April 2010 - Diocese of Bridgeport

Transcription

Are you running
with me Father?
Living
Our Faith
Cardinal George
on Health Care
A marathon prayer:
page 11
The 2010 Annual Bishop’s
Appeal: pages 15-18
Some concerns remain:
page 7
Convivio Youth Conference
Teens explore richness of faith
By KAREN KOVACS DYDZUHN
As a nor’easter pounded Fairfield County, Christ’s
light shone brightly inside Sacred Heart University
where more than 200 young people gathered for
Convivio, an international congress for high school students.
Although Convivio (the name
means sharing-friendship in
Christ) has been held annually in
Europe and Latin America since
1977, this is the first time it took
place in the United States.
According to Sr. Erika Scheelje, director of youth
ministry for the diocese of Bridgeport, Convivio offers
teens in grades 9-12 the opportunities to make new
friends and talk about issues that are important to
them. Speakers and small group discussions focus on
where and how to find real happiness.
“We are all searching for happiness and many
times we are looking in the wrong places,” explains
Sr. Erika. “We want to help young people to find real
answers, to satisfy the yearnings
of their hearts. Jesus Christ is the
only One who knows our heart.
We are hoping to guide them to
this encounter with Christ.”
“As a Catholic, sometimes it’s hard to live your
faith and be proud.”
TESTIFYING AGAINST RAISED BILL 5473 – Michael
Culhane, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic
Public Affairs Conference, and noted attorney Martin
Nussbaum testify before the state Judiciary Committee
against proposed legislation that fails to protect children
throughout the state. Legal experts agreed that it targets
the Catholic Church and could lead to a spike in fraudulent
law suits. (Jack Sheedy, Courtesy Catholic Transcript)
Share Faith
Elisabeth McIntosh, 16, a
sophomore at St. Joseph’s in
Trumbull, and resident of Norwalk, was one of 60
youth leaders who led the nearly 250 Convivio participants in the discussion sessions.
Sr. Daniela Neuenschwander of the Marian
➤
see Convivio on p. 6
Proposed law unfair
Statutes fail
CT children
HARTFORD – Legal experts and social
workers testified on March 17 on behalf of the
Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference
(CCPAC) in opposition to Raised Bill No. 5473.
The proposed Bill would eliminate time limits
to file civil lawsuits for sexual abuse of a minor
against Catholic and other non-public institutions.
Similar lawsuits against government entities are
now barred by a doctrine called sovereign immunity. The Bill would do nothing to change this.
The current law for Catholic and other non-governmental institutions permits claimants to delay
until their 48th birthday before filing suit.
The CCPAC opposed the Bill on the basis of
➤
see Statutes on p. 23
Father
Jan Mic
Composer of “On Eag
THE LOOK OF JOY: Young people from parishes around the Diocese celebrate their faith at the first “Convivio”
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Wednesday, April 14 • 7 pm: Chapel of the Holy Spirit
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Wednesday, April 14
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2
April 2010
T
“Bringing the Resurrection Home”
he Resurrection is the heart of our
Christian faith. St. Paul taught us that
“if Christ is not raised, your faith is in
vain” (1 Cor. 15:17). Why did Paul
write those strong words? It seems he was scolding the Corinthians for their lack of faith in the
Resurrection. He tells them that if Christ had
not been raised from the dead, then his preaching and their faith are not only useless but
indeed a harmful delusion: “If for this life only
we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.” (1 Cor. 15:19)
What, then, does it mean to believe in the
Resurrection? Faith in the Resurrection is the
unshakeable belief that Christ died on the Cross
and rose from the dead in His human body.
Transformed by the glory of God, He emerged
from the tomb and was seen by the Apostles.
Indeed, the Risen Christ did
not discard the body which
was crucified. The Scriptures
tell us that His risen body
was marked with the wounds
in His hands, His feet, and
His side. At the same time,
Jesus’ risen body was more
than a resuscitated corpse.
The same body which was
crucified now was also glorified; it brimmed with God’s
imperishable life and love.
This was more than a demonstration of
God’s power. In passing from death on the
Cross to the new life of the Resurrection, Jesus
won for us the definitive victory over sin and
death. After all, death epitomized our sinful
state of alienation from God, from others, even
from ourselves. In rising from the dead, Jesus
broke the grip of evil over us and ensured that,
in spite of our ongoing sinfulness, sin and death
would not ultimately prevail, that the forces of
evil would not have the last word in human history or in our individual and collective lives.
It is significant that this victory was won
by means of our human nature. The third century
Christian writer, Tertullian, put it this way: “The flesh
is the hinge of our salvation,” (De Resurrectione Carnis,
8, 9). Christ truly assumed our humanity, including
a human body, so that He could be seen, heard, and
touched, and so that He could die and rise for our
salvation. Our “en-fleshed” humanity was the means
by which Jesus prevailed over the powers of darkness.
In winning this victory by means of our humanity,
he also restored our humanity by freeing us from sin
and opening the path to intimacy with God and with
others in the communion of the Church. Thus we profess every Sunday that “we acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins” and that “we look for the
resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to
come.” (The Nicene Creed)
Jesus’ resurrection matters to us. It is the impetus
for a whole new life – not just a new way of thinking and acting, but a new way of
being in relationship to God and
to others. How can this be? The
Catechism of the Catholic Church
teaches that what we profess in
faith, the sacraments of the Church
communicate to us (CCC, no.
1691). Through the sacraments we
share in what Jesus has done for
us. This gives us a new principle
of life: “I no longer live,” St. Paul
said, “but Christ lives in me” (Gal.
2:20). Because the Risen Christ dwells in us through
faith, we can live the law of love in the spirit of the
Beatitudes and continually grow in intimacy with the
Trinity. We can live as faithful, loving, active members of the Church, the Body of Christ. In heaven, all
this will blossom into the face-to-face vision of God,
in company with all the saints and angels. This is the
happiness we seek, the destiny for which we long.
“Well and good,” you might want to say to me
about now, “but all this sounds very abstract.” You
might be asking, “How can a mysterious event which
happened some 2,000 years ago affect my life now?
Can the Resurrection really touch my daily existence?
Who will bring it home for me?”
“In passing from death
on the Cross to the new
life of the Resurrection,
Jesus won for us the
definitive victory over
sin and death.”
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.
Sunday, March 28
• 8:30 a.m. – Mass on Palm Sunday, St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
• 12 noon – Mass on Palm Sunday, St. Joseph Parish, Danbury
Monday, March 29
• 10 a.m. – Knights of Columbus Founder’s Day Mass and lunch, St. Mary Parish, New Haven
Tuesday, March 30
• 7 p.m. – Lenten Confessions, St. Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Wednesday, March 31
• 10 a.m. – Chrism Mass, St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Thursday, April 1
• 7 p.m. – Mass of the Lord’s Supper, St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Friday, April 2, Good Friday
• 3 p.m. – Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion, St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Saturday, April 3
• 8 p.m. – Easter Vigil Mass, St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Sunday, April 4
• 11 a.m. – Mass on Easter Sunday, St. Theresa Parish, Trumbull
Sunday, April 11
• 2:30 p.m. – Diocesan Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday, Assumption Parish, Westport
Wednesday, April 14
• 10 a.m. – Knights of Columbus Chaplains Mass and meeting, Knights of Columbus Headquarters, New Haven
• 7 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Thursday, April 15
• 7 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Highlights
Perhaps that’s as good of a job description for
a priest as one could hope for. The priest is the
one who brings the Resurrection home for us,
both as individuals and indeed as a community
of faith. When the priest proclaims the Word
of God and celebrates the Eucharist, he makes
present for us the Paschal Mystery, the death
and Resurrection of Christ. The Risen Lord is no
longer an abstraction but is really present in our
midst and especially in the Eucharistic species,
the bread and wine transformed into Christ’s
Body and Blood. Thus, Pope John Paul II wrote
that, “…with the Eucharist, we digest, as it
were, the ‘secret’ of the Resurrection.” (Ecclesia
de Eucharistia, no. 18)
B
ut that is not all. In the Sacrament of
Penance, the priest applies the power of
the Resurrection to our specific sins and
then lifts us up from the death of sin.
In the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick,
the priest unites us in our suffering to the death
and Resurrection of Christ, thus giving redemptive value to our suffering. In preparing us for
death, the priest enables us to embrace our calling to share God’s life forever. In guiding us as
teachers and pastors, priests help us embrace this
newness of life in our daily joys, sorrows, and
challenges. Acting in the very person of Christ,
Head and Shepherd of the Church, the priest
makes the Resurrection sacramentally real for
us. He mediates our encounter with the Risen
the Lord so that we can indeed embrace the new
life which He won for us.
As we enter into Holy Week and celebrate the
joy of Easter in this Year for Priests, let us thank
God for the gift of the priesthood and for our
priests who bring home for us the Resurrection.
May the Risen Lord give to me and to my
brother priests an ever deeper awareness of the
depth and beauty of the mysteries we celebrate
for those we serve, and indeed, for our own
salvation. Together with my brother priests,
I wish each of you a very happy Easter!
❖
• 6:30 p.m. – Catholic Charities of Danbury Charity Ball, Ridgewood Country Club, Danbury
Sunday, April 25
• 10 a.m. – Mass, St. Patrick Parish, Bridgeport
from Bishop William E. Lori’s
• 3 p.m. – Spring Wedding Jubilee Mass, St. Theresa Parish, Trumbull
Public Calendar
Tuesday, April 27
• 7 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Friday, April 16
Danbury
• 10 a.m. – Board of Directors Meeting, Holy Apostles Seminary, Friday, April 30
Cromwell; Followed by a meeting of the Connecticut Catholic • 7:30 p.m. – Concert for the Year for Priests, St. Gabriel Parish, Conference
Stamford
• 6:30 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Rose of Lima, Newtown
Saturday, May 1
Saturday, April 17
• 10 a.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Aloysius Parish,
• 9:30 a.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Rose of Lima, Newtown
New Canaan
• 1 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Rose of Lima, Newtown
• 1:30 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Aloysius, New Canaan
• 5:30 p.m. – Catholic Charities Housing Celebration, St. Matthew • 5 p.m. – Mass for the Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders,
Parish, Norwalk
St. John Fisher Seminary Residence, Stamford
Sunday, April 18
Sunday, May 2
• 12 noon – Mass for the 50th Anniversary of St. Mark Parish, • 9 a.m. – Mass with First Holy Communion, Villa Maria
Stratford
Educational Center, Stamford
• 5 p.m. – Knights of Columbus, Connecticut State Council, Venerable • 12 noon – Mass for 75th Anniversary of St. Thomas the Apostle, Father Michael J. McGivney Awards Dinner, Aqua Turf
Norwalk
Tuesday, April 20
• 3 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
• 7:30 a.m. – Catholic Charities Breakfast, Woodway Country Club, • 6:30 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
Darien
Tuesday, May 4
Wednesday, April 21
• 7 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Catherine of Siena,
• 8 a.m. – Meeting of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities, Trumbull
Catholic Center, Bridgeport
Wednesday, May 5 Friday, April 23
• 3 p.m. – Fairfield University Education Workshop • 6:30 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Michael the Archangel Friday, May 7
Parish, Greenwich
• 7 p.m. – Mass with Dedication of New Altar and Sanctuary,
Saturday, April 24
St. Mary Parish, Norwalk
• 11 a.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Peter Parish, Danbury
Saturday, May 8
• 3:30 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, St. Michael the Archangel, • 7 p.m. – Sacrament of Confirmation, Assumption Parish, Westport
Greenwich
3
April 2010
A first for St. Vincent’s Medical Center
First Mass for military families celebrated
BRIDGEPORT – With a
spirit of gratitude and pride in
their hearts, a gathering of staff
members last month participated in the first Mass celebrated at
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
for relatives serving in the
military. Fr. Seraphim Rohlman
of the Diocese of Bridgeport celebrated the Mass, with Pastoral
Care Director Deacon Paul
Jennings and Special Needs
Center Chaplain Deacon Ray
Chervenak serving.
The first readings and psalm
were read by Mission Vice
President Bill Hoey and Sr.
Louise Macchia, while Josie
Labbe of Medical Records
sang, “Spread Your Faith
Everywhere” in French during
Communion. In its plaintive
way the song brought home
the sacrifices that servicemen
and servicewomen make.
Spirituality in the Workplace
Coordinator Sr. Margaret
Dougherty organized the
Mass, which ended on a
patriotic
note with
the singing
of “God
Bless
America.”
In his homily, Fr.
Rohlman called the men
and women serving in the
military “icons of self-sacrifice” and described their
courage and sacrifice
as “Christ-like.”
“These men and
women provide us with
a glimpse of the love
that God has for us,”
Fr. Rohman said. “They
serve for an ideal, for the
good of the nation, the
good of families and
the good of the other.”
(The Mission Committee
is coordinating a display of
photos of employee relatives
serving in the military. Please
send your photo to Nicole
MILITARY MOMS (l-r) Debbie Evers, LPN; Jan Cordova, RN; Yvonne Cardozo;
Pinto: [email protected] Heidi Sandrowski, RN; and Sandy Reyes (behind Yvonne) raise their voices to honor
❖ those serving our country. At left, Fr. Seraphim Rohlman celebrated the special Mass.
or call ext. 5968.)
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4
April 2010
Catholic News
Pope to visit Malta,
the U.K. and beatify
Cardinal Newman
VATICAN – Among the
five papal visits scheduled outside of Italy for the year 2010
(which include Fatima, Cyprus
and Spain), two are of special
interest to the English-speaking
world: Pope Benedict XVI’s
Apostolic Journey to Malta on
the occasion of the 1950th anni-
often wash up on the island
shores en route to Europe.
The papal journey to Great
Britain will be the first official
visit ever made by a Roman
Pontiff. While Pope John Paul
II visited in 1982, that trip was
classified as a “pastoral” rather
than an “official” visit, sidestepping questions about a meeting
with Queen Elizabeth, who
is technically the head of the
PAPAL VISIT IN MALTA to draw attention to illegal immigration.
versary of St. Paul’s shipwreck
on the island, April 17-18, and
his four-day visit to the United
Kingdom, September 16-19.
Malta, a tiny island country about twice the size of
Washington, D.C., gained its
independence from the U.K. in
1964 and boasts a 98% Catholic
population. During his visit,
Pope Benedict will make a
courtesy visit to the president
of the country, visit the Cave of
Saint Paul, celebrate Holy Mass,
and meet with young Maltese.
Besides his Sunday homily on
April 18, the Pope will deliver
four addresses and offer prayers
and a greeting at St. Paul’s Cave.
This visit will also spotlight
a hot political issue in modern
Malta: the arrival of thousands
of illegal immigrants from
Africa, who like Paul of Tarsus,
Church of England as well as
the nation’s monarch. On this
visit, which will accentuate ecumenical relations, the Pope will
meet formally with the Queen.
During his pontificate,
Benedict XVI has presided
only at canonization ceremonies, leaving beatifications to
other prelates. But apparently
because of his special devotion
to Cardinal Newman, he will
personally beatify the great 19th
century convert and theologian
at a Mass in Coventry. He will
also visit Birmingham, where
Cardinal Newman lived and
worked at the Oratory.
During his visit to Scotland
the Pontiff will stop in
Edinburgh (where he will meet
with the Queen at her Scottish
residence) and Glasgow.
In London the Pope will
St. Anthony’s
Book & Gift Shop
“A little piece of Heaven in downtown Seymour”
We have been serving the Catholic Community for over eleven
wonderful years. We carry First Holy Communion Dresses,
Veils, White and Blue Ties, Long Sleeved White Shirts, Rosaries,
Indoor and Outdoor Statues, Books, CD’s, DVD’s, Celtic Gifts,
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Crucifixes in Sterling and 14kt, Church Goods, Vestments,
Candles, CCD Books, Bereavement, Christening Outfits,
Gifts for Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, and Wedding,
Personalized Sacramental Gifts, Invitations, Favors.
St. Anthony’s is your full-service shop serving quality
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A “must” shop for anyone looking to share
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131 Main Street, Seymour, Connecticut 06483
meet with the Archbishop of
Canterbury and hold an ecumenical service. He will also
speak to political leaders at
Westminster Hall, the historic
site where St. Thomas More
was tried and convicted.
Most of world lives
without religious
freedom
Archbishop Silvano Tomasi,
Permanent Observer of the
Holy See to the United Nations
in Geneva, lamented that
“nearly 70% of the world’s 6.8
billion people live in countries
with high restrictions on religion, the brunt of which often
falls on religious minorities.”
Archbishop Tomasi made his
comments during a meeting of
the UN Human Rights Council
on March 12.
“In some regions followers
of minority religions, that are
not recognized by law, have
to confess their faith in hiding
and illegally, and live in fear
of prison terms and persecution,” the Archbishop said. “In
other places, while the right to
freedom of religion is legally
recognized, religious minorities
are harassed and persecuted by
members of the majority religion. Their properties are damaged, their houses of worship
are destroyed, their lives severely threatened. These criminal
acts are often committed in total
impunity. Authorities stand idly
by or are partisans in the conflict. Victims are forced to desist
from reporting the injustice
done to them for fear of further
negative repercussions.”
The European tragedy:
one abortion every
11 seconds
The whole European continent in 2008 alone rid itself
of 2,863,649 children by
abortion. Of these, 42% were
aborted in the 27 countries of
the European Union where
20,635,919 abortions have
been performed in the past 15
years. These chilling statistics
were presented on 2 March at
the European Parliament by
the Institute of Family Policies
(IPF), in its annual report on
the incidence of abortion in
Europe and in Spain.
Eduardo Hertefelder,
President of the IPF, warned
that “Europeans and our
administrations cannot look
in the opposite direction when
an abortion is being practiced
every 11 seconds”. Abortion
is in fact the principal cause of
death throughout the continent.
The number of abortions in one
year, more than 1.2 million,
is equivalent to the deficit in
the birth-rate of the European
Union. According to the same
report, in 2015 Spain will cross
the threshold of 150,000 abortions per year, thus joining
France and the UK among the
countries in the EU where the
most abortions are performed.
(By Marta Lago
for L’Osservatore Romano,
March 10, 2010)
UN Holy See observer
Respecting
women’s dignity
VATICAN CITY – Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy
See permanent observer to the United Nations in New York,
addressed the 54th session of the Economic and Social
Council’s Commission on the Status of Women, at the March
8 special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women
2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st
century.”
Archbishop Migliore said: “The advancements achieved
regarding the status of women in the world in the last 15 years
include, among others, improvements in the education of girls,
the promotion of women as key to eradicating poverty and
fostering development, growth of participation in social life,
political reforms aimed at removing forms of discrimination
against women and specific laws against domestic violence.”
