September 2010 - Diocese of Bridgeport

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September 2010
Soundings
“Blessed John Henry
Newman”
A
few years ago, I was invited to give a talk at Maryvale, England, where John Henry Newman lived shortly after his conversion to Catholicism in 1845. While at Maryvale, I asked to tour the Oratory in nearby Birmingham where Newman lived, prayed, and worked from 1859 until his death in 1890. I was overjoyed to see Newman’s simple room, which remains
just as it was at his death. It contains the altar where he offered daily Mass as well as his vestments; a
simple writing desk; and none of the creature comforts we take for granted. I also stood in Newman’s
library and gazed at the very volumes from which he drew so much wisdom, most especially the ancient
Christian writers of the fourth and fifth centuries. What a grace to visit the rooms of this great priest,
intellectual, believer, prolific author, theologian, poet, and novelist.
Later this month, on September 19, 2010, Pope
Sermons. All the while, he continued intense study and
Benedict XVI will beatify John Henry Cardinal Newman
prayer, in search of truth. With others, he saw that the
during his visit to the United Kingdom. Beatification, as
Church of England in his day was hobbled by its status
you know, is the last step before canonization. The Pope
as the established “state” religion, as also by a lack of
will declare that Cardinal Newman lived a life of heroic
orthodoxy and by spiritual languor. In 1833, he launched
virtue, that he is among the blessed in heaven, and that
what became known as the Oxford Movement, famous
he may be venerated by the faithful. Lest this occasion
for its 90 tracts or pamphlets dealing with these matters.
pass us by or be distorted by skewed press coverage, I
By 1845, Newman’s prayer and study led him to the
wish to offer a very brief sketch of John Henry Newman
conviction that the Roman Catholic Church had most
whom Pope John Paul II called a “sure and eloquent
fully preserved and transmitted the Apostolic faith. In
guide in our perplexity.” His life, which spanned most
1845 he became a Catholic and in 1847 was ordained a
of the 19th century (1801-1890) speaks powerfully to us
priest. None of this was easy for Newman. He was often
thought too “Catholic” by Anglicans
now in our search for truth and love. Like all
and too “Anglican” by Catholics. As
of God’s holy ones, he speaks to us on
a Catholic priest he was invited in
many levels.
“Those seeking
1851 by the Irish bishops to found
Those whose lives are marked by
a Catholic university in Dublin, a
crises may well take note of the upheavto strengthen their
project fraught with difficulty. There
als in Newman’s life. The eldest of five
were difficulties in the Oratory of St.
children, he was born into a prosperous
faith will find no
Philip Neri which he had begun in
Anglican family whom Newman dearly
Birmingham in 1848 and, for a time,
loved. His father was a banker and his
better friend than
he was even suspected of heresy.
mother, Jemima Fourdrinier, was the
Ultimately, Newman succeeded but at
daughter of an affluent paper manufacNewman.”
a much deeper way than the controturer. In 1816, his father’s bank failed
versies and failures of his life would
and the family faced grave financial
suggest. In the midst of these upheavals, God’s “kindly
hardship. Young Newman, then enrolled in a private
light” led him “from shadows and images into the fullschool, Ealing, experienced a spiritual crisis that changed
ness of truth.”
him by making him profoundly aware of God’s presTo those who feel isolated, Newman’s life speaks
ence. He enrolled in the University of Oxford, and upon
to us of the importance of friendship. Newman had a
completion of his studies, he was ordained an Anglican
great capacity for friendship, but there were also times
priest in 1824. A few years later he became Vicar of St.
he felt betrayed by friends. In his long life, he mourned
Mary’s Church, Oxford, where he preached brilliant
the passing of many friends. In his first conversion, in
yet accessible sermons known as the Parochial and Plain
ON THE COVER
Assumption/Holy Family Catholic School students in Fairfield
joined thousands of other Catholic school students throughout
the Diocese who had their first day back to school at the end
of August. Third-grader Emma Csizmar gets set to crunch the
books, while classmate Jason Paul walks by. On top, third-grader
Asha Maignan also enjoyed her first day at the school. Overall,
more than 11,000 students headed back to Catholic elementary
and high schools in Fairfield County.
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Teachin skills
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New scien ts
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1816, he accepted a call to celibacy and lived that calling
faithfully. At the same time, his friendships with both
men and women were intense, intelligent, and rooted in
God’s love and a wider love for humanity. An important
part of his friendships were his letters, some 20,000 of
them, filling over 30 volumes. Many of these letters were
addressed to those who pursuing the fullness of the faith.
Those seeking to strengthen their faith will find no
better friend than Newman, who distinguished between
a merely “notional” faith and a “real” faith. He rightly
warned against a disengaged faith that is merely a matter of words and ideas without consequences. Carefully
analyzing the nature of belief, Newman, in both his
sermons and essays, fostered a living faith in the realities
of the Christian faith, most especially the Trinity and in
the mysteries of redemption – Christ’s incarnation as also
his death, resurrection, and ascension. Opening wide the
Scriptures, Newman preached a living faith and taught
that we objectively encounter what God did to save us
in the beauty of the Church’s sacramental life. Newman’s
writings presaged the emphasis of the Second Vatican
Council on the universal call to holiness based on prompt
obedience to God’s grace as well as the Council’s
teaching on how one’s rightly formed conscience puts
one in contact with the living God and with the truth
of revelation.
To those who question the very foundations of the
faith, Newman is also a reliable guide. His intense study
of Scripture and early Christian writers led him to reject
the view, current in his day and ours, that religion can
mean whatever one wants it to mean. Newman also
helps us see how the Church’s faith, while responding
➤ continued on page
CONTENTS
4
ABA
Bishop’s Appeal Results
14SCHOOLS
6
CATHOLIC WORLD
Pope to visit England
15SCHOOLS
9
FEATURE
St. Piux expands
28COLUMN
12EDITORIAL
Thanks to teachers
Science Park
New principals
Hicks on Sept. 11
30B&P
Whats happening
5
3
September 2010
Local News
Appeal reaches $11.6 Million
BRIDGEPORT – The 2010
Living our Faith Annual Bishop’s
Appeal came to a close on July
31, after raising $11.6 million
in cash and pledges to fund the
charitable services and ministries
of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
The Appeal was extended into
the month of July because additional gifts continued to come in
at the close of the campaign.
A total of 28,493 donors
throughout Fairfield County participated in this year’s Appeal,
which provides funding for vital
programs and services including Catholic Charities, Catholic
schools, parish life and ministry
programs, vocations and retired
priests.
“The Appeal is a message of
hope to the thousands of people
who benefit from its services,”
said Bishop Lori. “I am deeply
grateful to Gerri and Jean-Paul
Musicco for serving as Chair
Couple for the 2010 Appeal, our
clergy and the many thousands of
generous donors who participated
in our Appeal this year.”
Jeff Machi, Executive Director
of Development, said one of the
most encouraging trends in the
2010 Appeal was the increased
generosity of donors. A total of
13,584 people gave $2.3 million
more than in 2009.
“We are very grateful for the
Red Mass set
for October 17
New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan will be the
principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Red Mass set for
October 17, at 10 a.m. at the Basilica of St. John The Evangelist
in Stamford.
Bishop William E. Lori and Attorney James F. Stapleton,
who is serving as Chairman of the Red Mass Committee, invite
the general public to attend the Mass.
Richard W. Garnett, University of Notre Dame Associate
Dean and Professor of Law will be the guest of honor and main
speaker. He is a leading authority on questions and debates
regarding the role of religious believers and beliefs in politics
and society. Professor Garnett clerked for the late Chief Justice
of the United States, William H. Rehnquist, during the Court’s
1996 term.
The Red Mass is celebrated for judges, attorneys, law school
professors, students, and government officials. The Mass
requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek justice,
and offers the opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities and
challenges faced by Catholic legal practitioners.
A brunch will immediately follow at the Knights of
Columbus Hall, 507 Shippan Ave., Stamford. The cost
is $35 per person. Please RSVP by October 11.
Email [email protected] or phone: 203-416-1358.
n
outpouring of support from individuals and families to the 2010
Appeal at a time when demand
on services has grown significantly,” he said.
While many families and
individuals sacrificed to make a
pledge to the Appeal, the majority of parishes throughout the
Diocese reached their goal and
went beyond. In a very challenging year, sixty-nine percent of
parishes achieved 100% of their
goal, while another ten percent
achieved 90 to 99% of goal.
St. Roch’s Parish in
Greenwich achieved 276% of
goal, raising $151,981 leading
the 87 parishes of the Diocese.
St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield
was second highest, coming in at
$442,637 and 205.88% over goal.
The overall largest amount raised
by a parish was $880,504 donated
by parishioners of St. Aloysius
Parish in New Canaan.
Pam Rittman, Appeal
Director, said that during the
course of the campaign, the
development staff and volunteers
spoke with many people over the
phone who were struggling with
job loss, health issues and other
constraints, but still managed to
give.
“They wanted to participate
because it was an expression
of their faith and commitment.
We’re grateful that even in the
most difficult of times people are
willing to step up and help others,” said Pam.
The Appeal provides essential services and ministries of
the Church in Fairfield County,
including Catholic schools and
parish religious education programs, Catholic Charities, soup
kitchens, food pantries, vocations
to the priesthood and religious
life, parish finance services, and
parish life and ministries.
For information please e-mail
us at [email protected]. Phone:
203.416.1479, or make a credit card
donation online: www.bridgeportdiocese.com/donateonline.
n
SHU Honors Rabbi Ehrenkranz
FAIRFIELD – The Center for
Christian-Jewish Understanding
at Sacred Heart University will
honor its co-founder and former
executive director, Rabbi Joseph
Ehrenkranz, at its 13th Nostra
Aetate Dinner. The special event
will take place on October 14
at the Hyatt Regency in Old
Greenwich.
Established in 1992, the
Center for Christian-Jewish
Understanding is an educational
and research division of Sacred
Heart University, a direct outgrowth of the Second Vatican
Council’s teachings that encourage interreligious dialogue and
understanding. Warmly endorsed
by both Pope John Paul II and
Pope Benedict XVI, the Center
has hosted conferences across
the globe on themes related to
dialogue between these two
great religious traditions. The
Center has also organized study
trips for bishops and rabbis to
such settings as Auschwitz and
the Vatican and each year hosts
seminars for students in train-
ing for ordained ministry. These
highly successful forums led to
the creation of the Colleagues in
Dialogue series for alumni of the
program who are now ordained
and working to cooperation and
dialogue.
The Rabbi Emeritus of
Agudath Sholom Synagogue in
Stamford, which he joined as
a student rabbi in 1948 and led
to become the largest Orthodox
congregation in New England,
Rabbi Ehrenkranz has spent a
lifetime working for reconciliation between religious traditions,
most notably Judaism and
Roman Catholicism. He has represented the Synagogue Council
of America before the United
Nations and has met with popes
and other religious leaders across
the world in his quest for peace.
With Sacred Heart University
President Anthony J. Cernera,
he co-founded the Center for
Christian-Jewish Understanding
in 1992 and led it to become an
international leader in interreligious and ecumenical issues.
(Tickets for this special event are
$500. All proceeds will support the
Center’s educational and outreach
programs. For more information, call
Dr. Cernera: 203.365.4850.)
n
4
September 2010
2010 Annual Bishop’s Appeal Results
VICARIATE 1
% Goal
Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist, Stamford
Holy Name of Jesus, Stamford
Holy Spirit, Stamford
Our Lady Star of the Sea, Stamford
Sacred Heart, Greenwich
Sacred Heart, Stamford
Saint Agnes, Greenwich
Saint Benedict/Monserrat, Stamford
Saint Bridget, Stamford
Saint Catherine of Siena, Riverside
Saint Cecilia, Stamford
Saint Clement, Stamford
Saint Gabriel, Stamford
Saint John, Darien
Saint Leo, Stamford
Saint Mary, Greenwich
Saint Mary, Stamford
Saint Maurice, Stamford
Saint Michael the Archangel, Greenwich
Saint Paul, Greenwich
Saint Roch, Greenwich
Saint Thomas More, Darien
$91,786
$40,175
$95,679
$82,620
$51,398
$39,473
$51,880
$62,505
$60,179
$210,677
$112,163
$51,265
$56,883
$334,074
$361,295
$469,657
$42,582
$60,758
$421,139
$115,618
$151,981
$620,038
$85,000
$40,000
$145,000
$70,000
$50,000
$65,000
$50,000
$60,000
$55,000
$205,000
$105,000
$50,000
$50,000
$180,000
$185,000
$275,000
$60,000
$60,000
$230,000
$110,000
$55,000
$400,000
108%
100%
66%
118%
103%
61%
104%
104%
109%
103%
107%
103%
114%
186%
195%
171%
71%
101%
183%
105%
276%
155%
VICARIATE 2
Goal
Assumption, Westport
Our Lady of Fatima, Wilton
Saint Aloysius, New Canaan
Saint Francis of Assisi, Weston
Saint Jerome, Norwalk
Saint Joseph, South Norwalk
Saint Ladislaus, South Norwalk
Saint Luke, Westport
Saint Mary, Norwalk
Saint Matthew, Norwalk
Saint Philip, Norwalk
Saint Thomas the Apostle, East Norwalk
$157,903
$215,486
$880,504
$96,205
$82,397
$57,434
$15,898
$253,053
$107,932
$194,281
$75,635
$138,566
$155,000
$230,000
$500,000
$95,000
$70,000
$50,000
$15,000
$200,000
$90,000
$175,000
$80,000
$115,000
102%
94%
176%
101%
118%
115%
106%
127%
120%
111%
95%
120%
VICARIATE 3
Pledged
Holy Cross, Fairfield
Holy Family, Fairfield
Notre Dame, Easton
Our Lady of Assumption, Fairfield
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Bridgeport
Saint Andrew, Bridgeport
Saint Ann, Bridgeport
Saint Anthony of Padua, Fairfield
Saint Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Saint Emery, Fairfield
Saint George, Bridgeport
Saint Patrick, Bridgeport
Saint Peter, Bridgeport
Saint Pius X, Fairfield
Saint Raphael, Bridgeport
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fairfield
$25,601
$92,563
$140,347
$196,089
$15,250
$62,926
$52,331
$108,191
$85,000
$21,458
$20,050
$32,361
$44,821
$442,637
$45,488
$226,503
$35,000
$85,000
$105,000
$130,000
$15,000
$70,000
$50,000
$75,000
$85,000
$20,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$215,000
$45,000
$170,000
73%
109%
134%
151%
102%
90%
105%
144%
100%
107%
100%
108%
112%
206%
101%
133%
VICARIATE 4
Blessed Sacrament, Bridgeport
Christ the King, Trumbull
Holy Name of Jesus, Stratford
Holy Rosary, Bridgeport
Our Lady of Fatima, Bridgeport
Our Lady of Grace, Stratford
Our Lady of Peace, Stratford
Saint Ambrose, Bridgeport
Saint Catherine of Siena, Trumbull
Saint Charles Borromeo, Bridgeport
Saint James, Stratford
Saint Joseph, Shelton
Saint Jude, Monroe
Saint Lawrence, Shelton
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Shelton
Saint Mark, Stratford
Saint Mary, Bridgeport
Saint Michael the Archangel, Bridgeport
Saint Stephen, Trumbull
Saint Theresa, Trumbull
Saints Cyril and Methodius, Bridgeport
$14,097
$74,716
$58,660
$10,755
$25,935
$95,146
$57,229
$23,635
$177,648
$49,117
$140,350
$105,485
$167,541
$215,180
$47,510
$136,140
$24,960
$46,505
$129,503
$184,875
$21,556
$10,000
$75,000
$70,000
$10,000
$30,000
$85,000
$60,000
$25,000
$150,000
$45,000
$140,000
$90,000
$150,000
$225,000
$50,000
$130,000
$25,000
$45,000
$95,000
$180,000
$20,000
141%
100%
84%
108%
86%
112%
95%
95%
118%
109%
100%
117%
112%
96%
95%
105%
100%
103%
136%
103%
108%
VICARIATE 5
Individual Parish Results
Holy Trinity, Sherman
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Danbury
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Danbury
Sacred Heart, Danbury
Sacred Heart, Georgetown
Saint Edward, New Fairfield
Saint Elizabeth Seton, Ridgefield
Saint Gregory the Great, Danbury
Saint Joseph, Brookfield
Saint Joseph, Danbury
Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, Brookfield
Saint Mary Parish, Bethel
Saint Mary, Ridgefield
Saint Patrick, Redding Ridge
Saint Peter, Danbury
St. Rose of Lima, Newtown
$73,175
$20,385
$24,273
$46,580
$86,633
$199,551
$99,103
$93,703
$119,425
$127,908
$65,495
$146,932
$334,469
$77,976
$137,449
$243,371
$60,000
$20,000
$25,000
$40,000
$65,000
$195,000
$80,000
$95,000
$115,000
$125,000
$65,000
$135,000
$315,000
$40,000
$110,000
$215,000
122%
102%
97%
116%
133%
102%
124%
99%
104%
102%
101%
109%
106%
195%
125%
113%
TOTAL RAISED: $11,608,943
2010 Chair Couple
Gerrie and Jean-Paul Musicco, Chair Couple
Saint Aloysius Parish, New Canaan
2010 Pastors’ Advisory Committee
Monsignor Thomas Driscoll, P.A., V.G.
