the Church is focus on how the
Church has contributed to Western civilization. Many of these contributions are
either omitted or glossed over in most
secular history books. In fact, in talking with high school students in public
schools I am astonished to learn how
much misinformation about the Church
is being taught in the name of history. In
more than a few Western civilization courses
the Church is portrayed as a “bad actor” when,
in fact, as the author, Thomas E. Woods,
Jr., notes, the Catholic Church built Western
civilization (see, How the Catholic Church Built
Western Civilization, Regnery Publishing, 2005)
Two caveats follow in swift succession.
First, in a brief space of this column, all I can
do is to cite highlights of how the Church
has contributed to the growth of civilization.
(Woods’ book offers an excellent overview).
Second, no one claims that there aren’t bad
episodes in the history of the Church. A
decade ago, Pope John Paul II called the
whole Church to prayer and penance for such
episodes, a humble “purification of memory.”
Similarly, the Second Vatican Council taught
that while the Church herself is holy, she is
sinful in her members (see, Lumen Gentium,
8). This is not surprising. After all, the Lord
came to call sinners and He died to save us.
Furthermore, the Church is the extension of
the Lord’s mission. She continues His work “right in
the heart of the earthly reality,” as Cardinal Henri de
Lubac wrote, “right at the core of all the confusion
and all the mischances which are inevitably involved
in its mission…. (Splendor of the Church, ix)
Even in the midst of so much “confusion and
mischance,” the Catholic Church has served as the
greatest transmitter of knowledge and civilization
in human history. In 1993, The Library of Congress
the vernacular. Think of the debt of gratitude
we owe to monks who copied and preserved
ancient manuscripts. The Catholic Church
started the university system and, not surprisingly, the Church continues to educate more
people today than any other religious group or
academic organization. The Church’s contributions to modern science are immense, including
the development of the scientific method. More
familiar to most people are the architectural, musical, literary, and artistic works
inspired by the Church’s proclamation of
the Gospel.
Less familiar is the fact that the Church
developed the foundations of wider law
and economics. Early on the Church
organized hospitals; last year in the
United States, more than 600 Catholic
hospitals served over 85 million patients.
In addition, the Church pioneered charity as a work of faith and remains one of
the largest sources of charitable and social
services. In Fairfield County, Catholic Charities
is certainly the largest non-governmental source
of those services.
The Church’s contributions to modern
science are immense, including the development of the scientific method. More familiar
to most people are the architectural, musical,
literary, and artistic works inspired by the
Church’s proclamation of the Gospel.
co-sponsored an exhibit with The Vatican Museum
entitled, “Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library and the
Renaissance Culture.” It showed the Church’s contributions to archaeology, humanism, mathematics,
music, medicine, and biology. The exhibits demonstrated how the Church had gathered and preserved
fragments of ancient civilizations – not only Athens
and Rome – also the Middle East, Africa, and the
Orient.
W
e hear much about the role of the
Church in the so-called “Dark Ages”
and about the the Galileo case. For
some, those two phrases, combined with
tendentious references to the Crusades, the Knights
Templar, and the Inquisition, constitute the Church’s
role in Western civilization. What’s missing here? The
plain fact that, in saving ancient civilizations and in
its own consistent attention to and respect for reason,
the Church was indispensible in the development of
Western civilization. It was the Church that assembled the books of the Bible and translated them into
Friday, January 22
• March for Life Rally, Washington DC
Editor’s note: These are the highlights of Bishop Lori’s
public calendar of activities for the next month. Subject to change.
Please contact each location for details.
Tuesday, January 26
• Cathedral Education Cluster Board Meeting,
Catholic Center, 7:30 a.m.
• Saint Mark School, Stratford, 9 a.m.
• Saint Rose of Lima School, Newtown 11:45 a.m.
Saturday, January 16
• Father Richard Murphy Installation, Our Lady
of Peace, Lordship 5 p.m.
Sunday, January 17
• Knights of Columbus Pro Life Mass, Saint Mary
Church, New Haven, 10 a.m.
Monday, January 18
• Haitian Mass, 6 p.m. Saint Charles Borremeo
Parish, Bridgeport
January 18-25
• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Tuesday, January 19
• 2010 Bishop’s Annual Appeal Launch Dinner,
Saint Mark School, Stratford, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20
• Catholic Charities Board Meeting, Catholic
Center, 8 a.m.
A
dd to this the parish priests who effec-
tively serve our parishes daily, the
deacons who, with their wives, give of themselves so generously, the
many religious, our seminarians, a growing lay
leadership, and so many families committed to
faith throughout the Diocese – we have reason
for hope, confidence, joy, and renewed vigor in
fulfilling the Church’s mission in our place and
time. Are their problems to be solved, challenges to be faced, and sins to be expiated? Yes, to
be sure! Yet the Lord remains with His Church!
So let our New Year’s resolution be to love the
Church, endowed with truth and holiness and
struggling valiantly as a pilgrim in history to
proclaim the Gospel and to continue the Lord’s
saving work until He comes again in glory. v
Highlights
from Bishop William E. Lori’s
Public Calendar
• 2010 Bishop’s Annual Appeal Launch Dinner, Saint
Rose of Lima School, Newtown, 7 p.m.
Thursday, January 21
• Annual March for Life Mass, Basilica of the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington
DC, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 27
• Breakfast of Champions, Catholic Center, 8 a.m.
• Saint Catherine of Siena School, Trumbull 11:30
a.m.
• Our Lady of Fatima School, Wilton 1:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 28
• Saint Cecilia School, Stamford, 8:30 a.m.
• Holy Spirit School, Stamford, 9:45 a.m.
• Greenwich Catholic, Greenwich 11:30 a.m.
January 29-February 4
• Bishop’s Annual Appeal “Snowbird” Trip to Florida
February 5-7
• Knights of Columbus Board Meeting, Marriott
New York Marquis, New York
4
January 2010
Ordination to the Order of Deacon
Last step on road to the priesthood
CONGRATULATIONS! Bishop William Lori congratulates (above) Jaime D. Marin-Cardona 41, after his ordination
to the Order of Deacon at a Mass held on January 3 at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport. The ordination as
deacon is the last step on his journey to the priesthood. As a transitional deacon, he will assist and preach at Masses and
perform baptisms and other duties as he completes theological studies and anticipates his ordination to the priesthood
this spring. A native of Colombia, Deacon Cardona came to the U.S. in 2004 and entered Saint John Fisher Seminary
Residence in Stamford in 2006. He is currently serving at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish.
At right, Jeffrey Couture, 38, was ordained to the Order of Deacon by Bishop Lori during a mass on December 12 at
Holy Family Parish in Fairfield, where he grew up and his parents are parishioners. The Sacred Heart University graduate
expects to complete his theological studies at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, in June. The day following his ordination he assisted at his first Mass with Father Guido Montanaro, pastor of Holy Family. Prior to coming
to Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford, Deacon Couture served as a manager in the food industry and the
Marriott Hotel chain.
ABA continued from p. 1
➤
yet fully healed,” says JeanPaul, a managing director of a
Connecticut based money manager, acknowledging both the
challenge and the necessity of
the Appeal.
The Appeal provides essential services and ministries of
the Church in Fairfield County,
including Catholic schools
and parish religious education
programs, Catholic Charities,
soup kitchens, food pantries,
vocations to the priesthood and
religious life, and parish finance
services. The 2010 Appeal will
be launched in all 87 parishes
of the diocese the weekend of
February 20 and ends on June
30. In recognition of the difficult economy, this year’s goal
has been set at $12 million.
The Musiccos’ faith journey
mirrors that of many of their
contemporaries. Jean-Paul
was born in Toronto, Canada.
Gerrie was born in Northern
Ireland, but grew up in Canada.
Both came from Catholic families – Gerrie attended Catholic
school through high school
– but they drifted from the practice of the faith in adulthood.
Faith Journey
“None of my friends were
going to Church, and I just
Attention “Snowbirds”!
Will you or your family members
be in Florida this winter?
Bishop William E. Lori
will attend receptions
in Naples on January 31,
Palm Beach on February 2, and
Vero Beach on February 3.
More dates and details
to follow. Please
e-mail Pat Hansen:
[email protected]
to join the invitation list.
See you in the Sunshine State!
thought, ‘Oh, it’s my mother’s
faith,’” says Gerrie.
The couple had married in
the Church, and had all their
children baptized. Though
they were widely traveled and
had lived in London, England,
a while, it was not until they
moved to Connecticut in 1994
that they saw the value of a
life of faith firsthand. “There’s
much more of a religious community among people our age
down here than in Canada,”
says Jean-Paul. “Our friends
were fully engaged and active at
Saint Aloysius. They were wonderful examples for us.”
They saw Fairfield County as
an ideal place to set down roots
and raise their children. They
became U.S. citizens and, as the
children grew older, enrolled
them in religious education
classes at Saint Aloysius.
When their children came
home from classes with questions and comments, JeanPaul, in particular, began to see
what he was missing. He had
no formal religious education in
his childhood, and enrolled in
the Rite of Christian Initiation
(RCIA) program at Saint
Aloysius as a way to begin to
understand the Catholic faith.
“The RCIA program in Saint
Aloysius is so fantastic,” he
says. With the encouragement
of RCIA leaders Bernie and
Joan Rafferty, Jean-Paul was
confirmed at the Easter Vigil of
2006 – by Bishop Lori.
“I began to see what the
Catholic Church was doing,”
he says. The couple had already
been involved in philanthropic
work in their community, particularly at Kids in Crisis, where
Jean-Paul served on the board,
and various local charities. Now
they’ve become active in parish
projects as well.
Giving Back
“When we went down to
New Covenant House as part of
able,” says Jean-Paul. “I had no
idea how much the diocese was
doing. I had no idea about the
vocations program at Saint John
Fisher Seminary, or the quality
of our Blue Ribbon Schools.”
This year, when Bishop Lori
invited them to become lay
chair couple for the Living Our
Gerrie and Jean-Paul Musicco
our son’s Confirmation service
hours, we took all the kids,”
remembers Gerrie. “We didn’t
want them living in the bubble
of New Canaan. The visit was
eye-opening for all of us. When
we came home, their first question was, ‘When can we go
back again?’”
As the Musiccos became
more involved in Church
activities, they met Bishop Lori
again. At a Malta House dinner they bid on, and won, the
opportunity for a private dinner
with the bishop. “Bishop Lori
is so eloquent and knowledge-
Faith 2010 Bishop’s Appeal,
they were eager to assist him.
“How can I not help?” says
Jean-Paul. “I’m honored that he
asked us.”
He expects that the Living
Our Faith Appeal will meet
its projected goal, even in this
economic climate. “You’d be
amazed at how readily people
respond,” he says. “They think,
‘Things are tough, but when I
look into my situation, I’m not
all that bad off. I know other
people have it worse.’ The
Appeal is just about reaching
out to them.” v
January 2010
5
Mass for Life
“If you can’t go to the
March, please pray”
By KAREN KOVACS
DYDZUHN
Life is sacred and a gift from
God and, as followers of Christ
Jesus, we are called upon to
protect the dignity of every
human being, from their conception to a natural death.
This was the message delivered by Bishop William E. Lori
during a recent Mass for Life
held January 10 in Fairfield.
Parishioners and honored
guests, including members of
the religious order Sisters for
Life, the Knights of Columbus,
and pro-life advocates, joined
parishioners at Saint Pius X
Church.
It was fitting that this
Sunday’s Gospel reading celebrated the Feast of our Lord’s
Baptism, Lori noted, because
“Baptism enables us to share in
God’s own divine life through
sanctifying grace.”
Moreover, if God loved us
so much that He gave us the
Sacrament of Baptism, He must
truly value our humanity. We,
in turn, are commissioned with
protecting this precious gift of
life, Bishop Lori explained during his homily.
The commitment of the
Fairfield parish to its youth was
evident through this special
liturgical service. Several young
people handed out prayers in
celebration of new life in the
church vestibule before Mass.
Among the concelebrants
with Bishop Lori were Msgr.
Ernest T. Esposito, director of
the diocese’s Respect for Life
ministry; and Msgr. Lawrence
J. Carroll, pastor of Saint Pius
X. Many young people joined
the clergy at the altar. Two high
school cantors, Eric Regan and
Tom Huerta, led the congregation in the responsorial psalm.
Scripture readers Michael
O’Neill and Katie Tangney are
also part of the parish’s youth
group.
Offering praise and thanksgiving to our Lord through
song, Saint Pius X’s Schola
Choir, comprised of students
in grades four to eight, joined
the church’s adult choir for
Sunday’s liturgy.
Michele Modugno, a member of the youth ministry team,
said the parish is blessed to have
so many young people involved
in the church. “Older people
who have been at this parish a
long time love to see so many
young people getting active,”
she noted. “It keeps the parish
flourishing. They also realize
that the young people’s faith is
flourishing, too.”
At the end of the Mass,
Msgr. Esposito introduced
Katie Landry, a college student
and graduate of Saint Joseph’s
High School in Trumbull, and
Anne Marie Romano, a parent
and nurse. They both talked
about the importance of par-
ticipating in the annual March
for Life, held on January 22 in
Washington, D.C.
Joining the group from
Fairfield County for the first
time last year, Landry explained
how amazed she was to see so
many gathered at the country’s
capitol to support the pro-life
movement. She was especially
moved by the sight of women
wearing black tee-shirts displaying the message, “I regret my
abortion.”
“I couldn’t believe the courage these women had,” Landry
noted.
She ended her testimony by
imploring people to support
life by praying. “If you can’t
go to the March, please pray,”
Landry said. “Pro-life isn’t just
an opinion; it’s a lifestyle.”
Sister Dorothy Guadalupe,
a member of the Sisters of Life
religious order, agrees. “Our
order is dedicated to protecting the sanctity of human life
at every stage of life,” she said.
“The Mass is the best way to
promote this.”
The Sisters of Life, based
in Stamford, attend Masses
for New Life throughout the
diocese. They also support Our
Sacred Heart Convent’s program for pregnant women and
the Villa Maria Retreat House,
which she describes as “a place
of healing and mercy.”
“We serve those who are
➤
see Mass for Life on p. 7
DELIGHT IN HER GRANDCHILD suffused the face of a woman attending
the Mass for Life, celebrated by Bishop Lori at Saint Pius X Parish in Fairfield
on January 10. “We must protect this precious gift of life,” Bishop Lori told the
congregation. (Photo by Karen Leffler)
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6
January 2010
WW II Hero Remembered
St. Vincent’s ER named for Michael Daly
By BRIAN WALLACE
“With his name on the
building we are honor bound
to make Mike Daly proud, and
we will,” said St. Vincent’s
President/CEO Susan Davis
at the dedication of the new
Michael J. Daly Center for
Emergency and Trauma Care of
St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
More than 150 invited guests
turned out for the dedication
ceremony and tours of the new
40,000 square foot facility with
a full acre of space.
The gathering brought
together friends and family,
including Daly’s wife Margaret
“Maggie” Daly and his two
grown children, Deirdre and
Mickey.
The pride in the room was
unmistakable when the new signage was unveiled naming the
ER for Daly.
The World War II
Congressional Medal of Honor
winner who could have had
bridges, roads and public buildings named for him decided in
the end to have his name associated with St. Vincent’s, where
he had served as a board member for 30 years.
The ceremony began with
a Color Guard from Fairfield
American Legion Post 143 and
74 and Disabled Veterans of
American Chapter 19. Father
Samuel Scott, a friend of Daly’s
who officiated at his funeral in
August 2008 at Saint Pius X
Parish in Fairfield, delivered the
invocation.
named after him and “acceeded
only in the last few months of
his life” to have the new ER
named in his memory.
Daly grew up on farm in
Southport and became a fixture
of town life from his office in
the old Tide Mill Building on
Southport Harbor, where he ran
business in the oil industry.
Medal of Honor
He entered the U. S. Military
Academy in 1942 and enlisted
a year later. He took part in
the D-Day invasion and later
entered Nuremberg with the
Army’s Third Infantry Division
on August 23, 1945. The
20-year old captain was presented the Congressional Medal
DALY FRIENDS AND FAMILY – Margaret “Maggie” Daly (seated), widow
of the late war hero and philanthropist Michael J. Daly, is surrounded by family
member and friends at the recent dedication ceremony for the new St. Vincent’
ER named in Mr. Daly’s memory. Her daughter Deirdre Daly (seated next to
Mrs. Daly) and son, Mickey (standing second from left) toured the new facility
and thanked those in attendance.
Daly was fondly and tearfully remembered as a war hero,
father, friend and philanthro-
Man of Faith
Father Scott, who now serves
as rector of Saint John Fisher
Seminary in Stamford, said
that Michael Daly understood
that faith rescued people from
slavery and sin, and chose to
support the Emergency Room
where patients “may be rescued
from the grip of death.”
Michael J. Daly
pist, who cared deeply about
people and tried to serve them
through his efforts as the longest-standing board member of
St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
Daly was a man of deep
faith and was generous to many
parishes. He was
also one of the first
to make a leadership gift toward the
restoration of Saint
Augustine Cathedral
in Bridgeport.
“The arc of his life
went from the ravages of the Normandy
battlefields to the solace of others” through
his work as a board
member and his commitment
to emergency medicine, said his
daughter Deirdre Daly.
Describing her father as a
man “of great courage and tender compassion,” Deirdre Daly
said “he had the most uncanny
ability to comfort unlike anyone
else I’ve ever known.”
She said he had the highest
regard for physicians and was
committed to the emergency
department “as a place of great
caring and a safety net for the
community.
He loved
the hospital
more than
anything
else he
did.”
Susan
Davis, who
thanked the
many family members
and friends who attended the
dedication said that as a board
member Daly’s support for the
Medical Center was based on
“his commitment to quality”.
of Honor at the White House by
President Harry Truman for his
bravery in saving his company
under sniper fire.
Ron Bianchi, President of the
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
Foundation and longtime friend
of Daly, described him as “a
board member like no other.
His loyalty had no boundaries.”
Bianchi
said the
dedication
was a great
moment
because it
represented
the wonderful legacy
of Michael
Daly “with
a new
chapter in the history of St.
Vincent’s.”
Now that the new
Emergency Room is open,
renovations will begin on the
old ER. When completed in
the fall of 2010, the Michael
J. Daly Center for Trauma
& Emergency Care will provide 60 beds, an increase of 32
over the current number
The 40,000 square foot
structure will include specialized trauma and critical care
suites, a “Fast Track” area for
minor case needs, dedicated
OB/GYN rooms, a pediatric
area, and an expanded behavioral health and psychiatric
area with focus on privacy and
safety.
For more information
visit the St. Vincent’s website at
www.stvincents.org.
v
“‘The arc of his life
went from the ravages
of the Normandy battlefields to the solace of
others’ through his work
as a board member.”
Conscience of the Board
Describing him as a war
hero, a gentle giant, and man
of great humility, she said that
Michael Daly was “the conscience of the board and an
advocate of always doing what’s
right for the patient.”
She said that putting Daly’s
name to the emergency room
was “a way of remembering
Mike forever.” New signage
was unveiled at the end of the
ceremony to applause from the
group.
Jonathan Dawson of
Norwalk, a long time friend of
Daly, said that the reticent hero
refused all offers to have things
7
January 2010
Haitian earthquake
Health Reform Update:
Pope prays for Haiti victims
Urgent:
USCCB Bulletin
Stop Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform!
Protect Conscience
Ensure Affordable Health Coverage
Allow Immigrants to Purchase Private Health Insurance
As long-time advocates of health care reform, the U.S.
Catholic bishops continue to make the moral case that genuine
health care reform must protect the life, dignity, consciences
and health of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Health
care reform should not advance a pro-abortion agenda in our
country.
• On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives
passed major health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding, and widely supported policy against
using federal funds for elective abortions and includes
positive measures on affordability and immigrants.
• On December 24, the U.S. Senate rejected this policy
and passed health care reform that requires federal funds
to help subsidize and promote health plans that cover
elective abortions. All purchasers of such plans will be
required to pay for other people’s abortions through a
separate payment solely to pay for abortion.
• Outside the abortion context, neither bill has adequate
conscience protection for health care providers, plans or
employers.
• These two bills must now be combined into one bill that
both the House and Senate will vote on in final form.
Provisions against abortion funding and in favor of conscience protection, affordability, and immigrants’ access
to health care must be part of a fair and just health care
reform bill, or the final bill must be opposed.
ACTION: Contact your Representative and Senators today
by e-mail, phone or FAX:
• To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action.
• Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at:
(202) 224-3121, or call your members’ local offices.
Contact info can be found on members’ web sites at
www.house.gov & www.senate.gov.
By JOHN THAVIS
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Pope Benedict XVI prayed for
victims of a massive earthquake
in Haiti and urged the international community to provide
generous assistance to the stricken population of the Caribbean
nation.
Catastrophe
The pope made his appeal at
the end of his general audience
on January 13, some 12 hours
after a magnitude 7 earthquake
struck Haiti, toppling buildings
and causing widespread destruction. The number of casualties
was not immediately known,
but local officials called it a
major catastrophe.
The pope said he wanted to
highlight the dramatic situation
in Haiti following the devastating earthquake.
“I appeal to the generosity of
everyone, so that our brothers
and sisters receive our concrete
solidarity and the effective support of the international community in this moment of need
and suffering,” he said.
He said the Catholic
Church’s charity organizations
would immediately move into
action to assist those in need.
“I invite everyone to join in
my prayer to the Lord for the
victims of this catastrophe and
for those who are mourning
their loss. I assure my spiritual
closeness to people who have
lost their homes, imploring from
God consolation and relief of
their suffering,” he said.
Caritas Internationalis, the
Vatican-based umbrella organization for Catholic Charities,
said it was mobilizing to provide immediate assistance to
Haiti.