Human Trafficking: 70% Women and Girls
The permanent observer highlighted the importance of not
overlooking “violence in the form of female feticide, infanticide, and
abandonment,” as well
as “discrimination in health
and nutrition”.
He noted,
moreover,
how “girls
and women
15 years of
age and over
account for
2/3 of the
world’s illiterate population.”
The
Archbishop
went on: “It
is a sad fact
that 3/4 of
those infected
by HIV/
AIDS are girls
and women
between the
ages of 15 and 24,” and that, among the victims of human
trafficking, “minors account for up to 50%, and approximately
70% are women and girls.”
The reasons for this situation are to be found “in cultural
and social dynamics as well as delays and slowness of policy,”
he explained.
“Gender Blending” Delays Women’s Advancement
“Achieving equality between women and men in education, employment, legal protection and social and political
rights is considered in the context of gender equality. Yet the
evidence shows that the handling of this concept . . . is proving
increasingly ideologically driven, and actually delays the true
advancement of women. Moreover, in recent official documents there are interpretations of gender that dissolve every
specificity and complementarity between men and women.
These theories will not change the nature of things but certainly are already blurring and hindering any serious and timely
advancement on the recognition of the inherent dignity and
rights of women.”
Archbishop Migliore stressed the fact that the final documents of international conferences and committees often “link
the achievement of personal, social, economic and political
rights to a notion of sexual and reproductive health and rights
which is violent to unborn human life and is detrimental to the
integral needs of women and men within society.”
The Right to Motherhood
“A solution respectful of the dignity of women does not
allow us to bypass the right to motherhood, but commits us
to promoting motherhood by investing in and improving local
health systems and providing essential obstetrical services,” he
said.
“Fifteen years ago the Beijing Platform for Action proclaimed that women’s human rights are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of universal human rights. This is
key not only to understanding the inherent dignity of women
and girls but also to making this a concrete reality around the
world,” he concluded.
❖
5
April 2010
UN Commission on Status of Women
SSND delegation advocates for rights of girls
but gaps still remain between
policies and implementation.
Moving from commitment
to action is the charge that
steered the SSND delegates as
they focused on the impact on
women of issues ranging from
global migration to climate
change and the role of girls in
the global economy.
The SSND delegates, including
the students, attended roundtable discussions in the plenary
sessions, and heard from NGO
presenters speaking about their
local areas, discussing the
needs, progress and suggestions
for the future.
By PAT HENNESSY
A delegation from the
School Sisters of Notre Dame
(SSND) carried their mission
and charism to the United
Nations last month as they
advocated on behalf of girls at
the Commission on the Status
of Women (CSW).
The theme for this year’s
two-week CSW meeting, held
March 1-12, was the review
of the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action, 15 years
after its implementation. This
session was of particular significance to the SSND, because
one of the delegates, Sr. Ethel
Howley, attended the Fourth
World Conference in 1995,
where the Beijing Platform was
developed.
DURING THE UN COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (CSW), delegates Sr. Roxanne Schares, SSND
(l), and Ivy Padula, a student at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, talk with the regional gender justice coordinator for
Oxfam, Great Britain-South Africa. The School Sisters of Notre Dame, who have had a delegation at the UN since 1993,
have been bringing students as delegates to the CSW for four years.
(Photo by Julie Gilberto-Brady)
Justice, Peace, and the Integrity
of Creation for the AtlanticMidwest Province of the School
Sisters of Notre Dame.
The SSND has been a
registered NGO (non-governmental organization) with the
U.N.’s Department of Public
Information since 1993. In
1998, they received special
consultative status with the
ECOSOC, the Economic and
Social Council of the UN.
Study Issues
For the past four years the
congregation has included
students in their delegation.
The college students who participated had studied the structure and history of the United
Nations and studied the Beijing
document. They journeyed to
Wilton at the end of February
and discussed the issues with
other delegates before heading
to Manhattan to attend the first
week of the conference.
The congregation of the
School Sisters of Notre Dame
is an international community
of women religious. With more
than 3,500 SSNDs ministering
in 36 countries worldwide. The
Sisters and their colleagues seek
to empower women, youth and
persons who are poor or marginalized and strive to change
systems of poverty and injustice.
“We view education in its widest sense,” says Sr. Ethel.
During the session, SSND
delegates focused on the rights
and empowerment of girls. “We
used to say, ‘When you educate
Best Middle School Delegation
St. Rose is tops at UN
NEW YORK CITY – The Secretary-General’s Award for the Best Middle School
Delegation was awarded to the entire St. Rose of Lima School, Newtown, at the Model
United Nations Global Classrooms Conference held recently at the City College of New
York. The Model U.N. Conference is sponsored by the United Nations Association of the
United States of America. The Global Classroom program introduces middle school students
to important global issues
and provides an opportunity for them to take
part in a U.N. Conference
simulation. The St. Rose
of Lima delegation is
comprised of over 20 students. Ten delegates were
sent to compete against
other middle schools from
the greater New York
area.
In the Model
Conference, students
implement their ethical
and moral judgments as well as critical thinking skills to propose global resolutions using
U.N. caucusing protocols. Two students, Tony Leonardi and Caroline Wolf, were awarded
the Best Middle School Delegate for their excellence in representation and performance.
Emily Spina and Kaylie Daniels were awarded Honorable Mention. Elizabeth Ludanyi,
Larissa Spies, Alex Gerbo and Timmy Moore received awards for Best Position Paper.
The St. Rose of Lima School delegation meets twice per week and is currently preparing to send another team of 10 middle school students to the April 17 Model United Nations
❖
Conference, at the United Nations in New York City.
a girl, you educate a family,’”
says Sr. Ethel. “Now the saying I hear around the UN is
‘When you educate a boy, you
educate an individual. When
you educate a girl, you educate
a nation.’”
Empower Girls
“The 54th Session of the
Commission on the Status
of Women offers a unique
opportunity to review the
Beijing’s promises to accelerate
progress to end violence and
discrimination and empower
girls,” says Sr. Ann Scholz,
SSND, the current director of
the SSND UN-NGO office.
“Advancement for women is
not sustainable without attention to the rights of girls.”
The years following the
Beijing Conference have seen
significant gains in education, laws and programming,
SAVE
THESE DATES!
Experience of Women
“The main focus of our congregation is women and girls,
and the marginalized,” explains
Sr. Ethel. At Beijing, China, the
Commission on Women (which
includes men as delegates, she
points out), dealt with a dozen
issues, presented through the
eyes of women and how they
experienced them. The issues
included poverty, education
and training, health, violence
against women, armed conflict,
power and decision making,
institutional mechanisms for the
advancement of women, human
rights, the media, the environment, and the girl-child.
Sr. Ethel, who lives at
the SSND motherhouse in
Wilton, was the congregation’s first Non-Governmental
Organization (NGO) representative, serving in that capacity
from1993-2002. She is currently the assistant director of
Reflection
The students, in particular,
were encouraged to talk individually with women from all
parts of the world, including
participants from Nepal to New
Zealand, Germany, the Congo,
the Philippines and the Czech
Republic.
At the end of each day the
women gathered at the motherhouse for Evening Prayer and
reflection on that day’s experience. “They had learned about
poverty and violence against
women in the news, but it hit
them hard when they heard it
face to face,” says Sr. Ethel.
“As they move on in life, these
people will be in their minds.”
Cheryl von Asten, a student
from Mount Mary College in
Milwaukee says she has been
moved and challenged by what
she heard. Von Asten added,
“You need to be bolder if you
want to change something.”
“Whether they’re in business,
teaching, politics, or whatever
their future holds, this experience will continue to have an
impact,” says Sr. Ethel. “They
can make the world better for
all of us.”
❖
Be our Guest
at upcoming Ordinations
May 15, 2010 –
Transitional Diaconate Ordination
10:00am
Saint Rose of Lima Parish
46 Church Hill Road
Newtown, Connecticut
June 5, 2010 –
Priesthood Ordination - 10:00am
Saint Augustine Cathedral
359 Washington Avenue
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Please let the vocations office know
if you would like to attend.
High School Discernment
Group for Boys
Thursday, June 3, 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).
To RSVP, please contact
Father Robert Kinnally: 203.416.1512
or e-mail [email protected].
6
April 2010
Convivio
continued from p. 1
➤
Community of Reconciliation,
who organized the event, had
asked Elisabeth to be a leader.
“I thought it was amazing,”
she says. “To be able to teach
people about their faith and
to show people how happy it
can be to have your whole life
center around Jesus Christ is so
great.”
Kaitlin Thompson, 17, of
Fairfield, agrees. A senior
at Fairfield Ludlow High
School, Kaitlin is president of
Convivio’s group leaders. She
was part of the initial planning
committee that began organizing the program last summer.
Cheer
Saturday afternoon the
William H. Pitt Health and
Recreation Center at Sacred
Heart was filled with young
“YOU ARE CONVIVIO! It doesn’t happen without you,” Colm Leyne, M.C., tells teens during the opening ceremony. He was assisted onstage by Jessica Harris,
youth minister of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Fairfield. “It’s important for the kids to see young people leading them and living the faith,” says Sr. Daniela
Neuenschwander. “They’re young, they’re fun, they’re normal.” (Photos by Erika Chacón)
other teens were enthusiastically
participating in a cheer led by
St. Rose of Lima’s youth minister, Ron Blessey.
be hopeful and to bring God’s
life into the world.
“Even though there are
struggles in the world, we can
still prevail,” Kaitlin
says. “I try to live
my Christian life
and it’s a struggle.
But I know there
is so much support
with all of these
people who are
here.”
Colm Leyne,
27, traveled from
Canada to serve as
Convivio’s M.C.
This is his first
Convivio experience. “It’s a platform to ask questions, seek answers
and discuss them,”
Colm says. “Youth
have these things
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION OFFERS TEENS a chance to pray, meditate and write a on their heart. We
letter to Jesus expressing their cares and concerns. Private Adoration was available in a small
all desire and want
chapel throughout the Convivio weekend.
to be happy. As a
Catholic, sometimes
On Sunday, Kaitlin prepeople – half were receiving the
it’s hard to live your faith and
sented Convivio’s final talk. Her be proud. We are encouraged
Sacrament of Reconciliation in
message was about the need to
one section of the gym, while
by each other here.”
Small Groups
For Tom Gaudett, a senior
at Fairfield Prep, being able to
communicate in the smaller
groups about the talk’s theme
was one of his favorite parts of
the weekend. The 18-year old
from Bridgeport also likes being
with other Catholic teens. “It’s
a time when all youth could
come together,” Tom says. “I
don’t think kids that go to public school are exposed to this
kind of thing often.”
Contagious Enthusiasm
According to Volunteer
Coordinator Eileen Piquette
could stay longer because they
enjoyed the positive atmosphere. “They feel like they are
receiving much more than they
are giving.”
Based on this year’s overwhelming success, Convivio
will reconvene in Connecticut
next year. Sr. Erika says that
she was very happy about the
event. “God has been present
“I’M NOT AFRAID,” sung during the closing ceremony, encouraged teens to
fearlessly share their faith. They were joined by Bishop Lori and Dr. Matthew
Kenney, vice president of Sacred Heart University.
of Trumbull, the enthusiasm
of Convivio’s participants is
“contagious.” She says that
adult volunteers asked if they
the whole weekend,” Sr. Erika
says. “I’m very grateful to
God.”
➤
see Convivio on p. 7
7
April 2010
Fears remain on abortion
Cardinal praises expanded health care but...
By NANCY FRAZIER
O’BRIEN
WASHINGTON (CNS) –
The president of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops
praised new health reform legislation for expanding health care
to more Americans but said
the bishops and the Catholic
community will be watching to
ensure that the new law does
not expand federal funding of
abortion.
“We are apprehensive as we
look to the future, even as we
applaud much of the increased
care that will be available,”
Francis Cardinal George of
Chicago told Catholic News
Service March 23, shortly after
President Barack Obama signed
into law the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act.
“So we will watch basically
and try to continue to enter into
conversations as a moral voice –
never as a political voice; we’ve
surrounding the health reform
debate. The USCCB opposed
the Senate bill that passed the
House March 21, while some
Catholic groups and members
of Congress supported it.
“We are certainly concerned
about division in the church,
because bishops have to be the
people who are concerned about
its unity, about keeping people
together around Christ,” he
said.
Speak for Faith
“The bishops know that
they don’t speak for every one
of the 61 million Catholics in
the country, but what we do is
we speak for the Catholic faith
itself,” he said. “And those
who share the faith will gather
around.”
The cardinal said it remained
to be seen whether the executive order promised by President
Obama would be adequate to
keep the status quo on federal
“The president’s executive order puts in
some administrative protections that we
are very grateful for, but an administrative
order doesn’t substitute for a statute.”
been very careful to insist upon
the moral principles that everybody should be cared for and
no one should be deliberately
killed,” he added.
Cardinal George acknowledged in the interview that “the
unity of the church has been
wounded” in various political actions and conversations
Convivio funding of abortion.
“The president’s executive
order puts in some administrative protections that we are very
grateful for, but an administrative order doesn’t substitute for
a statute,” he said.
Asked whether he expected
church agencies to face difficulties related to abortion in the
➤
Bishop William E. Lori, who
was present to open Convivio,
wished to emphasize its value in
the life of the young participants
by also being present at its clos-
and societal shortcoming,” it
added. “Many elements of the
health care reform measure
signed into law by the president
address these concerns and so
help to fulfill the duty that we
have to each other for the common good.
“Nevertheless, for whatever good this law achieves or
intends, we as Catholic bishops have opposed its passage
because there is compelling evidence that it would expand the
role of the federal government
in funding and facilitating abortion and plans to cover abortion,” it said.
of reality and who can bestow
upon us what we by ourselves,
cannot attain,” he affirmed,
quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s
encyclical on hope Spe salvi, 31.
Conscience Protections
FRANCIS CARDINAL GEORGE OF CHICAGO, president of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, talks with Catholic News Service in
Washington March 23, shortly after President Barack Obama signed the new
health reform package into law. (CNS/Bob Roller)
health reform law, the cardinal
said, “We’ll see how that plays
out in the courts.”
“I suspect that there will be
court challenges to Catholic
medical practice,” he added.
Non-political
Cardinal George also rejected claims that the USCCB had
allied itself in the health reform
debate with groups primarily interested in advancing the
Republican agenda.
“I really don’t think that’s
true,” he said. “The principles
are twofold – everybody taken
care of, nobody killed. I think
that moral voice, while it doesn’t
continued from p. 6
to be apostles, to bring the Lord
that we have encountered so
profoundly this weekend to our
schools, to our friends and family members, to our practices,
correspond politically to either
party, has been consistent.”
Also on March 23, the
USCCB released a statement
by Cardinal George on health
reform that was endorsed
by the bishops’ 32-member
Administrative Committee.
The statement noted that the
bishops’ conference has worked
for nearly a century to achieve
“reform of our health care system so that all may have access
to the care that recognizes and
affirms their human dignity.”
“As Catholic bishops, we
have expressed our support for
efforts to address this national
The statement also said the
new law “failed to include
necessary language to provide
essential conscience protections” and could leave many
immigrant workers and families
“worse off since they will not be
allowed to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges to
be created, even if they use their
own money.”
The statement expressed
the belief that “new legislation
to address its deficiencies will
almost certainly be required.”
Without naming any of
them, the statement also praised
“the principled actions of the
pro-life members of Congress
from both parties, in the House
and the Senate, who have
worked courageously to create
legislation that respects the principles” outlined by the bishops.
“They have often been vilified and have worked against
great odds,” it added.
❖
My Father’s House Retreat Center
April 9-11 – MARRIAGE RETORNO RETREAT for couples to renew
and revitalize their Marriage. Given by Joe & Mary Ward.
April 25, 5:00-9:15pm – IVAN, the Visionary from Medjugorje – come
receive Our Lady’s Blessing. Ivan, as reported, continues to receive daily
apparitions and messages from Our Lady.
May 22-23 – MARTY ROTELLA: “HEALING THROUGH THE
HEART OF MARY RETREAT”. Come join Marty, Fr. Bill & Team for
a time of hearing Mary’s messages to the world, special intergenerational
healing, the Rosary and more.
Every Thursday 10:00am-2:00pm – WEEKLY HOLY SPIRIT BREAKFAST: Join us to give honor, praise & glory to the Holy Spirit with Mass
@ 11:30 am, lunch and study of Our Lady’s Messages to Anne, the Lay
Apostle with George & Madeline Rosenbaum.
Every 1st Sunday (after 1:30pm Mass) 3:00-4:30pm – CATHOLIC
12-STEP Healing Program with Fr. Bill & team. Each meeting will include
teaching, sharing & prayers for Healing; open to everyone (not just AA).
39 No. Moodus Road, P.O. Box 22, Moodus, CT 06469
Phone: 860-873-1581 • www.myfathershouse.com
MAKING AN ANCHOR CROSS, the symbol of Convivio, gives teens a concrete way to experience that they are the
Church, and to feel the power of community. The ancient Christian symbol, it both commemorates the presence of Mary
at the foot of the Cross and is a sign that all Christian life is anchored in Christ.
ing. During the closing Mass he
summed up the event: “We’ve
spent a weekend seeking for the
answer to the question: what are
you searching for? And we have
found the answer,” he said.
The real hope contained in
human spirit “can only be God,
who encompasses the whole
“Let us all answer to the Hoy
Father’s invitation, let us all
become saints,” said the bishop.
His next comments brought that
into daily life.
“Let us all make a serious
commitment to have a deep personal relationship with Christ….
to be disciples of the Lord and
games, and meets, to our parties, our classes and exams. Let
us make him the center of our
lives. Let us allow the Lord to
be in all we do, in all we think
and feel. Let us say with the
Apostle Paul ‘It is no longer I
who live but Christ who lives in
me.’”
❖
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8
April 2010
“King of the Jews” crucified
Recent Developments
By MARIUS FALSUS
INDICIUM
(CAVEAT: This fictitious
account follows the events of Holy
Week as they would have been
reported from the Roman point of
view in the Monday edition of the
Jerusalem Roman Times, had such
a paper existed at the time. While
light in tone, it encourages readers
to take a fresh look at the Gospel
narrative they will hear on Palm
Sunday.)
JERUSALEM, 18 Nisan
(March-April), 28 A.D. –
So-called “King of the Jews”
put to death.