Notre Dame Parish, Easton
Monsignor Blase M. Gintoli
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield
Monsignor Matthew Bernelli
Saint Mary Parish, Bridgeport
Monsignor Laurence R. Bronkiewicz
Saint Mary Parish, Ridgefield
Monsignor Lawrence J. Carroll
Saint 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 T. Hoffman
Saint 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 S. Pavia
Saint 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
5
September 2010
Local News
Diocese plans
Catechetical Congress
BRIDGEPORT – Sean
Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop
of Boston, and Rwandan
Holocaust survivor Immaculée
Ilibagiza, who has become an
international advocate for peace
and reconciliation, will keynote
The 2010 Catechetical Congress
of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
The event, sponsored by the
Diocesan Office for Pastoral
Services, is set for Saturday
November 6, 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at Sacred Heart University in
Fairfield. “Do Whatever He Tells
You, Catechizing through the
Mysteries of Light” is the theme
of the congress.
“This is our first Catechetical
Congress in three years, and the
early response has been very
enthusiastic,” says Damien
O’Connor, diocesan director for
Pastoral Services. He says the
day is designed for catechists
and directors of religious education throughout the diocese, but
is also open to all adults seeking to enrich their faith. “The
Catechetical Congress is a great
opportunity for adults to enrich
their lives in prayer, discussion
and instruction in the faith,”
O’Connor says.
Bishop William E. Lori will
celebrate a 4 p.m. Mass to conclude the day. His homily will be
a reflection on the Eucharist. The
day will also include two rounds
of workshops, exhibits, lunch and
prayer.
Cardinal O’Malley’s key-
note address, “Passing on the
Faith: Not an Option, but an
Imperative,” will be delivered from 9:15-10:15 a.m. in
the Edgerton Center for the
Performing Arts at Sacred Heart.
Cardinal O’Malley, a
Capuchin friar, was ordained a
priest in 1970 and worked for
many years in Washington, D.C.
with Latin American immigrants. He received a Ph.D. in
Spanish and Portuguese literature
from the Catholic University
of America. Pope John Paul
II appointed him coadjutor
bishop of Saint Thomas, the
Virgin Islands, in 1984. He was
named bishop of Fall River in
1992, of Palm Beach in 2002,
and Archbishop of Boston in
Use of New Roman Missal
to begin in Advent 2011
WASHINGTON –
Catholics in the United States
will begin using the longawaited English translation of
the Roman Missal on the first
Sunday of Advent, November
27, 2011, Cardinal Francis E.
George of Chicago said on
August 20.
The cardinal’s announcement as president of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops
begins a more than 15-month
period of education and training that will lead to the first
use of the “third typical edition” of the Roman Missal at
English-language Masses in the
United States next Advent. The
missal, announced by Pope
John Paul II in 2000 and first
published in Latin in 2002, has
undergone a lengthy and rigorous translation process through
the International Commission
on English in the Liturgy, followed by sometimes heated
discussions over particular
wording at USCCB general
assemblies during much of the
past decade.
Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli
of Paterson, N.J., chairman
of the USCCB Committee
on Divine Worship, expressed
gratitude about the final Vatican
approval. “I am happy that after
years of preparation, we now
have a text that will enable the
ongoing renewal of the celebration of the sacred liturgy in our
parishes,” he said.
The changes to be implemented in late 2011 include new
responses by the people in about
a dozen sections of the Mass.
Changes in the words used by the
celebrant are much more extensive. At several points during
the Mass, for example, when the
celebrant says, “The Lord be with
you,” the people will respond, in
a more faithful translation of the
original Latin, “And with your
spirit.”
“The order and structure of
the Mass will not change at all,”
Bishop Serratelli added, but
Catholics will see some new texts
for prayers, new observances for
saints added to the church calendar in recent decades and such
additions as a Mass in thanksgiving for the gift of human life and
an extended vigil for Pentecost,
similar to the Easter Vigil.
Since mid-April, Msgr.
Anthony Sherman, director of
the USCCB divine worship
secretariat, and Fr. Richard
Hilgartner, associate director of
the U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat for
Divine Worship, have been conducting workshops around the
country for priests and diocesan
leaders on implementation of
the new missal. The workshops
will continue into November.
The USCCB has prepared
a parish implementation guide
that includes a detailed timeline, bulletin inserts, suggestions
for homilies and adult education classes on the liturgy and a
wide variety of other resources.
Fr. Hilgartner said that Pope
Benedict XVI has placed his
own personal stamp on the
liturgical changes by adding two
new options for the dismissal
prayer at the end of Mass,
emphasizing the “connection
between the Mass and living the
Christian life.”
In place of the current “The
Mass is ended, go in peace,”
celebrants will be able to choose
from four options, including
the pope’s suggestions – “Go
and announce the Gospel of the
Lord” and “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” n
2003. Pope Benedict XVI
elevated him to the College
of Cardinals in 2006. He serves
as chairman of the committee on
Consecrated Life of the United
States Catholic Conference of
Bishops (USCCB).
Immaculée Ilibagiza will
deliver the witness talk from
10:30-11:30 a.m. She will also be
available to sign books after her
talk. She was born in Rwanda and
studied electronic and mechanical engineering at the National
University. She lost most of her
family during the 1994 genocide.
Four years later, she emigrated to
the United States and began working at the United Nations in New
York City. Her story was reported
in national news outlets throughout the U.S. and the world.
Immaculée holds honorary doctoral degrees from The
University of Notre Dame and
Saint John’s University, and
was awarded The Mahatma
Gandhi International Award for
Reconciliation and Peace 2007.
She is the author, with Steve
Erwin, of “Left to Tell: Discovering
God Amidst the Rwandan
Holocaust.”
Afternoon workshops include
presentations from local and
nationally known experts: author
and religious educator Dr. Joan
M. Kelly “Splash! The Baptismal
Plunge;”
Sr. Clare
Matthiass, CFR,
vicar of Franciscan
Sisters of the
Renewal, “Redeemed
Feminism as a
Cornerstone for a
Renewed Culture;”
Msgr. Lorenzo
Albacete, “The
Presence of the
Kingdom of God
in this World;”
Dianne Marie
Traflet, JD, STD,
associate dean and
assistant professor of
pastoral theology at Immaculate
Conception Seminary School
of Theology at Seton Hall
University, NJ, “Seeing God in
3-D: Disruptions, Detours and
Delays.”
The Chapel of the Nativity
will be open throughout the
Congress for private prayer and
Eucharistic Adoration.
(The fee for the day is $25, including lunch and all programs and materials. Those interested in participating
are encouraged to register by October
8. A limited number of tickets will be
available at the door on a first-come,
first-served basis. For more information and to register, contact Martha
Dombroski: 203.416.1440 or [email protected].)
n
Soundings from page 2
to many challenges through the centuries, has developed while at
the same time maintaining a profound continuity with the faith of
the Apostles. In addition, Newman’s reflections on godly obedience
coupled with his nuanced understanding of Church authority guide us
in these days when the ministry of the Pope and bishops and, indeed,
truth of the Church’s teaching are called into question.
Those seeking to recover the liberal arts and are longing to see their
faith expressed in literature, poetry, and music will glory in Newman’s
novels and his poetry, among them, “Lead, Kindly Light,” and “The
Dream of Gerontius” which was set to music by Edward Elgar.
In 1879, Newman was created a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. This
turn of events confirmed his life-long work and his search for truth. In
the speech he delivered on that occasion, this saintly priest and scholar
said this: “Christianity has been too often in what seemed deadly peril,
that we should fear for it any new trial now. . . . Commonly,
the Church has nothing to do other than go on in her own proper
duties, in confidence and peace; to stand still and to see the salvation
of God.” Those are words which give should heart to us all. Blessed
John Henry Newman, pray for us! n
6
September 2010
Catholic World
POPE TO VISIT ENGLAND
NEXT WEEK
LONDON, England – Pope
Benedict XVI will visit England
and Scotland on a four-day papal
visit from September16-19. The
Holy Father will fly to Scotland
where he will be received at the
Palace of Holyroodhouse by Her
Majesty the Queen.
This will be the first official
visit ever made by a Roman
Catholic Pontiff to Great Britain.
While Pope John Paul II visited
in 1982, that trip was classified as
a “pastoral” rather than “official”
visit, sidestepping questions about
a meeting with Queen Elizabeth,
who is technically the head of the
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.
Having met with Queen
Elizabeth, the Pope will travel to
Do You Hunger
to Understand
Your
Catholic Faith?
thing I’ve always dreamed of
Glasgow where he will celebrate
an open-air Mass at Bellahouston – it’s indescribable,” Boyle, a
Catholic, said in a statement.
Park in the evening. In an interBoyle said her late mother was
esting twist, TV talent show star
at the same Glasgow park when
Susan Boyle will sing for the
Pope John Paul II visited in 1982.
Pope at the Mass. Boyle wowed
Flying to
audiences
London, the
and judges on
Holy Father
the TV show
will pray with
“Britain’s Got
representatives
Talent” last
of religious
year. In the precongregations
Mass program,
and meet 3,000
Boyle plans to
young people
sing the hymn
to celebrate
“How Great
Catholic eduThou Art” as
cation. The
well as her
Pope will then
signature song,
John Henry Cardinal Newman
meet with the
“I Dreamed
Archbishop of
a Dream,”
Canterbury and hold an ecumenithe tune from the musical “Les
Miserables” that shot her to fame cal service. He will also speak
to political leaders at Westminster
in April 2009.
Hall, the historic site where
“To be able to sing for the
St. Thomas More was tried and
Pope is a great honor and someconvicted.
The highlight of Benedict’s
trip will be the beatification of
19th-century theologian and educationalist John Henry Cardinal
Newman, for whom he has a
special devotion. He will also
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Educating Catholics to Understand, Live and Share their Faith since 1978
visit Birmingham, where Cardinal
Newman lived and worked.
Cardinal Newman, born in
1801, was baptized in the Church
of England. He became an
Anglican clergyman in 1825 and
Vicar of the Oxford University
Church in 1828. Newman was a
university teacher and a student
of Christian history and theology. His point of reference was
the Church of the Apostles and
the great teachers of the first
Christian centuries. Finally, he
became convinced that the faith
of the Apostles and Fathers was
the faith of Roman Catholicism.
He was received into the Church
in 1845, and ordained a Catholic
priest in 1847.
He continued writing and
publishing works which today
are more profoundly influential
than ever: his religious autobiography the Apologia (1864), the
Grammar of Assent on the origins
of Christian Faith (1870) and
the Idea of the University (1873).
Working tirelessly, especially
for the poor parishioners of the
Birmingham Oratory, Newman
also conducted an enormous
correspondence, helping people
all over the world with their religious difficulties. He was made a
Cardinal in 1879.
Pope Benedict will conclude
his visit by meeting with the
bishops of England, Scotland and
Wales.
FLOODING HITS
16 MILLION PAKISTANIS
BESHAM, Pakistan – The
worst flooding in Pakistan’s history has cut a swath of destruction from the northern mountain
regions to wheat fields in the
south. Hundreds of thousands
have lost their homes, at least
1,600 people have been killed,
crops and livestock have been
destroyed, and heavily trafficked
roads and bridges have disappeared. More than 16 million
people have been touched by the
upheaval brought by recent heavy
rains and landslides.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
workers, who have a long history
in the area, responded quickly to
the emergency. In the Shangla
district in northern Pakistan, a
CRS team discovered that almost
all the existing water systems
and walking paths were washed
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September 2010
Catholic World
away. In other areas, key roads
and bridges vanished, forcing
long, arduous treks over muddy
mountain terrain to reach people
in remote villages in desperate
need of emergency supplies, food,
and medicine.
