20 Teens urged to be. Get the care you need, when and where you need it. GetStVincentsCare.com. Inside this issue

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1 Iside this issue 10 More tha 8,000 retur to Diocesa Schools 20 Tees urged to be Courageous for Christ Get the care you eed, whe ad where you eed it. GetStVicetsCare.com

2 2 September 2018 Bishop s Statemet o Abuse Crisis The Church is facig a momet of crisis My Dear Brothers ad Sisters i Christ, As the recet scadalous evets regardig the crimes of sexual abuse agaist miors have come to light i the Pesylvaia Grad Jury Report ad the earlier revelatios regardig Archbishop McCarrick, I have bee sick to my stomach. Words like horrifyig, betrayal, ad diabolical come to mid describig the evil abuse that was perpetrated agaist childre, who were robbed of their iocece, ad ofte of their faith ad future. The failure of some bishops to report this evil is equally stuig ad deeply siful. I believe that the Church is facig a momet of crisis that demads hoesty ad repetace from the bishops ad decisive actio to esure that these failures will ever happe agai. The credibility of the bishops has bee tarished i the eyes of may, icludig may of our faithful. For some, it has eve provoked a persoal crisis of cofidece i the Church itself, leadig some to cosider leavig their parishes. This is a woud that has bee iflicted upo the Church that will ot heal easily. I ivite you to joi me to accompay oe aother durig this time of sadess ad ager ad to stregthe oe aother i our Catholic faith. The stregtheig of faith requires that the bishops of the Church ackowledge past failigs amog their brother bishops ad hold everyoe guilty accoutable for their failures ad crimes, whomever they may be. The betrayal we feel cocerig the cover-up of abuse pales i compariso to the sufferig edured by the victims of sexual abuse our sisters ad brothers, ieces ad ephews, relatives ad frieds, who have bee so deeply wouded ad have struggled with the lifelog cosequeces of abuse. To those who suffered the evil of abuse, I wish to say that I am deeply sorry for the pai ad sufferig that you have edured. I am sorry for the times that you came forward ad were ot heard. I am sorry for the silece of those who could have stopped what you edured. I am sorry that you were betrayed at the hads of those who were to serve as your fathers i faith. We stad with you ad will cotiue to accompay you with our prayers ad resources to fid healig ad peace. We must make this a defiig momet for all those who have suffered, by doig everythig humaly possible to root out the si of sexual abuse from our Church. Over the past few days, I have read itetly may of the cocrete proposals that bishops ad lay leaders have put forward to address the past failures i leadership ad to stregthe the measures already i place esurig that our childre, youg people ad vulerable adults are safe ad ca flourish i our midst. Some of the proposals are iovative ad merit greater reflectio. It is my hope ad prayer that through hoest dialogue ad careful reflectio, the Church s clerical ad lay leaders o every level ca create a pla to brig purificatio ad reewal to our Church. Despite the raw emotios that we may be feelig durig this difficult time, I would ecourage us to resist the impulse to despair or dismiss the sacrificial work of so may good priests whom you have come to kow i your life of faith. For our good priests are also sufferig because of the sis of their brothers. It is also importat that we ot lose sight of the tremedous protectios ow i place i our diocese ad other dioceses across the coutry. For over fiftee years, our Safe Eviromets programs have bee effective i prevetig abuse, ecouragig early reportig, ad esurig swift removal of perpetrators through the Diocesa Review Board. Cotact iformatio for our Safe Eviromets Office ca be foud o the diocesa website ad i the back of the Church. I our diocese, we have also established a Miscoduct Review Board, composed pricipally of lay members, to review ay allegatios of adult miscoduct o the part of clergy. Perhaps we have ever bee so aware of our frailty. Yet, while this is a serious time of challege ad crisis i the Church, there is always hope. I do t come to you with a easy solutio to a complex evil, but I believe that if we move forward i the solidarity of faith, a spirit of trasparecy ad commitmet to absolute accoutability, we will reew the Church. My frieds, I am prayig for you ad your families each day at Mass durig this difficult time. Please pray for me ad my brother priests as well. May the great Mother of God, our protector ad itercessor, accompay us as we move forward to purify ad reew our Church. Sicerely yours i Christ, Most Revered Frak J. Caggiao Bishop of Bridgeport (Visit page 8 for the Bishop s actio pla for our diocese.) ON THE COVER CONTENTS 5 REDEMPTORIS MATER SEMINARY Followig differet paths to Christ 7 CONVERSION STORIES Mia Lawrece fids Oe true God 10 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Diocese aouces ew Pricipals 12 ST. PETER SCHOOL, DANBURY Christopher Ripp Early Learig Ceter Iside this issue 10 More tha 8,000 retur to Diocesa Schools 20 Tees urged to be Courageous for Christ Get the care you eed, whe ad where you eed it. GetStVicetsCare.com BISHOP RESPONDS TO CRISIS I this issue Bishop Frak J. Caggiao respods to the sexual abuse crisis by itroducig ew measures to stregthe trasparecy ad accoutability i the diocese ad build o the may effective Safe Eviromet programs that have bee i place for over a decade. (See Page 8) (Photos by Amy Mortese) 15 CAMP VERITAS Faith, Frieds ad Fud 17 ABUSE SURVIVORS SPEAK Sharig stories of hope ad healig 19 A LITTLE BOY S PRAYERS Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Lourdes RED MASS Judge Hardima to speak

3 September Latest News Bishop aouces Clergy Mass of Reparatio BRIDGEPORT I respose to atioal priest sexual abuse, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao will lead a Holy Hour with Rosary ad a Clergy Mass of Reparatio ad Purificatio o the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Saturday September 15th, at the Cathedral of St. Augustie, 399 Washigto Aveue i Bridgeport. The day will begi at 9:30 am with a Holy Hour followed by Mass celebrated by Bishop Caggiao ad diocesa priests at 10:30 am. The bishop has asked all priests throughout the diocese to atted, ad the Mass is ope to the public. Durig this time of trial, we must come together as a family of faith ad beg the Lord for forgiveess ad to offer reparatio for the sis committed by priests, bishops ad ay member of the Church, especially the depraved sis agaist childre ad the vulerable. It is also a time to ask God to heal those who have bee wouded by si, to tur our hearts away from aythig that is evil ad to reew our commitmet to holiess, said the bishop i a letter to priests. The bishop said he hopes that the Mass is the first tagible step towards reewig cofidece ad trust i the Church for may of our faithful. I ivite all faithful to joi me ad accompay oe aother durig this time of sadess ad ager, ad to stregthe oe aother i our Catholic faith. I this issue (see page 8) the bishop has issued the first i a series of letters that over the ext few moths will outlie real, cocrete admiistrative, spiritual ad pastoral actios desiged to achieve the highest level of trasparecy ad accoutability. The letters will address the ogoig eeds both of survivors of sexual abuse ad the good priests who remai faithful to their vocatio. The bishop said that it is his sicere hope that these measures will help foster a spirit of reparatio ad coversio i the lives of all clerics ad throughout the diocesa Church. Further recogizig that all of us i the commuity of the faithful will have uique healig eeds i these difficult times, there will be additioal spiritual iitiatives, he said. With these measures we will begi to restore cofidece i Church leadership o all levels ad to brig healig ad recociliatio to our Church. I his letter to priests, the bishop also istructed them to recite the Prayer to Sait Michael the Archagel at the ed of each ad every Mass celebrated i the diocese, begiig o the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. The prayer will be said immediately before the recessioal hym is sug. Christ has coquered si ad death, but we are still i the midst of a spiritual battle. For that reaso, I would like the Prayer to Sait Michael the Archagel, said the bishop. I believe that the Church is facig a momet of crisis that demads hoesty ad repetace from the bishops ad decisive actio to esure that these failures will ever happe agai. He has asked pastors to celebrate a local Mass of Reparatio i their parishes o later tha October 31, I the comig weeks, the bishop will aouce additioal spiritual iitiatives ad admiistrative measures to address the sexual abuse scadal i a spirit of trasparecy ad accoutability. A complete list will be published o the diocesa website. Bishop to cofer Papal Hoors BRIDGEPORT The Most Rev. Frak J. Caggiao, Bishop of Bridgeport, will cofer Potifical Hoors grated by His Holiess Pope Fracis o twety lay faithful of the diocese durig a Vespers Prayer Service set for Saturday, September 29th at 4 pm i St. Augustie Cathedral, 359 Washigto Aveue, Bridgeport. The Papal Hoors are a recogitio of these idividuals ad a celebratio of the etire diocese. The recipiets are role models ad they are joied i their geerosity by so may others throughout the diocese who give sacrificially i faith. Through these hoors, the Holy Father recogizes the good work goig o i the diocese. This is also a opportuity to celebrate all doors ad those who serve the Church, the bishop said. Bishop Caggiao said that several moths ago he persoally wrote to the Holy See i order to request that Pope Fracis bestow the hoors o those who have distiguished themselves by their faith, wise cousel, ad geerous support of the missio of the Church. Te faithful will be iducted ito the Order of Sait Gregory the Great, ad te will be iducted ito the Order of Pope Sait Sylvester. The Order of Sait Gregory was istituted o September 1, 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI i hoor of his predecessor Pope Sait Gregory the Great. The hoor is bestowed upo lay faithful i recogitio of their persoal service through their uusual labors ad their excellet example set forth i their commuities ad their coutries. Istituted by Pope Pius X o October 31, 1841, the Order of Pope Sait Sylvester was fouded to recogize those lay faithful who are actively ivolved i the life of the church, particularly as it is exemplified i the exercise of their professioal duties. Those to be iducted ito the Order of Sait Gregory the Great are: Mr. Rocco Cigari; Mr. George Ladegger; Mr. Frak Martire; Mrs. Marisa Martire; Mr. Thomas McIerey; Mrs. Paula McIerey; Mr. Deis Nayde; Mrs. Britta Nayde; Mr. Paul Queally; Mrs. Ae Marie Queally. Those to be iducted ito the Order of Pope Sait Sylvester are: Mr. Lawrece Bossidy; Mrs. Nacy Bossidy; Mr. Salvatore Cigari, Jr.; Mrs. Catherie Cigari, Jr.; Mr. Thomas O Malley; Mrs. Mary Alice O Malley; Mr. Joseph Roxe; Mrs. Mauree Roxe; Mr. Bria Youg; Mrs. Ae Youg. A receptio will immediately follow the Vespers Prayer Service. The public is ivited ad all priests, deacos, religious, ad lay faithful of the Diocese of Bridgeport are ecouraged to atted.