Jesus of Nazareth, the former
carpenter turned “preacher,”
miracle worker,” and self-proclaimed “Messiah” who topped
the popularity charts was recent-
followers are now calling “Palm
Sunday,” he went openly from
Bethany to Jerusalem by the
most direct road. He even had
his disciples bring a donkey for
him to ride on, thus encouraging a celebration. His enthusiastic followers made a triumphal
procession, strewing palm
branches in front of him as he
entered the Holy City.
Violence
Jesus has been unpredictable
throughout his career. Instead
of joy, when he saw the Temple
and the city spread out before
him, Jesus predicted its destruction and wept over the city.
Toward the end of the day, he
predicted his own death – a
likely eventuality in the face of
his next action. He went into
“Jesus was crucified. He’d been beaten
so badly he could hardly stagger the short
distance to the Skull Place (Golgotha
in Hebrew) beyond the city gates.”
ly listed on the Hogh Priest’s
and local authrity’s danger list
as a threat to civic peace. Note
the recent supposed resurrection
of Lazarus, which has inflamed
the frenzy of the Nazarene’s followers.
Bold Move
Notwithstanding the opposition of the authorities, Jesus
continued to move boldly and
in the open. On Sunday morning of Passover Week, a day his
the sacred Temple precinct, violently upended the tables of the
money changers, and drove sellers of doves out with a whip. At
night he went back to Bethany,
on the Mount of Olives – safe
and untouched because authorities feared that arresting him
would cause a riot.
The events of the next
several days show an intense
level of activities. He came
into Jerusalem every morning,
protected by the devotion of
so many followers. In stormy
public debates he told a thinlydisguised parable of the vine-
yard, a direct
insult to the
Pharasees; weaseled his way
out of a question
about tribute
to Caesar; and
evaded another
trap about the
Resurrection
based on the
example a
women with
seven husbands
(Matt 12: 1-27).
However, the
Scribes and
Pharisees failed
to corner him.
At every clever answer he drew
more praise and support from
the people.
Defection
The authorities were furious.
They acted quickly by inciting
the defection of one of his closest friends, a man named Judas,
whose assistance made a quick
and quiet arrest possible.
For Passover itself, held on
14 Nissan – a Thursday this
year – Jesus didn’t indulge in
arguments. His restraint showed
that he had full respect for the
history of his people. He made
the dangerous choice to slip
into Jerusalem to celebrate the
Passover meal in the Holy City
with his friends. It would be his
Last Supper.
After supper he retreated
to the Mount of Olives, to
the garden of the wine press –
Gethsemani, it’s called. This
time the authorities got him.
There are contradictory
accounts of what happened in
the dark of the night. Sometime
after midnight Jesus was
arrested by soldiers, presumably
Roman, but then brought to
the home of the Jewish High
Priest Caiaphas. What happened there? Confusing witnesses speak of beatings and
mistreatment, false testimony,
and – scarcely possible, but
reported by reliable sources –
a claim from Jesus to be God
himself, predicting his return as
their judge. The whole assembly
shrieked at this blasphemy, and
declared him worthy of death.
Roman Authority
Events become clearer once
the authority of the Roman
Governor was invoked. Jesus
was brought to Pontius Pilate
about 7 a.m. Pilate, very properly, checked his jurisdiction with
Herod, had Jesus scourged, and
invited the people to set him
free. This last is a local custom
on Passover.
Never trust the adoration of
crowds. The very people who
were ready to worship Jesus,
even strewing palm branches
Holy Week & Easter
Rev. Victor T. Martin, Pastor
Penance Service
Tuesday, March 30 - 7:30pm
Holy Thursday - April 1
Morning Prayer - 8:00am
Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 7:30pm
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
following the Mass until midnight
Good Friday - April 2
Confessions - 11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Stations of the Cross - 12:00 noon
Passion of our Lord - 3:00pm
Tenebrae Service - 7:30pm
Blessing of Food - 2:00pm - Church
Holy Saturday - April 3
Easter Vigil Mass - April 3
8:00pm (Fulfills Sunday obligation)
Easter Sunday Masses - April 4
7:00am, 9:00am (Family Mass), 10:30am & 12:00 noon
A Roman Catholic Community in Greenwich, Connecticut
1719 Post Road • Fairfield, Connecticut 06824
203.255.1097 • Fax: 203.256.8177
End
(Just before we went to press, this
newspaper heard strange rumors of
a re-appearance, or “Resurrection”
of Jesus of Nazareth, who died
Friday. The source of these accounts
is still unclear.)
❖
parish
guide
LENT 2010
SAINT MARY CHURCH
Saint Thomas Aquinas
R.C. Church
in his path and calling him the
King of the Jews, turned against
him. Instead they chose another
darling, a man called Barabbas,
jailed for his part in a murderous riot. They had him set
free. They’d rather have a real
murderer than a self-proclaimed
“King,” it seems.
Jesus was crucified. He’d
been beaten so badly he could
hardly stagger the short distance
to the Skull Place (Golgotha in
Hebrew) beyond the city gates.
Somebody else had to carry the
cross to hang him on. He died
after only a couple of hours.
Plenty of witness, including
Roman officials, saw him taken
down and buried. They rolled a
rock in front of his tomb, bringing to an end the “King of the
Jews.”
MASS SCHEDULE
VIGILS AT 4:00, 5:15 & 7:30PM (SPANISH)
SUNDAYS AT 7:00, 9:00, 10:30AM, 12:15 & 5:15PM
WEEKDAYS AT 7:00, 8:00AM, 12:05 & 5:30PM
SATURDAYS AT 8:00AM
THE EASTER TRIDUUM
HOLY THURSDAY
CONFESSIONS
TUESDAYS OF LENT, 7:00-9:00PM
SATURDAYS OF LENT, 2:45-3:45PM
HOLY THURSDAY, 1:00-4:00PM
HOLY SATURDAY, 3:00-5:00PM
MORNING PRAYER AT 8:00AM
MIDDAY PRAYER AT 12:00NOON
MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER AT 7:30PM
GOOD FRIDAY
OFFICE OF TENEBRAE AT 8:00AM
STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT 12:00NOON
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S PASSION AND DEATH AT 3:00PM
CELEBRACIÓN DE LA PASION GLORIOSA DEL SEÑOR AT 7:30PM
HOLY SATURDAY
THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER AT 7:30PM
REV. MSGR. FRANK C. WISSEL, PASTOR
REV. RICHARD J. GEMZA, PAROCHIAL VICAR
REV. JOHN INSERRA, PAROCHIAL VICAR
REV. ROLANDO TORRES, PAROCHIAL VICAR
DEACON PAUL E. TUPPER
AND THE STAFF OF ST. MARY PARISH
EASTER MASSES
7:00, 9:00, 10:30AM, 12:15, 5:15PM
9
April 2010
10th anniversary of Cardinal Kung’s death
Intrepid, courageous witness to Christ
By SR. MARY ELIZABETH
LARIVIERE, smmi
Chinese Catholics recalled
the 10th anniversary of the
death of Ignatius Cardinal Kung
Pin-Mei on March 12, 2000,
with the celebration of Holy
Mass in the Basilica of St. John
the Evangelist in Stamford on
March 6.
Bishop William E. Lori was
the main celebrant and homilist;
concelebrants included clergy
from Connecticut, New York
and New Jersey. Bishop emeritus Basil Losten of the Eparchy
of Stamford of the Ukrainian
Catholic Church also graced the
celebration with his presence.
Some participants were
distinctly non-Asian, such as
Kieran McGuire, a Cardinal
Kung Foundation board member. “When I heard Cardinal
Kung’s story, I immediately
connected with the martyrs of
BISHOP LORI poses with Chinese
Catholics from St. Patrick’s Old
Cathedral, NY. Proud youth hold the
late Cardinal’s photograph taken during his exile in Stamford.
(Photo by Sr. Mary Elizabeth
Lariviere, smmi)
Cardinal Kung taught us the
importance of prayer, of a holy
priestly life, and a love for
Christ that does not fail amid
duress.”
Ex-prisoners Speak
the faith in Irish culture. I saw
that same obstinate Catholic
faith: ‘Come hell or high water,
I am going to be a Catholic.’
For me, being on the board is
part of carrying out the responsibility of living the faith,”
McGuire says.
Perhaps Bishop Lori summed
up best the reason for the celebration: to remember how
“God’s providence had indeed
given a courageous shepherd to
an oppressed people!”
His homily indicated some
of the more important moments
Holy Week & Easter
St. Mary Church
“The Mother Church of Norwalk” - est. 1848
669 West Avenue • Norwalk, Connecticut • 203.866.5546
Rev. Greg J. Markey, Pastor
Rev. Paul N. Check, In Residence
REV. Juan G. Pineda, Parochial Vicar
Deacon Stephan A. Genovese
Rev. Richard Cipolla, Parochial Vicar
David Hughes, Choirmaster
Holy Week and Easter Schedule
Holy Week Confessions:
Monday-Wednesday:
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Tuesday: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Monday: 6:30-6:50 p.m.
Thursday: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday: 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
March 28: Palm Sunday
8:00, 9:30 (Extraordinary Form High
Mass), There will be an outdoor procession
with the adult choir. We will meet
at the entrance of the school at 9:00 a.m.
All are welcome.
11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. (Spanish)
6:30 p.m. Movie: The Passion
April 1: Holy Thursday
9:00 a.m. Matins/Laudes
7:00 p.m. Mass of the Last Supper
(Latin Ordinary Form with readings
in English and Spanish), followed
by prayer vigil until midnight.
“Visit of Seven Churches” will take place
with buses following the Mass.
April 3: Holy Saturday (continued)
8:00 p.m. Easter Vigil (Latin Ordinary
Form with readings in English/Spanish)
April 4: Easter Sunday
8:00, 9:30, (Extraordinary Form High Mass),
11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. (Spanish)
April 11:
Divine Mercy Sunday
8:00, 9:30, (Extraordinary
Form High Mass),
11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m.
(Spanish)
3:00-4:00 p.m.:
Adoration, Chaplet,
and opportunity
for Confession
of the Cardinal’s heroic life,
most notably his perseverance in the faith throughout 33
years of imprisonment by the
Communist government.
Bishop Lori also hit the
essential attribute of the holy
prelate’s life: “Above all,
Among the attendees was
Margaret Chu, who had been
imprisoned in China for the
faith for 21 years (1958-79).
“People around the world do
not know the Catholic Church’s
history and how those loyal to
it suffer,” she said. “People visit
and see the churches and they
think there is religious freedom,
but the purpose to destroy and
control the Catholic Church
has not changed.” Fr. Matthew
Koo, also in attendence, was
➤
see Kung on p. 11
parish
guide
Saint Theresa
R O M A N CAT H O L I C C H U R C H
The Mother Church of Trumbull
Rev. Brian Gannon, Pastor
Rev. Michael Flynn, Parochial Vicar
Rev. Michael Dunn, Parochial Vicar
Fr. Peter Cipriani, Priest in Residence
Deacon Salvatore M. Clarizio
Dr. Carolina Flores, Director of Music
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE - 2010
PALM SUNDAY – March 28
Blessing and Palm distribution at all Masses
Saturday Vigil Mass – 4:30pm
Sunday Masses – 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am and 12:00noon
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY – March 29, 30, 31
Weekday Mass – 8:00am, 12:00noon and 5:30pm
HOLY THURSDAY – April 1
Morning Prayer – 8:00am – The Lord’s Supper – 7:30pm
Adoration at the Altar of Repose 8:30pm to Midnight
GOOD FRIDAY – April 2
Morning Prayer – 8:00am – The Lord’s Passion – 3:00pm
Solemn Stations of the Cross – 7:30pm
HOLY SATURDAY – April 3
Morning Prayer – 8:00am
Blessing of Easter Food – 12:00noon
Easter Vigil – 7:30pm (Attendance at Vigil satisfies Sunday Obligation)
EASTER SUNDAY – April 4
(Please note change from regular Sunday schedule)
7:00am, 8:15am, 9:30am, 11:00am and 12:30pm
CONFESSION SCHEDULE
Tuesday – 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Holy Thursday – 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Good Friday – 4:00pm to 5:00pm and 8:15pm to 9:00pm
Holy Saturday – 11:00am to 12:00noon, and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
April 2: Good Friday
3:00 p.m. Lord’s Passion
7:00 p.m. Seven Last Words
8:00 p.m. Outdoor Procession
April 3: Holy Saturday
12:00 noon Blessing of the Food
5301 Main Street • Trumbull, Connecticut 06611-4195
10
April 2010
Connects Church and home
Blessing of homes in Saint Matthew Parish
NORWALK – Bringing the
“Good News” of the Gospels
home to parishioners of St.
Matthew Parish in Norwalk
has taken on an active, new
meaning through the successful Home Blessings Program.
Launched in 2007, the Home
Blessings Program set a goal to
bless the home of every family
in the parish by one of the clergy over a three year period.
“The main purpose is to
meet the people in their homes,
to get to know the families and
relate to them on a personal
level. It is a time that we clergy
can spend time in prayer individually with a family,” says St.
Matthew’s pastor, Msgr. Walter
Orlowski.
Now nearing completion of
its original goal, the program
has not only proven to be a welcoming and reassuring moment
for families but also an important vehicle for evangelization.
When Msgr. Orlowski
became the pastor of St.
Matthew Parish in Norwalk 15
years ago, his basic philosophy
was to get to know the people
of the parish personally. He
started simply by introducing
himself to the people of the parish, and letting them know that
his role as their pastor was to be
available to them and to seek to
meet their needs.
Present to the People
He says the ultimate role of
a pastor is evangelization; to
bring the Good News of Jesus
Christ to the people of the parish. “However, unless the clergy
are present to the people, evangelization is not possible.”
Msgr. Orlowski and Fr.
Tomi Thomas, St. Matthew’s
parochial vicar, are convinced
that the Home Blessings
Program provides an opportunity for each and every parishioner to be ministered to in a
unique and personal way. In a
parish of 2,350 families, organizing and implementing the
program is no small task.
Fr. Thomas laid the groundwork for a pilot program, in
which 50 homes were blessed.
Letters were sent to each family
informing them of the day and
time of their home blessing, and
each family received a phone
call to confirm the appointment.
“If the children are present when the
priest visits, they interact with him in a
different and more personal setting.”
Filomena Giannico, who
helped to make the phone calls,
reflects that her conversations
with parishioners were very
positive. “They were so excited
about a visit from their clergy
to have their homes blessed that
they asked if they could invite
other family members to come,”
she says.
A team of volunteers stepped
up to help run the program.
Barbara Brueski helped with the
mapping, Joanie Ragusa pre-
Holy Week & Easter
Cathedral
of St. Augustine
359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut • 368-6777
The Most Reverend William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport
• Rev. Msgr. Kevin W. Wallin, Pastor
• Rev. Jhon J. Gomez, Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Leonel S. Medeiros, Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Ha Dinh Dang, Parochial Vicar
• Deacon Santos Garcia
H oly W eek S chedule
Sacrament
Individual Confessions:
of
pared the letters for each family and Sally Grillo phoned to
confirm dates and times. Sheila
Russo organized special prayers
for the families during First
Friday Adoration.
An individual home blessing
is a simple yet beautiful spiritual
experience. The priest or deacon
Reconciliation
Palm Saturday........................11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, March 30................7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Good Friday...........................11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Holy Saturday........................11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
M a ss S c h e d u l e
Palm Saturday, March 27
4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass
Palm Sunday, March 28
7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. (Spanish), 2:00 p.m. (Vietnamese), 3:30 p.m. (Igbo) and 5:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m. – Solemn Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori with the Parish Priests
7:30 p.m. – “Seven Last Words” concert by Diocesan Choir
Wednesday, March 31
10:00 a.m. – Chrism Mass celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori with Priests and Deacons of the Diocese
Holy Thursday, April 1
7:00 p.m. – Solemn Pontifical Mass of the Lord’s Supper celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori with Parish Priests
8:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Good Friday, April 2
10:00 a.m. – Stations of the Cross in Spanish
12:10 p.m. – Stations of the Cross in English
3:00 p.m. – Solemn Pontifical Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord
celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori with Parish Priests
5:00 p.m. – Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord in Spanish
7:30 p.m. – Liturgy of the Passion of the Lord in Vietnamese
9:30 p.m. – Rosary in Spanish
Holy Saturday, April 3
2:00 p.m. – Blessing of Easter Food
8:00 p.m. – Solemn Pontifical Easter Vigil Liturgy celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori with the Parish Priests
Easter Sunday, April 4
7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 a.m. (Spanish), 2:00 p.m. (Vietnamese) and 5:30 p.m.
enters the home and invites the
family to read Scripture passages from a special brochure.
The priest sprinkles holy water
in each room while a blessing is said. The container of
holy water and the blessings
brochure is then presented to
the family to keep as a remembrance of this visit. The holy
water helps remind us of the
blessing that was given “to
bestow sanctification” and for
“healing of soul and body”.
“The blessing of the homes
by holy water maintains the
spiritual connection between the
‘home church’ and the parish
church. By blessing the places
where one lives, the grace of
God is extended to the individual homes and families,” says Fr.
Thomas. “It is also a good way
to demonstrate to the younger
children the connection between
Church and home. If the children are present when the
priest visits, they have a unique
opportunity to interact with him
in a different and more personal
setting.”
Excited
For many of St. Matthew’s
parishioners, this was the first
time a priest has been to their
home in years. One parishioner,
Basil Karpiak, comments that
his young daughter Alexandra
“was very excited to see
Monsignor in her own home.”
“Not only our home, but
my husband and I, too, were
blessed during the process. We
appreciate that St. Matthew has
parish
guide
St James Parish
Community
of
Faith
2110 Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut
375-5887
Rev. Thomas Lynch, Pastor
Palm Sunday - March 28
Mass Schedule - Saturday Vigil 4:30 pm
Sunday - 7:00 am, 9:00 am (Children’s Liturgy),
11:00 am, 12:45 pm & 6:00 pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Monday thru Wednesday
6:00 am to 9:00 pm - Parish Center Chapel
Reconciliation
Tuesday, March 30 - 7:00-9:00 pm - in the Church
Holy Thursday - April 1
8:00 am - Morning Prayer
7:30 pm - Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday - April 2
12:00-2:00 pm - Personal Way of the Cross - Chapel
3:00 pm - Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
5:00 pm Novena of Divine Mercy - Chapel
7:30 pm - Stations of the Cross
Holy Saturday - April 3
10:00 am - Blessing of Easter Food
3:00 pm Novena of Divine Mercy - Chapel
7:30 pm - The Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday - April 4
Mass Schedule - 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:45 pm
There will be no 6:00 pm Mass
Novena will be recited daily at 3:00 pm
concluding on Divine Mercy Sunday at 3:00 pm
Please note: There will be no 6:00 pm Eucharist
Join us in celebrating the Sacred Triduum
11
April 2010
this program for the parishioners,” says Maureen Moccia.