“Some members of our team
met with an entire family swept
away by the flooding. The children were in one part of the
rushing water, separated from
their parents who were scrambling to stay afloat several yards
away. There was nothing anyone
could do to help. The family was
eventually rescued downstream,
but one of the children didn’t
make it,” says Carolyn Fanelli,
acting country representative for
Catholic Relief Services Pakistan.
CRS engineers are now repairing five separate water systems
in the region. The agency has
years of experience building and
repairing water systems in remote
mountainous areas of Pakistan,
having worked on hundreds
of systems following the 2005
earthquake there. Once immediate needs are met, CRS will help
farmers and others resume work
and help them rebuild their lives.
In spite of the scope of
the emergency, the world has
largely ignored the disaster. Pope
Benedict XVI appealed for help
for the victims of flooding in
Pakistan during his public audience on August 18. “Our solidarity and the concrete support
of the international community
must not be lacking to these our
sorely tried brothers and sisters,”
said the Pope, speaking from his
summer residence.
(To donate to CRS aid to
Pakistan, call 800.736.3467 between
8 a.m. and 11 p.m.; donate online
at http://crs.org/donate/; or mail
a check to: Catholic Relief Services,
P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD
21203-7090.)
ORTHODOX, CATHOLICS
BUILD CHURCH TOGETHER
KOLOMYIA, Ukraine –
Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox
bishops in Kolomyia have joined
in a ground-breaking ceremony
for the construction of a new
church, which they are building as a joint project to celebrate
the 1022nd anniversary of
the “Baptism of the Rus,” the
establishment of Christianity in
Ukraine. The joint project is a
remarkable breakthrough in a
country that has seen persistent
tensions between the Orthodox
Church and the Byzantine-rite
has long sought to establish a
Catholic patriarchate in Ukraine.
The construction of a new
church of St. Panteleimon, who
was known as a Holy Healer,
began on July 29 in Kolomyia
on the premises of an oncology
hospital. St. Panteleimon had
been educated as a physician and
dedicated his life to the suffering,
the sick, the unfortunate and the
needy. He was martyred by the
Emperor Maximian for refusing
to offer sacrifice to the state gods.
“The Baptism of the Rus,”
refers to the official coming of
Christianity among the eastern
Slavs. In 988 Prince Vladimir
accepted Christianity as the
religion of his land, the medieval state of Rus. Vladimir then
called the people of Kiev, his
capital and now the capital of
the Ukraine, to be baptized. The
Kievan Rus became the precursor
to modern-day Russia, Ukraine
and Belarus.
MIRACLE-WORKING ICON of St. Panteleimon (18th-century) from the
Holy Skete of Koutloumousi, Mount Athos.
Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Catholic Bishop Mykola
Simkaylo and his Orthodox
counterpart Ivan Boychuk said
that the new church reflects their
“joint purpose: to build a unique
church in Ukraine. By holding
joint events we unite our faithful in one Christian family.”
The Ukrainian Catholic Church,
the largest of the Eastern-rite
churches faithful to the Holy See,
In the Footsteps of Jesus & the Apostles
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COURT STRIKES DOWN
STEM CELL POLICY
WASHINGTON, DC –
On August 23, a U.S. District
Court halted the Obama
Administration’s illegal and
unethical policy of funding
research that necessarily entails
the destruction of human embryos. On March 9, 2009, President
Obama, by executive order,
directed the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) to issue new
stem cell guidelines to include
the funding of human embryonic
stem cell research. Since 1996,
the Dickey-Wicker Amendment
has expressly banned NIH from
funding research in which human
embryos “are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk
of injury or death.” The amendment has been renewed every
year by Congress.
Judge Royce Lamberth issued
a preliminary injunction against
the Administration’s policy in the
case of Sherley v. Sebelius, holding that it violated the clear language of the law: “The DickeyWicker Amendment unambiguously prohibits the use of federal
funds for all research in which a
human embryo is destroyed,” he
ruled.
“Since 1996, Congress has
been clear that no federal funds
are to be used in research that
destroys, or even harms, embryos,” said Dr. Charmaine Yoest,
president and CEO of Americans
United for Life. “The Obama
Administration has attempted
to skirt the law by arguing that
they are only funding research
after the embryos are destroyed.
Today’s sensible ruling reconfirms what we already knew, that
Administration policy is in violation of the law.” n
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September 2010
News
Priests headed for Convocation in Rhode Island
By BRIAN WALLACE
“Shepherds after my own
hearts,” The Third Convocation
for Priests of the Diocese of
Bridgeport will be held from
October 10-13 in Newport,
Rhode Island.
More than 185 priests from the
diocese are expected to attend the
three-day event which combines
elements of a retreat and academ-
ic conferences with opportunities
for relaxation.
“A convocation is an opportunity for a renewal and reflection
that brings many blessings to our
priests and those they serve,” said
Bishop William E. Lori in his
invitation letter to priests.
Bishop Lori says that the gathering of the diocesan presbyterate is in direct response to Pope
Benedict XVI’s letter to priests
in which he quotes St. Jean
Vianney, ‘The priesthood is the
love of the heart of Jesus.’”
The bishop says the convocation is an opportunity to “remember the model set by so many
priests we have known in our
lives; thanking the Lord for their
witness and friendship, and asking his help in their struggles.”
Msgr. Kevin Royal, episcopal
vicar for clergy and director of
the Office of Clergy Personnel
for the Diocese of Bridgeport, is
chairing the event. He says the
three major conferences during
the convocation will focus on
priestly life in order to deepen the
spirituality and fraternity of diocesan priests.
Fr. Gerald O’Collins, S.J.
will explore the “Theology of
Priesthood” as the theological foundation for priestly life.
He was ordained in 1963 and
is a member of the Australian
Province of the Society of Jesus. A
renowned theologian and author,
Fr. O’Collins taught at Gregorian
University for 33 years.
Fr. George Aschenbrenner,
S.J., will reflect on Diocesan
Priestly Spirituality. Ordained
in 1965, he is a member of the
Maryland Province of the Society
of Jesus where he has worked
Saint Mary’s Church
with priests to help them understand and nurture their spirituality. He has served at the Jesuit
Retreat Center in Wernersville,
PA, the North American
College and the Institute for
Priestly Formation at Creighton
University.
Fr. Ronal Knott, a priest
of the Diocese of Louisville,
“More than 185
priests from the
diocese are
expected to attend
the three-day event.”
will discuss Diocesan Priestly
Fraternity. Ordained in 1966, he
has served as a pastor and a faculty member of the St. Meinrad
School of Theology and director of the Institute for Priests
and Presbyterates. His work has
explored ways to keep priests
holy, happy and effective in ministry throughout the many stages
of their lives.
Msgr. Royal says that while
daily Masses will not be scheduled in the diocese from October
11-13, deacons have been
assigned to coordinate the scheduling of religious order priests to
celebrate funerals that may arise,
as well as emergency coverage
for the Anointing of Sick and
Viaticum. Deacons throughout
the diocese will also celebrate
Eucharistic Prayer Services and
be on call.
The convocations committee include Bishop Lori; Msgr.
Kevin Royal; Msgr. Larry
Carroll, pastor of St. Pius Parish,
Fairfield; Fr. Joseph Cervero,
parochial vicar of St. Edward the
Confessor Parish, New Fairfield;
Msgr. Louis DeProfio; Deacon
Anthony Detje, director of deacons and assistant director of
Clergy Personnel; Msgr. Alan
Detscher, pastor of St. Catherine
of Siena Parish, Riverside; Msgr.
Ernest Esposito, director of
Family Life; Fr. Paul Hrebenko,
parochial vicar of St. Marguerite
Bourgeoys, Brookfield;
Fr. Michael Jones, pastor of
St. Lawrence Parish in Shelton;
Rev. Robert Kinnally, director
of vocations; and Sister Nancy
Strillacci, ASCJ, program
n
director for Clergy.
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9
September 2010
Feature
Expansion
set at St. Pius X
FAIRFIELD – St.
Pius X Parish is moving
ahead with plans to build
its new “Faith Center”
attached to the existing
church structure at the
foot of Greenfield Hill.
The parish recently won
unanimous approval from the
Town Planning & Zoning (TPZ)
Commission for the 14,000 square
foot expansion with construction
scheduled to begin this fall.
The new wing, which will
form an L-shaped addition on the
back of the present church, will
house a chapel, office space and a
multi-purpose area for social and
educational events. The overall
project, including a new slate roof
and energy-saving renovations to
the church and a revamped landscape design for the parking area,
will transform parish grounds into
a unified campus environment.
Changes to the parking area
and the planting of new grasses
and shrubs will create a “green
space” out of what is presently a
large asphalt parking lot that covers one side of the grounds.
Fairfield zoning board members gave the project rave reviews
for its “intelligent and beautiful design” by Doyle/Coffin
Architecture of Ridgefield.
Msgr. Lawrence Carroll, pastor of St. Pius, said the new wing
was required because the parish
“had outgrown its existing facilities.” He was delighted that the
TPZ quickly approved the plans.
“The growth of the parish and
plans for the new Faith Center
come out of prayer. This entire
project is the result of prayer and
discernment about where the
Lord is leading us,” he says.
Msgr. Carroll says that in
addition to a new roof, changes
to the existing church, which
seats 612 people, include new
windows and doors, and a heating and cooling system.
Work inside the church will
also include a connection to the
new wing, a reconfiguration of
confessional space, and a new
baptismal area.
Inside the new wing, the cha-
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Wednesday September 29 - 7.30 PM
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Wednesday October 15 - 7 PM, Fairfield University
+ Fifth Annual Communion Breakfast for Business Leaders
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MSGR. LAWRENCE CARROLL, pastor of St. Pius, says that the new wing was required because the parish “had
outgrown its existing facilities.” He was delighted that the TPZ quickly approved the plans. “The growth of the parish
and plans for the new Faith Center come out of prayer and discernment,” he says.
pel will be used for daily Mass
and weekday services, as well as
prayer groups. The new Faith
Center will also provide office
space for the 16 staff members
who coordinate the parish’s
music, finance, religious education, outreach programs and
other ministries.
Denis Sullivan is serving
as chairman of the Building
Committee. He says the projected
is being funded by the parish’s
$5.5 million capital campaign,
launched in 2007 as part of the
long range vision for St. Pius X.
Founded in 1955, the St. Pius
has grown from a quiet “country”
parish at the base of Greenfield
Hill to a suburban parish with
2,000 families and a growing
number of ministries.
The 13-acre parcel of land on
Brookside Drive was purchased
in 1955 from the late Walter
O’Malley, who was then the
owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The white frame farmhouse, now
the rectory, was used as a residence in the summers.
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10
September 2010
News
New Sister makes first profession of vows
WILTON – During a
Eucharistic celebration attended
by more than 200 friends, family
members and School Sisters of
Notre Dame, Limétèze PierreGilles made her first profession
of religious vows on August 8, at
the SSND chapel at Villa Notre
Dame.
“I ask you, Sister Kathleen
Cornell, provincial leader of the
Atlantic-Midwest Province, to
accept my vows in the name of
the entire congregation and in the
name of the Church,” she said at
the altar after stating her promise to live consecrated celibacy,
Gospel poverty and apostolic
obedience in community.
A native of Haiti, the 35-yearold Sister has spent the past three
years deepening her commitment
to God in study and service.
Since first meeting
the School Sisters
of Notre Dame in
2004, she has lived or
shared with Sisters in
Florida, New York,
Massachusetts and
Missouri, leading up
to the August ceremony when she agreed
to enter into the heart
of SSND life. As a
professed Sister, she
will daily practice the
integration of prayer,
community and min- SISTER LIMETEZE signs her vow paper, after professing her vows to Provincial
Leader Sister Kathleen Cornell. Observing are (l) Sister Patricia Hammond,
istry.
postulant director, and (r) Sister Justine Nutz, witness.
Sister Limétèze
(Photos by Sister Betty Koehn, SSND)
moved to Florida
from St. Marc, Haiti,
in 2003, at age 28, one of the last who had taught kindergarten and me to join with her
to follow my dream,”
three in a family of 11 children
studied pre-law for three years
Sister Limétèze said
to emigrate. The young woman,
in Haiti, spoke only French and
recently of the paintCreole. In Florida, she enrolled
ing, noting that she
in classes in English as a Second
had felt drawn to carLanguage, got a job at Wal-Mart
and ultimately enrolled in college ing for children, espefull time. She earned an associate cially the poor, from
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Theresa,
with
HCA kids all over the world!
A year later she was received
two young girls” hanging in the
into the Novitiate of the School
director’s office.
Visit
Sisters of Notre Dame in St.
“It was as if she were inviting
One Family In Mission
WWW.HCAKIDS.ORG
and follow me, Polly Parrot, the
HCA Mascot.
(Attention teachers and parents:
Visit the HCA web page for adults and educators
for free downloadable mission education materials.)
For more than 160 years, children in this country have made a
real difference in the lives of children in the Missions by
showing them the love of Jesus through their prayers, sacrifices
and financial help.
HCA
HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION
…a Pontifical Mission Society
Fr. Saviano, Director
Diocesan Office for the Propagation of Faith
238 Jewett Avenue
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06606
WWW.ONEFAMILYINMISSION.ORG
Louis, MO, where she has lived
the past two years with other
novices. Five months of her
novitiate were spent in Malden,
MA, while she volunteered at My
Brother’s Keeper, delivering furniture and food to the needy and
at Immaculate Conception Parish
as an adult leader with the high
school youth ministry and faith
formation. The two-year novitiate
culminated in her expressing
her first vows.
The next six
years will be a
journey toward
perpetual profession, or the
expression of
her final vows.
“I came
in contact
with religious
women as a
child, I was too
young to know
I wanted to
be a religious.
However, I
knew I wanted one day to do
what they were doing: taking care
of the children – the poor children,” Sister Limétèze has written
of her journey. “For a long time
I have wanted to be an immigration lawyer, and would still like
to study for that. However, I’ve
also learned to be open to the
‘invitation’ – God’s invitation to
join in the dance whenever, wherever it is necessary.”
n
THE TRUTH OF THE
EUCHARIST REVEALED...
See & Hear the Story Unfold!
A Powerful Fact-Based-Case for Belief
in the REAL PRESENCE in the Eucharist!
(Recorded Live at Transfiguration Catholic Church,
W. Milton, OH, September 2009)
*DVD includes exclusive interview
with Investigative Team!
To order the “Science Tests Faith” DVD at the Introductory
Price of $10 Including Shipping & Handling.