4 4 September 2018 Lifelog Faith Formatio The Face of Prayer 2.0 to lauch By ELIZABETH CLYONS Emma Ryder, Coordiator of the Face of Prayer for the Diocese of Bridgeport shares some isight about this excitig iitiative lauchig o September 8th. What are you most excited about for this campaig? We are creatig a iteractive video catechism based o the questios ad cocers of youg people i the Church, ad that is really excitig ad differet from ay other resource available today. We have received over 500 questios ad have already aswered 150 thaks to the immediate support ad resposes of aroud 20 catechists icludig bishops, priests, religious ad lay leaders across the coutry. This ew approach to catechesis ot oly serves as a resource for persoal use, but also for parets, teachers, catechists ad youth miisters to utilize as they pass o the faith to the ext geeratio. What sparked your iterest i becomig coordiator? I grew up i the Diocese of Bridgeport, but spet about seve years i Bosto goig to school ad workig. I felt a deep desire to come back home ad bega lookig for a job that would fit well with my passio for teachig ad my faith, as well as a ewly discovered love for workig with techology ad social media to ehace the missio ad visio of a orgaizatio or project. The Face of Prayer filled these desires quite icely, ad I am very blessed that I get to serve i this miistry back at home i my diocese. What are some of the goals of the iitiative? The goals of this iitiative are to egage the faithful i three actios Ask. Watch. Witess. Everyoe has questios about their faith, the Church, or the adversity they face i the world we live i today, ad we wat to provide a platform for people to ask those questios ad get them aswered i a persoal way. We also wat people to witess to their faith ad be The Face of Prayer if you will, to those aroud them by sharig the truth ad havig a active prayer life. Sharig Bishop Frak J. Caggiao s weekly video series or the upcomig video catechism series o social media is a great way to share what the Church teaches ad to lear more about the faith. Subscribig to the daily prayer itetio is aother way we ca cultivate active prayer lives by prayig every day. How do you see this program growig/chagig/spreadig? The Face of Prayer is ot oly a diocesa iitiative; it s atiowide. As we cotiue to collect questios ad reach out to catechists, The Face of Prayer will cotiue to grow ad expad based o the eeds of those egagig with the site. What ca we expect from the Face of Prayer comig soo? The Face of Prayer bega i April 2017 o Divie Mercy Suday as a text ad selfie campaig to egage people i prayer ad show, with Mary our Mother as the perfect model, how each of us ca be the face of prayer to those aroud us. O September 8, 2018, the feast of the Nativity of Mary, we will be lauchig The Face of Prayer 2.0, which is the itetioal shift to create a video catechism based o the questios of the youth. We will be lauchig a ewly desiged website that icludes a video gallery of hudreds of questios that have bee aswered by bishops, priests, religious ad lay leaders from aroud the coutry. It s excitig to be takig this campaig beyod the diocese ad creatig a resource that ca be used atiowide. Each video is about 2-3 miutes log ad icludes additioal resources that are itegrated ito the videos, keepig the youth safely o oe site at all times. These Q&A videos are a great resource for teachers, catechists, parets, ad youth miisters to use i their miistries, as well as a way to persoally lear more about the Church ad faith. If there is oe thig that you wat people to kow about the Face of Prayer what would it be? The Face of Prayer is for everyoe! We are all called to be witesses to the truth, ad we ca oly do that if we cotiually ask questios, lear more about our faith ad the Church, ad cultivate a relatioship with Christ. We are all ivited to be the face of prayer to those aroud us! We ivite you to joi the movemet today by textig a selfie or PRAY to or by visitig Achor Byro Pitts to speak for Shepherds O Thursday eveig, October 11th, Shepherds, a metorig ad scholarship o-profit based i Bridgeport, will celebrate 20 years of chagig studets lives with a gala at The I at Logshore i Westport. The eveig will feature highly respected TV jouralist ad co-achor of ABC News Nightlie, Byro Pitts, speakig o his life experiece growig up i ier city Baltimore. NBC 4 New York weatherma, Dave Price will be the emcee ad two of the Shepherd s most experieced ad dedicated metors, Tammy Taylor of Darie ad Greg Dillo of North Have, will receive the prestigious Fouder s Award. Byro Pitts has covered atioal ews stories ad i-depth features for ABC, reportig across the ews divisio, icludig Good Morig America, World News Toight with David Muir, This Week ad 20/20. He is a multiple Emmy award wiig jouralist ad ews vetera with over 20 years of experiece ad is kow for his thoughtful storytellig, o-the-groud reportig ad i-depth iterviews. I additio, Pitts is the author of Step Out o Nothig: How Faith ad Family Helped Me Coquer Life s Challeges ad Be the Oe: Six True Stories of Tees Overcomig Hardship with Hope. Shepherds supports iercity tees from the New Have Shepherds studets have a much higher likelihood of graduatig from high school... ad Bridgeport areas where the graduatio rates from public high schools are sigificatly below their suburba peers. Shepherds empowers these studets to build a foudatio for their success by providig 4 year scholarships for a college preparatory educatio at Notre Dame West Have ad Kolbe Cathedral high schools, academic ad life skill programs, ad the positive role model ad support of a committed Shepherds metor. Results over 20 years have demostrated that Shepherds studets have a much higher likelihood of graduatig from high school, pursuig higher educatio, breakig the cycle of poverty ad becomig productive members of society. Two hudred sixty-five studets who might otherwise have dropped out of high school have graduated ad goe o to istitutios of higher learig or to military or civil service roles. SHEPHERDS WELCOMES ANCHOR Shepherds to host gala featurig highly respected TV jouralist ad co-achor of ABC News Nightlie, Byro Pitts, speakig o his life experiece growig up i ier city Baltimore. Shepherds has bee successful because of the loyal support ad commitmet of its may metors ad sposors. This year s recipiets of the Shepherds Fouder s Award have metored several studets durig their time with the orgaizatio. Tammy Taylor has bee a metor sice 2002 ad is a logstadig board member. She has served as chair of the Metorig Committee overseeig all metorig activities icludig recruitmet, traiig ad support. Mr. Dillo has metored eight studets through graduatio from his alma mater, Notre Dame High School i West Have. He will joi Shepherds Board of Directors i recogitio of his icredible support for the orgaizatio. (Would you like to chage a life? Visit or call to purchase tickets to experiece ad celebrate Shepherds success at the aiversary dier or to lear more about Shepherds sposorship ad metorig opportuities.)

5 September Redemptoris Mater Semiary Differet paths lead me to Christ By JOE PISANI After the Berli Wall fell i 1989, Marco Pacciaa ad his frieds were caught up i the heady excitemet that spread across Europe, ispired by the dream of uiversal freedom ad peaceful coexistece. For them, a ew era was dawig, but it did t ecessarily ivolve Christ. Like may youg people i Europe, Marco had bee raised Catholic i his hometow of Giosa, Italy, but left the Church before his Cofirmatio. I those years, I fell ito the cycle of sis typical of teeagers, eve though God preserved me from may of them, he recalls. He realizes ow that God was always callig him eve durig his wayward years. I 1992, he wet o a vacatio to Buffalo, NY, ad visited relatives. While he was there, he bega readig Stregth to Love by Dr. Marti Luther Kig ad rediscovered the message of love for our eemies that Christ preached. His uderstadig of the depth of Christ s love led him to coclude He was much more tha a great philosopher He was the So of God. After this experiece, I wet back to practicig my faith, he says. Two years later at 19, he joied the Neocatechumeal Way, a 55-year-old worldwide commuity i the Church, dedicated to Christia formatio ad the New Evagelizatio. Marco s catechist ad frieds started tellig him he had a vocatio to the priesthood. How is it possible I was the oly oe who did t see it? he said. The Lord did t have a easy job with me I struggled. He wet o a retreat, ad the oly thig he remembered after four days were the words Youg ma, do ot be afraid because this is ot the story of your faithfuless to God, it is the story of God s faithfuless to his promises. Marco said, Lord, if this is you callig me, I will come. Soo afterward, he left his home, his mother ad his hadicapped brother for the semiary. I 2011, after 11 years i the semiary, which icluded five years of missioary traiig i Ricardo Batista Comim Israel ad the Pacific islads, he was ordaied. Today at 43, Father Marco Pacciaa is the rector of Redemptoris Mater Semiary i Stamford ad oversees the formatio of eight youg me who are discerig whether they have a callig to the priesthood. Here are three of their stories. David Klei played power forward o the Trumbull High School basketball team ad was eve beig recruited by colleges. He was admired i high school ad had everythig goig for him by the world s stadards. A arrogace was developig i me. I felt I got this o my ow ad could do it o my ow, he said. All that chaged seve years ago o Good Friday, whe he ad his family members were pullig out of a church parkig lot ad aother car crashed ito them. Where I had bee sittig, the car was completely destroyed, he recalled. It was a miracle I was alive. His pelvis was broke i three places ad his lower back was fractured. He was i the hospital for three days ad could t walk for a moth. He could t play basketball for six moths. I a spiritual sese, it was a big turig poit, he said. Whe I was i the hospital bed, I asked, God, why is this happeig? I realized I was t ivicible, ad from that momet I bega a dialogue with God ad bega to pray ad speak with him as a fried. He wet to Fairfield Uiversity ad studied history, Thomas Cruz like his father who is a history teacher. Both his parets beloged to the Neocatechumeal commuity at St. Raphael Church i Bridgeport ad had raised their five childre accordig to its teachigs. After the accidet, David became more ivolved i the Way. Thigs started to chage David Klei i my seior year i 2015, he said. I wet o retreat ad was prayig God would elighte me to what my missio i life was. I had a feelig God was callig me for somethig, but I was t sure what. The, oe ight he woke with a tremedous peace ad joy, ad i that momet, he put his life i God s hads. He missed his graduatio from college because he wet to the Uiversity of Marylad, where Kiko Arguello, a cofouder of the Way, was speakig about vocatios. That summer he did missio work i Utah ad wet from parish to parish, talkig to people ad spreadig the Gospel. The experiece led him to believe he might be called to do missioary work as a priest. He was oe of the first semiarias at Redemptoris Mater i Stamford ad is about to begi two years of itieracy doig missio work o the islad atio of Kiribati (Gilbert Islads) i the ceter of the Pacific. I am extremely excited to get started ad I see this whole experiece as a gift from God ad a icredible opportuity to aouce the Gospel to the eds of the world, he said. Ricardo Batista Comim grew up o a small farm outside of São cotiued o page 14 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, :00-7:30 PM Triity Catholic High School 926 Newfield Aveue Stamford, CT

6 6 September 2018 Catholic Charities From Corporate America to Catholic Social Service By JOE PISANI Whe Al Barber was 15, he wet to summer camp i the Catskills... ad saw his future. She was a girl amed Gia Johso, someoe he would share his life, his faith ad his family with. Five years later they were married. That was 52 years, five childre, ad seve gradchildre ago. It was also a few career moves ago. Was it seredipity? Was it luck? Al likes to thik it was the workigs of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who led him through a umber of seior executive positios with GE, NBC, CNBC ad other compaies to where he is ow... the presidet of Catholic Charities of Fairfield Couty, oe of the largest private o-profit huma services providers i Coecticut with 30 programs that offer food, housig, behavioral health, adoptio, immigratio ad family support services to the eedy ad vulerable of all faiths. As Al likes to say, We do t do what we do for Catholics. We do what we do because we are Catholics. His teure at the agecy bega i 2004, shortly after he atteded a breakfast to beefit Catholic Charities ad got a call from Bishop William E. Lori, who made him, as they say, a offer he could t refuse the opportuity to take a veerable social service agecy ito the 21st cetury. It was somethig he wated to do eve though he suspected the cultural chages could be challegig, movig from the corporate world ito the o-profit world to ru a 100-year-old charitable orgaizatio. Catholic Charities of Fairfield Couty has a $11 millio budget, 150 full- ad part-time employees ad 1500 voluteers who serve the eedy through its programs i 23 cities ad tows. They feed the hugry, shelter the homeless, cousel families ad idividuals, assist immigrats... ad touch almost 11,000 lives a year. Michael Titrup, the Chief Operatig Officer, who has worked at Catholic Charities for 35 years, recalls Al s itroductio to the agecy. We did t thik he would uderstad the service eviromet ad the kid of struggles that we have, ad the challeges we face. But Al acclimated, ad he acclimated to the ew culture quickly. Titrup cotiued, He committed himself to this i a major way, ad evetually wet out to every oe of our major programs to immerse himself ad to uderstad what that program was about, what its eviromet was, what the cliets looked like ad what their profiles were, ad to lear about the life experieces which brought our cliets to our doorstep i eed of help. Titrup, a licesed cliical social worker who provided direct service to cliets for two decades before he moved ito admiistratio, says, Now, Al is oe of us. Of course, Al Barber uderstood the o-profit ladscape... AL BARBER Catholic Charities of Fairfield Couty s presidet has brought a kee corporate admiistrative eye to oe of the largest private o-profit huma services providers i Coecticut. ad the challeges. Durig the mid-1970s whe he lived i Sa Fracisco, he ra the March of Dimes campaig, ad after he moved to Coecticut, he assisted the Thomas Merto Ceter i Bridgeport, which provides meals ad shelter to more tha 300 people weekly. (Catholic Charities, with its various food programs, serves more tha 1.3 millio meals a year.) I most every case, the demad for service exceeds our capacity, Titrup said. I the food programs aloe, there has bee a 20 percet icrease over the past three years. Ad the couselig services are cofrotig loger waitig lists. I the fourth quarter, Al says they will lauch Foudatios i Charity, a idepedet etity from Catholic Charities, which will help alleviate some of the pressure for fud-raisig ad help pay for programs at a critical time i the orgaizatio s history, whe federal ad state fudig are beig cut back. Al has brought a kee corporate admiistrative eye to Catholic Charities, Titrup said, havig spet almost 30 years i GE i ie differet busiesses. But he also brought somethig else his strog faith, which is shared by his wife Gia. I was raised by a mother who wet to two or three Masses a day, so I was exposed to the Church as a yougster, Al said. He grew up i Rye. He atteded the College of the Holy Cross alog with ie other members of his family. His father was a member of the Class of 35, ad met his wife Hele there. Al s sister was i the secod graduatig class of wome. Al ad Gia live i New Caaa ad atted St. Aloysius ad St. Matthew parishes. Both have bee members of the Order of Malta for almost 20 years ad are Eucharistic miisters. He describes Gia as a very givig perso, who voluteers at St. Camillus Ceter i Stamford, where she serves the elderly residets ad regularly prays with them. She also voluteers as a art teacher at St. Catherie Ceter for Special Needs i Fairfield. Barbara Ripp of Greewich, a logtime supporter of Catholic Charities ad Catholic educatio, first met Al whe she moved to Coecticut 12 years ago. She ad her husbad Peter, like the Barbers, are members of the Order of Malta, a Catholic lay orgaizatio whose missio is to defed the faith ad serve the sick ad the poor. Al seemed to be everywhere... ad he was, she recalls. Aside from all his professioal commitmets, he ofte serves as a voluteer auctioeer at may fudraisig evets. He has a big persoality ad is t at all shy about usig it to raise moey to help ay orgaizatio that asks him. Al ad his Gia have doe much to make Fairfield Couty a better place to live for so may. Al has high praise for Bishop Frak J. Caggiao, whom he calls a real champio of Catholic Charities ad for the people who work at its may programs voluteers ad employees who brig the spirit of Christ to what they do every day, who are practicig the corporal ad spiritual works of mercy for ayoe i eed regardless of their beliefs. He fids ispiratio i their spirit, their commitmet ad their dedicatio. He laughs whe he recalls Bishop Lori s job offer back i I told him that I would help him for four or five years, ad here I am 14 years later.