The program has borne
much fruit. Fr. Thomas commented that meeting people in
their homes has helped them to
know their parishioners’ needs
and meet them more adequately. The priests have been able
to rectify marriages of people
who were not married in the
Church, invite those who have
not completed their sacraments
to enroll in the RCIA program,
and invite parishioners to be
more active in their faith and to
participate in the parish’s ministries and programs.
One outgrowth of the Home
Blessing Program has been the
new Bereavement Ministry,
which started this Fall. Not
only did they see the need for a
support group for the bereaved,
they also met many certified
social workers and counselors
willing to serve as part of this
ministry.
Increase in Participation
FATHER TOMI THOMAS, parochial vicar of St. Matthew Parish, blesses the home of the Romeo Family: (l-r) Mom
Laura, daughter Taylor, Dad Rory and son Cross. (Photo by Steve Bucket)
Holy Week & Easter
parish
guide
Last, but certainly not least,
the Home Blessings have led to
an increase in Mass attendance
and participation in parish life.
For Msgr. Orlowski and Fr.
Thomas, the Home Blessings
Program has been a true experience of bringing the Good
News to people and of sharing
in their daily struggles. “The
important relationship between
Church and home has been
strengthened by this program,
and the clergy and parishioners
of St. Matthew believe that this
relationship is the cornerstone,
the strong foundation, which
will support the growth of St.
Matthew’s Parish in the years to
come,” says Msgr. Orlowski. ❖
➤
PALM SUNDAY, March 28:
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m.;
10:00 a.m. (Family Mass: Children’s & Adult Choirs);
12 Noon (Solemn Sung Mass).
Mass ordinary: Missa quarti toni – Victoria;
Motets: Vere languores –Victoria; Miserere mei – Byrd;
Crucifixus á 8 – Lotti
6:00 p.m. Mass in French Creole.
Confessions: Saturday: 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:00-7:30, 9:30-10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12 Noon
SPY WEDNESDAY, March 31:
8:00 p.m. Service of Tenebrae: An evening service
of psalms, responses, and readings composing
the Matins & Lauds for Holy Thursday.
Chanted Psalms with Choral Motets by Croce & Viadana.
HOLY THURSDAY, April 1:
8:00 p.m. Mass of Our Lord’s Supper.
Mass ordinary: Missa terna Christi munera – Palestrina;
Motets: Ubi caritas – Duruflé; Nos autem gloriari opportet –
Palestrina; Ave verum Corpus – Byrd;
Pange lingua – Chant/Palestrina; Tantum ergo – Victoria.
Eucharistic Adoration until Midnight.
GOOD FRIDAY, April 2:
3:00 p.m. Liturgy of Our Lord’s Passion.
Gospel: St. John Passion – Chanted to the Ancient
Passion Tone;
Motets: Popule meus (The Reproaches) – Victoria;
Miserere mei – Allegri; O vos omnes – Casals.
Kung
continued from p. 9
arrested as a seminarian on
September 8, 1955. His ordeal
came to an end after 29 years.
Their witness confirmed the
findings of the commission that
Pope Benedict XVI established
in 2007 to study the life of the
Catholic Church in China. The
first meeting, in 2008, had as
its central concern the Papal
Letter addressed to Chinese
Catholics on May 27, 2007.
The second, in 2009, examined
human, spiritual, and pastoral
formation of seminarians and
consecrated people, as well as
the permanent formation of
priests.
Bear Witness
The current meeting, held
this March, continued to study
the question of formation so
that in China, as in the rest of
the world, the work of priests
and Religious may help the
Church to incarnate and bear
witness to the Gospel, also in
the face of the challenges arising from changes in social and
cultural circumstances.
When asked for a word
to American Catholics, Fr.
Matthew’s reply hit the essential: “Perseverance,” was all he
said. ❖
HOLY SATURDAY, April 3:
Confessions: 3:00-4:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. Great Vigil of Easter Mass.
Mass ordinary: Missa brevis – Mathews;
Motets: Sicut cervus desiderat – Palestrina;
Haec dies – Viadana; Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem – Stanford.
Msgr. Stephen M. DiGiovanni, H.E.D.
Pastor
Rev. Terrence P. Walsh
Parochial Vicar & Director of Religious Education
Rev. Albert D. Audette, Jr.
In Residence
Scott Turkington
Organist & Choirmaster
EASTER SUNDAY, April 4:
Confessions: 7:00-7:30, 9:30-10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-12 Noon
7:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m. (Family Mass: Children’s & Adult Choir);
12 Noon (Solemn Sung Mass).
Mass ordinary: Missa brevis in B Flat – Haydn;
Motets: Ye choirs of New Jerusalem – Stanford;
Most Glorious Lord of life – Harris;
Laudate Dominum – Mozart; Ave verum – Mozart
6:00 p.m. Mass in French Creole.
AGNES KUNG (in red) niece of the
late Cardinal smiles along with two
ex-prisoners: Margaret Chu and Fr.
Matthew Koo survived 21 and 29
years respectively of forced labor.
(Photo by Sr. Mary Elizabeth
Lariviere, smmi)
12
April 2010
Rite of Election and the Easter Vigil
Welcome to the Catholic Church
TRUMBULL – The Lenten season is an important season of the Church’s year for those entering the
Catholic Church. On the first Sunday of Lent, the Rite of Sending was held at parishes across our diocese and
the country. That afternoon catechumens and candidates with their godparents and sponsors were individually
welcomed by Bishop Lori at the Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion. This truly makes all of
us one body in Christ.
This year’s Rite of Election, held on February 21 at St. Theresa Church in Trumbull, had a representation of 39 parishes, with 77 catechumens and 185 candidates. They have heard the Lord’s call and answered.
The catechumens, called the “elect” following the Rite of Election, will receive the Sacraments of Baptism,
Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Also during Lent the elect and candidates are presented with
the Lord’s Prayer, the Nicene Creed, and the candidates may receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the
first time.
Below are names and parishes of those who will receive the sacraments of initiation at Easter vigils across
our diocese. Let us continue to pray for them that they may fully respond to the Lord’s call to discipleship.
St. Mary Parish, Bethel
Eric Keener
Kelly Curry
St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Arelys Santiago
Melissa Mora
Melissa Lovgren
Alexis Fernández
Hilary DelAquila
Yileiska Sierra
Roxanne Lares
Natasha Mora
Marcus Torres
Rose Mulligan
Bernice Zayas
Beatriz Zayas
Rafael Zayas
José Lora
Jonathan Nuñez
Kevin Villagomez
Do Nguyen
Amaka Madu
St. George Parish, Bridgeport
Reynoso De la Cruz
Héctor Díaz
Carlos Salgado
Allen Vargas
Juanita Moya
Erwen Pérez
Elizabeth Cruz
Ángel Pazato
Ana Conde
José Luis Salazar
Sandra Xique
St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport
Edward Piccirillo, Jr.
Ismael Padilla
St. Patrick Parish, Bridgeport
Jean Geneus
Madeline Cerezo
Bryan Pantojas
Brandon Pantojas
Oscar Flores
Catalina Flores
Wilson Irizarry
Emily Genova
St. Peter Parish, Bridgeport
Matthew Rodríguez
Ivette Lebron
Cynthia Lebron
Esther Hancock
Carlos Nuñez
Samantha Espinoza
Edwin Torres
Lyric Reyes
Samantha Peterson
Israel Lebron
Oswald Lebron
Jorge Enculada
Angel Maria
Rivera Jadeite
Suffon Kiarah
Naidelyn Álvarez
Naedelyn Alvares
Britney Alvares
Marcos Quintanilla
Carlos Maria Ruiz
Holy Family Parish, Fairfield
Taylor Brown
St. Raphael Parish, Bridgeport
Jocelyn Flores
Carmen Ocacio Rodríguez
Alan Ponce
Sergio Ponce
Rosa Elvia Solano
Jorge Solano
Rocio Cortez
Hermencio Alonso
Julio Xochicale
Sebestian Miranda
Carmita Cejas
Carlos Eduardo García
Rafael Félix
Juan Carlos Ramírez
St. Mary Parish, Greenwich
Danielle Patacky
Alzbeta Peskova
David Falk
William Pineda
Alaina Velázquez
Lawrence Posner
Jeri Roberston
Harold McCleery
Todd Shaw
Victoria Didier
Katrina Shaw
Victoria Rose
Tatiana Velez
Jennifer Barriga
Angel Hugo Pierola, Jr.
Rebeca Roque
Joel Condori
Sara Pacocha
Lourdes Pineda
Nancy González
Brenda Cotroneo
Juan Romero
Dana González
Rosaura Romero
Monica Cervantes
Antonio Cervantes
St. Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Nancy Jo Childs
Amy Capilupi
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield
Shawn Andreasen
St. Joseph Parish, Danbury
Dakota MacKenzie
Tyrice O’Connor
Shannon Chemero
Klaudio Coku
Lilia Mejia
St. Peter Parish, Danbury
Sharon Georges
Luz Sierra
Harry Rosvally
Barbara Palmer
Roberto Romero
St. John Parish, Darien
Dorothy Murray
St. Thomas More Parish, Darien
Suzanne Brancale
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield
Karen Ascue
Diego Perez
Gary Salce
Janna Salce
Wilfredo Avellaneda
Itamar Díaz
Barbara Zumstag
St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
Darren Wallace
Sacred Heart Parish, Georgetown
Ladarat Stefan
Brett Dedman
St. Paul Parish, Greenwich
Yohanna Santos
St. Jude Parish, Monroe
Jeremiah Rowan
Janet Cooper
St. Aloysius Parish,
New Canaan
Jane Rashad
Shirley Griffin
Scott MacDonald
Nicholas O’Grady
Tiffany Smith
13
April 2010
St. Edward the Confessor Parish, New Fairfield
Michael Chun
Beverley Massoni
Melinda Jackson
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
Frank Artese
Diane Alicea
Jesse Gregory
Karen Johnson
Kerri Pomponio
Sarah O’Sullivan
St. Jerome Parish, Norwalk
David Hall
Glenn French
John Butler
Rusty Cappadona
Jessie Butler
Shonna Butler
St. Joseph Parish, Norwalk
Jhonny Ticas
Pineda Polio Mercedes
John Alcaide
Daniel Espinosa
Margarito Saldana
St. Mary Parish, Norwalk
Patricia Basantes
Tania Basantes
Bolivar Chacon
Meika Chiari
Hugo Demicheri
Gerardo Herrera
Gregorio López
Antonio Ortiz
Anthony Roldan
Sonnia Villarroel
St. Matthew Parish, Norwalk
Pamela Bennet
Mark Bradley
Amy Comunale
Ashley Boudreau
Giovanni Chetta
St. Philip Parish, Norwalk
Christopher Lyon
St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield
Natasha Benalt
Michele Fugazy
Christopher Carter
Susan Nyahay
St. Joseph Parish, Shelton
Artan Xhokola
Edlira Xhokola
Tristin Carder
Crystal White
Marlee Figueroa
Zoë Figueroa
Ana Baiz
Maverick Taramelli
Jeremy Taramelli
Keith O’Rourke
Roberto Lopez, Jr.
Cristere Loyola
Emily Loyola
Keyshla Santiago
Anthony Torraco
Adelina Mendez
Karen Cassetti
James Tortora
Billie Marie Taramelli
St. Benedict-Our Lady
of Montserrat Parish, Stamford
William Galeano
Lucila Salazar
Bairon Sandoval
José Iaperia
Yaruska Tarazona
Natalio Romano Pérez
Gerle Ángeles
Walter Ángeles
Melida Cardona
Jorita Vélez
Alfonso Godoy
Liana Sánchez
Simón Gallegos
Jhon Jurado
Pedro Infantes
St. Cecilia Parish, Stamford
Melissa Hoch
Drew Humphrey
St. Mary Parish, Stamford
Sulem Arias
Juan Agurto
Melzi Alvarado
Darcy Arguenta
Emily Chevalier
Maria Fajardo
Michael Fratturo
Jackeline Gonzales
Carlos Jacome
Cesar Lianos
Ingrid Lobos
Marleny Lobos
Yajaira Lunarejo
Jeyli Marcía
Christian Mojica
Christian Muriel-Angel
Valerie Myers
Moncia Pepaj
Denys Reyes
Marisel Sánchez
Maritza Sánchez
Edwin Sandoval
Edward Sango
Victor Siles
Matthew Stanger
Julissa Tullez
Laura Vasquez
St. Maurice Parish, Stamford
Alex Papp
Maria Canzoneri
St. James Parish, Stratford
Tiffany Echevarria
Veronica Kelly
Anthony Perez
Mabel Caringer
Lora Cervone
Raul Díaz
Sheila Wilson
Stacie Zimmerman
Elizabeth Mazzarese
Roman Villafone
Jessica Montanez
Kelsey Smith
Carmen Diaz
St. Mark Parish, Stratford
Terrence Osenbach
Deanna Everlith
St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Trumbull
Michelle Brown
Kyle Toohey
St. Theresa Parish, Trumbull
Jill Atherton
Jennifer Pelletier
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Weston
Ron Wall
Assumption Parish, Westport
Celia Gerteiny
The EPS Forum Presents
Witnesses to Love
in a Divided World
Living John Paul’s
Spirituality of Communion
The Trinity, by Andrei Rublev, circa 1410
Pope John Paul II taught that when we see ourselves and our brothers and
sisters as equal parts of the mystical body of Christ, we are better able to
share each others’ joys and sufferings. How can this spirituality improve our
home and parish lives, and influence our participation in the economy,
politics, interreligious dialogue and international relations?
Continuing, Wednesdays through April 21, 9:30 AM – noon
March 24 – Serving Humanity in the Marketplace
April 7 – Building 21st Century Parish Life – Together!
April 14 – Making Room for the Stranger: Immigration Policy Reform
April 21 – Catholic Social Teaching: Essential Principles
for Living the Faith in the 21st Century – Followed by Mass
Charleston Room, St. Philip Parish, 25 France St., Norwalk
Register now! Contact [email protected] or call 203.847.2363
EPS relies solely on donations.
Education • Parish • Service
Educating Catholics to Understand, Live and Share their Faith since 1978
See complete details at http://eps.trinitydc.edu/prog_ctforum.html.
14
April 2010
EDITORIAL
Scenery
Palm Sunday is one of the most attended Masses of the year,
despite a very long Gospel. Worshippers line the walls in most
parishes, and spill out into the vestibule. There’s a rustle in the
congregation as couples, singles, and families with children hold
their palms aloft for a blessing.
A look at the pews after Mass shows no palms left behind.
They’ll be formed into crosses and tacked to the bulletin board
in the kitchen, placed in a vase on the living room mantel, or
draped limply over a bedroom mirror.
Then they get forgotten, right? No. They blend into the scenery in a Catholic home, but that is exactly their value.
The palms are “props” for the congregation’s part in the
Gospel reading of the Passion and Death of Our Lord (Luke’s
gospel this year). You can see discomfort on the faces of some
people, following in their Mass booklets when they haltingly cry
aloud “Crucify him!” Even those who look bored, detached, and
longing for it all to be over can’t evade the understanding of what
this re-enactment is all about.
Time goes on and the vivid celebrations of Holy Week and
Easter fade from memory. Spring beckons, and summer, and
new events claim our attention. But the palms remain part of the
background. On a lazy summer afternoon, to the absent-minded
glance of the most disinterested Catholic, their entire message is
present, clear, and intact.
Palms, crucifixes on the walls, rosaries draped over the
headboard: they’re all part of the scenery in a Catholic home.
Without fanfare they tell the story of our faith, and the sacrificial
price Jesus paid to free us from sin. We know it instinctively –
without thinking. The little things we overlook wait for us and
can change our lives.
Celebrating
Priests
As a way of encouraging Catholic priests and supporting their
work across the globe, Pope Benedict XVI declared the Year for
Priests beginning last June. In doing so, the Pope named St. John
Vianney as the patron saint of the jubilee year.
Commonly known as the Cure of Ars, John Vianney (17861859) lived in the era following the French Revolution. He was
a poor peasant who struggled with his studies of Latin and theology, and after ordination was sent off to serve in the obscure
village of Ars. While there, John Vianney lived his vocation so
simply and beautifully that the entire town converted. So great
was his compassion and holiness that people came from miles
around to have him hear their confession. His deep love for his
flock and his compelling witness to the Gospel led to his eventual
sainthood. Today, he is remembered as the patron saint of all
parish priests.
On April 13, 15, and 18 people across the diocese will be
offered an extraordinary glimpse into the life of this saint
through a one-man play that will be staged, at St. Rose Parish
in Newtown, St. Thomas Parish in Fairfield and Trinity High
School in Stamford (Please see the ad on page 22 for times and
details). All are invited to attend free of charge.
The play will be an opportunity to celebrate our own priests
and encourage vocations during this Year for Priests. By recalling
the witness and vitality of John Vianney, we also honor the work
of the men who serve faithfully and tirelessly in our parishes.
VIANNEY offers a compelling and urgent message that’s as true
today as it was in 19th century: the world needs priests! Let us
be grateful for the priests in our midst who are voices of compassion, reconciliation and healing in our lives.
New Life
What season other than Spring could translate our Easter
passage! We watch the once frozen ground break up and supple
shoots pierce the soil. The first crocuses seem anomalous, almost
unreal. How do they come out of this unlikely ground? After
a season of snow and ice, a green engine stirs the barren lawns
and the first buds and blossoms startle us with their lushness and
improbability. Out of Winter wreckage comes Spring renewal.
Such is Easter, a pure gift of life so much larger than our own.
The light has returned. A new warmth draws us out. In a culture
that often defines the good life as excitement, acceleration and
acquisition, Easter teaches that joy is a quiet thing, an unexpected fullness we are invited to discover at the ground of our being.
L
E
T
T
E
R
S
to the editor
Child-like faith gives hope
Dear Editor:
On a certain day in Iraq, a
little over a year ago, Avery
and his team had a difficult
assignment. Avery is a Medic
in the United States Army. He
is a soldier, a son, a brother,
who works with 11 other courageous men. These men are not
drafted; they voluntarily sign up
to keep us safe. Their mission
is to put their life on the line to
protect us. After this particular
undertaking, they were filled
with despair and grief. They
returned with the loss of two of
their brother soldiers.