Send payment & order to: Love and Mercy Publications,
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www.loveandmercy.org
11
September 2010
News
Center teaches valuable
parenting skills By SUSAN SILVERS
For some parents, the problem of child abuse is rooted in
their own abuse of drugs and
alcohol. Others unravel under
financial pressures. Some come
from cultures where slapping
children is too widely tolerated.
And still others fall under suspicion because they can’t document
unrelated sources of the injuries
or health problems suffered by
their children.
There are many routes that
can lead parents to being tagged
by authorities for child abuser,
but a new program is making it
easier for them, and their children, to overcome.
The St. Joseph Parenting
Center, housed in St. Mary’s
Parish in Stamford, is making it
possible for parents from different
backgrounds to develop skills that
will help them – and their children – to rebuild their lives.
For two hours each week, the
parents – most, but not all, of
whom are required to attend by
the state Department of Children
and Families – hear experts on
• Newspapers
topics such as anger control,
financial management, effective
discipline and the importance of
play. The sessions are opening
their eyes.
“It’s very important – it’s helping me out,” says John Paraguay,
a 29-year-old hotel worker who
added that DCF required him to
come after a domestic dispute. He
says he appreciated the guidance
not only in overcoming his anger
but also in developing such skills
as active parenting as well.
“I don’t feel like it’s a class,”
says a 27-year-old Greenwich
mother who asked not to be identified. She says she lost custody
of her toddler son after he was
injured in a home accident. “If I
knew of this program I would like
to have been part of it, even if I
didn’t have any legal issues.”
But such resources have been
tough to find. “People who need
help don’t get it,” says a 34-yearold Stamford father who says his
substance abuse led to problems
with his wife and an arrest for
child endangerment.
Enter Measi O’Rourke. Last
year, O’Rourke raised seed
money for the Fairfield County
project from corporations and private donors, established the center as a 501(c) 3 non-profit, and
arranged for space at St. Mary’s
Parish on Elm Street. With the
help of a part-time administrative
staff of three people and about 75
volunteers to teach including educators, health professionals, and
business experts, they were off
and running this past February.
O’Rourke says many of the
45 parents attending classes have
come from the ranks of the economically distressed. Such circumstances can make it difficult
to properly deal with youngsters.
“Very often in life, when you’re
stressed, you have a tendency to
take it out on children.”
In some cases, she says, parents have lost custody of their
children because they were living
in shelters, unable to provide the
required regular home.
O’Rourke adds that in today’s
transient society many people
don’t have the role models or
emotional support systems they
would have had in other eras, creating a new need to help rebuild
ST. JOSEPH PARENTING Center instructor Sylvia Walsh explains to parents
how important it is to read with their children.
(Photo by Amy Mortensen)
the families that are so crucial to
a healthy society.
Still, while money – or at least
nearby friends and family – can
help parents deal with many
issues, in these classes they learn
there’s a lot that money can’t
do. For example, in one recent
class, Sylvia Walsh, an educator from White Plains, NY, who
happens to be O’Rourke’s sister,
was showing clients how to fashion their own play-dough from
household staples and that even
a basket with recyclables such
as plastic bag ties and cardboard
rollers from paper towels can
keep youngsters amused better
than any fancy toy.
“It’s all about interacting with
your children,” she says.
Instructors have donated time
outside of the classroom, too.
Deluged with legal bills in her
fight to regain the son whom
she says wasn’t abused but had
suffered a health problem, one
Norwalk mother says she was
blown away by the offer of Dave
Ceponis, a financial consultant
teaching money management, to
work with her and her husband in
finding ways to save.
(The center’s classes are free to
residents of Fairfield County. For
more information on attending or
helping the St. Joseph Parenting
Center call 203.588.1934.)
n
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12
EDITORIAL
Thanks
Many facets of Catholic education, from anniversaries to mergers
to academic success, are explored in this Back to School issue. We’re
proud of our schools, our dedicated teachers and the close family
atmosphere that Catholic schools encourage.
At the same time, we know that most Catholic children attend public schools. It’s time to give those schools and those teachers a word of
praise. Public school teachers, no less than their Catholic counterparts,
see themselves as part of a team. They know their students and they
care about them.
Teachers are the guardians of our society. They teach the littlest
children to follow directions: to put on their own jackets for recess,
to line up and WALK to the cafeteria, to open a book to a given
page at an adult’s command. Any adult who’s been admonished as
a youngster for throwing spitballs or other rambunctious infractions
of the peace knows that a teacher’s watchful eye sees these acts – and
corrects them instantly. As adults, we laugh at the infraction – and the
correction. Collectively, we should be grateful. A society full of unruly,
ungovernable adults would be a nightmare.
So “Thank You,” to all our teachers. Our civilization’s future is in
your hands.
Women & Leadership
Some weeks ago the Vatican issued new norms addressing very
serious matters that are handled by the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith. The same set of norms dealt not only with sexual abuse
but many other issues, including women’s ordination.
The norms are omnibus documents that define a wide range of
moral and sacramental violations. The inclusion of child sexual abuse
and women’s ordination in the same document created an awkward
public relations moment but it should not be understood as a retreat
from an existing zero tolerance policy toward child abuse, nor should
it be seen as a dismissal of the leadership role women increasingly play
in the Catholic Church.
With regard to the Church’s esteem for women, perhaps it will be
instructive and reassuring to read the recent statement of Washington,
D.C. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, Chairman of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine:
Today women serve in Church leadership positions at all levels. Women hold
nearly half of diocesan administrative and professional positions – a fact that
compares favorably to the U.S. workforce as a whole. Women also hold about
one-quarter of the top diocesan positions such as chancellor, school superintendent or chief financial office. About 80 percent of lay parish ministers are
women. The Church’s gratitude to women cannot be stated strong enough.
Women offer unique insight, creative abilities and unstinting generosity at the
very heart of the Catholic Church. Their activity and determinative participation explains much of what makes the Catholic Church the powerful force for
goodness and holiness that it is.
First Responders
On September 12, Bishop Lori will say the special Annual Blue
Mass for First Responders – the police, fireman and emergency workers who routinely walk into burning buildings and dangerous situations to save our lives. In an age of self-promotion and aggrandizement, their selflessness shames us. How willing they are to put their
lives on the line, while we often hold on to our own! Surely the courage of the 9/11 responders will stay with us all our days. If ever we’ve
come close to modern day martyrdom, the sacrifice of so many on that
fated September 11 stuns us into a new reality.
Let us honor their service as the Season makes its turn away from
so many of those we’ve lost and left behind. Let us also remember
that our priests serve as fire and police chaplains throughout Fairfield
County and that all priests are themselves first responders, whether it
be administering last rites, hearing confession, bringing the Eucharist or
reaching out in crisis. They often see us at our worst and most broken
but they keep responding when we call. And like all those we celebrate
this month, they are a special grace in our lives.
LETTERS
TO
THE
September 2010
EDITOR
Mary and saints lead to Jesus
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank Fr.
DeLuca for his ministry at
Greenwich Hospital. It is an
invaluable service. When my
friend was sick in the hospital,
she would be transformed whenever a priest entered the room.
After Holy Communion, what
peace and joy! The sacraments
are the greatest gift for those suffering from pain or illness, or
those preparing to die.
I also wanted to share a
few quotes about asking help
from our Blessed Mother and
the saints that may help Father
have peace about those devotions
in the souls he serves. St. Louis
De Montfort says, “He who shall
find Mary shall find life, that is,
Jesus Christ, who is the Way,
the Truth, and the Life.” Where
Mary is, there is Jesus, so we
must have great confidence that
the soul that loves Mary will be a
true disciple of Jesus.
As to our brothers and sisters
in heaven, from St. Therese, the
Little Flower: “I believe that the
Blessed in Heaven have great
compassion for our miseries.
They remember that when they
were weak and mortal like us,
they committed the same faults
themselves and went through the
same struggles, and their fraternal
tenderness becomes still greater
than it ever was on earth. It’s on
account of this that they never
stop watching over us and praying for us.”
And what is their prayer? It is
that we will love and serve Jesus
faithfully on earth, and that one
day we too may be united with
them in the joy of the Most
Blessed Trinity in heaven.
Kathy Jennings
New Canaan
Willing to show an ID
Dear Editor,
This is in response to the article by Antoinette Bosco in the recent Fairfield County Catholic paper. You
neglected to mention one very important fact: your parents – and mine – came here legally!
I challenge you and Cardinal McMahon to spend a couple of days on the Arizona border and witness
what some of the residents are enduring. I see nothing wrong in a policeman stopping anyone who is breaking the law and asking to see their ID. I go to Target to make an exchange and am required to show my
license! I don’t mind, not one bit.
Ms. Bosco, do you know what unfair is? Unfair is sending four American children – after their parents
are brutally murdered – to a country they know nothing of – because Immigration and President Obama
refused a visa to their aunt who was willing to come to the United States and help care for these children
and raise them in their own country. Now that’s a tragedy!
I am proud to be an American, and I will willingly show ID whenever it is necessary.
Rose Cerreta
Bridgeport
Violating the law
Dear Editor,
I’ve noticed a number of articles and editorials regarding illegal immigration into our country.
There is often a reference to parents and grandparents who emigrated here from other countries
hoping to provide a better life for
themselves and their families.
Though I can understand
the compassion and empathy
behind the concern for these
immigrants, the comparison
is like apples and oranges. My
grandparents, too, came from
Europe (Sicily and Naples, Italy)
in the late 1800’s looking for a
better life, but they had to abide
by, and pass, the rigors of the
immigration laws; they came
here legally. Family members
were sometimes separated for
years, some – for various reasons
– were even sent back to their
homeland upon arrival.
I don’t blame the illegals for
taking the opportunity to come
here for a better life, as our gov-
ernment gives a wink and a nod
as they cross the border, even to
this day. But to compare legal
immigration with illegal immigration is a slap in the face to those
who paid the price to come the
right way.
Remember the law to control
immigration is a federal law.
Our government is not doing
its job of enforcing it. Arizona,
out of necessity, is being forced
to do what the Federal government refuses to do. I think that
our government allowed, in fact,
encouraged, illegal immigration
so as to exploit the hard working cheap labor. I understand
that, in one year, the government
obtained $7 billion in unclaimed
dollars derived from false Social
Security accounts used by illegal
immigrants to get work.
We hear that many jobs taken
by illegals are jobs Americans
refuse to take. Many illegals are
employed by McDonald’s; if
they were to leave the country,
McDonald’s would not go out
of business for lack of employees. They would have to hire
Americans but at higher, more
acceptable wages. It’s not that
Americans don’t want the jobs;
it’s just that they will not be
exploited with below standard
wages.
For those Christians who are
morally and compassionately
prompted to assist those who are
here illegally, depending on the
nature of their support, they must
realize that they themselves are at
risk of violating the law.
This country could not possibly sustain itself if every person
in the world could freely enter in
without any form of restrictions.
There must be some discretion
used in determining who and
how many people should be
entering into our country; there
need to be laws.
Nick Fortunato
Cos Cob
13
September 2010
Op-ed
National Grandparents Day Celebrates Family
A Woman’s View
By Antoinette Bosco
Antoinette Bosco is a member
of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
Parish in Brookfield.
S
unday, September 12
is the 31st anniversary
of a still little remembered event – that the
first Sunday after Labor Day
each year would be designated
National Grandparents Day. This
annual celebration was signed
into law back in 1979, thanks to
President Jimmy Carter who proclaimed:
“As we seek to strengthen the
enduring value of the family, it
is appropriate that we honor our
grandparents.”
In all honesty, I must admit
that I personally like the fact that
on one special day each year
grandparents should be given a
special remembrance. That’s not
just because I like to be “center
stage” occasionally, but because
this kind of a day brings multiple
blessings. You can’t think about
being a grandparent without
feeling great love for the grandchildren who have made this title
possible.
And, oh yes, I have quite a
few of these terrific people in my
life – 15 grandchildren, and 18
great-grandchildren – thanks be
to God!
I became interested in trying
to promote Grandparents Day
back in the early 1980s when I
was already a grandmother of
eight and for the first time heard
of President Carter’s annual proclamation. I was then the executive editor of The Litchfield County
Times in New Milford, and
being happy to hear about this
really “unknown” special day for
grandparents, got in touch with
the person who had come up
with the concept. He was Mike
Goldgar, an advertising and real
estate man from Atlanta, GA,
who wanted to bring attention
to grandparents because he felt
families were losing something
important.
Today’s grandparents surely
don’t look like the ones I had.
My grandmother was short,
heavy, and wore a bun. My
grandfather had silver-white sideburns, a moustache and smoked
a pipe. But every day I meet
grandmothers who are size 10,
peppy, wear smart hair styles,
have many personal interests yet
value good personal time with
CLERGYAPPOINTMENTS
The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D.,
Bishop of Bridgeport,
has made the following clergy appointment
in the Diocese of Bridgeport:
Parochial Vicar
REV. PIUS MWAGO, sabbatical from Diocese of Nyahururu, Kenya,
to parochial vicar of Saint Patrick Parish, Bridgeport. Effective date was
August 16.
Studies
REV. JEAN RIDLY JULIEN, parochial vicar of Saint Patrick Parish,
to Clinical Pastoral Education at Bridgeport Hospital. Father Ridly will
reside at Saint Patrick Parish. Effective date was September 1.
Rev. Msgr. Kevin Royal, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy
September, 2010
their grandchildren.
I’ve been continually learning
what a joy it is to see grandchildren, our legacy to this world,
and I’ve become convinced that
grandparents and grandchildren
who have a close relationship are
among the blessed people of this
world.
I say this with an underlying
feeling of some sadness, for I
have known of grandparents who
choose not to have a meaningful
relationship with their grandchildren, for many reasons, some
quite valid. One reality is that
many become grandparents in
what is a young age today, and
are going to remain grandparents
for as long as 30 to 50 years.
During much of this time they
are very likely to find their attention having to remain on jobs and
income earning, to then facing
the need to shift from their grandparenting role to that of being a
middle-ager looking after senile
parents. This can cause personal
ally found grandparenting to be a
refresher course in the rediscovery of wonder, as I thanked our
Creator for giving us this gift of
being co-creators with Him.
Neither must we forget what
we can learn from grandchildren,
and what they tell us can be
sometimes profound. I’ll never
forget when my granddaughter,
Sophia, at age six, asked her
mother, my daughter Mary, an
interesting question. She
wanted to know if she
had been at her mother
“Parenting is clearly the
and father’s wedding. My
daughter smiled and said,
first stage in co-creation.