Caritas Internationalis
Humanitarian Director Alistair
Dutton was leading the emergency relief team, Caritas said
in a statement.
Over 200 Hospitals
“A priority for Caritas will
be to assess the damage and
our local capacity to provide
aid to survivors of the quake.
Caritas runs over 200 hospitals
and medical centers in Haiti. It
is experienced and prepared to
respond to humanitarian disasters there as a result of the frequent hurricanes,” he said.
“Communication with our
staff on the ground is difficult,
but we are piecing together a
picture of desperate need. Haiti
is the poorest country in the
Western Hemisphere. Conflict,
recent natural disasters, and
poverty have left Haitians with
weak infrastructure. Working
in that environment will be difficult,” he said.
Caritas also said the U.S.based Catholic Relief Services
had been in communication
with its staff in Haiti.
Local Response
In Connecticut, the Diocese
of Norwich reported that two
of the staff members from its
Haitian Ministries were trapped
in their mission house in Haiti.
In the Diocese of Bridgeport,
two parishes serve large Haitian
communities, Saint Charles
Borromeo in Bridgeport and
Saint John the Evangelist
in Stamford, along with the
Haitian American Catholic
Center in Stamford.
Bishop Lori said he “was
deeply concerned” given the
many family and personal ties
that many people throughout
the diocese have with Haiti and
that the diocese would response
“with prayer and support.”
Al Barber, CEO of Catholic
Charities, said he and his team
will be assessing the situation
and looking for ways to provide
relief.
(For more information on the
diocesan response to the disaster,
visit the website at
v
www.bridgeportdiocese.com.)
MESSAGE – HOUSE: “I am pleased that the House health
care bill maintains the longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion. I urge you to work to uphold essential provisions against abortion funding, to include full conscience protection and to assure that health care is accessible and affordable for all. Until and unless these criteria are met, I urge you
to oppose the final bill.”
MESSAGE – SENATE: “I am deeply disappointed that
the Senate health care bill fails to maintain the longstanding
policy against federal funding of abortion and does not include
adequate protection for conscience. I urge you to support essential provisions against abortion funding, similar to those in the
House bill. Include full conscience protection and assure that
health care is accessible and affordable for all. Until and unless
these criteria are met, I urge you to oppose the final bill.”
WHEN: Votes in the House and Senate on the final bill are
expected in January.
Act today! Thank You!
Mass for Life
➤
active in promoting the culture of life and those who
are wounded by the culture
of death,” Sister Dorothy
explained.
Knights
The Knights of Columbus
were also on hand at Sunday’s
Mass to lend their support for
life. Gary Thomas, of Monroe,
and the Knights’ district deputy
in New Haven, noted that the
fraternal organization has contributed millions of dollars to
pro-life causes. “One of the
principles of the Knights of
v
continued from p. 5
Columbus is, in fact, being prolife,” he added.
During a procession, a local
family, escorted by the Knights,
bestowed a beautiful array
of roses to the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Sister Dorothy also read
a prayer to Saint Mary asking
for continual grace and protection.
(Space is still available on busses
leaving for the March for Life on
January 22. For prices and availability, call the Respect Life Office:
416-1444, or e-mail
v
[email protected]). Starts Friday, January 22
19723 EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES FAITH BASED AD 6" X 8"
BW RUN DATE: JAN 2010 AD DUE: 12/23/09 TERRY HINES: 1/4/10
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8
January 2010
Former pastor of Saint Mark, Stratford
Msgr. Lawrence J. McMahon dies at 82
By BRIAN WALLACE
Msgr. Lawrence J.
McMahon, retired pastor of
Saint Mark Parish in Stratford,
died on December 15 at St.
Vincent’s Medical Center. He
was 82 years old.
Remembered as an affable,
devout priest with a gifted singing voice and an easy manner
with people, Msgr. McMahon
was recalled fondly by many
parishioners as a real version of
Father O’Malley in the noted
film “Going my Way.” He was
known for his singing in many
parish productions and fund
raisers.
Born in Bridgeport on May
19, 1927, Msgr. McMahon
was a member of Saint Charles
Borromeo Parish, where he
attended school and served as
an altar boy. His interest in
music began early on; during
his grammar school days he was
a soloist in the Saint Charles
Boy’s Choir.
He later attended Harding
High School and graduated
from Fairfield Prep in 1945.
He served in the U.S. Army
Quartermaster Corps at the end
of World War II, and entered
Saint Thomas Seminary in
Bloomfield in 1947.
Army Vet
“I met him my freshman
year in the seminary, when he
had just come out of the army,”
recalls Msgr. John Gilmartin,
retired pastor of Our Lady of
Peace Parish in Stratford, who
remained a good friend of Msgr.
Sainthood ➤
Catholic Church.
The Vatican’s sainthood
congregation had assembled the
necessary documents for Pope
Pius’s beatification cause in
2004. Subsequent evaluations
by historians, theologians, and
was appointed spiritual director of Saint
Joseph High School
with residence at
Saint Joseph Parish in
Shelton, and in 1967
added an assignment
as diocesan director
of the Family Life
Bureau.
Msgr. McMahon
was a Fourth Degree
member of the Saint
Theresa Knights of
Columbus. During his
priesthood, he also
served as an advisor at the Bridgeport
Juvenile Court, an
advocate on the
Msgr. Lawrence J. McMahon
Diocesan Tribunal,
and chaplain at St.
McMahon’s throughout the fol- Vincent’s Medical Center. He
lowing 62 years.
was chaplain of the Stratford
The two would travel togeth- Police Department, a member
er, and met frequently for dinof the diocesan Presbyterial
ner when they were both pastors Council, and a former member
in Stratford. “He had a touch of of the board of admissions for
class,” Msgr. Gilmartin remem- the St. John Fisher Seminary.
bered. “He’d needle me, but it
Pastor of Saint Mark’s
was with a quiet, understated
In 1969, Msgr. McMahon
humor.”
became pastor of Saint Mark
Msgr. McMahon completed
Parish, a position he would
his seminary studies at Saint
hold for 34 years. On August 3,
Mary Seminary in Baltimore in
1991, he was elevated to Prelate
1949. He was ordained in Saint of Honor by His Holiness Pope
Augustine Cathedral in 1955
John Paul II.
by Bishop Lawrence J. Shehan,
“He knew everybody in his
first bishop of Bridgeport.
parish by name,” says Msgr.
Msgr. McMahon’s first
Gilmartin. “Because all his
assignment was as parochial
assignments were in the same
vicar of Saint Theresa Parish
area, he baptized most of them,
in Trumbull, where he served
saw them in CYO and gramfor eight years. In 1963, he
mar school, was their chaplain
continued from p. 2
a panel of cardinals and bishops
resulted in the recommendation in 2007 to proceed with the
advancement of the beatification process. But later that year,
in a highly unusual step, Pope
Benedict appointed a commis-
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sion to look at new archival
information about Pope Pius
and study how his beatification
would affect Catholic-Jewish
and Vatican-Israeli relations.
Saved Thousands
In 2008 Bishop Sergio
Pagano, prefect of the Vatican
archives, said that the Vatican’s
five archivists would need
another five or six years to
catalog documents from Pope
Pius’ 1939-58 pontificate. Pope
Pius has been criticized by
Jewish groups who said he did
little to mobilize the Church in
defense of Jews against the Nazi
extermination campaign. Other
experts have published evidence
to show that the late pope
worked quietly but effectively
to save the lives of thousands of
Jews during World War II.
Late in 2008, marking the
50th anniversary of Pope Pius’
death, Pope Benedict praised
the pope for his extraordinary
intelligence, excellent memory,
great fluency in foreign languages, “remarkable sensitivity,” an
unwavering dedication to God
and a deep love for Christ, the
church and humanity.
Pope Benedict said at the
time that the church was “praying that (his) beatification cause
may proceed happily.”
(Supplied by Catholic News Service)
at Saint Joseph’s, and probably married half of them. He
remembered every one. His
good deeds live after him.”
In return, Msgr. McMahon
is fondly remembered by Saint
Mark’s parishioners for his participation in the 25 musicals and
20 cabarets the parish started
over the years, including the
popular St. Patrick Corned Beef
Cabarets. Msgr. McMahon was
featured in various roles, playing everything from the Wizard
of Oz to an Episcopal clergyman in parish productions.
“People get to know you in a
Clergy Residence in Stamford,
where he continued to help
out in parishes throughout the
diocese.
On December 20, Msgr.
McMahon’s body was received
at Saint Mark Church at 2 p.m.
A parish Vigil Mass was celebrated at 7 p.m. Msgr. Laurence
Carroll, pastor of Saint Pius X
Parish in Fairfield, was the principal celebrant; Father Michael
Lyons, parochial vicar at Notre
Dame Parish in Easton, gave
the homily. A Mass of Christian
Burial was celebrated at Saint
Mark’s on December 21 at
11 a.m. Bishop
William E. Lori
was the celebrant;
Msgr. Carroll
delivered the
homily. Interment
followed in
Saint Michael
Cemetery,
Stratford, with full
military honors.
A memorial Mass for Msgr.
McMahon was celebrated at
Saint Bridget of Ireland Parish,
Stamford, on January 6 at 7
p.m. for his fellow priests at the
Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen
of the Clergy retired priests
residence. v
“He had a touch of class,”
Msgr. Gilmartin remembered. “He’d needle me, but
it was with a quiet, understated humor.”
different light. It makes them
less hesitant to come to you
with their problems,” he said of
his roles.
Msgr. McMahon retired as
pastor of Saint Mark’s in 2003
and moved to the Catherine
Dennis Keefe Queen of the
Mass Confusion
BY FATHER F. JOHN RINGLEY, JR.
Music
As I greeted parishioners after Mass one Sunday, a woman
stopped to say how much she loves the music in our parish.
Two minutes later a man stopped to say how much he dislikes the music in our parish. There are also those who tell me
they prefer Mass with no music at all. To some extent, this
cacophony can be explained by the ancient proverb de gustibus
non disputandum: “There is no disputing about tastes”. At the
same time, the choice of music for the Mass has never been
left to the individual taste of the music director, the pastor, or
anyone else.
The Second Vatican Council’s teaching on music is rather
broad, but we can extract a few points that give us a starting place for discussion. First, “for the celebration … of the
Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, a form of sung Mass
is to be preferred as much as possible…” (MS 27). That is,
the Church prefers singing over not singing. So, what sort of
music should be sung? “The Church recognizes Gregorian
chant as being especially suited to the Roman liturgy.
Therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of
place in liturgical services” (SC 116).
Not only has Gregorian chant not been given pride of
place in the average liturgical service, but it holds almost no
place at all. This is certainly not what the Council intended.
Furthermore, “although a suitable place may be allotted to the
vernacular [e.g. English, Spanish, etc.] in Masses… care must
be taken to ensure that the faithful may also be able to say or
sing together in Latin the parts of the Mass which pertain to
them” (SC 54).
This has certainly not been done. While the Council did
teach that other types of suitable music COULD be used in
the Mass, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that
we have ignored the Council’s teaching about what kind of
music SHOULD be used.
Sources: Musicam Sacram (1967) [post-Vat. II]; Sacrosanctum
Concilium (1962) [Vat. II]; General Instruction of the Roman
Missal (2002) no. 48.
(Father Ringley is spiritual director at Kolbe-Cathedral High
School in Bridgeport.)
v
9
January 2010
Chaplain of Saint Joseph’s Manor
Father Alfred E.
Russo, 80
By PAT HENNESSY
Father Alfred
E. Russo died in
Stamford Hospital on
December 13 after a
long illness. He was
80 years old.
A social, gregarious
man, Father Russo
made friends wherever
he was assigned, and
kept those friends
throughout his life. In
his last assignment as
resident chaplain at
Saint Joseph’s Manor
in Trumbull, he was
beloved not only for
his warm smile and
kindness, but for
Father Alfred E. Russo
his readiness to kid
around with patients after Mass or during pastoral visits.
“He had a great way with patients,” says Stephen Roche, a
neighbor of Father Russo’s in Saint Joseph’s Theresian Towers and
a good friend. “He kept in contact with people from past parishes,
and he was always ready to help people.”
Military Service
Father Russo was born and raised in New Britain, and received
his sacraments at Saint Ann Parish there. He began his studies for
the priesthood at the School of Saint Philip Neri in Boston, MA.,
but interrupted them to serve in the United States Army as a corporal from 1951-53. Because of his background, he served as chaplain’s assistant in the military.
Returning home, he entered Our Lady of Mercy Seminary in
Lenox, MA, and completed his theological studies at our Lady of
Angels Seminary
in Albany, NY.
He was ordained
by Bishop Walter
W. Curtis in
Saint Augustine
Cathedral in
Bridgeport on May 26, 1962.
His first appointment was as parochial vicar of Saint Joseph
Parish in Danbury. Father Russo held that appointment while
teaching religion on the faculty of Immaculate High School in
Danbury from 1962-63. He later served at Saint Philip Parish in
Norwalk, Sacred Heart Parish in Greenwich, and Saint Gregory
the Great Parish in Danbury.
“He had a great way with
patients. He was always
ready to help people.”
Highlight
In 1989, Father Russo was named temporary administrator of
Saint Roch Parish in Greenwich. Following that appointment, he
served at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, Sacred Heart
Parish in Stamford, and Saint Mary Parish in Ridgefield. A highlight of Father Russo’s life was meeting Pope John Paul II in 1981.
Throughout his priesthood Father Russo continued his studies, receiving a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from Iona
College in New Rochelle, NY, and pursuing a doctoral degree at
Saint Mary Seminary University in Baltimore, MD.
In 1995, Father Russo came to Saint Joseph’s Manor. “He made
the effort to make people comfortable,” says Joan Boesch, director of pastoral care at the Manor, who has known him for over a
dozen years. “If they were Italian he’d use the few words that he
knew, or he’d learn some words in their language.”
The pastoral care staff treasures a note from a woman whose
mother had been a resident of the Manor. “He endeared himself to
her and us as he exchanged Polish words and phrases,” she wrote.
“That was part of his personality – how he got to know people
and how they knew him,” says Boesch. “He would come over to
anoint people and be with families at any hour. Because he lived
here, they were his family.”
Father Russo retired to the Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen
of Clergy Residence in 2007. He was received into Saint Bridget
of Ireland Parish in Stamford, next door to the Queen of Clergy
Residence, at 5 p.m. on December 18. A parish Mass was celebrated for Father Russo at Saint Bridget by Bishop William E. Lori that
evening at 7 p.m. Bishop Lori also delivered the homily.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Russo
at Saint Ann’s in New Britain, his home parish, the following
morning at 11:30 a.m. Msgr. Kevin Royal, vicar of clergy personnel, was the principal celebrant and homilist. Interment with full
Military Honors followed in the Garden Mausoleum at Saint Mary
Cemetery, New Britain.
v
Pastor of Saint John, Darien; Saint Luke, Westport
Msgr. Pierre A. Botton, 80
By PAT HENNESSY
Msgr. Pierre A. Botton, former pastor of both Saint John
Parish in Darien and Saint
Luke Parish in Westport, died
on January 3 at Rosenthal
Hospice in Stamford. He was
80 years old.
Born in 1929 in Lyon,
France, he attended the
Grand Seminary of Saint
Sulpice, Issy-les-Moulineaux,
France, and completed
his seminary education at
Saint Joseph’s Seminary in
Yonkers, NY, and Mount
Saint Mary Seminary,
Emmitsburg, MD. He was
ordained on June 2, 1956, at
Saint Mary Parish by Bishop
(later Cardinal) Lawrence
Shehan.
Musically Gifted
Father Botton’s first assignment was a parochial vicar
of Saint Cecilia Parish in
Stamford. Musically gifted,
he directed the parish’s adult
and boys’ choirs. In addition
to parish duties, he taught
religion at Stamford Catholic
High School (now Trinity
Catholic).
In 1965, he was appointed
to the faculty of the former
Saint Mary’s Boys High
School in Greenwich, becoming head of the French department and director of the glee
club. While there he was resident priest first at Saint Roch
Parish in Greenwich, then at
Sacred Heart Parish in Byram.
He was named pastor of
Saint John Parish in Darien
in 1972 and was pastor of
Saint Luke Parish in Westport
from 1990-97. He served as
chair of the Darien Clergy
Association and the Board
of Commissioners of Social
Service, and became chaplain
of the Darien and Noroton
Msgr. Botton was senior
priest at Saint Matthew’s
until 2006, when he entered
the Catherine Dennis
Keefe Queen of the Clergy
Residence in Stamford.
“He created a Bible study
that still continues, and shared
in the RCIA process,” says Msgr.
Orlowski. “He
loved preaching,
and he loved being
with people. He
turned his love of
music into a hymn
of praise in all that
he did.”
Msgr. Botton is
survived by his sister and brother-inlaw, Madeleine and
Loretto Buzzeo of
Stamford, as well as
a niece and nephew.
He was received
Msgr. Pierre A. Botton
into Saint John’s on
January 6 at 5 p.m.
Msgr. McGrath
celebrated the parish vigil Mass at 7
p.m. and delivered
the homily. A Mass
of Christian Burial
was celebrated for
in 1979,” says Msgr. Walter
Msgr. Botton the following
Orlowski, pastor of Saint
morning by Bishop William
Matthew Parish in Norwalk.
E. Lori. Msgr. Walter
He was named a Prelate of
Orlowski, was the homilist.
Honor to His Holiness, Pope
Interment followed at Saint
John Paul II, with the title of
Mary Cemetery in Ridgefield.
Monsignor, in 1996.
He will be received into
Enthusiasm
Saint John’s on January 6
“In his assignment as pastor
at 5 p.m., followed by the
of Saint Luke’s, I was his neigh- parish vigil Mass at 7 p.m.
bor at Assumption,” says Frank A Mass of Christian Burial
McGrath, the current pastor of
will be celebrated for Msgr.
Saint John’s. “He inspired me
Botton at Saint John’s the
with his enthusiasm, love for
following morning at 10:30
the priesthood, and dedication
a.m. Interment will follow
to his people.”
at Saint Mary Cemetery in
Ridgefield. v
Following his retirement,
Fire Departments.
Deeply interested in liturgical music, he led choirs in the
parish in which he served, and
was a member of the diocesan
Music Board. “He coordinated
the music for our ordination
“He turned his love of
music into a hymn of
praise in all that he did.”
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10
January 2010
National Migration Week
Bishops call Catholics to welcome newcomers
By PAT HENNESSY
For National Migration
Week, held this year the week
of January 3-10, the United
States Conference of Catholic
Bishops’ (USCCB) called on
Catholics to welcome newcomers and work for passage of
Comprehensive Immigration
Reform in 2010. The theme of the week:
“Renewing Hope, Seeking
Justice,” expressed the motivation for Christians everywhere
to reach out a helping hand to
those who are suffering, alone,
and on the verge of despair. Following the lead of Pope
Benedict XVI, who is focusing on “Minor Migrants and
Refugees” for the 2010 World
Day of Migrants and Refugees,
the USCCB is focusing on
migrant children this year.
learn English, and direct them
to citizenship classes. A large
part of their work is spent assisting in family reunification, aiding a working adult with legal
papers in the convoluted process
needed to bring a spouse or children into the country.
Immorality
Mis-information
“I think there’s so much
mis-information out there
about immigrants,” says Alex
Arévalo, immigration counselor
for Catholic Charities. “The
best way to help immigrants
may be simply to keep your
eyes open, keep your mind
open. Immigrants are proud
people. They’re not looking for
a handout. They want to work
in peace and provide for their
families.”
Statistics show that, over
time, immigrants adjust to the
culture, learn English, hold
down jobs, pay taxes, buy
houses, and contribute to the
economic well-being of the
country. Frequently, the current
legal system interferes with this
process.
“I answered a call this morning from the father of a child
who’s only a year and a half
old,” Arévelo says. “His wife
“Look at the ships also;
though they are so great and
are driven by strong winds,
they are guided by a very
small rudder wherever the
will of the pilot directs. So the
tongue is a little member and
boasts of great things. How
great a forest is set ablaze by
a small fire! And the tongue
is a fire” (James 3:4-6).
I once heard a story about
a penitent who confessed the
sin of gossip. For his penance, the priest asked him to
take his morning newspaper
and cut it up into tiny little
pieces. Then he was to walk
up to the top of Windy Hill
and throw the pieces of the
newspaper up in the air and
watch them blow away. The
man did as he was instructed.
Impossible to Remedy
Afterward, the man
returned to the priest, who
then told him to go back up
the hill and collect all of the
pieces of the newspaper and
reassemble it. The man’s
face sunk into his hands as
is being deported. He and his
child are citizens, but the couple
is going to be separated and it
will be ten years before his wife
can return. This is a fact. There
is nothing that can be done
about it; the family will be torn
apart. Our role is to help them
deal with it for the best interest
of the child.”
Legal Advice
In this particular case, the
wife has been here for over 20
years – since she was a child
herself. She is terrified of being
sent to a country she doesn’t
know, where she has little
chance of finding work.
Sister Nancy Charlsworth,
director of Immigration
Services, says that people often
misunderstand the role of the
immigration office, believing
that they try to get around the
law. “We have never done
simply counsel families. A great
percentage of our work is just
sitting with people, listening to
“I answered a call this morning from
the father of a child who’s only a year
and a half old,” Arévelo says. “His wife
is being deported. He and his child are
citizens, but the couple is going to be
separated and it will be ten years before
his wife can return.”
that,” she emphasizes. “We
assist them in searching for
all legal possibilities, and help
them get in touch with a lawyer. In a situation like this, we
them.”
The main focus of the
Immigration Office is working
with migrants who are here
legally. They encourage them to
Soul Food
BY FATHER TERRY WALSH
The Rudder
he began to realize with great
remorse the effect of his sin.
And when the word of gossip
proves to be false, so much
greater is the sin.