Upon return they found a
small box from Saint Mary’s
School. The box was filled with
crayon-drawn figures of military
men, Crosses with Jesus on
them, flowers, hearts, words of
thanks and appreciation. Words
written from our wise first-graders hearts (now second-graders)
in handwriting just learned.
They read, “thank you for being
like Jesus;” “thank you for suffering for us like Jesus;” “you
are brave and courageous just
like Jesus.” The letters brought
inspiration to the men and
made them realize why they
were there, and gave them heart
to go on.
How would we have known
that the box would be delivered
on the day these men needed it
the most? A true God moment:
God knew. As parents and
teachers we know children are
pure and are very close to God.
God used their pure hearts to
encourage these weary soldiers
and gave them hope all the way
from Ridgefield to Iraq.
The very flag Avery flew
on his base in Iraq for a year
in honor and thanks to the
children in our first-grade class
was recently presented to Saint
Mary School following a First
Friday Mass. I have learned
we must never forget to use
our talent and heart to reach
out to others and to look to our
children at Saint Mary School
for the inspirations of the Holy
Spirit that comes from their
hearts.
With the permission of Msgr.
Laurence Bronkiewicz, our
pastor, and Principal Edward
Brennan, we will be placing
this flag in the Day Chapel for
all to continue to pray for our
young students, all those serving
in the military, their families,
and especially for the men and
women who have lost their lives
serving this great country.
Thank you now-second-graders for being the true apostles
that Jesus called you to be. I
would like to acknowledge
these children, their parents and
the military for all they have
done. We truly are one Body in
Christ.
We need to pray for peace
but we cannot forget to pray for
the vessels of peace.
Gina M. Pelella
Saint Mary School,
Ridgefield, parent
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• And much more
www.bridgeportdiocese.com
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Most Rev. William E. Lori...........................Publisher
Brian D. Wallace...............Interim Executive Editor
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Diocese of Bridgeport
238 Jewett Avenue
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Telephone 203-416-1461
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Website: www.bridgeportdiocese.com
Fairfield County Catholic
is published monthly
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Bridgeport, CT 06606-2892.
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© Copyright 2010, Diocese of Bridgeport
Fairfield County Catholic
welcomes signed
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and photos sent with
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Fax to 203-374-2044 or
e-mail [email protected].
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Submissions may
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agree with the
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Circulation
Every registered
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is entitled
to a subscription.
To add or change
an address,
call 203-416-1461,
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My dear friends in Christ:
Please accept my heartfelt appreciation for your support of the Living Our Faith Annual
Bishop’s Appeal.
Over the past 18 months, many of our families have been financially challenged in a most
extraordinary way. Through your generosity to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, the Diocese
of Bridgeport remains able to assist those less fortunate around us; offer hope, comfort and
counsel to those in crisis; provide for the formation of future priests and deacons in our
Diocese; maintain award-winning Catholic schools; and inspire our children and young
adults to embrace our Catholic faith.
Thank you in advance for your gift to the 2010 Annual Bishop’s Appeal. Please know that
my prayers are offered for you and your family.
Faithfully in Christ,
The Most Reverend William E. Lori
Bishop of Bridgeport
CatholicCharitiesPrograms
Adoption
FamilyLoanProgram
HispanicOutreach
HomelessOutreachTeam
HousingforWorkingPoor
ImmigrationServices
IntensiveFamilyPreservationand
Reunification
MedicationsManagementClinic
MorningGlory
NewHeightsClubhouse
NewCovenantHouseofHospitality
NewCovenantHouseFoodPantry
ParentEducationProgram
PregnancyCounseling
RoomtoGrowEarlyChildhoodCenter
Catholic Charities
Parish Life & Ministries
Catholic Charities food services include
Senior Nutrition Program, Morning Glory
breakfast outreach in Danbury, and the
soup kitchens and food pantries at the
Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport and
the New Covenant House of Hospitality
in Stamford.
“The diocese works closely with directors of religious
education and catechists through workshops and
retreats to strengthen religious formation in our
parishes. More than 38,000 children are served
across our 87 parishes.”
In 2010, Catholic Charities is celebrating
100 years of service across the nation.
Through your support, Catholic Charities
is meeting the increased demand for
shelter, counseling, and food across
Fairfield County.
We are as busy as ever with a significant
change in our client demographics.
Transient workers have decreased due to
lack of job opportunities. Their seats are
being replaced in droves by the newly
unemployed and underemployed as
well as more children than ever. We
served more than 1.1 million meals in
the past year.
St.Stephen’sFoodPantry
SchoolSocialWork
SeniorCitizenOutreach
SeniorNeighborhoodSupportService
SeniorNutritionProgram
SupportGroups
SupportiveHousing
ThomasMertonCenter
ThomasMertonHomes
ThomasMertonFamilySupportCenter
YerwoodNutritionSupport
“I am very grateful for New
Covenant House. Since I
lost my job, the food pantry
and lunch program have
helped me to provide for
my children while I’m
getting back on my feet.
It’s a God-send.”
— Silvia Gonzalez
Parish Life and Ministries supports our 87 parishes
by assisting with marriage preparation programs,
youth ministry, catechetical training, Rite of Christian
Initiation for Adults (RCIA), and services for children
with special needs. Funding in this area also supports
the Fairfield County Catholic newspaper; ensures the
good stewardship of parish financial resources, and
provides for the Marriage Tribunal.
—Pat Postiglione, Director of
Religious Education,
Saint Thomas the Apostle
Parish, Norwalk
Cathedral Education Cluster
The six Catholic elementary schools in Bridgeport give hope to families overcoming the challenges of the
inner-city. The Cluster offers exciting academic programs, such as Math-My-Way that encourage students to meet
high expectations.
CathedralEducationClusterSchools:
St. Ambrose School
St. Andrew School
St. Ann School
St. Augustine School
St. Peter School
St. Raphael School
“Your support to the Cathedral Education
Cluster offers inner-city families access to
a faith-filled, nurturing, safe environment
where our children become excited
about learning.”
—Trish McAleer
Second Grade Teacher
St. Raphael School, Bridgeport
Catholic Schools
The United States Department of Education has named five of our elementary schools as “Blue Ribbon Schools” in the 2009/2010 academic year. This means that
their students scored in the top 10% of all students in public and in private schools in the United States on a nationally normed test. These schools join St. Mary’s
in Bethel as the recipient last year.
BlueRibbonSchools:
GreenwichCatholicSchool, Greenwich, OurLadyofFatimaSchool, Wilton, SaintCeciliaSchool, Stamford,
SaintMarkSchool, Stratford, SaintMarySchool, Bethel, and SaintRoseofLimaSchool, Newtown
“The Blue Ribbon Award is a testament to the dedication and pride of educators
who hold promise, hope, and inspiration to their students, every day.”
—Patrice Kopas, Principal at Greenwich Catholic School
Clergy and Religious
“Our hospital ministry program offers healing, courage and peace to patients through Jesus Christ.
We celebrate the Sacraments, listen, and pray with patients and their families.”
—Msgr. Peter Dora, Chaplain, Stamford Hospital
“Our service at Saint Camillus is shared with compassion and love. We offer hope and meaning to those
who are suffering, comfort and security to the aging, and serenity to those who are dying.”
—Sr. Bala Kumari, F.I.H.M. St. Camillus Rehabilitation
and Nursing Center, Stamford
“Your precious gift funds ministries in hospitals, prisons, and nursing homes. It
sustains our retired priests, enables ongoing formation of our clergy, and
supports our Permanent Diaconate program.”
—Msgr. J. Peter Cullen, P.A.,V.G., Pastor
St. Michael the Archangel, Greenwich
“Through your support to the Permanent Diaconate
program, I am able to serve the parishioners of
St. Jude Parish.”
—Deacon John DiTaranto
St. Jude Parish, Monroe
Vocations
The Annual Bishop’s Appeal supports the St. John Fisher Seminary Residence, a diocesan
house of discernment where men live for two to four years to study and pray about entering
major seminary. Vocations continues to grow with 26 men in formation including 13 men at St.
John Fisher in Stamford. The Appeal also sponsors the Permanent Diaconate Program that
currently has 92 active Deacons and 19 men in formation in the Diocese and a women’s
program of discernment that assists young women considering a consecrated life.
“We are helping faithful men to hear the Lord’s call to serve as parish priests in our diocese.
At St. John Fisher Seminary Residence, men spend time praying, studying, and serving in
parishes as they listen for God’s plan. Their time at Fisher offers all they need to
see if God is calling them to be priests.”
—Father Robert Kinnally, Director of Vocations
Allocation of 2010 Appeal Funds
Catholic Charities ........................................................................ $1,375,000
Parish Life and Ministries .......................................................... $2,700,000
Catholic Education ...................................................................... $1,950,000
Cathedral Cluster Schools .......................................................... $1,000,000
Clergy and Religious.................................................................... $2,575,000
Vocations....................................................................................... $1,200,000
Approximately 10% of total funds raised are directed to Appeal fundraising expenses.
Pledges - A gift to the Appeal may be paid through December 31, 2010.
Gifts - Checks may be made payable to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal. Please do not send cash.
Credit Card - A credit card gift can be made online or by pledge card.
Online Giving - www.bridgeportdiocese.com; Click on the 2010 Living Our Faith Annual
Bishop’s Appeal banner.
Matching Gifts - Many organizations will match gifts to Catholic Charities and
Catholic Schools. Please contact 203-416-1312 for more information.
Gifts of Securities - If you own securities that have appreciated in value, they can
be given to the Appeal and their full market value becomes a tax deductible gift.
Please contact 203-416-1470 for more information.
If you have questions, please e-mail us at: [email protected], or call us at: (203) 416-1472.
All gifts to the 2010 Living Our Faith Annual Bishop’s Appeal will be acknowledged by Bishop
William E. Lori and are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Please consult with your
tax advisor on the tax treatment of all gifts, as they may vary from individual to individual.
Campaign Leadership
Gerrie and Jean-Paul Musicco, Chair Couple
St. Aloysius Parish, New Canaan
Pastors’ Advisory Committee
Monsignor Thomas Driscoll, P.A., V.G., Notre Dame Parish, Easton
Monsignor Blase Gintoli, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield
Monsignor Matthew Bernelli, St. Mary Parish, Bridgeport
Monsignor Laurence R. Bronkiewicz, Saint Mary Parish, Ridgefield
Monsignor Lawrence Carroll, St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
Reverend J. Barry Furey, Saint Thomas More Parish, Darien
Reverend Stephen J. Gleeson, Saint Stephen Parish, Trumbull
Monsignor Nicholas V. Grieco, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Weston
Reverend Francis Hoffman, St. Catherine of Siena, Riverside
Reverend Michael K. Jones, Saint Lawrence Parish, Shelton
Monsignor Walter C. Orlowski, Saint Matthew Parish, Norwalk
Reverend Michael C. Palmer, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Wilton
Reverend Nicholas Pavia, St. Joseph, Shelton
Monsignor Martin P. Ryan, Saint Edward the Confessor Parish, New Fairfield
Monsignor William J. Scheyd, P.A., V.G., Saint Aloysius Parish, New Canaan
Monsignor William F. Schultz, Our Lady of Grace, Stratford
Monsignor Edward R. Surwilo, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Stamford
Reverend Thomas P. Thorne, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Westport
Monsignor Andrew G. Varga, Saint Luke Parish, Westport
Monsignor Aniceto Villamide, Saint Peter Parish, Bridgeport
Monsignor Kevin W. Wallin, Saint Augustine Cathedral Parish, Bridgeport
Monsignor Robert E. Weiss, Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
Reverend Frank A. Winn, Saint Paul Parish, Greenwich
You are invited to share prayer requests and special intentions with Bishop William E. Lori who will
remember them specifically in his Masses and prayers.
Please pray for: ___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Sincerely, _______________________________________________________________________________
Please detach this form and return it in the envelope provided in the Fairfield County Catholic.
Thank you, and God bless you.
19
April 2010
Going the distance with prayer
Running dialogue with his father
By JAMES M. CHESBRO
In the eight years since my
father’s death, I find him closest to me through movement.
Memory needs a dance partner. It must be led, and given
rhythm.
After my cardiologist challenged me to make major life
changes, I took to the road and
listened for Dad’s encouragement. Running is not simply a
way for me to be fit. Running is
a confrontation with mortality
and Dad’s death. I look at my
last moments with him as his
final pep talk, a ghastly broken
breathed plea for me to break
the cycle of heart disease. From
the sidelines of my life, it’s Dad
that I hear, and I claim him as
my father, when I listen for his
voice.
“Keep Going”
Getting back into running is
hard. My thighs are heavy, and
my feet pound the pavement
in a sloppy angry trot. Exhaust
rises from cars and trucks as
they rush by, and dissipate into
the air I breathe. I hock up
phlegm and spit. An eruption of
sweat covers my face, stinging
my eyes and salting my mouth.
After five minutes I want to
turn around and walk home.
harder, running faster, gaining
ground. “C’mon son,” Dad
says, “C’mon.” And I push
harder. I stride over breaks in
the sidewalk. I pass cars stopped
at a red light. I run along the
white stripes of the cross walk.
The houses form blocks. I pump
my arms faster, and inhale
greedy, chest heaving, breaths.
Dad’s Voice
JAMES CHESBRO jogs past St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield. For him, running is a form of prayer.
(Photo by Lynne Chesbro)
After ten minutes the muscles in my face relax. I pick
up my chin and give in to the
soothing rhythm of footsteps
and breaths and Dad’s voice.
“Keep going,” I feel him say,
“That’s it. You got it.”
His voice brings me back to
lowering my second baseman’s
glove towards the loose orange
granules of infield during a
Little League game. He stands
next to the metal fencing of the
dugout and I punch my mitt.
He is wearing white sneakers,
blue jeans, a navy blue sweatshirt, and the cheap yellow team
hat. He is out there with the
other dads, clapping and shouting with exuberance.
As I continue to run, his
voice fades, and I’m breathing
harder, wondering if this run
has become an act of prayer.
Often, while sitting in the pew
at St. Pius X church, I pray for
what I think I need. The incessant noise of my own desires
does not allow for a dialogue.
As I jog by the church today
on the path that follows the
river, I think that faith is also a
kind of long distance running.
A car turns in front of me at
the intersection, breaking the
rhythm of my run. One step
after another, I try to kick start
the conversation.
Now twenty minutes in, after
I nod to the driver for stopping,
Dad startles me again. “Let’s
go” he says, and I hear his
voice resurrected because my
mind and body are consumed
with running. “C’mon” he says,
and I’m standing on a mat in
some loud foreign gym locking
up with another wrestler, and
Dad’s cheers boom from his
cupped hands and ignite a rush
of adrenalin.
By the time my street comes
into view, my stomach is sucking in against itself. I’m pushing
I’m reduced to a flop-footed
walk as I turn up my driveway,
hands folded on the top of my
head, until I stop and tug hard
on my shorts. The conversation
is finished for now, and the air
moving in and out of my diaphragm replaces Dad’s voice.
Old oak trees line the far end of
the street. The branches hang
over slabs of sidewalk and form
a distant tunnel. I try to picture
him emerging under the canopy
of green, striding towards me
through the shadows, and above
the concrete, but I’ll have to
wait until I run again, and claim
him as my father, listening for
his voice, over the footsteps and
breaths.
(James Chesbro, a member of
St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield, is
an English teacher at Fairfield Prep.
Follow his blog at jamesmchesbro.
❖
blogspot.com.)
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20
April 2010
Employment solutions
“Fresh Start” rolls with expanded Bike Project
By PAT HENNESSY
When Catholic Charities
Outreach Program started its
Bike Project last year, it was an
immediate success. “We collected 1,150 bikes our first year,”
says Fr. Seraphim Rohlman,
director of Community and
Prison Outreach for Catholic
Charities. The project has now
taken on an added dimension,
one that will lead to job skills
for an underserved population
in the Bridgeport area.
The Bike Project began as
an inspiration from Brooks
Sumberg, a retired business
owner from Westport. The
idea was simple. “If I can help
one man get to work on a bike,
then I’ve done my job,” he said
when the project began.
Ex-Offenders
The Bike Project found a
home at the Urban Center on
East Main St. in Bridgeport,
on the property of St. Charles
Borromeo Parish. People
referred by social services agencies in Bridgeport could pick up
a bike there at no charge.
As word of the project
spread, it produced a surprising twist: fully half of all adults
referred by social workers were
ex-offenders.
In his role as director of
Prison Outreach, Fr. Seraphim
realized immediately the import
of what he was hearing. “People
come out of prison without a
driver’s license,” he explains.
They typically have no car and
no job – and no money to buy a
car, and therefore little access to
job opportunities.
Fresh Start Enterprises, run
by Catholic Charities Family
ReEntry program, began two
years ago. The Bridgeport
program developed employment solutions to the obstacles
ex-offenders face in attaining a
sustainable, meaningful and livable wage.
WHEELS, RIMS, AND CABLES get a thorough checkout as (l-r) Brooks Sumberg, founder of the Bike Project, works
with a Fresh Start employee and Mario Sarro, operations manager of Fresh Start Enterprises. Ex-offenders learn a skill
and earn a wage at Fresh Start, while providing much-needed transportation to the community. (Photo by Pat Hennessy)
“We’re not just a program,
we’re an employer,” says Mario
Sarro, manager of operations at
Fresh Start. “We give ex-offenders training, work experience,
and a salary. It’s like having
a friend who has a business.
We’re the friend for someone
who has no one.”
Fresh Start already has
one successful business as a
home improvement contractor.
Ex-offenders receive a mentor
– and eventually become one in
turn – and move from employees to supervisors before transitioning into the community.
“It’s tough to get the community to accept an ex-offender.”
Sarro says. “But on our projects
men work on local housing
projects, and for area businesses. When they come out, they
have not only work experience,
but references and referrals.”
Skills
Enter the bikes. Bicycle
repair is another skill that can
be learned with a little assistance and mentoring – one
that can lead to a solid salary.
“A bike mechanic can make
$35,000 a year,” observes
Sumberg. “By teaching bike
repair, we’re giving men a set
of skills they can translate into
future employment, and at the
same time providing safe, working bikes for transportation.”
Each bike comes with a helmet and a lock. Sarro notes that
a lock alone may cost $20. “It’s
not a problem for someone to
bike as far as Fairfield to a job,
but on a starting salary they
probably wouldn’t add the extra
expense of a lock, let alone a
helmet.”
