10 Teens Fan the Fire

Transcription

1 Iside this issue 8 Celebratig Sait Mother Teresa 10 Tees Fa the Fire of faith Please visit us o: at bridgeportdiocese at diobpt Latest ews: bridgeportdiocese.com Joi us at the St. Augustie Medal Ceremoy o October 15

2 2 September 2016 Pilgrimage ad Cosecratio A diocesa jourey of faith BRIDGEPORT O Saturday, November 5, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will cosecrate the Diocese of Bridgeport to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at St. Augustie Cathedral. This act is the culmiatio of the cosecratio of the diocese to Mary s protectio uder the title of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which took place at the Syod Celebratio Mass o September 19, The pilgrimage ad cosecratio of the diocese were aouced at Syod 2014 as the prayerful foudatio for the chage ad reewal uderway i the diocese based o syod iitiatives to create more vibrat ad welcomig parish commuities. It is my hope that the faithful throughout the diocese will joi us for this pilgrimage of prayer ad cosecratio. We have so much to be thakful for, ad so much more work to do. Puttig our faith ad trust i the Sacred Heart of Jesus ad our Blessed Mother will help us i our persoal ad diocesa pilgrimage of faith ad reewal, said the bishop. The origial pla for the pilgrimage was to travel to Washigto, D.C., to the Basilica of the Natioal Shrie of the Immaculate Coceptio. However, the plas were chaged to accommodate those who wished to participate i the pilgrimage but could ot make the trip to Washigto. After receivig feedback from pastors ad various ecclesial movemets i the diocese, the veue was chaged so that there could be greater participatio i this importat evet. So we ve made it a local day of prayer ad pilgrimage, said Msgr. Thomas Powers, vicar geeral of the diocese. Msgr. Powers said that while may people thik of pilgrimages as somethig from the past, they are still very much part of the Church s life. Pilgrimages are privileged, spiritual opportuities for all of us to grow i our faith. Just as our whole lives are a jourey through time, with the goal of that jourey beig to reach safely the presece of Christ himself, so too a pilgrimage is a jourey made by a perso of faith to a site which holds some deep spiritual sigificace, he said. Pope Fracis has ecouraged the faithful to cosider a pilgrimage as a istrumet of coversio. The practice of pilgrimage has a special place i the Holy Year, because it represets the 2016 St. Augustie Medals of Service set for October 15 BRIDGEPORT The Sait Augustie Medal of Service prayer service ad awards ceremoy will be held at St. Augustie Cathedral o Saturday, October 15, begiig at 1 pm. A receptio will follow at Kolbe-Cathedral High School o the grouds of the cathedral campus. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will lead the prayer service ad preset medals to more tha 150 recipiets from parishes ad miistries across the diocese. True geerosity comes from those who are grateful for their lives ad who faithfully use the gifts God has give them, said Bishop Caggiao. We will celebrate the St. Augustie medalists as metors, guides ad prophets i their love ad service. I look forward to meetig them ad their families ad recogizig their great commitmet to others through the Church. Last year, more tha 700 frieds ad family of the recipiets tured out for the Medal of Service ceremoy. Pastors, priests ad deacos throughout the diocese accompay the recipiets as they come forward to be preseted the medal by Bishop Caggiao. The St. Augustie Medal of Service was istituted i 2005 to recogize the usug heroes who uselfishly give of their time ad talets to build up parish commuities. O oe side of the medal is a image of St. Augustie of Hippo, patro sait of the diocese. The reverse features the coat of arms of the diocese. (For more iformatio, cotact Jaet Davis: or jdavis@diobpt.org.) jourey each of us makes i this life. Life itself is a pilgrimage, ad the huma beig is a viator, a pilgrim travellig alog the road. The schedule for the day is as follows: 1 pm Arrival 1:15 pm Welcome ad Opeig Remarks 1:30 pm Recitatio of the Scriptural Rosary (Start of Cofessios) 2 pm Eucharistic Adoratio ad Presetatio by Father Adrew Apostoli, CFR 3 pm Divie Mercy Chaplet (Coclusio of Cofessios) 3:30 pm Break 4 pm Eucharistic Celebratio (with Cosecratio) For four weeks leadig up to the cosecratio o November 5, all parishes ad schools will receive weekly catechetical essays, which are desiged to help the diocesa family uderstad ad prepare for the evet. The essays will be made available through parish bulletis, school memorada ad o school website, said Msgr. Powers. The essays will also appear i the ext issue of Fairfield Couty Catholic ad o the diocesa website. The four topics are: I. The Meaig of Christia Pilgrimage, II. Devotio to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, III. Novea to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ad IV. The Sacred Heart of Jesus ad the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Bishop Caggiao is also callig for a day of fastig ad abstiece o Friday, November 4, i ASKING OUR LADY S BLESSING The bishop cocluded the Syod Celebratio Mass by keelig i silet prayer before thousads at the Webster Bak Area i Bridgeport ad dedicatig the diocese to our Blessed Mother. The ew statue, doated for the occasio, is ow eshried at St. Augustie Cathedral. solidarity of faith ad for reparatio for si. All persos betwee the ages of 18 ad 59 are ivited to abstai from meat ad to take oly oe full meal ad two smaller meals that together are ot equal to the full meal. The bishop will also ask pastors to use the prayers for the Votive Mass for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for all Masses celebrated i the Diocese of Bridgeport o Suday, November 6 (icludig the Saturday Vigil Masses). Together with Pope Fracis, who remids us that mercy is a goal to reach, ad requires dedicatio ad sacrifice, let us pray that we, together with our brothers ad sisters across our diocese, will respod ethusiastically to this ivitatio to grace, so that our diocesa pilgrimage ad cosecratio o November 5 will be a day of joy, ad of lastig grace, for this local Church i this Jubilee Year of Mercy, said Msgr. Powers. All are welcome to atted. (For further iformatio about the pilgrimage, cotact, Jaet Davis: or jdavis@diobpt.org.) Iside this issue 8 Celebratig Sait Mother Teresa 10 Tees Fa the Fire Please visit us o: at bridgeportdiocese at diobpt Latest ews: of faith bridgeportdiocese.com Joi us at the St. Augustie Medal Ceremoy o October 15 ON THE COVER DIOCESAN BLUE MASS This year s Blue Mass, celebrated o the 15th Aiversary of the 9/11 terrorist acts, was a time of prayer ad remembrace i the diocese ad across the atio. Photo by Amy Mortese (Above the fold) BACK TO SCHOOL! Studets of St. Augustie Academy i Bridgeport received a great back-to-school preset whe Radio Statios WEBE108 ad WICC600 gifted them through their Backpack Giveback program. Photo by Michelle Babyak CONTENTS 4 FOUNDATIONS IN FAITH A Greewich receptio plaed 6 HARRY CONNICK, JR To perform at Ier-City evet 9 WOMEN S CONFERENCE Register ow for November evet 10 STREET MINISTRY Reachig out to homeless TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Catholic Charities CATHOLIC EDUCATION Itroducig ew leadership 25 METS PLAYERS REMEMBERED Two Catholic ballplayers 28 COLUMNIST TOM HICKS The Gift of Loeliess

3 September Latest News Quee of Clergy dedicatio set STAMFORD Work is progressig o the ew wig of the Catherie Deis Keefe Quee of the Clergy Residece i Stamford. Costructio of the 16-suite additio for retired priests bega i Jauary of this year. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will lead a Suday, October 9, dedicatio ceremoy for the residece located at 274 Strawberry Hill Ave. i Stamford. This is a very excitig time for the diocese ad for our retired priests who are lookig forward to movig ito their ew home at Quee of the Clergy Residece. It s a beautiful residece ad a place of great digity where our retired priests ca live i prayer Blue Mass hoors First Respoders BRIDGEPORT Each of you are our commuity s first respoders. You re there 24/7. We kow you by ame, said Father Victor Marti i his homily for the 15th Aual Blue Mass held o Suday, September 11, at St. Thomas Aquias Church i Fairfield. Almost 600 people tured out to hoor local police, fire ad first respoders ad commemorate all those lost i the 9/11/2001 terrorist acts. They processed ito the church to the tue of America the Beautiful, while the stirrig recessioal bega with Taps, followed by the Natioal Athem ad the Battle Hym of the Republic. The church was filled with me ad wome i uiform ad the bright hoor guard flags they carried dow the aisle. Fiftee years ad it seems like yesterday, said Father Marti, pastor of St. Thomas, who oted that 2,996 were killed o that day ad aother 6,000 ijured i the attacks o New York, Washigto D.C. ad over the skies of Pesylvaia. Father Marti said he had recetly visited the 9/11 Museum ad was struck by a iscriptio o the ceilig, We came i as idividuals but we walked out together. I praisig local police, fire ad rescue workers, Father Marti NEARING COMPLETION, the ew wig of the Catherie Deis Keefe Quee of the Clergy Residece will be dedicated o October 9. The additio will add 16 suites for retired priests of this diocese. said they are always ready to save others at the worst momets. You eter at your ow risk. From our hearts, we thak you. May God bless you always ad always keep you safe. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao cocelebrated the Mass with Father Marti ad other priests from the diocese. Whe you ru ito dager, Christ s victory comes with you. He stads with you every step of the way, the bishop said to all those who serve. At the ed of Mass, Bishop Caggiao preseted special awards for compassio, service ad bravery to Greewich Police Sergeat Michael B. O Coor; Norwalk Police Officer Mark Suda; Fairfield Police Officer Mark Letsch; Sir Kight Agelo Ferades of Bridgeport; ad log-time police ad fire chaplai Msgr. Willam J. Scheyd, pastor of St. Aloysius Parish i New Caaa. Msgr. Scheyd became the first diocesa priest to receive special recogitio at the Blue Mass. The gatherig rose to give him a stadig ovatio for his 51 years of service as a priest ad as a ad cotiued service, said Bishop Caggiao whe he visited the site earlier this summer. Accordig to William McLea, chief developmet officer of the diocese, the capital campaig for the residece has raised almost $3.5 of the $4 millio eeded for the ew wig ad for the repair ad reovatio of the existig facility. Needed improvemets to the curret structure iclude replacemet of the existig roof; expasio of the kitche to accommodate service for additioal residets, with ew refrigeratio ad appliaces; ew carpetig ad furishigs i the commo area; iterior ad exterior paitig; ad upgraded fire alarm, HVAC fire, police, ad EMT chaplai throughout Fairfield Couty. The Blue Mass takes its ame from the blue uiforms wor by police, fire ad emergecy services persoel. Fouded by Bishop William E. Lori, the Blue Mass was iitiated to celebrate the life ad heroism of those who died durig the 9-11 terrorist attacks i New York, Pesylvaia ad Washigto, D.C. Music for the 9/11 Mass was provided by the St. Thomas Aquias choir uder the directio of David Harris. The Mass is sposored each year by the Fairfield Couty Coucils ad Assemblies of the Kights of Columbus. Police ad Fire chaplais ow at work throughout the diocese: ad electrical. Msgr. William Scheyd, episcopal vicar for seior priests, said there are 80 priests i the diocese over the age of 75. Some retired priests cotiue to live i parish settigs, while others live o their ow or with family. May of the retired priests i the diocese cotiue to help out i parishes, schools, ursig homes ad other settigs, he oted. The curret residece provides 17 suites for idepedet livig for retired priests. Vickey Hickey is servig as admiistrator. (For more iformatio, phoe To make a gift olie, go to quee-clergy/home) Father Charles Alle, SJ, Fairfield Tow Emergecy Services; Father Michael Boccaccio, Norwalk Police Departmet; Father David Blachfield, Norwalk Police Departmet; Msgr. Laurece Brokiewicz, Ridgefield Police Departmet; Msgr. Stephe DiGiovai, Stamford Police Departmet; Father Bruce Roby, Stratford Fire Departmet; Father Thomas Thore, Westport Police ad Fire Departmets ad Federal Bureau of Ivestigatio; Father Fracis Hoffma, Noroto Fire Departmet; Father Christopher Perrella, Noroto Heights Fire Departmet; Deaco Joh Moraski, Bridgeport Police Departmet. Also, Deaco William Murphy, Germatow Fire Departmet; Father Samuel Scott, Dabury Police Departmet; Father Robert Post, Stamford Fire Departmet; Msgr. William Scheyd, New Caaa Emergecy Services ad Norwalk Fire Departmet; Msgr. Richard Shea, Trumbull Police Departmet; Father Terrece Walsh, Stamford Police Departmet; Father Frak Wi, Gleville Fire Departmet; Father Michael Du, Westo Police ad Fire Departmets; Father Joseph Cervero, Reddig Police Departmet; Deaco Frak Masso, Hutigto Voluteer Fire Compay No. 3; ad Father Nicholas Pavia, Stratford Police Departmet.

4 4 September 2016 Foudatios i Educatio Greewich receptio to Beefit Foudatios BRIDGEPORT A receptio to beefit Foudatios i Educatio will be held i the home of Frak ad Ly Mara of Greewich o Friday, October 14, from 7-9 pm. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will atted ad offer brief remarks o the foudatio, which was established earlier this year to support Catholic educatio i the diocese. Gerard Baker, editor i chief of The Wall Street Joural ad Dow Joes Newswires, will speak with the guests about the importace ad value of Catholic educatio i the lives of idividuals ad the larger commuity. I am very grateful to the Mara family, to the ewly formed Board of Trustees, ad to all those who will be attedig the receptio, said Bishop Caggiao. Support for the foudatio is critical as we move forward with may iitiatives to sustai ad grow Catholic educatio i the diocese. The eveig will iclude three EXPLORING THE WONDERS OF TECHNOLOGY, a elemetary school studet gets idividual guidace from her teacher. Alog with academic excellece, Catholic schools offer studets a chace to experiece ad grow i the life of faith. special auctio items highlighted by use of a New York Giats luxury suite for the November 20 game agaist the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 pm. The luxury suite icludes 24 tickets, 6 parkig passes ad a $1,500 credit toward food ad beverages. Other auctio items for the eveig iclude Mass ad bruch (for up to 20 people) with Bishop Caggiao i his Trumbull chapel ad residece, ad a had crafted Rustic Bar Wood America Flag, size 8 x 11, by paiter ad visual artist Ly Mara, whose work has eared wide recogitio i galleries ad other istallatios. Proceeds from the fudraiser will support two of the major goals of the ewly established foudatio; professioal developmet for teachers ad admiistrators ad a iovatio fud to support curriculum ad other advaces. A fudraiser for the Bishop s Scholarship Fud, the third major program of the foudatio, will be held i the Sprig of Trustees of the ewly formed Foudatios i Educatio iclude David Cappiello, Robert Dilescheider, Joh Eppolito, R. Bradford Evas, Lawrece Kudlow, Ned Lautebach, Daiel McCarthy, Thomas McIerey, Julia McNamara, Berard Reidy, Gerard Robilotti, Joseph Roxe, Robert Scito ad Michael Shea. About Gerard Baker: Gerard Baker assumed the role of editor i chief of The Wall Street Joural ad Dow Joes o Jauary 1, Prior to that appoitmet, Baker served as deputy editor i chief of The Wall Street Joural ad Dow Joes. Before joiig the Joural, Baker was the U.S. editor ad a assistat editor of The Times of Lodo. From 1994 to 2004, he worked for the Fiacial Times, first as Tokyo Correspodet, where he wrote about the coutry s fiacial crisis, ad the, from 1998 to 2002, as Washigto bureau chief. Before joiig the FT, Baker worked for the BBC from , as a producer, the as U.S. producer, ad fially as ecoomics correspodet for TV ad radio. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford Uiversity, where he graduated i 1983 with a First Class Hoours degree i philosophy, politics ad ecoomics. (The cost of the receptio is $500/ perso. For more iformatio, cotact Maggie Graado: or mgraado@diobpt.org.) Catholic Educatio Trasforms Lives Iterview: Ly Mara O the eveig of October 14, Ly ad Frak Mara will host a fud raisig receptio at their home i Greewich to beefit the ew Foudatios i Educatio, which was recetly established to support Catholic educatio i the diocese. Whe asked by Bishop Frak J. Caggiao to cosider hostig the evet, the couple immediately said yes. It s a humblig request, but we re big fas of the bishop, Ly Mara said, ad we have always bee willig participats whe it comes to our faith ad the Catholic Church. I the iterview below, she discusses her commitmet to Catholic educatio ad her hopes for the eveig. Did you ad your husbad atted Catholic Schools? Frak ad I come from large families. He s oe of eleve. Ad I am oe of six. We are both products of a Catholic educatio from start to fiish, as are our four sos. I thik our faith was the greatest gift our parets gave us. Ad we have passed that gift alog to our kids. The motto at the Catholic high school they atteded is to become Me for Others ad to Live Jesus i our hearts, FOREVER! Your commitmet to Catholic schools exteds to a history of persoal voluteerism. Yes, we voluteered at Greewich Catholic School begiig with the pre-school years ad ultimately spet twety oe years there! At GCS, we made our best frieds i life while our boys were beig outfitted with a GPS system for life. Aythig we do is small compared to what we have received. I believe we have all bee called to miister i ay way we ca; usig the gifts each has bee give. The truth is the bishop had us at hello, really. Ad so, that s how it bega. How was Catholic educatio formative i the life of your family? Frak ad I feel very strogly about our Catholic educatio experiece. We would t trade that gift for aythig. It has taught us how to avigate life while receivig excellet educatios. Thikig back o my ow Catholic school experiece, there is oe lesso that stads out above all i my mid. Somethig my first grade teacher Sister Dorothy at Sacred Hearts of Jesus ad Mary i Southampto, Log Islad, said that has resoated with me all these years. She taught us that our purpose i life was To kow, love ad serve the Lord. Imagie receivig the iformatio you eed at the age of six to ulock life s most pressig mystery: Why am I here? Ad, what is my purpose? Catholic educatio s ability to trasform lives seems more importat ow tha ever. This is a time i our life ad culture whe we are sufferig a crisis of purposelessess. So it s easy to recogize that the most importat lesso I ever leared was so basic ad yet so profoud. I was oly six. We owe so much to our parets ad teachers; sisters, brothers, ad priests. They laid the foudatio for our faith. They shared their faith with us ad they urtured that callig i each of us. If trasformig people oe at a time is at the heart of God s pla for the world, the Catholic schools are to credit for much of this trasformig. What ca guests expect for the eveig? Guests will have a special opportuity to be i the presece of Bishop Caggiao, liste to the persoal testimoy of a special guest, Gerry Baker of The Wall Street Joural, ad ejoy a eveig amog frieds with cocktails, hors d oeuvres ad music. To cap it off, we ll have a live auctio that offers some extraordiary opportuities. Our goal is to raise at least $100,000 for Foudatios i Educatio! We look forward to seeig as may people as possible.