7 September Coversio Stories From may gods to the Oe True God By JOE PISANI (The followig profile is part of a series o coverts to the Catholic faith, which explores the spiritual path that has led people to the Church ad the profoud chages that have occurred i their lives.) Whe Mia Lawrece was growig up i Hog Kog, her parets taught her the importace of readig sacred scripture, of fastig ad of prayig... to the gods. Lookig back, Mia realizes that throughout her early life she was beig pursued by the oe True God. She heard, she listeed, but she hesitated, partly out of cocer for her family ad what they would thik of their daughter leavig the religio they loved for Christiaity, which amog Asias is cosidered a Wester religio. Mia, who is a cotroller at a medical imagig compay i Shelto, her husbad Joh ad so Jared are members of St. Joseph Parish i Shelto. Hers is a story of God s persistet love... ad pursuit. Growig up, she lived with her parets ad gradparets, who were devout Hidus, ad throughout their home were pictures of differet gods to whom they would pray ad bur icese. Her gradparets had immigrated to Hog Kog from Idia i the early 1930s, where her mother, the secod of four daughters, was bor. They ecouraged Mia, her older sister ad youger brother to pray ofte. If they wated to kow the future, they would go to the priest i the temple who would read their horoscopes ad use astroomy ad math to predict evets. Her first cotact with Christiaity came whe it was time to eter secodary school because, she said, MINA LAWRENCE of St. Joseph Parish i Shelto, grew up i the Hidu faith but always felt a pull toward Christiaity ad the sacramets. She etered the RCIA program ad i 1995 was baptized a Roma Catholic. At St. Joseph Parish, Lawrece is a part of the charismatic prayer group ad serves as a lector. the best educatio was offered by Catholic schools. Mia later etered the lottery ad prayed she, too, would be admitted. Her prayers were aswered ad she etered seveth grade i a all-girls Marykoll Hiduism. It was there, too, that she leared to pray the Our Father ad Hail Mary. I her heart, she wated to receive Commuio ad pray the Rosary but kew she could t uless she coverted. Whe her gradfather, who was a religious ad givig ma, passed away i his early 70s, Mia cofroted questios about God ad the purpose of life for the first time. She was 15. I started to thik about life ad death ad faith, she said. I put aside my thoughts of covertig ad decided to lear more about Hiduism, ad I bega readig differet books, icludig the Hidu sacred scriptures the Vedas. She leared about karma, reicaratio ad the epic stories of Hiduism. I her pursuit of kowledge, school, where she was required to take religious educatio ad atted Mass, although she did ot receive Commuio. It was there that she came to uderstad the differece betwee Christiaity ad cotiued o page 24

8 8 September 2018 September 7, 2018 My Brothers ad Sisters i the Lord: May words have bee said regardig the crime of sexual abuse of miors ad the scadals that these crimes have produced, words that are eeded to give expressio to the grief, ager ad cofusio that we all feel. However, words aloe are isufficiet. The time for actio has come. I write to you today to share the first i a series of actios that I will take as your bishop to address the crisis as it impacts our Diocese. My hope is that these measures will begi to heal the wouds that we feel, address the legitimate desire for real chage ad restore your cofidece i every level of leadership so that we ca fully realize the divie missio of the Church. These measures also build upo the extesive work we have doe sice 2002 to reach out to ad support survivors of clergy sexual abuse i our Diocese ad to provide the traiig ad safeguards to protect our childre ad esure that adults recogize the warig sigs of ay potetial sexual abuse of miors. To this ed, it is my desire to attack this evil i a variety of ways, startig with a series of spiritual iitiatives ad admiistrative actios. The spiritual efforts described below focus o the grave eed for the clergy to seek reparatio for the past sis of those who have sied ad harmed iocet childre ad youg people. BISHOP S RESPONSE The time for actio has come 1. I will lead a Holy Hour ad offer a Clergy Mass of Reparatio o Saturday, September 15th, Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, at Sait Augustie Cathedral. The Holy Hour (with Rosary) will begi at 9:30 am, followed by Mass at 10:30 am. I have ivited all the priests ad deacos of the Diocese to participate. You are also ivited to atted so that our etire diocesa family may tur to the Lord i this hour of eed ad seek the grace of reparatio ad reewal. 2. I have asked all pastors to celebrate a local Mass of Reparatio i their parish o later tha October 31, A complete list of these Masses will be published o the Diocesa website. 3. We must recogize that we fid ourselves i the middle of a great spiritual battle, for which we eed God s help. For that reaso, I have madated that the Prayer to Sait Michael the Archagel be recited at the ed of every Mass celebrated i the Diocese, begiig o September 15th. The official versio of this prayer ca be foud o the Diocesa website. It is my hope that these measures will foster a spirit of reparatio ad coversio i the lives of all clerics ad throughout our Diocese. Recogizig that all of us have differet healig eeds durig these difficult times, there will be additioal spiritual iitiatives aouced i the comig weeks. There is a urget eed for admiistrative actio. To this ed, I aouce the followig iitiatives: 1. Accoutability of the Bishop. Whe the Charter for the Protectio of Childre ad Youg People was adopted i 2002, a separate Statemet of Episcopal Commitmet was approved. Recet evets make it clear that the provisios i that Statemet eed to be stregtheed. While we wait for this to happe o the atioal level ad reaffirmig the fact that o oe is above the law, icludig the bishop, I hereby submit myself to these additioal provisios. Effective immediately, if a accusatio of sexual abuse agaist a mior or a failure to act o a allegatio of sexual abuse of a mior is made ivolvig the bishop, a idepedet Review Board from outside our Diocese will exercise the duties ad resposibilities eumerated i the Charter ad will report its fidigs to the Holy See. A detailed summary of this process, icludig the Review Board that will serve i this capacity, will be published shortly o the Diocesa website. 2. Diocesa Accoutability Report. I have also authorized that a comprehesive accoutability review be assembled addressig two importat areas: a. Trasparecy regardig past icidets of sexual abuse of a mior: I will ask a qualified, idepedet firm to perform a comprehesive review of the sexual abuse of miors by Diocesa clergy to iform the people of the Diocese. I will provide iformatio o the details ad the timig of this review i the ext few weeks. b. A fiacial report regardig the past sexual abuse of miors: We will issue a complete fiacial report o settlemet amouts for past claims of clergy sexual abuse of miors from the establishmet of the Diocese to date, icludig the sources from which the moey was obtaied to settle those claims. We will also publish a verified accout of the fiacial support curretly provided by the Diocese, ad the source of that support, to ay priest who has bee accused of sexual abuse of a mior ad who is curretly o admiistrative leave or has bee laicized. This fiacial report will be issued o later tha October 30, Allow me to coclude by offerig a persoal reflectio. My heart breaks at the damage doe by predator clergy ad icompetet or complacet leadership. I wish to express my heartfelt apology to all those affected by this tragedy. I also recogize that restorig trust will require the heroic witess of holiess o the part of every priest, especially myself. I am cofidet that the Lord will heal ad stregthe us, oe perso at a time. Durig these troublig days, please be assured of my prayers for you ad your families. I also ask that you cotiue to pray for the lay leadership of the Church, our clergy ad for me. Sicerely yours i Christ, Most Revered Frak J. Caggiao Bishop of Bridgeport

9 September Editorial Every day I get s from my o-catholic frieds about the crisis of sex abuse ad accoutability i the Church. They wat to kow: What is the Church doig about this? What am I doig about this? Ad why am I still a Catholic? Oe article they set was writte by a ma who had a outburst at his pastor durig Mass ad agrily cocluded the Church is beyod redemptio. I do t believe that although I believe, to quote Pope I m a studet of pubs. Maybe it s because my dad owed oe. Maybe it s because they smell so good, especially that frot-door bouquet of stale beer, hamburger, air coditioig, ad disifectat. The flavor profile at my dad s place icluded the umistakable overlay of icotie, but eve without that, the pub smell is a sesory experiece beloved of the truly cultured. May of the best pubs are decorated with framed Irish blessigs. May the road rise to meet you, may the wid be always at your back that kid of thig. Here s a good oe: May those who love us, love us. For those who do t love us, may God tur their hearts. Ad if He does t Oe Thig, the most importat thig Swimmig Upstream By Joe Pisai Joe Pisai has bee a writer ad editor for 30 years. Defed Us I Battle A Dad s View By Matthew Heessey Matthew Heessey ad his family are parishioers of St. Joh the Evagelist Parish i Stamford. tur their hearts, may He tur their akles, so we will kow them by their limpig. A lifetime of study has taught me that roughly 72 percet of the Irish pubs i New York feature a toast edig thusly: May you be i heave a half hour before the devil kows you re dead. We talk a lot about the devil, eve if we do t usually thik much about what we mea by the word. Sometimes we use it as a kid of syoym for temptatio, or a catch-all excuse for our ow bad behavior. The devil made me do it the first time, sag Waylo Jeigs i 1973, before addig, the secod time I doe it o my ow. The idea of the devil is a bit Paul VI, the smoke of Sata has etered the Church of God. These are dark times of sexual predatio, cover-ups by bishops ad sexually active priests. Over the years, I ve met people who suspected abuse or suffered abuse ad wet to me i positios of authority, but were ostracized, igored ad discredited. Years later, they re still bitter, agry ad hurt. They suffer devastatig log-term psychological ad spiritual effects, ad they re uable to forgive such a hideous ad diabolical betrayal of trust. My frieds ask me what I m goig to do. Joi the Cogregatioalists or the Uitarias? Stop puttig a evelope i the collectio basket? Protest o the steps of my church? Whe they ask why I m still a Catholic, I thik of the sixth chapter of Joh s Gospel, whe disciples start abadoig Jesus because He said they must eat His Body ad drik His Blood to have eteral life. He asks Peter, Do you also wat to leave? Ad Peter respods, Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eteral life. Do you remember the movie City Slickers with Billy Crystal ad Jack Palace, who wo a Oscar for his role as Curly, the grizzled ad crusty cowhad? Do you remember how Curly raised his idex figer, smiled eigmatically ad told Billy Crystal, Oe thig... He ever explaied what he meat, but whatever that oe of a cartoo to us ow. If you re my age, you remember that great lie delivered by Kevi Spacey i The Usual Suspects : The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was covicig the world he did t exist. The devil most certaily exists. From the grad jury report exposig the shockig sexual abuse of 1,000 victims i Pesylvaia over seve decades to the New York Archdiocese review board s fidig that the allegatios of sexual abuse agaist Cardial Theodore McCarrick were credible ad substatiated, this summer has remided every Catholic that the eemy always has the oe true Church i his sights. My wife ad I, like all parets, have always wodered how to approach the problem of evil with our childre. Whe to tell them about the worst thigs i the world? How to keep iocece from descedig ito igorace? No oe wats to place vile ideas i clea hearts. No oe wats to sully what s pure. Our love for our childre makes us, aturally, protective. The agai, o oe wats a thig was, it was everythig to him. As Catholics, it should be clear to us what the Oe Thig is. That Oe Thig is somethig we ca ever walk away from, ad it should be the focus of our lives ot our political causes, our professios, our social circles or our material successes. It is Christ i the Eucharist. Nothig more. I 2007, Our Lord ad Our Lady bega to speak to the heart of a aoymous Beedictie mok i the silece of Eucharistic Adoratio. He was told to make reparatio i frot of the Blessed Sacramet for priests waderig i darkess ad succumbig to caral sis. The mok, who is believed to be from Coecticut ad lives i a moastery i Irelad, published the messages i a book titled I Siu Jesu. Buy it, read it, It is Christ child to ed up i a vulerable positio because they ve bee kept i the dark about the filth i the world. We love our childre, ad we are compelled to keep them safe, but there comes a poit whe you have to lay it o the lie: The devil exists, ad he s workig hard to defile everythig that s good, true, free, ad holy. Watch your back. The devil has othig better to do tha try to keep you out of Heave. Ad he s got more tha 30 miutes to do it. My wife ad I homeschool our childre. This has afforded us the ability to regulate more aggressively tha is typical our childre s exposure to the fukier stuff. But we kow that it also makes it more likely that they will fid out later tha their peers that the world ca be a terrible place. We worry this will place them at a disadvatage. We kow the devil lurks i wait. The priests of the Basilica of St. Joh the Evagelist i Stamford solved our problem. They kept alive a traditio that had lately goe lax recitatio of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archagel at the ed of Mass. meditate o the words of Jesus ad Mary, sit i frot of the Eucharist, ad make reparatio for the sis of priests. Eve though we may ot realize it, Jesus is i cotrol. Without Him, the Church will ever be purified. There are may secularists who thik prayer, adoratio ad reparatio are ieffective medieval resposes. But Jesus told the mok that Eucharistic Adoratio chapels are the radiat, pulsatig ceters of a itese Divie activity that goes beyod the walls of the place where I am adored to peetrate homes, ad schools, ad hospitals; to reach eve those dark ad cold places wherei souls are eslaved to Sata; to peetrate hearts, heal the ifirm, i the Eucharist. Nothig more. cotiued o page 30 St. Michael the Archagel, defed us i battle. Be our safeguard agaist the wickedess ad sares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, ad do thou, O Price of the heavely hosts, by the power of God, cast ito hell Sata, ad all evil spirits who prowl about the world seekig the rui of souls. Ame. Whe we first started attedig Mass at St. Joh s, this prayer was a mystery to us. It had falle out of favor durig the last few decades i the life of the church probably because of its ureletig isistece o the presece of true evil i the world ad its clear referece to the existece of the devil. We leared that prayer. Our childre leared that prayer. Now they pray it every ight before bed o the priciple that it s better to be safe tha sorry. I his wisdom, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao has decreed that i respose to the abuse scadal all parishes shall recite this prayer after Mass. I hope it catches o i other dioceses. Evil spirits seekig the rui of the souls? Yes, kids, ad if St. Michael does his job, you will kow them by their limpig.