Words matter. Jesus said,
“On the day of
judgment men
will render an
account for every
careless word
they utter; for by
your words you
will be justified,
and by your words you will be
condemned”(Mt 12:36). Words
reveal character, “For out of
the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks”(Mt 12:34).
Thank God for the gift of
Confession. So often in the
Gospels, Jesus draws attention to the heart of man. The
Sermon on the Mount reveals,
“Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.” He
“No human being can tame
the tongue – a restless evil,
full of deadly poison. With it
we bless the Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men.”
calls us to turn our hearts away
from selfish intentions and
instead allow Him to fill our
hearts with the graces we need
to grow in holiness, to seek
purity in word and deed.
Indeed, Saint James insists
Very often, legislation makes
it more difficult to obtain legal
status, reunify families, and
lead hardworking, productive
lives. Sometimes proposed laws
mask a bias against newcomers. “Under one proposal for
the health care bill, even legal
immigrants wouldn’t be able to
buy into the system – even with
their own money,” says Sister
Nancy. “The immorality of that
position is incredible!”
Arévalo hopes that comprehensive immigration
reform, one of the items before
Congress in this legislative
session, will take a different
approach. He wishes legislators
would follow the model suggested by Pope Benedict and the
USCCB, and offer migrants a
chance to have settled, productive lives.
“Give people the tools and
the freedom to get a job. Let
them work in peace and provide
for their families, whether the
families are here or in their own
country,” he says.
Perhaps the way to become
part of the Church’s initiative,
he and Sister Nancy believe, is
simply to welcome newcomers
to your neighborhood. “It helps
if we don’t think of them as
immigrants,” Sister Nancy says.
“Think of them as families: a
father, a mother, their children.
Help them as neighbors. That’s
our responsibility as individuals
and as Christians.”
v
give us the wisdom and the
strength to love. Through
prayer, these graces will have
greater efficacy in us and so
purify us in word and deed
and render peace.
Vices Bubble Up
that without God’s help, our
ship is sunk: “No human being
can tame the tongue – a restless
evil, full of deadly poison. With
it we bless the Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men, who
are made in the likeness of
God” (James 3:8). In order to
tame the tongue, we need grace.
If we humbly ask for a pure
heart, our Lord will pilot our
ship through all the turbulent
seas, and we will never have
an unkind word to utter about
anyone, especially a word that is
false. Prayer is the key. It opens
the heart, inviting God to enter
our souls. Prayer prepares us to
receive a greater measure of the
Living Waters, that is, the abundant graces of the Eucharist,
Confession, and so on, which
If we lack peace in our
heart, we run the risk of filling
that void with various vices
that bubble to the surface of
our hearts and spill out of our
mouths causing all sorts of
fires in the form of slander,
rash judgment, even calumny.
Our Lord Himself suffered
these horrible attacks – even
from the very people he did
so much to help. Our words
carry great weight. We need
to guard them. Our Lord
stands ready to help us – if
we ask.
For your next assignment,
read Joel Chapter 2 and
Isaiah Chapter 58 and consider what is pleasing to God.
(Father Terry Walsh is
parochial vicar of Saint John
the Evangelist Basilica,
v
Stamford.) 11
January 2010
Catholic Charities Executive
Mercy Learning Center
William Hoey
Hosts Holiday Tea Party
named Mission VP
at St. Vincent’s
BRIDGEPORT, CT, Jan. 5,
2010 – William Hoey, LCSW,
has been appointed vice president of mission services for St.
Vincent’s Health Services. The
announcement was made by
President/CEO Susan L. Davis,
RN, EdD.
Merton campus; a reorganization of mental health services
resulting in a productive working relationship with HallBrooke Behavioral Health; an
early childhood consultation
project providing clinical assessment for at-risk children in
Head Start and school
readiness programs; a
community outreach
and prison ministry
program; a program
providing formal representation to immigrants;
and a program of clergy
and victim assistance
counseling for victims of
sexual abuse.
Social Service
William Hoey, LCSW
Hoey, a licensed clinical social worker, comes to
St. Vincent’s from Catholic
Charities in the Diocese of
Bridgeport where he most
recently served as vice president, overseeing all aspects of
the multi-program Catholic
Family Services agency.
Energy and Creativity
“St. Vincent’s is fortunate
to have Bill Hoey
joining us in this
important role,
as he possesses
a strong mission
focus, excellent
interpersonal skills
and a track record
that demonstrates
his leadership
and his ability to
collaborate and bring diverse
groups together to work effectively,” said Dr. Davis.
“We welcome his energy and
creativity in supporting our
mission and its outreach to the
community.”
While at Catholic Charities,
Hoey was instrumental in developing a seven million dollar
housing project currently under
construction at the Thomas
Prior to the last
seven years at Catholic
Charities, Hoey served
as director of employee
assistance programs
at Family Services
Woodfield, and earlier held
administrative positions in
employee assistance, community relations and a number of
social service areas with organizations including Bridge House
Inc, Guenster Rehabilitation
Center, and The Children’s
Center.
After graduating with a
bachelor of arts degree in soci-
“Bill Hoey possesses
a strong mission focus,
excellent interpersonal skills
and a track record that
demonstrates his leadership.”
T
T
T
ology from Saint Anselm’s
College, Hoey earned his master’s in social work with a dual
concentration in clinical and
administration from Fordham
University. A past president, he
currently serves on the board
of Bridge House and is a past
board co-chair at the Greater
Bridgeport HUD Continuum
of Care.
Hoey resides with his wife
and son in Northford.
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BRIDGEPORT –
Volunteer literacy tutors
and their adult education
students at Mercy Learning
Center were treated to festive Holiday Tea Parties to
celebrate their first semester
accomplishments and to
thank the dedicated tutors
for their gift of time. More
than 200 ESL, math, and/
or reading tutors, volunteers, and students attended
parties that were held on
December 8, 9, and 10.
An array of tea sandwiches and desserts were donated
by the Westport Chapter of
the National Charity League
and coordinated by Tammy
Barry of Westport.
The tea party hosts
included Mercy Learning
Center’s Tutor Coordinator
Diane Holmes, Student
Enrichment Coordinator
Sharon Sanford, Learning
Specialist Evan Levinson,
and President and CEO
Jane Ferreira.
40 Countries
Women enrolled in the
Center’s literacy and life
skills programs hail from more
than 40 countries, many of
whom shared stories of their
special time each year when
we take time to celebrate the
holidays with our passionate
holiday traditions. Mercy
Learning Center President
and CEO Jane Ferreira congratulated students, thanked
volunteers, and led a sharing of
holiday customs, while Tutor
Coordinator Diane Holmes
orchestrated a gift raffle and
sing-a-long.
Holmes remarked, “This is a
volunteers and their hardworking students. It gives
us the opportunity to affirm
their efforts to increase their
language and math skills.”
(To learn more about Mercy
Learning Center or explore
volunteer opportunities, visit its
website www.mercylearningcenter.org or call 203-334-6699.) v
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12
January 2010
950 miles; 79 days
Epic interstate walk spreads message of peace
By PAT HENNESSY
The first-ever “Walk for
Peace” was undertaken by a
man, a donkey, and the man’s
very pregnant teenage wife.
Shortly after their walk from
Nazareth to Bethlehem, Mary
and Joseph saw the birth of
their son, Jesus, who became
the Prince of Peace. On January
1, in the midst of the Christmas
Season, the Church celebrates
World Day of Peace, looking
forward to the peace brought by
that gentle Holy Family.
The mental image of another
family from the same corner
of the world inspired Al Forte,
a member of Saint Matthew
Parish in Norwalk, on his own
walk to promote peace in the
world.
Inspiration
Forte had his
inspiration one
day at Mass. “I
was early, and
while I was sitting there, an
image came into
my mind of a
Muslim mother
and father, grieving over their
dead children,”
he recalls. He has
no idea where this
image came from,
but being a parent
he could imagine the pain of
that tragedy, which plays out
daily in our newspapers and
televisions.
The sadness of the image
stayed with him during the
Mass. “When I came back after
Communion, I heard a voice
say, ‘Al, you can do something,’” he recalls. He pauses,
flashes a knowing grin, and
affirms, “A voice. It was that
clear.”
What, exactly, Forte could
do was not so clear. While he
pondered the possibilities, he
noticed the number of walks
for cancer and walks to fight
hunger.
“Nobody would have
believed me if I said I was
going to walk halfway across
the country for peace,” he
says. “In fact, I wouldn’t have
believed me. So it was pretty
clear to me that I would have to
do this alone.”
“YOU CAN HEAR THE WIND RUSTLING through the cornfields,” says Al Forte, who walked from New York to Chicago to promote Prayer
for Peace, handing out prayer cards along the way. He says that sometimes he had the feeling of the Holy Spirit behind him, like a cool breeze
on a hot day, gently helping him along. (Photo by Kelli Cardinal/The Lima News, OH)
The Holy
Spirit, as Forte
would be the
first to tell you,
works in surprising ways.
A gung-ho
baseball fan,
he imagined
a route that would
take him to Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and
Detroit, winding up at the
corner of Michigan and Ohio
Avenues in the center of
Chicago.
“There was no point in getting to a stadium when the team
was away,” he thought. “I want
to hit each team when they’re
in town.” He estimated that he
could average about 15 miles a
day, and checked the baseball
schedule. “It worked out – there
would be a home game in every
city when I got there. That’s
God’s way of roping us into
stuff,” he adds with a laugh.
Final Route
When he set the final route,
Forte’s walk covered a good
chunk of the U.S., and took 79
days. “That’s 950 miles,” he
says. “I’d like to say it was a
thousand, but I really can’t.” At
the time of his Walk for Peace,
he was 65 years old.
During his trek, he handed
out 3,700 cards asking people to
pray for peace. The card shows
soldiers gathered in prayer, with
the inscription “They Pray for
Peace. Will You.”
As he handed out his Pray
for Peace cards, the most frequent response he heard was, “I
do that every day.”
To prepare for the long haul,
Forte began walking from his
home in Norwalk to Saint
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800.207.1897
Trumbull, Connecticut
Holy Spirit
“When you walk, you can
hear the wind rustling through
the cornfields. If you’re coming
down a mountain, you have a
lot of time to observe the valley.” Sometimes he had the
“Nobody would have believed me if
I said I was going to walk halfway across
the country for peace,” he says. “In fact,
I wouldn’t have believed me.”
Aloysius Parish in New Canaan
for daily Mass, a distance of 6.2
miles round trip. By July 18, he
was packed and ready to go.
A high school friend from
Queens, Joe Roth, drove backup, carrying Forte’s luggage
from point to point and checking out the next day’s route.
“The walk wouldn’t have lasted
a week without Joe,” Forte
says. “He was more concerned
for my safety than I was.”
Forte chose to begin his
Walk for Peace after a game
at Yankee Stadium. The game
ran 11 innings. “By that time
I didn’t care who won, I just
wanted to get on the road,” he
recalls. The Yankees won.
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mountains in Pennsylvania and
the cornfields of Ohio, Forte
had plenty of time to pray, and
time to enjoy the beauty of the
country and the friendliness of
its people.
Seventy-nine days on the
road gave him plenty of time
for prayer, for talking to people
along the route, for observing
the land around him.
“I walked down from the
Bronx through Harlem, and I
was surprised at what a lovely
section of the city it was,”
he says. “People in Spanish
Harlem kept calling me ‘Padre.’
They thought I was a priest.”
From congested cities to the
feeling of the Holy Spirit behind
him, like a cool breeze on a hot
day, gently helping him along.
The walk gave him a chance
to experience the variety of
America’s people. “I met an
Amish fireman in Pennsylvania
and talked to an Amish girl in
a coffee shop,” he says. Both
astonished him with their contemporary life styles.
“If I know so little about
the Amish, who live 300 miles
away, how much can I know
about the lives of Iraqis and
Afghanis, halfway across the
world?” he muses.
His most significant encounter came in York, PA, about
a third of the way through his
journey. “I met a man who
looked down, like he was facing a hard time. I asked him
how things were going,” Forte
recalls.
“Tough,” the man replied.
“But thanks for wearing the
Pray for Peace shirt. I can’t do
anything about my situation,
but I forgot I could still pray!”
Still Walking
Now that he’s home, Forte
has, in a sense, kept walking.
He made contact with Deacon
Steve Pond and the youth group
at Saint Aloysius Parish in New
Canaan, and held a 12-mile
Walk for Peace with them this
spring. In the coming year he
is expanding the outreach to
other youth groups in the area.
A second annual Pray for Peace
Walk is planned for next May.
Two thousand years ago, the
Prince of Peace was born into a
world already sick of war. In a
New Year yearning for an end
to conflicts, He offers the gift
of peace through the healing of
hearts.
“My goal is to spread the
❖
message,” Forte says.
13
January 2010
S P E C I A L
C A T H O L I C
S C H O O L S
S U P P L E M E N T
“Portals into an exciting world,”
STEM innovations generate
enthusiasm for science
By PAT HENNESSY
“Our country doesn’t have
enough engineers,” says John
Cook, assistant superintendent
of schools for the Diocese of
Bridgeport. “The U.S. has more
people going into massage
therapy than engineering. But
we’re going to solve the career
problem; we’re going to solve
the indifference problem.”
Diocesan schools have introduced programs that introduce
students not only to the scope
and discipline that engineering
studies require, but to a sense of
the wonderful worlds that scientific exploration leads to. At the
same time, they offer hands-on
experience and combine science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM).
“The STEM solution is going
to revolutionize the way we
teach,” says Cook. “Once you
get kids seeing what engineering
is, they are unbelievably interested.”
the opportunity. “Ever since I
was young, I was always taking
things apart and putting them
together,” says R. J. Cremin, a
freshman at Notre Dame.
Enthusiasm sparks through
his voice when he talks
about working with pulleys,
wheels, and gears in Fairfield
University’s lab. In his latest
when you add weight to the
vehicle. We’ve been learning a
lot of physics lately.”
A lot of teens are discovering
that using physics, math, and
mousetraps is the best possible
way to spend a Saturday.
“The courses are portals into
an exciting world,” says Carl
Philipp, assistant principal at
IT’S NOT A BETTER MOUSETRAP; it’s designing an innovative
use for one that captures the attention of R.J. Cremin and his classmates, participants in the High School
Engineering Academy, a collaboration between diocesan high schools
and Fairfield University.
WHAT MAKES A ROCKET GO?
Could you make one yourself?
Visiting scientist Chris Kopley shows
middle-school students how in the
“Gateway to Engineering” summer
program.
Fueling Love of Science
To encourage that process,
the High School Engineering
Academy (HSEA), an innovative Saturday morning program
at Fairfield University’s School
of Engineering, is fueling a love
of science in students from the
five Catholic high schools of
the Diocese of Bridgeport. That
program is now in its second
year. This past summer, working in conjunction with Western
Connecticut State University in
Danbury, a summer program
reached a younger age group –
middle-school students in the
Danbury area Catholic schools.
The HSEA program gained
overwhelming popularity
among area high school students and their parents during
the 2008-09 school year. This
year, approximately 40 students
are participating in the academy. They come from Notre
Dame High School in Fairfield,
St. Joseph High School in
Trumbull, Kolbe-Cathedral in
Bridgeport, Immaculate High
School in Danbury, and Trinity
Catholic in Stamford. Members
of the School of Engineering
faculty teach in the academy.
The academy emphasizes
innovation, creativity, and problem solving using the nationally recognized Project Lead
the Way, based on the STEM
curriculum. Each Saturday,
students begin classes at 10
a.m. After a lunch break, they
continue until 2:30 p.m. During
their studies, they utilize facilities in Fairfield’s manufacturing, electrical, and computer
engineering laboratories.
This sounds like a demanding schedule for kids as young
as 14, but students involved in
the High School Engineering
Academy seem to be hungry for
project, he was challenged to
create a vehicle powered by the
snapping of a mousetrap – using
no electricity.
“You had to figure out how
much energy the mousetrap
has, and how much the wheels
need, and how to transfer the
energy from on to the other,”
he explains. “Then it changes
Notre Dame and coordinator
of the HSEA program for the
school. “It’s a dynamic program
that provides students with realworld learning.”
NASA Training
Even while the High School
Engineering Academy was
getting underway, the Office
for Education was preparing
for an initiative for younger
students. Starting in 2008, two
diocesan teachers in the STEM
program traveled to NASA and
trained with NASA Engineers
and National Science Teachers
Association (NSTA) trainers
in force and motion activities.
Another two teachers attended
in 2009.
The dynamic “Gateway
to Engineering” summer programs hosted in June and July
at Immaculate High School in
Danbury displayed the effect
of their training. The two, oneweek, pre-engineering classes
explored force and motion,
particularly Newton’s first three
laws and rocketry, with students
in grades 5-8 from all six local
parochial elementary schools:
Saint Mary, Bethel; Saint Rose
of Lima, Newtown; Saint
➤
see Stem on p. 14
where learning lives
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Greenwich Catholic School is a co-educational Roman Catholic day school for Pre-K through Grade 8
students located on 38 acres in the heart of Greenwich. Our students experience an enriching spiritual
environment, a diverse and challenging curriculum and a full range of after school and sports programs.
To schedule a tour or receive an admissions packet, please call 203-869-4000 or email us at [email protected].
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471 North Street, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
www.greenwichcatholicschool.org
email: [email protected]
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14
January 2010
Six in the last seven years
Team continues championship tradition
DANBURY –
Immaculate High School’s
Girls Soccer team
recently became Class
S State Championship/
Co-champions with Old
Lyme, following a 1-1 tie
in the championship game
at Willowbrook Park in
New Britain on November
21. Immaculate (15-3-6)
continued its championship tradition, having won
two consecutive state titles
and six in the last seven
years. The winning team
is shown here with (l-r)
coaches Ben Weiss and
Jeff Custodio, and head
Coach Nelson Mingachos,
who was recently named
New England High School
Girls Coach of the Year
by the National Soccer
Coaches Association of
America.
Stem Science
➤
Joseph, Danbury; Saint Joseph, Josephine Ferry, science teacher
Brookfield; and Saint Gregory
at Saint Gregory the Great
the Great and Saint PeterSchool in Danbury; and Madi
Sacred Heart, Danbury.
Demon, science teacher at
Three diocesan teachers who Saint Rose of Lima School in
had taken the NASA training
Newtown. Under their guidwere involved in the program:
ance, students learned Newton’s
Katherin Sniffin, assistant
laws, rocket design features, and
principal
of Sacred Heart/
fuel
LH_CTad_3.91x6_12-11-07:Layout
1 possibilities.
12/11/07 12:20 PM Page
Saint Peter School in Danbury;
Each session was filled to
continued from p. 13
capacity. Students worked online with the NASA education
site and conducted hands-on
experiments every day. “We
invited community experts
and scientists each week,” says
Sniffin. Among other experts,
geologist Chris Kopley demon1 strated the steps in the operation
of a basic automobile engine
and discussed the parts of a
model rocket, which he later
launched.
Design a Rocket
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Catholic college preparatory school
for girls is proud to celebrate
Catholic Schools Month!
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“My mom wanted me to
go, and I thought it would be
fun,” says fifth-grader Gabrielle
Goldman. Even though she had
never shown an interest in science before, the idea of designing her own rocket captivated
her. “The teachers knew a lot
about rockets, and it was interesting to see what makes them
go up,” she says.
Launch Day at the end of the
week, shooting off rockets the
students designed themselves,
was the highlight of the program. “I went to the lift-off,”
says John Cook. “Each kid
demonstrated what they had
done, and checked out how well
their plans worked.”
“I made a water bottle
rocket,” Gabrielle says with
pride. “It went far. I hope to do
it again next year with different
scientists.”
Her enthusiasm proves
Cooks contention that, with
programs like these, Catholic
schools are going to solve the
indifference problem and
inspire the next generation
of much-needed engineers and
scientists. v
Catholic Words
BY DR. JOAN M. KELLY
Doctor
Doctor. From the Latin docere, meaning “to teach.”
The title Doctor of the Church is bestowed upon spiritually-minded historical figures, all saints in the Christian
tradition, who proved to be great Church writers, teachers,
and theologians, and who became in their day outstanding
witnesses to the Gospel through their commitment to the
Christian way of life.
Doctors of the Church have had to meet the same criteria as Fathers of the Church (orthodox doctrine, holiness
of life, Church approval) with one exception, antiquity.
Doctors of the Church need not have close linkage with
the Patristic Age, the Age of the Early Church Fathers,
extending from the first to around the eighth century.
Individuals are named Doctors of the Church through
either proclamations by Church councils or by papal
decrees. In 1970 Pope Paul VI named the first women
Doctors of the Church, Saint Catherine of Siena (13471380) and Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582). Saint
Theresa of Lisieux (1873-1897) was given the distinction
on the 100th anniversary of her death in 1997.
Other notable doctors include Saint Ambrose (340-397,
also a Church Father), Saint Albert,the Great (1206-1280),
Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), Saint Bonaventure
(1221-1274), Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), and the
patron of our diocese, Saint Augustine (354-430, also a
Church Father).
Some of the Doctors of the Church have been honored
with special titles. Two examples are Saint Augustine who
is known as the Doctor of Grace because of his writings
about the theology of grace, and Saint Albert the Great
who is known as the Universal Doctor because of the vast
extent of his theological and philosophical work.
The total number of Doctors of the Church is thirty
three!
(Dr. Kelly, who lives in Westport, is a member of the faculty
of Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, and teaches in
the Caritas Christi adult ed program at Sacred Heart Academy,
v
Hamden).
January 2010
15
Inspiring the next generation
Lab rats and sheep brains capture enthusiasm
BRIDGEPORT – Saint Ann
Middle School students have
been working with Dr. Shannon
Harding, associate professor of
Fairfield University’s psychology department. Thanks to a
Service Learning grant, the
Saint Ann students had the
opportunity to work in collaboration with Dr. Harding’s students in Fairfield University’s
neuroscience laboratory.