5 September Local News Michelle Smith amed coordiator of CSC BRIDGEPORT Michelle Smith has bee amed coordiator of the ew Catholic Service Corps (CSC), a syod iitiative created i respose to the call for service ad the eed to egage youth i faith ad good works. Michelle s experieces as a religious educatio teacher, evets plaer, fudraiser ad media director will provide faithful leadership as we work to brig the Catholic Service Corps to full fruitio, said Bishop Frak J. Caggiao. She uderstads that works of service are grouded i faith ad part of the formatio process for our youg people. Smith s first priority has bee the developmet of parterships ad voluteer opportuities for the upcomig September 24 Day of Service. The day will iclude projects across the diocese, cocludig with a Mass celebrated by First Niagara Bak doates $15,000 NEW HAVEN First Niagara Bak, N.A., a wholly owed subsidiary of KeyCorp, recetly doated $15,000 through the First Niagara Foudatio to the Bishop s Scholarship Fud, a program of the ewly lauched Foudatios i Educatio to support Catholic educatio i Fairfield Couty. The moey will be used to offset the cost of tuitio for Fairfield Couty studets. Last year the Bishop s Scholarship Fud distributed $2.2 millio to more tha 1,800 studets i eed of fiacial assistace to atted a Catholic school. Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of Catholic Schools i the Diocese of Bridgeport said that qualified studets typically receive half or full tuitio assistace through this program. The average cost of tuitio withi the diocese is $6,400 for elemetary studets ad $12,100 for high school studets. Support from local compaies like First Niagara is the reaso so may families i Fairfield Couty are able to choose Catholic schools for their Bishop Caggiao i the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Sacred Heart Uiversity i Fairfield. I m very excited about this opportuity to lauch the Catholic Services Corps, said Smith who grew up i St. Fracis of Assisi Parish i Westo. Whe I was a youg perso, these service opportuities did t really exist. It s excitig that they re available to youg childre today. Egagig youg people i service is importat to the future of the uiversal Church. She said the CSC will put service i the Catholic cotext of social justice ad make youg people more aware of the challeges i our diocese. The haves ad have-ots live side by side i Fairfield Couty, co-existig with oe aother, ad there are may eeds. Social justice surrouds SUPPORT FOR BISHOP S SCHOLARSHIP FUND--Represetatives from First Niagara Bak recetly preseted a $15,000 check to Bishop Frak J. Caggiao ad Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of Catholic Schools (l-r) Kare Crae, seior commuicatios maager; Art Rhatiga, middle market sales leader; Bishop Caggiao; Dr. Cheesema; ad Boie Geppart, seior accout executive, First Niagara Beefits Cosultig. childre, said Bishop Caggiao. First Niagara s commitmet is essetial to this year s scholarship fud, ad we are extremely grateful for their geerous cotributio. The Diocese of Bridgeport educates more tha 9,000 studets i its 31 Catholic schools (grades pre-k to 12) icludig five high schools, 28 elemetary schools, ad oe school for studet with special eeds. More tha 60 percet of studets i diocesa schools receive fiacial MICHELLE SMITH the eed for service. Smith said she hopes that the corps igites a flame or pas- assistace, ad 15 percet of studets are o-catholic. Educatio i Catholic schools provides a uique opportuity for childre to achieve academic excellece i a faith-filled eviromet that urtures ad forms them. Those who support Catholic educatio support the etire commuity ad ivest i the future of our youg people, said Dr. Cheesema. Foudatios i Educatio was established i 2016 by sio i the kids to grow i their faith. They will be able to look right ad look left ad see how may others are ivolved i service doig service. Hopefully, it will also lead them to Mass o Sudays. Smith said the goal is t simply to put youg people to work but she hoped to create a voluteer experiece that is ivitig, affirmig, iclusive, social ad fu. Smith joied Fairfield Prep this fall as a member of the Theology Departmet. She has served as campus miister, theology teacher, ad director of middle school social justice ad service at the Covet of the Sacred Heart i Greewich sice She is also curretly a doctoral cadidate i religious educatio at Fordham Uiversity. Smith, her husbad, Jim, ad Bishop Frak J. Caggiao as part of a ew model of fudig for Catholic educatio i the diocese. I additio to the Bishop s Scholarship Fud, the fully idepedet Foudatios i Educatio houses fuds to support professioal developmet of teachers ad staff ad to promote iovatio i the curriculum. It also icluded a edowmet to support iercity schools. First Niagara is proud to support orgaizatios that make the commuities we serve better places to live, work ad atted school, said Jeff Hubbard, First Niagara s New Eglad Regio presidet. The scholarship program is a excellet example of a orgaizatio workig hard to create quality educatioal opportuities for all studets ad we are excited ad hoored to have cotributed to this worthwhile cause. (For more iformatio o Catholic schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport, visit For more o First Niagara Bak, visit their four childre are log-time parishioers of St. Fracis of Assisi Parish. (For more iformatio o the Catholic Serve Corps, cotact Michelle Smith: msmith@diobpt.org.) Youth Day of Service Set The diocese will formally lauch the ew Catholic Service Corps (CSC) with a day of service ad a Mass celebrated by Bishop Frak J. Caggiao o Saturday, September 24. More tha 100 youg people who are participatig i pilot programs for the service corps will be at work i a variety of settigs icludig Merto Ceter i Bridgeport, New Coveat Ceter i Stamford, Coecticut Food Bak, Morig Glory i Dabury, Al s Agels i Westport, ad the St. Vicet DePaul Society o the grouds of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish i Norwalk. Michelle Smith, the ewly amed coordiator of the Catholic Service Corps, said the youg people will be paitig, servig food, stockig shelves, wrappig gifts, ad doig yard work ad clea-up projects for those i eed. Smith said some of the 15 CSC chapters ivolved i the pilot program may be sedig as few as five youg people, while others may sed 20 or more. Each service project will combie youg people from various groups i order to provide a better learig experiece ad to reiforce the uiversal call to service. The youg people will work at their assigmets from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Each chapter will begi their service with a brief prayer ad reflectio o the work they are about to udertake, Smith said. After four hours of service, they will gather at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Sacred Heart Uiversity for Mass with Bishop Frak J. Caggiao who will ask the youth to reflect o their service as a outgrowth of their faith. The Mass will be followed by a picic o the grouds of the uiversity that will give the youg people from differet parishes ad orgaizatios the opportuity to meet ad socialize. Each youg perso will receive a Catholic Service Corps T-shirt. Smith said that iterest i the Catholic Service Corps is growig. At preset, whe asked about joiig, she directs them to existig chapters. I year two of the projects, she hopes to be able to add ew chapters to the diocesa effort.

6 6 September 2016 Ier-City Foudatio Harry Coick, Jr., to perform at Ier-City beefit Harry Coick, Jr., will perform at the 25th Aual Beefit Dier for the Ier- City Foudatio for Charity & Educatio o November 1 at the Hyatt Regecy i Greewich. The aual beefit provides critical fudig for the charity s support of programs servig the eediest adults ad childre i Fairfield Couty. This year marks the charity s 25th aual beefit dier. We are delighted ad hoored that Harry Coick, Jr., will perform at our beefit i November, says Richard T. Stoe, executive director of the Ier-City Foudatio. We really wated to mark our 25th year, ad hoor all those who have helped us for the last quarter cetury, i a sigificat way. Harry Coick, Jr., is a world-class star, ad havig a itimate performace by him at our beefit is goig to make it a extremely rare ad special eveig. It will be rare ideed to see Harry Coick, Jr., i such a itimate settig, sice he regularly sells out much larger veues aroud the world. The multiple Grammy award wier has bee etertaiig audieces sice the age of five, whe he performed the music of his ative New Orleas as a piaist ad vocalist. He moved to New York at age 18, siged with Columbia Records ad three years later achieved multi-platium success. Over the past three decades, he has established himself as a legedary musicia, siger, composer, live performer ad best-sellig artist with millios of records sold aroud the world. He is also a accomplished actor ad televisio persoality, Catholic Cemeteries Diocese of Bridgeport Pre-plaig your fial restig place will give you ad your family peace of mid Purchasig a crypt i advace affords you the opportuity to have up to two years to pay iterest free Crypts are available at the followig cemeteries: St. Michael Cemetery 2205 Stratford Aveue Stratford, Coecticut St. Joh Cemetery 223 Richards Aveue Norwalk, Coecticut St. Mary Putam Cemetery 399 North Street Greewich, Coecticut By choosig a Catholic Cemetery, oe selects a fial restig place that reflects the beliefs ad values from life s persoal jourey. It is a restig place that is sacred ad shared with all believers awaitig the resurrectio of the dead ad the promise of everlastig life. ad has received Emmy awards ad Toy omiatios for his work o the stage ad scree. He joied America Idol as a judge i 2013 alogside Jeifer Lopez ad Keith Urba. His ew atioally-sydicated daytime televisio variety show Harry kicked off o September 12. Despite his busy career, Coick has always foud the time to be charitable ad has doe some of his most importat work i his efforts to help his ative New Orleas rebuild after the devastatio of Hurricae Katria. He ow leds a had to assist a similar populatio here i Fairfield Couty. The foudatio expects that his ame will reder their beefit a hot ticket this fall, ad that it will be a boo to their 25th year fudraisig effort to raise $2.5 millio this year more tha twice what they typically raise i a year. Need is up but fudig is dow, says Stoe. State budget cuts i April have had a devastatig impact o the most vulerable members of our commuity. Fouded i 1992, The Ier- City Foudatio supports orgaizatios providig food, clothig, shelter, educatio ad couselig to at-risk ad eedy childre ad adults of Fairfield Couty. Orgaizatios may apply for grats; all applicatios are thoughtfully cosidered, says Stoe. We carefully vet all these orgaizatios to make sure they are efficiet ad effective, ad we look for orgaizatios that are providig ot oly a safety et but also a sprigboard to a better future, says Stoe. Ad because of our experiece, miimal staff ad dedicated, passioate voluteer board members, we re highly efficiet. Niety percet, or 90 cets, of every dollar that we raise goes directly to the orgaizatios we support. This year, the Ier-City Foudatio for Charity & Educatio awarded close to $1 millio i grats to 48 differet orgaizatios throughout the couty. About half of the fuds awarded wet to educatio, particularly i Bridgeport, with a sigificat portio awarded to Fairfield Couty programs that provide for the disabled, the hugry, the homeless, or programs that provide help for victims of domestic violece or addictio. This is frotlie, importat support, says Jeff Wieser, presidet ad CEO of Homes with Hope, a grassroots orgaizatio addressig homelessess i Westport. The Ier-City Foudatio has, for more tha 16 years, supported the may mothers ad childre who fid safety, comfort ad life skills here. Over the past year aloe their support for our orgaizatio has helped 15 families move from homelessess to a stable positive housig experiece. The eed has simply ever bee greater, says Stoe. If we ca covice 25 corporatios, as well as 25 idividuals, to each doate $25,000, that will go a log way towards gettig us to our goal of $2.5 millio i the HARRY CONNICK, JR. comig year. Emmy award-wiig televisio weather ad ews achor Dave Price of NBC 4 New York will be the Master of Ceremoies for the 25th Aual Beefit Dier. Barbara ad Ray Dalio, Bill Mitchell ad Jack Welch are hoorary chairs of the evet. The Mitchell family is chairig the Beefit Committee alog with co-chairs Audrey ad Daiel Dorier, Hele ad Da Fitzpatrick, ad Vilma ad Dick Matteis. Bill Tommis of Bak of America chairs the Corporate Committee, ad Joe Lae ad Bria Mora co-chair the 25 for 25 Campaig, the corerstoe of the charity s 25th year appeal. (For tables ad tickets or for more ifo about the Ier-City Foudatio or to doate to the 25th year appeal, visit commuicatios@iercityfoudatio.org or call ) Kidey Needed My ame is Peggy Karbovaec ad I desperately eed a kidey trasplat. To lear more about my situatio, please cotact me at: maggieclaire@gmail.com Or visit my website: Or call: Yale NY Presbyteria

7 September Local News World Youth Day s impact BY REBECCA VODOLA BRIDGEPORT Durig the te days spet i Polad for World Youth Day, the 231 pilgrims from the Diocese of Bridgeport visited pilgrimage sites aroud Polad, icludig the home of the Black Madoa ico ad St. Joh Paul II s boyhood home; prayig, sigig ad dacig with other pilgrims from close to 190 coutries; ad welcomig ad celebratig Mass with Pope Fracis. Orgaizers estimate that close to two millio people gathered i Krakow for the festivities. To see the rich diversity of the group, to participate i the joyful sog of our music leaders, to witess the dace of praise that accompaied the morig prayer was to see the beauty of our Church at its best, shared Bishop Frak J. Caggiao via his Facebook page. The pilgrims faced impassable rai, miles-log walks each day ad outdoor campig to participate i World Youth Day gatherigs. The group was preemptively heedig Pope Fracis advice from his Suday homily. Whe it comes to Jesus, we caot sit aroud waitig with arms folded; he offers us life we ca t respod by thikig about it or textig a few words! exclaimed the potiff. Oe of the most itese experieces came whe the pilgrims visited Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi s cocetratio ad death camps. This visit was especially movig for the delegatio from Kolbe Cathedral High School i Bridgeport, amed after St. Maximilia Kolbe who died at Auschwitz. Kowig that I was stadig i the cell where St. Maximilia Kolbe was executed, after havig leared about him at school, was overwhelmig, said Beedicte Kabogo, who is eterig his seior year at Kolbe. I was so moved by the etire experiece ad most especially whe i the cell where St. Maximilia Kolbe had bee held ad executed, said Travis Saders. As a Kolbe Cathedral studet, that place, our school s amesake, held special meaig. It is difficult to explai, but there was a sese of horror at what happeed there, while at the same time a sese of holiess due to the life of St. Maximilia Kolbe. Father Augustie Nguye, Kolbe s chaplai, was also moved by the experiece. For me persoally, the highlight of the pilgrimage was the day whe we wet to Auschwitz, he said. There were thousads of youg people, but you could ot hear a word. It was a powerful ad solem momet; most people were either prayig siletly or meditatig. This was especially true whe we visited Block 11, where St. Kolbe was killed. The culmiatio of the pilgrimage came as the hudreds of thousads of pilgrims gathered for Suday s World Youth Day Closig Mass with Pope Fracis i Krakow. Pope Fracis ecouraged the FAIRFIELD Uited States District Judge Edgardo Ramos will discuss the curret crisis i the justice system ad icarceratio treds at the 2016 Red Mass ad breakfast that will take place o Suday, October 2, at 9 am i the Ega Chapel of Fairfield Uiversity. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will cocelebrate the Mass with Fairfield Uiversity s presidet, Father Jeffrey vo Arx, SJ, who will be preseted the St. Thomas More Award for his support of the Red Mass over the years. Breakfast will immediately follow i the Oak Room i the campus ceter. The public is ecouraged to atted the Red Mass alog with all attoreys, crimial justice ad legal professioals. This is a timely ad itriguig topic for our breakfast program ad we re very grateful that Judge Ramos will share his uique perspective o these issues, said Ae McCrory, chief legal ad real estate officer of the Diocese of Bridgeport. From his positio behid the bech, as well as his experiece as a prosecutor, ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE EXPERIENCES for these pilgrims from Kolbe Cathedral High School i Bridgeport was a visit to Auschwitz. There was a sese of horror at what happeed here, while at the same time a sese of holiess due to the life of St. Maximilia Kolbe, recalls Kolbe s Travis Saders. District Judge to discuss justice system challeges at Red Mass Judge Ramos faces these issues routiely. As we cotiue i our jourey through the Year of Mercy i the Church, it is importat for Catholic legal professioals to be aware of the issues causig ad resultig i huma struggles aroud us. We look forward to Judge Ramos remarks. The aual Red Mass, celebrated i may dioceses across the coutry, traditioally seeks guidace from the Holy Spirit for all who strive for justice, ad offers the opportuity to reflect o the resposibilities ad challeges faced by Catholic legal practitioers. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos Edgardo Ramos was appoited Uited States District Judge for the Souther District of New York o September 15, 2011, after beig omiated by Presidet Barack Obama. He bega his term as a judge o December 15, Bor i Poce, Puerto Rico, Judge Ramos eared a B.A. i 1982 from Yale Uiversity ad a J.D. i 1987 from Harvard Law School. From 1987 util 1992, he was a associate with the law firm of Simpso Thatcher EDGARDO RAMOS & Bartlett. I 1992 he etered public service as a assistat U.S. attorey i the Easter District of New York, servig i that capacity for 20 years. Judge Ramos joied the law firm that would ultimately become Day Pitey LLP i Jue 2002 as a parter i the White Collar ad Iteral Ivestigatios Group. I 2003, he was appoited by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to serve o the Commissio to Combat Police Corruptio. Judge Ramos has served o the goverig boards of the Hispaic youg people ot to forget their faith after returig home. The Lord does t wat to remai i this beautiful city or i cherished memories aloe. He wats to eter your homes, to dwell i your daily lives: i your studies, your first years of work, your friedships ad affectios, your hopes ad dreams. How greatly he desires that you brig all this to him i prayer! Pope Fracis aouced at the Closig Mass that the ext World Youth Day will be held i Paama i Natioal Bar Associatio, the Coecticut Hispaic Bar Associatio ad the Puerto Rica Bar Associatio of New York City. He has also served o the Crimial Law ad Muicipal Affairs Committees of the New York City Bar Associatio. I 2008 Judge Ramos was elected as a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Coecticut Bar Foudatio. Bishop Caggiao has urged all legal professioals icludig attoreys, legislators, judges ad other legal professioals to atted the Red Mass ad to cosider joiig the St. Thomas More Society, a associatio of Catholic attoreys with a log history of charitable work. The bishop will recogize the work ad dedicatio to Catholic educatio of Father vo Arx, the host of this year s Red Mass, with a St. Thomas More Award. (Fairfield Uiversity is located at 1073 N. Beso Road, Fairfield. The cost of the breakfast is $45/ perso; tables are $450. For tickets, go to com/rsvp. For questios, dtietje@diobpt.org or phoe: )

8 8 September 2016 St. Peter s Parish, Bridgeport Local Mass hoors Sait Mother Teresa BY ALEXANDRIA FAIZ The same day pilgrims flooded ito St. Peter s Square at the Vatica to observe Pope Fracis caoize Mother Teresa o Suday, September 4, a overflowig crowd filled St. Peter Parish i Bridgeport at 2 pm. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao celebrated a Mass of Thaksgivig to hoor the deeply beloved foudress of the Missioaries of Charity ad mark the Jubilee for the Workers ad Voluteers of Mercy. Although she is ow officially St. Teresa, she will always be called Mother by those who follow her lovig example. The bishop called Mother Teresa a moder-day apostle of charity ad bega his homily with the questio Why are you doig this? This bewilderig questio, the bishop explaied, was posed both by the extremely poor idividuals whom Mother Teresa embraced i Idia as well as by authorities whom she challeged with her selfless acts. Her respose started with I love you but it did t ed there. She dared to go to the poorest of the poor ad dared to love. She clothed them, she fed them, she touched them just as Jesus did. The bishop said may people thought she was crazy, but i truth her life defied what it meas to be a Christia. We are SAVE THE DATE SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2016 AN OVERFLOW CROWD filled St. Peter Parish i Bridgeport for a Mass to hoor the caoizatio of Mother Teresa, ow St. Teresa of Calcutta. The local Mass took place o September 4, the same day the Vatica caoized St. Teresa i St. Peter s Basilica i Rome. The oly covet of the Missioaries of Charity, the religious order she fouded, i Coecticut is located ear St. Peter s. (PHOTO BY ALEXANDRIA FAIZ) all workers of mercy, he remided the cogregatio. We must love util it hurts ad expect othig i retur. The Mass attracted Catholics from parishes aroud the Diocese of Bridgeport ad eve from New York. Multiple vas filled with members from various religious orders pulled up i frot of the church just before the celebratio. It was the group of six Sisters who walked to St. Peter s wearig the same simple white habit with blue trim wor by Mother Teresa who received the warmest welcome. The Missioaries of Charity, a worldwide order fouded by Mother Teresa ad ow composed of over 5,600 wome ad me i approximately 140 coutries, has occupied a covet o Beechwood Ave. i Bridgeport sice Purchasig that home, the oly oe for the order i Coecticut, was oe of the first acts doe by Bishop William E. Lori whe he became Bridgeport s Bishop i March Bishop Lori actually met Mother Teresa whe he worked i Washigto. A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY STAMFORD MARRIOTT HOTEL 243 TRESSER BOULEVARD, STAMFORD, CT Joi us at 6:30pm for dier, live auctio ad dacig with a special appearace by Shadows of the 60 s. Reserve your place early by phoe: or olie at: Joiig Bishop Caggiao ad Father José Rebaque, pastor of St. Peter s, for the Thaksgivig Mass was Father Bria Gao, pastor of St. Theresa Parish i Trumbull, who met Mother Teresa i Rome whe he was a semiaria. He celebrates Mass for the Bridgeport Sisters oce a week ad, durig the Thaksgivig Mass, he held a first-class relic cotaiig a drop of Mother Teresa s blood for the cogregatio to veerate. Mother Teresa has other direct coectios to Coecticut. Chris Faga, a Yale Uiversity graduate, created the oil paitig that was selected as the official portrait of Mother Teresa at the Caoizatio Mass at the Vatica. Also, Dr. Jeremiah J. Lowey, Jr., a former board member of People s Uited Fiacial, headquartered i Bridgeport, ow heads the Haitia Health Foudatio after becomig close frieds with Mother Teresa. Throughout the lobby ad dowstairs hall at St. Peter were posted hadwritte biographical pieces ad historical photos of Mother Teresa, urgig more local residets to be ispired by her example. Oe recalled the call withi a call that Mother Teresa received o a trai ride from Calcutta to Darjeelig i Idia o September 10, It was the she heard Jesus tell her: My little oe, come, come, carry me ito the holes of the poor. Come, be my light. I caot go aloe. They do t kow me, so they do t wat me How I log to eter their holes, their dark, uhappy homes. The Bridgeport Sisters distributed framed portraits of Mother Teresa alog with T-shirts, prayer cards, ad miraculous medals to each family at the Suday receptio, so others ca brig the ew sait ito their homes. Fully embrace the Cross where mercy was bor, advised Bishop Caggiao. Addig that he ca t avoid beig frak (beig that s his first ame), he eded his homily with these words: As differet as we are, actios defie us. While policies are beig hotly debated, people are still hopeless, homeless, ad hugry. Mother Teresa taught us that true reewal, true rebirth, happes oe perso at a time. Mercy ad charity will reform the world.