10 10 September 2018 Catholic Schools Diocese ames ew pricipals By ELIZABETH CLYONS Dr. Joh Alfoe Pricipal, St. Aloysius School NEW CANAAN Dr. Joh R. Alfoe has bee amed pricipal of St. Aloysius School i New Caaa, effective July 23, His appoitmet was aouced by Dr. Steve Cheesema, Superitedet of Schools i the Diocese of Bridgeport. Dr. Joh Alfoe Dr. Alfoe s commitmet to childre ad the Catholic faith is evidet by his dedicatio to Catholic educatio. With over twety-five years of service i the Archdiocese of Hartford ad the Diocese of Bridgeport, he held roles i teachig, admiistratio, istructio ad curriculum developmet, ad district leadership, said Dr. Cheesema, Superitedet of Schools. Dr. Alfoe holds a bachelor s degree from the Brookly College of Pharmacy, a master s i Upper Elemetary Educatio from Souther Coecticut State Uiversity, ad a doctorate i Educatioal Leadership from the Uiversity of Hartford. Dr. Alfoe has worked i his previous schools to stregthe istructio i literacy, math ad sciece, said Dr. Cheesema. I am cofidet he will cotiue to stregthe the academic program to esure St. Aloysius studets will become iovative ad creative problem solvers. I additio, his dedicatio to the faith will beefit the school. Fr. Robert Kially, pastor of St. Aloysius Church i New Caaa said Dr. Alfoe brigs a wealth of experiece ad passio for Catholic educatio to St. Aloysius School. Amog his may posts i Catholic ad public schools settigs, Dr. Alfoe formerly served as Assistat Superitedet of Schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Dr. Alfoe, who curretly resides i Braford, will be relocatig to the area. I additio to his impressive educatioal backgroud ad professioal accomplishmets, he ejoys travel ad ballroom dacig, fidig his greatest joy i his two daughters, ad three gradchildre. Mrs. Pamela Fallo Educatio Director, St. Joseph Catholic Academy, Brookfield BROOKFIELD Mrs. Pamela Fallo has bee appoited Director of Educatio at St. Joseph Academy i Brookfield. Raised i Vermot, Pam Fallo came to SJCA after servig as a middle school Laguage Arts teacher at St. Rose of Lima i Newtow. She served i the Nashua Public Schools as the district s Iterdiscipliary Curriculum Specialist ad as the assistat pricipal at Fairgrouds Elemetary School (FES), a urba school with 850 studets. It was at FES that Pam became familiar with the multi-age, persoalized learig educatio platform ad Mrs. Pamela Fallo i 2009 was amed Teacher of the Year. The studets i the multi-age program experieced such great success. Academic rigor, service ad leadership skills were some of the competecies mastered by studets, says Pam. Pam ad the SJCA staff have bee egaged i professioal developmet to esure that the multi-age, persoalized learig curriculum, resources ad classroom arragemets for the ew St. Joseph Catholic Academy are ready for the first day of school. I additio to her role as Director of Educatio, Pam leads the Walkig with Purpose Bible Study i New Caaa. I caot wait to meet all of the studets ad their families i the ext few weeks, exclaims Pam. The excitemet ad ethusiasm of our teachers ad staff has bee extraordiary. Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka Pricipal, St. Rose of Lima School, Newtow NEWTOWN Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka has bee appoited the ew pricipal of St. Rose of Lima School i Newtow. He comes to St. Rose School from St. Aloysius School i New Caaa where he was the pricipal for the past four years. Bardhyl Gjoka is a strog ad experieced admiistrator with a impressive STEM backgroud. Durig his time at St. Aloysius, erollmet icreased, teacher turover dimiished ad Mr. Bardhyl Gjoka more tha half the studets performed above 90% o a atioally-recogized, orm-refereced test, said Dr. Cheesema. I the past, Mr. Gjoka has bee the assistat pricipal of All Saits Catholic School i Norwalk ad has also taught math ad egieerig at Kolbe Cathedral High School i Bridgeport, ad the High School Egieerig Academy i Fairfield. A Coecticut-certified teacher ad school admiistrator, Mr. Gjoka eared a bachelor s degree i math ad physics from the Uiversity of Shkoder i Albaia, a master s degree i educatio from Fairfield Uiversity ad a sixth-year diploma i educatioal leadership from Sacred Heart Uiversity. Mosigor Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose Church, said there was a extesive search for the ew pricipal who would uderstad the missio of Catholic educatio while also provig to be a creative ad iovative educator. We were lookig for a perso of itegrity ad faith who is a prove leader, a exceptioal educator ad a iovative thiker. Mr. Gjoka clearly fits all of these criteria ad we are delighted to welcome him aboard. Mrs. Lisa Lai Head of School, Holy Triity Catholic Academy SHELTON Mrs. Lisa Lai has bee appoited Head of School at Holy Triity Catholic Academy i Shelto. Mrs. Lai was bor ad raised i Mrs. Lisa Lai New York where she atteded Catholic school from first grade through post graduate school. Upo completig her bachelor s degree i a dual major of mathematics ad special educatio, she bega teachig at a local Catholic elemetary school. She obtaied a master s i special educatio ad a master s i religious studies by She is curretly a doctoral cadidate i Church leadership at Fordham Uiversity. After seve years of teachig a variety of grade levels, she became a Catholic school pricipal i the Archdiocese of New York. For the followig 14 years, Mrs. Lai served o various educatio committees to help form istructio ad use data from stadardized testig to meet studets eeds. I additio, Mrs. Lai was a istructor of teachers to help them embrace the vocatio of beig a Catholic school teacher. After movig to Coecticut i 2002, Mrs. Lai became the pricipal of Sait Joseph School i Dabury i As i New York, Mrs. Lai sat o several committees for the Superitedet s Office i the Diocese of Bridgeport. She is most proud of the work that was doe i creatig the Gospel Values ad Religio Curriculum revisio. I Jauary 2018, Mrs. Lai was asked to take the positio as Head of School for Holy Triity Catholic Academy i Shelto. She is very excited to help this ewly formed school provide a academically challegig, Gospel-ispired educatio to all who eter its doors. Mrs. MaryLou Torre Pricipal, St. Peter School, Dabury DANBURY Mrs. Mary Lou Torre has bee appoited pricipal of St. Peter School i Dabury. Mrs. Torre has over twety years experiece i school ad district admiistratio, with a strog backgroud i teachig ad special educatio. Prior to beig a admiistrator she was a special educatio teacher at Newtow Middle School. Mrs. Torre holds a bachelor s degree i history ad eglish (WCSU), a master s degree i special educatio (SCSU), ad a sixth year degree i educatioal leadership (SCSU) ad was former adjuct istructor at Post Uiversity ad Uiversity Mrs. MaryLou Torre of New Have. Mrs. Torre has held a variety of admiistrative positios icludig assistat middle school pricipal, supervisor

11 September Catholic Schools of special services, director of special services, elemetary pricipal before retirig i Sice retiremet, she has bee iterim pricipal i Regio 15 ad iterim director of special services i Easto ad Reddig. Mr. Eric Specer Pricipal, St. Catherie Academy, Fairfield FAIRFIELD Sait Catherie Academy welcomes Eric Specer of Guilford as its ew pricipal. The private special educatio school i Fairfield serves studets of all faiths who are impacted with autism, itellectual, ad developmetal disabilities. Specer has a log history i educatio, most recetly as pricipal of Natha Hale-Ray High School of East Haddam & Moodus. He eared a master s degree i couselig from the Uiversity of Massachusetts (Bosto), ad his admiistrator certificate from Sacred Heart Uiversity. Before workig i public educatio, Specer worked i Mr. Eric Specer the metal health field as a residetial couselor with a variety of populatios, icludig those with autism ad developmetal disabilities. Those experieces had a profoud impact o me, Specer says. Workig at Sait Catherie s feels like a retur to my roots. Ad with 25 years experiece as a school couselor ad admiistrator i public schools, workig i a Catholic school will be a welcome chage. As the school year begis, Specer s first priority is to get to kow the staff ad studets, ad become familiar with the teachig ad idividualized learig process of each class. I ca tell by my first iteractios that Sait Catherie s is a very special place. I am impressed with the kid, taleted people who work here. Their commitmet ad passio remid me of the importace ad missio of servig others. Mr. Scott Smith Pricipal, Triity Catholic, Stamford STAMFORD Mr. Scott Smith has bee appoited pricipal of Triity Catholic high school i Stamford. Asoia ative Scott Smith bega his career i educatio as a teacher ad admiistrator i Waterbury public schools, ad as dea of academics for the Elm City College Preparatory elemetary school with Achievemet First charter schools. This year Triity Catholic is startig The Learig Academy, which will cater to studets with learig disabilities. They ve also started a ew divisio, Cardial Kug Academy, offers a classical educatio. Prior to comig to Triity, Smith worked i both public ad charter schools with a four-year dabble workig pharmaceutical sales, a od to his bachelor s degree i busiess. But he wet back to educatio, where his heart lies, with a ew desire to brig his love of problem-solvig to schools. He wet o to ear his 092 certificatio to work i admiistratio. This is much more about my spiritual jourey, says Smith. This was t just aother step i my career. It was a callig. Smith s faith has always bee very importat to him, ad he believes it is this faith that makes Catholic schools uique. Smith explais, What makes us differet tha public school optios? he said. It s the faith-based piece ad that s a big piece. What you get here that you do t get i public schools is that here, whe we look at each other, you wat to look at each other i the likeess Mr. Scott Smith of God. You wat to see God i everybody studets, staff because if you look at everybody like that, you treat everybody with kidess. That s as God iteded. It s really that faith piece that sets us apart ad that s what we ll emphasize. Due to his experiece workig with ier-city studets, Smith believes that faith plays a big part i guidig youg people ad hopes to brig this midset to his work at Triity. CLERGYAPPOINTMENTS The Most Revered Frak J. Caggiao, Bishop of Bridgeport, has made the followig clergy appoitmets i the Diocese of Bridgeport: Parochial Admiistrator FATHER ROLANDO TORRES, to Temporary Parochial Admiistrator, Sait George Parish, Bridgeport. Effective date was September 1. Father Torres will remai Pastor, Sait Mary Parish, Bridgeport. MONSIGNOR CHRISTOPHER J. WALSH, to temporary Parochial Admiistrator, Sait Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport. Effective date was August 18. Mosigor Walsh will remai Academic Dea of Sait Joh Fisher Semiary Residece. Parochial Vicar FATHER UDAYAKUMAR XAVARIAPITCHAI, from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford, to Parochial Vicar, Sait Luke Parish, Westport. Effective date was September 4. Spiritual Director FATHER ROLANDO TORRES, to Spiritual Director for the Spaish Cursillo Movemet of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Effective date was September 1. Resigatio FATHER FRANCISCO GOMEZ-FRANCO, from Pastor, Sait Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport; Dea, Quee of Peace Deaery, Bridgeport, ad Episcopal Master of Ceremoies. Effective date was August 24. Sacred Arts Committee FATHER PAUL N. CHECK, Rector of Sait Joh Fisher Semiary Residece, Stamford, has bee appoited to serve as a member of the Sacred Arts Committee. Effective date was September 1. FATHER MICHAEL L. DUNN, Pastor of Sait Gregory the Great Parish, Dabury, has bee appoited to serve as a member of the Sacred Arts Committee. Effective date was September 1. FATHER PETER F. LENOX, Pastor, Sait Joseph Parish, Norwalk, has bee appoited to serve as a member of the Sacred Arts Committee. Effective date was September 1. FATHER GREGG D. MECCA, Pastor, Sait Peter Parish, Dabury, has bee appoited to serve as a member of the Sacred Arts Committee. Effective date was September 1. Father Joseph A. Marcello Vicar for Clergy September, 2018