“No, Sophia. You weren’t
born yet.” Sophia was
Grandparenting puts us
quiet for a moment and
then firmly corrected her
in touch with the future.”
mother.
co-creating keeps on going.
“Yes, I was,” she said. “I
Grandparenting shows us that
just hadn’t shown up yet.”
our existence makes a difference
Indeed, grandparenting can be
way beyond us into the future,
an astounding education! Happy
putting us truly in touch with
Grandparents Day to all blessed
infinity. And so, I also personenough to share this title!!
n
conflicts, especially in persons
who want to have a significant
relationship with their grandchildren but have little time or energy
left for them.
But regardless of how busy
or complicated our lives can be,
grandparenting is a very special
education. Parenting is clearly
the first stage in co-creation,
but grandparenting opens our
eyes to the mystery of how this
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Fairfield County Catholic
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14
September 2010
Schools
Innovative Science Park will enrich All Saints
By PAT HENNESSY
Students at All Saints
Catholic School in
Norwalk know that by
springtime they’ll be
engaged in a five-day
build for an innovative
Science and Energy Park
on the school grounds.
They’ve already been active
in planning the project; this past
spring they had the chance to
contribute ideas for elements of
the hands-on, interactive outdoor
activity area. Its design encourages students to experience and
experiment with science and
energy concepts on a daily basis.
“This is the first of its type,”
says Allison Reilly, who cospearheaded the project with
Amanda Gebicki. She points
out that while science parks and
alternative energy sites can be
found at several locations in New
England, this is a first: combining
both science and energy elements
in a playground setting, and
integrating them into the science
curriculum.
With the blessing of Bishop
William E. Lori and Dr.
Margaret Dames, Reilly and
Gebicki began researching their
innovative project. “We lived
ON DESIGN DAY at All Saints School, Dennis Wille, a designer from Leathers Associates,
met with students to obtain their input for the Science and Energy Park. The design combines
students’ imagination – including a tower element similar to that drawn by now fifth-grader
Andrew Giannico – with the science curriculum for the diocese.
online,” says Reilly.
Research led them far
beyond online offerings. Most
fruitful was their connection
to Norwalk’s Stepping Stones
Museum, one of America’s
top children’s museums. They
traveled to Glouchester, MA,
to visit a school science park,
the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) and Columbia
University Graduate School
of Architecture in New York.
Based on that research, they contacted Leathers and Associates
in Ithaca, NY, an architectural
firm that specializes in unique
playgrounds built by the school
community.
“There are many elements of
the curriculum engineered into
the designed for the park,” says
Principal Nancy DiBono, adding
that science teacher Dave Finch
worked closely with the architects
on the project. Teachers will have
special sessions to evaluate how
to connect the park to their lesson
plans. “This will be a park that
the children can not only play on,
but also learn from.”
To get an idea of how the science and energy park will work,
imagine a group of youngsters
putting a science lesson to the
test. Instead of sitting in front of
a computer, the students head
outside. There, a seesaw with a
moveable fulcrum lever can show
kindergartners how to balance
objects of different weights.
Their sisters and brothers in
the middle
grades
may push
a studentpowered ride
on a swingswirley to
determine
how much
energy it
takes to pop
popcorn. Even if they build up
enough enthusiasm to pop only
two kernels, they can take that
information and compare it to
the energy consumption of the
school, which is also displayed in
the park. The eye-opening comparison may lead to essays and
exploration of the carbon footprint of their own homes.
Energy absorbing ropes and
balls, bridges, a weather station,
and piezoelectric tiles that gather
and store energy challenge science students in the upper grades.
“Eighth-graders can enjoy it
as much as the younger ones,”
says Assistant Principal Sr. Sally
Norcross.
The Science & Energy Park
has established a partnership with
Stepping Stones Museum, and
will be a resource
for the local community and for other
diocesan elementary
schools.
“The Science
and Energy Park
will create a context
for learning and
play that is accessible, relevant, and
highly impactful,”
says Kevin Carter,
chief operating
officer of Stepping
Stones.”It can serve
as a model and
prototype replicable
in many other
communities nationwide.”
More importantly, Reilly
speaks for the students at All
Saints when she says, “If I could
be a kid again, I’d like to come
here.”
(The Science and Energy Park
is competing for a $50,000 grant
from the Pepsi Project. See page 26
for details.) n
15
September 2010
Schools
New diocesan principals appointed
By PAT HENNESSY
Dr. Margaret Dames,
superintendent of the
Office for Education
of the Diocese of
Bridgeport, has
announced the appointment of a new principal
and president for Notre
Dame High School, and
five new principals for
diocesan elementary
schools.
James Gieryng will become
the new principal at St. James
School in Stratford; Victoria
Rossi at St. Joseph School in
Shelton;
Katherin
at St.
fccad:Layout
1 Sniffin
9/2/10
2:21
Jude School in Monroe; Anna
O’Rourke at St. Mary School
in Ridgefield; and Sr. Nadine
Alexander, ASCJ, at St. Raphael
School in Bridgeport.
“It is a privilege to welcome
these six principals to their new
leadership positions,” says Dr.
Dames. “They are exceptional
individuals who are committed to Catholic education and
visionary leaders whose goal is
to have their students live their
faith while excelling in academics. It is also a tribute to our
Catholic Schools in the Diocese
of Bridgeport that all six principals were teachers in the diocesan
schools before they were named
principal.”
Notre Dame Catholic High
School, Fairfield
Notre Dame’s former principal, Fr. William Sangiovanni,
has become the high school’s
new president. Former Assistant
Principal Christopher Cipriano
will become the new principal.
Fr. Sangiovanni
was born and
PM Page
1
raised in Brooklyn, NY. He holds
his bachelor’s degree in history,
and his master’s in education and
art, from Fairfield University. He
completed his theological stud-
Congratulations
to the Class of 2010!
who were admitted to the country’s
top colleges and universities
including:
Boston College
Howard
Brown
Johns Hopkins
Catholic University Notre Dame
Cornell
North Carolina
Duke
United States
Fairfield
Air Force Academy
Georgetown
Vassar
George
Virginia
Washington
Holy Cross
Villanova
Yale
Come see us for yourself!
• Open House •
Thursday, October 14, 2010 • 7:00 PM
Patrick Church by Bishop Walter
W. Curtis in 1977.
➤ continued on page
16
Our Lady of Fatima
Lifetime Value – Lifelong Values
Choosing a school is an investment in your child’s future. The education they
receive at OLF and the values they learn will influence them their entire life.
From pre-school to Grade 8 an OLF education is a lasting gift that prepares
your child for success in life. Become a member our “Blue Ribbon School
of Excellence” community.
Our Lady of Fatima School
…an education that you can have faith in
225 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897
203-762-8100 • www.olfcatholic.org
Trinity Catholic
High School
There is Something About
Trinity Catholic H. S. That Brings
Out the Best in Young People.
ies at the Seminary of Our Lady
of Angels at Niagara University,
NY, and was ordained in St.
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
FALL
EVENTS
AT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF
RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
PARISH STAFF ENRICHMENT DAY
Friday, 15 October, 2010 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Fordham University | Rose Hill campus | New York City
Presenter:
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM will offer a reflection on his new book,
The Naked Now.
This will be an opportunity to reflect on creating a contemplative
culture and a sabbath rhythm for parish staffs and faith communities.
CO-WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD CONFERENCE
Friday, 17 September, 2010 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Fordham University | Lincoln Center Campus | New York City
Both events: $25 per person and $20 per person in groups of seven.
Fordham University’s Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GSRRE) is committed to cultivating academic competence, scholarly research and ministerial skills in religious education, pastoral counseling and pastoral studies.
For information and to register, please visit www.fordham.edu/gre or call 718-817-4800.
926 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905 • 203-322-3401 • www.trinitycatholic.org
GSRRE ad2_FairfieldCtyCath_8-14.indd 1
7/8/10 4:39:39 PM
16
September 2010
Schools
Principal from page 15
➤
His first assignment was at St.
Patrick’s, where he founded and
led an active parish youth group.
He joined the faculty of Notre
Dame in 1980, and has been a
spiritual director and religion
and social studies teacher. The
longest-serving principal of Notre
Dame, he has held that position
since 1994. While serving as president, he will continue to teach
the AP American Government
course at Notre Dame.
“I am honored and humbled
by the trust Bishop Lori has
placed in me, and I look forward
to the challenges this new position will bring,” Fr. Sangiovanni
says.
Christopher Cipriano was an
assistant principal at Notre Dame
before accepting his current position. He grew up in Watertown,
where he still lives. He and his
wife Joanna – who teaches at
Notre Dame – and their young
son are members of Our Lady of
Loretto Parish in Waterbury.
A graduate of Fairfield
University (where he and Joanna
met), he holds his master’s
degree in teaching and his Sixth
Cipriano joined the faculty
of Notre Dame after graduation
as an American History teacher,
a subject he continued to teach
when he assumed the position
of assistant principal in 2006. At
Notre Dame he has been yearbook advisor, coordinated the
school’s Appalachia service trip
each year, was director of the
athletic department and director
of admissions. He participated in
Fr. William Sangiovanni
Christopher Cipriano
Year Certificate in Educational
Leadership from Sacred Heart
University in Fairfield. He was
honored with an Outstanding
Research in Education Award
from Sacred Heart in 2007.
Open House
SHU UC FCC Display 9-11-2010
The Cardinal Shehan Center invites
you to participate in its 8th Annual
Thursday, September 02, 2010 10:37:26 AM
Sunday, October 3, 2010
2–4 p.m.
entrance exams
Saturday, Oct. 16, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6, 8:30 a.m.
the curriculum mapping process
for the diocese.
“I’ve been fortunate that my
whole professional life started
here,” he says. “I look forward
to working with Fr. Bill and the
Fairfield Prep
A Jesuit, Catholic School of Excellence
1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
203.254.4210 • [email protected]
Diane L. Nappier Shehan
Women’s Golf Classic
Monday, September 20, 2010
Race Brook Country Club
$1,200 for a foursome
$300 per player
Includes: Golf and cart, driving range privileges,
breakfast, lunch, and buffet dinner, refreshments,
gift bag and a chance to win great prizes!
To sign up, contact Lorraine Gibbons at:
203.336.4468
Apply Online! www.fairfieldprep.org > Admissions > Create_Account
[email protected]
17
September 2010
Schools
Sacred Heart Academy
S T r o n g Va L u E S . S T r o n g a C a d E M i C S . S T r o n g L E a d E r S H i p
entire faculty and staff as we
continue to move Notre Dame
forward.”
St. James, Stratford
James Gieryng will become
the new principal at St. James
School in Stratford. The former
OH, and grew up near that city.
Serving in the U.S. Navy from
1981-92, he was operations specialist for the USS Hewitt DD966
in San Diego, CA, serving as a
combat air controller and training officer in the Operations
Intelligence Division. He later
become Company Commander at
the Great Lakes Recruit Training
Center, where he was awarded
the Top Commander honor three
times.
Following his Navy career
Gerying obtained his bachelor’s
degree in elementary education
from the University of Illinois at
Chicago and his master of science
in mathematics education from
Walden University, both with
honors. He came to St. James
after teaching at Catholic and
public elementary and middle
schools in Illinois.
He and his wife, Marty, are
James Gieryng
members of St. James Parish and
the parents of two grown sons.
At St. James, Gieryng has
junior high math teacher at St.
coached the girls’ softball team
James has taught math, religion
to eight consecutive championand language arts at the school
ships, developed and coached an
since he came there in 1998.
LH_AdmissionsAd2010_3.91x4:Layout
1 6/24/10
8:28
AMand
Page
award-winning
Chess
Club
Gieryng was born in Toledo,
worked with the Student Council
on fundraisers for people in need
around the globe. His math teaching methods have resulted in over
40% of graduates being placed in
high school honor math classes,
with more than 10% placed in
sophomore math classes.
Gieryng has taken on his new
position with enthusiasm. “I hope
to move St. James into a global
community of 21st Century learners with God at their side,” he
says.
St. Joseph, Shelton
Victoria Rossi is the new
principal of St. Joseph School
in Shelton. She comes to St.
Joseph from St. Andrew School
➤ continued on page
opEn HouSE
Sunday, October 17th
1 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, November 6th
8 a.m. to noon
Founded in 1946, Sacred Heart Academy is an independent, Catholic
preparatory day school for qualified young women in grades nine through twelve.
21
SHA_ad.indd 1
1
EnTranCE ExaM
Elaine Lamboley, Director of Admissions
265 Benham Street, Hamden, CT
203.288.2309 www.sacredhearthamden.org
8/31/10
as we choose...so we become
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Open House:
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emphasizing 21st century skills,
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at 1pm
Entrance Exams:
college credit and distance
October 30
November 6
learning courses – all within a
faith-based community that will
Open House
draw the very best from you and
Entrance Exam
your many new friends.
Oct. 3 | 1 - 3 pm
Oct. 16 or 23 | 8 - 11:30 am
Pre-register online at www.lauraltonhall.org — $60 test fee
Faith first Knowledge foremost Achievement always Friends forever
Scholarships and financial aid available
MILFORD, CONNECTICUT
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M P O W E R I N G
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Trumbull, Connecticut 203.378.9378 www.SJCadets.org
visit us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/SJCadets
9:07:55 AM
18
September 2010
Schools
Danbury school provides “no gap” education
By PAT HENNESSY
A seamless educational experience, stretching
from eight weeks old
through eighth grade.
That’s a first for the diocese
happening this school year at
St. Peter-Sacred Heart School
in Danbury. “Our expanded
education offers Catholic education with no gap,” says Principal
Mary McCormack.
Proudly boasting “Serving
Danbury Children for
Generations” and “Values,
Respect, Excellence,” as its banners proclaim, the school celebrates two significant anniversaries this year. Honoring the strong
heritage of Catholic education in
Danbury, Sacred Heart campus
looks to the 85th anniversary of
its founding; the St. Peter’s campus proclaims its 125th. The two
schools merged in 2007.
The school reorganized this
semester to accommodate the
youngest children in the Early
Learning Center at the Sacred
Heart Campus. Under the direction of Daycare Director Debbie
D’Ostillo, “Little Lambs” day
care program welcomes children
from eight weeks through two
years old.
Two separate programs,
a State-funded “Readiness
Program” for working parents
and a “Faith Formation” program, both for youngsters in
Pre-K three and Pre-K four
classes provide a solid foundation for years to come. Working
parents can also get state tuition
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION and Gospel values combine at St. PeterSacred Heart School. The St. Peter Campus provides space for science and
computer labs and a dedicated Spanish room for the K-8 language program.