9 September Wome s Spirituality Register ow for Wome s Coferece BY REBECCA VODOLA Wome of all ages are ivited to participate i the third aual Wome s Coferece for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Made By Love, For Love, to be held Saturday, November 12, at the St. Catherie of Siea Family Ceter, 210 Shelto Rd., Trumbull. The coferece will ru from check-i at 9:30 am util the closig Mass at 5:30 pm. Ejoy time spet away from the world to focus o persoal spiritual health while surrouded by other Catholic wome doig the same. The coferece will feature dyamic keyote speakers, Mass celebrated by Msgr. Thomas Powers, opportuities for the Sacramet of Recociliatio ad private Eucharistic adoratio, Eucharistic processio, commual prayer ad Catholic vedors. Speakers iclude Simcha Fisher, Catholic mom ad blogger; Damo Owes, certified St. Vicet s hoors Voluteers of the Year BRIDGEPORT St. Vicet s Medical Ceter hoored its 2016 Voluteers of the Year icludig Bridgeport residet Laura Durki ad Braford residet Bria D. Sager. More tha 150 of the hospital s dedicated voluteers atteded the aual Recogitio Receptio, markig service aiversaries ragig from 100 to 10,000 hours. I total, 300 voluteers doated more tha 46,000 hours durig the past year ad have served the Medical Ceter well i may departmets. Our voluteers are truly the heart ad soul of our hospital, explaied voluteer services director Julie Lawrece. They ehace the patiets experiece, support our staff, ad lead by example by demostratig service to others. Laura Durki Whe Laura Durki moved to Coecticut from Brookly five years ago, she immediately missed the bustlig city eviromet ad looked for a opportuity to coect with more people. Fortuately for St. Vicet s, Laura applied to be a voluteer, ad sice the has bee brigig smiles to patiets ad families. She also has ever missed a SWIM Across the Soud evet ad leds her talets to several departmets, icludig the St. Vicet s Medical Ceter Foudatio, iformatio desk, Missio Services, ad Pastoral Care. She also serves as a Eucharistic miister. I eed a lot of people aroud me ad I empathize with the patiets who are lookig to talk to someoe ad who eed to be comforted, said Durki. St. Vicet s is such a welcomig place. The staff ad voluteers are friedly ad I always look for ways we ca work together i order to help patiets ad families. Laura is a model for Voluteer Services behavior. She raises her had to fill i where we eed her, ad wherever she is frot desk, SWIM evets, Foudatio, or patiet areas she is makig people smile! shared Lawrece. Bria D. Sager A Staford Uiversity graduate ad mior league baseball pitcher is t who immediately comes to mid whe you thik about a ursig studet. However, Bria Sager is just that, ad he s pursuig his callig to be a RN at St. Vicet s College. Bria has served as presidet of the college s chapter of the speaker for the Theology of the Body Istitute; ad Sister Mary Elizabeth Wusiich, SV, Vicar Geeral for the Sisters of Life. Simcha Fisher is a cradle Hebrew Catholic, freelace writer, blogger, ad mother of ie youg kids. She received her BA i literature from Thomas More College i New Hampshire. Fisher cotributes to Crisis Magazie, Aletheia, ad Faith & Family Live. She is the author of The Sier s Guide to Natural Studet Nursig Associatio ad has bee a very active voluteer, first with the aual SWIM Across the Soud Maratho ad the at St. Vicet s Special Needs Services. Bria was itroduced to St. Vicet s Special Needs by its director of ursig Christia Logde, ad has sice voluteered for the aual Easter Egg Hut, FEROLETO Day, the Special Needs School Prom, the Elizabeth M. Pfriem Circus, ad much more. The studets ad staff at Special Needs are amazig people, said Sager. It s my philosophy to jump right i ad help out whe I ca. I would ecourage ayoe to voluteer there. Bria is a all-star to the studets, said Lawrece. He is compassioate ad carig ad has stepped up to coordiate fellow ursig studets to voluteer with him to support our childre with special health care eeds. Family Plaig. Damo Owes keeps a full iteratioal speakig schedule at cofereces, marriage semiars, uiversities, high schools, semiaries, ad parishes o the good ews of marriage, sexuality, Theology of the Body, Theology of the Family, adoptio, ad NFP. He is married ad has eight childre. Sister Mary Elizabeth Wusiich, SV, after fiishig studies i Theology at Fracisca Uiversity of Steubeville, she etered the Sisters of Life i She has served as postulat BY MAUREEN CIARDIELLO director, ovice director, director of the Family Life-Respect Life Office for the Archdiocese of New York ad curretly as the vicar geeral for the commuity. (Coferece cost is $45/perso, icludes breakfast, luch, sack, ad hospitality bag. Religious Sisters are free. Accommodatios are available for ursig moms of ifats. Fiacial assistace is available for wome i eed or studets. For scholarship iformatio, cotact Mauree Ciardiello: mciardiello@diobpt.org or For more iformatio o the coferece, visit Respect Life Put o the Mid of Christ Respect Life ecompasses may differet aspects. Certaily it is about protectig the ubor, but it also meas extedig compassio ad love to those who may have bee coerced ad pressured ito a decisio or felt that there was o other way out. Respect Life is a miistry of accompaimet, meaig we are available ad willig to walk spiritually, emotioally ad physically with ayoe who is at their most vulerable i life, whether it is durig times of trauma, a illess or health challege, death of a loved oe or providig meas for food ad shelter. It is a willigess to set aside judgmets ad put o the mid of Christ, to be that lovig witess of compassio ad tederess that he so ofte exteds to us. It is our way of payig forward through him, with him ad i him. I ca thik of o better witess who emulated this for us i moder times tha Mother Teresa, ow kow as St. Teresa of Calcutta. How may images have we see of this great sait i which she caressed the sick ad comforted the sad, poor ad loely? She put ito actio the very meaig of huma digity, treatig each perso o matter the sis ad circumstaces, whether they were clea or dirty, with the utmost respect. This is what Respect Life is all about. Let us keep these thigs i mid, alog with this quote from Mother Teresa as we celebrate Respect Life Moth. Each oe of them is Jesus i disguise. (October is Respect Life Moth. Father Bob Kially, chacellor of the diocese, will celebrate the Respect Life Mass o Suday, October 2, at 11:30 at Holy Spirit Parish i Stamford. For more iformatio, cotact Mauree Ciardiell director of Respect Life Miistry: or mciardiello@diobpt.org.)

10 10 September 2016 Youth News Tees Fa the Fire o a 100 degree day BY REBECCA VODOLA Nearly 500 youg people tured out for the 11th aual Fa the Fire Youth Rally for a day of praise, prayer, worship ad fellowship grouded i faith. Despite the day s swelterig heat that permeated St. Rose s gymasium, tees jumped ad daced to praise ad worship music led by Katie Keogler ad Kevi Doova. A crowd favorite was Hillsog Youg ad Free s Real Love, a sog about livig i the love of God. I Your heart, I m foud, shouted hudreds of tees wavig glowsticks as darkess fell outside. Yeah, this love is for real. Fa the Fire is a day-log, sacramet-based youth rally held aually i three U.S. locatios. The spiritual youth rally was origially created to fa the fire of the Holy Spirit i the hearts of youth after summers filled with Catholic youth cofereces ad missio trips. The Coecticut rally, held at St. Rose of Lima Parish i Newtow, offered the Sacramet of Recociliatio, Holy Mass with Bishop Frak J. Caggiao ad Eucharistic Adoratio. Adoratio gave me time to reflect o why I really came to Fa the Fire, shared Grace Gilbertie, icomig teth-grader ad parishioer at St. James Parish i Stratford. The whole day is about expadig your SAINT MARY S CHURCH The Mother Church of Norwalk 669 West Ave., Norwalk Pastor: Rev. Richard G. Cipolla Parochial Vicar: Msgr. Igacio Barreiro MASSES: Daily Masses: Moday-Friday 8:00 am, 12:10 pm; Wedesday 6:00 pm Extraordiary Form; Saturday 9:00 am Extraordiary Form Saturday Aticipatory Mass: 4:00 pm, 7:00 pm (Spaish) Suday: 8:00 am, 9:30 am Lati High Mass, 11:30 am Eglish High Mass, 1:15 pm (Spaish) faith, ad Adoratio gave us all time to thik about doig that. The theme of the day was #(hashtag) Witess. Tees heard witess talks ad had the opportuity to share their ow faith witess i small-group discussios. Colorado-based Steve Agrisao, musicia, sogwriter ad youth miister, shared a witess talk ad provided etertaimet for the day. Agrisao urged tees to frequet the Sacramet of Recociliatio, eve if they had ot bee to Cofessio i a while. Visitig priests from parishes aroud the diocese traveled to St. Rose to hear cofessios. Dozes of tees took the opportuity to receive the sacramet. Throughout the day tees joked with their frieds, played games like a variatio of rock-paper-scissors that ivolved diosaurs ad ijas, shared stories about the recet evets of World Youth Day ad spet time i the makeshift adoratio chapel i Holy Iocets Hall throughout the day. Rodd Blessey, St. Rose s high school youth miister, orgaized the evet. Kights of Columbus from the Virgilius Coucil 185 voluteered as security ad staff, takig shifts stadig outside i the record-breakig 100-degree heat to serve the faithful tees. I his homily, Bishop Caggiao brought laughter from Deaco Stepha A. Geovese CONFESSION SCHEDULE: Moday-Friday: 11:30 am-12:00 pm; Wedesday: 5:30-5:50 pm; Saturday: 3:00-4:30 pm ADORATION: Wedesdays: 8:30 am-5:15 pm; Fridays: 8:30 am-5:30 pm the youg people whe he shared a story about his struggles as a youg priest to fa a fire that almost got out of cotrol durig oe Easter Vigil as he attempted to light the Pascal cadle. The Easter Vigil starts each year with the priest lightig the Paschal cadle from a larger fire ad itoig the words, May the light of Christ, risig i glory, dispel the darkess of our hearts ad mids. I tried to light the vigil fire three times. Fially, the altar servers faed the buddig flame, ad it leapt up toward me, Bishop Caggiao recouted. It was so hot ad powerful that it early bured off my eyebrows! The bishop s story illustrated the effect Fa the Fire hopes to have o the hearts of youth across the diocese. With eyebrows itact, the tees left the evet burig with the fire of the SAINT MARY S BOOKSTORE Offerig a wide selectio of books, crucifixes, rosaries, sacrametals from Italy ad the Holy Lad, First Commuio & Cofirmatio gifts, & more. HOURS: Saturday 10am-2:30pm Suday 9-9:30am ad 11am-2pm Moday-Friday 2:45-4:45pm Located i Parish Ceter buildig behid Sait Mary Church VISA/MC ACCEPTED WORSHIP, FRIENDSHIP, FUN AND FAITH weave i a eergetic mix at Fa the Fire Youth Rally. The day-log evet gives tees a chace to share, deepe ad expad their faith. Holy Spirit. I a age whe the Church is ofte viewed as atiquated, hu- Off the Streets gets people housed BY PAT HENNESSY dreds of tees proved that she is alive ad well. Yeah, this love is for real! People eed to kow that the homeless are out there. They re workig people you meet i the elevator, they re parets you see at the PTA, says Deaco Kevi Moore, admiistrator for Off the Streets miistry i the Bridgeport/Fairfield/Trumbull area. The Off the Streets miistry was origially started by Deaco Michael Oles i Dabury. Deaco Moore leared about the miistry at a Northeast Regioal Deaco Covocatio i 2012, where Michael Oles was coductig a talk o helpig the homeless. I was impressed. They were actually gettig people ito apartmets, ot just givig them a blaket agaist the cold, he recalls. After he retired i 2013 he determied to start a chapter of the miistry i this part of Fairfield Couty. Kevi wo t talk to you about how hard it was to get his miistry started, says Joe Simos, who took over the Dabury miistry whe Deaco Oles moved to Pesylvaia. He just talks about how importat it is ad how may people have bee helped. Both me emphasize that Off the Streets focuses o a particular segmet of the homeless populatio, those with a reliable source of icome. They may be workig, or o Social Security disability, or be veteras, Deaco Moore explais. We help people who will be able to pay their ow ret oce they re stabilized. Beig homeless is like havig your feet stuck i quicksad, adds Simos. No matter how hard you try, you ca t put your life back together. You lose hope. Deaco Moore serves at Our Lady of the Assumptio Parish i Fairfield. The parish gave the miistry a boost by lettig them use their former covet to hold furiture ad household goods. Mauree Boda, a Assumptio parishioer, is treasurer. Elle Moore, Kevi s wife, is the miistry s secretary. What we see are a lot of people who get miimum wage, she otes. They have jobs, they work very hard, but they ca t save for the deposit to get a apartmet. I the past three years, with the help of Off the Streets, 53 people have bee moved ito stable, affordable housig. Referrals to the miistry come from agecies i the area, icludig Catholic Charities, Operatio Hope i Fairfield ad Prospect House i Bridgeport. Off the Streets always works i CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

11 September Feature Ulockig the Mystery Oe ma s jourey ito sacred art BY BETH LONGWARE DUFF Dr. Frak DeStefao s iterest i sacred art should come as o surprise, give his PhD i history from Fordham Uiversity ad a stit teachig the subject at Sacred Heart Uiversity i Fairfield before switchig to a career as a fiacial advisor. The DR. FRANK DESTEFANO writer ad lecturer has traveled extesively i Italy pursuig his passio for Reaissace artists, icludig oe amed Giorgioe who remais somethig of a mystery to this day. DeStefao will teach a class o how to look at a Veetia Reaissace paitig o Wedesday, October 12, as part of the Lifelog Learers program at the Fairfield Seior Ceter. He will also coduct his aual tour of the staied glass widows at his church, Our Lady of the Assumptio i Fairfield, o November 20. Eve i his ow time, Giorgioe was regarded as oe of the greatest paiters of the Reaissace, but he died from the plague at the age of 33, says DeStefao, explaiig his fasciatio with the paiter. There s a air of mystery ot oly about his paitigs, but also about his ow perso. The Reaissace was a culturally rich period that bega i Italy ad ecompassed the 14th to 17th ceturies, bridgig the Middle Ages ad moder history. Aptly amed (Reaissace meas rebirth ), the movemet cotributed wide-ragig developmets i philosophy, literature, music ad art that ultimately spread across the cotiet. Best kow amog the Italia Reaissace artists are Leoardo da Vici, Michelagelo, Botticelli, Rafael ad Titia. Giorgioe a cotemporary of Titia ad co-fouder with him of the Veetia school of Italia Reaissace paitig is lesser kow but ifluetial evertheless. Bor Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfraco i 1477, Giorgioe was oe of the first Veetia paiters to work i oil paits. Oly a hadful of survivig paitigs are clearly attributed to him, icludig Tempest ad Three Ages of Ma. DeStefao has studied both i depth ad has reached his ow iterpretatios of THE THREE AGES OF MAN, a eigmatic Reaissace paitig by Veetia paiter Giorgioe, is ope to may iterpretatios. Dr. DeStefao believes that it may reflect a religious theme. the subject matter. You see somethig ad you have a ituitio about what it is, ad the the work comes afterward, he says, explaiig his process. You fid out that o oe kows what the paitig is eve the greatest scholars so it could be somethig that o oe has ever thought of before. Tempest, he maitais, could be more aptly titled The Rest of the Holy Family o the Flight ito Egypt; i Three Ages of Ma, DeStefao sees The Ecouter of Jesus with the Rich Youg Ma based o the ieteeth chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. As he otes o his olie blog, the title Three Ages of Ma is actually based o pure guesswork ad the disparity i ages of its three subjects because Giorgioe left o writte otes regardig his work. DeStefao also rejects a previous iterpretatio that the paitig is of a music lesso. Istead, he believes that the paitig is, i fact, sacred art that illustrates Matthew s story of the wealthy youg ma who asked Jesus what he must do to gai eteral life. He describes the process that brought him to this coclusio as beig based o seeig with my ow eyes ad obvious details. That ma o the right obviously looks like Jesus. Is there a icidet where he s talkig to a youg ma? Obviously, we have the story from St. Matthew s Gospel, explais DeStefao. If you read a little further i the Gospel, St. Peter comes ito the picture ad asks Jesus, What s goig to happe to us? He buttresses his argumet by fidig sigificace i the way the subjects are dressed ad the colors Giorgioe used. Jesus wears a garmet or vestmet that s gree, the color used by the Catholic Church durig Ordiary Time. I the middle of the paitig, the youger ma s garmet has golde lapels ad he s sportig a fashioable (for the time) hat, both idicatios that he is well off. O the left side of the paitig, St. Peter is robed i red, the color reserved for the feast days of martyrs. DeStefao s advice to people who are iterested i gaiig a greater uderstadig of art is to take advatage of the resources offered by the museums they visit icludig docets ad audio guides to gather as much iformatio as they ca. The, carefully examie all the elemets of a paitig. Eve without a guide, you have to uderstad that every detail i a Reaissace paitig is importat. It s ever there by accidet, he otes. Most Reaissace paitigs tell a story, ad most of the time it will begi i the backgroud, the move to the middle groud ad fially to the characters i the foregroud. View them i that order ad cosider how these thigs are related. (Additioal iformatio about DeStefao s exploratio of sacred art ca be foud at

12 12 September 2016 St. Ladislaus, Norwalk Parish welcomes ewcomers BY MARICARMEN GODOY O February 20, 2015, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao asked Father Jua Gabriel Acosta, a priest of this diocese bor ad raised i Colombia, if he would be willig to take charge of St. Ladislaus Parish i South Norwalk, a parish that had bee established by Hugaria immigrats. After almost four geeratios the parish had few Hugaria parishioers left ad their pastor, Father Michael Bachma, was the at retiremet age. Father Bachma had o skill i Spaish, ad the eighborhood had filled i recet years with Hispaic families. The bishop told me that the parish had t bee able to respod to the eeds of the chagig eighborhood, recalled Father Acosta. He asked me if I would be willig to assume that task. Father Acosta at that time was 31 years old ad had bee ordaied oly a year ad a half earlier. He was servig as parochial vicar at earby St. Joseph Parish. It was a huge task for a priest so recetly ordaied. O March 2 he received the keys to the buildigs, the accouts ad ledgers ad ecclesiastical records. With great hope, the youg pastor embarked o a faith-filled pastoral edeavor. He immediately bega distributig flyers throughout the eighborhood, lettig everyoe kow of his appoitmet ad aoucig that St. Ladislaus was begiig a ew Hispaic Miistry, icludig four Masses i Spaish each week daily Mass o Modays ad Tuesdays, a Saturday vigil Mass at 6:30 pm ad Suday Mass at 12:30. He also aouced a special schedule for the Sacramet of Recociliatio i Spaish ad the establishmet of persoalized spiritual couselig. The first Mass i Spaish with Father Acosta as pastor was celebrated o Palm Suday, I thak God that, sice that first Mass, the church has always bee full, Father Acosta said. Parishioers, both those of Hugaria backgroud ad their Eglish-speakig eighbors, have welcomed 350 Hispaic families ito the parish, givig it a ew, multicultural feelig. The parish is ow home to about 1,000 parishioers. All parishioers are eergized by the strog growth the parish has show uder Father Acosta s iitiative. The parish had three altar servers whe he came to St. Ladislaus. I the past year this umber has multiplied may times over; ow he has 31 servers. The umber of childre i TRADITIONAL DEVOTIONS like this oe to Our Lady, iitiated by Father Jua Acosta, have welcomed a growig umber of Hispaic families ito St. Ladislaus Parish i South Norwalk. religious educatio has grow from 20 studets to 100. They are guided by biligual teachers, sice the classes are i Eglish ad may of the childre are ewly arrived i this coutry ad eed extra assistace. As the umber of childre i religious educatio has grow, so has sacrametal preparatio. Next sprig, St. Ladislaus will see 42 childre receive their First Holy Commuio. From oly oe marriage i 2014, the parish saw three i 2015; this year has already see four weddigs celebrated i the first half of the year, with three more scheduled through September. Baptisms have show a eve greater icrease. There was oly oe baptism i After he aouced the begiig of the Hispaic Miistry outreach, Father Acosta presided at 45 baptisms last year ad 30 more i the first half of This summer he will baptize 10 more. Ulike the origial Hugaria fouders of St. Ladislaus, the ewest parishioers share a laguage but come from a umber of differet coutries with differet traditios. The Colombia commuity CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