12 12 September 2018 Foudatios i Educatio Bishop blesses Early Learig Program By ELIZABETH CLYONS DANBURY The Christopher Ripp Early Learig Program at St. Peter School i Dabury started to acclimate studets ad their parets to the program o Tuesday, August 21st. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao was preset o Friday, August 24th to bestow a blessig to family ad frieds of the program. Studets ad families that were registered for the program were ivited to atted. The ewly formed Christopher Ripp Early Learig Program was made possible by a geerous grat give by the Peter ad Barbara Ripp family to the diocese through Foudatios i Educatio. The Ripp Early Learig Program cosists of three-six week sessios of classes geared toward three ad four-year-old studets ad their parets. Childre are egaged i learig through A FAMILY BLESSING Bishop Frak J. Caggiao bestowed a blessig o the ew Christopher Ripp Early Learig Program at St. Peter School i Dabury. The program started to acclimate studets ad parets o Tuesday, August 21st. music, movemet, sigig, art ad storytellig. The sessios are a wrap aroud after-school program from 4 pm util 7:30 pm o Tuesdays. Parets ca stay for classes cocerig literacy, umeracy ad behavior, where tools ad techiques are provided to help themselves ad their childre with their educatio. Older sibligs ca be i attedace as well ad receive homework help while classes are i sessio. The goals of the program are to assist parets as primary educators of their childre by givig them tools to help urture social, physical, emotioal ad academic growth i a faith-filled ad family-cetered learig commuity ad to provide tuitio assistace to childre who wat to atted the state readiess program or who wish to be erolled i the school pre-k3 ad pre-k4 programs. The blessig of the Christopher Ripp Early Learig Program welcomed 45 attedees, icludig Bishop Caggiao, Fr. Mecca, St. Peter Advisory Board members, Program Workig Committee members, Barbara ad Peter Ripp, Office of the Superitedet, Pricipal Torre, program director, teachers ad participats. Mrs. MaryLou Torre, the ew pricipal of St. Peter School welcomed all guests ad itroduced Deborah Hockig, Program Coordiator for the Christopher Ripp Early Learig Program. Hockig provided a program descriptio, itroduced program teachers/voluteers, ad spoke about plas to expad the program to other parishes/school i the future. Father Mecca, pastor of St. Peter parish the provided a opeig prayer ad itroduced Bishop Caggiao. Oe biligual family of six has two childre erolled i the program. I attedace were Mom- Lilia, Agel (five), Jayde (early four), Agela (early three). Not preset at blessig was Dad- Agel ad their 10-moth-old, Layla. Jayde ad Agela are erolled i the program ad atteded the itroductory sessio last week. They caot wait to retur, said Lilia. Bishop Caggiao spoke to the crowd about dreams. God asks us to dream because by dreamig, somethig deep i our hearts ca become a reality. Barbara ad Peter Ripp are dreamers. Foudatios i Educatio is a o-profit iitiative created to assist the Diocese of Bridgeport s ogoig missio to support Catholic educatio. Its primary purpose is to raise moey to support Catholic educatio through studet scholarships, iovatio ad leadership grats for the professioal developmet of teachers ad other educatio-based iitiatives. (For more iformatio, cotact Executive Director Holly Doherty- Lemoie: holly@foudatiosieducatio.org or visit foudatiosieducatio.org.)

13 September Catholic Academy A pla for Catholic educatio i Stamford By JOE PISANI STAMFORD Two years ago, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao lauched a iitiative to esure sustaiable Catholic educatio for years to come by combiig four schools to create the Catholic Academy of Stamford, which will be located o a cetral campus with Triity Catholic High School ad St. Joh Fisher Semiary, where he resides. Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of schools, said, The idea behid this whole project was the goal of creatig a revitalized sector for Catholic educatio i Stamford. That is why the bishop moved there, because it offers a importat opportuity to lead from the ceter of Stamford. Dr. Cheesema said costructio has begu at Triity Catholic, where sciece labs are beig added ad the lower level will be reovated to accommodate the middle school. Three elemetary schools have bee cosolidated at St. Cecilia s campus o Newfield Aveue, where they will remai for aother year or two before movig ito the middle school buildig. Deaco Patrick Toole, Episcopal Delegate for Admiistratio of the diocese, said the Catholic Educatio Reimagied project was a outgrowth of the fourth diocesa syod ad has as its goal the evagelical reewal of the diocese, startig with the city of Stamford. Part of that visio was to trasform five existig failig Catholic schools ito a ew sigle Catholic school that will serve youg people from ages three to 18, providig them with authetic Catholic ad disciplied formatio as disciples, ad a superior academic educatio utilizig bleded persoalized learig, cetered i Eucharistic spirituality. The project bega two years ago whe Bishop Caggiao put together a study committee to examie the state of Catholic elemetary schools i Stamford, said Patricia Brady, who is the Head of School for the Catholic Academy ad for Triity Catholic High School. The committee s recommedatio was to form the Catholic Academy of Stamford from St. Cecilia, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Holy Spirit ad the Triity Catholic Middle School so that there would be oe pre-k3 to 8th grade o a sigle campus. The lower school cosists of pre-k3 to 5th grade ad the upper school of 6th to 8th grades. The lower level of the Triity Catholic buildig is beig reovated to accommodate the upper school. This visio that the bishop has is to stregthe Catholic educatio i Stamford by improvig our facilities ad lauchig a major iitiative i persoalized learig, Ms. Brady said. Without this visio, we may have had to close schools. Istead, o oe campus we will have everyoe 3-year-olds to semiarias. It will truly be a epiceter for Catholic educatio i all its forms, with the bishop livig o the campus. Phase oe of the project was completed i August ad ivolved the costructio of sciece labs at the high school. Immediately followig, phase two bega the demolitio of the etire guidace area ad third floor of the high school to build ew classrooms, a state-of-the-art media ceter, offices ad the Learig Academy to accommodate special-eeds studets. This will be completed by Thaksgivig, she said. I early December, phase three, the demolitio ad reovatio of the lower level of the high school will begi i order to create space for middle school studets. It is expected to be completed by April Sharig resources is aother advatage to havig the studets o the same campus, Ms. Brady says. Faculty, for example, may teach pre-algebra to upper school studets ad algebra to the high school studets. Beig i the same buildig will permit the sharig of resources ad faculty, she said. Uder the pla, each divisio will have a pricipal. The reactio of parets who chose to have their childre stay has bee very positive, Ms. Brady said. Chage is hard for people, but I believe they are goig to see we are committed to Catholic educatio i Stamford, ad i two to three years, we will be gettig erollmet back up to where we wat it. She aticipates the 6th-8th grades will move to the ew locatio at the Triity High School buildig i August After the middle school studets are i the high school, the plaig will cotiue for pre-k3 to 5th grade studets locatio. The bishop said the plaig group did complete evaluatios of the schools to determie which facility would best allow for Catholic educatio to ot oly cotiue, but grow. Our goal is sustaiable Catholic educatio for years to come, Bishop Caggiao said. The Diocese of Bridgeport is committed to stregtheig programs to cotiue to attract ew CATHOLIC EDUCATION REIMAGINED Costructio has begu at Triity Catholic i order to create Bishop Caggiao s iitiative to esure sustaiable Catholic educatio for years to come by combiig four schools to create the Catholic Academy of Stamford. Three elemetary schools have bee cosolidated at St. Cecilia s campus o Newfield Aveue. studets. Our Catholic schools are kow for beig faith-filled ceters for studet developmet, for 21st cetury teachig ad for producig graduates who are prepared to be leaders i their commuity ad the world. Michael Macari, director of commuicatios ad marketig for Triity Catholic, said this is the secod major reovatio for the high school, followig a $2.7 millio upgrade of the athletic field two years ago. Macari said oce all the schools are cetrally located o oe campus, they expect there will be 350 to 400 studets i pre-k3 to 5th grade, 200 i 6th to 8th grades ad a target of 500 studets for the high school. St. Joh Fisher Semiary will be expaded ad iclude a perpetual adoratio chapel i lie with Bishop Caggiao s visio of Stamford beig the ceter of Catholic faith i lower Fairfield Couty, Deaco Toole said. TRUE Y U Laure Jaik (Sister Catherie Joy Marie) Sisters of Life Salutatoria, TCHS Class of 2011 At Triity, you ca become everythig you imagie yourself to be i a atmosphere of faith, academic excellece ad traditio. The global commuity begis here. Triity Catholic High School 926 Newfield Aveue, Stamford, CT OPEN HOUSE: October 16, 5:30 7:30 p.m. ENTRANCE EXAMS: October 27 & November 10, 8:00 a.m. For more iformatio call Cidy Willette, Director of Admissios at A Co-educatioal College Preparatory School Servig Lower Fairfield Couty

14 14 September 2018 Marriage ad Family Mass ad Social celebrates ewlyweds i diocese By ELIZABETH CLYONS NEWTOWN 24 couples ad 22 childre gathered Friday eveig for a Mass i celebratio of up to te years of marriage. Father Ady Vill celebrated Mass for all gathered. Couples were the able to partake i a wie ad cheese social afterwards ad had the opportuity to hear from atioal Catholic speaker Chris Padgett about priciples that help make a marriage work. May gathered remarked that this evet was a time for them to give thaks to God for the blessig of their marriage ad to migle ad talk with other ewlyweds i the area. The Newlywed Mass ad Social was a ispirig ad fu eveig where couples were remided to focus o our commo goals ad coect with our spouses. It was great to be able to sped time with frieds ad acquaitaces ad meet ew couples. Chris Padgett s talk was hilarious yet truth-filled about the realities of marriage ad family life. I m lookig forward to more evets like this! commeted Jess Nayde, Coordiator of the Catholic Service Corps for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Couples i attedace had the opportuity to visit tables which provided helpful iformatio ad details o upcomig evets. Speaker Chris Padgett offered time for questios, as well as displayed a book that he ad his wife have writte. Matt ad Amy Taylor provided a table of iformatio about a upcomig Fiacial Peace Uiversity class that they will be facilitatig at St. Rose this fall. Al ad Adriee Keogler shared iformatio about their Natural Family Plaig class that will take place at St. Rose begiig o September 22d. The Newlywed Mass ad Social was a success, commeted Moica Ortega, who helped evisio ad pla the evet alog with her husbad Rezo. A special thak you eeds to be shared with the beloved miistry team at St. Rose who doated the wie ad appetizers. Aother thak you to the childcare miistry who offered free childcare for the couples. It was so special to A MARRIAGE BLESSING 24 couples ad 22 childre gathered for a Mass i celebratio of up to te years of marriage. Couples were able to partake i a wie ad cheese social afterwards ad had the opportuity to hear from atioal Catholic speaker Chris Padgett about priciples that help make a marriage work. be able to participate i a special date ight with my husbad with other couples i similar stages of Differet Paths from page 5 Paulo, Brazil. My parets were i the Neocatechumeal Way, he said. They did ot have much to give me materially, but they taught me the importace of love, respect ad faith, ad they helped me kow what it meas to be a Christia. As a teeager, he dreamt of becomig a professioal soccer player ad tried out for several teams i São Paulo, but evetually decided to cocetrate o his educatio. He got a job as a motorcycle mechaic eve though from a early age he thought God might be callig him to the priesthood. I was always lookig for somethig more, but the world could ot give me what I wated, he said. I kow ow the oly thig that could satisfy me was the love of God. I had bee livig for myself, ad the I leared God had a beautiful pla for me that was more tha moey. The Lord took me from this selfish life so that I could give my life i service to others ad to do His will. Through his parish priest, he realized he was beig called to follow Christ. I 2010, he wet o a retreat ad was set to the Redemptoris Mater Semiary i Newark ad evetually came to Stamford, where he is begiig his secod year i theology. Thomas Cruz, the fifth of seve childre, grew up i New Lodo. I the 1970s, his parets came to America from El Salvador to escape the civil war. He first thought he might have a vocatio to the priesthood whe he was o retreat at 12 years old. Whe he was 16, after life. To celebrate our sacramet of marriage was such a gift! shared Moica. World Youth Day i Polad, he was ivited to atted a Neocatechumeal retreat at Porto Sa Giorgio i Italy ad was prepared to eter a semiary i Guam. However, he was advised to wait sice he was still i high school. I wated to build a ame for myself, establish a clietele ad make moey, he said. My pla was to ope a school, but my parets told me our plas are ever as good as God s pla. (Their origial pla, he said, was to have two childre, but God gave them seve.) The ifluece of his parets has bee cetral i his spiritual life. My parets preached it, they lived it, ad I wated to do the same thig, says Thomas, who has bee at Redemptoris Mater 11 moths. I wated to see if this call is what God wats, he said. I kow the will of the Lord is what is goig to make me happy. I am a tool of God, ad every tool has a purpose. The Lord has give me the opportuity to save souls. I just wat to do God s will, whether it is to be a father or a priest. Four me. Four differet paths to Christ. Bishop Frak J. Caggiao has high praise for the semiarias at Redemptoris Mater: I thik their commitmet to their formatio ad discermet is without questio. Their commitmet to Christ is clear without doubt. Whether or ot they are actually beig called to the priesthood is what they are i the semiary to discer. They are all very faithful. They really love the Lord.