Fresh Start bike program
is already in operation; it currently has 50 bikes in its facility
at 1023 Main St. in Bridgeport.
Depending of their condition,
donated bikes may need anything from a quick shine to
replacement tires or rims or new
cables. No bike is sent out without new brakes and reflectors.
Bikes in rough shape may be
cannibalized for parts.
“Spring is coming. We want
to get in full swing now,” says
Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich, Connecticut is an independent, Catholic school, for
777 girls from preschool through grade 12. As members of the international network of Sacred Heart
schools, we are committed to attracting and retaining faculty with a passion for teaching who
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awareness, build community, and value personal growth and responsibility. We seek faculty who are
committed to single-sex education who will draw upon current research to maximize student
learning.
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Resumes are accepted only through our on-line application process. Please visit our website at
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Lower School Theology and Campus Ministry (80%)
Middle School English Teacher
Middle School French Teacher (40%)
Upper School Biology Teacher
Upper School Spanish Teacher
Please visit our website for additional employment opportunities.
Interested applicants are also encouraged to check our website and submit their information and
materials for future openings at www.cshgreenwich.org.
Convent of the Sacred Heart is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes candidates who will
enhance the cultural diversity of our school community.
months. (See below for details.)
While the Bike Project
concentrates on bikes for
adults, children’s bikes will be
given to the Family ReEntry
“Champions” program for the
children of ex-offenders and the
incarcerated.
As this project rolls forward,
Sarro has hopes to open a bike
shop. “I don’t think there’s any
in Bridgeport right now,” he
says.
The shop, and the repair
facility, would be open to everyone. The whole community
would benefit. That sums up
the goal of Family ReEntry
and Fresh Start Enterprises.
“When ex-offenders move to
full employment, they pay taxes
and support their children,”
says Sarro. “Crime is reduced,
and so is the state budget dealing with it.
“It’s a ripple effect. It all
starts with a bike.”
(Donations to the Bike Project
may be made through checks to
Catholic Charities. Please write
“Bike Project” in the memo line.) v
Sarro. Although workers in the
repair facility receive a salary,
the program is limited by the
lack of tools and the cost of bike
parts. He is hoping that donors
will be able to provide funds to
meet these simple needs. Used
bikes will be collected
at pickup points
Bike Project Donation Drive
during the
spring
Spring 2010
Fresh Start Enterprises is looking for used bikes
for their bike restoration project. Bikes will be collected
at the following pickup points during the spring months.
Anyone in the can donate bikes at their nearest location
at these dates and times.
April 10, 11am-2pm: St. Joan of Arc Parish, 450 West Todd St., Hamden.
Contact: Fr. Daniel Keefe: 203.288.4543
April 17, 11am-2pm: St. Jerome Parish, Half Mile Rd., Norwalk
Contact: Barbara Bagnato: 203.847.7657
April 18, 10:30am-1pm: Temple Beth El, 109 East Ave., Norwalk
Contact: Allison Pogany, Social Action Committee: 203. 838.2710
April 24, 11am-2pm: St. James Parish, 2110 Main St., Stratford
Contact: Fr. Thomas Lynch, pastor: 203.375.5887
May 1, 11am-2pm: Wilton Presbyterian/St. Matthews Episcopal Church
36 New Canaan Rd., Wilton Contact: Sandy Muschler: 203.761.8730
May 8, 10:30am-2pm: St. Elizabeth Seton Parish,
520 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield
Contact Ken Treschitta: 203.438.8023
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Adult Formation
“On Eagles’ Wings” Composer
Liturgical music premiere
and workshop at SHU
FAIRFIELD – One of the
most productive and popular
composers of liturgical music
will premiere a new piece, “A
Time of Jubilee,” at Sacred
Heart University. Fr. Jan
Michael Joncas, best known for
the beloved hymn, “On Eagles’
Wings,” will present “A Time
of Jubilee” on April 14 at a
Vespers Service in Sacred Heart
University’s new Chapel of the
Holy Spirit at 7 p.m. with lyrics
devoted to the Spirit of God.
The event is part of a year-long
celebration of the new chapel
and is free of charge and open
to the public.
Vespers
The Vespers Service will be
followed by a talk by Fr. Joncas
entitled, “Sing a New Song:
Composing for Roman Catholic
Worship since Vatican II.” A
night prayer service, Compline,
will follow the talk. Earlier that day, at 2 p.m.,
Sacred Heart University will
present Fr. Joncas with an
honorary doctorate at a special academic convocation.
Immediately following the
presentation of the degree, Fr.
Joncas will speak on “Music
21
April 2010
and Ministry.”
On April 15, he will present
a Workshop for Professional
Musicians from 10-2 p.m. The
workshop is free and open to all
professional musicians.
The author of three books
and more than 150 published articles, Fr. Joncas was
ordained to the Archdiocese of
St. Paul-Minneapolis in 1980.
A graduate of the College of St.
Thomas, he holds a master’s
degree in liturgical studies from
the University of Notre Dame,
and a license and doctorate
from the Liturgical Institute at
the College of St. Anselm in
Rome. He is an associate professor of Catholic Studies and
Theology at the University of
St. Thomas, his alma mater.
A former campus minister
and pastor, Fr. Joncas has composed and arranged more than
300 pieces of liturgical music
now used in a wide variety of
Christian traditions. “A Time of
Jubilee” begins with the thought
that “God’s Spirit rests on me.”
Then, taking up themes that
are proclaimed on the exterior
walls of the Chapel of the Holy
Spirit, he declares that God has
Fr. Jan Michael Joncas
“anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor; to prisoners,
liberty; to open blinded eyes;
and to heed the captives’ cries.”
Variety of Traditions
He addresses the Holy Spirit
in a variety of ways, calling
the Spirit the “dance of God
throughout the ages, the breath
of the creating God, the gift and
promise for the living, courage
for a pilgrim people, and the
cloud by day and fire by night.”
(Seating is limited for the professional workshop. For reservations
contact Sheila Moseley: moseleys@
sacredheart.edu or 203.396.8097.) v
Mass Confusion
BY FATHER F. JOHN RINGLEY, JR.
Dating Easter
Every Catholic knows that Christmas is on December 25
and the Feast of St. Patrick falls on March 17. But who can figure out when Easter is celebrated from one year to the next?
There is good reason for this confusion. The date of Easter
changes every year because it is calculated using a combination of the ancient Jewish lunar calendar and our more modern
solar calendar. The early Christians celebrated Easter on the
first Sunday following the Jewish Passover feast. Passover falls
on the 14th day of the month of Nisan in the ancient Jewish
calendar, but the nature of that calendar did not confine the
14th day of Nisan to any one particular “date” as we understand that concept today. As a result of this “flexibility,” there
were great controversies over the dating of Easter in the early
Church until the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) resolved most of
them by fixing Easter on the first Sunday following the first full
moon after March 21 (the vernal equinox). Thus, Easter may
occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.
As an aside, it is worth noting that the word “equinox”
comes from the Latin words for “equal” and “night”. At the
equinox, when the sun crosses the equator, night and day are
of equal length in all parts of the earth. The word “vernal”
comes from the Latin for “Spring”. As a further aside, the word
“Lent” probably comes from an Anglo-Saxon word “lengten”
meaning “Spring”. The word is also a likely root of the English
word “lengthen”, i.e. the days “lengthen” from Spring into
Summer. But we digress.
Those of us who are neither astronomers nor mathematicians will do well if we remember that Easter falls on the first
Sunday following the first full moon of Spring. Those of us
who consult a calendar will do better.
(Father Ringley is spiritual director at Kolbe Cathedral High School
in Bridgeport).
v
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22
April 2010
Adult Formation
Sacred Heart University hosts Breakfast for Educators
Seeking the common good together
FAIRFIELD – Educators
from throughout the Diocese of
Bridgeport, area public schools
and members of the Sacred
Heart University community gathered in prayer and
for an exchange of ideas on,
March 7 for the second annual
Communion breakfast.
The event began with Mass
at Sacred Heart’s new Chapel
of the Holy Spirit celebrated
by Bishop William E. Lori, followed by breakfast and a lecture
by Brian Stiltner, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies at Sacred Heart and director of the Center for Catholic
Thought, Ethics, and Culture.
Gratitude
“We owe a great debt of
gratitude to our educators,” said
Bishop Lori. “They do so much
for the Church and for the common good, and to have an event
to highlight their calling and service seems to be a good idea.”
A noted religious scholar,
Dr. Stiltner is the author of two
books, Religion and the Common
Good (1999) and Faith and Force:
A Christian Debate about War
(2007).
The special event was sponsored by Centesimus Annus Pro
Pontifice (CAPP) of Fairfield
County along with Sacred Heart
BRIAN STILTNER, Ph.D., associate professor of religious studies at Sacred
Heart and director of the Center for Catholic Thought, Ethics, and Culture.
University’s Isabelle Farrington
School of Education. CAPP is a
lay-led, pontifical organization
founded by Pope John Paul II
as a vehicle for lay education
and evangelization of the social
doctrine of the Church as con-
tained in the 1991 encyclical,
Centesimus Annus.
The Diocese of Bridgeport is
one of three pioneering dioceses
in the country to establish a
CAPP chapter.
The Isabelle Farrington
School of Education is the largest independent educator of
teachers and administrators in
the state, and it annually recommends about 300 students for
certification.
Dr. Stiltner began his lecture
titled “Catholic Schools, Public
Schools, and the Common
Good” by drawing from author
Charles London’s book, One
Day the Soldiers Came: Voices of
Children in War. He reflected
on a little boy named Justin
from war-torn Africa, a former
child soldier and refugee who is
given the dignity of education in
which he is taught basic human
rights and learns about a life he
could live beyond the calamities
he had experienced.
“This captures in a dramatic
way how important education
is and how important it is for
human dignity and the development of individuals and for the
common good of society,” said
Dr. Stiltner.
Catholic Social Teaching
According to Dr. Stiltner,
“Education throughout the
lifespan is a major resource that
citizens need if our society is to
flourish.” All schools – public,
private and parochial engender
a vital service to the common
good, due in no small part to
the commitment of their teachers and staff.”
Achieving the common
good, Dr. Stiltner asserts, is
no easy feat. “The American
Catholic Bishops have described
the common good as ‘an old
idea with new urgency.’ There
are few needs more urgent
than improving the quality of
education. Educators who take
to heart the message of the
Catholic social teaching have
much to offer to this important
task.
What is the common
good in Catholic teaching?
Dr. Stiltner said it stems from
ancient Greek philosophy and
gained ground in Christianity,
first through Aristotle’s writings and then through Thomas
Aquinas who claimed “a government will be just and fitting
to free persons if the ruler orders
it to the common good of the
people.”
Challenges
Both public and Catholic
schools contribute to the common good. According to Dr.
Stiltner, both institutions steadfastly believe in the notion
that every child deserves an
education and the opportunity
to acquire societal values such
as fostering citizenship, understanding, freedom, individuality, creativity, tolerance, resolving conflicts peacefully and
relating across differences.
These pursuits are undertaken despite challenges from
language barriers with ESL
students, students from poor
households and those who have
learning disabilities. Dr. Stiltner
said that while Catholic and
public schools may approach
things differently, both institutions are needed.
“Both contribute to the common good and have ways that
they can do so better,” he said.
He quoted noted Catholic educator Robert Muccigrosso,
who said that Catholic schools
and public schools should not
be aligned as competitors but
rather, they should learn from
one another.
“Ultimately, we need to
remember that education
matters to all of us – that is
the common good,” said Dr.
Stiltner. “So whether we send
our children to Catholic schools
or don’t have children, it matters to the health of our society
and we need to be ready to contribute.”
❖
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Statutes continued from p. 1
➤
three major points:
Connecticut laws should
apply equally to public and private institutions that work with
children.
The laws should not have
retroactive effect.
The laws should have the
effect of preventing child abuse,
and permitting claimants to
delay for over a generation does
not prevent abuse.
Noted appellate attorney
Wesley Horton, testified that
lengthening the Connecticut
statute of limitations (which are
the longest retroactive statutes
in the nation) would undermine
sound judicial principles by
requiring cases to go forward
on old, unreliable evidence.
In many such cases, it would
involve deceased perpetrators and deceased supervisors.
Furthermore, they would make
it impossible for private organizations to plan financially
for unknown and unasserted
claims. He pointed out that
persons and organizations need
to know when they can safely
dispose of records, and insurance companies need to know
how long claims can be asserted
when they are setting premiums.
Apply Evenly
Michael Culhane, executive director of the Conference,
called for Connecticut laws
to be “all in, all even.” He
explained that this means they
need to apply to public and private institutions alike.
Martin Nussbaum, a nationaly known attorney, testified
about childhood sexual abuse
in governmental settings based
upon Freedom of Information
Act requests he made and
upon national investigative
reports by the U.S. Dept. of
Education and Justice and the
Associated Press. This information, Nussbaum explained,
shows that governmental entities in the state have a problem
of childhood sexual abuse that
is both substantially greater and
more current than the problem
in Catholic institutions. He
testified that 112 Connecticut
public school teachers and
coaches have lost their licenses
due to sexual misconduct with
students since 1992. Nineteen
Connecticut foster parents, paid
by the state, engaged in childhood sexual abuse since 2006.
Nussbaum also told the
Judiciary Committee that
Connecticut juvenile detention
facilities would not provide
information regarding accusations of sexual abuse of minors
by government employees.
However, the U.S. Dept. of
Justice reported this year that
12% of youth in state juvenile
facilities nationally, 3,220 persons, complained of sexual victimization during the previous
12-month period. Most of this
was by government employees.
Extensive Program
Erin Neil, licensed clinical
social worker and director of
Safe Environments, speaking
on behalf of the Diocese of
Bridgeport, pointed out that the
abuse that has been the subject
of unprecedented media coverage over the past decades principally occurred in the 1960s.
She detailed the extensive
background checks and state of
the art educational training for
all Catholic Church employees
and volunteers as part of a comprehensive safe environment
program. The program not only
includes mandated reporting,
but trains all employees, clergy,
and volunteers in primary signs
of predator behavior and detection of children who are abused.
Neil suggested that CT public
schools and institutions should
consider adopting more consistent and comprehensive safe
environment programs.
John King, an attorney from
Hartford, testified that CT law
called “sovereign immunity”
bars childhood sexual abuse
claims against public school and
other government entities. He
noted that this creates an unfair
situation in which if two children suffered identical injuries,
the one injured in a Catholic
institution could proceed with
his claim while the public
school child could not.
23
Good Friday Collection, April 2
Help Church in Holy Land
By MARIA O’BRIEN
Good Friday, April 2, is
one of the most consequential
dates for the Church in the
Holy Land. It is a moment
when world attention is centered on the mystery of the
death and Resurrection of
Jesus.
The Holy Land, and the
un-holy violence taking place
in the land Jesus walked,
also demands attention. Each
year, Catholics are invited to
assist Christians in the Holy
Land by participating in the
Pontifical Collection for the
Holy Land, held every year
on Good Friday.
Responsibilities
The Franciscan Order has
been given responsibility for
the shrines and other works
in the Holy Land. Keeping
Christianity alive in the land
where our faith was born has
been the everyday job of the
Franciscans since the 13th century. In the Holy
Land, Franciscans
are housing and
feeding the poor,
providing formation and education,
maintaining shrines
and parishes, and
conducting pastoral
ministry.
Every year, the need for
these efforts expands and grows.
Pope Benedict XVI has given
great attention to the Holy Land
and the Middle East. He visited
the area in May of last year. He
has called a Special Synod of
the bishops of the Middle East,
to be held in October, to discuss
the needs of the faithful in this
troubled area.
The continued existence
of Franciscan programs in
the Holy Land depends on
the faithful support received
every year from
their brothers and
sisters in Christ
through the Good
Friday collection.
This year, more
than ever, they
ask that Catholics pledge their
assistance to their work in
providing presence, care and
service in the land Jesus
made holy.
Last year, the family of
faith raised $111,000 for the
Church in the Holy Land.
Please be as generous as possible in this Good Friday
❖
Collection.
“Hurt the Helpers”
Msgr. John McCarthy,
chancellor of the Archdiocese
of Hartford, testified about the
many good works Catholic
institutions do within the state:
Catholic healthcare, education, and social services. He
asked the Committee to consider whether imposing liability
over a generation later justified
diverting resources from those
institutions, asking whether it is
sound public policy to “hurt the
helpers for such old claims?” ❖
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24
April 2010
“A lot of work ahead”
St. Raphael establishes
newest Holy Name Society
By MEG BARONE
A faded photograph of six
men in maroon jackets and gray
slacks offered a glimpse into the
past of the Saint Raphael/Saint
Margaret Parish Holy Name
Society in Bridgeport during last
month’s inaugural general meeting of the newly reactivated
group.
Three of those six men
attended the recent meeting: Ed
Mastrone; Leo Colbert, who
was installed as treasurer; and
Pat D’Ambrosio, who is head
of the Society’s History committee.
Re-living History
“That was the last of
the original Holy Name
Society membership from St.
Raphael/St. Margaret’s,” said
D’Ambriosio, pointing to the
men in the photograph and
referring to the once strong and
flourishing local organization
that began back in the 1940s.
Back in 1989 there were about
35 members but as the years
passed membership declined,
said D’Ambrosio, a past president of the original Society.
“Guys like Mr. Colbert,
Mr. Mastrone, and Mr.
D’Ambrosio, God bless them,
they started us out with this and
we are reliving history thanks to
them, and it’s an honor,” said
John Mastri, president of the
newly re-formed Society. Mastri
said he is encouraged that the
efforts to re-establish the local
Holy Name Society have been
met with more interest than
organizers initially anticipated.
“We went from eight to 32
registered members in less than
60 days, with only one organizational and one general meeting. In less than 60 days it’s
almost bigger than the original
society,” Mastri said.
The Holy Name Society as
a whole traces its roots to the
Council of Lyons in the year
1274. The Albigensian heresy
was posing a serious challenge
to the medieval Church and
devastating society. It challenged the divinity of Christ and
repudiated all of the sacraments
of the Church. In response, the
Holy Name Society was formed
as a world-wide confraternity
and received Papal recognition
over 700 years ago by Pope
Gregory X.
It became a national orga-
nization in this country on
February 1, 1970, in New
Orleans when its current
constitution was adopted
at the national convention,
thus becoming the National
Association of The Holy Name
Society. The primary objective
is to pray and show reverence
for the Holy Name of Jesus.