13 September Catholic Charities Boyla Awards to be preseted at 100th Gala At its 100th Aiversary Gala Celebratio o September 24, Catholic Charities of Fairfield Couty (CCFC) will recogize ie idividuals with a award amed i hoor of its foudress, Dr. Marguerite T. Boyla. Deeply rooted i Christia values, Dr. Boyla was kow for her commitmet ad devotio to servig those i eed. A recogized pioeer ad leader i professioal social work, she was cosidered a usug hero of the poor. The Dr. Marguerite T. Boyla Awards will be preseted to the followig usug heroes of the poor, who have demostrated through their actios the philosophy ad spirit of Dr. Boyla herself. Peggy Cepois: A active parishioer at St. Mary Parish i Ridgefield, Cepois helped reigite the parish youth group, mobilizig youg people to orgaize food ad clothig drives for the Thomas Merto Ceter i Bridgeport; tutor other youth at St. Peter Parish i Bridgeport; serve breakfast at Morig Glory; ad cook diers at New Coveat Ceter i Stamford. I 2008 she focused her eergies o CCFC s Morig Glory Breakfast Program ad helped lauch the Market Place food patry there. Cepois has foud that she coects with the homeless populatio, ad ow devotes most of her time ad efforts to their eeds. Cepois said, Catholic Charities has always ecouraged me to see the whole perso, ad ot just the wrog turs i their life. ST. LADISLAUS FROM PAGE 12 cotributes the largest umber, followed by families from Ecuador, Costa Rica, Hoduras ad Peru. They are joied by the ethusiastic participatio of Mexica Catholics who have brought to the parish their strog devotio to Our Lady of Guadalupe. A group devoted to Our Lady uder that title is meetig o a regular basis with Father Acosta to pla celebratios. Cristiaa Soriao, who has bee a member of a Maria group at St. Ladislaus for 18 years, is pleased that the parish has embraced the traditioal Mexica observaces. Father himself took charge of lookig for a mariachi bad PEGGY CEPONIS FATHER JOHN GUILIANI BRUCE AND LINDA KOE DENIS AND BRITTA NAYDEN for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He will celebrate the Mass ad we will prepare the kids of food that traditioally accompay the fiesta. Norwalk Police Officer César Ramirez of the Departmet of Commuity Relatios, a parishioer at St. Ladislaus, cosiders that the comig of Father Acosta has meat a resurrectio of the parish. With his charisma ad his youth he has maaged to attract, ivigorate, ad give a ew dyamism to the faith of the ew immigrats who live i South Norwalk. (Maricarme Godoy is a editor with La Voz Hispaa de Coecticut.) ANNE AND MARY SOMMER Father Joh Guiliai: The Thomas Merto Ceter would ot exist were it ot for Father Joh Guiliai. I the 1970s, he ad a group of studets joied forces to establish the Thomas Merto House of Hospitality i Bridgeport ad the the Good Shepherd House of Hospitality i South Norwalk, both of which served as models for New Coveat Ceter i Stamford ad Dorothy Day House i Dabury. Never oe to slow dow, i 1977 Father Joh, alog with two others, fouded The Beedictie Grage. The Grage explored a ew moasticism, balacig a life of cotemplatio with a life of active works of social justice. I recet years, the Grage has exteded its cocers to assistig the udocumeted through support to idividuals ad to the Office of Immigratio Services at Catholic Charities. Father Joh represets a hybrid of roles priest, teacher, artist, liturgist, poet, theologia, activist, humaitaria ad faithful servat. Bruce ad Lida Koe: Bruce ad Lida Koe s approach to givig back is othig if ot dow-to-earth. Both are extremely active i Triity Church, Greewich, where they co-fouded Loaves ad Fishes, a group that regularly cooks ad serves meals at New Coveat Ceter. Bruce fouded Me s Social Outreach; ad Lida serves o the Missios, Outreach ad Justice committee. Due to Lida s passio for addressig food isecurity, they took a deepdive ito New Coveat Ceter. Lida served as secretary of the New Coveat advisory board, fouded the aual Harvest Table fudraiser six years ago, ad has devoted coutless hours of voluteer time. Betwee moetary doatios ad o-the-groud actio, the Koes have bee istrumetal i supportig the New Coveat Ceter of the future. Deis ad Britta Nayde: There s a strog maget that draws Deis ad Britta Nayde to take actio: youg people. The Naydes have bee stalwart supporters of the Bishop s Scholarship Fud, St. Catherie s MSGR. ROBERT WEISS Academy, Triity Catholic High School ad the Uiversity of Coecticut. Aother youth-cetered cause that s close to their hearts is Build O, a orgaizatio that helps break the cycle of poverty ad illiteracy worldwide. I hoor of Deis brother, the Naydes established the William Nayde Memorial Scholarship at Triity Catholic High School. Over the last 13 years, this scholarship has grow ito a $1.2 millio dollar edowmet, providig over 30 scholarships for Triity Catholic studets. Why do these members of St. Leo Parish i Stamford do so much to help others? Deis explaied: Our family grew up i Catholic schools ad churches, where there s a costat remider of what s actually importat to do i life. Ae ad Mary Sommer: The Sommers tale is a geeratioal oe. Ae, ow i her 90s, has bee the guidig-star of her family of eight childre. She istilled a passio for helpig others by brigig her youg flock to serve at the Thomas Merto Ceter, where she was a board member for may years. Her eldest child Mary, a Supreme Court Judge for the State of Coecticut, was ispired early o by her mother to jump ito social actio. Mary has served o advisory boards for child advocacy programs, priso literacy programs, ad juveile justice activities. Mary s husbad, Jay Sadek, is a lead trustee with the Siger Foudatio, which doated $500,000 to New Coveat Ceter. The Sommer wome have truly maifested faith i actio with their cotiued commitmet to CCFC. Mary says, I believe so deeply that Fairfield Couty would be a very differet place were it ot for Catholic Charities. Msgr. Robert Weiss: Whe the Sady Hook shootig struck four years ago, Msgr. Weiss, the pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish i Newtow, was faced with a commuity i shock, despair, ad loss. But he provided comfort, guidace, ad hope to his exteded commuity. The Sady Hook School shootig required edless hours of carig people reachig out to those who were afraid, those most deeply affected by loss ad ijury ad a commuity i shock. Charities was there from the begiig, he says, ad stayed by our side for moths, providig what they provide the best: cofidece that darkess will ot overcome light, hurt ca be healed ad forgiveess leads us to hope. (The Catholic Charities 100th Aiversary Gala celebratio will take place o Saturday, September 24, at the Marriott Hotel i Stamford. Festivities begi at 6:30 pm ad will iclude dier, dacig to the music of the JK Bad ad a special musical performace by Shadows of the 60 s: A Tribute to Motow. To purchase tickets go to or call )

14 14 EDITORIAL New Begiigs What do you thik whe you see the first yellow school bus o the road? Well, as a driver you re likely to thik of traffic tie-ups ad a slower commute. But for the moms, dads ad kids alog the route, life is about to go ito high speed. The lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer are doe. This is a time of ew begiigs, a fresh start, ad edless possibilities. All childre, whatever school they atted, will have the opportuity to grow ad stretch their mids this school year. For studets i Catholic schools, the ew year is a chage to grow i the kowledge of faith as well. A Catholic educatio provides the sprigboard to realizig the perso God iteds each oe to be, says Lori Wilso, ew pricipal of the St. Adrew Academy campus of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. That s what all of us wat, for ourselves as well as our childre. As they hop aboard the bus, filled with promise, they are headig ito the future. I a world goe crazy, we adults hope that the world they build will be fouded o faith, love, carig ad compassio. Share a little of that hope, alog with a short prayer, while you wait behid the yellow bus. A good thought to start with is oe offered by Dr. Gail Kigsto, the ew pricipal of St. Lawrece School i Shelto. It comes from Mother Teresa, ewly caoized as St. Teresa of Calcutta: Yesterday is goe. Tomorrow has ot yet come. We have oly today. Let us begi. A Third Aiversary! O September 19, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao sailed past his Third Aiversary as Fifth Bishop of Bridgeport ad what a remarkable three years it has bee! The 2014 Syod brought together hudreds of delegates i a year of plaig for the reewal of the diocese, ad that umber grew to thousads at the closig Celebratio Mass at Webster Bak Area. I the last year aloe, the diocese has lauched the Diocesa Youth Choir, take 300 youg people ad their chaperoes to World Youth Day i Polad, ad moved forward with may ew iitiatives based o the eergy ad recommedatios of the syod. A pilot program for the ew Catholic Service Corps will brig youg people together later this moth for a diocesa day of service. Likewise, the ew Leadership Istitute is workig toward the lauch of a excitig ew olie effort that will deepe the ecouter, formatio ad discipleship of all Catholics i our diocese. Alogside these iitiatives is the ogoig work of chage i the strategic plaig ad self-assessmet efforts that have the potetial to revitalize schools ad parishes, ad better positio them for growth ad vitality i the future. To be certai, there is much hard work ahead, ad perhaps some difficult decisios as the diocese respods to preset challeges ad future eeds. However, Bishop Caggiao has bee with us every step of the way, workig tirelessly as reaches out to the faithful i so may liturgies ad activities throughout the diocese, while also fulfillig his atioal resposibilities by servig o several committees of the Uited States Coferece of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). While we have much to be grateful for i his sacrificial leadership, the bishop would be the first to express his gratitude to all of those who have respoded to his call ad who have give so geerously ad faithfully over the past three years to move the diocese forward. O behalf of all, we wish him a happy Third Aiversary ad may more to come! Chage rooted i Prayer Jauary may get the official title as New Year, but for may of us the year really begis i September: the kids are back i school, ad there s a whirlwid of activity throughout the diocese. I the midst of all of the meetigs, iitiatives, ad acts of service, the bishop has always emphasized that the chage we seek must be rooted i prayer ad worship. With that i mid, you may wat to pla o attedig some of the upcomig prayer services: Diocesa Pilgrimage Pla ow to sped a afteroo at St. Augustie Cathedral o November 5, 1-6 pm, for what will prove to be a memorable ad deeply prayerful day to re-cosecrate the diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as we move forward with plas for the future. Vespers for the Strategic Pla The Vespers service, to be led by Bishop Caggiao o October 11, 7:30 pm at the Cathedral, will be a opportuity to pray over the work ad discermet that has goe ito the Parish Self-Study. Eveig Prayer for Leadership Istitute As the diocese moves toward the lauch of the Leadership Istitute, it will host a Eveig Prayer Service o November 3, 7 pm, at St. Matthew Parish i Norwalk. Surprise! EDITOR S CHOICE BRIDGEPORT Catholic Ceter staff surprised Bishop Frak J. Caggiao o his 10th aiversary as a bishop whe they preseted him with siged photos of the World Series Champioship N.Y. Mets from the 1969 ad 1986 seasos. The bishop, who grew up i Brookly ad is a lifelog Mets fa, was geuiely surprised ad delighted by the framed photos ad autographs of Met legeds. He thaked all diocesa employees for their dedicatio ad teamwork i makig the diocese successful. My te years as a bishop have bee the most marvelous ad challegig i my life, the bishop told the gatherig of about 70 employees ad the semiarias who came up from the St. Joh Fisher Semiary i Stamford to participate i the Mass ad bruch that followed. RECTOR REVEREND PAUL N. CHECK, Executive Director of Courage Iteratioal to Rector, Sait Joh Fisher Semiary, Stamford. Effective date is December 31. PASTOR REVEREND MICHAEL F. DOGALI, Episcopal Vicar for Strategic Plaig to Pastor, Sait Joseph Parish, Shelto. Effective date was September 3. Father Dogali will o loger serve as Episcopal Vicar for Strategic Plaig. PAROCHIAL VICAR REVEREND RUSSELL A. AUGUSTINE, Parochial Vicar, Sait Mary Parish, Ridgefield to Parochial Vicar, Sait Mark Office of Commuicatios Diocese of Bridgeport 238 Jewett Aveue Bridgeport, Coecticut telephoe fax fcc@diobpt.org web USPS o.: Periodical postage paid at Bridgeport, CT 06601, ad additioal mailig offices. CLERGYAPPOINTMENTS The Most Revered Frak J. Caggiao, Bishop of Bridgeport, has made the followig clergy appoitmets i the Diocese of Bridgeport: Parish, Stratford. Effective date was September 15. REVEREND SEAN KULACZ, Parochial Vicar, The Cathedral Parish, Bridgeport to Parochial Vicar, Sait Mary Parish, Ridgefield. Effective date was September 15. SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR REVEREND JOSEPH GILL, has bee appoited to serve as Spiritual Director of the Choir for Youth (C4Y) of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Effective date was September 1. Father Gill will remai Episcopal Chaplai for Triity Catholic High School, Stamford. RESIDENCE REVEREND MICHAEL P. NOVAJOSKY, Sait Jude Parish, Most Revered Frak J. Caggiao Publisher Bria D. Wallace Executive Editor bdwallace@diobpt.org Pat Heessy Maagig Editor pheessy@diobpt.org Reée Stamatis Art Director rstamatis@diobpt.org Ralph Lazzaro Advertisig Maager rlazzaro@diobpt.org Bria A. Wallace Graphic Desiger bwallace@diobpt.org Joh Grosso Social Media Leader jgrosso@diobpt.org Roie Lazzaro Copy Editor (Cosultat) September 2016 Moroe to Sait Augustie Cathedral, Bridgeport. Father Novajosky will remai Episcopal Chaplai for Sait Joseph High School. Effective date was September 15. DEACON DEACON THOMAS FEKETE, Deaco, Sait A Parish, Bridgeport to Deaco, Our Lady of Peace Parish, Stratford. Effective date was September 8. ASSISTANT MASTER OF CEREMONIES DEACON JOHN DITARANTO, has bee appoited to serve as Assistat Master of Ceremoies. Effective date was September 1. Mosigor Thomas W. Powers, Vicar Geeral, September, 2016 Advertise To place a ad, cotact Ralph Lazzaro: Circulatio Every registered Catholic household i Fairfield Couty is etitled to a subscriptio. To cacel, chage or add a address, please fcc@diobpt.org Aual Subscriptio Price $20 (withi diocese) $50 (outside diocese) Postmaster sed address chages to: Fairfield Couty Catholic 238 Jewett Aveue Bridgeport, Coecticut Copyright 2016, Diocese of Bridgeport

15 September Editorial Takig the Year of Mercy to the street I callig for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Fracis wrote, Let us ope our eyes ad see the misery of the world, the wouds of our brothers ad sisters ad recogize that we are compelled to heed their cry for help. If, i this home stretch of the Year of Mercy, you are lookig for a way to act as God s Co-worker, to go out of your comfort zoe to brig God s Mercy ad Love to those most wouded ad vulerable, look o further tha the upcomig 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, Ever see a miracle? Five beautiful babies have bee bor right before my eyes, each bearig my ow family ame ad placed right ito my arms. I d say that s a miracle. Baby William James called Billy Boy by some joied us i July. The Big Lad came out the same way the rest of them did kickig, carryig o, ad lookig like a Irish potato. There s a family resemblace. Oce, I would have said he takes after my dad. Now I have to ow it he takes after me. The birth of a baby is a beautiful thig, though ot without A WOMAN S VOICE BY DR. LENORE SNOWDEN OPALAK Dr. Leore Sowde is affiliated with St. Vicet s Medical Ceter i Bridgeport, ad is a parishioer at Our Lady of the Assumptio Parish i Fairfield. September 28-November 6. Durig the 12-hour per day vigil (with 1-2 hour prayer shifts) prayers are raised for the coversio of hearts ad mids, for God s all-ecompassig love to reach wome desperate eough to seek a abortio, ad for compassio ad healig of the may hidde wouds of abortio. Did you kow that whe you pray for the livig ad the dead, you are performig a Spiritual Work of Mercy? Did you kow that whe you refer a woma with a crisis pregacy to Malta House or the Sisters Miracle o Perryridge Road A DAD S VIEW BY MATTHEW HENNESSEY Matthew Heessey ad his family are parishioers of St. Aloysius i New Caaa. axious momets. The build-up is itese, like a Cape Caaveral coutdow or a World Cup shootout. Whe the momet comes, the release is exhilaratig. I m a mush, so I weep. It slays me every time. Hail Mary, full of grace, bless this child ad pray for us siers today, tomorrow, ad util the ed of time. Uder the hot medical lamps of the delivery room, happy tears ad swirlig devotios meet the hospital aroma of gree soap ad foot ik i a epic sesory bouillabaisse, a true life evet marked by baby s first hugry cry, a momet you kow will flash before your eyes of Life, you are performig a Corporal Work of Mercy? Did you kow that whe you help a pregat woma obtai a ultrasoud so that she might see ad fall i love with her baby, you are performig a Spiritual Work of Mercy? reflects Sharo Bolad, oe of the coordiators of 40 Days for Life i the Diocese of Bridgeport. I cooperatio with God s pla, much ca be accomplished through prayer coupled with sacrifice ad service. While prayer is the corerstoe of the 40 Days for Life iitiative, the public witess of the vigil touches hearts ad provides opportuity for ecouter ad potetial evagelizatio. Durig the most recet 40 Days for Life i Dabury, held durig Let of this year, the sight of the pray-ers alog Mai Street drew the curiosity of passersby, some of who stopped to egage i coversatio ad ask questios about why we pray, what we are prayig for, ad what we believe. Amog these were a lapsed at the hour of your death. I love it so much that I always wat to do it agai right away. Maybe that s why labor ad delivery urses seem so happy with their jobs. It s hard work, always challegig. But at the ed of it all, a baby is bor. Woder of woders; miracle of miracles. Of course, there ca be tragedy i a delivery room. I ve see eough of death to kow that life ad livig, ad babies beig bor is the far-superior optio. For the righteous, somethig glorious awaits i God s arms. Let s ot rush to get there, shall we? Billy Boy s stay i the hospital was peaceful. No oe tried to speak to him about global warmig or Doald Trump. Time Catholic, somewhat wistfully watig to kow about the Church he had bee away from for years, ad Christias of other deomiatios watig to fid out more about Catholicism. There was also a outpourig of kidess ad plety of ecouragemet, from the friedly waves ad thumbsup of drivers, to stragers brigig coffee, sacks ad words of gratitude. While the fruits of prayer remai largely ukow, oe story recouted by a participat i a previous vigil dispels ay doubt about the effectiveess of the peaceful witess of the prayer vigil: O the secod day at the vigil, a va pulled up, with a youg woma driver who smiled ad beckoed us closer What kid of world awaits our miracle? Oe shudders to thik how low humaity might go i the ext 85 years. stads still for a ewbor baby. Nothig matters but mommy. What kid of world awaits our miracle? Oe shudders to thik how low humaity might go i the ext 85 years. I was bor i 1973, the seaso of Watergate ad of Roe v. Wade. All i all, ot a auspicious time to debut. Thigs tured out. They ofte do. Youg Billy s homecomig was marked by celebratio. Luckily, our Clara has all the baby-crazy isticts you d expect i a 12-year-old girl. It s ice to have a extra pair of hads hady. She eve chages diapers. Alog with the uplift came upheaval. The ew arrival altered the delicate balace of our family system. The rookie has some of the veteras worried about losig their spots i the battig order. to her car. She told us that the year before, she had scheduled a abortio, but whe she arrived at the cliic ad saw the people i prayer, with the sigs showig a beautiful smilig baby, she could ot go through with the abortio. After she told us this, she hopped out of the va, opeed the side door, ad poited to a ifat girl with tousled curls sleepig i her baby seat. The youg mother looked at us ad said, This is the baby that I was scheduled to abort. Ad the she thaked us. (For iformatio o the ext 40 Days for Life, to be held September 28-November 6 i frot of Plaed Did you kow that whe you pray for the livig ad the dead, you are performig a Spiritual Work of Mercy? Parethood, 44 Mai St., Dabury, go to 40daysforlife.com.) Our Sally called Little Sal by some is t quite four. She s take the ew arragemet hardest. The love for her ew brother is there, but the commitmet to peaceful coexistece is t ot yet, ayway. It s a textbook case of siblig rivalry. She has bee displaced. Expressio is the eed of our souls. Though Sally ca t quite fid the words, she has foud several ew souds. These souds are dreadful souds, tremblig souds, the kids of souds you hear at the edge of the forest durig a full moo. Little Sal has regressed. So what? It happes to the best of us. Oe step up, two steps back, ad all that jazz. I ca t say I m operatig at my peak these days either. With sleep patters ad eatig habits o tilt, my togue is sharper tha usual ad my temper shorter tha ever. I firmly ited to do peace, to si o more, ad to avoid whatever leads me to si. I the meatime, I rejoice i all that is good ad great about the family way. Keep a eye ope. Miracles happe every day.