Lab Environment
During these visits, the
students gain extraordinary
experiences in a medical lab
environment, where they conduct experiments with lab rats,
such as timing how long it takes
the rat to find the stand in a
water tank and look for patterns
in how the rats find the stand.
They also got to watch a cow’s
eye being dissected and work on
one themselves.
Of course, the students’
favorite part of the visit is handling human and sheep brains
and using a micrometer to slice
brain tissue to prepare laboratory slides.
As a result of this work,
Saint Ann’s science lab received
sophisticated equipment of its
own, enabling the school to
increase the science potential of
classes at all levels.
Appreciation
Dr. Harding was recently recognized for her work with the
students. An engraved plaque
near the Saint Ann Science
Lab reads, “In appreciation of
Dr. Shannon Harding, whose
generosity and dedication has
inspired a future generation of
scientists.”
Upon receipt of this
recognition at a recent Saint
Ann School awards assembly,
Dr. Harding praised science
teacher Molly Thimons for
her work with the students,
saying that it was a teacher like
Thimons who inspired her to
v
become a scientist.
CUDDLING HIS RAT, Andrew LaFleur (right) joins Saint Ann students (l-r) Nick Grasso, Joane Delia, Gabbi Torres,
and Octavia Cathey as they work with lab rats, assisted by two Fairfield University students. A grant gave Saint Ann
Middle School students a wonderful opportunity to dissect a cow’s eye and examine sheep brains.
Saint Mary School
183 High Ridge Avenue, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
203.438.7288 • www.smsridgefield.org
C E L E B R AT E CAT H O L I C S C H O O L S W E E K
Visit Days
Preschool through Grade 8
Tuesday, February 2 – 10am-11am
Thursday, February 4 – 1pm-2pm
Tour the School – Meet the Principal
Learn about the Curriculum – Talk with Parents of Students
Please RSVP to the Director of Admissions at 203.438.7288 x239
•
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Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Mr. Edward Brennan, Principal – Monsignor Laurence Bronkiewicz, Pastor
The Diocese of Bridgeport Schools admit students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
centering prayer
Weekend Retreat
with Fr. Carl Arico
february 19-21, 2010
This retreat provides an opportunity for
men and women to deepen the practice of
Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of silence
and community support. Beginners to
Centering Prayer are most welcome.
Fr. Carl Arico is a founding member and the vice
president of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd.
a position he took at the request of Fr. Thomas
Keating, founder of the Centering Prayer
Movement. Fr. Arico is the co-author of Living
Our Priesthood Today, with Fr. Basil Pennington,
and author of A Taste of Silence.
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303 Tunxis Road • West Hartford, CT 06107
860-521-0440 • [email protected]
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Lasallian Cath o li c Edu cati o n S i n c e 18 53
16
January 2010
Saint Theresa, Trumbull
Wax Museum displays fascination of history
By PAT HENNESSY
Betsy Ross, needle poised,
sits ready to take the final
stitches on her design for the
new American flag. Across the
room, a Ukrainian freedom
fighter, erect and proud, awaits
motionless by his country’s
flag. Mother Theresa, in her
trademark sari, waits with a
gentle smile. All around the
gym at Saint Theresa School
in Trumbull, “Wax Museum”
figures await the clink of a coin
into coffee can banks to set
them in motion.
History Fair
“Kids enjoy science fairs, but
no one ever has a history fair,”
says Kerry Stratton, the social
studies/English teacher for
Saint Theresa’s middle school
classes. “I’ll hear people say
‘Oh, I never liked social studies.’ That kills me.” She hit on
the idea of a Wax Museum as
a way to bring history to life for
her students.
In each class, students were
charged to pick a character
from the time period they were
studying, learn about them, and
design a booth for their presentation. Their research enriched
the first semester of their social
studies classes, and came to
its fullness when parents and
friends came to experience the
Wax Museum before semester’s
end.
“You wouldn’t think you
were walking into the gym.
You were in a
museum,” says
Maribeth Goulden,
whose seventh-grade
daughter Casey was
Betsy Ross. It was
way beyond what
anyone expected.”
Goulden’s eighthgrader, Brooke,
chose Jacqueline
Kennedy.
“They couldn’t
just go to the
Internet and use
that for their script,”
says Stratton. “They
had to research little
known facts about
their childhood or
private lives – something more than
facts and figures and
battles.” The quality of research was
astounding. “Who
knew that George Washington
read his Bible every day, or
why Madame Curie was drawn
to science?”
The personalities reflected
student’s interest and background. “I chose Stepan
Bandera, who led the
Ukrainian Revolution to free
his country at the beginning of
HISTORICAL FIGURES Betsy Ross and Stepan Bandera are poised to come
to life in the Wax Museum held at Saint Theresa School last semester. Focusing
on one chosen person deepened students appreciation of history.
the last century,” says sixthgrader Alex Bolgachenko. “His
family was sent to Siberia and
his father died, but he never
stopped fighting for freedom.
Nothing stopped him. It only
made him stronger.”
To complete his research,
Alex talked to his grandmother,
who is a history teacher in the
Ukraine. “It surprised me that
he wanted to dig that deep,”
says his mother Ulyana. “He
put in hours of research.”
Other parents were similarly
impressed. “My sons were trying to find interesting things,
not just reading a report,” says
Liz Tamarkin, whose seventh➤
see Wax Museum on p. 21
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January 24, 2010
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need on important topics such as academic programs, alumni grants and parish scholarships, and studying
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Interviews must be pre-scheduled by calling 1-800-673-2772.
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www.cua.edu
17
January 2010
Saint Joseph, Shelton
Science makes
music bounce
MONTHS OF PLANNING and days of sorting, packing, and wrapping went into the outreach of eighth-graders of
Saint Thomas Aquinas School to a small mining town in Appalachia. The effort to put faith in action was part of their
preparation for Confirmation this spring.
Saint Thomas, Fairfield
Outreach puts faith in action
By BARBARA A. DUFFIN
The eighth-grade students of
Saint Thomas Aquinas School
in Fairfield are preparing for
their March Confirmation by
engaging in social outreach both
within the local community and
far beyond it. After celebrating
First Friday Mass each month
with the entire school, the twenty-six students are sent on mission by Principal Patricia Brady
to serve others.
In the beginning, the projects
were local. In November, for
even into the priests’ garage –
space graciously turned over to
Project Appalachia by the pastor, Father Victor Martin.
Thousands of Pounds
The garage was filled with
bureaus, beds, major appliances, and other large items,
while the church basement
was the storage area for warm
winter clothing, toys, bicycles,
small furniture, and household
goods of every description, as
well as Christmas presents for
the children of the two hundred
Then they joined the others in the
church basement sorting and packing
the thousands of pounds of clothing and
household items that had been collected.
example, the students raked the
lawns of three Fairfield families
coping with serious illness.
Filled to the Brim
As their service projects
grew, they extended their outreach to the coal mining community of Saint Charles, VA.
Throughout the fall, donations
from the Benedictine Grange
community, the parishes of
Saint James in Stratford, and
Saint Thomas Aquinas and
from many individuals poured
into the basement of Saint
Thomas Aquinas Church – and
families in the Saint Charles
region.
On December 4 the eighthgrade students went to work.
Along with eighth-grade teachers Joan Driggs and Jackie
Greenfield, assistant director
of project Appalachia at the
Benedictine Grange in West
Redding, some students spent
the day wrapping Christmas
toys and packing clothing and
household goods for the people
of Saint Charles. Then they
joined the others in the church
basement sorting and packing
the thousands of pounds of
clothing and household items
that had been collected.
The following day, teams
of students from Saint Joseph
High School in Trumbull and
Joel Barlow High School in
Fairfield joined a group of
adults to load a twenty-eight
foot tractor-trailer with all of
the goods from the church basement and garage.
Toys and Backpacks
The truck began its journey to the Saint Charles
Community Center the following Monday, where it
was unloaded, and the goods
on board were distributed to
those in need. The Community
Center held a Christmas party
where Santa Claus distributed
gifts to each of the children in
the region. Each child received
a wrapped Christmas gift, a
small stuffed animal, and a
candy cane. Older children
also got backpacks loaded with
paper, pencils, and pens, and
other school supplies.
Project Appalachia at the
Benedictine Grange is tremendously grateful to all those who
participated in this undertaking
through donations, support,
and assistance, and it is particularly grateful to the eighthgrade class of Saint Thomas
Aquinas Catholic School for
their hard work, their joy, and
their generosity.
v
SHELTON – Music makes the air waves bounce, and
studying the energy of sound is a lot fun when get to make
music with it. Just ask the students of Saint Joseph School.
Working on
energy and pitch
and vibration, the
fifth graders had
to design musical
instruments using
their science and
math skills, and
then explain how
they had made
them and what
scientific principals they represented.
“It’s one thing
to read out of
DRUMS VIBRATE in
a variety of pitches, as
fifth graders Mitchel
Marcinauskas and Ben
DeMarco are eager to
demonstrate. The working
piano designed by Amity
Haluschak and Grace
Scully covers a full octave.
Preschoolers loved hearing tunes played on their
creation.
(Photos by Pam Wolfe)
the book, but it’s
much more meaningful when you design
something yourself,”
says Saint Joseph’s science teacher Shelley
Cavallaro.
Saint Joseph’s science begins in the
youngest grades and builds over the years, following the
diocesan curriculum map. “They might learn something
in the third grade on earth and life sciences, and touch on
it again and again in later years, getting a more complete
understanding each time,” explains Cavallaro.
Share Knowledge
Science is not an isolated subject, studied by itself, she
adds. “We have written and oral reports, and the presentation has to be up to their grade standard in English.”
In addition, students in all classes share their knowledge
with younger grades, building a strong sense of their faith
community. The fifth graders brought their musical instruments to the preschoolers, sharing the excitement with them.
When seventh-graders built roller coasters to explore potential energy, they invited the third grade to come over so the
younger kids could share the thrill of their achievement.
“Sciences is math and literacy and music and art and
design and sharing in a faith community,” says Cavallaro.
“It all ties in together.”
v
18
January 2010
Kolbe
continued from p. 1
➤
additional classrooms and space
for other programs.
Funding for the project is
being provided by the Kolbe
Cathedral Board of Advisors
under the leadership of Albertus
vanden Broek of Darien, who is
serving as Chairperson.
Expanding the Campus
“We’re very grateful to
the board of advisors and to
Margaret Dames, superintendent of schools, for making this
project possible. Not only will
it enable us to expand enrollment, but also to offer more
programs,” Jakab says.
The school is located at 33
Calhoun Place on the parcel
of land that also houses Saint
Augustine Cathedral and Saint
Augustine School. The new
building is one block away on
the same side of the street.
The new site will help to
meet projected growth in
enrollment, provide additional
parking spaces and an overall
“greening” of the Kolbe campus,” says Jakab.
“If all goes well, we hope to
be in the building for the beginning of the next school year in
September,”she says. “The students are excited about the extra
space and looking forward to
moving in.”
At Capacity
Jakab says that Kolbe had
been looking at the property for
years and the current housing
market made the purchase feasible. The final hurtle was cleared
when the Bridgeport Planning
and Zoning Commission
approved the change of zone
from office building to school.
“The school has been at
close to or maximum capacity
of 325 students for the past five
years. In order to maintain the
highest standard of program
offerings and excellence, additional space is required,” says
Jakab. “This will give us the
room to grow a population of
400 students.”
She said that in addition to
space for the new classrooms,
the building will provide space
for conference rooms, support
staff offices and 40 additional
parking spaces. The new
property will also be used by
parishioners of the Cathedral
parish for meetings and over-
FROM ARCHITECTURE TO ACADEMIA – The former Fletcher-Thompson
Architects building at 299 Washington Avenue provides a much needed addition to the Kolbe Cathedral High School campus. Located a block from the
main building, the new facility will provide classroom and meeting space.
Renovations will be made on a priority basis.
AT THE SMART BOARD – (l-r) Kolbe Cathedral students Imani Garcia,
Luisa Bermudez, and Devante` Medenhall work out a lesson on infection control in the Environmental Services Class taught by Mrs. Bethany Blackhwood.
flow parking. Likewise, an area that presently serves as an overflow
parking lot behind the Cathedral
and the school will be expanded
into playing fields for the school
and neighborhood children.
Renovations to the structure,
built in the 1960s, will be made
on a “priority basis” with the
focus on getting the classroom
space ready first and moving
ahead with other improvements
as funds are available, she says
One of the major benefits of
the added location will be the
KOLBE CATHEDRAL
HIGH SCHOOL
Home of the Champions
CHAMPIONS IN THE CLASSROOM
An innovative approach to teaching gives our
students an edge in academics. Our small size
provides a nurturing, learning environment.
room it makes for expansion
of the innovative Project Lead
the Way Engineering curriculum beginning this spring. The
nationally recognized curriculum
pulls together
science, technology, engineering
and math in an
integrated course
of study to promote math and
science careers.
Jakab says that the new
building enables KolbeCathedral to bring the popular
program to its own campus and
build it into the curriculum, so
that students can take courses in
Jakab says the expansion
makes the Diocese of Bridgeport
a major presence in the
Hollow neighborhood, one of
Bridgeport’s poorest and most
densely populated sections.
In addition
to the Cathedral
parish and Kolbe
Cathedral High
School, diocesan institutions
in the Hollow
include Saint
Raphael’s Parish
and school; the
Thomas Merton Center, one
of the largest soup kitchens in
the state; the Thomas Merton
Family Center for pre-school
children and their mothers; and
the 22-unit Catholic Charities
Homes now under construction
alongside the Merton Center. v
“We’re very grateful to the Board
of Advisors and to Margaret Dames,
Superintendent of Schools, for making
this project possible.”
New Programs
Originally funded by a
GE grant, the project is now
offered on weekends at Fairfield
University and serves the five
Catholic High Schools in the
diocese. At present, it is limited
to 34 students.
each of their four years at
the school. “Many of our
students want the opportunity
to be exposed to the engineering
curriculum. Now we’ll be
able to offer it and other programs without being pinched
for space.”
Our Lady of Fatima
Lifetime Value – Lifelong Values
CHAMPIONS IN ATHLETICS
A history of success on the court and on the
field has come to the forefront with the Cougars
Championships in basketball and soccer.
CHAMPIONS FOR JUSTICE
Whether volunteering in their community or trekking across the
globe to build a school in Mali, KC students know the importance of helping those in need.
CHAMPIONS FOR THEIR FAITH
In our chapel, our Cathedral, and in our classroom,
prayer guides our students through their days and
through their lives.
Come. . . Be a Champion!
ENTRANCE EXAM
March 13, 2010
8:00 A.M.
Call to Register: 203-335-2554
Visit our website: www.kolbecaths.org
We invite you to our open house on
Sunday, January 31, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Come meet students, teachers and current parents...
Explore all that makes us a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence...
Join the Our Lady of Fatima School Family
Our Lady of Fatima School…an education that you can have faith in
225 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897 • 203-762-8100 • www.olfcatholic.org
19
January 2010
New K of C Chapters on Local Campuses
Celebrating the College Council of the Knights
By BRIAN WALLACE
Prayer, spirituality, and
fraternity were the focus of the
first gathering of the state’s
College Council of the Knight
of Columbus, who came together recently for Mass in the new
Sacred Heart University Chapel
of the Holy Spirit.
“This Mass brings together
for the first time the leaders of
all three college councils,” said
Bishop Lori, Supreme Chaplain
of the Knights of Columbus,
who concelebrated the Mass
with Council chaplains.
Young Knights
More than 50 young Knights
and friends attended the special
liturgy to celebrate the forming
of the new K of C college councils at Sacred Heart University,
Fairfield University and
Quinnipiac University. Fourth
Degree Knights representing various Assemblies from
Fairfield County also participated in the Mass of celebration.
Bishop Lori urged the young
Knights to pray, attend Sunday
Mass, and go to Confession
frequently in order to develop
their spirituality. He said the
practice of the sacraments
was essential to being “a good
Catholic and a good Knight.”
for the friendship and the person of Christ in our lives.”
The Mass was followed by a
reception in which Bishop Lori
and other priests met with local
college council leaders and
Knights members.
Enthusiastic Reception
Twenty-two year old
Kevin Berghorn, a Quinnipiac
University Senior from
Warwick Rhode Island, says
that the new Quinnipiac
Council 14277 already numbers
over 60 young Knights and has
received an enthusiastic reception on the campus.
As Grand Knight of the
Quinnipiac Council Berghorn,
who is working on a masters
in physical therapy, he says the
the Knights have changed his
LEADERS FOR LIFE – The Most Reverend Bishop William Lori was the celebrant at a special Knights of Columbus life and led to “a deep converConnecticut College Council Mass at Sacred Heart University’s Chapel of the Holy Spirit. The event recognized the first sion of faith and my attitudes in
time in Knights history that there have been three active college councils in the State of Connecticut. Local Knights lead- life. Since joining the Knights,
ers joined Fourth Degree Knights for the celebration: (from left) Kevin Berghorn of Quinnipiac University, Sam Dowd I feel closer to my family. The
of Sacred Heart University and Jason Maloney of Fairfield University. All are grand knights in their college councils. Knights have helped me come
(Photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek)
into my own and develop my
leadership skills.”
Jason Maloney, a 20-year
“The table of Our Lord is set Michael McGivney, who has
actively involved in the lives
old
Marketing major from
been designated “Servant of
everyday; The feast is here just
of his congregation of the poor
Fairfield
University, is Grand
for the asking,” said the bishop, God” as a candidate for saintand working families he served
Knight
of
the new Ignatian
hood, Bishop Lori described
urging the Knights to practice
at Saint Mary’s Church in New
Council
4203
at Fairfield
Father McGivney as the
their faith.
Haven. He said that Father
University.
The
Council formed
“quintessential parish priest,”
Referring to Knights of
McGivney urged his parishio➤
see
K
nights
on p. 20
and said he was a tireless priest
Columbus founder Father
ners to “increase their hunger
Congratulations to the Prep Class of 2010
on your early acceptance to:
Arizona State University
Georgetown University
Providence College
Stonehill College
Auburn University
University of Alabama
George Mason University
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Boston College
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Gettysburg College
Quinnipiac University
University of Rhode Island
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Villanova University
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United States Naval Academy
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Marine Academy
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University
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical
Institute
Fairfield University
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University of Illinois
University of Indiana
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Loyola University of Maryland
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Michigan
Middlebury College
Monmouth University
Northeastern University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Penn State University
University of Pittsburgh
Fairfield College
Preparatory School
A Jesuit, Catholic School of Excellence
www.fairfieldprep.org
20
January 2010
First State Title in 19 years
Cadets capture
Championship
TRUMBULL – When the
Saint Joseph High School
Cadets pounded out a 14-3 win
over Montville in the recent
final of the Class SS football
finals, it was more than a gridiron victory.
Not only had the
Cadets captured the State
Championship for the first time
in 19 years, they had also rallied to reach out to a team mate
who had lost his mother earlier
in the season.
After waiting to see if they
would get a playoff berth, the
Cadets knew what was at stake
when they squeaked into the
tournament. They quickly took
care of business with a 56-7
thumping of top-seed Holy
Cross in the semi-finals.
“It’s electric,” says Principal
Ken Mayo of the victory that
continues to inspire the entire
student body of 804 students.
He was grateful that so
many students, parents, and
alumni endured a windy, cold
and rainy day to cheer on the
team at Ken Strong Stadium in
West Haven.
the rest of the season to Ryan’s
mom and wearing her initials
on their helmets.
Overcoming a Deficit
The Cadets won the title
game by overcoming a 3-0
first-half deficit with running
back Tyler Matakevich scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns. The victory set off a
moment of pure joy and capped
a great season for Coach Joe
Dellavecchia, a 1981 graduate
of Saint Joseph, who played
for Coach Ed McCarthy and
served as an assistant under
Christy Hayes.
WE’RE NUMBER ONE – (above)
Saint Joseph High School Junior
Cadets celebrate after clinching the
state Class SS Football finals.
WITH A 14-3 win over Montville.
(left) Team members brought the state
gridiron trophy back to St. Joseph’s
for the first time in 19 years. The
game was played on a storm day at
Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
Test of Character
“If you want to know about
the character of the Saint
Joseph High School students,
wait until something bad happens to someone who is part of
our larger family,” he says.
Mayo was referring to senior
offensive tackle Ryan Taylor
who lost his mother, Maria
Taylor, suddenly to pneumonia
earlier in the season. The team
rallied to his side by dedicating
The coach’s statewide
victory puts him alongside
these two legendary coaches.
The win was also a thrill
Wondering where she’ll
be in twenty years?
Start by asking where
she’ll be next fall.
for Dellavecchia as a parent,
because his son, Joe, serves as
quarterback for the Cadets.
Number One Goal
“The victory was great for
the kids and great for the program,” says Coach
Dellavecchia. “Our
number one goal of
the season was to get
the opportunity to
play in a game like
this. It’s a victory
that means a lot to
everyone who has
ever been a part of
the Saint Joseph High
School program.”
Ken Mayo praised Coach
Dellavecchia for his leadership
and understanding the mission
of the school.
Greenwich, CT • 203-532-3534 • www.cshgreenwich.org
An independent college preparatory girls’ school for preschool through grade twelve
Symbol of Spirit
Mayo says the
victory is not only a
symbol of a football
championship but of
an entire school pulling together.
“The win is great
public relations for
the school and it really bolsters our spirits,
but in some ways the
spirit behind is typical. Kind of
dedication and
support is a wonderful thing,
and it’s how our kids react all
v
the time.”
“If you want to know about the
character of the Saint Joseph High
School students, wait until something bad happens to someone
who is part of our larger family”
➤
A Sacred Heart education cultivates a young woman’s
faith, character and compassion, giving her the confidence
and wisdom to change the world for the better.