Science fairs like this one are held on the Sacred Heart campus.
KOLBE CATHEDRAL
HIGH SCHOOL
Home of the Champions
CHAMPIONS
IN THE CLASSROOM
What life-changing
discoveries await
you at Sacred Heart?
An innovative approach to teaching gives our
students an edge in academics. Our small size
provides a nurturing, learning environment.
100% of recent graduates are attending college.
CHAMPIONS IN ATHLETICS
A history of success on the court and on the
field has come to the forefront with the Cougars
Championships in basketball and soccer.
Katie, Class of ’12, Aspiring Research Scientist
OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, November 6
CHAMPIONS FOR JUSTICE
Whether volunteering in their community or trekking across
the globe to build a school in Mali, KC students know the
importance of helping those in need.
Preschool – Grade 4 .........................12:00 p.m.
Grade 5 – Grade 12 ............................ 2:00 p.m.
CHAMPIONS FOR THEIR FAITH
Sacred Heart’s three-year Science Research Program enables students to conduct original,
high-level research as part of their academic experience. Students present scientific findings
in classroom forums as well as at state and regional symposia and national competitions.
“My research focuses on combating malignant gliomas, a deadly form of brain cancer,” says
Katie. “I’m not just learning about science. I’m doing it.”
In our chapel, our Cathedral, and in our classroom,
prayer guides our students through their days and
through their lives.
Come ... Be a Champion!
Greenwich, CT
203-532-3534
www.cshgreenwich.org
An independent, Catholic school for girls
from preschool through grade 12
OPEN HOUSE ENTRANCE EXAM
October 19, 2010 October 23, 2010
7:00 P.M.
8:00 A.M.
Call to Register: 203-335-2554
Visit our website: www.kolbecaths.org
19
September 2010
Schools
assistance for the Little Lambs
program.
“Parents are really struggling to find quality infant care,”
says D’Ostillo. “We are one of
Educating Nurses. Mentoring Leaders.
lunch bag or ask them to show
me a drawing,” says Fr. Dennis
Mason, O.F.M. Conv., pastor
of Sacred Heart Parish. Both he
and Fr. Greg Mecca, pastor of St.
LOOK WHO JUST WOKE UP,” Principal Mary McCormack greets one of
the “Little Lambs” in St. Peter/Sacred Heart School daycare program on the
Sacred Heart campus. The school offers a seamless Catholic education experience from eight weeks through eighth grade.
the only infant care programs
around. She notes that the Little
Lambs program has full enrollment and a waiting list. “Spaces
in the Pre-K are filling up as we
speak. When you have wonderful
teachers and a wonderful school,
people come.”
Older students benefit from the
larger building on the St. Peter
Campus, with space for a science
lab, art room, and a choice of
working in the computer room or
on laptops in their classrooms. A
dedicated Spanish room accommodates classes in the school’s
K-8 language program.
“We’ll be holding a contest
during the year to give the new
skeleton in the science lab a
name,” McCormack jokes.
Advanced math students who
go into Immaculate High School
can go directly into geometry,
skipping freshman algebra.
Priests from Sacred Heart and St.
Peter parishes enjoy the chance
for informal visits and special
liturgies. “With the little ones, I
just compliment them on their
Peter Parish, are spiritual directors at the school.
“At Mass, I include them
with a smile and a wave, and a
reminder to be quiet,” adds Fr.
Mason. “I let them know that
they’re important. They’re part of
this, too.”
“I think the real spirituality comes from Mary and the
teachers, who set an example of
spirituality every single day,” says
Fr. Mecca. He enjoys visits to
the school – and in particular his
“Hot Dog Day” to celebrate the
end of the school year. He and
Fr. Mason take turns celebrating
the First Friday liturgy. But more
than that, he’s impressed by the
way a lively faith has been woven
into students’ daily life.
St. Peter-Sacred Heart School
is justly proud of its heritage
in serving Danbury children.
“There’s a tremendous need for
this school in the inner city
population we’re trying to reach
and the Gospel values we’re
trying to promote,” McCormack
says.
n
Villanova University’s College of Nursing, through its Catholic Augustinian emphasis on education in the
liberal arts and sciences, prepares professional nurses through the cultivation of minds and hearts. Its global
perspective, cutting-edge technology, clinical resources and service opportunities create a dynamic college
experience and an unparalleled foundation for your nursing career.
Be part of a strong tradition of nursing excellence.
Be a Villanova Nurse.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Open House for High School Students
Sunday, October 3
1-4 p.m.
Villanova University campus
Visit www.villanova.edu/nursing for more information.
Notre Dame High School - Fairfield
Open House - Thursday, October 7 - 6:30 p.m.
Entrance Exam - Saturday, October 9 - 8:30 a.m.
For information and to join our mailing list
visit www.notredame.org or call (203) 372-6521
20
September 2010
Schools
Retreats at Holy family
2009 BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL
Retreats for Men
O
A Brush with God:
Icon Painting Retreat
October 7-10, 2010
Rev. Peter Pearson
During this 4 day retreat, participants
will follow step by step instructions and
Most weekends from
complete an icon from start to finish. No
September 17-19, 2010
prior experience is required, all skill levels
until June 10-12, 2011.
are welcome.
Retreats for Women
Greenwich Catholic School is a co-educational Roman Catholic day school for Pre-K
through Grade 8 students located on 38 acres in the heart of Greenwich. Our students
experience an enriching spiritual environment, a diverse and challenging curriculum
and a full range of after school and sports programs. To schedule a tour or receive an
admissions packet, please call 203-869-4000 or email us at [email protected]
Greenwich Catholic School
471 North Street, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
www.greenwichcatholicschool.org
email: [email protected]
OPEN HOUSE
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010
PRE-KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 8 9:00AM
Centering Prayer
Retreat
December 3-5, 2010
Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler
October 1-3, 2010
January 7-9, 2011
January 28-30, 2011
March 18-20, 2011
June 3-5, 2011
This retreat provides an opportunity for
men and women to deepen the practice
of Centering Prayer in an atmosphere of
silence and community support.
HOLY FAMILY PASSIONIST RETREAT CENTER
303 Tunxis Road • West Hartford, CT 06107
860-521-0440 • [email protected]
Register online: www.holyfamilyretreat.org
Open House
Make up
Entrance Exam Entrance Exam
Immaculate High School
Oct. 17
73 Southern Boulevard
Danbury, CT 06810
203.744.1510 • www.immaculatehs.org
Oct. 23
Nov. 13
Kolbe Cathedral High School
Oct. 19
33 Calhoun Place
Bridgeport, CT 06604 203.335.2554 • www.kolbecaths.org
Oct. 23
Mar. 12
Notre Dame Catholic High School Oct. 7
220 Jefferson Street
Fairfield, CT 06825
203.372.6521 • www.notredame.org
Oct. 9
Nov. 13
St. Joseph High School
2320 Huntington Turnpike
Trumbull, CT 06611
203.378.9378 • www.sjcadets.org
Oct. 24
Oct. 30
Nov. 6
Trinity Catholic High School
Oct. 14 926 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
203.322.3401 • www.trinitycatholic.org
Oct. 30
Nov. 20
www.CatholicSchoolsFairfieldCounty.com
21
September 2010
Schools
Principals from page 17
➤
in Bridgeport, where she has been
a teacher of middle-school math,
algebra and religion.
Born and raised in Bridgeport,
“St. Joseph’s is a
hidden treasure. The
community is closeknit like a family.”
Rossi made her sacraments at
St. Raphael Parish and graduated from Kolbe-Cathedral High
School. She is a member of St.
Andrew Parish, where she has
been a youth minister and a
catechist for 18 years, teaching
all classes in grades one through
nine, including sacramental
preparation courses and a teen
Bible study.
Rossi received her bachelor
of science in accounting and a
master’s in business administration, both from Sacred Heart
University. She had over 15
years of accounting experience in
corporations in Fairfield County
before deciding to enter the field
of teaching.
She received a CT Provisional
Elementary Certification in
grades K-6 at Sacred Heart
University, and has completed
the Educational Administrators
coursework for certification there.
Her first teaching experience
was at the Multicultural Magnet
School in Bridgeport.
As a teacher at St. Andrew,
she coordinated a before-school
program and developed an afterschool program focused on the
needs of struggling learners in
literacy and mathematics. She
contributed ideas to the diocesan
curriculum mapping process, and
conducted professional development sessions in literacy for
teachers in the Cathedral Cluster.
“St. Joseph’s is a hidden treasure,” she says of her new school.
“The community is close-knit,
really like a family. We have
Victoria Rossi
Katherin Sniffin
old-fashioned values in a 21st
Century learning environment.
That’s the best of both worlds.”
St. Jude, Monroe
Katherin Sniffin has been
named the principal of St. Jude
School in Monroe. Her last
position was as assistant principal
and science teacher at St. Peter➤ continued on page
Fairfield Prep
Welcome to the
Class of 2014
Over 240 young men, representing 38 towns
From the following towns
Bethany — Branford — Bridgeport — Brookfield — Cos Cob — Darien — East Norwalk — Easton — Fairfield — Greenwich — Hamden — Milford — Monroe — New Canaan
New Haven — Newtown — North Haven — Norwalk — Old Greenwich — Orange — Oxford — Redding — Ridgefield — Riverside — Rowayton — Sandy Hook — Shelton
South Salem, NY — Southport — Stamford — Stratford — Trumbull — Upper Saddle River, NJ — West Haven — Weston — Westport — Wilton — Woodbridge
From the following schools
All Saints Catholic School
John Read Middle School
Amity Regional Middle School – Orange
Longfellow School
Bailey Middle School
Madison Middle School
Bedford Middle School
Magnet Middle School
Central Middle School
Middlebrook School
Cloonan Middle School
Middlesex Middle School
Coleytown Middle School
Montessori School of Norwalk
Eagle Hill School – Southport
Multicultural Magnet School
East Ridge Middle
Nathan Hale Middle School
East Shore Middle
New Beginnings Family Academy
Eastern Middle School
North Haven Middle School
Fairfield Country Day School
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Fairfield Woods Middle School
Our Lady of Victory Catholic School
Fraser Woods School
Park City Preparatory School
Great Oak Middle School
Ponus Ridge Middle School
Greens Farms Academy
Rippowam Middle School
Greenwich Catholic Elementary School
Roger Ludlowe Middle School
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Roton Middle School
Hamden Middle School
Scofield Magnet Middle School
Harvey School
Scotts Ridge Middle School
Helen Keller Middle School
Shelton Intermediate School
High Horizons Magnet School
St. Aloysius Catholic School
Hillcrest Middle School
St. Ambrose Catholic School
Holy Family School
St. Andrew Catholic School
Jockey Hollow Middle School
St. Ann Catholic School – Bridgeport
$556,000 in financial aid awarded to this class
($2 million in total financial aid awarded this school
year to all four classes.)
St. Augustine Cathedral School
Turn of River Middle School
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
Unquowa School
St. Gabriel Catholic School
Walsh Intermediate School
St. James Catholic School
West Shore Middle School
St. Jude Catholic School
Weston Middle School
St. Lawrence Catholic School – Shelton
Whisconier Middle School
St. Luke’s School
Wooster Intermediate School
St. Mary Catholic School – Bethel
St. Mary Catholic School – Ridgefield
St. Rita Catholic School
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School –
Newtown
St. Theresa Catholic School
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School
Thomas Hooker School
Tomlinson Middle School
Trinity Catholic Middle School
Fairfield College
Preparatory School
A Jesuit, Catholic School of Excellence
www.fairfieldprep.org
22
22
September 2010
Schools
Principals from page 21
➤
Sacred Heart School in Danbury.
She was born in Chicago,
IL, and moved as a youth to
Danbury, where her family were
members of St. Joseph Parish.
She and her husband, Patrick,
were married in St. Gregory the
Great Parish; they and their three
children are still parishioners
there. Active in the parish, Sniffin
ran the Celebrate the Lectionary
Mass program for children from
preschool through fifth grade.
She holds her bachelor’s
degree in elementary educa-
tion from Central Connecticut
State College in South Britain
and her master’s in education
with a focus on adolescent studies from Western Connecticut
State University in Danbury. She
earned her Sixth Year Degree in
administration and educational
leadership from Sacred Heart
University.
Sniffin joined the faculty of
St. Gregory the Great School in
1984, teaching math, social studies, and science at the middleschool level. Joining St. PeterSacred Heart School in 2007
as administrator of the middleschool campus, she was science
teacher for the middle school,
moderator for the student newspaper and assisted with the yearbook, and was a member of the
NEAS&C Self-Study committee.
Sniffin was the 2003 recipient of the National Catholic
Educational Association
Distinguished Teacher Award.
She was a teacher in the Minds
on Science summer enrichment
program from 1997-2003 and was
actively involved in the STEM
curriculum development and
science mapping in the diocese.
Anna O’Rourke
T
he Shepherds Program provides deserving, disadvantaged inner city youth with an opportunity
to receive a quality, college preparatory education at a non-public high school with the
introduction of a positive role model – a Mentor – who fills a void in their lives.
As a Sponsor, you will pay toward the student’s four-year tuition, but your student will need
more than your financial support. As a Mentor, you will share your talents, experience, time
and resources to help guide him or her with encouragement, direction and support through their
high school journey.
Shepherds’ unique Sponsor/Mentor relationship has a proven track record. To-date, 136 students
have earned their high school diplomas and, for the fourth consecutive year, 100% will be
entering college corridors, near and far, this Fall.
Make an investment you can watch mature.
Become a Shepherds Sponsor and Mentor
and change the direction of a young person’s life.
She has led winning teams in a
Global Warming competition for
three years in a row.
“The faculty at St. Jude’s
spent the summer welcoming
me,” she says. “They made me
feel at home here. The first day of
school – no butterflies.” She notes
that the priests at St. Jude Parish
are involved and visible at the
school. “That’s a wonderful gift.”
St. Mary, Ridgefield
Anna O’Rourke has become
the principal of St. Mary School
in Ridgefield. She has been assistant principal for grades K-5 at St.
Mary since 2004.
A Connecticut native throughand-through, she was born in
Danbury and grew up in New
Fairfield. She and her husband,
William, and their two sons have
been members of St. Mary Parish
for 17 years. Always active in
the parish, she has taught in the
religious education there with her
sons.
She obtained her bachelor
of science degree in marketing
from Central Connecticut State
University in New Britain and
her Masters of Art in Teaching
from Sacred Heart University.