16 16 September 2016 Catholic Educatio Restructurig icreases effectiveess BRIDGEPORT With the support of Bishop Frak J. Caggiao, the Office of the Superitedet has bee restructured to best meet the eeds of the 28 diocesa elemetary school campuses, five high schools, ad St. Catherie Academy for special eeds childre. I am cofidet that the ew team will work together to esure a bright future for our schools ad our approximately 9,000 studets, said Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport. We will, i collaboratio with pricipals ad commuity stakeholders, establish strategic goals ad implemet iitiatives to address idividual school eeds ad to esure challegig ad iovative educatioal programs throughout the diocese. Assistat Superitedat Sister Marily Muldoo, OSU, who previously served as Ope House director of iclusive services for diocesa schools workig out of St. Catherie Special Needs Ceter i Fairfield, has bee amed assistat superitedet of schools. Deeply coected to the diocese, she was bor i Norwalk ad baptized at St. Joseph Church there, the moved as a youg child to Brookfield, The promise of a Notre Dame educatio is to produce a leader... Atted our fall ope house ad see for yourself the icredible success stories walkig our halls every day. To lear more about our excitig tuitio discout partership with Sacred Heart Uiversity, visit otredame.org/shu. SISTER MARILYN MULDOON, OSU where her family made aother St. Joseph s their home parish. I wet to diocesa schools St. Joseph s i Brookfield ad Immaculate High School, she says, proud of her Diocese of Bridgeport roots. She also taught at St. Joseph s i Brookfield before joiig the Ursulie Sisters. Sister Marily holds her bachelor s degree from WestCONN, ad eared three master s degrees, the first from Fairfield Uiversity i educatio ad the other two i admiistratio ad special educatio, both from the College of New Rochelle i New York. She joied the New York Provice of the Ursulie Sisters of the Roma Uio, ad has taught ad bee pricipal i the Diocese of Ogdesburg (upstate New York) ad the Archdiocese of New York. Comig home to this diocese, she taught at St. Theresa School i Trumbull SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 AT 2:30 PM. Please pre-register at otredame.org before beig amed pricipal of St. Catherie Academy i I her positio as director of iclusive services she worked closely with teachers ad pricipals throughout the diocese. I ve bee able to see what makes each school a special place, she says. Eve so, every time you chage positios you lear somethig ew. We re all lifelog learers. Sister Marily is a member of St. Catherie of Siea Parish i Trumbull. Associate Superitedet Stacie Stueber hails from the East Ed of Log Islad. She ad her husbad, Rick, ad their four childre are members of St. Isidore Parish i Riverhead, where she serves as a lector. I am a product of Catholic educatio, she says proudly. I have actually taught at two of my alma maters, St. Isidore School, my elemetary school, ad Mercy High School (ow McGa-Mercy High School) both i Riverhead. Stueber holds her BA degree i Eglish, with a mior i educatio, from Sacred Heart Uiversity i Fairfield, a MA degree from SUNY Stoy Brook, a secod master s from Fordham Uiversity i the Catholic School Leadership Program ad a Advaced Certificate from Fordham i School District Leadership. She has taught every grade from K-12, begiig at St. Please joi us for our STACIE STUEBER Isidore where she was the school s first techology teacher. She taught secod grade at Our Lady of Mercy Regioal School i Cutchogue before movig to the high school level. At McGa- Mercy she taught literature, jouralism ad digital photography to grades 8 through 12. She also coached softball ad cheerleadig at the JV ad Varsity levels Stueber s most recet positio was pricipal of Our Lady Quee of Apostles Regioal School i Ceter Moriches, a PreK-8 school. I am blessed to be a part of the Diocese of Bridgeport ad am very excited to begi this ew school year, says Stueber, who plas to visit all of the diocesa schools durig the upcomig year. I look forward to workig with all of the schools i carryig out the missio of providig a excellet Catholic educatio to the studets i Fairfield Couty. I additio to these appoitmets, Theresa Sciallo, who has bee assistat director of marketig ad erollmet for the past five years, is ow director of commuity egagemet. Marti Tristie will cotiue i the positio of assistat to the superitedet. FALL OPEN HOUSES 220 Jefferso Street Fairfield, CT Admissios Office otredame.org K-Grade 8 Ope House Thursday, October 13, :00-10:00 am Preschool Ope House Friday, October 14, :30-10:30 am RSVP at Ca t make it? We would love to arrage a tour; just call (203) Sait Mary School admits studets of ay race, color, creed or ethic origi. Preschool - Grade 8 Natioal Blue Ribbo Wier

17 September Catholic Educatio Superitedet s Office welcomes ew pricipals BY PAT HENNESSY The Diocese of Bridgeport has aouced the appoitmet of eight ew pricipals for the upcomig school year. Our pricipals brig a wealth of expe- the parets of four grow childre, are parishioers at St. Philip Parish i Norwalk. I am so excited about becomig a part of the St. Augustie Academy family, she says. It is a woderful school full of childre ad have three gradchildre. Her home parish is St. Paul s i Greewich. I m excited to be workig i Bridgeport, she says. I feel that it is a privilege to be part of the educatio of ay child, as it opes widows of opportuity for them to create a better world. A Catholic educatio provides the foudatio of learig that is a CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 A WARM WELCOME from Dr. Steve Cheesema (l), superitedet of schools, greeted the ew elemetary school pricipals at a meetig i the Catholic Ceter. (l-r) first row, Euice Giaquito, St. Catherie of Siea, Trumbull; Natalia Cruz, Star of the Sea, Stamford; (middle) Aa-Marie, Alteri, St. Peter, Dabury; Dr. Deborah Boccafuso, St. Augustie Academy, Bridgeport; Dr. Gail Kigsto, St. Lawrece, Shelto; (back) Lori Wilso, St. Adrew Academy, Bridgeport; Abbey Camillery, Triity Catholic Middle School, Stamford; ad Staley Steele, Our Lady of Fatima, Wilto. riece, eergy ad ethusiasm to their ew positios, says Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of schools. I am cofidet that they share my excitemet for the future of our schools. St. Augustie Academy St. Augustie Academy campus welcomes Dr. Deborah Boccafuso. A ative of Norwalk, she bega her teachig career at the former St. Joseph Elemetary School. She received her bachelor s degree i special educatio from Souther Coecticut State Uiversity, her master s from Fairfield Uiversity ad a doctorate i educatioal admiistratio from the Uiversity of Coecticut, Storrs. Dr. Boccafuso has over 30 years experiece i educatio, most recetly servig as pricipal of Middlesex Middle School i Darie for 13 years. While there, she led Middlesex to become a Blue Ribbo school, ad established programs to meet the eeds of all studets, icludig those with learig challeges. She ad her husbad, Vicet, dedicated teachers ad amazig childre. I look forward to a amazig year! St. Adrew Academy St. Adrew Academy campus is pleased to aouce the appoitmet of Lori Wilso as the ew pricipal. After growig up i Michiga she moved eastward, earig her bachelor s degree i psychology from the College of New Rochelle, N.Y., ad her master s degree i theology from St. Joseph Semiary (Duwoodie) i Yokers. She worked for ie years as DRE at St. Athoy of Padua Parish i Harriso, N.Y. Comig to Fairfield Couty, she has taught theology at the Covet of the Sacred Heart i Greewich for 15 years, where she was the director of Campus Miistry ad Service, ad the Summer Erichmet ad SophieCoect, a olie course iitiative. At CSH she worked as coordiator of Formatio to Missio, ad led service trips to Ugada. She ad her husbad, Jeff, are the parets of three grow Sacred Heart Academy STRONG VALUES. STRONG ACADEMICS. STRONG LEADERSHIP OPEN HOUSE Suday, Oct. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. ENTRANCE EXAM Saturday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to Noo Impelled by Christ s Love 265 Beham Street, Hamde CT sacredhearthamde.org

18 18 September 2016 Catholic Educatio PRINCIPALS FROM PAGE 17 sprigboard to realizig the perso God iteds each oe to be. St. Peter, Dabury Aa-Marie Alteri has become the pricipal of St. Peter School i Dabury. No strager to the Diocese of Bridgeport, she has over 14 years of experiece with techology itegratio, implemetatio of diocesa iitiatives ad classroom istructio, most recetly as the fifth grade teacher at the St. Augustie Academy campus of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. Her work there eared her the prestigious 2014 Tim Russert Makig a Differece Award for Urba Educatio. She holds her MS degree i educatio from the Uiversity of Bridgeport ad a secod degree i social scieces from Post Uiversity i Waterbury. A residet of Beaco Falls, Alteri, her husbad Mark ad their so are members of St. Michael Parish, where she was also the director of religious educatio (DRE) for 11 years. She comes to St. Peter s with her favorite quote from St. Fracis of Assisi i mid: Start by doig what s ecessary; the do what s possible; ad suddely you are doig the impossible. St. Lawrece, Shelto Dr. Gail Kigsto brigs a extesive backgroud to her appoitmet at St. Lawrece School. She holds her bachelor s ad masters degrees i educatio from Coecticut College, her 6th Year Certificate i admiistratio from Sacred Heart Uiversity i Fairfield, ad her doctorate i educatioal leadership from Nova Southeaster Uiversity i Florida. Dr. Kigsto has bee pricipal of the Little White Schoolhouse i Mystic, CT, servig studets with cerebral palsy; the Mashatucket Pequot tribal school i North Stoigto; ad St. Gabriel School i Milford. She was raised i Pesylvaia, ad moved to Coecticut 33 years ago due to her husbad Dewey s career i the U.S. Navy Submarie Force. Their home parish is St. Mary s i Groto; they have four grow childre. I am lookig forward to a exceptioal year, she says. St. Lawrece School just celebrated its 50th aiversary. The school has a reputatio for opeig its doors ad hearts to all childre. Every studet is uique ad brigs with them may exceptioal gifts. It is up to our educators to draw upo their gifts i order to help the studets embrace their educatioal experiece with excitemet ad pride. Her favorite quote comes from Mother Teresa: Yesterday is goe. Tomorrow has ot yet come. We have oly today. Let us begi. Star of the Sea, Stamford Natalia Cruz comes to this diocese as the ew pricipal of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, a Pre-K-5 school i Stamford. She holds her BS degree from the Joh Jay College of Crimial Justice ad eared her master s i educatio from Mercy College, N.Y. She is curretly completig a graduate program i admiistratio at Mercy. She brigs to her ew positio over te years of experiece as a primary, middle ad juior high school teacher at St. Joh Chrysostom School i the Brox, which is also her home parish. She ad her husbad, Edwi, have bee married 17 years ad have three school-aged childre. My goals as leader of Our Lady Star of the Sea School are to esure that a high quality educatio is provided to all childre, to lead great teachig ad learig, ad to build a strog school commuity focused o paret ad commuity egagemet, she says. Triity Middle, Stamford Abbey Camillery begis her first year at Triity Middle School i Stamford with a strog backgroud workig with this age group. She holds her bachelor s degree from the State Uiversity of NY at Stoy Brook, Log Islad, ad two masters degrees, both from Dowlig College, oe i adolescet educatio ad the secod for studets with disabilities. She also holds a Professioal Diploma from Dowlig i school admiistratio. She taught juior high ad high school at Bishop McGa-Mercy Diocesa High School o the East Ed of Log Islad, ad was director of the school s Summer Academy. She was bor ad raised i Miller Place, a small tow o Log Islad s North Shore, ad called earby St. Athoy of Padua i Rocky Poit her home parish. She has recetly relocated to Stamford with her dog, Martha Washigto. I am dedicated to ad fully believe i Catholic educatio, she says. Every child deserves the right to a Catholic educatio, educatig ot oly the mid ad body, but the spirit as well. Middle school years are the most fudametal years for a studet. St. Catherie of Siea, Trumbull St. Catherie of Siea School i Trumbull welcomes a familiar face to a ew role as Euice Giaquito takes the helm as pricipal. Giaquito has taught i the diocesa school system for 31 years, 30 of them at St. Catherie of Siea School. She grew up i Trumbull, i a family with five brothers; St. Catherie s is also her home parish. She eared her bachelor s degree from Sacred Heart Uiversity i Fairfield ad her master s degree, also from Sacred Heart, with a cocetratio i readig. I her years at St. Catherie s, she has taught grades CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 Kowledge & Grace portsmouth abbey school a idepedet coeducatioal Catholic boardig & day school for studets i grades 9-12, seve miles from Newport, Rhode Islad Please pla to atted our Ope House o October

19 19 September 2016 Catholic Educatio Greewich Catholic School costructio update GREENWICH Sice school let out i Jue, costructio o Greewich Catholic School (GCS) s upper school has bee i full swig, with crews workig aroud the clock to reovate ad expad the buildig. dets educatioal experiece. Academically, the reovatios will allow for a more collaborative learig atmosphere for our middle school studets, sice their classes will ow be located i the same space, said GCS excitig. I just keep picturig the studets i their ew classrooms ad ca t wait for them to see their ew buildig. (To doate to the upper school costructio project, cotact Cici Coutat, director of advacemet: ccoutat@gcsct.org or ext. 139.) DESTINATION: IMMACULATE WHERE YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS. FALL ADMISSIONS EVENTS AFTER ONLY EIGHT WEEKS, the upper school costructio project at Greewich Catholic School is past the half-way mark, with a estimated completio by mid-september. Through the choice of eergy-efficiet ad sustaiable materials, the school will see yearly savigs o eergy bills ad maiteace costs. The school cosists of six buildigs o a 38-acre campus i Greewich s Byram eighborhood. The upper school houses studets i grades 6-8. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will joi GCS staff ad beefactors for the ribbo-cuttig ceremoy at the reovated upper school buildig o October 11 at 10 am. After oly eight weeks, the upper school costructio project is past the half-way mark, with a estimated completio by mid-september. The scope of the reovatio icludes the additio of two classrooms totalig 3,400 square feet, right-sizig of existig classrooms, reovated ADA compliat bathrooms, a ew eergy-efficiet HVAC system, maiteace free exterior trim, ad a ew roof. The ew buildig will have the greatest impact o our stu- Pricipal Patrice Kopas. Teachers will regai valuable istructioal time ow that studets will ot have to travel betwee buildigs for their core subjects. Costructio o the upper school bega at a critical jucture. The School Advisory Board facilities chair, Mario Gaztambide, explaied, The ifrastructure had begu to age to a poit where repairs were costat ad costly. The reovatio ot oly addresses immediate eeds, but is also a ivestmet i the future of the school. Through the deliberate choice of eergy-efficiet ad sustaiable materials, we ll see yearly savigs o our eergy bills ad maiteace costs, added Gaztambide. Fudig for the project is due to the success of the school s first capital campaig, Imagie, which to date has raised $1.9 millio. GCS is still acceptig doatios for the project, which is estimated to cost over $2 millio by its completio. We ve bee talkig about this project for so log that sometimes it s hard to believe it s really happeig, Kopas said. It s > Mustag For A Day Visits immaculatehs.org/mfad > Ope House Suday, October 11:00am > Placemet Exam (HSPT) Saturday, October 29 & November 8:00am > Weeked With The Mustags October > Apply Now #DestiatioImmaculate As we begi o our 75th aiversary year, Fairfield Prep is pleased to welcome the Class of Souther Boulevard Dabury CT (203) ifo@immaculatehs.org

20 20 September 2016 Social Media Weatherig cultural hurricaes BY REBECCA VODOLA BRIDGEPORT Social media, the Iteret, cell phoes ad the rapid rise of techology i recet years have all trasformed the ladscape of huma relatioships. I respose to the preset culture, Catholic cliical psychologist Dr. Tim Hoga preseted The Gift of Cultural Hurricaes: How to Build New Bridges that Trasform Catholic Families to more tha two doze school pricipals, catechists, parets ad youth miisters gathered at the Catholic Ceter August 6. Today s culture is wreakig havoc o our emotioal ervous system. Research tells us that we are gettig worse at empathy ad depressio rates are skyrocketig, said Dr. Hoga. While social media allows immediate electroic access to other people, it is ot a effective substitute for huma relatioships. Dr. Hoga shared strategies for combatig a impersoal culture with a particular focus o rebuildig healthy paret-child relatioships. Just like after a hurricae sweeps the lad, the ladscape of our culture chages with these cultural hurricaes. We must chage ad adapt ot our faith, but our approach to catechesis ad healig, said Rose Talbot-Babey, coordiator of elemetary formatio for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Dr. Hoga facilitated group exercises to braistorm solutios to real-life issues withi families. His presetatio explored how the family structure has chaged i the preset post-moder age, after weatherig hurricaes icludig techological advacemet, widespread divorce ad ustable family situatios, sexual exploitatio ad porography, attacks o traditioal marriage ad risig rates of depressio. All cultural hurricaes chage the ladscape, Dr. Hoga said, but ot all are ecessarily bad. These hurricaes simply chage approaches to addressig cultural issues withi the cotext of the family. The family is called the domestic church (Lume Getium 11) because this is where childre are meat to be first catechized. Ufortuately, may parets do ot kow how to properly catechize their childre. Dr. Hoga shared some of the challeges he faces i raisig his ow three childre. Childre ad youg adults are costatly i stages of trasitio, Hoga said, which preset ew challeges ad opportuities for parets to grow. As a cliical psychologist SACRED HEART GREENWICH DR. TIM HOGAN ecouraged participats at a presetatio o moder Catholic Families to share with each other their struggles, the offered strategies to recover from hurricaes, to make family time ad ope dialogue withi the family. i the Detroit area, Dr. Hoga frequetly ecouters broke families strugglig to foster healthy relatioships with their childre. Prevalet media further discoect the family, he said, ad Catholic parets ofte fid themselves strugglig to keep their childre, especially tees, egaged i the Church. Is the catechesis goig to stick, or are our childre graduatig from Catholic school or religious educatio ad similarly thik they will graduate from the faith? Talbot-Babey questioed. Dr. Hoga ecouraged participats to share with each other their struggles, the offered strategies to recover from hurricaes, to make family time ad ope dialogue withi the family. Oe participat shared via a evaluatio sheet that, eve i the midst of cultural hurricaes, there is hope ad a pla to help us. Aother wrote that Dr. Hoga s presetatio offered a sese of optimism ad simple ideas for parets to implemet i the face of cultural chages. Dr. Hoga has the skills to motivate ad ispire his audiece to implemet faith-fosterig strategies, said Talbot-Babey. This fall, the diocese hopes to host Dr. Hoga for a series of similar presetatios to parets, priests ad educators. (For more iformatio or for updates o Dr. Hoga s future presetatios, cotact Rose Talbot-Babey at or rtalbotbabey@ diobpt.org.) Cofidece Values Traditio Where youg wome become global leaders Upper School Ope House Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6:00 p.m. K 12 Ope House Saturday, Nov. 5 at 9:00 a.m. Barat Ceter Ope House Friday, Nov. 11 & Friday, Ja. 20 at 9:30 a.m. A idepedet, Catholic college-preparatory girls school K 12 with coed Barat Ceter for Early Childhood Educatio CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART 1177 Kig Street Greewich, Coecticut Five (5) Fatastic Prizes to be Awarded 1st Prize: 2016 Corvette Stigray Artic White with Red Leather Iterior MJ Sulliva Automotive Corer, New Lodo, CT 2d Prize: $10,000 Travel Gift Certificate from World Travel Cocepts, LLC i Old Lyme, CT 3rd Prize: Apple MacBook Pro with Retia Display 4th Prize: CompuStar Automatic Remote Car Starter Istallatio by Attetio to Detail i Middletow, CT 5th Prize: GoPro Hero Sessio Waterproof Video Camera Oly 2,000 tickets will be sold! $100 per ticket Drawig will be held November 19, 2016 at 7:00 pm YSupport Catholic Educatio For tickets ad iformatio call: ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED. By mail make checks payable to: St. Joh School Raffle St. Joh School, P.O. Box 1075, Old Saybrook, CT