“Joe played for us from
1978-81. He knows what the
program is all about. He did a
great job in molding the kids.
He understands that winning is
important but the character of
The Cadets did an encore
walk-on during the school’s
recent winter pep rally, where
students showed their gratitude
and enthusiasm. The team
walked in with the state championship banner. They will also
be feted at a banquet to be held
in January.
Knights last April and now numbers 15
members.
“I felt there was something
the school lacked and needed,”
says the New Jersey native,
“and the Knights have filled
that need. They’re a fraternity
of fine Catholic gentlemen.
“People we ask don’t turn
us down,” Maloney says of
the reception the new Council
has received at Fairfield. “The
Council has brought service
opportunities and brotherhood
to my life. I feel that I can go
the kids is important, too.”
Overall, the Saint Joseph
Cadets lost only two games all
year, one to New Canaan, the
tough FCIAC division.
anywhere in the U.S. now and
find brothers through Fairfield
University and the larger
Knights membership.”
Sam Dowd, 21, Grand
Knight of Council 9251 at
Sacred Heart University, helped
to revive the Council that was
first formed on campus in 1986.
The council now numbers up to
25 members and they hope to
recruit additional Knights as the
group introduces more activities
and opportunities to serve.
The junior, a Massachusetts
continued from p. 19
resident majoring in communications, earned attention on
campus when he led a Cross
Walk from Bridgeport to New
Haven during Holy Week last
year. He says the three Knights
campus councils are planning a
40-mile “Rosary Walk” for this
year’s Lenten Season.
“The fraternity is the best
part of the Knights. These are
guys I can go to with any problem or question. I know they’ll
help me and that they’re praying for me.”
v
21
January 2010
Sister Marie Burns, D.C. honored
Passing on Gift of Lifetime Learning
BRIDGEPORT – Passing
on the gift of lifetime learning
was the theme at the blessing and dedication of the new
St. Vincent’s College Student
Learning Center, named for
Sister Marie Burns, D.C.
More than 75 students, faculty, and board members of
the College and St. Vincent’s
Medical Center attended the
ceremony and reception.
Describing Sister Marie
Burns as a brilliant leader “with
a passion for learning,” Susan
L. Davis, St. Vincent’s Health
Services CEO, challenged
the students in attendance to
respond to the gift of her dedication and lifelong service.
Legacy of Learning
“The legacy Sister Marie
Burns leaves is a place to
develop the skills you will use
throughout your life as lifetime
learners,” said Dr. Davis, who
noted that Sister Marie Burns
had degrees in both education
and business and is known for
her attention to detail and ability to read a balance sheet.
A MOMENT OF HONOR – Sister
Marie Burns, D.C., Chairperson of
the St. Vincent’s College Board of
Trustees, is congratulated by Dr.
Martha K. Shouldis, President of
St. Vincent’s College, at the blessing
and dedication of the new Student
Learning Center in her honor. Sister
Marie Burns was praised for her concern and commitment to students and
to the growth of the college, which
provides a wide range of degree and
certificate programs leading to healthcare careers.
new center in her honor, Sister
Marie Burns recalled the advice
of her father, who told her, “If
you’re going to do something,
make sure you do it right.”
She said her father’s wisdom
“gave her a passion for quality
service,” and she takes comfort
in knowing that for many years,
the students of St. Vincent’s
College can learn to “do things
right” by using the learning
skills in the center named in her
honor.
St. Vincent’s College
President Martha K. Shouldis
said that Sister Marie Burns has
combined a lifelong interest in
education with a
ministry of service
to the poor and
those who lack
access to health
care.
“She has long
been an advocate
of education and
healthcare for the
poor and underserved. We’re very grateful for
the leadership and guidance she
has provided as the College continues to grow,” Dr. Shouldis
said.
Sister Marie Burns has
served as Chairperson of the
St. Vincent’s College Board of
Trustees since 2004. She will
formally step down as board
chairperson in the Summer of
2010.
“Sister Marie Burns
recalled the advice of her
father, who told her, “If
you’re going to do something,
make sure you do it right.”
“The Student Learning
Center, located on the first floor
of the College, is designed to
serve as a quiet study space
and an area where students can
obtain assistance with academic
skills including reading and
writing, math, and academic
management skills. Computers
are also available. The new center is open for use by students
seven day per week.
After helping to hang the
plaque that formally names the
Wax Museum
➤
grader, Freddie, was Noah
Webster. Her sixth-grader,
Benjamin, was fascinated by Sir
Edmund Hilary. “They were
trying to bring them to life.”
For the Wax Museum, students not only deepened their
knowledge of their historical
character, they had to write the
scripts, design their booths, and
become comfortable speaking in
front of strangers.
“In the beginning I was a little bit nervous, but after a while
I got the hang of it,” says sixth
grader Monica Janny, who was
Mother Theresa.
Stratton had hoped the Wax
Museum would give students
knowledge that would stay
through life. For eighth-grader
Sam Rotini that has already
come true. “I was always interested in JFK because my uncle
would talk to me about how
deeply the country was affected
50 Years as a Daughter
In her more than 50 years
continued from p. 16
by his death,” he says.
Opened Eyes
He learned about civil rights
issues of the time, listened to
excerpts of President Kennedy’s
inaugural speech, and
researched his childhood. The
result was a new-born fascination with politics. “This was the
first election that I understood,”
Sam says. “I was watching
everything. It opened my eyes
to see how each party works.
“Politics is the talk of the
world. Now I listen.”
The Wax Museum not only
deepened an appreciation of the
past. The coins clinking into
each booth to bring the figures
to life were part of the students’
charity fund-raiser. They collected more than $850 to provide
Christmas gifts, sports equipment and food for the children
of the P.T. Barnum Community
in Bridgeport.
v
as a Daughter of Charity, she
has held many posts as a board
member and chair of various
Catholic hospitals and healthcare systems in western New
York.
Among her many voluntary
commitments were years of service on behalf of children at the
Kennedy Child Student Center
in New York City and Astor
Home in Rhinebeck, New York.
St. Vincent’s College is the
only two‑year Catholic College
in the State of Connecticut
offering Associate in Science
degrees in nursing, radiography,
medical assisting, and general
studies. It also offers a wide
range of certificate and continuing education programs leading
to positions as entry-level health
care workers.
St. Vincent’s College offers
day, evening, and on-line classes. Opportunities are offered for
full and part time study with
financial aid available to eligible students. For information
on enrolling in St. Vincent’s
College, call (800) 873-1013
or visit the college website at
www.stvincentscollege.edu. v
Privilege and Responsibility
During Catholic Schools
Week we celebrate all our
Catholic Elementary partners in
education. Your efforts are the
cornerstone of our excellence!
Our doors are always open.
Stop by and experience
quality and commitment in
Catholic college preparatory
education today.
Mrs. Marino, Admissions Director
203.378-9378 [email protected]
Faith first
Knowledge
foremost
Achievement
always
Friends
forever
St. Joseph High School
Trumbull, Connecticut
22
January 2010
Knights of Columbus’ website
Looking to faith to learn to be a better Dad
By BRIAN D. WALLACE
“Most of us learn on the
job. There are no experts in
the field of fatherhood,” says
Brian Caulfield, communications specialist for the Knights
of Columbus and the editor of
the “Fathers for Good” website,
www.fathersforgood.org.
The Knights launched the
website last year to serve as a
place where Catholic fathers of
all ages could go for information, advice, and discussion
of issues of concern to them,
between careers and fatherhood,
but all of them have one thing
in common: they want to be
better fathers.
“‘Fathers for Good’ has
two meanings,” says Caulfield.
“Every father wants to be a
good father and, at the same
time, when you become a
father, you are a father for
good. Fatherhood is for keeps.
You can’t get away from it. We
try to help men stay in there for
the long run.”
A quick visit to the welldesigned and easy
to navigate website
offers a glimpse of
the wide range of
material from book
reviews and recommended readings to
advice on common
challenges, reflections on manhood, and thoughts on love and
marriage.
“Fatherhood is for keeps.
We try to help men stay in
there for the long run.”
including an ongoing reflection
on a “Father’s Spirituality.”
Catholic Teachings
The site has quickly caught
on and, in particular, has been
effective in attracting younger
fathers who wish to explore
family, faith, and marriage
through the lens of Catholic
teachings.
Caulfield, a father of two
children ages five and nine, says
that men have their hands full
Videos
One of the more popular
features on the site is the video
section that offers five to seven
minute video reflections by
well-known Catholic dads. Now
playing are videos by EWTN
news host Raymond Arroyo,
evangelist and theological
Scott Hahn, Supreme Knight
Carl Anderson, and Princeton
University Professor Robert
George – all Catholic Fathers
reflecting on their own
challenges.
“These videos are effective
because the men put aside their
usual professional personas and
talk man-to-man about their
own experience as fathers,”
says Caulfield.
Cemetery Offices
BRIDGEPORT-STRATFORD
St. Michael Cemetery
2205 Stratford Avenue
Stratford, CT 06615
(203) 378-0404
DANBURY
St. Peter Cemetery
Lake Ave. Ext.
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 743-9626
Now, because........... you and your loved ones make the
decisions, not others.
➤ Now, because........... cemeteries are not exempt from
escalating costs.
➤ Now, because........... you can purchase memorial property
out of current income.
➤ Now, because........... at a time of need, cemetery property
must be paid for in full before it may
be used.
➤ Now, because........... you are under normal emotional
circumstances.
➤ Now, because........... you will have a full selection to choose
from, including Community
mausoleums & traditional burial plots.
➤ Now, because........... purchasing memorial property in
advance affords you the opportunity to
take one-two years to pay, interest free,
which is not available to those who
purchase at a time of need.
➤
You can make the decision now, based on one of the above reasons,
or, you can wait until you HAVE to decide. Sometime in the
distant future you will be thankful you have taken care of this
important matter now. For details call your local cemetery!
Catholic Cemeteries Diocese of Bridgeport
238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 • (203) 372-4301
DARIEN
St. John Cemetery
25 Camp Ave.
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 322-0455
GREENWICH
St. Mary - Putnam Cemetery
35 Parsonage Rd.
Greenwich, CT 06830
(203) 869-4828
(203) 869-7026
He says
that one of
the more
popular
spin-offs of
the website
has been
the development of a
Facebook
page, which
now numbers over
1,400 members, many
of them
young dads,
who actively
make comments and
suggestions
in a more
interactive
way.
“The
Facebook
page has become a great test
market for the website,” says
Caulfield. “I can send out a
message to 1,400 members and
immediately get a response.
They can post their own messages, videos, and materials
and all communicate with one
another.”
“How to get a man to Mass”
is one of the more recent
subjects where he looked for
input both on the website (the
“Father’s Forum section) and
the Facebook page.
“Statistics shows that only 37
percent of Sunday Mass-goers
are male,” Caulfield reports.
“We wanted to find out what
turns men off and what brings
them in.”
In the process of assembling
materials, he learned that men
who go to Mass are good at getting other men to attend, and
that sometimes men who have
stayed away from Mass for
years make very strong advocates when they return.
Caulfield says that while the
site is filled with spiritual and
uplifting stories, it is also not
afraid to take on the tougher
issues.
A recent special feature on
“Porn Addiction” offered not
only a primer on the Church’s
teachings but also a comprehensive and perceptive psychological profile of the problem, and
its impact on a marriage.
As part of its discussion of
the issue, the site offered perspectives on improving communication, intimacy, forgiveness, and a guide to “good life
virtues.”
Caulfield says the site has
been successful because it does
not preach, but it certainly
presents Catholic teaching in
a saving light that helps men
understand their challenges and
overcome their problem by finding the strength and understanding in their faith.
Universal Value
He adds that fatherhood is
a universal value. It doesn’t
matter what your background
– fathers don’t always get a
fair shake in the media, where
they are portrayed as abusive
or bumbling, ineffectual losers.
He hopes the website will even
the score a bit and give men
something that they can find
nowhere else to help center their
lives on families and faith.
“Most of us are fathers and
Knights trying to work out our
fatherhood,” says Caulfield.
“The ‘Fathers for Good’ website is an opportunity for input,
sharing, and affirmation within
the framework of faith.” v
St. Mark School, Stratford
Three Kings Day
NEWTOWN
Resurrection Cemetery
c/o Gate of Heaven Cemetery
1056 Daniels Farm Road Trumbull, CT 06611
(203) 268-5574
NORWALK
St. Mary - St. John Cemetery
223 Richards Ave.
Norwalk, CT 06850
(203) 838-4271
STAMFORD
Queen of Peace Cemetery
c/o St. John Cemetery
25 Camp Avenue
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 322-0455
TRUMBULL
Gate of Heaven Cemetery
1056 Daniels Farm Road Trumbull, CT 06611
(203) 268-5574
WESTPORT
Assumption, Greens Farms
Assumption, Kings Highway
c/o St. John Cemetery
223 Richards Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
(203) 838-4271
For over 15 years it has been a tradition at Saint Mark
School in Stratford to celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord
with a bilingual Three Kings Mass. Three Kings Day is
one of the most important holidays in the Hispanic culture.
Spanish teacher, Senora Ramos, organized the celebration
and invited Father Joseph Karcsinski of Saint Jude Church
to conduct the Mass. Saint Mark’s eighth grade class led
the Mass with bilingual readings, songs and the portrayal of
Mary, Joseph and the Magi. All students received gifts from
the Three Wise Men.
v
23
January 2010
Trinity High School Students
Practical projects reflect
hands-on faith
STAMFORD – The students
at Trinity High School provide
charity and service to others
in many ways throughout the
year with school-wide service
projects that are a long-standing
tradition. For the Thanksgiving
Food Drive (right) students
collected close to three tons of
food (5,600 pounds to be exact)
as well as 30 turkeys and $200
in cash.
The food was donated to
the Food Bank and to La Casa
del Imigrante to help those
in need throughout the local
community.
Projects
After the Food Drive concluded, the students turned
their attention to two other
service projects. The Student
Council collected toys for Saint
Luke’s Lifeworks to benefit
children whose lives have been
affected by AIDS and AIDSrelated illnesses. Members of
the Student Council attended
a toy-wrapping party at Saint
Collection delivers hope
NORWALK – The Holiday Hope Chest collection, organized
by parent volunteers, is a yearly event at All Saints School. This
year Maria Bazzano and Paulette Corso organized the collection
and coordinated with local agencies. All Saints’ families are invited
to create a holiday hope chest for a child ranging from infant to age
12, and fill a box with gifts including baby clothes and items, toys,
scarves, gloves, games and more. Members of the student council
(above) helped load over 370 “Holiday Hope Chests”to bring to
charities, including Kids in Crisis, Children’s Connection, Malta
House, Norwalk Emergency Shelter, Nathan Hale Middle School,
and Norwalk Community Healthcare Center.
“When I delivered the boxes to the Children’s Connection, the
women volunteers mentioned that they were so looking forward to
getting the boxes again this year. The children who receive them
love them, and they are a beautiful addition to their Christmas.
Each year they continue to be impressed with how beautiful
and how thoughtful these boxes are,” says parent-coordinator
Maria Bazzano. “We even had one man drive down from New
Hampshire to collect boxes for children in need.” v
Trumbull, Connecticut
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Luke’s Lifeworks in Stamford
right before Christmas to help
wrap all toys that members of
the community have donated
for these children.
Winter Clothing
In addition, the National
Honor Society collected winter
clothing throughout December
to donate to La Casa del
Imigrante and filled the storage
room with winter clothing of all
kinds and sizes as well as blankets and towels. Members of
the National Honor Society surpassed last year’s clothing drive
when three truckloads of clothes
were donated. v
Age-appropriate learning
Students experience faith
Love is
as soft
as a lamb
DANBURY – Reconciliation
prayer service at Saint Gregory
the Great School takes place
after second-grade students
make their first Sacrament of
Reconciliation. The children
are read the story of the Good
Shepherd, and are told that the
shepherd loved his lost sheep
so much that he goes to find it
leaving the others behind. They
learn that God loves them so much that he forgives them for the things they do wrong. To help
them remember how much God loves them, Sister Mary John O’Rourke, Saint Gregory’s principal, gives each one a tiny lamb to take home.
v
Heroes
are worth
imitating
FAIRFIELD – In common
with many Catholic schools
and parish religious programs,
the sixth-grade class of Our
Lady of the Assumption
School used All Saints Day as
a way to explore the heroes of
their faith. The students chose
bishops and laymen, martyrs and teachers, men and
women of all walks of life.
They studied the lives of their chosen heroes, then presented their witness of faith during
a special All Saints Day Mass with their pastor, Father Blase Gintoli.
v
24
January 2010
Bringing the Jesuit Community to the heart of the campus
Fairfield Jesuit Community Center opens
FAIRFIELD – On December
16, Bishop William E. Lori
blessed the new Fairfield Jesuit
Community Center whose
design balances the need for
reflection among religious men
with their gift for engagement
and hospitality has opened on
the Fairfield University campus. The eco-friendly building
was conceived as an apostolic
outreach center for 27 Jesuits
engaged in varied apostolates
and their colleagues, both at the
University, Fairfield College
Preparatory School, and elsewhere. It also is home to 12
Jesuits.
“It combines a sense of
reflection and peace – it is a
place rooted in prayer and a
sense of the sacred,” remarked
Father Walter Conlan, S.J.,
rector of the Fairfield Jesuit
Community, who helped
shepherd the building from its
early conception to its successful completion. The Center
was built to look directly
onto the Fairfield campus, as
well as toward Bridgeport, a
city long served by the Jesuit
Community. “Saint Ignatius
always wanted us to see the
world in different lights, from
different perspectives.”
The last time the Jesuit
The Center features a host
of creative earth-friendly innovations, such as a geo-thermal
heating and cooling system
that will reduce carbon dioxide
emissions, a garden roof full of
sedum plants designed to cool
the building and catch rainwater run-off, sustainable cypress
doors, floor-to-ceiling windows
to let in natural light, bamboo
floors, and recycled content
from structural steel to carpets.
Several of its most remarkable
elements come from a 70-foot
tall tree at the site that had
suffered decay and needed to
be taken down. The tree was
milled into a sliding wall in the
Great Room and a cross and
altar in the chapel.
Enhance Contemplation
STEWARDS OF EDUCATION AND THE EARTH – Located at the end of the green behind the historic Bellarmine
Hall mansion, the new Jesuit Community Center is a residence and meeting place that will host campus activities and
serves as the home for an inter-generation Jesuit community. The “green” building features many earth-friendly innovations.
Strategically placed windows enhance the correlation
between the inside and outside
environments, while windows
in the chapel are positioned so
one can see the sky and treetops in an effort to enhance
contemplation. “Every window
University President Jeffrey P.
von Arx, S.J. spoke of bringing
the Jesuit community into the
heart of the campus. “Students
and Jesuits will literally cross
paths,” Father Von Arx said
The Center is situated in such a way
that from many of its rooms, people may
feel as if they are sitting in a ‘treehouse,’
an often-used word to describe the facility.
Community gathered at the
Center’s site, near Bellarmine
Hall, was in the spring of 2008
when a Saint Ignatius medallion was planted to sanctify the
ground. The central campus
location positions the Jesuit
Community so that they are
closer to the University and
Fairfield Prep.
As those instrumental in seeing the Center through from
vision to reality looked on,
in the Center’s ‘Great Room,’
which overlooks the Quick
Center for the Arts and the
Dolan School of Business. “I
believe this will lead to new
learning opportunities, and
that new and as yet unforeseen opportunities for creative
and collaborative engagement
between the University and the
Jesuit community will emerge
as this new Jesuit Community
Center comes to life.”
ROOTED IN PRAYER – Rev. Walter “Skip” Conlan, S.J., rector of the Fairfield Jesuit Community, coordinated the
building process. “It is a place rooted in prayer and a sense of the sacred,” he said of the earth-friendly structure designed
by Gray Organschi Architecture in New Haven.
The Center is situated in
such a way that from many
of its rooms, people may feel
as if they are sitting in a ‘tree-
house,’ an often-used word to
describe the facility. A grove of
Centennial beech trees – intentionally saved and standing just
feet from its foundation – surround it.
Earth Friendly
For complete reviews of selected movies,
call the Catholic Communications Movie Review Line:
(800) 311-4CCC
Alvin and the Chipmunks; The Squeakque . . . . . . . . . . . A-I (PG)
Avatar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG-13)
Daybreakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O (R)
Invictus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG-13)
USCCB RATINGS:
A-I – General patronage
A-II – Adults & adolescents
A-III – Adults
L – Limited Adult Audience
O – Morally Offensive
It’s Complicated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L (R)
Leap Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG)
Sherlock Holmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG-13)
The Lovely Bones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG-13)
Youth in Revolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O (R)
“It’s a place to perch, to sit
and dream; stare at the stars
while being rooted to the site
and to reconnect with our
Jesuit brothers in different
parts of the world,” said Father
Gilbert Sunghera, S.J., project
advisor and assistant professor
of architecture at the University
of Detroit Mercy. He added
that the architects, New
Haven-based Gray Organschi
Architecture, were selected
because they “carefully place
their buildings in the landscape,
and are sensitive to the impact
the building has on natural
resources.” They are, he said,
“a team respectful of our sacred
mission of education, and our
goal to be good stewards of the
Earth.”
frames something beautiful,”
Father Conlan noted.
Paintings by Jesuits, faculty,
and students adorn the walls,
and other art objects represent
the countries where Jesuits
work. For example, numerous
African masks, brought over
from the Thomas J. Walsh
Gallery in the Quick Center,
line a wall near the entrance.
Although quite modern and
bold in its appearance, the
Center also contains links to
the past, most notably in its
altar stones, which derive from
every chapel on campus.