New Charter
Seventeen men attended
the first general meeting of the
newly re-formed Society at
St. Margaret’s Shrine, where
Fr. Alfonso Picone, pastor
of St. Raphael/St. Margaret
and spiritual director for the
Society, swore in the officers
and Mastri presented Fr. Picone
with the Charter Certificate
from the National Holy Name
Association Confraternity reinstating the local Society, which
has substituted the maroon blazers for navy blue. That change
is insignificant compared to the
increased scope of the Society’s
responsibilities as proposed by
its elected officials.
“We have a lot of work
ahead of us, no doubt about it,”
Mastri said, before unveiling
an ambitious list of tasks and
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THE ORIGINAL HOLY NAME SOCIETY of St. Raphael/St. Margaret
Shrine Parish was once strong and flourishing, as this photo from its heyday
shows. The Society has been reborn, and received its new charter in March.
(Photo courtesy of Pat D’Ambrosio, head of the History Committee)
Sunday. The choir will use
the new sound system along
with Fr. Alfonso and our other
priests. The Holy Name Society
also raised money for the children’s choir robes,” Mastri said.
committee assignments. Among
the committees the Society has
created so far are the Evangelist
Committee, Promotion of Saint
Margaret Shrine, Adult Bible
Study, Youth, Social Issues,
Security, Publicity and Public
Relations, Anniversaries,
Maintenance, Fund-Raising,
and others.
“There is no end to the committees that can be born out of
the Society,” Mastri said.
The Fund-Raising
Committee has already raised
money for the parish’s St.
Cecelia’s Children’s Choir.
“We’re putting in a new sound
system in Saint Margaret’s
chapel just in time for Palm
Plenty to Do
The Maintenance
Committee, headed by José
Heurta, will work year-round
at St. Raphael’s Church and
St. Margaret’s Shrine, removing snow and leaves, providing
general maintenance and refurbishing the Shrine. “As soon as
I arrived in the parish three and
a half years ago I saw that the
Shrine was a diamond in the
rough that needs to be restored
➤
see Holy Name on p. 26
Indiana Priest to Host
Hawaii
15 Day – 4 Island Tour
Departs November 4, 2010

         
        


            
            


            

          
            
         
          
         

             
        








25
April 2010
A Woman’s View
BY ANTOINETTE BOSCO
A day of new beginning
Every year as Easter
man. By the early 50s, Teilhard
approaches, I think of Pierre
had become a world figure, well
Teilhard de Chardin, a most
known to educators, scientists,
remarkable priest/scientist
literary people and church leadwho died on Easter Sunday,
ers of every faith for his origiApril 10, 1955, at the age of
nal, provocative and theological
74. I don’t remember him
views on both the origins and
simply because this day is
future of man.
an anniversary. What made
Teilhard took on the misa lasting impression on me
sion of challenging us not to
was the beauty symbolized in
get so tangled in the machinery
God’s justice since he reached of technology that we’d stay
out for him on Easter – the
confined to the small spaces
day of a new beginning and
of life. He was concerned that
a new life. It was as if God
we accept two conditions of
Richards Avenue,
Norwalk–CTthe
06854
deliberately blessed the40work
humanity
real, future desand writings of Teilhard
tiny of man (union with God);
by taking him to eternal
and the undeniable obligation of
life on the day of Christ’s
man in the world today (univerResurrection.
sal love) – as we march to the
My belief has been underfuture.
scored in a new book, Teilhard
His vision was on the wide
de Chardin, Reconciliation in
screen of the universal, embracChrist, (New City Press), writ- ing the Eternal, and those of
ten by Jean Maalouf of New
us who reflected on his works
Milford, who holds a doctoryearned to share his thinking.
His vision
crashed
through the
borders of history, science
and earthly life
itself and encircled the real
Glory – the
ate in philosophy from the
universe recreated by the fire of
Paris-Sorbonne University. He love and merged with God.
Pioneer
believes the life and work of
As Maalouf points out,
Teilhard had one goal – “the
“Teilhard was a pioneer in
spiritualization of the unicreating this kind of spiritualverse.”
ity. He lived, and worked, a
As Maalouf explained,
mysticism of co-creative union.
Teilhard “realized that spiriHe showed how God is alive
tuality could no longer be
in our world – daring even to
pursued in isolation from the
talk about the ‘sacrament of the
environmental context and
world’ – how we experience
social action.”
I had first heard of Teilhard God, and how we let God work
and shine through us. He was a
back in the late 1940s, and
was interested in him because true prophetic figure for a true
new age.”
he was not only a priest, but
Simply put, Teilhard believed
a scientist. Born in France in
that all of us had to ascend
1881, Teilhard had entered
through spheres – from the land
the Jesuits when he was 18
and in his college studies con- that supports us, the geosphere;
through the air that sustains us,
centrated on earth sciences
the atmosphere; to the “nooand paleontology. He served
sphere” – the spiritual level of
as a chaplain in World War
people united in love; and then
I, and later traveled around
to the highest place that can be
the world, notably in China,
achieved, the final passage, the
focusing on the origins of
203-831-9750
“The life and work
of Teilhard had one goal –
“the spiritualization
of the universe.”
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level of love united in love in
a symbiotic union with God –
the Theosphere.
Subhead
Teilhard believed that
what humans really had to be
engaged in was the building of
what he called one “immense
organism,” whose destination
is a “universal convergence”
in God. The psychic energy
for this work, he said, is love.
“Picture an earth,” he wrote,
“where all men are clearly
and primarily deciding on
advancing together to a passionately desired Being.”
That would be, he envisioned, a world without war,
hate, destructive power and
all negative human restrictions. It would be an earth
transformed because the evolution that is really needed
by humankind – spiritual
evolution – would then be
complete.
Teilhard dated the beginning of this process with
Christ, whose redemptive love
had already given us “2000
years of mystic experience
behind us.” It was time, he
challenged, to get on with
this move toward “Him from
whom all radiates,” activated
by Christ on his Easter rising.
How fitting that Easter, so
much the message of his life,
would forever be identified,
too, with his passage from
this earthly life to the Divine
Milieu he so brilliantly envisioned.
(Antoinette Bosco is a member
of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
v
parish in Brookfield.)
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26
April 2010
Holy Name
➤
to its original beauty. It’s very
important to get that place back
to the way it was meant to be,”
Fr. Picone said.
The Security Committee is
working with the Bridgeport
Police Department to have a
police substation located on the
Shrine property. The Society as
a whole is already working on
plans to add five memorials and
statues within the next year,
including patron saints of foreign countries and of police and
fire departments.
Festivities
“We’re going to increase the
amount of festivities. We’re
working on picnics, carnivals,
in addition to the St. Anthony
Feast and we have concerts
coming up. The Holy Name
Society is doing what it’s supposed to be doing. Fr. Alfonso
said, ‘This is what I want’ and
we’re getting it done,” Mastri
said. Members will also install
a playground and some picnic
tables at the Shrine so families
can enjoy it year round.
“The things that are happening at the Shrine are monumental. It’s taking on a life of
its own. We can barely keep up
with it. We need members. We
need to grow,” Mastri said. The
Shrine is the site of weddings,
continued from p. 24
some people come by to pray,
and others just come to sit and
relax and eat lunch in a peaceful setting. “It’s a happening
place.”
“It’s a place of trust. You can
talk to people and be comfortable. It’s a place where God
is,” said Mike Silva, one of the
younger members of the group.
He is also an usher at an Italian
and an English Mass at Saint
Raphael’s every Sunday.
Art Falco said the Society
also plans to pay tribute to military veterans. “We’re going to
have a Veterans’ Mass on May
16, the day after Armed Forces
Day, at 3 p.m. We’re inviting
vets to bring their colors and
there will be a reception afterwards,” Falco said, adding that
the Society will host another
tribute to active duty military
personnel at another time,
although they are more than
welcome to attend the Mass for
veterans.
The list of projects that the
newly reinstated Society plans
to tackle seems overwhelming compared to the original
Society’s duties, D’Ambrosia
said. “We ushered at Mass,
we used to run a turkey raffle,
we went on retreats up at Holy
Ghost in Farmington, and we
A NEW CHARTER AFFIRMS the formation of the Holy Name Society at St. Raphael/St. Margaret Shrine Parish in
Bridgeport. Fr. Alphonso Picone, center, received the charter from the Society’s president, John Mastri, (holding the
certificate) at a meeting on March 1. The Society is dedicated to affirming the faith through service to the Church and
their parish.
(Photo by Karen Leffler)
helped run the annual feast
manning the hot dog stand and
casino games,” he said.
D’Ambrosia is impressed
with the early enthusiasm and
the proposed projects. “It’s terrific. It’s beautiful. John’s doing
an outstanding job and we’re
doing much more,” he said.
“Whatever Fr. Alfonso needs
us to do, anything, that’s what
the Holy Name’s purpose is,”
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(The Holy Name Society meets
on the first Monday of every month
at 7 p.m. at the St. Margaret Shrine
basement hall, 2539 Park Avenue,
Bridgeport. The next meeting is
scheduled for April 5. All men are
welcome. Financial support for the
Society’s projects is also helpful.
Donations may be sent to the
St. Raphael Parish office, 162 Oak
Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604,
Att: Holy Name Society.)
❖
“Quiet Dignity Without Extravagance”
NEIL F. HARDING
FAX 203/227-1420
Mastri said. “Our purpose is to
first and foremost, pay reverence to the holy names of God
and Jesus Christ, to pray and
to bring others to God, and to
do anything and everything
that our pastor needs us to do
to rebuild St. Raphael and St.
Margaret’s.
“We need manpower; we
need Catholic men from all parishes,” Mastri said.
William A. Skidd
William R. Kelley
William G. Lahey, Jr.
William P. Skidd
Family owned for four generations
Deceased Clergy of the Diocese of Bridgeport: March 28 – May 8
March
Year
30 Msgr. Patrick F. Donnelly
1993
AprilYear
1 Rev. Leonard M. Conlon
1976
2 Rev. Richard R. Dunn
1999
3 Rev. Francis C. Metro
1957
5 Rev. Hugh F. Gallagher
1980
7 Rev. Stephen E. Opra
1992
8 Rev. Joseph V. Kazlauskas
1968
Rev. Edward M. Horan
1978
9 Rev. John A. MacNeil
1994
13 Msgr. Henry M. Callahan
1956
14 Rev. Walter J. McCarthy
1968
Rev. William J. Fletchery
1988
14 Msgr. Edward D. Halloran
2001
16 Rev. Edwin F. Agonis, O.F.M.Conv. 1998
18 Rev. John E. Hanning
1959
19 Rev. Philip J. O’Farrell
1992
20 Rev. Martin J. O’Connor
1988
23 Rev. Vincent P. Bodnar
1988
29 Rev. Joseph F. Cleary
1971
Rev. Austin R. Saunders
1986
Rev. Andrew Dubé
2006
MayYear
2 Msgr. James F. Murphy
1958
3 Msgr. Michael J. Carnicke, P.A.
1980
9 Rev. John B. Fonseca
2002
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27
April 2010
Salvar vidas
Hispanos responden para donar sangre
Solo un 5 % de personas que
son elegibles para donar sangre
lo hacen. Los avances de la
ciencia médica no han podido
sustituir la única fuente de
sangre que un voluntario saludable puede donar. Cada dos
segundos, alguna persona en los
Estados Unidos necesita sangre. La sangre se necesita para
las emergencias, personas que
sufren de enfermedades como el
cáncer, desórdenes sanguíneos,
anemia y otras enfermedades.
Por SONIA BURNS
“Nosotros los hispanos
debemos considerar nuestra
sangre como el oro, y el hecho
de que muchas personas pueden
beneficiarse”, dice el Señor
Ramón Jiménez, feligrés de
la Parroquia de San Carlos
Borromeo en Bridgeport y
uno de los organizadores de
la campaña de donación de
sangre hispana que se efectuó
el pasado 27 de febrero en el
Centro McGivney, ubicado en
la parroquia.
La campaña de donación de
sangre hispana se lleva a cabo
dos veces al año, durante los
meses de febrero y octubre, con
ocasión de la celebración de la
La primera vez
SEGÚN LOS ORGANIZADORES de la campaña de donación de sangre hispana, muchas personas dicen
que ellos nunca han donado sangre porque no se les ha pedido. El hispano por su calidad de sangre de tipo
O pueden donar glóbulos rojos a cualquier persona, salvando más vidas que cualquier otro grupo étnico.
PARA EL SEÑOR JOSÉ SANTOS, (isq) feligrés de la Parroquia de Santa María, ésta fue la primera vez
que se decidió donar su sangre para ayudar a alguien que la necesita. Una pinta de sangre puede salvar tres
vidas.
(Foto por Sonia Burns)
BECAUSE OF THE ABUNDANCE of type O blood in their ethnic group, donations by Hispanics are
particularly valuable. Ramon Jimenez and Gloria Miranda have organized blood drives at Bridgeport
parishes, like the one pictured at St. Charles Borromeo. They say that Hispanics gladly donate blood when
information and medical personnel are available in their native language. At left, this is the first time that
St. Mary parishioner Jose Santos has given blood. He will likely be willing to donate again.
hispanidad, y la participación
de feligreses de las parroquias
de San Carlos, Santa María y
San Jorge en Bridgeport.
El tipo universal
El Señor Jiménez trabaja en
conjunto con la cooperación
de la Señora Gloria Miranda,
feligrés de la Parroquia de San
Jorge; el Señor Clodomiro
Falcón, ejecutivo miembro de
la Asociación de Comerciantes
Hispanos; la Señora Blanca
Rodríguez y la Señorita Priscilla
Rodríguez. Ellos trabajan arduamente para crear conciencia
en el hispano de la necesidad
de donar sangre en la ciudad de
Bridgeport.
De acuerdo con la Cruz Roja
Americana, un 53 % de los his-
panos tienen el tipo
de sangre universal,
sin embargo menos
de un 1 % dona sangre. El hispano por
su calidad de sangre
de tipo O puede
donar glóbulos
rojos a cualquier persona, salvando más vidas que cualquier
otro grupo étnico. El O+ es el
grupo de sangre más común,
y no todos los grupos étnicos
portan este grupo sanguíneo en
la misma proporción. Entre los
hispanos, el número de personas
del grupo O es relativamente
alto comparado con los blancos, afroamericanos, asiáticos y
amerindios.
Según el Señor Jiménez,
desde su inicio han conducido
seis campañas de donación de
sangre y actualmente el porcentaje de donantes ha aumentado
a un 5 % lo cual es un motivo
de orgullo para la comunidad
hispana de Bridgeport.
Los organizadores de la cam-
paña para donar sangre, dicen
que el estado de Connecticut
importa más de 10 mil bolsas
de sangre de otros estados para
poder abastecer las 155 mil unidades que se necesitan anual-
rroquias durante sus misas en
español para comunicarles sobre
la necesidad de donar la sangre
y el beneficio para las personas
que la necesitan. “El hispano
tiene miedo, pero cuando se les
“La sangre se necesita en las emergencias, personas que sufren de enfermedades
como el cáncer, desórdenes sanguíneos,
anemia y otras enfermedades”.
mente. “Esta cantidad puede
reducirse si se aumenta la cantidad de donantes hispanos”,
afirma el Señor Jiménez.
explica, ellos se inscriben y acuden al llamado”, dice la Señora
Miranda.
“La campaña de donación
de sangre de los hispanos ha
hecho que otras culturas hayan
tomado conciencia de la importancia del evento y han querido
iniciar su propia campaña, ya
que hay otros tipos de sangre
que algunos pacientes requieren
para ser compatibles”, dice la
Señora Miranda.
Según los organizadores,
muchas personas dicen que
ellos nunca han donado sangre
porque no se les ha pedido. Es
necesario que el hispano conociendo la importancia de su tipo
de sangre considere participar.
Para el Señor José Santos,
feligrés de la Parroquia de Santa
María, ésta fue la primera vez
que decidió donar su sangre
para ayudar a alguien que la
necesita. El Señor Santos está
seguro que volverá. Una persona puede donar su sangre
cada tres meses, y una bolsa de
sangre puede salvar tres vidas.
Un ministerio
La Señora Miranda y el
Señor Jiménez han convertido la campaña hispana para
donar sangre en un ministerio.
También informan al hispano
sobre la importancia de donar
médula ósea, y aprovechan la
oportunidad para comunicar a
las personas de otros eventos
importantes como el examen de
policía. ❖
Propio idioma
La Señora Miranda, asegura que el hispano dona si la
información llega a ellos en
su propio idioma. Ellos tratan
de conseguir personal médico
que hable español el día de la
donación de sangre para que
puedan comunicarse con ellos.
También visitan las tres pa-
Trumbull, Connecticut
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28
April 2010
Adult Formation
Marriage Enrichment Program
Creating marriages that last a lifetime
BRIDGEPORT – In
the Pastoral Letter, issued
November 17, 2009 Marriage:
Love and Life in the Divine
Plan, the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops
stated:
“Among the many blessings
that God has showered upon
us in Christ is the blessing of
marriage, a gift bestowed by
the Creator from the creation of
the human race. His hand has
inscribed the vocation to marriage in the very nature of man
and woman” (see Genesis 1:2728, 2:21-24).”
“The marital vocation is not
a private or merely personal
affair. Yes, marriage is a deeply
personal union and relationship,
but it is also for the good of the
Church and the entire community. The living-out of marriage
takes place within the whole
Body of Christ, which it serves
and in which it finds nourishment.”
Daily Call
As we reflect upon the gift
and vocation of marriage, we
can see the importance of marriage enrichment as part of
every married couple’s daily call
to grow in holiness and fellowship with God and others.
With this in mind, the offices
of Clergy Personnel and Family
Life Ministry offered such an
opportunity to deacons and
their wives and married couples
from throughout the diocese as
part of our weekend celebration of marriage. The marriage
enrichment workshop was held
on February 13 and World
Marriage Day was celebrated in
“As the day went by, I realized
how much I enjoy spending
time with my wife… away
from the kids. We recalled our
journey together with its joys
and sorrows, highs and lows,
laughter and tears through over
25 years of married life. It was
great!”
From the Heart
A couple from Stamford said
that the workshop was “definitely time well spent.” Bob and
Rita’s ‘from the heart’ stories
were relatable and inspiring.
We had a lot of fun together
and with the other couples at
our table.”
“I loved how we had young
ABOVE JULIO AND LIDA PAZMINO, (l-r) married 38 years with daughter, Judy Pazmino and
her husband, Andres Grajales, married 4 years.
Both couples are from St. Benedict-Our Lady of
Montserrat Parish in Stamford.