21 September Catholic Educatio Back to School with Backpacks! BRIDGEPORT Studets at the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport were treated to a great surprise o their first full week back to school. Radio statios WEBE108 ad WICC600 doated FREE backpacks filled with school supplies to 950 studets at Bridgeport s Catholic elemetary schools. The radio statio s operatios maager, Day Lyos, preseted the backpacks to studets at a assembly at St. Augustie Academy, oe of the school s four campuses. The remaiig backpacks were the distributed to the three additioal campuses, St. Adrew Academy, St. A Academy, ad St. Raphael Academy. Dr. Debi Boccafuso, pricipal at St. Augustie, remarked Seeig the smiles o the studets faces whe they heard they were gettig ew, filled backpacks was precious. Givig back to the commuity is just oe of the may character-buildig priciples we teach here at Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. WEBE s geerous doatio helped us exemplify this valuable lesso to our studets. I a effort to display the school s appreciatio for the doatio, Sister Joa Magetti, rscj, the executive director of the Catholic Academy, had the radio statio s call letters iscribed o the backpacks, alog with the school s logo. It s a small toke of our gratefuless for this gift to our deservig school commuity, she said. We kow our parets ivest i their child s educatio here at Catholic Academy of Bridgeport. Our studets take pride i their academic achievemet ad I have o doubt they will take pride i sportig their ew backpacks. WEBE s doatio is part of a aual campaig to give back to the local commuity. Backpack Giveback is ow i its eighth year, ad the umber of backpacks doated has grow with each year. Lyos commeted, WEBE108 ad WICC600 are committed to the childre i our commuity through the Holiday Fud for Childre, ad this year, thaks to a geerous doatio from the Norma F. Pfriem Foudatio ad other sposors, we are able to provide backpacks to all studets attedig the Catholic SMILES OF DELIGHT shoe o studets faces whe they received ew, filled backpacks from WEBE ad WICC. The backpacks were blessed by Father Sea Kulacz i St. Augustie Cathedral. Academy of Bridgeport. We wish each ad every child a successful school year. The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport serves early 1,000 preschool through middle school studets. The academy provides a safe ad urturig eviromet where studets are ecouraged ad challeged i preparatio for a successful life of leadership ad service. Studets are at or above grade level i all subjects. Cultural ad faith diversity is welcomed ad celebrated at the academy, while maitaiig Catholic traditio. Ivest i her possibilities You ve give her a strog foudatio. We ca provide your daughter with the tools she eeds to become a strog, cofidet woma. Lauralto Hall The ivestmet of her lifetime Ope House Suday October 2 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Exam Dates Saturday October 15 or 22 8:00 am Apply Now at LauraltoHall.org college prep 9 12 milford, coecticut

22 22 New Pricipals Sacred Heart Academy HAMDEN The Sacred Heart Academy, Hamde, commuity gathered o August 22 i the Alumae Rose Garde to welcome their ew pricipal, Sister Kathlee Mary Cooa, ASCJ, 76. A ative of Coecticut ad a graduate of the academy, Sister Kathlee Mary etered the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus after her high school graduatio ad professed fial vows i She holds a bachelor of sciece degree i educatio from Duquese Uiversity ad a master of arts i admiistratio ad supervisio from Mahatta College. Sister Kathlee Mary begis her miistry as pricipal of Sacred Heart Academy with 36 years of experiece i educatio both as teacher ad admiistrator. She has taught o the elemetary ad secodary levels i Coecticut, Missouri ad Pesylvaia, was pricipal of St. Raphael School i Bridgeport SISTER KATHLEEN MARY, ASCJ from 1992 to 2002, ad served as assistat pricipal at Sacred Heart Academy from For the last 10 years she has bee pricipal of Cor Jesu Academy i St. Louis, Mo., Sacred Heart s sister school. At Cor Jesu, Sister Kathlee was the first pricipal to work i the presidet/pricipal leadership model, a model Sacred Heart uses. Throughout her teure there, Sister stregtheed the solid traditio of academic excellece ad faith formatio, hallmarks of a Cor Jesu ad a Sacred Heart educatio. I am very happy ad excited to be back at Sacred Heart Academy, Sister Kathlee Mary said. Sacred Heart is a strog commuity of learers who cotiually use the gifts that God has give them to grow to their full potetial ad to reach out i service to others. Sice I have retured, I have experieced the ethusiasm ad the joy of faculty, studets, ad parets ad I look forward to beig a part of this commuity. As we work together this year I pray that we may be the compassioate presece of God for each other ad support ad ecourage oe aother as we embrace the gifts that God has give us to strive ever higher. I welcomig her to Sacred Heart Academy, Presidet Sister Sheila O Neill, ASCJ, 71, gave her high praise. Sister Kathlee Mary Cooa leads with a carig ad kid heart, ad seeks to ispire studets to achieve their fullest potetial. September 2016 Villa Maria School STAMFORD The Board of Trustees of Villa Maria School is pleased to aouce the appoitmet of Diae McMaus as its ew Head of School, effective July 1. Villa Maria is a idepedet day school for grades K-9 i Stamford. The school has built a reputatio over the last 40 years as a specialist i teachig childre with learig disabilities. Barbara Rya, presidet of the board said, We are thrilled to have Diae joi Villa Maria to lead our strog admiistrative team. McMaus is a graduate of Lehma College ad has a master s degree i Eglish ad educatio from Ioa College, a master s degree i school admiistratio ad a professioal diploma i special educatio from Mahattaville College. She has professioal DIANE MCMANUS certificatios i teachig childre with learig differeces, school leadership ad i Eglish istructio. She taught Eglish for may years i New York City ad Westchester Couty. She comes to Villa Maria from Good Cousel Academy, where she served as assistat pricipal of supervisio, curriculum ad istructio. The board is also happy to report that Sister Carol A, who has led Villa Maria for so may years, will remai i a ew role as director of missio advacemet. Sister Carol A will be a ivaluable resource to McMaus ad the etire school commuity as Villa Maria expads its outreach. I additio to McMaus, the Villa Maria School commuity welcomes Stephe Behoff as its ew assistat head of school for admissios ad exteral relatios. Behoff brigs 24 years of workig i idepedet schools as a teacher, pricipal, admissios officer ad Head of School. Most recetly, he was director for erollmet maagemet at St. Michael s Coutry Day School i Newport, Rhode Islad. He eared his B.A. i art history from Northwester Uiversity ad his Ed.M. from Harvard Uiversity. (For more iformatio o Villa Maria, cotact Stephe Behoff: sbehoff@villamariaedu.org or , ext. 104.) Ope House Suday, October 2, p.m. Etrace Exams Saturday, October 15, 8:30 a.m. Saturday, November 5, 8:30 a.m. Fairfield Prep A Jesuit, Catholic School of Excellece 1073 North Beso Road, Fairfield, CT admissios@fairfieldprep.org APPLY ONLINE! > Admissios > Create_Accout

23 September Book Review: Imitatio of Christ Self improvemet, Thomas à Kempis style Whe it comes to Best Seller lists, self-help books ofte top the charts. The America appetite for self- improvemet ad a formula for success ever dimiishes. These books ted to offer testep programs ad the power of positive thikig to boost your self-cofidece ad make you a wier. Spiritual self-help books are also a big part of the market. The self-empowermet busiess is a atioal religio. These thoughts came to mid while readig Thomas à Kempis Imitatio of Christ recetly. The Imitatio was writte by a 15th cetury Germa mok. You might call it a medieval self-help best seller, a book that has remaied i prit for over 500 years. But that is where the similarity eds. Kempis book of devotios makes o easy promises or claims. I fact, it ca be dowright devastatig to read this Catholic classic ad compare it to your ow feeble prayer life ad spiritual developmet. This is a book that demads everythig ad promises othig othig but the presece of God i his mysterious ways. OFF THE STREETS FROM PAGE 10 Oe immediate differece is that Kempis did t believe i the self as a route to holiess. He would be completely ufamiliar with ad probably baffled by the cotemporary America idea of the self as the ceter of all stregth. For him the self was somethig to be wary of ad perhaps eve despised. Kow that self-love hurts you more tha aythig else i the world. The spiritual life for him cosisted of deadeig the self ad its demads for sesual satisfactios ad eve spiritual pride. The best success you ca have is ot to thik of yourself as a success at all. Yet remember, Lord, that I am othig. I have othig, ad ca do othig. Kempis Imitatio grew out of a moastic practice of raparia. I raparia the moks copied excerpts from their readig ad also recorded their thoughts about them. These home-made books were passed aroud ad shared as a spiritual exercise. This gives the Imitatio of Christ its structure of aphorisms ad short meditative passages. You ca t read it through i oe ight. cooperatio with a social worker to determie the exact eeds of a idividual or family. A large part of the effort at Off the Streets is to coect a perso or family with decet housig they ca afford. A small apartmet i the area may charge $900-$1,400 a moth; a room may ret for as little as $550. The miistry pays the security deposit directly to the ladlord. Ladlords are happy to work with us, says Elle Moore. They kow we have checked out the situatio ad that the teat ca afford the ret. All they eed from us is the dow paymet. Other times the call may be for a family that has bee put ito a apartmet, but has o furiture. What people eed first are beds, ad a kitche table ad chairs, says Deaco Moore. That gives them some place to sit ad talk to each other. Off the Streets has o overhead; all doatios go directly to get people ito housig. All workers are voluteers ad all furishigs are doated. Dale ad Fra Lichteberg of Assumptio Parish hadle furiture requests; soccer moms ad football moms are happy to voluteer some muscle o movig day. Cleaig supplies are the oly expese, says Elle Moore. Voluteers clea the apartmet before the teat moves i, ad we give each teat a supply of cleaig items to start them off. Lookig forward, Off the Streets is hopig for eough cotributios to eable them to pla ahead, so that they will kow i advace whether they ca help i a give situatio. Doatios to Off the Street are fully tax exempt. Sometimes, the oly thig keepig a homeless perso from beig housed is a security deposit, cocludes Deaco Moore. Every doatio helps someoe get off the streets ad ito a place of their ow. (The Bridgeport/Fairfield/Trumbull chapter of Off the Streets miistry is sposorig a dier dace o Saturday, October 1 at Assumptio Parish i Fairfield, startig at 6:30 pm. Tickets: $75/perso. For reservatios, Elle Moore: For more iformatio o the Off the Streets miistry, go to It is a text for slow, humble readig ad costat reflectio. There are o te steps to success or assuraces of the kid of cotrol ad cofidece that moder selfhelps offer. Our cotemporary idea of success is the exact opposite of what Kempis preached. He saw wealth, power, fame ad eve outward religious shows as impedimets to our relatioship with Christ. We are all weak ad frail; but you should regard o oe frailer tha yourself. Doubtless, today s believers might well be cofused or take aback by some of Thomas harsher Augustiia toes cocerig pleasure ad cotetmet. Our over-sized moder egos will feel piched ad bruised by the hardess of his visio ad the grim combat betwee this world ad the ext. Not surprisigly oe of the greatest ad fiercest chapters i Imitatio is The Royal Way of the Cross from Book II. I this sectio Kempis makes o boes about it. The call of Christiaity is to the cross of Christ. Why do you dread to take up the cross, sice it is the very way to the PRINCIPALS FROM PAGE 18 oe, three, ad five. For the past two years she was the school s assistat pricipal. It has bee a blessig to be part of this carig, lovig, ad spiritual commuity, she says. I believe that all childre should have a academic learig eviromet that istills strog moral values ad that urtures each child spiritually, academically, ad socially, as well as prepares them to be Christ-like citizes who live as true disciples of Jesus. The St. Catherie of Siea School family has become part of who I am. Our Lady of Fatima, Wilto Staley Steele has become the pricipal of Our Lady of Fatima School i Wilto. He holds his BA degree from Bethay College, W.V. ad eared a MSW degree ad a certificate i educatioal leadership from the State Uiversity of New York at Buffalo. He grew up i Buffalo ad atteded St. Gregory the Great School i Williamsville, N.Y. His first kigdom of heave? This stark but lyrical chapter flies i the face of the otio that you ca have it all. Do you thik you ca escape what o other huma has bee able to avoid? For Kempis the dyig of the self is the ier message of Christiaity. Nothig more, othig less. What is the moder reader to make of such a ster ad total visio of faith? Kempis makes o attempt to palliate the high stakes ad ceaseless labor of spiritual life. Most of us would throw our hads up ad surreder to our ow mediocrity. Yet, i some ways, it may be just what we eed to hear. The preset offers us false visios of material comfort ad costat excitemet, a life of istat gratificatio ad perpetual cotetmet. Beeath this, however, there is a ueasiess ad axiety about the meaig of huma life ad the certaity of our ow trasiece. Kempis saw the oly way to peace ad truth was i the life of Jesus. The Imitatio of Christ explores a profoud sese of huma frailty ad our coflicted huma job teachig was as a sixth-grade teacher i the same school. He holds three advaced certificates: district admiistratio, educatioal policy fellowship ad district data admiistratio. He worked at Pocatico Hills School i Sleepy Hollow for te years as a assistat pricipal ad the for te years as a pricipal. I 2016, he was omiated Empire State Supervisio ad Admiistrator Associatio Admiistrator of the Year. Steele ad his wife, Maryelle, have six childre; the four oldest have graduated from Catholic uiversities. The family lived i Ridgefield for te years before movig to Tarrytow, where they are members of the Church of the Magdalee Parish i Sleepy Hollow. Our family made a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, i 2010, he says. For me, it is a fatastic hoor ad a privilege to have bee amed pricipal at Our Lady of Fatima School i Wilto. Diocesa high schools Three diocesa high schools will have experieced hads to THOMAS A. KEMPIS atures. He does t flich from the presece of evil ad our all too easy espousal of a faith we profess without practicig. Strog stuff ideed. The self that Kempis recogized was the soul of ma ope to the gift of God s grace. You may fid yourself literally out of breath readig such a demadig ad akedly hoest book, but it was Kempis itetio to demolish our defeses ad to challege us to see that oly God ca fill our souls, ot with the self, but with the selfless recogitio of Jesus ad the Way of the Cross. guide them as they cotiue the search for ew pricipals. Toy Pavia has agreed to step i as iterim pricipal at Triity Catholic High School. Pavia served as pricipal of Triity from , ad the trasitioed ito the presidet positio. At Immaculate High School i Dabury, Presidet Mary Maloey will become iterim pricipal. She has bee presidet at Immaculate sice 2014, ad was previously pricipal of St. Rose of Lima School i Newtow, which she led to Blue Ribbo status. Kolbe Cathedral High School i Bridgeport has plaed a shift i roles for the school year. Presidet Jo-Ae Jakab will assume the duties of pricipal, while Hery Rodo will serve as assistat pricipal for studet life. These realiged leadership positios accetuate the stregths of the admiistratio to better serve the school commuity s eeds at this time. Jakab served as Kolbe s pricipal from

24 24 September 2016 Sports Boyle goes for the gold at Rio Paralympics BY DON HARRISON Paralympia cyclist Rya Boyle, who was close to death whe he was ie years old, cosiders himself a lucky ma. Boyle, 22, who spet most of his formative years i Moroe ad atteded St. Joseph High School i Trumbull, will be competig i the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games i mid-september. The yougest member of the U.S. cyclig team, he will go for the gold i two evets, the T2 time trial ad T2 road race. I m just icredibly excited, he said via phoe from the team s Colorado Sprigs, Colo., traiig base. I ca t wait to do my coutry proud. It s a dream come true. For the past five years I ve sacrificed so much by traiig every day. Such dedicatio has already paid divideds. I the 2013 World Cup held i Italy, Boyle captured a gold medal i the T2 time trial. (The T2 desigatio is for the lesser disabled; T1 idicates more disabled.) The followig year, he eared a silver medal (time trial) at the World Champioships i Greeville, S.C. I 2015, he picked up a silver time trial ad a broze road race at the Parapa America Games i Toroto, ad recorded a pair of third-place fiishes i the UCI Para-cyclig Road World Champioships i Switzerlad. Despite ruig ito mechaical problems, Rya still fiished third i the Paralympic Trials o July 2 i Charlotte, N.C. Rya Carl Boyle has few memories of that October morig i 2003 whe he early died. He explais: It happeed exactly oe moth to the day before my 10th birthday. I was at a fried s birthday party. I was ridig a big wheel backward ad slid dow the driveway. A speedig pickup truck hit me ad dragged me. The back of my head took the brut of it. A traumatic brai ijury, said the doctors, who expected Boyle to die or, at best, be cofied to a bed coected to machies for the remaider of his life. Emergecy brai surgery performed at Yale- New Have Hospital saved his life, ad he was i a comatose state for two moths. He was trasferred to Blythedale Childre s Hospital i Valhalla, N.Y., oe of just 19 pediatric childre s hospitals i the U.S. dedicated to the care ad treatmet of childre with complex illesses. At Blythedale, over the ext seve moths, 10-yearold Rya leared to breathe, swallow, speak, sit, stad ad walk agai. Iroically, Valhalla meas heave, he says. But it was t my idea of heave. Whe he etered St. Joseph as a freshma, the youger of Nacy ad Matthew Boyle s two sos traversed the hall with fourarm crutches. By his sophomore year, he required just a cae. Boyle has fod memories of two faculty members at St. Joe s. Mrs. Doa Karagus, who took care of the special eeds classes, was a great asset to me, he said. I served as the maager for varsity basketball for two years, ad Coach Vito Motelli really helped me. He s a big teddy bear, a great guy who looks out for people. Prior to his juior year, Boyle spet the summer at the Shepherd Ceter, a world-reowed hospital i Atlata specializig i treatig people with brai ad spial cord ijuries. Discoverig that Rya eeded to be dow there to get the best treatmet, the family pulled up stakes ad relocated to Georgia. He graduated from Blessed Triity High School i Roswell, Ga., i 2011, but St. Joe s, well CATHOLIC PROFESSIONAL NETWORK Home PC & Mac Help Computer Systems, Networks, , Iteret, Traiig & Tutorig MENTION THIS AD TO RECEIVE THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY CATHOLIC DISCOUNT! ext:112 Attetio Advertisers! Please joi Fairfield Couty Catholic s special upcomig issues Make your ad pop add 4-color for just $150! October Issue Educatio, Respect Life, copy due: September 30; i homes: October 15 November Issue Fall College, Religious Ed, Advet, copy due: November 2; i homes: November 15 Please reserve your space early by callig Ralph Lazzaro or rlazzaro@diobpt.org. CLOSE TO DEATH A DOZEN YEARS AGO after he was struck ad dragged by a truck, paralympia cyclist Rya Boyle, ow 22, became the yougest member of the U.S. cyclig team at the Paralympic Games i Rio de Jaeiro, Brazil. aware of his extraordiary recovery ad cyclig accomplishmets, awarded Boyle a hoorary diploma, Class of (Rya Boyle s ispiratioal story ca be foud i his autobiography, RESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY DRAIN CLEANING MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE LICENSED & INSURED CATCH BASIN CLEANING HIGH VELOCITY WATER JETTING LARGE DIAMETER POWER RODDING Whe the Lights Go Out: A Boy Give a Secod Chace, published by WestBow Press of Bloomigto, Id., i To obtai a copy, visit Rya s website, or Office: 534 Surf Aveue Stratford TV PIPE INSPECTION AIR TESTING JET RODDING VACTOR SERVICE Law Office of James M. Hughes Elder Law/TITLE 19/MEDICAID-Plaig Vetera s Beefits - Aid & Attedace Estates/Probate/Real Estate/Workers Comp Post Road, Fairfield, Coecticut hughes_james@sbcglobal.et