The Center also includes
spaces for meetings, programs,
faculty and staff development,
guests, and chamber music concerts. It is designed to accommodate a mixed generational
community, with the possibility of an easy reconfiguration
at a later date for University
and Prep uses, if and when the
Jesuit Community no longer
requires this space.
v
25
January 2010
(El Padre Torres es vicario parroquial en la Parroquia de Santa
María en Greenwich).
“La vida humana es sagrada
e inviolable en cada momento
de su existencia, también en el
inicial que precede al nacimiento. El hombre, desde el seno
materno, pertenece a Dios que
lo escruta y conoce todo, que
lo forma y lo plasma con sus
manos, que lo ve mientras es
todavía un pequeño embrión
informe y que en él entrevé el
adulto de mañana, cuyos días
están contados y cuya vocación
está ya escrita en el libro de la
vida (cf. Sal 139/138, 1.13-16).
Incluso cuando está todavía
en el seno materno – como
testimonian numerosos textos
bíblicos – el hombre es término
personalísimo de la amorosa
y paterna providencia divina”.
(Evangelium Vitae; Capítulo 3,
# 61, Juan Pablo II, 1995)
Marchas pro-vida
Hace alrededor de unos 20
años tuve la oportunidad de ser
testigo de una de las manifestaciones más grandes en mi país
en contra del aborto, fue una de
las marchas pro-vida de mayor
participación en la historia del
movimiento en Puerto Rico.
Recuerdo, como si fuera hoy,
que una de las razones que
motivó la reacción del pueblo
puertorriqueño fue la manifestación de varios sacerdotes,
junto a laicos comprometidos de
varias parroquias frente a clínicas abortistas en varios sectores
del área metropolitana, situación que motivó una explosión
de emociones y manifestaciones
de apoyo a favor de la vida y en
contra del aborto.
Aprendí a valorar
Como niño, en ese entonces,
recuerdo claramente que decidí
por defender la vida también y
luego de crecer en una familia
de nueve hijos e hijas, y haber
valorado el sacrificio que mis
padre hicieron para mi crianza,
puedo declarar que aprendí
Columnista Invitado
vación al mundo entero. Ella es,
por supuesto, una defensora de
la vida y promotora del amor de
Dios hacia la humanidad.
POR PADRE ROLANDO TORRES
Virgen de Guadalupe
VIVIR DEFENDIENDO LA VIDA
a valorar el sentido más profundo y trascendental de lo
que es el regalo de la vida para
todos nosotros como hijos e
hijas de Dios. Hoy por hoy
estas manifestaciones se siguen
realizando alrededor del mundo
entero y en especial aquí en
los Estados Unidos, en donde
cada año miles de católicos y
no católicos en el mes de enero
van a Washington a la Marcha
Pro-Vida, cambiando de esta
manera el corazón de jóvenes
y adultos como me ocurrió personalmente.
Todos los aspectos
Con el pasar del tiempo tuve
la oportunidad de conocer más
y más el sentido importantísimo
de defender la vida y con el
llamado que recibí de parte de
Dios a servirle como sacerdote
entendí también la urgencia que
tenemos en nuestra sociedad de
defender el derecho a la vida
en todos los aspectos en los
que el mundo atente en contra
de ella, no solo con el aborto,
sino que también con la eutanasia y todos aquellos crímenes
que atentan contra el derecho
Sagrado de vivir. El Papa Juan
Pablo II, una de las figuras más
influyentes de este milenio,
defendió la vida intensamente y
nos dejó una serie de documentos como legado o podría decir
mejor tesoros para que conociéramos y nos educáramos en
el tema de la defensa de la vida.
Teología del Cuerpo
Una de sus más prominentes
encíclicas fue el Evangelio de
la Vida que permitió la elaboración de una nueva meditación
de la vida humana y nos llevó
a la Teología del Cuerpo que
todavía en muchos lugares del
mundo se discute y se estudia,
como una visión más adentrada, más profunda de lo que
significa el ser como individuo
y el valor que tiene la familia
en nuestra Iglesia y sociedad de
hoy.
Experiencia personal
Pero siendo más profundo
en la meditación sobre el tema
de la defensa de la vida tengo
que ir mucho más allá de lo
escrito y hablar de mi experiencia personal. Una de las
satisfacciones más grandes que
una obligación defender la vida,
al contrario es un requisito,
un derecho, una razón y un
propósito de vida, es nuestro
llamado de entender y ayudar
a otros a entender lo importante que es el regalo de vivir y
vivir una vida santa, acorde al
evangelio y a los mandamientos, para que de esa manera
al momento en que Dios nos
llame a su lado podamos sentir
la satisfacción de que hicimos
lo correcto en esta vida, con
el prójimo y con Dios. Pero
“En nuestro ministerio no es una obligación defender la vida, al contrario es
un requisito, un derecho, una razón y un
propósito de vida”.
tengo como sacerdote es que en
muchos casos tengo que lidiar
con la vida, pero también dolorosamente con la muerte. La
celebración de los Sacramentos,
en la mayoría de los casos, nos
amplia el horizonte de lo que
es la vida en sus más profundos
misterios. Celebrar junto a una
familia el regalo maravilloso
del Sacramento del bautismo
de su bebé, o también en esa
semana celebrar el Sacramento
del matrimonio en donde establecemos una nueva familia,
además de escuchar sinnúmero
de confesiones y luego en otro
momento de esa misma semana
oficiar con otra familia la misa
funeral de uno de sus miembros, créanme mis hermanos y
hermanas que es un encuentro
con la vida de primer impacto.
En nuestro ministerio no es
¡Felicidades!
siendo realista hay que admitir
que el aspecto maternal de la
vida siempre es algo justo y necesario en la vida del sacerdote
y no solo del sacerdote, sino
que de la Iglesia en general,
por eso tenemos la protección
e intercesión de la siempre
Bienaventurada Virgen María,
madre de la Iglesia y madre
del clero. En ella vemos ese
ejemplo y modelo de abandono
a la Providencia Divina y a la
aceptación de una maternidad
bendita que nos trajo la sal-
Una de las obras de arte que
más admiro y que sobretodo
venero con gran devoción es
el milagro de la pintura de la
Virgen de Guadalupe. Uno de
los detalles que tiene esa pintura
maravillosa es que al momento
en que ocurrió el milagro, la
imagen de María impregnada
en la tilma de San Juan Diego
estaba embarazada y con esto
nos permitió entender el valor
maravilloso de la vida que por
medio de la madre de Nuestro
Señor Jesucristo vimos y seguimos viendo en este milagro. La
Bienaventurada Virgen María
nos guía de la mano a que
entendamos nuestra misión de
ser signos de contradicción en
una sociedad que promueve la
cultura de la muerte, como bien
decía Juan Pablo II.
Defensor de la vida
Estamos llamados a ser heraldos de paz, y embajadores
de la vida, no solo en nuestras
parroquias sino a donde quiera
que estemos, hay que ser constructores, arquitectos de una
civilización del amor, que promueva la verdad, la esperanza,
la fe, la harmonía y sobretodo
la comprensión, defendiendo
nuestros derechos, respetando
a nuestro prójimo y profundizando mas en el misterio de
la vida que solo encontrara su
realización en Dios, autor y
creador supremo del universo,
y defensor de la vida desde el
segundo exacto que comenzó
v
la creación.
One Family In Mission
“We can only pay him $3.52 a
month but he is like a priceless
gift to our people.”
So says Bishop Joseph Willigers of
Jinja, Uganda, about Mathias, one of
his catechists.
There are close to 200 full-time and
about 600 part-time catechists in
Jinja. Each is willing to give of
themselves because, as one catechist put it,
“We love Jesus Christ and know that but for our work of
making Him known many of our people would not be
reached at all with the ‘Good News.’”
Won’t you help catechists in the Missions as they
continue to bring the “Good News” of Jesus Christ
to those most in need of Him?
The Society for THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
…a Pontifical Mission Society
Fr. Saviano, Director
Diocesan Office for the Propagation of Faith
238 Jewett Avenue
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06606
El Obsipo Bishop William Lori felicita al Diácono Jaime D. Marin-Cardona, colombiano, y
su familia después de conferir las órdenes de diácono transitorio durante una misa el 3 de enero
en la Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo en Bridgeport. La ordenación de diácono es la etapa final
en su pasaje al sacerdocio. Como diácono transitorio, puede ayudar a misas, predicar, y hacer
bautismos.
El Diácono Jaime D. Marin-Cardona se ordenará al sacerdocio el 5 de junio, junto con los
diáconos Jeff Couture, Karol Ksiazek, y Michael Novajosky.
v
Enclosed is my gift for the Missions of $__________
Name_________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________
City_______________________________________State_________Zip___________
www.givetothemissions.org
www.onefamilyinmission.org
26
January 2010
EDITORIAL
Celebrate Schools
I
n this issue of Fairfield County Catholic, with its focus on education, you will find much to celebrate in the Catholic schools
in our diocese. The “Blue Ribbon” status earned by an increasing number of our schools speaks volumes about their academic
excellence and the bright prospects of students. Not to mention
the many sports victories, the community service projects that
reach out to the needy and teach compassion, and the many
social, recreational, and educational opportunities that enrich
the lives of our young people.
Bishop Lori has worked tirelessly to preserve and enhance
the mission of Catholic education in the diocese, and he has
brought many talented people forward to join in the effort.
Under the leadership of Dr. Margaret Dames, superintendent
of schools, her administrative team, and hundreds of incredibly
dedicated teachers, our diocesan schools have taken huge steps
forward. They truly reflect a “Renaissance” in Catholic education, but they need our help to grow and thrive.
In Connecticut, it costs $12,000 a year to educate each child.
Catholic elementary schools now enroll over 33,600 students.
Do the math and you find that Catholic schools save taxpayers
over $400 million each year!
No one knows better the value of Catholic schools than the
generations of alumni who are in every walk of life in Fairfield
County and across the country. Many are stepping forward to
ensure that the schools are here for future generations by participating in a bright and promising new initiative known as the
Catholic Alumni Partnership (CAP). To learn more about the
Catholic Alumni Partnership, visit www.catholicalumnipartnership.org and click on Diocese of Bridgeport.
March for Life
W
ho is a person? You are, and I am. Yet a child within a
mother’s womb, even one partially born, is not a person
until he takes his first breath. Who says so? Why?
The “Who” is easy – the U.S. Supreme Court says so. Why
is more complicated. Science says that an individual human
being is created when a human sperm and egg comes together.
He already has his father’s nose. She carries the genes for her
grandmother’s quirky smile. But neither is a legal person yet.
The upcoming March for Life, January 22, focuses on the
rights of unborn children. This is absolutely necessary in a time
when most news media applaud experimentation on embryonic
stem cells, and abortion advocates block any restrictions.
Throughout the year, the Church insists on the rights of all
individuals: the embryo has the right to grow into his nose, her
smile, without being “disassembled” for research.
And let us also pray for the frightened mother pressured to
abort her child, the immigrant family, struggling to survive in a
hostile environment, the senior citizen who is marginalized and
alone, the innocent victims of war, violence, and environmental
degradation – all those who are powerless and vulnerable in the
face of a society that violates human life across the board.
Courts and officials make up their own, sometimes complicated, explanations for who is or isn’t a person. The Church is
clearer: every human being is made in the image and likeness
of God. So, March for Life. And then, work to make sure that
every human being has the chance to know that he or she is a
person, and infinitely valuable.
New Year’s Light
A
fter we’ve made our New Year’s resolutions, we sit and
wait for the light. We’re past the darkest days of the year,
but an afternoon of snow flurries or even gray skies can plunge
the day back into early darkness. Yet something else is happening: each day we gain light, almost imperceptibly, until at some
point we discover a whole new part of the day has returned.
What was once covered by darkness is now light again. And,
as is our want, we may find ourselves struggling with that new
light – not knowing what to do with it. The light inches forward
but we don’t budge; the days are still too cold or snowy for us
to go out in them. Such may be our faith; we wrestle with the
darkness in ourselves and are often unequal to the light of grace
available to us. Perhaps we pause to welcome the day back and
then we go on doing what we were doing. In this New Year,
let us resolve to be open to the healing gifts of the sacraments
and to let the light of faith wash over our lives and reside in our
hearts.
L
E
T
T
E
R
S
to the editor
Prayer and gratitude for Sister Alejandra
Dear Editor:
Thank you so much for the
beautiful article and picture
of Sister Alejandra Keen in
Peru! I was so happy to see
her smiling face surrounded
by her wonderful community!
I was very blessed to know
Sister Alejandra during her
stay here in the Diocese of
Bridgeport and was not at all
surprised to learn that she was
asked to be the world-wide general coordinator of the Marian
Community of Reconciliation.
She is a very special person who
will no doubt lead and grow
her community. The Marian
Community embodies the love
of Christ and they share in a
very unique way their faith and
joy with everyone they meet
each day. Catholics are praying regularly for vocations to the priesthood, deaconate, and religious
life and the Marian Community
is truly an answer to that prayer!
These wonderful women have
a spirit that is so vibrant and
real and very in touch with the
world in which we live. They
pray deeply and with inspiring
commitment and they call each
of us to deepen our prayer lives
and treasure our faith with joy. The Holy Spirit is indeed
present and working in our
midst. I encourage everyone
to pray for Sister Alejandra’s
Receiving the “True Presence”
Dear Editor:
In reading Father John
Ringley’s article on how to
receive Holy Communion, I
was reminded of an incident
recently at Mass. I spotted what
appeared to be a piece of paper
on the floor, but it turned out to
be a trampled consecrated Host.
I presented it to the priest after
Mass and he appeared surprised
and scandalized. Shaken myself,
I reflected on the very few
“True Presence” sermons I have
heard since my childhood.
The current situation in the
Catholic Church concerning the
reception of the Holy Eucharist
is very confusing to me. For
example, I recently attended a
wedding in a Protestant church
where the congregation knelt
at the altar rail to receive Holy
Bread, kneeling and on the
tongue. If we, as Catholics,
really believe in the “True
Presence”, why do we not kneel
and receive the “True Presence”
on the tongue?
A few years back The New
York Times had an article where
Catholics were polled as to
whether or not they believed
in the “True Presence.” Only a
small percentage did. I hope in
2010 that that we hear from the
pulpit the Holy Father’s teachings regarding the reception of
The Body Of Christ.
❖
success in her new position
and also for this special Marian
Community. Thanks for the
update!
❖
Mary Garbe
Fairfield Responding
to Vocations
Dear Editor:
Today, I received with joy
a copy of the December FCC
issue. It is so good, even though
I live thousands of miles away
from CT, to continue to be
updated with the blessings and
challenges of the Diocese of
Bridgeport. Firstly, I would like
to thank Pat Hennessy for her
kindness in writing an article on
my new mission, and secondly,
I hope that you made a very
prophetic mistake, as it states
that we are 1000 more Fraternas
than we presently are!
When I read the typo, I
laughed, and hope that through
our fidelity, it will not take too
long for many more young
women to generously respond
to their vocation as consecrated
laywomen, bringing Christ into
the world, and contributing in
the building of a culture of life,
love, and reconciliation.
With my gratitude and
daily prayers for all those good
friends in the Lord I have in the
Bridgeport Diocese.
❖
Susan Goodman
New Canaan
Sr. Alejandra Keen
Lima
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27
January 2010
L
E
T
T
E
R
S
to the editor
Support priests all over the world
Dear Editor:
In the Year of the Priest,
I wanted to write in support
of our priests, not only in our
Diocese of Bridgeport but, all
over the world. With the shortage of priests through out the
years, their responsibilities have
become greater, particularly
due to the need to convince
Catholics and the world that
they are not the enemy even
though a small minority of their
brethren have committed evil
actions. Our priests have taking
on more and more administrative responsibilities in their parishes and in their dioceses. They
are to be applauded for their
exemplary work!
My recommendations
include, but are not limited to
the following support for our
priests:
Read all sixteen documents
of Vatican II. If you need assistance in understanding the key
elements, please get it.
Get to know your parish
priests, invite them to your
home for lunch, dinner, or
even a party.
Never be afraid of asking
questions about our faith, beliefs
and our practices, even if your
questions are challenging. Our
priests live for helping us to
understand. You may not like
what you hear, but it will be the
truth and it will be explained.
The Eucharist is an act of love
Dear Editors:
In response to Father
Ringley’s column headed
“Mass Confusion,” I offer the
following comments. While
profanation of the Blessed
Sacrament is a terrible thing,
there is no insurance that giving Communion on the tongue
changes the possibility of such
profanation. There is no assurance that the Host will not be
removed from the tongue if one
wishes to do so.
I think Father Ringley is confused. Adults feed themselves;
they do not need to be fed like
incompetent infants. As an
Extraordinary Minister of the
Eucharist, I have seen many
styles of receiving Communion
and have followed after someone and asked that she consume the Blessed Sacrament
or give it back. I have seen
people open their mouths a
miniscule amount and have
had quite a time placing the
Host on an invisible tongue.
In this season of flu and cold,
when our instructions from
the diocese are to wave peace
and not touch anyone, where
is Father Ringley’s reasoning?
Communion on the tongue is
unsanitary. Is there no swine
flu at Kolbe-Cathedral High
School? My husband tells me
that at Saint Patrick’s in New
York, the ushers stand and
watch as people receive – certainly a solution for a big city
church.
The Eucharist is an act
of Love of a loving God. As
with all love, risk is inherent.
I think our God is up to the
challenge and can handle the
❖
consequences.
Sandy Cambère Mumbach
Wilton
Remember that priests are
human just like you; ask them
how they deal effectively with
all sorts of temptations, and
truly listen because it will
help. Human behavior hasn’t
changed from the beginning of
our presence on earth.
GO TO CHURCH!
Pray.
Listen after praying; you’ll
be amazed at the answers you
receive. The answer may be not
immediate, but it will come.
My second child, Amelia was
born on 8/8/1988 with Down
Syndrome. I cursed God until I
learned that the eight stands for
eternal life. A priest taught me
that.
Thank them for their sacrifice. Years of study to assist us!
Do reading on your own.
I am currently reading, Saint
Gregory of Nyssa on his
doctrine On the Soul and the
Resurrection.
And read the Prayer of
Saint Francis of Assisi. Or the
Beatitudes.
Go to the website of the
USCCB, the United States of
Catholic Conference of Bishops
to keep yourself up to date.
Go to the website of our
Diocese of Bridgeport to keep
up to date on issue and diocesan activities and events….get
involved!
Remember, no priests, no
Mass!
❖
Marl T. Sanford
Greenwich
Living wage
is a pro-life issue
Dear Editor:
It seems to me that workers in this country have lost
an inalienable right to a living wage – through a job that
enables the worker to support a
family in simple decency.
When business conditions
dictate, workers may be immediately let go. But treating the
worker as just another cost
of doing business is to violate a cardinal teaching of the
social doctrine of the Church.
Countless encyclicals for over
a century have affirmed the
fundamental right of workers
to their jobs and a living wage
that is sufficient to support their
families.
It seems appropriate that a
pro-living wage movement be
formed to protect workers and
their rights. If the life of the
unborn be defended, the life of
the family should be defended
as well by supporting a living
wage.
This protection of workers
and their jobs is long overdue. ❖
Bob Saverine
Stamford
Guest Column
BY ANTOINETTE BOSCO
How peace came to
the world in 2010
As the New Year began, Pope Benedict
XVI gave a World Day of Peace message
to all, as our popes have been doing since
1967, ever since this important annual
observance was launched by Pope Paul VI.
His theme was especially important in these
troubled world times, for his emphasis was
on protecting creation. What especially
caught my attention was his appeal for
“progressive disarmament,” where he emphasized working for
“a world free of nuclear weapons.”
Certainly, it is long past time for all the nations to want and
seek such a world. But the fact that we have now reached the
year 2010 rang bells in my head. Why? Because I have been
thinking of peace coming to the world in the year 2010 for the
past dozen years. And here is the reason:
We all have our special attractions, and one of mine is going
to used book sales. I always find something special among the
piles. In 1998 as I piled used books to buy into plastic bags, I
saw one with a title that grabbed me: “How Peace Came to the
World,” mentioning, specifically, “in the year 2010.”
I started reading this book, published in 1985, then and
there. It began with these two statements: “Nothing threatens
us more today than the 50,000 nuclear warheads that stand
in a state of near readiness around the globe. Yet in the year
2010, the world is at peace and the threat of nuclear devastation has vanished.”
Contest
A prophesy? A fantasy? I was seduced, and, as they say,
here’s the story! The book dates back to a contest by The
Christian Science Monitor in 1985, with a specific aim – to get
readers to jump ahead 25 years to the year 2010, imagine a
world at peace, and then explain how this had come about.
The Monitor explained: “Peace is a condition all the world’s
statesmen say they yearn for. Every individual would like to
live in peace. The Beatitudes call the peacemakers ‘the children
of God.’ Instead of only reacting to each new international
crisis, let’s think instead about what conditions could prevail
that would bring about a substantially altered climate of world
opinion.”
Some 1,300 people responded to the proposal, many reacting to the past century of war. It was noted that even after
World War II, 130 new wars, big and small, erupted around
the globe. It impressed me that The Monitor saw each citizen,
and not just so-called “leaders,’” as having a responsibility to
be involved in peace planning.
I was not surprised that many would see terrible consequences coming from deteriorating relations between the rich
nations and the poor Third World countries, from the rising
conflicts among religious groups, from the increasingly armed
nations stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, and the
explosive Middle East hatreds.
Prophetic Response
Remembering this book as I read of Pope Benedict’s strong
peace message, I also remembered the horrors of the wars we
have suffered through in the past hundred years. I had the
privilege of hearing our pope, then Cardinal Ratzinger, speak
about peace at a conference in Israel in early 1994. When
he chose the name Benedict XVI as he became our leader, I
believed this came from his respect for Pope Benedict XV who
tried so hard to get the nations killing millions in World War
I to stop. That saintly pope was not even given the courtesy of
being a part of the talks that produced the infamous Treaty of
Versailles, which, in the end, gave all the spoils of war to the
“winners,” humiliating Germany by making it take full moral
and financial responsibility for the war. Seeing “revenge, greed,
and stupidity” in the abominable treaty, Pope Benedict XV
said, sounding like Jesus: “Nations do not die; in humiliation
and revenge, they pass from generation to generation the sorrowful heritage of hatred and retaliation.”