15 September Camp Veritas Faith, Frieds, ad Fu By EMILY CLARK Whe most teeagers thik of summer camp, it may ivolve images of playig basketball, stayig up late ad meetig ew frieds i a differet eviromet. But playig basketball with priests? Stayig up late to atted Adoratio? Meetig ew frieds by prayig the Rosary? Absolutely. For scores of Catholic tees throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport ad aroud the coutry, this was their reality for oe week this summer at Camp Veritas. I ca hoestly say it was the happiest week of my life, said Laure Vitola, a high school sophomore from St. Theresa parish i Trumbull. The camp balaced faith with fu ad brought me closer to God tha I have ever bee. Camp Veritas is a week-log spiritual jourey for kids ages 12-18, a sleep-away camp with full immersio i the Catholic faith through sacramets ad activities. With a goal to ispire youg people ad form them ito disciples of Jesus Christ, Camp Veritas was fouded i 2008 with 52 participats ad ow serves over This camp has become groud zero for formig disciples, said Jea Doova, a parishioer at St. Rose of Lima i Newtow, who has worked with the camp as it has evolved over the years. Betwee the talks, peer metorig, strog friedships ad icredible ecouters with Jesus, Camp Veritas is a must for all Catholic tees. Parishes throughout the diocese have begu to embrace the value of Camp Veritas, especially for those youg people preparig for the sacramet of Cofirmatio. Accordig to local priests ad may studets who have atteded the camp, this experiece sparks a passio withi them ad assists i formig a uique relatioship for them with God ad their commuity. It is this relatioship i a iclusive Catholic eviromet that Fr. Terrece Walsh, pastor of Christ the Kig Church i Trumbull, hoped his Cofirmatio studets would fid at Camp Veritas. He feels that tees prayig together should be a ormal ad joyful experiece. Father Bria Gao, pastor of St. Theresa i Trumbull, which has set over 30 studets to Camp Veritas for the past two years, echoed these setimets. This camp opes up the hearts of these kids as they get ready for Cofirmatio, he said. They develop a real ad deeper uderstadig of their Catholic faith through Mass, Adoratio, Cofessio, catechesis ad have a great deal of fu too! Through laser tag ad itimate prayer, dodge ball ad daily Mass, campers have the opportuity to form friedships with other Catholic tees ad see members of the religious commuity, such as the Sisters of Life ad the Fracisca Friars of the Reewal, outside of Mass. Sibligs Athoy ad Kiera O Sulliva of Trumbull said it was cool that the priests ad brothers were at the basketball courts [with us]. Ad they related the gospel to real life situatios geared toward tees. They spoke to us o our level. The ability of tees to relate to their spiritual leaders also comes i the form of catechetical istructio, praise ad worship, ad testimoies each eveig, i which they liste to stories of life-chagig evets from visitig religious ad from the camp s fouder, Rya Youg, who, for the last te years, has aimed to mix faith ad fu for his participats. They have the opportuity to do this at ay of five facilities from which Camp Veritas operates: Camp Lakota i the Catskill Moutais; Summit Lake Camp i Emmitsburg, Marylad; Lake Placid Camp i Florida; Clogowes Wood College i Couty Kildare, Irelad; ad Mout Sait Mary College i Newburgh, NY. This locale i the Hudso Valley is a popular choice for tees from Fairfield Couty who have chose to sped oe week of their summer from Suday afteroo s orietatio through Saturday morig s culmiatig Mass growig i their faith formatio through religious activities coupled with hikig, swimmig ad plety of free time to meet others who share the same Catholic values. After returig from Camp Veritas, oe tee from St. Rose of Lima said he still prays two decades of the Rosary a day. I loved surroudig myself with ew frieds who shared the same love for God as I did, he added. Daily Rosary ad Adoratio became my favorite activities. Tees who atted Adoratio i their home parishes as a extesio of Mass or religious educatio classes may uderstad this experiece as oe of silet, reflective time with God. At Camp Veritas, however, Adoratio takes o a whole ew meaig. With over 500 studets gathered i the gymasium-tured-chapel at Mout Sait Mary College each eveig, the Camp Veritas Worship Bad played sogs like Your Grace Is Eough ad My Lighthouse to excite them as they prepared to meet Jesus. Sigig is prayig twice, said Jea Doova, whose husbad Kevi is the camp s music director. It has the power to egage people s hearts ad help them be more receptive to the Spirit. ope house SUNDAY Sept p.m. A BALANCE OF FAITH AND FUN Catholic tees from aroud the diocese ad aroud the coutry experieced a weeklog spiritual jourey at Camp Veritas, which provided full immersio i the Catholic Faith through sacramets ad activities. As the lights dimmed ad the music calmed, campers quietly prayed, worshiped Jesus i the mostrace, ad listeed to priests speak ispirigly with each of them a experiece may felt was the highlight of their time at Camp Veritas. Laure Vitola of Trumbull said this occasio provided her with a sese of ier peace ad added, Adoratio felt to me like a oeo-oe meetig with Jesus. For freshma Julietta Siciak of Christ the Kig, it was here at Camp Veritas that she witessed Eucharistic Adoratio for the first time. This was such a movig experiece for me, she commeted. It brought may campers to tears. Whether it is a cathartic release or a quiet realizatio, Adoratio ad Mass truly allow these youg people to kow Jesus Christ. Ad whe they are celebrated i a eviromet specifically relatable to tees, trasformatios are boud to occur. Whe tees begi to pray, their hearts ope to the faith, said Fr. Walsh. Camp Veritas is a great catalyst for this. REGISTER TODAY! FairfieldPrep.org FAIRFIELD PREP 1073 North Beso Rd., Fairfield, CT

16 16 September 2018 Schools Covocatio Teachers share i Miistry By PAT HENNESSY BRIDGEPORT The Lord has called us back to the miistry we share, said Bishop Frak J. Caggiao i welcomig teachers to the 9 am Mass opeig the covocatio o August 28, the Feast of St. Augustie. The Mass was eriched by the voices of the Kolbe Cathedral High School Choir, directed by Joe Elbertso. The Mass was both a celebratio ad a ackowledgmet of a harsh reality. I the readig from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus deouced the Pharisees as frauds ad blid guides. Jesus did ot mice words, said the bishop, callig perpetrators of the latest child abuse scadal scadalous, crimial, diabolical predators. Tellig the Catholic educators, We eed to seek the reewal of the Holy Spirit, the bishop held out a path to hope durig this crisis, which has shake the faith of so may. St. Augustie wrote that hope gives birth to two beautiful daughters: ager ad courage. Our ager ca help us strive to be heroic witesses to our faith. Be wome ad me of faith i class, o the playgroud, i the luchroom. I this momet, take a step back ad ask the Holy Spirit to make us heroic witesses to Jesus Christ. Despite the tears ad sorrow i our hearts, strive for greater coversio to holiess. Show the world that Christ is alive i this world. Be a people of hope. The respose to the Offertory Petitios was Lord, teach us to serve with a ope heart. Followig the Mass ad a short break, Superitedet of Schools Dr. Steve Cheesema addressed the educators. We are raisig the ext geeratio of Christia leaders, he said. We must iform their faith ad iform their mids. We must trasform the way they see the world ad the way they see people ad make them missioary disciples. I makig the itroductio to the covocatio s keyote speaker, he added, We are called to a sacred duty to educate each child to the maximum of his or her ability. The covocatio s keyote address was give by Father Nate Wills, CSC, who spoke to the assembly o ew ad iovative ways to brig educatio alive through the Persoalized Learig Iitiative beig itroduced i six pilot schools this semester. Just havig techology i the classroom is ot a good i ad of itself, he made clear. Istead, techology allows ad OFF TO A GOOD START Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of Catholic schools chats with a teacher at the recet Covocatio to begi the school year held at the Klei Memorial i Bridgeport. studets to map out a learig trajectory alog a path, gives studets some cotrol of time, path ad pace, ad gives teachers a clear idea of where each studet is i his or her learig, allowig teachers to see which studets are movig ahead quickly ad where more time ad attetio may be eeded. The most importat perso i the classroom is the teacher. Techology assists the teacher, he said. It allows teachers to meet all learers at their ow rate. The Persoalized Learig Iitiative, which will be rolled out at all elemetary schools over the ext three years, will start this fall with pilot programs set for Assumptio School i Fairfield, St. Gregory the Great School i Dabury, Holy Triity Catholic Academy i Shelto, the Upper School at the Catholic Academy of Stamford, Our Lady of Fatima School i Wilto, ad at the ew multiage school, St. Joseph Catholic Academy i Brookfield. Fouded i 1887, The Catholic Uiversity of America is a atioal research uiversity with 12 schools, more tha 120 udergraduate ad graduate programs, ad 29 research ceters ad facilities. The campus is estled o 176 gree acres just three miles from the U.S. Capitol ad is easily accessible by Metro. The city s moumets, theaters, restaurats, ad parks become a extesio of the classroom, ad iterships are available with the U.S. Cogress, Smithsoia Istitutio, NASA, Joh F. Keedy Ceter for the Performig Arts, the Natioal Istitutes of Health, ad may other orgaizatios. Catholic Uiversity welcomes studets from aroud the globe to study with world-class faculty at the forefrot of their fields. Discovery ever eds Ope House September 22/October 27 discover.catholic.edu The Catholic Uiversity of America, 620 Michiga Ave., N.E., Washigto, DC 20064

17 September Safe Eviromets Survivors share their stories of hope ad healig By ELIZABETH CLYONS Most of us thik that these thigs happe somewhere else but it happeed to my family, ad it ca happe to ayoe, said Peggy Fry, oe of three survivors who shared the story of their experiece with abuse. The Office of Safe Eviromets held a VIRTUS traiig sessio o Thursday, August 23rd for about 40 school I am so glad that you are here, Jim explaied the importace of these traiig sessios, whe this happeed to me, there was t such thig as VIRTUS. God was ad still is the ceter of my life, Peggy Fry assured, God did everythig he could to keep me i the palm of his had. She ecouraged the group to watch for warig sigs ad clues of abuse. Allow yourself to be because if a predator does ot have access to a child, they ca t abuse a child. Fra Ca, mother of a survivor, shared her heartfelt testimoy, describig the warig sigs her so displayed, which at the time were attributed to his diagosis of ADHD. She oticed he was withdraw ad agry, had persoality ad attitude chages, problems with relatioships, ad was t the same fu-lovig boy she oce kew. As a adult, her so evetually died of a accidetal overdose about 2 years after sharig about the abuse he experieced as a child. Maybe we could have helped cotiued o page 25 employees who are ew to the diocese ad other voluteers from 2-5pm at St. Catherie of Siea i Trumbull. What we have i place is so importat especially because of what is goig o ow said Eri Neil, the Director of Safe Eviromets for the Diocese of Bridgeport. I light of recet evets, the testimoies of these survivors stood as a powerful message for all. Survivor, Jim DiVasto, spoke of the uexpected ad log-term effects his experiece with abuse had o him. I would ask myself why this was happeig, he said. It affected my relatioships ad caused problems with commuicatio ad itimacy. the eyes, ears, ad mouthpiece for these childre they may ot have the courage to speak up themselves. Whe a child has the courage to tell us somethig that is goig o, our oly reactio should be I believe you ad it s ot your fault, said Deaco Joh DiTarato, Safe Eviromets Program Assistat ad preseter of the sessio, ecouragig the group of the importace of listeig to the victims ad beig their advocates. DiTarato explaied the purpose of traiig sessios such as this oe, sayig, Our program is called Safe Eviromets because our focus is to be aware that a child should ever be allowed to be i this vulerable positio