25 September Sports: Mets Players Remembered Gil ad Mike: ballplayers with faith BY FRANK DEROSA Gil Hodges was oe of my favorites amog the Boys of Summer, the team that excited Brookly Dodgers fas i the decade that preceded the sad departure for Los Ageles i the 50s. It was t just his smooth fieldig at first base or the home rus he lauched ito the left field seats at Ebbets Field that set him apart. There was the solid Catholic faith he practiced without fafare, that you could say lay i his spiritual DNA. Though Hodges ever made it to Cooperstow, I thought of him whe former New York Met Mike Piazza was fially ad deservedly iducted ito the Baseball Hall of Fame. As Gil might have doe if so chose, the first order of Mike s special day was to go uaouced to the 7:30 am Mass at St. Mary s Our Lady of the Lake Church i the village where the Hall of Fame is located. O that July Suday morig, after the fial blessig, Piazza sought out Father Joh Rosso, the pastor, who celebrated the Mass, ad quietly requested a blessig. Caught by surprise, he said, I was togue-tied whe he asked. The, as Mike bowed his head, he prayed, Lord, you have give him great abilities. Bless him ad his accomplishmets. Havig Piazza appear at the parish was a memorable ad movig experiece for him ad for parishioers, Father Rosso said by phoe. Mike did t desire to attract attetio. I was awestruck by his humility. That day the Hall of Fame reached ito Suday worship. It was clear to him that religious faith is a motivatig part of Piazza s life. The priest, who said he does t really follow baseball closely, was eager to metio that i his iductio speech, the Hall of Famer did somethig probably o other iductee has ever doe. He uapologetically quoted words from a pope he has said he admires. Recallig his log jourey ad hard work from the 62d ad fial roud i the 1988 baseball draft to Cooperstow, Piazza drew a thought from the 2007 ecyclical of Beedict XVI, Spe Salvi : Those who have hope live differetly. It was t the first time he had referred fodly to a pope. After a audiece with Pope Joh Paul II at the Vatica i 2002, whe he gave the potiff a Mets jersey as a gift, Mike described him as ispiratioal, a true spiritual warrior. May Mets fas will remember that Piazza ejoyed a strog bod with a devoted fa, Auxiliary Bishop Igatius Cataello of the Diocese of Brookly, util the latter s death from a brai tumor three years ago. Bishop Iggy, as he was affectioately kow, became the team s chaplai i He celebrated Mass o Sudays at Shea Stadium, with Piazza ad maager Bobby Valetie amog the 50 or so Mets players ad others who atteded. Over a doze years, the bishop ad the catcher became particularly close; coversatios o spiritual directio ot ucommo. Whe Mike married Alicia Rickter i Miami s St. Jude s Church i 2005, the bishop witessed the ceremoy. I later years he baptized their daughters. He ad I became very good frieds, Mike has said. As Piazza does, Hodges had a solid faith. It was iflueced by devout parets ad urtured by the priests at Sts. Peter ad Paul Church i Petersburg, Id., where he was a altar boy. Eve after leavig home for Dodger stardom i Brookly, he maitaied a friedship with the pastor, Father Lawrece Vieck, visitig him whe he could ad correspodig by mail. Never forgettig his Suday obligatio, Hodges slipped ito his regular pew for Mass at his adoptive Brookly parish of Our Lady Help of Christias, ad he always stayed util the Mass was over, said Father Charles Curley, the pastor, preachig at Gil s fueral i His life was lived for his family, his faith ad the game of baseball. The story goes that whe the Dodgers were aboard a flight o a Friday whe Church disciplie did ot permit eatig meat o that day, a meat etrée was offered to the team. Gil politely declied, sayig we are too close to headquarters. So beloved did he become i the Borough of Churches that durig a hitless streak i the 1952 World Series, a Brookly priest, Father Herbert Redmod, aouced at a Suday Mass at St. Fracis Xavier Church that it was too hot GIL HODGES for a sermo ad ow famously told his cogregatio to go home, keep the commadmets ad say a prayer for Gil Hodges. Such was the impact of the faith-filled first basema, admired for his may virtues: his sterlig character, his fairess, his getle digity, as Father Curley said. Despite a spectacular ad legthy career i Dodger blue, marked by powerful sluggig statistics the evy of others, a surprisig World Series title i 1969 as maager of the previously woebegoe Mets, ad his uassailable character, those credetials iexplicably ever satisfied the Hall of Fame voters, who deied Hodges the accolade that may today still feel he deserved. While some athletes fail to serve as role models, others, with or without religious affiliatio, MIKE PIAZZA wear their uiforms with class, as the late Dodger ad the former Met did. I some future Faith Hall of Fame, Gil Hodges ad Mike Piazza would easily be eshried as charter members. As for Cooperstow, Mike s etry is its gai, Gil s absece is, sadly, its loss. (Frak DeRosa is the retired director of the Public Iformatio Office of the Diocese of Brookly.)

26 26 September 2016 Obituaries Msgr. Edward Scull dies at 90 BROOKFIELD Msgr. Edward J. Scull, age 90, the retired pastor of St. Pius X Parish i Fairfield, passed away peacefully o August 26. Bor i Bridgeport, the so of the late Joseph ad Marguerite Scull, he was a graduate of St. Augustie School ad Cetral High School, both i Bridgeport, ad St. Thomas Semiary i Bloomfield. He completed his theological studies at St. Mary Semiary i Baltimore, Md., ad later did graduate studies i educatio at Fairfield Uiversity. Msgr. Scull was ordaied by Bishop Hery J. O Brie i St. Joseph Cathedral i Hartford o May 3, The Diocese of Bridgeport was established i His first assigmet was as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish i Bethel, followed by St. Joh the Evagelist i Stamford. He FUNERAL GUIDE NEIL F. HARDING Director/Ower Hardig FUNERAL HOME served o the faculty at Notre Dame Catholic High School i Fairfield ad as pricipal of the former Cetral Catholic High School i Norwalk, while i residece at St. Catherie of Siea Parish i Trumbull ad Our Lady of Fatima Parish i Wilto. His first positio as pastor was at St. Gabriel Parish i Stamford. He led that parish from O Jauary 1, 1972 he was istalled as pastor of St. Pius X Church, retirig exactly thirty years later, o Jauary 1, Most recetly Msgr. Scull had bee a residet priest at St. Joseph Parish i Brookfield. He was appoited Prelate of Hoor to His Holiess, Pope Joh Paul II, with the title of Mosigor, i He served o the Presbyteral Coucil, was chaplai of the Catholic Daughters of America ad was Collis Fueral Home 92 East Aveue Norwalk William A. Skidd William R. Kelley amed director of retired priests. He was proud of the Scull family history i Bridgeport. It is documeted that the first Mass celebrated i the City of Bridgeport was i the home of his great-gradfather, James McCullough, i 1830 with 17 Catholics preset. Not surprisigly, he was also a proud member of the Aciet Order of Hiberias. He was a old-school priests priest, says Father Chip O Neill, pastor of St. Joseph i Brookfield, who ejoyed Msgr. Scull s compay as priest i residece. His love for the priesthood ad for his brother priests was so evidet. He was a good metor ad a good fried. He will be missed. He is survived by his sister, Mary Ae Dola of Milford. A Mass of Christia Burial was celebrated for Msgr. Scull o August 31 at St. Pius. Bishop William G. Lahey, Jr. William P. Skidd Adrew D. Skidd Family owed for four geeratios PRE-NEED FUNERAL PLANNING Frak J. Caggiao was the pricipal celebrat. Father Michael Boccaccio, pastor of St. Philip Parish i Norwalk, gave the homily. Burial followed at St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. MSGR. EDWARD J. SCULL Sister Gloria Czariewicz, CSFN MONROE Sister Mary Gloria Czariewicz, a log-time educator who served i elemetary ad high schools throughout Coecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York ad Pesylvaia, died peacefully o August 20 at the Mary Immaculate Covet (Maria Heights) i Moroe. The third child of Polish immigrats, Victoria Czariewicz was bor o September 27, 1927 i the Greepoit sectio of Brookly, N.Y. She worked as a bookkeeper for five years before decidig to eter religious life. She etered the ovitiate o August 18, 1951, ad professed her fial vows o August 13, Before begiig her teachig career, Sister Gloria assisted with payroll ad accouts payable at Nazareth Hospital i Philadelphia. Sister Gloria received a bachelor of sciece degree from Holy Family College i Philadelphia ad a master of sciece i busiess educatio from Catholic Uiversity i Washigto, D.C. She retired from teachig i Sister Gloria s 65 years of religious life also icluded time as local superior i Sea Cliff, N.Y. I 1992, she was secretary for the Cogregatio s 19th Geeral Chapter i Rome. Drawig o her fiacial skills, Sister Gloria served as provicial treasurer for Immaculate Heart of Mary Provice i Moroe from I retiremet, Sister Gloria worked i the fiace departmet at Little Flower Childre s Services i Wadig River, NY. I 2005, she moved to Immaculate Heart of Mary Covet i Moroe, where she served as the covet s part-time receptioist. Those who kew her best also remember her for the delicious potato pacakes ad Lizer tarts she made. A Mass of Christia Burial was celebrated for Sister Gloria o August 23 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Covet. Burial followed at Holy Family Cemetery o the covet property. 203/ FAX 203/ POST ROAD EAST WESTPORT, CT Quiet Digity Without Extravagace Affordable Direct Crematio Title XIX Welcome Z Family owed for three geeratios Z Call for free iformative brochure Z or MATTHEW K. MURPHY, FUNERAL DIRECTOR 267 GREENWICH AVENUE GREENWICH, CT Z Hadlig every detail Z I home arragemets Z Memorial service facility DECEASED CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT: SEPTEMBER 18 OCTOBER 15 SEPTEMBER 18 Rev. Msgr. Normad A. Methe Rev. Joseph J. Maglioe Msgr. Edward B. Karl Rev. Msgr. Edmud J. Hussey Rev. Frederick H. Olschefskie Deaco Paul Tupper Rev. Edward A. Morga OCTOBER 2 Deaco Joseph Filigeri Rev. Robert Morrissey Msgr. Joh H. Aderso Msgr. Victor Balcerak, O.F.M. Cov Rev. Fracis Posluszy Deaco Michael Wolfer Msgr. Raymod H. Guidoe Msgr. William Schultz

27 September Nuestra Voz Religiosos pide paz etre comuidad y policías POR MARICARMEN GODOY U llamado a la uidad llevó a más de 200 persoas de diferetes etias y religioes a la sede de la policía de Norwalk, e dode 19 líderes religiosos ofreciero oracioes y reflexioes pidiedo la paz y el respeto etre la comuidad y la fuerza policial. Los sacerdotes católicos de las iglesias circudates, basados e el Evagelio, pidiero vivir e armoía etre la policía y la comuidad y recordaro que acorde co el Papa Fracisco, e este año de la misericordia debemos vivir bajo este precepto. E varias religioes y seis idiomas diferetes (iglés, español, fracés, italiao, hebreo y creollo) el mesaje sobre la paz desde el puto de vista espiritual puso varias reflexioes sobre el aparete abuso policial, la resistecia civil y la ecesidad de que haya paz y armoía etre las comuidades. La gete felicitaba y agradecía al oficial de policía de Norwalk César Ramírez por orgaizar la vigilia. El dijo que fue ispirado por la reciete muerte de cico agetes de policía e Dallas bajo u disparo de u fracotirador. Vi a todas las comuidades sufrir. Todo el mudo se covierte e víctima. No hay gaadores, todo el mudo pierde. E Norwalk teemos ua comuidad hermosa. Queremos mateer la paz y queremos estar uidos etre el departameto de policía y la comuidad, dijo el Oficial Ramírez, feligrés de la Parroquia de Sa Ladislaus i Norwalk. El servicio fue dirigido por el Rev. Carleto Giles, u oficial de policía de Norwalk retirado, quie señaló que las persoas que estaba allí para apoyarse uos a otros y agradecer a Dios por mateer cualquier tradició para orar y para servir de guía y fortaleza e el mudo turbuleto actual. Beradie Joseph, ua jove de 20 años de edad, comezó el servicio al catar Amazig Grace; después dijo a todos que se de la mao y cató Let it Be. El Jefe de Policía Thomas Kulhawik estuvo sorpredido Programas e español a St. A La Parroquia de St. A e el área Black Rock e Bridgeport ya tiee la Sata Misa celebrada e español cada domigo a las 12 de la mediodía. Además, la parroquia ha iiciado los siguietes programas e español. GRUPO DE ORACION: acompáñaos a rezar el Sato Rosario biligüe todos los vieres a las 7 pm. TALLERES DE A CALL FOR UNITY drew more tha 200 people of differet religios ad ethic groups to police headquarters i Norwalk, where 19 religious leaders offered prayers ad reflectios callig for peace ad commuity respect for the work of the police. Speakers delivered their message i six laguages (Eglish, Spaish, Frech, Hebrew, Creole ad Hidi), givig a spiritual poit of view i the face of apparet police abuse. A umber of Catholic parishes were represeted amog the speakers because of the wide variety of cultures ad laguages i the diocese. ORACION Y VIDA EN ESPANOL: Basado e la Biblia, co Cristo como cetro, es ua presetació más vibrate y activa de Jesús, que posee ua mayor adaptació a las ecesidades de la sociedad actual. Los sábados, hasta el 3 de diciembre, 4-6 pm e la Parroquia de St. A, Bridgeport. Para más iformació, llama o visita VENTA DE COMIDA: El por la multitud. El Alcalde Harry Rillig les dijo que tome ota de lo que se ve e ese istate: u grupo diverso de etias, religioes y culturas. Eso es lo que represeta Norwalk y de eso se trata. El Sargeto David Orr respodió que de los 179 agetes de la Policía de Norwalk todos dedica sus vidas por mateer la paz. El Padre Jua Gabriel Acosta, párroco de Sa Ladislaus, dio ua reflexió e español. Se basó e el Atiguo Testameto y dijo que Dios habló a través del profeta Isaías y recordó sobre ultimo domigo de cada mes (el 25 de septiembre) a las 11 am hasta las 4 pm e St. A Alumi Hall. Disfrutar de tamales, empaadas, asado de cerdo y pollo, arroz, pasteles y mucho más! Música y rifas tambié. La etrada es gratuita, la comida es $5. Los beeficios cotribuirá a los gastos de mateimieto de la iglesia. el ayuo que a Dios le agrada para romper las cadeas de la ijusticia, buscar la igualdad, la paz y la libertad. Hoy veimos reuidos e ua sola fe como u solo pueblo diferetes razas, acioes, y creecias. Y oramos especialmete por aquellas víctimas, por sus familias, por los más olvidados. Te pedimos Señor que reuidos e tu ombre os ayudes y os evíes la gracia para que restaures la uidad de uestro pueblo e América; que cese la discrimiació y que todos podamos veros como hermaos si distició de legua, ació, color creecias, o costumbres y así costruir u pueblo justo y humao, dijo. Etre los otros idiomas, los católicos teía robusta represetació, ya que la Diócesis de Bridgeport ofrece la Sata Misa e 15 leguas cada semaa. El Padre Michael Boccaccio, párroco de la Parroquia de Sa Philip, e su prédica hecha e italiao, rogó para que la paz, u regalo que Jesús trajo co su veida sea esparcida e todo el mudo y recordó que el país está viviedo mometos muy violetos y difíciles: Basta!, Basta! de tata violecia. Basta de tatas palabras que o os trae paz. Que Dios poga e osotros la esperaza y sabiduría porque el mudo ecesita teer paz, señaló. La paz, es lo que trajo Jesús cuado resucitó, dijo el Padre Fratz Desruisseaux de la Parroquia de Sa José, e su mesaje dicho e fracés. Recordó al público que el 2016 es el año declarado por el Papa Fracisco como el de la misericordia. Todo el mudo por medio de su fe pide vivir e justicia y paz y osotros hoy rogamos porque haya paz e uestra comuidad co uestra policía, dijo. El Padre Tomi Thomas de la Parroquia de Sa Mateo, se refirió e su legua ativa, el hidi, y habló sobre el futuro de la ació, y de la comuidad que está ameazada por la violecia. Haz Señor de mí u istrumeto de tu paz, dijo, evocado el cático por la paz compuesto por Sa Fracisco de Asís. Myriam Carvajal, de Costa Rica, que está de vacacioes e Norwalk juto a su familia, maifestó setirse complacida por haber asistido al eveto que estuvo lleo de emocioes y de armoía etre los policías y la comuidad. El servicio fue icreíble y sorpredete, idicó Susa Zcel, que asiste a la Parroquia de Sa Mateo. Realmete me comovió hasta las lágrimas, repuso Gretche Gould, que va a la Iglesia Black Rock e Stamford. Parshoto Sigh del templo Sij (Idia) habló de la diversidad y puso como ejemplo que para hacer ua buea comida es ecesario teer varios igredietes de diferetes sabores y formas. Si Dios quería que tuviera el mismo aspecto habría creado todo co el mismo cortador de galletas. Todo el mudo se vería igual. Pero los humaos somos uo solo e diferetes formas. Él os ha creado co metes diferetes para que podamos compartir, podemos apreciar el uo al otro. Podamos estar de acuerdo y apreder a estar e desacuerdo y au así respetaros uos a otros, dijo. La Rev. Velma Lovelace, capellá de la policía, habló de lo difícil que es llevar ua vida de policía y pidió que sea bedecidos y luego empezó a catar, rimado e hoor a la policía. Esta es ua de las experiecias más hermosas que he teido e mis 29 años e esta ciudad. Creo que esto es lo más grade que hecho al lograr reuir a todas las religioes y pesamietos. Esto es hermoso! Dios bediga a uestra comuidad y uestro departameto de policía, señaló el Oficial César Ramírez.

28 28 September 2016 Colum: Thomas Hicks The Gift of Loeliess POTPOURRI BY THOMAS H. HICKS Thomas Hicks is a member of St. Theresa Parish i Trumbull. whole covictio of my life ow rests upo The the belief that loeliess, far from beig a rare pheomeo, is the cetral ad ievitable fact of huma existece. (Thomas Wolfe) Is Wolfe right? Is loeliess a basic coditio of life? The Existetialist philosophers view loeliess as a give. They speak of the essetial aloeess of all humas. I thik the experiece of loeliess ca be see as uiversal, at least isofar as every huma beig, at some poit, will experiece beig loely. Ad I suppose it s true that o matter how close humas come to kowig oe aother, we remai idividuals, each with his or her hiddeess. Ad o doubt loeliess is the fial coditio of us all. There are some surprisig but reliable fidigs cocerig loeliess. For example, it is foud that the old are less loely, o the average, tha youg adults. Oe explaatio might be that youg people are too romatic ad idealistic about relatioships. The elderly have fewer expectatios regardig relatioships. They expect less ad are satisfied with less. Iterestigly, studies fid greater loeliess amog sigle elderly people livig with relatives tha amog those who live aloe. It is iterestig how loesome a perso ca be i a crowded house. May married people admit to beig loely. It is usually a futile hope that togetheress will overcome loeliess. May fid the compaioship more difficult tha the loeliess. There s a school of thought that holds that over-egagemet is a cause of loeliess. People ca be aloe without beig loely, or, o the other had, be with people ad be loely. Success seems to offer scat protectio agaist loeliess. Ideed, it is geerally foud that the most acute loeliess is i the most successful me, workaholics. Some of the laguage of today teds to be a rather cold laguage of coectio. We speak of etworkig ad iterfacig. It ca be a difficult thig to live aloe. How does oe rejoice aloe? How ca ayoe ejoy ad appreciate, really appreciate, aloe? It ca be paiful comig back to a empty house, where so much eeds doig. A hard thig about livig aloe is ot havig ayoe to recout a day to. There is a kid of aloe where you miss someoe, someoe i particular. But a patter ofte is that at first oe seses that oe has to edure beig loely. The oe gets used to it ad accepts beig loely. The oe ca make frieds with oe s loeliess. The like a log love, it deepes with time ad oe begis to cherish the loeliess. The loeliess may grow ito solitude, which is t exactly the same as loeliess. Little by little, the loely/solitude reveals its delights. Not eough has bee said of the value of a life lived aloe. A character i a Chekhov story remarks o the happiess of beig aloe. Oe lears how to be aloe; Little by little, oe s solitude becomes oe s good life s compaio. The empty house evetually welcomes oe. They are oe, the house ad the idividual. The idividual returs with thakfuless to the silece ad solitude of the house. Oe ca come to like the soud of silece. A elderly ma who lived aloe told me that at ight whe the empty house surrouds him, it is greatly loved ad ofte eve loged for. He spoke of how so may times he just wats to be aloe. I do t wat to talk or explai or argue or eve liste to others. I m quite at home i my empty house. I ever get bored there. I m ot a recluse. The aloeess ca brig a perso deeply i touch with his or her ow existece. The idividual faces the questio of who the self really is. It seems that aloeess or solitude seeks the idividual. He or she did ot seek the solitary life. There is usually a life-chagig loss or tragedy i their past. There is a sese that it is God who called them ito solitude, ad it becomes the place of a ecouter with God. A solitary elderly lady said to me, I ve bee o earth almost sevety-five years, ad most of that time I spet seekig salvatio by dit of projects ad programs of every sort. I realized that I did t eve really kow God; I had t begu to uderstad him, to relate to him. I thik I am ow headed i the opposite directio. Livig sigly will ivolve real loeliess, ad times of fear ad isecurity. But little by little the solitude reveals its delights. A fifteeth cetury writer amed Paul Giustiiai wrote: Truly, util I was aloe, I ever really lived. Util I was aloe, I was ot with myself. Util I was aloe, I ever drew ear to my Creator. The loeliess becomes the meetig place with God. I loeliess oe ca tur more ad more to God, who teaches oe to liste, to lea o him ad feel his comfort. As oe aloe sigle the loely/solitude reveals its delights. put it: I am aloe, but ever was God so ear to me.