Certainly, that is what we saw happen in the decades that
followed, and is still what we see in our world today.
Would that leaders of all world nations could read this
book, which ends with a truth, that peace does not come easily. “We have work before us,” wrote Dr. Stephen E. Silver, a
Connecticut physician. “However, let us be eager to do it, for it
is holy work.” To that we must all say, “Amen!”
(Antoinette Bosco, a member of Saint Marguerite Bourgeois Church
in Brookfield, is the author of “World War I” [Facts on File].) v
28
January 2010
Taught at Assumption, Fairfield
Sister Mary Ryan, O.P., 70
By MARIA O’BRIEN
Sister Mary Ryan, O.P., died
on December 18 at Saint Mary
Convent, Gloucester City, NJ.
She was 70 years old.
Mary Ryan was born in
May 1939 in Philadelphia.
She was raised in Woodbury,
NJ, and graduated from
Gloucester Catholic High
School, Gloucester City, where
she excelled in basketball, field
hockey, and softball. Sister
Mary remained an avid supporter of the school her entire life.
Prior Experience
After graduation she worked
for Saunder’s Publishing
Company, Camden Trust, and
a local law firm before entering
the novitiate of the Dominican
Sisters of Newburgh, NY, in
coming to Our Lady of the
Assumption School in Fairfield
in 1967.
Lion’s Club Award
Sister Mary Ryan, O.P.
1958. Taking the religious name
of Sister George Anne, she
made her final profession of
vows in 1963.
Sister Mary taught at Saint
Brendan School in New Haven
and in New Jersey before
Shortly after leaving
Assumption in 1972 she began
working in pastoral ministry. In
1997, while working in pastoral
ministry in Gloucester City,
Sister Mary received the Lion’s
Club award for “Senior Citizen
of the Year” for her dedication
to her work and the citizens
of the area. She was also honored in 2002 by the Gloucester
Catholic Alumni Association.
A Mass of Christian Burial
was celebrated for Sister Mary
on December 22 at Saint Mary
Parish in Gloucester City.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s
v
Cemetery, Bellmawr, NJ.
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Deceased Clergy of the Diocese of Bridgeport:
January 17 – February 6
19
20
22
23
27
January
Year
Rev. Andrew L. Horvat...................1973
Rev. William D. Thompson............2004
Rev. Andrew L. Farkas...................1967
Msgr. Ralph P. Buongervino...........1994
Msgr. Andrew T. Cusack................2004
Rev. Felix P. Werpechowski...........1972
Rev. John Mitchell..........................2006
Rev. James J. McCormick...............1965
Msgr. Francis G. Galla...................1996
28
30
2
3
4
6
Every month in Fairfield County Catholic, Erin Neil, director of the diocesan Office of Safe Environments, provides an
update on the implementation of the Safe Environment Initiative of the Diocese of Bridgeport, launched in June 2003.
For the past seven years, the Diocese of Bridgeport has been
a leader in child safety. Our Catholic schools and parishes are
one of the safest places for children to be. In 2002 the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops created a landmark document called Charter for the Protection of Children and Young
People, which mandates that all Church environments where
children may be present are as safe as possible.
U.S. dioceses and archdioceses are audited on these safety
requirements annually by an independent firm. We are proud
to report that the Diocese of Bridgeport this fall completed our
6th independent audit and we were found to be fully compliant
on all articles of the Charter. The auditor visited schools and
parishes at various locations across the diocese and spoke to
priests, school principals and other staff members to ensure that
these programs are fully implemented. In many cases we have
been found to exceed the requirements of the Charter.
Widespread Training
To advertise, please call Ralph: 203-416-1462
NEIL F. HARDING
Safe Environment
Update
Msgr. Joseph R. McCarthy..............1964
Msgr. John F. Cavanaugh...............1990
Rev. James F. Desmond.................1963
February
Year
Rev. Joseph W. Kupec....................1978
Deacon Bartholomew J. Mauceri....2004
Msgr. Martin F. Doran...................1967
Rev. Robert F. Albert......................1995
Msgr. William F.X. Casey..............1978
Msgr. Martin J. McDermott............1986
30,000 members of the clergy, lay employees, volunteers and
independent contractors have gone through a criminal background check. Over 65,000 adults and children received live
training and 40,000 parents and other adults received educational materials on the prevention and reporting of child sexual
abuse. This represents approximately a quarter of all Catholics
in our diocese who we have reached through these efforts.
Fingerprints and background checks have been required in
public and private schools. However it is rare to find safety and
background checks that include all adults who come in contact
with children during their school day. Parents, coaches, school
employees, nurses, paraprofessionals, and aides are just a few
examples. The Safe Environment programs in the Diocese
of Bridgeport include all of the above as well as independent
contractors such as food service providers, general contractors,
painters and after-school clubs. This ensures that no person
who may be around children has even one conviction of a sex
crime or crime against a child and all adults are educated on
safe boundaries when working with minors.
The adults in our diocese attend a three-hour training called
VIRTUS Protecting God’s children. Participants learn the
10 most common warning signs in offenders and signs in a
potential victim. Training includes an overview of the code of
conduct and the requirement that two adults must always be
present when children are around. The training also provides
adults with Connecticut state laws on mandatory reporting
and phone numbers. Parents comment regularly that they wish
every school, camp and program their child participates in.
took safety as seriously as we do.
Feedback
The most common feedback at just about every VIRTUS
class is that the training is not what they expected and they are
often surprised to learn that a predator can be a female, a male
or even another child. 29 percent of all child sexual abuse is
committed by a family member. We hear over and over that
the training should be seen by every parent and grandparent.
The program for students is called Think First and Stay Safe.
It helps children recognize when they are safe or unsafe and to
feel comfortable bringing their concerns, fears, and anything
they may be confused about to the attention of a trusted adult.
Children are taught the most common tricks and lures used by
offenders so that they can recognize and report the warnings
signs before abuse takes place. Topics include internet and technology safety, sexual abuse prevention, abductions prevention,
the risks of social networks, cyber-bullying and texting dangers.
A counselor from Catholic Charities, Tara Mingione, delivers this powerful presentation to ensure a consistent message
and students get to know her. Students feel comfortable asking
her questions that may be critical to their safety, and parents
can meet the instructor to preview the program in advance of
classroom instruction. Every parent is provided with training
information and a parent guide from their school when they
enroll their children so that lessons can begin at home.
In the Diocese of Bridgeport the Safe Environment initiative is well integrated in our daily routines and activities.
Implementing this level of security can take time, energy,
resources and advance planning but if it prevents even one
child from being harmed, it is all worth it.
For more information on these or any other issues relating
to the Safe Environment Program, call Erin Neil: 372-4301,
ext. 563, or visit www.bridgeportdiocese.com.
v
29
January 2010
Potpourri
Budget deficit unresolved
BY THOMAS H. HICKS
MERTON’S VOICE STILL SPEAKS
Phenomenon was the only
word to describe it. It was
a surprising runaway best
seller. The book was Thomas
Merton’s Seven Story Mountain,
published in 1948, after Merton
had been in Trappist monastic
life for seven years.
In 1948, there were many
servicemen who had returned
from the war. The mixture of
their experiences in the war
and reading Merton led huge
numbers to Merton’s monastery
at Gethsemani in Kentucky.
When Merton joined the community in 1941, there were
80 monks; it peaked to 250.
Seminaries also felt the surge.
Cooling Faith
I finally caught up with the
Seven Story Mountain during my
junior year in college. It was a
time when I was cooling to the
Church. I felt Catholicism filled
my life with rules and was a
place where I heard a lot about
hell and about my apparently
more than favorable prospects
of arriving there, inasmuch as
God hated mortal sin.
My faith seemed to simply
involve an occupation with saving one’s soul, avoiding hell,
and shortening purgatory.
Then, I read Seven Story
Mountain and I saw the faith
with new eyes. The magic of
the book is the way Merton
tells his story. It reads like a
great novel. The narrator is
brimming with the excitement
of an outsider who has just
stumbled upon the greatest
thing on earth – the Catholic
faith.
After the Seven Story
Mountain, Merton’s books
flowed from Gethsemani; there
was: Seeds of Contemplation, The
Waters of Siloe, The Ascent of
Truth, Bread in the Wilderness,
The Sign of Jonas, The Living
Bread, No Man Is an Island, The
Silent Life, Thoughts in Solitude,
Contemplation in a World of
Action, Conjectures of a Guilty
Bystander, The Wisdom of the
Desert, The New Man, etc. I
devoured these books, loved
their poetic prose and reflections on nature.
Deeper Aspirations
Because of Merton, I began
to read Catholic philosophers
such as Etienne Gilson and
Jacques Maritain. Together
with Merton, these authors
helped me find Roman
Catholicism fascinating. But
it was Merton, above all, who
put me in touch with some of
the deeper aspirations of my
spirit, called me to a deeper and
fuller living, taught me to see
my life as a divine mystery. He
restored the mystical dimension
of spirituality.
Throughout his writings
there are Merton’s reflections
on nature. He celebrated the
natural world in all its variety
and beauty as the body of God.
With him we enter into the
liturgies of rain and autumn
and dawn. Echoing Hopkins,
Merton sees the divinity
indwelling in all things.
Meeting Merton
Soon after graduating college, I made two trips to
Gethsemani for the precise
purpose of seeing Merton. On
the first trip I saw him – from
a distance. On the second trip,
I actually spoke with Merton
– together with a pack of four
other Merton devotees. We
met him on the edge of a field
where monks were doing some
harvesting. Merton approached
“Soon after
graduating college,
I made two trips
to Gethsemani for
the precise purpose
of seeing Merton.
On the first trip,
I saw him.”
wearing work clothes and a
baseball-style cap pushed back
on his head. He was all smile:
a big, broad, boyish smile.
And there was his wonderful
hearty laugh. When you said
something to him, you had his
whole attention. He made you
feel important and really worthy of his attention.
Romance
Students of Merton were surprised when, in 1993, Michael
Mott in his authorized biography of Thomas Merton titled
The Seven Mountains of Thomas
Merton, revealed the romantic
relationship Merton had with
a young nurse he met during a
hospital stay near the end of his
life. Some of the righteous were
scandalized and referred to
Merton as a “failed monk.” For
others, the relationship with
“Marge” endeared Merton to
them even more; it showed further what an intensely human
man he was.
Basil Pennington, a fellow Cistercian and friend of
Merton, wrote, “What one of
the great Cistercian Fathers,
Bernard of Clairvaux, once
wrote, could have been said by
Tom. ‘Those who have experienced these things know what
I am talking about, and those
who haven’t – well, have the
experience and then you will.’”
(Thomas Merton, My Brother)
For many, it seems regrettable that Merton died so soon
after his relationship with
Marge. They would like to
have seen what influence the
relationship would have had
on his later thinking and writing. In his journal, Merton
stated, “I can never again be
the person who did not know
and love her.”
Thomas Merton died suddenly before he completed
his fifty-fourth year. He was
accidentally killed by a defective floor-fan in Bangkok,
Thailand, during a pan-monastic conference of Christians and
Buddhists.
The Seven Story Mountain
will always stand on my horizon, stone-white, eminent, like
a lighthouse marking some
essential stage of my adventurous, long, long, journey.
To that book and the rest of
his writings I owe a Catholic
faith strong enough, versatile
enough to continue to shape
my life. They communicated to
me the reality, the beauty, the
wonder of the mystery of God.
I learned something about the
passionate search for God.
Merton will never fill the
bill for canonization, but he
brought me in touch with the
contemplative dimension of
life. Merton’s life seems all too
brief. One thinks of how much
more he could have taught us.
But perhaps he left behind more
than enough.
Catholic Identity
Theologian Karl Rahner
pointed out that the Church
is passing through a “wintery
season”; the trees are bare and
a cold wind blows. We’ve all
heard the statistics: about one
in three baptized Catholics in
the United States no longer
identify themselves as Catholic.
That means that 10 percent
of Americans are former
Catholics. From my experience
of teaching Catholic college
students, my impression is that
their faith will become more
increasingly a marginal and
superficial part of their identity.
Spirituality is the hook back
into the faith for them. They’re
not turned off to spirituality. I
think Merton can provide that
hook.
Thomas Merton spoke
powerfully, effectively, and
profoundly to a very broad
spectrum of the American
people. American Catholics
heard Merton perhaps better
than any Catholic voice in
their times. Men particularly
took to Merton. I think Merton
speaks for all seasons. I think
we would recoup some of our
losses if reading Merton were
more encouraged.
If the diffuse happiness of
my early twenties could be
distilled into one moment, it
would be that still summer day
I met Thomas Merton. I can
still recall the late-afternoon
sunlight of the bright August
day, when I sort of felt that
Merton’s smile curved to
enclose me.
(Dr. Thomas Hicks is a
member of Saint Theresa Parish,
Trumbull.)
❖
State legislature
set to convene
HARTFORD – After a tumultuous 2009 session that saw
state legislature unable to agree on a budget while taking swipes
at the Catholic Church in Connecticut, the 2010 session is set to
reconvene in Hartford on February 3.
Michael Culhane, president of the Connecticut Catholic
Conference, says he expects another bruising session, but he
says many legislative issues are likely to be overwhelmed by
state’s growing budget deficit and lack of consensus on how to
address the problem.
“Legislators got a blast at the end of December with an estimate of a $531 million budget deficit, which is likely to grow to
$1 billion by June 30,” says Culhane who adds that neither the
governor nor the legislature can agree on cuts.
He said that the Connecticut Catholic Conference (CCC)will
provide action alerts and information bulletins on its website
(www.ctcatholic.org) throughout the legislative session. The
CCC is the public policy and advocacy office of the Catholic
Bishops in Connecticut.
He expects issues such as assisted suicide, unfair statutes of
limitations targeting Catholic institutions, and abortion, to once
again be considered by the legislature, which has often taken
stands at odds with Church teachings.
Reeling from 1098
Culhane said many Catholics across the state are still reeling
from last year’s proposed Bill 1098 that set the tone for a legislative session that many viewed as anti-catholic.
“This legislation was viewed as a direct assault on the
Catholic Church in Connecticut. The bill would have redefined
how Catholic parishes are organized and would have dramatically altered the role of the pastor and bishop in relation to parish. Its enactment would have been a direct violation of First
Amendment protections concerning the separation of Church
and state.”
One thing Catholics can do immediately is register to vote
and be sure to participate in local elections. Low voter turnout
is a problem across the country and a lost opportunity for those
who wish to make their voices heard on issue important to them
and the Church, Culhane says.
Become Aware
“The issues facing the Catholic Church in contemporary
times are very significant, and the legislation that comes before
the General Assembly can have a great impact on our lives
and values,” he says, “The Catholic population in Connecticut
has to be made aware of these issues and positions church is
taking.”
(For further information or to participate call the Connecticut
Catholic Conference at 860-524-7882 or email: [email protected].) v
Nationwide Conference
ParishSOFT
A DELEGATION from the Diocese of Bridgeport
attended the ParishSOFT Conference in Dearborn, MI,
November 1-4. Father Norm Guilbert (center), pastor
of Saint Patrick Parish in Bridgeport, celebrated Mass
for the attendees, who included (l-r) Barbara Rizzo and
Dorian Peckham of Saint Mary Parish in Ridgefield; Pat
Krause, ParishSOFT project coordinator for Parish Finance
Services; and Erma Moore of Saint Thomas More Parish
in Darien.
❖
30
January 2010
Collection for the Church in Latin America
Coming to Christ who is coming to them
By FATHER FREDERICK
SAVIANO
(Father Saviano, a former missionary in Latin America, is diocesan director of the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith.)
January brings us a New
Year and a new opportunity to
cooperate with the missions in
Latin America. The Church in
the United States takes up the
Collection for the Church in
Latin America the weekend of
January 23-24.
Many times mission areas
need to put in place programs
for the education and formation
of lay catechists. They are normally members of the “outpost”
nated day for the arrival of the
priest.
On one such visit, I was in
the back hills of the Peruvian
Andes where the community’s
chapel was little more than a
mud hut with thatched roofing.
The elders and little children
were gathered there waiting for
my arrival. As soon as they saw
the dust cloud which signaled
my arrival in my trusty jeep,
they sent out a delegation along
the road to greet their “pastor”.
Greeted With Dancing
They had the community
band of flutes and drums with
dancers meet me on the road
about fifty yards from the chapel and led me (dancing and playing their
rustic instruments all
the while in front of
the jeep) to the front
of the chapel. I felt
like King David being
led in procession into
Jerusalem. This was
their expression of
joy at having God’s
representative and
their shepherd come to them. It
was really a humbling experience knowing that I was being
given such a warm acceptance
into their community because
I came in God’s name. I was
truly their brother.
Well, you should have
seen the enthusiasm with
which these humble people
danced up a “dust storm”
offering their joy and their
culture to the Lord.
Christian Communities who are
delegated to bring the Word of
God and religious instruction to
their people in the absence of a
priest.
With so many communities
to visit for pastoral care, often
with long distances or difficult
terrain between them, the priests
are not able to be present 24/7,
so to speak. Each priest must
constantly move to be able to
reach all of the God’s Children
in the extensive territory
assigned to him. My last parish
territory in Peru was the size of
the Diocese of Bridgeport with
87 such outpost communities.
So the trained catechist
would prepare his or her community for the pastoral visit,
sacraments, and the celebration
of the Eucharist on the desig-
Walk to Mass
We prepared the small altar
in front of the Chapel for the
celebration of Mass. And, then,
I became aware that their gaze
was fixed on a point about
five hundred yards beyond the
gathering place to a hill where
I could devise a long line of
people advancing towards the
chapel. It was the primary
school children. They had been
in classes at their rural school
almost a mile away and were
on their way walking with their
teacher to the chapel for Mass.
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They walk a long distance to
school from their huts and back
home again every day except
Saturday and Sunday.
Since today was a weekday
they had walked the distance to
school but again were footing it
to be present at the Mass which
for all was an important celebration. They knew that Jesus was
going to be present in their community in a special way. No
sacrifice would deter them from
being there.
We waited for them to arrive
and placed them around the
altar.
I asked the dancers and
musicians to take a place “front
row center.” Right after the
consecration of Eucharist, I
held up the host and chalice
and explained to them that as
they had given me such a warm
welcome with their music and
dance because I was coming in
His name, they should welcome
Jesus Himself now present on
our altar. Well, you should have
seen the enthusiasm with which
these humble people danced up
INTRICATE WEAVINGS, the fruit of their daily labor, are blessed during the
Mass at a small community in the highlands of Peru. Because the priest journeys many difficult miles to celebrate Mass with them, he depends on the work
of catechists formed through the collection for the Church in Latin America.
a “dust storm” offering their joy
and their culture to the Lord.
Heaven had come to earth and
we were one with the angels
and saints. What a thrill for a
priest to experience this in the
missions.
The rich life of faith of a
community like this one is sus-
tained by dedicated catechists,
formed through the support
you give to the missions. Last
year the family of faith in the
Diocese of Bridgeport gave
$125,000 to support the Church
in Latin America. Please be
as generous as possible in this
v
year’s collection.
Guest Column
BY FATHER COLIN McKENNA
Making Holy Hours at Home!
For most people, the new
year brings resolutions. Many
people – especially adults –
resolve to lose weight and
“get in shape.” If Christmas
is the make-or-break season
for retailers, January is the
cash-cow for fitness clubs.
In January, the register goes
“Ka-ching” as the overweight
and out-of-shape
plunk down cash or
credit at health clubs
to begin an exercise
regimen that rarely
lasts beyond the Super
Bowl.
Other resolutions
involve things like
cash management or even
joining a dating service if Mr.
Right or Ms. Right is proving
elusive. For Catholics, however, each new year (or new
decade!) brings the opportunity to resolve to grow in holiness. Did you make any “spiritual resolutions” for the new
year? There is still time if you
didn’t. In fact, it is always a
good time for a resolution!
You may think that I mean
spending an hour or so in
church praying before the
Blessed Sacrament, but there
are other ways to make a Holy
Hour. Whether you are young,
old, married, single, widowed,
divorced, you can make an
Holy Hour at home whenever you wish. All you need is
• At the end of an hour,
someone can signal that it
is time to gather together
again.
• When everyone is together,
each person describes what
they did and how they feel
about their experience.
When the family gathers
again after the Holy
Hour, it is important
that comments about
the experience are
received in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
For example, “teenager Tommy” might
say that the experience
was “boring.”
Let him say it. It may have
been, or maybe it wasn’t and
he is putting on a detached
front because the experience
touched his heart and he
doesn’t want anyone to know
it – especially his family!
“For Catholics, however,
each new year (or new decade!)
brings the opportunity to
resolve to grow in holiness.”
Year Round
Lent usually brings more
people to daily Mass in our
parishes. This is a very beneficial practice for parishioners and edifies clergy and
religious. But there are other
religious practices that can be
incorporated into our lives,
not only seasonally, but yearround. One such religious
practice is the Holy Hour.
silence and God’s presence.
For parents with children,
organizing a Holy Hour at
home could go something like
this:
• Gather the family and
explain that you are going to
make a Holy Hour at home
on such and such day/evening at such and such time.
• At the beginning of the Holy
Hour, make the Sign of the
Cross and listen to the reading of a Scripture passage.
• Then, each family member
is to go off to a place in the
home where he or she can
remain alone for an hour.
• No electronic devices are
allowed to be on during this
time, and phones should be
unplugged or turned off.