➤ continued on page
27
23
September 2010
Schools
Come Take Root at our open house 2010
Saint Mary School
183 High Ridge Avenue, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
203.438.7288 • www.smsridgefield.org
F A I T H I N E V E RY S T U D E N T
Open House
Sunday, November 7th 3pm
RSVP to [email protected]
Preschool Programs
Full Day Kindergarten through Grade 8
www.portsmouthabbey.org
Our students are recipients of the following prestigious awards:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Saturdays / October 23 or December 4 / 8:00 am - noon
Saint Thomas Aquinas Award for Academic Success
President’s Award for Academic Excellence
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Lead America Youth Leadership
Summer Institute for the Gifted
Catholic War Veterans Outstanding Citizenship Award
To R.S.V.P. / 401.643.1248
Blue Ribbon Nominated • Excelsior Award Recipient
p ort smo u t h a bb e y s c ho ol
New England’s Leading Catholic Boarding School for Grades 9-12 v Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The Diocese of Bridgeport Schools admit students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C .
Find out how you can be nominated for a
$3,000 Parish Scholarship!
Attend Catholic University’s
Open Houses
October 17, 2010 • November 14, 2010 • January 23, 2011
10:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.
This is your chance to experience Catholic University’s strong,
values-based education and get the answers you need on
important topics such as academic programs, scholarships,
financial aid and studying in Washington, D.C.
Interested in Engineering, Nursing or Music?
Attend one of our academic focus programs on Friday, November 12, 2010.
Let us know you’re coming!
Register online at http://admissions.cua.edu/visit.
Interviews must be pre-scheduled by calling 1-800-673-2772.
The Catholic University of America admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age
or disability. To request accommodations for individuals with disabilities, please call 202-319-5305.
www.cua.edu
R E A S O N . FA I T H . S E RV I C E .
24
September 2010
Vocations Days
2010 Summer Vocation Days: Take the Call!
FAIRFIELD – “It was fantastic,” says Fr. Bob Kinnally of the
recent Summer Days vocation
experience held at Sacred Heart
University in Fairfield.
“We just wanted kids to have
the opportunity to really explore
what it means to be called by
God. The response was great.”
Forty-six young men and
women attended the Summer
Vocation Days retreat sponsored by the Diocesan Office of
Vocations and hosted by Sacred
Heart.
Fr. Kinnally, vocations director of the Diocese of Bridgeport,
said the new three-day event,
which grew out of the original
summer vocations camp, was
well received by participants and
the turnout was excellent.
Seventeen year old Gracia
Vargas of St. Benedict/Our Lady
of Montserrat Parish in Stamford
couldn’t attend Corpus Christi
Days earlier this year, so she
jumped at the chance to attend
Summer Vocation Days.
“It was my first time so I
wasn’t sure what to expect, and
it was really fun to be affiliated
with groups and parishes from all
over the diocese. I thought it was
interesting to pray the Rosary in
five different languages, and I
was really happy to meet a lot of
other young people who practice
the same faith and who are proactive about what they believe.”
Andrew Visser, 16, of St.
Lawrence Parish, Shelton, par-
ticipated because he was eager to
reflect on his own vocation and
the call to serve God. “It was
awesome to meet other people
who are exploring different ways
to follow God and His call. I feel
like I’ve been called to serve God,
and it’s really great to know there
are other young people who feel
the same way,” he says.
Samantha Buck, 17, of St.
Stephen Parish, Trumbull, attended the event and was honored
to be selected to give a talk as a
High School Apostle.
“It was a great experi-
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ence. Lots of people were
touched, and it was cool to see
so many young people coming
together for a great cause.”
For more information on vocations, visit the Office of Vocations
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
bridgeportvocations or call them at
203-416-1513.
n
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP,
MANAGEMENT,
& CIRCULATION
United States Postal Service, Form 3526
Publication title: Fairfield County Catholic
Publication number: 0012-117
Issue frequency: Monthly except July
No. of issues published annually: 11
Annual subscription price:
$20 (in diocese); $50 (outside diocese)
Mailing address:
The Catholic Center, 238 Jewett Ave.,
Bridgeport, CT 06606-2892
Publisher:Most Rev. William E. Lori,
Bishop of Bridgeport
Editor: Brian D. Wallace
Owner:Roman Catholic Diocese
of Bridgeport, Inc.
Extent and nature of circulation (9/10):
Avg.
Actual
# Copies # Copies
Total # of copies
Total paid and/
or requested circulation
Free distribution by mail
Total free distribution Total distribution
Office use, leftovers 94,184
94,236
93,328
100 456 93,884
300 93,380
100
456
93,936
300
Total
Percent paid/
Requested circulation
94,184
94,236
99.4%
99.4%
25
September 2010
Nuestra Voz
El poder de la oración
Hoy día hay muchas personas
que van al gimnasio, o “health
clubs”, como Bally’s, Fitness
Edge, Planet Fitness, Curves, etc;
y van ahí para hacer ejercicio.
¿Para qué hacen ejercicio?
Estas personas lo hacen para
fortalecer el cuerpo físico y para
mantenerse saludables y fuertes.
Pero nosotros no fuimos creados
solamente de cuerpo; fuimos creados de cuerpo y alma. Nosotros
hacemos ejercicio para mantener
el cuerpo fuerte.
¿Y cómo mantenemos el alma
fuerte? Una de las formas que
mantenemos el alma fuerte se
encuentra en el evangelio de San
Lucas 11: 1-13, donde nos dice
que es a través de la oración. Es
por medio de la oración que fortalecemos nuestra alma.
¿Y qué es la oración? La
oración es una forma de comunicación, una manera de hablar con
Dios, de estar en comunión con
Él. Como vemos en el Catecismo
de la Iglesia Católica (CIC), la
oración es “una relación viviente
y personal con Dios vivo. Orar es
elevar nuestra mente y corazón a
Dios” (2558, 2565).
El Papa Juan Pablo II decía
toquen y se les abrirá. Porque
pide, recibe; quien busca,
Columnista invitado quien
encontrara, y al que toca, se le
abre” (Lucas 11:9-10).
Por Diácono Reynaldo
Hay muchas personas hoy
Olavarria
día que dicen que no saben orar.
Lo primero que tenemos que
hacer es pedirle a Nuestro Padre
El Diácono Olavarria sirve
celestial. Como nos dice Jesús:
en la Parroquia de Santa María
“cuánto más el Padre celestial
en Bridgeport.
dará el Espíritu Santo, a los que
se lo pidan” (Lucas 11:13).
¿Qué es lo que piensan ust
que: “Uno es capaz de comunicar edes, Dios siempre responde a
a Cristo a los demás a través de la nuestra oración sí o no? SÍ, Dios
oración. Y comunicar a Cristo al
siempre responde a nuestras oramundo es lo más importante que
ciones de manera que es mejor
puede hacer en tu vida” (Manual
para nosotros, aunque, quizá, no
de oraciones para la familia: pági- de una manera que nos guste.
na 7, Diócesis de Bridgeport).
¿Cuál es el propósito de la
Al igual que si no hay comuoración? La oración nos ayuda a
nicación entre un hombre y
acercarnos más a Dios.
una mujer en su matrimonio no
Durante la Santa Misa, cuanpueden crecer en una relación
do oramos nos acercamos más
personal, si no oramos, no
a Dios. La Misa es la oración
podemos crecer en una relación
más perfecta que se puede
ofrecer porque no es
solamente tu propia
oración, sino que es la
“La oración es una forma
oración de la persona
de comunicación, una manera más perfecta en la
tierra, Jesucristo.
La Iglesia nos
de hablar con Dios”.
pide que oremos frecuentemente y que la
personal con Dios. Jesús siempre
oración sea una parte importante
mantuvo comunicación con el
de nuestra vida. Al igual que la
Padre; y el les enseñó a sus disrespiración da vida a tu cuerpo,
cípulos a orar, como el mismo
la oración hace vivir tu espíritu.
oraba al Padre.
Sin oración, la fe muere. La palLos discípulos vieron a Jesús
abra de Dios nos dice: “Oren sin
orando y ellos le pidieron a Jesús cesar” (1 Tesalónicenses 5:17).
que les enseñara a orar. (Lucas
Que quiere decir, que cada uno
11:1). De la misma forma Jesús
de nosotros tenemos la respondijo a los apóstoles, “Pidan y se
sabilidad de orar a todo tiempo,
les dará, busquen y encontraran,
no importa cómo te sientas.
For complete reviews of selected movies,
call the Catholic Communications Movie Review Line:
(212) 644-1880
Eat Pray Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L (PG-13)
Nanny McPhee Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-I (PG)
USCCB RATINGS:
A-I – General patronage
A-II – Adults & adolescents
A-III – Adults
L – Limited Adult Audience
O – Morally Offensive
Takers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG-13)
The Expendables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O (R)
The Last Exorcism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L (PG-13)
The Other Guys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O (PG-13)
The Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O (PG-13)
Vampires Suck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-III (PG-13)
Cuando no tenemos ganas
de orar, es cuando debemos
orar más fuerte todavía. Porque
el enemigo no descansa. Juan
Pablo II decía: “Es a través
de la oración que recibirán la
fuerza para resistir al espíritu del
mundo” (Manual de oraciones
para la familia: 7, Diócesis de
Bridgeport).
En la vida todos tenemos cargas que llevamos; problemas, dificultades, conflictos. La oración
nos debe levantar y ayudar a
superar las cargas que llevamos.
Reflexionemos: ¿Cuánto
tiempo durante el día le dedicas
a Dios en oración personal y
en oración familiar? La oración
personal y la oración familiar
son muy importantes, y ahí es en
donde debemos comenzar, en la
iglesia doméstica, la familia.
Mi devoción a la oración
comenzó con mis padres que
me enseñaron a orar y a rezar
el Santo Rosario. Y hoy día, la
oración del Santo Rosario sigue
siendo parte de nuestra oración
familiar. Porque yo creo firmemente en el refrán: “La familia
que ora junta se mantiene junta”.
Nunca dejes de pedir, de buscar,
y de tocar a la puerta; nunca te
rindas, y nunca pierdas la esperanza; sean pacientes, y perseveren
en la oración.
La Madre Teresa de Calcuta
decía que: “El fruto del silencio es la oración. El fruto de la
oración es la fe. El fruto de la fe
es el amor. El fruto del amor es
el servicio. Y el fruto del servicio
es la paz”. n
Thinking about a will?
Request a free Wills Kit from CRS.
Learn what you need to know
before you see an attorney.
1-888-277-7575 ext. 7262
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
Giving hope to a world of need.
¡Domina inglés a fondo!
Clases de Inglés como Segunda
Lengua en St. Patrick
en Bridgeport
comienzarán en Septiembre
¡Mejora tus oportunidades de trabajo!
¡Pule tus habilidades de comunicarte en inglés!
La Parroquia de St. Patrick, localizada convenientemente
en el centro de Bridgeport, te ofrece una gran
oportunidad! Profesores profesionales de nivel mundial
están listos para ayudarte a mejorar tu vida. Se ofrecen
cuatro sesiones por semana para tu conveniencia.
El costo es bien razonable. El tamaño de la clase
es limitado, así que inscríbete ya para asegurar tu cupo!
Para aplicar, llama al 203-335-0106
o escríbenos a [email protected].
26
Schools
September 2010
Science Park contends for Pepsi Project
By Karen Kovacs Dydzuhn
Architects rendering
The Science and Energy
Park at All
Saints School,
featured on
page 16,
has
garnered so
much interest that
it is in
contention
to receive
$50,000
from the Pepsi Refresh Project.
According to Pepsi’s format for
the contest, supporters of the
innovative can vote three times
a day. To vote, send a text message saying “101491” to Pepsi
“73774”; add the Pepsi Refresh
Voting app to one’s Face book
page, or go online at www.refresheverything.com/ascsscienceenergypark. The top ten projects
which receive the most votes by
September 30 will each receive
$50,000.
“The kids have worked so
hard in getting the word out, but
we have to keep pushing, pushing, pushing,” said Alison Reilly.
She and Amanda Gebicki, are cochairs of the Science and Energy
Park project.
The project leaders explain
that the Science and Energy Park
will be financed by corporate
donations and grants. They and
other parents on the committee
realize that education spending is
tight and there are no funds available in the school budget for an
improved recreational facility.
However, they partnered
with Stepping Stone Children’s
Museum in Norwalk and
launched a corporate fundrais-
ing campaign. Local businesses
have also already committed to
the project. “We have received
commitments from Radiant
Manufacturing to donate an
amazing wind wall, Englert Inc.
to donate a rain harvesting system – to be installed by Gutter
Guys, and a security system to
be donated by Sirran. Affinion
Group, Inc, Vertrue, Bank of
Ireland, and BMW of Darien
have sponsored components,”
says Gebicki. Additional sponsors include Volvo of Westport,
➤ continued on page
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September
Pre-need Funeral Planning
12.................Rev. Frank D. Yoia....................................................1974
15.................Rev. Joseph V. Rossitto..............................................2004
16.................Rev. William J. Conklin.............................................1992
17.................Rev. John A. Sullivan.................................................1953
....................Rev. Robert L. Christopher.........................................1958
18.................Rev. Msgr. Normand A. Methe..................................2002
20.................Rev. Joseph J. Maglione.............................................2003
23.................Rev. Frederick H. Olschefskie.....................................1956
....................Rev. Msgr. Edmund J. Hussey....................................1991
28.................Rev. Edward A. Morgan............................................1992
29.................Deacon Thomas W. Coyne.........................................2002
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27
September 2010
Schools
Principals from page 22
➤
She completed her educational
administrative certification at
Sacred Heart University in July.
O’Rourke joined the faculty of
St. Mary’s in 1995 as a teacher in
the Early Education Center, and
developed and planned the curriculum for the transitional kindergarten in 1998 as the school
began to expand to the higher
grades. Later, she worked on
the math map for kindergarten
with the diocesan Office for
Education. She has taught both
Sr. Nadine Alexander, ASCJ
third grade and kindergarten,
implementing the new third-grade
curriculum as St. Mary School
grew. She also worked on curriculum mapping with Cluster
4 in math, science, literacy, and
religion.
“Becoming the principal has
re-charged and renewed my commitment to St. Mary’s School,”
she says. “It’s so nice to be here
in the school where I ‘grew up’ as
an education professional.”
St. Raphael, Bridgeport
Sr. Nadine Alexander,
ASCJ, is the new principal at St.
Raphael School in Bridgeport.
She has been the third-grade
teacher at St. Raphael for the past
seven years and lives in the convent on the parish grounds.
Growing up in West Haven,
Science Park from page 26
➤
Mini of Fairfield, and Prudential
Connecticut Realty.