29 September Colum: Joe Pisai Career Possibilities I tried to war my wife. I told her drivig to Greewich o I-95 at rush hour was isaity, regardless of how oble her missio was. After years of commutig, I still have ightmares where I m imprisoed i gridlock, stretchig bumperto-bumper to New Jersey or maybe it s Pesylvaia. But she would t liste. Why was t I surprised? Sady ad her fried Lorraie plaed to visit St. Mary s Church to veerate the icorrupt heart of St. Joh Viaey, patro sait of priests ad vocatios. The relic, which was tourig parishes, is ormally o display with his body at the Basilica of Ars i Frace, where he was parish priest from 1818 util 1859 whe he died at 73. Some 20,000 pilgrims a year would go to see the Cure of Ars, who ofte spet up to16 hours a day hearig cofessios. It s said that a lawyer who SWIMMING UPSTREAM BY JOE PISANI Joe Pisai has bee a writer ad editor for 30 years. visited him was asked what the fasciatio was, ad he respoded, I saw God i a ma. Is t that what priests are supposed to be, a represetatio of Christ amog us? Joh Marie Viaey was a ulikely cadidate for the priesthood, but God s ways are t ma s ways. At oe poit, he eve left the semiary because he was havig troubles with his studies; however, as the story goes, the Blessed Mother ecouraged him to retur, ad he listeed to her. Despite my dire predictios, Sady got to Greewich i time for Mass ad prayed before the relic. Whe they were drivig home, she told Lorraie, I prayed that my gradso has a vocatio to the priesthood, which was a woderful petitio eve though the boy was moths from beig bor. I prayed for the same thig, Lorraie said. What a curious itetio i 21st cetury America! I kow parets who wat their sos to be doctors, lawyers, athletes, TV celebrities ad CEOs so they ca achieve fame ad fortue. But priests? There are coutless career possibilities out there, but the priesthood is ever amog the top choices for youg me i our secular society, which is more obsessed with possessios, prestige, power ad moey tha the welfare of immortal souls. While Sady was prayig to St. Joh Viaey about my gradso s future, I just hoped his parets also recogized the eed for committed priests at a turbulet time i the Church s history. We eed good priests ow more tha ever because the world o loger kows the differece betwee right ad wrog ad o loger cares. We eed me willig to give up everythig for Christ ad work for him i the vieyard. The challege is great, but the rewards are eteral. There s o obler vocatio tha to save souls waderig i darkess who do t eve kow they re lost. As the well-kow author Father Fracis Feradez wrote, I the sacramet of Holy Orders, the priest is costituted a miister of God ad dispeser of his treasures. These treasures DIACONATE FORMATION PROGRAM DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT PERMANENT DIACONATE FORMATION PROGRAM The Permaet Diacoate Formatio Program of the Diocese of Bridgeport will be soo startig a ew class of Iquirers for the Diacoate Formatio Program. Me who are iterested i applyig for admissio to the Formatio Program must be betwee 31 ad 58 years old. Iquirers should be me of prayer ad faith, ad be kow i their parish commuity. They must have the desire to serve their brothers ad sisters i the Lord through acts of charity. A married ma must be validly married i the Roma Catholic Church for at least five years ad have the approval of his wife to eter the formatio process. If a ma feels that the Lord is callig him to the Diacoate, he should also make arragemets to speak with his pastor i order to proceed i the process. For questios or more iformatio, cotact Deaco Athoy P. Cassaeto, Ph.D. Director of the Diacoate Office: iclude the divie Word for preachig, the Body ad Blood of Christ he dispeses at Mass ad i Holy Commuio, ad the grace of God i the admiistratio of the sacramets. The priest is etrusted with a divie task... o less tha the salvatio of souls. The Holy Spirit is always at work ispirig idividuals to pursue Christ, but uless they re ecouraged, the seed will fall o rocky soil or the weeds will choke it. God plats the seed, ad it s our resposibility as parets to cultivate it by istillig a love of Christ ad the Church i childre. My daughter Chrissy was due to deliver i late July, but my gradso Maso showed o sig he iteded to make his grad By ONE OF CT S LARGEST VOLUME HONDA DEALERS CT S FIRST ESTABLISHED HONDA DEALER APRIL 1973 Ope All Day Saturday for Service & Parts Seior Citize Discout 333 Bridgeport Ave Shelto M-Th 9am-9pm Fri 9am-6pm Sat 9am-5pm appearace. The due date came ad wet. Days passed, a week passed. Chrissy wet to the hospital twice but they set her home because the baby was t ready. Fially, durig the first week i August, she wet ito labor, but after 24 hours with o success, the doctor decided to perform a C-sectio. Maso came ito the world o August 4 the feast of St. Joh Viaey. The Cure of Ars heard my wife s prayer, ad I m sure he ll do his best to aswer it. I do t kow whether my gradso will be a butcher, a baker, a cadlestick maker... or a brai surgeo. But I m pretty sure St. Joh Viaey is o my wife s side, ad with frieds like that, how ca you go wrog? Creatig memories sice 1920 Family owed & operated Ope Sudays Post Road, Fairfield (203) CALL CURTISS RYAN AT NEW & USED VEHICLES SALES SERVIICE PARTS BODY SHOP

30 30 September 2016 Bits ad Pieces BILINGUAL ROSARY at St. A Parish, Bridgeport, is held every Friday at 7 pm. PRAYER AND LIFE WORKSHOP: a more vibrat ad vivid presetatio of Jesus is held at St. A Parish, Bridgeport, o Thurs. ow thru Dec. 1, from 7-9 pm. For more ifo, call BIBLE STUDY: The Prophets: Messegers of God s Mercy, a te-week program at Christ the Kig Parish, Trumbull, bega Fri., Sept. 16, ad will cotiue every Fri. from 9-10:45 am. Workbook cost: $25, due the first day of the study. To reserve a workbook ad to register, cotact Liz i the parish office: or ctkparish@aol.com. TAG SALE will be held at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield, o Sat., Sept. 17, from 8:30 am-6 pm. For more ifo, call the parish: MASS OF HEALING AND HOPE will be celebrated at Christ the Kig Parish, Trumbull, with Fr. Larry Carew o Mo., Sept. 19, at 7:30 pm. For more ifo, call the Charismatic Reewal Office: CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS of Greater Dabury, ages 18-35, will meet o Tues., Sept. 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm for Game Night ad sacks at the Newma Ceter, WCSU, #7 8th Ave, Dabury. Park at WCSU parkig garage across from 8th Ave. For more ifo, call or catholic.ya.dabury@gmail.com. JACK MACKSEY MEMORIAL Golf Touramet for St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield, will be held Wed., Sept. 21, at the Ridgefield Golf Club. For iformatio o becomig a sposor or player, cotact Greg: BIBLE STUDY: Follow Me: Meetig Jesus i the Gospel of Joh, a 9-week course, starts Thurs., Sept. 22, at 7:15 pm at St. Cecilia Parish, Stamford, ad is repeated Fri., Sept. 23, at 9:15 am. Workbooks: $20. For more ifo or to register, cotact Vicki Alto: or VickiA@ optolie.et. CAPP Fordham 2016 Coferece at Licol Ceter, NYC, will take place Fri.-Sat., Sept Fri.: coferece opeig: 6:30 pm-cocktails; 7 pm-dier). Sat.: coferece presetatios, speakers, paelists from 8:30 am-6:30 pm. The coferece is joitly sposored by Cetesimus Aus Pro Potifice (CAPP) ad Fordham Uiversity Graduate Program i Iteratioal Political Ecoomy ad Developmet. For more ifo ad for registratio, go to www. capp-usa.org, iped@fordham.edu or call MAGNIFICAT Miistry to Catholic Wome will host a prayer breakfast o Sat., Oct. 1, from 9:30 am-12:30 pm at Etha Alle I, Dabury. Susa Brikma will be the guest speaker. Cost: $25; pre-register by Sat., Sept. 23. No tickets sold at the door. For more ifo, call Fra Hood: or s.m. hood@sbcglobal.et. THOSE WITH DOWN SYNDROME, their family ad frieds are ivited to a Mass askig for the itercessio of St. Robert Bellarmie with Bishop Frak Caggiao ad Fr. Richard Cipolla, Su., Sept. 25, at 11:30 am i St. Mary Church, Norwalk. Receptio follows Mass. Please come ad joi the MOMs+DADs prayer/support group the third Thurs. of every moth (Oct. 19), at 7:30 pm at St. Mary s Parish Ceter. For more ifo, cotact strapostolate@optimum.et. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP will meet at St. Stephe Parish, Trumbull, for a series of 10 weekly meetigs startig Thurs., Sept. 29, from 4-5:30 pm. Advace registratio ecessary. For more ifo or to register, call the parish office: DEADLINE for doatig a vetera s brick to the St. Margaret Shrie Veteras Memorial, is Fri., Sept. 30. Bricks ca be doated hoorig a vetera of the U.S. Military, or Allies: livig, deceased, wartime, peacetime, or curretly servig. The Veteras Memorial is located at 2523 Park Ave., Bridgeport. The ames of the veteras o ewly doated bricks will be published i the program book ad read at the Sixth Aual Veteras Mass ad Blessig o Sat., Nov. 5, at 12:15 pm. For more ifo, call THE MONKS OF NORCIA will be sharig their life ad spirituality o Fri., Sept. 30, at 5 pm at the Darie Commuity Associatio, 274 Middlesex Rd., Darie. Cost $100; icludes hors d oeuvres ad Birra Nursia (Nursia beer). Preseters will iclude Fr. Richard Cipolla, pastor of St. Mary Parish i Norwalk ad Fr. Beedict Nivakoff from Nursia, who grew up i St. Aloysius Parish, New Caaa. For more ifo ad for reservatios, cotact Robert Duca: commuicatios@ursia.org or RAINBOWS, a program for childre ad tees grievig the loss of a paret or other loved oe from death, divorce, or other trauma, will start a ew sessio at Holy Spirit Parish, Stamford, at the ed of Sept. The program is cofidetial ad free, ad ope to all. A Witer/Sprig sessio will be held Ja.-April, For more ifo or to register, raibows@holyspiritstamford.org or call TRADITIONAL LATIN MASS will be celebrated at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield, the first Suday of each moth (Oct. 2) at 4 pm. For more ifo, call the parish: FAIRFIELD PREP ivites all prospective studets ad families to atted a Ope House o Su., Oct. 2, from 2-4 pm. Etrace exams will be held o Sat., Oct. 15, ad Sat., Nov. 5, at 8:30 am. To create a Prep Admissios Accout, visit org ad choose Admissios. ANNUAL MEMORIAL MASS OF THE GUARDIAN ANGELS will be held at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish o Mo., Oct. 3 at 7 pm. This special Mass commemorates the lives of deceased childre. Parets, relatives, ad frieds who have suffered the loss of a child are ivited to joi us as we celebrate their lives before God. Light refreshmets follow the Mass. To

31 September Bits ad Pieces iclude your deceased child i our Memorial Book, visit for the Memorial Mass Registratio form. ADULT BIBLE STUDY Jesus: The Ma, the Myth, the Messiah, a seve-week study of the Gospels led by Fr. Joseph Gill, will take place at Triity Catholic High School, Stamford, every Thurs. i Oct. ad Nov. from 6:30-8:30 pm, startig Thurs., Oct. 6. No cost; dier will be served. For more ifo cotact Fr. Gill: frjosephgill@gmail.com. GOSPEL OF LIFE SOCIETY meets at St. Mary Parish, Norwalk, the secod Sat. of each moth (Oct. 8) from 10 am-12 oo, after the 9 am prolife Mass. For more ifo, cotact Eilee Biachii: or stmarygols@aol.com. CATHOLIC UNDERGROUND meets the Walk for Water BY ELLEN MILLER, RN Water is a basic ecessity of life. It ca be pletiful here ad should t be take for grated. For the people of Sata Maria de Jesus, Guatemala, families are oly allowed to get water for half a hour every other day, ad it is t clea. That s why I am so proud of my parish, St. Mary s i Ridgefield, ad St. Mary School for sposorig a Walk for Water o Saturday, October 15, from 9 am-12 oo alog Mai St. i Ridgefield to help me distribute water filters i Sata Maria de Jesus. I ve bee servig o medical missios with Helpig Hads Medical Missios for several years. As a urse, I kow how importat clea water is, because it decreases parasitic ifectios that cause malutritio i childre. Worldwide, every 20 secods a child dies of water bore illesses. Clea filtered water presets a simple, much eeded, solutio. Accordig to Dr. Mike Brezisky, Helpig Hads missio director, Chroic diarrhea is a commo problem. Stadig water ad rai water which people use for drikig is full of parasites. Without adequate heatig of water, parasites reproduce ad the ifectios cotiue secod Sat. of every moth (Oct. 8), featurig Be Walther from 7:30-10 pm at St. A Parish i the Black Rock sectio of Bridgeport. It s a eveig of Adoratio, Recociliatio, prayer, music, ad fellowship. For more ifo, go to CONNected Catholics: REUNION for alumi ad families of the former St. Stephe School, Bridgeport, is plaed for Su., Oct. 9, at 12:30 pm at Testo s Restaurat, 1775 Madiso Ave, Bridgeport. St. Stephe of Hugary Parish ad School were closed i Cost: $35/perso; cash bar. Reservatios eeded by Su., Sept. 25. For more ifo or to reserve a spot, call Barbara Chuga: ENCOURAGE apostolate for frieds ad family of loved oes with same sex attractios or geder ID issues, meets the to fester. Everybody driks coffee because it is hot ad perceived as safe, sice the water is ot. Gastritis from coffee cosumptio is see i kids as youg as two years of age. They drik oly breast milk ad coffee, the oly liquids that are safe. Water is a basic ecessity of life ad everyoe deserves it! This is the secod time St. Mary s Parish has rise to help the crisis i this small corer of the world. I 2015, doatios from St. Mary Parish ad other commuities eabled us to raise $26,000 to purchase 352 water filters, says Maura O Coor, a member of the Walk for Water committee at St. Mary s who has bee o two missios to Sata Maria de Jesus. These filters provided 1,850 people with clea water at home. Our goal i 2016 will be to provide filters ad to focus o educatio as the key to improvig the lives of the residets of Sata Maria de Jesus. For this year s Walk for Water, our parish s Catholic Actio Committee, uder the leadership of Mary Staudt, hopes to orgaize teams of studets ad members from may parish miistries, as well as residets of third Sat. of the moth (Oct. 15) at 10:30 am ad is strictly cofidetial. For more ifo cotact the Norwalk Chapter: ECourageNorwalk@gmail.com. OCTOBERFEST Fruit of the Vie Tastig will take place Sat., Oct.15, 6-8 pm at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield. A selectio of wies sposored by Caraluzzi s Wie & Spirits will be preseted ad hors d oeuvres by area restaurats will be served. Tickets are $30 each; $50/couple. For more ifo ad for reservatios, call Priscilla Garamella: ST. PAUL STREET EVANGELIZATION: Basic Evagelizatio Traiig will be offered at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Dabury, Sat., Oct. 1, 9:30 am-4 pm ad Su., Oct. 2, from 12:30-5 pm. Participats will gai the courage to be a the broader Ridgefield commuity, to participate i the walk. Sposors are asked to pledge moey for each lap completed by the walkers. Just $47 ca buy a water filter for a family i eed! I additio to the portable water filters, we are ivestigatig a log-term source of clea drikig for these people. I m ispired by how God is workig through Catholic Actio ad parishioers who have goe o missios with me ad have see the poorest of the poor ad the devastatig effects of poverty ad malutritio related to dirty water. (Joi Walk for Water o Saturday, October 15, from 9 am-12 oo o Mai St., Ridgefield. For more ifo, cotact St. Mary Parish: or Maura O Coor: Mauratub05@sbcglobal.et, or.) ethusiastic ad joyful evagelist i their daily lives. No experiece eeded! Fee: $45 icludes traiig, luch ad refreshmets of both days. For more ifo call the parish: FIRST FRIDAY LECTURES begi agai at St. Luke Parish, Westport, o Fri., Oct. 7, at 7:30 pm. Paul Lakelad, Ph.D, Aloysius P. Kelley, SJ, foudig director for Catholic studies at Fairfield Uiversity, will speak o Catholicism ad Citizeship i a Electio Year. The lecture will be preceded by a wie ad cheese receptio at 7 pm. For more ifo, call CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS of the Americas Coecticut State Court will celebrate their 110th aiversary o Sat., Oct. 8, at the Courtyard by Marriott. 780 Bridgeport Ave., Shelto. For more ifo call Amy: GOLF TOURNAMENT: Fri., Oct. 14, to beefit St. A, Parish, Bridgeport, ad St. A Academy. Ejoy 18 holes at the Coutry Club of Woodbridge. Registratio will begi at 11 am; shotgu start at 12 oo. The day will coclude with a dier featurig raffles ad silet auctio. Cost: $150 per golfer; icludes luch, 18 holes of golf, use of locker room, soft spikes oly/ scramble format, 1-hour ope bar We are the proud priters of the Fairfield Couty Catholic for the past 20 years. Newspapers Publicatios Shoppers Catalogs Magazies Directories Coupo Books College Course Catalogs Busiess & Fiacial Periodicals Free Stadig Iserts Advertisig Supplemets 205 Sprig Hill Road, Trumbull CT Call us for a free quote ad dier receptio. Sigle golfers will be paired up with a foursome. No-golfers are welcome to atted the dier receptio ad auctio for $60/perso or $110 for couples. For more ifo ad to register, visit WOMEN S GROUP at Christ the Kig Parish, Trumbull, will meet Mo., Oct. 17, at 10 am. Rhoda Mercer, represetative of the Aquario Water Compay, will speak o Coservatio ad the Value of Water. All are ivited. For more ifo, call COME AND SEE if you are beig called to a vocatio i the Secular Fracisca Order. The Holy Spirit Fraterity ivites everyoe to St. Emery s Church, Fairfield, o Sat., Oct. 15, at 9:30 am. Father Norma J. Guilbert will celebrate a Mass, followed by a social ad busiess meetig. For more ifo, call Pat Heile, OFS: or pheile5713@aol.com. MEN S CONFERENCE at Goodwi College, East Hartford, will be held Sat., Oct. 22. Tickets: $40; icludes box luch ad free parkig. Purchase tickets olie at For more ifo, cotact Ke Satopietro, director: or

32 St. Vicet s Stroke Symposium 2016 For Patiets, Families ad Caregivers Atted a free semiar ad screeig for patiets ad families o stroke educatio, preseted by the experts at St. Vicet s Medical Ceter. Wedesday, September a.m. to 12 oo Symposium Speakers Mitchell A. Fogel, MD, FACP Chairma & Vice Presidet, Departmet of Medicie, St. Vicet s Medical Ceter Hawley Coferece Room St. Vicet s Medical Ceter 2800 Mai Street, Bridgeport Semiar Topics to iclude: Stroke Basics Healthy Diet Thrivig After Stroke Luch provided / Free parkig Sriath Kadimi, MD, FRCS Stroke Director, St. Vicet s Medical Ceter Corey Jaquez, MD St. Vicet s Medical Ceter Joi us for a free Health Assessmet Screeig after the lectures. For registratio or for more iformatio call or register olie at