18 18 September 2018 Iovatio & Leadership Foudatios aouces upcomig Grat Program Foudatios i Educatio is gearig up for its 2d Aual Iovatio ad Leadership Grats program, ope to all teachers ad admiistrators workig i diocesa-sposored Catholic schools i Fairfield Couty. Accordig to Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoie, Educators i the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools are ivited to dare to dream about ew projects that will promote iovatio i the classroom to improve studet learig or provide professioal developmet. Foudatios i Educatio s grats committee reviews ad evaluates each proposal ad submits recommedatios to the Board of Trustees for approval marked the historic first year of providig teachers with the opportuity to apply for grats that ecourage iovative iitiatives ad tur creative ideas ito real projects that positively impact studet learig. Nietee grats across 15 schools, totalig $105,000, were awarded for projects for the school year. Fudig this year has icreased to $125,000. Immaculate High School i Dabury received fudig to promote their High School Credit Distace Learig Program which offers prospective studets i local diocesa elemetary schools the opportuity to take olie algebra 1 hoors course i their 8th grade year. Grat recipiet ad distace classroom teacher Moica Ortega says, The fudig has provided me professioal developmet to teach a virtual class that offers greater differetiatio, particularly i the areas of assessmet ad group projects. Moica shared how the program has grow from 15 to 28 studets ad how webbased coferecig will eable reachig more studets. Grats fuded Makerspaces at three differet elemetary schools: Greewich Catholic, All Saits School i Norwalk ad St. Mark School i Stratford. All three schools are excited to debut their grat-fuded Makerspaces this year, providig learig eviromets where studets collaboratively explore iterests ad lear to desig ad build iovative objects ad processes to solve real world problems. All grat recipiets are ecouraged to share their project ideas ad outcomes with schools across the diocese, thereby promotig a DARE TO DREAM Studets beefit from the use of iovative techologies to promote diverse learig. Foudatios i Educatio s grat program will allow for educators throughout diocesa Catholic schools to dream about ew projects that will promote iovatio i the classroom. broader opportuity for iovatio throughout our school commuities. Also fuded was a professioal developmet grat request by the Office of the Superitedet to brig Parters i Missio to the Diocese of Bridgeport. School admiistrators ad voluteer leaders across all 26 schools will be ivited to atted a 2-day workshop this fall to lear best practices i the area of erollmet retetio, developmet, marketig ad bradig. These opportuities for collaboratio, partership ad learig are key i esurig Catholic educatio remais o the cuttig edge ad will trasform our studets ito our ext geeratio of thikers, leaders ad etrepreeurs, remarked Dr. Cheesema. Foudatios i Educatio is a o-profit iitiative created to assist the Diocese of Bridgeport s ogoig missio to support Catholic educatio i Fairfield Couty by supportig iovatio i academic ad extracurricular programs, fosterig opportuities for the professioal developmet of school leaders ad providig scholarship assistace to families i eed. (To lear more about Foudatios i Educatio or to lear how your gift ca help trasform the lives of Catholic school studets, please visit

19 September Kights of Columbus A little boy s prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes By JOE PISANI Every ight before he goes to bed, Chad Chlebowski, 10, says his prayers. He prays for his mother ad father, he prays for his twi brother ad his sister, he prays for his gradparets ad great-gradparets... ad he asks the Blessed Mother for a very special itetio. That someday he will walk. Chad was bor with a rare geetic disorder called Pelizaeus- Merzbacher disease, which affects the cetral ervous system, coordiatio ad motor abilities. While it is a rare disease, Chad has a eve rarer form, his mother Agela says, ad the doctors do t kow how it will progress. I Jauary, Agela was cotacted by Father Samuel Kachuba, pastor of St. Pius X Church i Fairfield, about a pilgrimage to the Shrie of Our Lady of Lourdes i Frace, sposored by the Kights of Columbus Coucil 5890 at St. Mary Church i Washigtoville, NY. Chad was ivited to be oe of six childre to visit oe of the most revered Maria shries i the world the place where the Blessed Mother appeared i 1858 to a peasat girl amed Beradette Soubirous i a grotto at Massabielle i the foothills of the Frech Pyreees. Every year, 5 millio pilgrims travel to Lourdes to pray ad praise Our Lady. May go i the hope they will receive a spiritual or physical healig at the sprig the Blessed Virgi revealed to St. Beradette. I the 160 years sice the apparitios, thousads of people have bee healed i the waters, ad 70 have bee recogized as miraculous cures by the Church. Over the past 44 years, the Kights from Coucil 5890 have take 175 childre with their guardias to Lourdes, accordig to Walter Kozlowski, chairma of the program ad past Grad BLESSED BY OUR LADY Chad Chlebowski, 10, of Stamford traveled o pilgrimage to Lourdes, Frace with his mother ad gradmother sposored by the Kights of Columbus Coucil 5890 at St. Mary Church i Washigtoville, NY. Kight. Walter, who has bee ivolved with the iitiative for 20 years, has made 16 pilgrimages to Lourdes ad says, It has always bee a movig experiece. Agela, who is Iterim Director of Nursig ad Allied Health Programs at Norwalk Commuity College, said, I have a strog faith ad I m a very active Catholic, but I did t have this specific devotio to Our Lady, ad whe we were asked to go, I was t sure what to expect. Agela, her mother Mary A, ad Chad, who is a fifth-grader at Osbor Hill Elemetary School, arrived i Lourdes for the 11-day pilgrimage the begiig of July. All I did was walk through the gates, ad I broke ito tears, just feelig the presece of Our Lady Agela recalled. That happeed several times throughout the trip. I would be cryig because I felt her overwhelmig presece ad so close to her. Chad has a lot of faith, Agela says. He has stroger faith tha ay perso I kow. He loves church ad whe we re at Mass, he is very attetive. He prays every ight for people, ad every ight he prays he is goig to walk oe day. Eve though they had take him to healig Masses, they ever thought of visitig Lourdes. While they were o the pilgrimage, they saw the icorrupt body of St. Beradette ad wet to Mass every day at a differet chapel. They both received the Aoitig of the Sick ad wet ito the baths from the healig sprig. Chad wet i four times, ad Agela would keel ear his side ad pray while the attedat brought him ito the water. It was a very movig momet for me, she said. Chad said the water was cold but he was happy to get cady with the other boys ad girls who wet ito the baths for childre. He also atteded a Eucharistic healig service i the udergroud basilica ad was part of a cadle-lit processio with 30,000 people, sigig Ave Maria. O the fifth ight, Chad said, Mom, I have to tell you somethig Mary is real. Agela said, But you kew that before. Ad he respoded, But ow I REALLY kow it. The ext day Walter Kozlowski took Chad to the crypt chapel to light a cadle ad pray. Chad asked if he should say his prayer to himself or out loud ad Walter said whichever he preferred. Please, Mary, I eed you to help me to walk, he prayed. O their last ight, Agela said, Chad started to cry ad she asked him why. He respoded, Mary did t come to me, Mom. Agela said, Of course she came to you. But he said, No, she did t. I still ca t walk. Mary did bless you. She did come to you. We do t kow what that blessig is just yet, but i time we will fid out, she told him. The Chlebowskis do t kow whether Chad s disease will progress, but Agela ad Chad cotiue to pray every ight to the Blessed Mother ad bless his body with holy water from Lourdes. He was sad at first, but after his first time at the baths, he told me his legs felt differet ad he has said that every sigle ight sice the, Agela said. Her faith has grow twofold after the pilgrimage, ad she plas to retur with her other childre so they ca have the same experiece. It s very hard to put ito words, she says. It is such a overwhelmig flood of feelig with Our Lady so close to you. Two years ago, whe Chad was i a New York hospital for the etire summer, Father Sam would visit him. They talked ad they prayed. Chad couts Father as oe of his best frieds, so it was atural they would talk about Lourdes ad his expectatios. I kow he wet watig oe thig, but he had a great experiece that was very special for him, Father said. I tried to tell him that eve though prayer is t aswered exactly as we expect, there are a lot of thigs God is doig for us that we ca t see. Chad prayed for a lot of other people while he was there. Ad because of his faith, he was a witess to others what a tremedous gift for other people to see his faith. (For more iformatio about the Lourdes Program, go to lourdes5890. org. Walter Kozlowski says they wat to expad the program ito Coecticut ad iterested coucils should cotact him at kozlow.wk@ gmail.com.) Creatig memories sice 1920 Family owed & operated Ope Sudays Post Road, Fairfield (203)

20 20 September 2018 Fa the Fire Ecouragig tees to be courageous for Christ By ELIZABETH CLYONS NEWTOWN The theme of this year s Fa the Fire Youth Rally, which took place at St. Rose of Lima Parish o August 11th, was Be Courageous. We live i a world that has very little time for God or Jesus, Bishop Frak J. Caggiao said, addressig the tees durig his homily at Mass. Jesus is goig to ask you ad me to stad up for the truth ad to say it clearly i word ad actio...to be His hads ad feet i the world... to go where others will ot wat to go, to be missioaries i the world, the bishop cotiued callig the faithful to actio, For wherever there is love there is God, as St. Joh tells us. I his homily, Bishop Caggiao proposed to tees a questio, explaiig that the aswer to the questio would make all the differece for them: What am I willig to pay as a price to follow Jesus? Expadig o that questio, the bishop asked, How far are you ad I willig to walk with Jesus to remai faithful to Him? He explaied that the more we walk with Jesus the more He asks of us ad that this will be challegig, so much greater the eed for the gift of courage. Courage is the oe gift God has already give you i Baptism ad i Cofirmatio...the gift of the Holy Spirit lyig i your heart, the bishop said. Bishop Caggiao also gave examples of Saits who were courageous i givig their lives for the sake of Christ, both St. Lawrece ad St. Teresa Beedicta of the Cross, explaiig that although we may ot be asked to give our lives, we will be asked to give a lot. He explaied, It will be Christ s Spirit that will allow you to do what you could ever imagie doig before, ad that, my frieds, is the gift of courage- to persevere i what you ad I kow is right eve whe it hurts. The rest of the day icluded worship music by the St. Rose Worship Bad, opportuities for cofessio ad adoratio throughout the day, a service project provided by the Catholic Service Corps, the Rosary led by members of the High School Apostles, a comedy performace BE COURAGEOUS Bishop Caggiao addressed tees at Fa the Fire youth rally, callig o them to be courageous disciples for Jesus. At Fa the Fire, tees from aroud the diocese were able to hear from a variety of speakers, participate i praise ad worship, ad help out with a service project. by Nu ad Nuer ad a holy hour to wrap up the eveig i prayer. Natioal Catholic speaker Chris Padgett gave keyotes i both the afteroo ad eveig, durig which he spoke to tees about Pope Fracis call to be missioary disciples, evagelizig through their lives ad how they ca live this out. Breakout workshop sessios provided tees with the opportuity to hear from differet speakers about a variety of topics icludig beig made for life-givig love, Maria devotio ad the example of Mary, the truth ad beauty of the Catholic Church, ad how Jesus calls us to love ourselves as He loves us. As Bishop Caggiao observed about the gathered i his homily, I am lookig ito the faces of youg wome ad me who are destied to be great, courageous disciples for Jesus Christ. Because you, i the Spirit, ca be that missioary, you ca do what the Lord is askig... because He will help you every step of the way, bishop ecouraged tees. Oe day, years from ow, there will be youg people sittig i this church rememberig your ame because of the courageous faith you have i Jesus, said the bishop, sedig off the tees off to the rest of their trasformative ad powerful day at Fa the Fire. 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 CALL CURTISS RYAN AT NEW & USED VEHIICLES SALES SERVIICE PARTS BODY SHOP