Growing in Holiness
Making Holy Hours at
home is a good Lenten practice, but it can be done at any
time throughout the year. If
families or individuals are
serious about growing in holiness, home-made Holy Hours
can be monthly, weekly, or
for the truly inspired, daily.
Again, the recipe for a homemade Holy Hour is silence
and God’s presence.
(Father McKenna is parochial
vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in
Georgetown.)
v
31
January 2010
What a glorious cast of
saints who come together for
this feast of the Presentation
of the Child Jesus on February
2: there is Our Lady and Saint
Joseph, and the prophets
Simeon and Anna, all of whom
inspire the faithful to remember
how on this day the light of the
world was revealed to all the
nations.
According to the Mosaic
Law, a new born boy was to
be circumcised on the eighth
day and then presented in
the Temple on the 40th day.
An offering of either a lamb
and a turtledove for the rich,
or two turtledoves if one was
poor, was to be presented for
the purification of the mother
(Leviticus 12:1-8).
The Communion of Saints
BY FATHER GREG J. MARKEY
PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
fication. Nonetheless Our Lady
was a faithful daughter of Israel
and presented herself with great
humility at the Temple. As a
family of lesser means, Saint
Joseph came to the Temple
with the more modest sacrificial
offering, two turtledoves (Luke
2:24).
“My eyes have seen the
salvation which you have
prepared in the presence
of all people, a light to
reveal you to the nations.”
In order to fulfill this commandment, Saint Joseph and
the Blessed Virgin Mary with
the new born babe would have
traveled from Bethlehem to
Jerusalem, about a six-mile
journey. As they approached
the City of Zion they would
have seen the glorious Temple,
“What wonderful stones and
what wonderful buildings!”
(Mark 13:1).
Daughter of Israel
It may seem strange that
Mary would have submitted to
this law because she was free
from sin, and therefore was not
bound to fulfill the rite of puri-
Proclaimation
When they arrived, Simeon,
a man “righteous and devout,
looking for the consolation of
Israel” (Luke 2:25), was waiting. It had been
revealed to him
by the Holy Spirit
that he would not
see death until he
had seen the birth
of the long awaited
Messiah.
When the Child
arrived Simeon
blessed him and said,
“Lord, now you let your servant go in peace. My eyes have
seen the salvation which you
have prepared in the presence
of all people, a light to reveal
you to the nations” (Luke 2:2932). It was moment of great joy
for Our Lady and Saint Joseph,
and they marveled at what was
said about their Son.
Nonetheless there was also a
painful prophecy from Simeon:
“Behold, this child is set for
the fall and rising of many in
Israel, and for a sign that shall
be contradicted. And your own
soul a sword shall pierce, that
the thoughts of many may be
revealed” (Luke
2:35). A moment
of joy had suddenly become a
moment of pain.
This was to be
the first of the
Seven Sorrows
of Our Lady.
Finally Anna,
a wise and elderly prophetess
who spent her life
in “worshipping
and fasting and
prayer” (Luke
2:37), came and
gave thanks for
the baby Jesus,
telling all in the
Temple about
Him.
Surely for
years to come
those who frequented the
Temple would
RECEIVING
THE
CHRIST
CHILD
from
Our Lady and
Saint Joseph, as
this stained glass
window
from
Saint Mary Parish
in Norwalk pictures,
Simeon
proclaimed: “and
your own soul
a sword shall
pierce, that the
thoughts of many
may be revealed”
(Luke 2:35).
remember that day, and wonder what had happened to the
Child who had such marvels
spoken about Him. It would
only be at the Lord’s baptism in
the Jordan, 30 years later, that
they would begin to make the
connection.
From the inception of the
Church many beautiful traditions grew up around this feast.
For example, the Church’s
liturgical calendar traditionally celebrated the Christmas
season for 40 days, beginning
December 25th and ending 40
days later on February 2nd with
the feast of the Purification
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
or as it is called today, the
Presentation of the Lord.
Of all the feasts of Our
Lady, the Purification of the
Blessed Virgin is the most
ancient. Some, such as Pope
Benedict XIV, held that it
was instituted by the Apostles
themselves.
Candlemas
Furthermore, Simeon’s
prophecy about “a light to
reveal you to the nations”
inspired the Church to have
blessed candles lit followed
by a procession on this feast.
Therefore February 2nd came
to be known as Candlemas.
Along with the blessing of
ashes and palms, it is one of
the three principle blessings
of the year.
This day is a reminder of
the humility of Our Lady, who
although free from the law,
humbly became obedient to the
law. The people of God should
imitate her humble obedience
remembering that Christ is the
light of the world.
(Father Greg Markey is pastor
of Saint Mary Parish, Norwalk.) v
S A I N T L Y L I V E S by Ed Waldron
32
State of the art equipment
January 2010
Project Adventure
challenges gymnasts
International Connection
Trinity makes contact with Spain
STAMFORD
– Cindy Solomon,
chairman of the
foreign language
department at
Trinity High School,
uses the Smart Board
to do a television
news broadcast in
Spanish. Working
with the latest technology, her students
were able to speak
directly to students
in Spain, presenting the broadcast in
Real-Time to them.v
Invest in the future
Saint Joseph H.S. receives $1500
RIDGEFIELD – A balancing act by exuberant third grade
students Mackenzie Wanicka, Sofia Singer, Claire Middlebrook,
and Emma Baughman highlights Saint Mary School’s new Project
Adventure equipment. The state-of-the-art equipment was donated
to the school by Saint Mary Parish Men’s Ministry, in memory
of Dr. Peter Yanity. On October 1, the school welcomed Mrs.
Elizabeth Yanity, along with Msgr. Laurence Bronkiewicz, Saint
Mary’s pastor, and Men’s Ministry representatives James Carroll
and Emmett Brown. The students jumped at the chance to demonstrate the challenges of Project Adventure for their honored guest.v
TRUMBULL – Saint Joseph
High School in Trumbull was
nominated by local Mobil
Dealer David DeLuca to receive
a grant from ExxonMobil
Educational Alliance. The
Alliance Program is designed
to provide Mobil retailers an
opportunity to invest in the
future of their communities
through educational grants to
local schools. DeLuca’s Mobil
stations are Fairfield On-the-Run
and Stratfield Service Center in
Fairfield.
This year, DeLuca personally
matched the $750 ExxonMobil
grant. Pictured (l to r) Libby
DeLuca, a junior at Saint Joseph, David DeLuca, Kenneth Mayo, principal, and Nancy DeLuca, presenting checks totaling $1500.00.
v
WEDDING & DINING
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33
January 2010
25 Years of Service
Photos by Karen Leffler
BRIDGEPORT – Bishop William E. Lori presented Twenty-five
Years of Service awards during the annual luncheon at
the Catholic Center on December 23. Shown here, he
congratulates Catholic Center employee Matthew Helfrich, noting that
not only has Helfrich donated generously of his time, his father, the late
Bernard Helfrich, was the long-time superintendant of schools for the
diocese. “This is a family with a tradition of giving to the diocese,” said
Bishop Lori as Helfrich received a standing ovation for his award.
Other awardees included Kitty Curty, business manager for Stamford
Regional Catholic Schools; Steve Coffey, maintenance worker at Saint
Catherine of Siena Parish in Riverside; Lorraine Kozlowski, secretary of
Saint Peter/Sacred Heart School in Danbury; Deidie Labelle, bookkeeper
at Holy Family in Fairfield; Katherin Sniffin, assistant principal at Saint
Peter/Sacred Heart School; Mary Stone, language arts teacher at Our
Lady of Assumption School, Fairfield; and Sister Frances Smallkowsky,
pastoral care coordinator at Pope John Paul Center for Health Care in
Danbury (shown with her mother).
St.
Camillus
R
&N
C
ehabilitation
ursing
enter
We provide rehab
& nursing services
for many needs
and conditions.
Some of these are:
Strokes
Total Joint
Replacements
Orthopedic
Disorders
Neurological
Disorders
Cardiopulmonary
Conditions
Fractures
Amputations
Muscular
Disorders
Post Surgical Care
Wound Care
IV Therapy
Short-Term Rehabilitation
Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies
offered six days per week
Specialized Wound-Care Nurse
Nurse Practitioner Services
Cable television and telephone service
Private rooms available • Full recreation program
In-house Chapel/Daily Mass
Medicare • Medicaid • Private/Insurance Manage care
accepted • Long term + Hospice Care available.
Office: 203.517.1720 • Cell: 203.249.2756 • Fax: 203.325.0456
494 Elm Street • Stamford, Connecticut 06902
34
January 2010
CHILDREN WHO ARE
DEAF can attend religious education classes at several locations in the diocese. Interpreted
Masses for hearing impaired
are celebrated every Sun at
6 p.m. at St. James Parish in
Stratford, and the third Sun. of
the month (Jan. 17) at 10:45 at
Assumption Parish, Fairfield.
For more information, call Sr.
Nancy O’Neill: 416-1383.
WEEK OF PRAYER for
Christian Unity begins Mon.,
Jan. 18 and concludes Mon.,
Jan. 25. The intention is to
invite the participation of the
whole Christian community to
pray in communion with the
prayer of Jesus “What all may
SUFFERING AFTER
ABORTION? Experience
the healing love of Jesus
on a Rachel’s Vineyard
Retreat weekend, held in
Fairfield County on Jan.
22-24. The retreat combines spiritual meditation,
discussion, the Sacrament
of Reconciliation, a memorial service, and Mass.
Participation is strictly
confidential. For more
information, call Retreat
Director Clarissa Cincotta:
218-0291.
be one.” For more information,
call Fr. Samuel Scott, director
of the Office of Ecumenical &
Interreligious Affairs: 322-5331.
EMMAUS RETREAT FOR
TEENS ages 15-19 will be held
the weekend of Jan. 29-31 at
All Saints School, Norwalk.
The retreat, coordinated by
volunteers of the St. Matthew
Emmaus Community, allows
you to focus your life in a more
positive and meaningful way.
Retreat begins Fri. evening 7:30
p.m. and ends Sunday at 8 p.m.
07105L1a_Triple_FfldCthlcAd
A donation of $50 is requested;
registration deadline: Mon., Jan
18. For more information or
an application, contact Donna
Forcier: 853-4292. MASSES OF HEALING
AND HOPE sponsored by the
Charismatic Renewal Office
will be celebrated Mon., Jan.
18, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence
Parish, Shelton with Fr. Charles
Allen, SJ. For more information, call 268-8253.
CATHOLIC FORUM at St.
Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown,
will be sponsoring a presentation by Msgr. Chris Walsh on
his book, “The Untapped Power
of the Sacrament of Penance:
A Priest’s View,” on Sun., Jan
17 starting at 5 p.m. He will
explain why priests cherish the
Sacrament of Penance as a powerful movement of God’s healing love. For more information
call 426-1014, or visit www.
catholicforum.us.
ZITI DINNER will be
offered by park City Council
16 at the Knights of Columbus
Hall, 2540 Park Ave., Bridgport,
on Thurs., Jan. 21, at 6:45 p.m.
Cost: $8/person; all welcome.
For more information, call
Nick: 374-6202; or Herb:
374-7903.
CURSILLO ULTREYAS
will be held Thurs., Jan. 21, at
7:30 p.m. at St. Mary Parish,
Bethel, and Tues., Feb. 2, at
7 p.m. at the Catholic Center,
Bridgeport. A Cursillo Day of
Reflection will be held at John
Paul II Center, Danbury, on
Sat., Feb. 6. For more information, please contact Peter
Baumgartner: pjbaumgart@
yahoo.com.
RACHEL’S VINEYARD
RETREAT, being held the
weekend of Jan. 22-24, needs
help with meals for the weekend. If you or your group are
able to donate a meal, baked
goods, or items for the snack
table, please call Clarissa
1/30/07
9:25 PM
Artwork accompanies
practical prayers
FAIRFIELD – Wrapping paper hand-made – literally –
by first graders in the religious education class at Saint Pius
X Parish decorated a “Thomas Merton House Toothbrush
Collection.” The box, filled to overflowing with new toothbrushes, was wrapped in paper showing students helping people, along with their renderings of turkeys, pumpkins, leaves
and flowers. “They learned that prayers don’t have to be in
words,” says Jane-Ellen Collins, the first grade teacher. “We
pray every time we do a good deed for one another. What a
great world this would be if everyone grasped this concept!”
close to your heart) will meet
Mon., Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. in the
parish center (main floor of the
convent). For more information, call 261-3676.
VISIT DAYS at St. Mary
School, Ridgefield, will be held
on Tues., Feb. 2, starting at 10
Page 1
Cleaner, Greener
and Drier
Since 1963
Cincotta, Rachel’s Vineyard
director: 218-0291
ANNUAL CAPP
RETREAT “Sharing Our
Faith in Christ” will be held
Sat., Jan. 30, from 12 noon4:30 p.m. at the Chapel of
the Holy Spirit, Sacred Heart
University, Fairfield, with Fr.
Joseph Koterski, S.J., an expert
on Catholic Social Teaching.
Members and friends of CAPP
are invited bring a guest.
Agenda: lunch, lecture, private
reflection, group discussion,
Mass. Fees: $40/person; RSVP
by Sun., Jan. 24. For more
information or to register, call
Jackie Musante: 459-0344, or
[email protected], or register online at www.capp-usa.org.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
hosted by Knights of Columbus
Council #14014, will be held
Sun., Jan. 24, from 7:30-11:30
a.m. at the St. Lawrence School
Gymnasium, Shelton. $5/person includes pancakes, sausage,
bacon, orange juice, and coffee.
A portion of the proceeds will
benefit the Merton Center in
Bridgeport. For more information, call Carlos Perez:
395-8086.
OPEN HOUSE & WINTER
WEEKEND at St. Mark
School, Stratford, will begin
with a Winter Carnival on Sat.,
Jan. 30, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Bring the whole family to a funfilled indoor event including
moon bounces, games of skill,
face painting, prizes for everyone, food, popcorn, candy, and
more. Admission: $1.50. On
Sun., Jan. 31, the school will
host an Open House. Visit our
Blue Ribbon School and take
a private tour of grades pre-K
through 8. For more information, call 375-4291.
BEREAVEMENT
SUPPORT GROUP at St.
Theresa Parish for people who
have lost a loved one (spouses,
child, parent, sibling, or anyone
Home PC & Mac Help
Rugs,
Carpets
Upholstery
Oriental
&&
Area
Rugs
Systems, Network, Internet
Training & Tutoring
N o r w a l k 847-8000
Stamfor d 327-7471
Stratfor d 375-3737
MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE THE FCC DISCOUNT!
203.377.7908 ext:112
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MUNICIPAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL
24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE • LICENSED & INSURED
377-8704
or
1-800-422-3724
Office: 534 Surf Avenue • Stratford
• TV PIPE INSPECTION
• AIR TESTING
• JET RODDING
• VACTOR SERVICE
a.m. & Thurs., Feb. 4 starting
at 1 p.m. Tour the school, learn
about programs, and speak with
parents of current students.
St. Mary’s offers half-day and
full-day preschool classes, fullday kindergarten, and world
language instruction at all grade
levels in a faith-based environment. For more information or
to make an appointment, call
Paula King, director of admissions: 438-7288, ext. 239.
FREE PROSTATE
CANCER SCREENINGS
will be offered by St. Vincent’s
SWIM Prostate Cancer
Institute on Wed., Feb. 3,
at Park City Primary Care
Center, 64 Black Rock Ave.,
Bridgeport, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The program is open to all men
age 50 and over, and those 40
and over who are at higher risk
for prostate cancer due to family history or being of AfricanAmerican decent. For more
information or to schedule an
The next “Bits & Pieces”
calendar will contain items
for the period
February 8-March 7, 2010.
Deadline for submissions:
Thursday, February 25, 2010.
Fax info to 203-374-2044
or e-mail: [email protected].
RESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY DRAIN CLEANING
• CATCH BASIN CLEANING
• HIGH VELOCITY WATER JETTING
• LARGE DIAMETER POWER RODDING
(Photo by Diane Camillo)
MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY CATHOLIC DISCOUNT!
Sorry, we cannot guarantee
publication. Priority is given
to Catholic activities and events
within Fairfield County.
35
January 2010
appointment, call 576-6158.
Appointments are limited.
HEALING MASS will
be held Thurs., Feb. 4, at
7:30 p.m. at St. Philip Parish,
Norwalk. Fr. Bill McCarthy, codirector of My Father’s House
in Moodus, will be the celebrant. For more information,
call 847-4549. MASS IN HONOR OF
THE SACRED HEART OF
JESUS will be celebrated in
Spanish every first Fri. of the
month (Feb. 5) in St. Mary
Church, Greenwich, at 7 p.m.
In addition, a prayer group will
recite the Rosary every Thurs.,
at 7:30 in the parish chapel. All
are invited. For more information, call Fr. Rolando Torres:
869-9393, ext. 123, or e-mail
[email protected].
FILL THE VAN WITH
CANS is the challenge for
“Souper” Bowl Sunday at
Assumption Parish, Fairfield,
When: Sat.-Sun., Feb. 6-7. Sat.
9 a.m.-12 noon and after the 4
p.m. Mass; and after all Sunday
Masses: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30
a.m. and 12 noon. What: Fill
the van with non-perishable
food items. The youth group is
challenging the parish and surrounding community to help
meet the needs of local food
pantries. For more information,
call Lara Linsenmeyer: 3339065 or e-mail olayouthgroup@
yahoo.com.
OBERAMMERGAU
PASSION PLAY Eastern
Europe Pilgrimage by the
Sharing Christ Ministry has
some spaces left for the 11-day
Splendors of Eastern Europe
V.I.T.A. TAX ASSISTANCE: Volunteers desperately needed to help for a few hours a week from Feb.-Apr. The site will
be in the Catholic Center in Bridgeport: Mon., Wed., & Thurs.
5:30-8:30 p.m., and Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. V.I.T.A. volunteers prepare basic federal and state income tax returns free-of-charge for
individuals with low and limited income, those with disabilities,
and non-English speaking and elderly taxpayers. Volunteers are
asked to offer at least 3 hours each week from Feb.1-Apr. 15.
No experience needed – all training provided. To volunteer and
for more information on training sessions, call Roxanne ReyesVelez at Casey Family Services: 372-3722 ext. 5705, e-mail
[email protected]; or Fr. Seraphim at Catholic
Charities: 581-4978, e-mail [email protected] .
Pilgrimage, May 14-24, 2010,
visiting Prague, Budapest,
Vienna, Munich, and most
importantly, the worldrenowned Passion Play 2010
in Oberammergau, Germany,
which is only presented every
10 years. Join Joe and Fran
Karpiej, along with Fr. Larry
Carew on this journey of culture
and faith. Cost: $3874/pp from
JFK/NY; includes tickets to
the Passion Play. Tickets are in
high demand; an initial deposit
of $2,000 per person is due
now to hold a space. For more
information, call Joe Karpiej:
452-7040, or e-mail: jkarpiej@
aol.com.
LEGION OF MARY is
looking for Catholic men and
women to visit hospitals and
nursing homes or volunteer to
teach religious education. For
more information or to join,
call Marion Hinds: 334-7207, or
Fran Tenney: 268-4107.
RESTORATIVE YOGA
CLASSES for cancer patients
and cancer survivors (gentle
yoga with breathing and mediation) are offered through St.
Vincent’s Medical Center
SWIM programs at The Club
At Watermark, 3030 Park Ave.,
Bridgeport. Patients in active
treatment or post-surgery: Tues.
10-11 a.m.; cancer survivors:
Weds. 4:30-5:30 p.m. or 6-7
p.m. Parking lot entrance on
Westfield Avenue. The club is
on the lower level in the back of
the building. For more information or to register, call 576-6158.
THOMAS MERTON
CENTER in Bridgeport is
in need of pasta, sauce, and
hot and cold breakfast cereal.
Items can be dropped off at
the Merton Center. For more
information, call Mark Grasso:
367-9036.
UNWANTED CELL
PHONES are being collected
by St. Joseph High School Red
Cross Club. They will be converted to 911 emergency-use cell
phones by Secure the Call, a
national organization, for those
in greatest need of contact with
the emergency services: battered
women, the elderly, etc. Phones
can be dropped off (cell phone
handsets only - please no chargers or accessories) at St. Joseph
High School, 2320 Huntington
Turnpike, Trumbull. For more
information visit St. Joe’s website: www.sjcadets.org.
OPEN DOOR SHELTER,
South Norwalk, is experiencing an unprecedented surge in
demand for shelter and food.
Donations of checks, food,
and clothing can be sent to:
Open Door Shelter, 4 Merritt
St., South Norwalk, CT 06854.
Donations can also be made
online at: www.norwalkemergencyshelter.org. For more
information, call 866-1057. v
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T I M E
T O
R E G I S T E R
Marriage
Enrichment
Day
A Perfect
Valentine’s Gift!
Please join us Saturday, February 13, 2010
from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
(continental breakfast and lunch included)
at the Catholic Center, Bridgeport
for a Day to Remember, Celebrate, and Believe
in the Power of Your Marital Love.
Registration is required. Registration fee is $35 per couple.
For more information, contact Family Life Ministry:
203-416-1442 or [email protected]
St. Vincent’s Medical Center is pleased to invite you to the opening of the
ELIZABETH PFRIEM
SWIM CENTER FOR CANCER CARE
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE AND TOURS
Saturday, January 23, 2010, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Sunday, January 24, 2010, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Join the staff at St. Vincent’s as they guide you through the new
125,000 square-foot, four-story building, which houses all of
St. Vincent’s oncology services, including Ambulatory Infusion,
radiation therapy, diagnostics, and the Women’s Imaging Center.
Refreshments.
Proud Principal Mary Maloney poses with students outside Saint Rose of Lima School in Newtown one of six diocesan Blue Ribbon Schools. (Photo by Dr. Joseph McAleer)