“We are not only building
a playground – we are starting
a national movement toward
making smarter use of our play
space,” says Gebicki. This project
has been identified as a national
prototype for similar ‘smart parks’
throughout the United States.” n
she attended Sacred Heart
Academy in Hamden, where
she first encountered and grew to
love the charism and mission of
the Apostles of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus. Sr. Nadine was also
drawn to the community and
prayer life that she witnessed the
Apostles living so joyfully. She
entered the order on August 29,
1991.
She holds her bachelor’s degree from Southern
Connecticut State University and
her master’s in language and literacy from Fordham University at
Lincoln Center. She is currently
in the certification program at
Sacred Heart University.
Sister Nadine taught in Early
Childhood Education in Saint
Louis, MO, and was a teacher at
St. Joseph School in Chinatown
in Manhattan for five years before
coming to St. Raphael in 2003.
“The students I first taught
have grown up and gone,” she
says. “I’m excited to continue to
be with families I already know
here, and it will be nice to get
to know all the children in St.
Raphael.”
n
The SikorskyTeamsters Local 1150SWIM Across the Sound
Walk/Run
FOR CANCER, DIABETES & HEART DISEASE
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Captain’s Cove, Bridgeport
CHECK IN/
REGISTRATION - 9 AM
WALK/RUN BEGINS - 10 AM
LUNCH & CEREMONY - 12 PM
• Choose between 2- or 4-mile routes or walk/run your
distance of choice along scenic St. Mary’s by the Sea
• Walk/Run individually or with a team to benefit cancer,
diabetes or heart disease patients
• Refreshments available before and after the event
• Walk/Run will take place rain or shine
Pre-registration encouraged. Register &
Fundraise online at www.swimacrossthesound.org
or Call 203.576.5451
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation • 2800 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606
28
Column
September 2010
They held hands
Potpourri
By Thomas H. Hicks
Thomas Hicks is a member
of St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull.
I
n order to escape the flames,
it is estimated that about one
hundred people leaped from
the upper floors of the south
tower of the World Trade Center
on 9/11/2001. Mayor Rudy
Giuliani repeatedly says that the
sight of people falling from the
tower is the memory of 9/11 that
continues to haunt him. They
have left images in his mind that
do not fade.
A writer named Brian Doyle
interviewed people who witnessed
these leaps and wrote an article
recording what they saw (The
American Scholar, Winter 2001).
Witnesses saw people falling
in flames, what they described as
falling fireballs. A kindergarten
boy who saw people falling in
flames said to his teacher that the
birds were on fire. Some saw people free-falling backwards with
their arms out, as if they were
E!
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Norwalk Concert Hall
at Norwalk City Hall 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT
Celebrate Life!
Save the Date
for this very special
concert evening, with
VIP Cocktail Reception
6:30-7:30 P.M.
Saturday,
October 23
8:00 P.M.
Concert benefits
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$ 25 Students & Seniors
$ 50 General Admission
$100 VIP
Concert Evening Program Highlights
• Grand Premiere Composition by Eric Genuis
charles grodin
master of ceremonies
• A Ca Bella Choir (Convent of the Sacred Heart, Greenwich)
• Lia Carter, Vocalist
• Bridgeport Prayer Tabernacle Choir
Presentation of 2nd Anuual
eric genuis
John Swanhaus Award
to honorees
Rev. Robert J. Crofut
Rev. Msgr. William J. Scheyd
Rev. Msgr. Edward R. Surwilo
For more information, please call
Malta House: 203-857-0088
bridgeport prayer
tabernacle choir
For tickets or sponsorship online:
www.maltahouse.org
to is that witnesses saw a couple
parachuting. Many were falling
leap from the south tower hand
over themselves, somersaulting
in hand, and their hands stayed
as they fell. Others were flailing
interlocked all
on the way
the way down. I
down. One
wish I could tell
woman’s
“I keep coming back
you something
dress was bilmore about that
lowing as she
to an image of the
couple, but I
fell. Some
could find no
witnesses
man reaching for
further informaremembered
tion. Were they
seeing a shirtthe woman and her
husband and
less man fallwife, lovers, just
ing end over
hand reaching for
dear friends?
end.
I keep comSeveral
his hand and then
ing back to an
pedestrians
image of the
were killed
they leaped out the
man reaching
by people
falling from
window holding hands. for the woman
and her hand
the sky. A
reaching for his
fireman was
I keep coming back
hand and then
killed by a
they leaped out
body that fell.
to his hand and her
the window
“The day
holding hands.
of the Lord
hand nestled in each
I keep coming
will come
as a thief in
other with such simple, back to his hand
and her hand
the night.”
nestled in each
What a lotferocious love.”
other with such
tery death
simple, ferois – you draw a
ticket or you don’t. One thinks of cious love. Their hands reaching
the harrowed families of the dead. and joining – so eloquent and
powerful a prayer. I picture them
A report I keep coming back
29
September 2010
Column
taking two running steps and
jumping out the shattered window. Then, they held on tight
and fell, Brian Doyle reports,
at about two hundred miles an
hour, falling so far and so fast
that they would have blacked out
before they struck the pavement
with such force that there was a
pink mist in the air.
That couple stays in my mind.
I picture their eyes full of each
other as her hand fell naturally
into his. They reached for each
other and their hands met and
they jumped.
It strikes me as such an act of
pure love, a moment of shining
beauty. In that couple leaping
hand in hand, I sense a throb of
splendor in the midst of all the
horror and loss and death. Maybe
I’m overstating it, but I find in
their conjoined leap and death a
little illuminated circle in which
the lives of those two individuals
reached its finest efflorescence. It
gives me a sense of life fulfilling
itself. There are acts that gather
up the whole personal life of an
individual.
Like most of the victims of
9/11, the hand-holding leapers
were young. We weep that their
lives should be so brief; think
of the loss of so much beauty of
body and mind and life, and the
promise of still more to come.
But is the death of young people really the saddest thing in life?
Perhaps they lost so much, but
they were also spared so much
and kept so much. As the protagonist in the Dairy of a Country
Priest says, “they alone shall be
young, whom God has chosen
never to survive their youth,” and
Therese of Lisieux observed “I
think it is better to die at dawn
than at dusk.”
For that hand-holding couple
it can at least be said:
They traveled a short while
Toward the sun
Leaving the vivid air
Signed with their honor.
(Stephen Spender) n
FAN THE FIRE – Hundreds of young men and women throughout the diocese turned out for
the recent “Fan the Fire” youth rally at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown. The 5th annual
event rally was a high energy Eucharistic event centered on inspiring speakers and musicians. It
was a day of prayer, fun and inspiration for teens looking to deepen their relationship with Christ
or simply to discover it for the first time through celebration of the Eucharist, Adoration, and
Reconciliation. St. Rose youth minister Rodd Blessey hosted the event, which was highlighted by
a Mass celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori. Special guest speakers included Leah Darrow, Scott
Anthony and Fr. Jose Robles Sanchez, the pastor of St. Francis Cabrini parish in Alexandria,
Louisiana. The music ministry was led by artists Kevin Donovan and Katie Keogler.
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at St. Lawrence Parish, Shelton,
with special guest Msgr. Joseph
Potter. Cost: $5. Proceeds will
support Msgr. Potter’s missionary
efforts. For more information,
call Carlos Perez: 203.395.8086. ANNUAL PICNIC at Holy
Cross Parish, Fairfield, will start
Sun., Sept. 12 with an 11 a.m.
Polka Mass. Live entertainment
by the Polka Quads; food; games,
crafts, and raffles. For more information, call 203.372.4595.
75th ANNIVERSARY at
St. Maurice Parish, Stamford,
a week-long celebration, will
kick off with a blood drive on
Mon., Sept. 13, and include cash
bingo, craft & tag sale, cabaret
and picnic. For reservations,
tickets or more information call
203.324.3434.
BIBLE STUDY of the Gospel
of Luke will be held at St. Cecilia
Parish, Stamford. Two times will
be offered: Thurs. at 7:30 p.m.
and Fri. at 9:15 a.m. Program
begins Sept. 16 and 17. Cost:
$10. For more information and
registration, call Vicki Alton:
203.322.8526.
CURSILLO ULTREYAS
are held at locations around the
diocese: Thurs., Sept. 16, at St.
Mary Parish, Bethel, at 7:30
p.m.; Wed., Sept. 22, at St. Mary
Parish “Barn,” Ridgefield, at 7:30
p.m.; and Tues., Oct. 5, at the
Catholic Center, Bridgeport, at 7
p.m. For more information, contact Jim: [email protected]. RACHEL’S VINEYARD
Retreat for Healing After
Abortion will be held Fri.-Sun.,
Sept. 17-19. For more information, call the retreat director:
203.218.0291, or e-mail her at
[email protected].
BIBLE STUDY: Jeff Cavin’s
“The Great Adventure: A Quick
Journey Though the Bible,”
begins at Christ the King Parish,
Trumbull, on Fri., Sept. 17,
from 9:15-10:45 a.m. For more
information and to register, call
Marian: 203.268.8791.
SEPTEMBERFEST will provide fun for the entire family at
Assumption Parish, Fairfield, on
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 17-19. Hours:
Fri., 6-11 p.m.; Sat. 1-11 p.m.;
and Sun., 1-6 p.m. Free admission. For more information, call
203.333.9065.
CARNIVAL and white
elephant sale will be held at St.
Andrew Parish, Bridgeport, Fri.Sun., Sept. 17-19. Hours: Fri.,
6-10 p.m.; Sat. 5-10 p.m. (white
elephant also from 8 a.m.-12
noon); Sun., 1-5 p.m. For more
information, call 203.374.6171.
HAITIAN-AMERICAN
CONCERT to benefit the children of Haiti will be held at
Trinity Catholic High School,
Stamford, on Sat., Sept. 18, at
7 p.m. Tickets: $30 in advance;
$35 at the door. For more
information and for tickets, call
203.924.8611.
ST. PADRE PIO PICNIC
will be held on Sun., Sept. 19, at
St. Margaret Shrine, Bridgeport.
Outdoor Mass: 1 p.m.; picnic
follows. Donation: $30/person.
For more information, call John
Mastri: 203.522.4113
SLOVAK ALLIANCE of
Greater Bridgeport will sponsor
a Slovak picnic Sun., Sept. 19, at
Germania Schwaben Hall/Grove,
416 Horace St., Bridgeport, from
1-6 p.m. On Thurs., Sept. 30,
a meeting will be held at Holy
Name of Jesus Parish, Stratford,
starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call George or Marta
Suychak: 203.377.1874
CLASSICAL MUSIC
RECITAL will be held at St.
Paul Parish, Greenwich, on
Sun., Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. Mezzosoprano Elizabeth Russo and
pianist Eric Trudel will feature
the works of Johannes Brahms,
George Frideric Handel and
Charles Ives. Admission: $20;
discounts for students and
seniors. For more information,
call 203.531.8741.
CATHOLIC WIDOW AND
WIDOWER CLUB will hold
their annual clambake at St.
Michael’s convent, Greenwich,
on Sun., Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. The
club meets at St. Michael Parish
31
September 2010
Bits & Pieces
on the third Tues. of the month
(Sept. 19) at 7 p.m. to celebrate
Mass for deceased spouses, followed by a brief meeting and
coffee gathering. For more
information, call Ann Cody:
203.325.3128.
MASSES OF HEALING
AND HOPE sponsored by the
Charismatic Renewal Office
will be celebrated Mon., Sept.
20, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Lawrence
Parish, Shelton, with Fr. Bob
Kwiatkowski; Mon., Sept. 27,
at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King
Parish, Trumbull, with Fr. Larry
Carew; and Thurs., Oct. 7, at
7:30 p.m. at St. Philip Parish with
Fr. Marcel St. Jean. For more
information, call 203.268.8253.
MARIAN LADIES is a bimonthly prayer/Bible study group
who meet on Weds. at St. George
Parish, Bridgeport. Adoration of
the Blessed Sacrament at 8 a.m.,
followed by Mass, “coffee and,”
recitation of the Rosary, and
Bible study. Next meeting: Sept.
22. New members welcome.
For more information, call St.
Damaris Convent: 203.330.8409. PRAYER SHAWL Ministry
Retreat will be offered the weekend of Sept. 24-26, at Nazareth
Spiritual Life Center, Monroe,
Fri. 7 p.m.-Sun. 11:30 a.m. Cost:
$165/person. For more information, contact Fran: 203.452.7040,
e-mail [email protected].
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Council #5987 will honor John
Tartaro at their awards dinner on
Sat., Sept. 25, at The Inn at Villa
Bianca in Seymour. Reservations:
$40/person. For more information and reservations, call Pete
D’Ostilio: 203.261.0593.
FINE ART and craft exhibit
and sale will be held at Sacred
Heart Parish, Georgetown, on
Sat.-Sun., Sept. 25-26: Sat., 10
a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
For more information, call Bobbi
Eike Mullen: 203.544.8826.
INFORMATION FOR
SENIORS and their families will
be held in St. Jude School,
Monroe, on Sat., Sept. 25, from
9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Speakers will
cover legal issues, normal mem-
ory loss, payment options for
homecare and more. Admission
free. For more information, call
Diane Fekete: 203.452.9629.
COPING WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT, an evening
of encouragement and prayer,
will be presented at St. Jude
Parish, Monroe, on Mon., Sept.
27, at 7:30 p.m. For more information call 203.261.6406.
LIFE CHAINS will be held
at three locations on Sun., Oct.
3. Stamford: Atlantic St &
Tresser Blvd, in front of St. John
the Evangelist Church: 1:30 to
3 p.m.; contact Tim Dineen:
203.762.7674. Danbury: Main
St. at West St., 2:30-3:30; contact
Deirdre Condon: 203.438.6123.
New Milford: “On the Green”,
2:30-3:30 p.m.; contact Dolores
Teleski: 860-355-3218.
SECULAR FRANCISCANS
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Fraternity, Danbury, will hold a
Transitus Service on Sun., Oct. 3,
at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Parish, Danbury. Refreshments
will follow. For more informa-
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WFJS 1260 AM Presents
Father
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Spiritual
Warfare
Warfare
Saturday, October 30, 2010
8:30 am – 6 pm
The Prudential Center • Newark, NJ
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tion, call 203.748.9029.
LAY CARMELITES
Huntington Chapter, which
meets at St. Lawrence Parish,
Shelton, will be starting a new
formation group in September. For information please call Joan
Zietowski: 203.925.1998. n
Master English at
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Remembering