At the marriage workshop held February 13 over
65 couples gathered to celebrate the vocation of marriage. It was a day dedicated to married couples for
the purpose of strengthening their marital love and
commitment.
parishes on February 14.
On February 13, at the
Catholic Center in Bridgeport
over 65 couples gathered to celebrate the vocation of marriage
by taking part in a workshop
led by Bob and Rita Boeke
based on their book, Forever and
a Day, An Invitation to Create a
Marriage that Lasts a Lifetime.
“It was a day dedicated to
married couples for the purpose
of strengthening their marital
love and commitment. The
couples were given the opportunity to remember the hopes and
dreams
that
brought
them
together,
to celebrate the
hours,
days, and years of their life
together, and to gain insight
which will continue to strengthen their love and help it to continue to grow deeper,” shared
Betty Anne Casaretti, director
of Family Life Ministry. “It
is obvious from the positive
response of those that attended
the workshop, that Family Life
Ministry will continue to offer
more Marriage Enrichment
events in the near future.”
“What a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend,” said a man from Shelton.
WEDDING & DINING
and not-so young married
couples together at our table!”
said a wife from Norwalk who
has been married for ten years.
“I know my husband and I benefited from their sharing their
years of experience. We had a
lot of fun!”
❖
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29
April 2010
The Narrow Gate
BY FATHER BRIAN P. GANNON, S.T.D.
HEALTH CARE REQUIRES DIVINE LOVE
Regarding the health care
battle, a sobering statement
from Pope Benedict XVI warns
us:
The State which would provide
everything, absorbing everything
into itself, would ultimately become
a mere bureaucracy incapable of
guaranteeing the very thing which
the suffering person – every person –
needs: namely, loving personal concern. We do not need a State which
regulates and controls everything,
but a State which, in accordance
with the principle of subsidiarity,
generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from the
different social forces and combines
spontaneity with closeness to those
in need.
The Church is one of those
living forces: she is alive with the
love enkindled by the Spirit of
Christ. This love does not simply
offer people material help, but
refreshment and care for their souls,
something which often is even more
necessary than material support.
In the end, the claim that just social
structures would make works of
charity superfluous masks a materialist conception of man: the mistaken notion that man can live
“by bread alone” (Mt 4:4; cf. Dt
8:3) – a conviction that demeans
man and ultimately disregards all
that is specifically human. (Deus
Caritas Est n. 28)
This powerful passage
reflects key truths of Scripture
and human nature.
Foremost is the theme of
love, central to this encyclical
and to any health care plan.
God is love, and thus man as
God’s image means all human
activity only finds value in
the authentic love given and
received. Therefore, the teaching of Christ makes it incumbent upon all to care for the
sick. This is a fundamental
question of the Lord at the Last
Judgment (Mt 25:31-46).
Preserve Dignity
Likewise, any health care
plan must, at least implicitly,
acknowledge the person as body
and soul who desires above all
to love and be loved. Authentic
love means that end and beginning of life care respects the gift
of human life from conception
until natural death.
It is impossible to call something health care that will pay
for the deliberate destruction
of millions of unborn children,
as well as cause psychological
scars in the women who are lied
to about how an abortion will
solve their problems.
This is asserted by the United
States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, which ultimately
opposed the bill pushed by the
President and the Democrat
leadership in Congress.
A second theme is the principle of subsidiarity. This is a
traditional Catholic term that
embraces the power of the
human spirit, and is intrinsic
to love. It means that all social
decisions in the community
should be made by the people
most directly involved in the
situation. Those closest should
be allowed to use their creativity, love, and immediate knowledge of a situation to resolve it,
as opposed to those far removed
who know little of the reality.
State or national assistance is
necessary at times, but must
preserve the dignity of the local
people. In the case of health
care, the family should have
utmost say. Otherwise, money
fied by the buildup of Catholic
hospitals for the poor in the last
200 years. Also, the nuns who
dedicate their lives to caring for
poorest of the poor through the
greatest motivation: divine love
for souls. Problem: when a care
plan rejects the value of some
human life, it disconnects itself
from divine love.
Stunningly, many Catholic
politicians do not bring to
Congress the magnificent vision
“Any health care plan must,
at least implicitly, acknowledge the person
as body and soul who desires
above all to love and be loved. Authentic
love means that end and beginning of life
care respects the gift of human life from
conception until natural death”
becomes a god and the human
person becomes disposable.
Image of God
The agnostic state that
bureaucratizes the health care
of others removes the element
of love from the equation.
Inevitably, the goal becomes
what best maintains the bureaucracy, even at the expense of
human life.
Thus, the Church needs to be
involved in the debate. Catholic
teaching regarding health care
has been magnificently exempli-
of all men and women as images of God called to excellence
by their Creator. Instead they
de facto accept the materialist secular conception of man
as expendable (by supporting
abortion and euthanasia) for
the “greater good.” They see
freedom as the right to destroy
as opposed to an incredible gift
that inspires virtue, excellence,
and love. Hence the need to
pray for their conversion and
actively vote for those who love
all human life.
The Pope warns against this
materialist conception of man.
This is the logical conclusion
of tax-funded abortions and
bureaucratized end of life care.
Man becomes simply a cog in
the machine of the State, which
will decide – as federal budgets
are strained – whose life merits
more care.
Conscience Protection
Despite several so-called
“Catholic” groups who urged
passage, the Catholic bishops’
conference opposed this law.
The bishops specified this
“health care” plan devalues
human life and religious conscience for those refusing to
perform immoral procedures.
Hours before the vote, the bishops sent a memo to all House
members restating the inherent
danger in the bill, noting the
new presidential executive order
was inadequate. It was ignored.
Ironically, Planned Parenthood
agrees the executive order
would not prevent abortion
funding.
Our Lord’s parables of the
Good Samaritan and the Last
Judgment illustrate our responsibility to care for the sick with
love. Let us pray for all members of Congress. For their conversion to Real Love as lived
by Jesus Christ: to always heal,
never harm, and always seek
the good of the soul first, for
both the sick and their caregivers. Only divine love opens the
narrow gate.
❖
S A I N T L Y L I V E S by Ed Waldron
30
April 2010
EVEN LAST WORDS OF
CHRIST, a Sacred Cantata
by Theodore Dubois, will be
presented by the Diocesan
Choir on Sun., Mar. 28, in
Saint Augustine Cathedral.
Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.
and lasts about one hour. The
concert is free and open to the
public. For more information,
call 203.368.6777.
DIABETES SYMPOSIUM
for patients and professionals
will be held at St. Vincent’s
Medical Center, Bridgeport, on
Wed., Mar. 31, from 8 a.m.12:30 p.m. The symposium will
provide the latest findings on
the diagnosis and management
of diabetes. Breakfast provided.
Seating is limited. For more
information and to register, call
the St. Vincent’s Care Line:
877.255.SVHS (7847).
HOLY NAME SOCIETY at
St. Raphael/St. Margaret Parish
in Bridgeport meets the first
Mon. of every month (Apr. 5;
May 3) at 7:30. For more information call Art: 203.333.3536,
or e.mail artfalco@optonline.
net; or John: 203.414.9786,
e-mail [email protected].
CURSILLO ULTREYA will
be held Tues., Apr. 6, at the
Catholic Center, Bridgeport, at
7 p.m. For more information
contact Peter at pjbaumgart@
yahoo.com. CARE FOR THE
ELDERLY will be the topic of
“Spring Into Action,” a three
part panel discussion held at
St. Joseph’s Manor, Trumbull,
from 6:30-8 p.m. on three consecutive Weds.: Apr. 7, 14, and
21. The event is open to the
public. Light supper provided.
For more information, call Lisa
Kelleher: 203.220.2781.
MASS OF HEALING
AND HOPE sponsored by the
Charismatic Renewal Office
will be celebrated Thurs., Apr.
8, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Philip
Parish, Norwalk, with Fr. Larry
Carew; Mon., Apr. 12, at 7:30
p.m. at Christ the King Parish,
Trumbull, with Fr. Carew; and
Mon., Apr. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at
St. Lawrence Parish, Shelton
with Fr. Bill Lalbing. For more
information, call 268.8253.
THAT’S
ENTERTAINMENT! will be
performed at St. Francis of
Assisi, Weston, Fri.-Sun.,
Apr. 9-11. The performance
is a showcase of professional
and semi-professional talent in
jazz, musical theatre, cabaret
and gospel. Times: Fri.-Sat.:
7:30 p.m.; $30. Sun., 3 p.m.;
$30 ($25 ages 4-17). For more
information or to purchase tickets, call 203.246.8928 or e-mail
[email protected].
DIVINE MERCY
WOMEN’S RETREAT will be
held at Nazareth Spiritual Life
Center, Monroe, the weekend
of Apr. 9-11, with Fran Karpiej
of Sharing Christ Ministry.
Presentations, personal quiet
Divine Mercy Sunday
The Feast of Divine Mercy,
celebrated
on the Octave of Easter
(the Sunday after Easter Sunday),
is a relatively new addition
to the Liturgical Calendar.
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CLEANING
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Since
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Pick
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Norwalk
For more information, call 203.227.5161.
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Cleaning & Sealing
Norwalk
Stamford
Stratford
(203) 847-8000
(203) 327-7471
(203) 375-3737
The next “Bits & Pieces”
calendar will contain items
for the period
May 10-June 7, 2010.
Deadline for submissions:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010.
Fax info to 203.374.2044
or e-mail: [email protected].
Home PC & Mac Help
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call 860.521.0440 or visit www.
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GOSPEL OF LIFE
SOCIETY will meet Sat.,
Apr. 10 at 10 a.m. after the 9
a.m. Pro-Life Mass. Theresa
Krankowski of St. Gerard’s
Center in Hartford, will be
guest speaker. St. Gerard’s
offers free confidential pregnancy tests, counseling in English
and Spanish, and referral to
doctors, housing, and parent
training. For information, call
Eileen Bianchini: 203.847.5727,
or [email protected].
SECULAR FRANCISCAN
Holy Spirit Fraternity invites
everyone to a talk on Divine
Mercy on Sat., Apr. 10,
at 9:30 a.m. at St. Emery
Parish, Fairfield. Afterward,
the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
will be prayed in preparation
for Divine Mercy Sunday.
For more information, call
203.255.8801.
TRACK TEAM is forming
at St. Mary School, Bethel, for
the Regional Parochial Track
League. Meets at Immaculate
High School, Danbury, will
be held on Sun. Apr. 11,
May 2, and May 23, which
is the all-star meet. For more
information, call the school:
203.744.2922.
DIVINE MERCY
SUNDAY, Apr. 11, will see
a special celebration at St.
Theresa Parish, Trumbull,
beginning at 3 p.m. The devotions will include the recited
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
before the Blessed Sacrament,
a reflection, veneration
and Benediction. No Mass.
For more information call
203.261.3676.
MASS OF
THANKSGIVING to commemorate the Year for Priests
will be held at St. Mary Parish,
Stamford, on Thurs., Apr. 22 at
7 p.m. preceded by 40 hours of
Adoration. A reception will follow. For more information, call
the parish: 203.348.5196.
ARE YOU A GRADUATE
of St. Jude School, Monroe?
A class reunion for 40 years
of classes, 1962 -2002, will
be held the weekend of Apr.
30-May 1. Event activities
include an evening social on
Apr. 30 and school open house
and reunion Mass on May 1.
Those interested in attending,
call Joe Marconi: 203.258.0095
or [email protected]. For more
information, check out the St.
Jude School website Alumni
tab: www.stjudesmonroe.
CATHOLIC WIDOW
AND WIDOWER CLUB
meets at St. Michael Parish,
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31
April 2010
THE SUNDAY MASS
Catholics who cannot leave
their homes
have the opportunity
of view the Sunday Mass
each week thanks to
Passionist Communications.
The Mass is carried Sundays
on WNYW FOX,
Channel 5, at 5:30 a.m.;
WLNY, Channel 10
(and 55), at 9 a.m.;
and THE NET (formerly
The Prayer Channel)
Time Warner, Channel 97
Cablevision, Channel 30,
which has a vigil Mass
at 6 p.m. Sat., and a Mass
at 12:30 p.m. Sun.
On Palm Sunday,
the celebrant will be
Fr. Edward L. Beck, CP.
On Easter Sunday,
the celebrant will be
Fr. Robert Joerger, C.P.,
from the Passionist
Preaching Ministry.
Greenwich, on the third Tues.
of the month (Apr. 20) at 7 p.m.
to celebrate Mass for deceased
spouses, followed by a brief
meeting and coffee gathering.
The club also holds social activities including picnics, dinners,
and trips. For more information, call Adele: 732.581.1765,
or Ann: 203.325.3128.
GREENWICH FORUM
will host Bryan Mercier, speaking on “New Age Religion: The
dangers to the faith and how
we as Catholics can refute it,”
in the library at St. Mary Parish
Center, Greenwich, on Fri.,
Apr. 16 at 7:30 p.m. Mercier
has been featured both on TV
and radio. A small donation is
requested. For more information, contact Gene Casciari at: [email protected].
DISCOVER THE MAGIC
of Pysanka (Ukrainian
Easter Eggs) in a program
on Ukrainian culture at St.
Basil College Seminary, 195
Glenbrook Rd., Stamford, the
weekend of Apr. 23-25. The
• Newspapers
program is open for all who
wish to gain first-hand experience and knowledge of the
ancient Ukrainian traditions
and customs. For more information, call 203.324.4578, e-mail
[email protected] or
visit www.stbasilcollege.com.
DEATH ROW CHAPLAIN
Dale Recinella will speak about
prison ministry, the death penalty, and ministry to families
of murder victims at St. Rose
of Lima Parish, Newtown, on
Sun., Apr. 25, at 1 p.m. after
the noon Mass. This event,
which includes a light lunch, is
free and open to the public. For
more information, contact Bo
Chamberlin: 614.581.5109, or
[email protected].
FREE PROSTATE
CANCER SCREENINGS
will be offered by St. Vincent’s
SWIM Prostate Cancer Institute
on Wed., Apr. 28, at Shelton
Immediate Health Department,
2 Trap Falls Road, Shelton from
5:30-7:30 p.m. The program
is open to all men age 50 and
over and to those age 40 and
over whom are at higher risk
for prostate cancer due to family history or being of AfricanAmerican decent. To schedule
an appointment or for more
information, call 203.576.6158.
Appointments are limited.
CARD PARTY/GAME
NIGHT will be held at St.
Mary Parish, Stamford on Fri.,
Apr. 30, at 7 p.m. (doors open
at 6 p.m.). Tickets: $15/person
must be purchased in advance.
Price includes door prizes, food,
beverages and dessert. Bingo in
English or Spanish. For more
information or for tickets, call
Vita: 203.348.7933.
THE SLOVAK
ALLIANCE OF GREATER
BRIDGEPORT is presenting its
annual scholarship for any college student entering sophomore
year or later of Slovak/Slavic
descent and family member a
member of Slovak Alliance for
at least three years. Information
and application is available
by contacting Eileen Wilson:
203.378.8837 by May 1.
GROWING IN LOVE:
an Evening Retreat for married Couples will be held at the
Holy Family Passionist Retreat
Center, West Hartford, on
Wed., May 5, from 6-9 p.m.
The evening will include dinner, presentation, Mass, and a
blessing of marriages. Offering:
$30/person, includes dinner.
For more information, call
860.521.0440, or register online
at www.holyfamilyretreat.org.
CARNIVAL at St. Mary
School, Bethel, will be held
Wed.-Sat., May 12-15, on the
parish grounds. Rides, entertainment, games, and good food
and fun. Raffle CASH prizes
include 1st place: $2,000; 2nd
place: $1,000; and 3rd place:
$500. For more information,
call the school: 203.744.2922.
FREE PROSTATE
CANCER SCREENINGS
will be offered by St. Vincent’s
SWIM Prostate Cancer Institute
on Tues. May 18, at the Family
Health Center, 762 Lindley
Street, Bridgeport, from 5:307:30 p.m. The program is open
to all men age 50 and over and
to those age 40 and over who
are at higher risk for prostate
cancer due to family history
or being of African-American
decent. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call St. Vincent’s SWIM
Prostate Cancer Institute at
203/576.6158. Appointments
are limited.
5K ROAD RACE and
Kids Fun Run will be held
at St. Mary School, Bethel,
on Sat., May 22. Fun Run, 8
a.m.; 5K Race, 8:30. For more
information, call the school:
203.744.2922
50th REUNION of Notre
Dame High School class of
1960 will take place on Sat.,
Oct. 9, at the Mill River
Country Club, Stratford. For
more information, call Theresa
Marzik: 203.371.6521, or e-mail
[email protected].
MEDITERRANEAN
CRUISE with Fr. Michael
Jones, pastor of St. Lawrence
Parish, Shelton, as host will
enjoy 10 nights, September
5-15, visiting Greece, Turkey,
and the Holy Land. Price starts
at $7050/person; includes airfare, cruise, excursions, and a
$400 onboard credit per cabin.
Information: Virginia DeDad
at Cruise & Travel Planners:
402.0632, or e-mail vdedad@
❖
royalservicecruises.com.
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
We are the proud printers of the
Fairfield County Catholic for the past 20 years.
• Publications
One location, three
award-winning communities
• Shoppers
• Catalogs
Cottage and apartment living at
Wesley Heights
• Magazines
Assisted living at
• Directories
Crosby Commons
• Coupon Books
Rehabilitation and skilled nursing care at
Bishop Wicke Health Center
• College Course
Catalogs
• Business & Financial
Periodicals
• Free Standing
Inserts
• Advertising
Supplements
205 Spring Hill Road, Trumbull CT 06611
203.261.2548
www.trumbullprinting.com
Call us for a free quote.
(877) 929-5321
580 LONG HILL AVENUE • SHELTON
wesleyvillage–ct.org
sixth annual
diabetes syMposiuM
parking • refreshments provided
patient program 8:00am–12:30pm
professional program 8:00am–12:30pm
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
st. Vincent’s Medical center,
haWley conference center
free
Open to patients and professionals (CME & CEU credits)
Programs for professionals and for patients will provide an update on the diagnosis and
management of diabetes. The professional program will focus on various treatment options for diabetes.
The patient program will feature common concerns for patients with diabetes, including obesity and nutrition.
Pharmaceutical Educational Grant Support provided by Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, and Merck Pharmaceuticals.
For registration or for more
information, please call St. Vincent’s
Care Line at 1-877-255-SVHS (7847)
More than 200 young men and women say “yes” to a life of faith at Sacred Heart University. (Photo by Erika Chacón)

April 2010 - Diocese of Bridgeport

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