21 September Red Mass Judge Hardima to speak FAIRFIELD Judge Thomas Hardima of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit will be the featured speaker at the 2018 Red Mass ad Breakfast that will take place o Suday, October 14, 9 am at the Ega Chapel of Fairfield Uiversity, 1073 N. Beso Road, Fairfield. Msgr. Thomas Powers, Vicar Geeral, will cocelebrate the Mass with members of the Jesuit commuity of Fairfield Uiversity. 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. The Red Mass has become a welcome forum for explorig may of the major legal challeges of our day withi the framework of Catholic teachig. We re grateful that Judge Hardima ca joi us to share his thoughts o issues of iterest to us all. He brigs a fasciatig life story to his outstadig work as a judge, said Ae McCrory, Chief Legal ad Real Estate Officer of the Diocese of Bridgeport. The Aual Red Mass, celebrated across the coutry i may Judge Thomas Hardima diocese 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. Judge Thomas Hardima I 2003, at the age of 37, Hardima was omiated by Presidet George W. Bush to the U.S. District Court for the Wester District of Pesylvaia; he was cofirmed by the Seate by a voice vote. Four years later, Bush omiated Hardima to the 3rd Circuit, ad, after ucotroversial hearigs, he was cofirmed by a vote of Judge Hardima, 51, was o Presidet Doald Trump s short list for appoitmet to the Supreme Court to fill the seat vacated a year ago by the death of Justice Atoi Scalia. Hardima was bor i Wichester, Massachusetts, ad was raised i Waltham. The future judge fiaced his law degree by drivig a taxi. He graduated from Waltham High School ad from the Uiversity of Notre Dame. He was the first perso i his family to go to college as a Notre Dame Scholar a merit-based award give to exceptioal studets who have demostrated outstadig academic achievemet. He eared his law degree at the Georgetow Uiversity Law Ceter, where he was Notes ad Commets editor of the Georgetow Law Joural, i (The cost is $50/perso. They ca dtietje@diobpt.org or call Deb ) New FCC Writer/Editor BRIDGEPORT Elizabeth Clyos of Trumbull has bee amed Commuicatios Associate i the Office of Commuicatios of the Diocese of Bridgeport. She will work as a staff writer ad editor for Fairfield Couty Catholic ad the diocesa website, ad also report for the various diocesa social media platforms icludig Facebook, Twitter ad Istagram. Clyos, a 2016 graduate of Salve Regia Uiversity i Newport, Rhode Islad, comes to her ew post from St. Joseph Parish i Shelto, where she has served as youth miister sice August She eared her bachelor s degree at Salve Regia i liberal studies with a cocetratio i elemetary ad special educatio, ad is curretly completig work o a master s i catechetics ad evagelizatio from Fracisca Uiversity of Steubeville, Ohio. As a studet she assisted the St. Catherie of Siea Youth Group Miister. Her voluteer commitmets iclude service to Carolie House summer program ad Big Brothers Big Sister of the Ocea State, Newport, RI. Clyos is a member of St. Catherie of Siea Parish i Trumbull, ad Catholic Youg Adults sposored by the diocese. She ca be reached at elizabeth.clyos@diobpt.org; phoe: The Office of Commuicatios publishes the mothly Fairfield Couty Catholic ewspaper, which goes out to 100,000 people across the diocese. More tha 13,000 people follow Bishop Frak J. Caggiao o Facebook ad 7,100 like the diocese. The bishop also has more tha 5,000 followers o BishopCaggiao. For further iformatio visit the diocesa website: 21

22 22 St. Charles Parish Bishop meets parish leaders By BRIAN D. WALLACE BRIDGEPORT Bishop Frak J. Caggiao met with the leaders of St. Charles Parish recetly to discuss circumstaces surroudig the resigatio of their former pastor, Father Frak Gomez, ad ways the parish might move forward i the future. I a cadid ad iformal exchage that lasted a hour ad a half, the bishop fielded questios from 20 parish leaders who gathered i the coferece room of the Urba Retreat Ceter o parish grouds. Parishioers thaked the bishop for meetig with them, shared their cocers ad sadess over the loss of their pastor ad their hopes goig forward. The diocese aouced the resigatio of Father Gomez from the priesthood o August 24 after he made the decisio to disco- tiue evaluatio ad treatmet at the healthcare ceter he had etered at the bishop s request. At the ed of July the bishop asked Father Gomez to step aside from miistry ad seek help whe This should ot be a momet of discouragemet. We are the People of God, ad we will move forward. a few parets came forward to express cocers about his violatio of diocesa Safe Eviromets policies relatig to miors. The bishop emphasized that there have bee o allegatios of child abuse ad that the parets who shared their cocers also respected ad cared for Father Gomez. The people who came forward deserve our thaks. They did ot come forward to hurt him, the bishop said. Diocesa Safe Eviromets policies ecourage people to report ay potetial cocers or warig sigs of iappropriate behavior or possible abuse. I a detailed letter issued to the diocese o August 24, the bishop explaied that Father Gomez had texted ad give gifts to miors without paretal permissio. Eri Neil, Diocese Director of Safe Eviromets, told parishioers that the diocese has a rule of two related to olie textig ad meetig with miors. Two adults must always be preset whe meetig i perso ad parets should be copied o ay texts or s to miors. She said that the Safe Eviromets hadbook ad OUR GRADUATES AREN T JUST COLLEGE-BOUND. They re Ready For Life. regulatios are posted o the diocesa website Parishioers said they were grateful to their former pastor for the work he did to revive the parish ad for his persoal miistry to them. People are agry. I uderstad that, the bishop said. The loss of a pastor this way is a woud to the parish ad to the Church. Whe asked about the diocesa plas movig forward, the bishop said, We have to talk about it together ad work o a visio for the parish. The rebirth does t have to ed. This should ot be a momet of discouragemet. We are the People of God, ad we will move forward. The bishop said he would retur to the parish at the ed of October to meet with youg people ad their parets. Msgr. Christopher Walsh, who is servig as temporary admiistrator of the parish, is fluet i Spaish, ad said the closig prayer at the meetig. (St. Charles Parish, located o East Mai Street, is the largest parish i Bridgeport. It offers Masses i Eglish, Portuguese, Spaish ad Creole to serve its diverse commuity.) September 2018 Steps for Reportig Suspected Abuse If you have actual kowledge of or have reasoable cause to suspect abuse of a mior or vulerable adult, or ay allegatio of abuse or miscoduct ivolvig a member of the Clergy, Semiaria, Religious Sister or Brother, lay employee, lay voluteer or idepedet cotractor of the Diocese of Bridgeport, (whether the icidet occurred recetly or i the past) report that iformatio immediately to: Eri Neil, L.C.S.W. Director of Safe Eviromets & Victim Assistace Coordiator Office: Mobile: eeil@diobpt.org or Michael Titrup, L.C.S.W. Victim Assistace Couselor Mobile: ad the CT Departmet of Childre ad Family (D.C.F.) Child Abuse ad Neglect Care-lie withi 12 hours of first becomig aware: For a report ivolvig a vulerable adult, call Protective Services for the Elderly at the Departmet of Social Services: At Notre Dame, every studet is guided ot oly toward achievig academic success, but to becomig a perso of substace. They are challeged to excel i areas of character, faith, ad itellect, ad guided to grow as Christia leaders by helpig them to coect what they lear to real eeds ad opportuities i the world. COME SEE FOR YOURSELF Ope House Etrace Exam SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 Please pre-register at otredame.org otredame.org Fairfield, CT PILGRIMAGE HOLY LAND - BARCELONA March 10-21, 2019 Spiritual Director Fr. Joh J. Costello Price from NY $3, DO Fr. Joh J. Costello For A more & G PEACE iformatio, TOURS cotact INC. A & INC. 4-Star Hotels Breakfast & dier daily All-iclusive except luch & travel isurace 4-Star Hotels breakfast & dier daily All-iclusive except luch & travel isurace For more iformatio, cotact agpeacetours@yahoo.com agpeacetours@yahoo.com

23 September Local News SHU welcomes largest freshma class FAIRFIELD First-year studets experieced all the feels as they embarked o the first days of their college experiece at Sacred Heart Uiversity. Their academic experiece officially kicked off with SHU s aual New Studet Covocatio i late August as the class of 2022 walked up the hill ad ito the William H. Pitt Ceter led by the marchig bad. The ew studets heard ispiratioal speeches from their peers, admiistrators ad faculty ecouragig them to do their best, take advatage of the may opportuities that will be preseted to them ad lear from their NEW STUDENT CONVOCATION at Sacred Heart Uiversity welcomes largest class to date. (Photo by Tracy Deer-Mirek) mistakes over the ext four years. Sacred Heart s largest ad most academically taleted group of Pioeers i Uiversity history arrived with their families to move ito their ew resideces just days earlier. They uloaded vehicles that were filled with everythig they eeded for a year away from home ad gratefully accepted assistace from upperclassme from SHU s may extracurricular clubs ad sports teams. The voluteers brought boxes of clothes, food, school supplies, toiletries ad much more ito rooms while the freshme siged i ad filled out required paperwork. Tara Hagerma, 17, of Log Islad, N.Y., briefly waited i the Toussait lobby before beig take to her room by a orietatio leader. Hagerma said she decided to come to SHU because she fell i love with the campus. I had a relative who wet here ad had a positive experiece, so I wated to see what it was all about, she said. It s beautiful. Everythig is brad ew ad everyoe is so ice. Hagerma, a ursig major, said she s lookig forward to gettig a good educatio. She s excited to meet ew frieds, joi the club volleyball team ad get ivolved i other activities as well. First-year studet Adriaa Braid, 17, of Berge Couty, N.J., was o the fifth floor of Toussait Hall upackig her belogigs with her parets. She said she was most excited to meet ew people ad try ew thigs. The exercise sciece major plas to joi the exercise sciece club ad itramural sports. Newcomers statistics There are 1,496 studets i the class of 2022, chose from a applicat pool of 10,619, the largest i SHU s history. This is a 73 percet icrease i full-time freshme erollmet datig back to the fall of The ew freshma class distiguishes itself by its academic accomplishmets, as evideced by a average high school GPA of 3.5. More tha 340 freshme are Natioal Hoor Society members.

24 24 St. Gabriel Parish 2000 Hail Marys STAMFORD Every first Saturday of the moth at Sait Gabriel Parish i Stamford, devotees gather to pray 2000 Hail Marys betwee 6 am ad 4 pm i the St. Philip Neri Chapel to hoor ad praise the Immaculate Heart of Mary, says coordiator, Tess Seerador of St. Gabriel s. Tess leared about the 2000 Hail Marys evet about six years ago, she says. It was held every moth i someoe s home. As the years progressed ad the threats of war ad violece became more prevalet, she discered a eed to start this at her ow parish. At first, she held the evet at her home. After ivitig her parish priest to oe of the gatherigs, they agreed to hold it at St. Gabriel s, where it has bee ever sice late Madeleie Terezio has bee attedig the 2000 Hail Marys evet for a year ow. Her experiece has had a profoud effect upo her, so much so that she tries to retur to the evet mothly. She says, Tess is amazig. Beig aroud her ad the others gives me the icetive to be a better perso. A recet day of prayer bega at 6 am, ad Mass was offered at 8 am by pastor, Father Liam Quila. The Hail Marys were prayed via a special rosary that has oe hudred beads, says Seerador. This rosary was prayed twety times, thus amoutig to 2000 Hail Marys. Each rosary was prayed for a differet petitio, ad the prayers covered almost everythig, she says. Terezio ca attest to the beautiful, prayerful eviromet that prayig the rosaries creates. The quiet, yet repetitive meditatio ad the people aroud you are woderful, she says. Everyoe is differet i geder, color, ethicity, shape ad size, yet we are all there for the same purpose. It really is so beautiful whe someoe starts prayig i their comfortable laguage ad we all respod i Eglish. How uiversal ca you get? So far, I have heard Frech, Italia ad Spaish. Diacoate Discovery Eveigs September 2018 Have you ever wodered if you were beig called to become a deaco? Has someoe, your pastor, a priest or a deaco ever metioed to you that they ca see you as a deaco? Do you feel that God is callig you to live your faith differetly, perhaps as a deaco? Wat to lear more? Joi me ad explore some of these questios ad others that you may have about the Diacoate. Diacoate Discovery Eveigs will be a cosistet space to woder, explore, pray ad share with other me of faith regardig servig the Church as a Permaet Deaco. Be with other me of faith who are woderig if God is callig them to serve as a deaco. To have a opportuity for prayer ad reflectio. To form relatioships ad build commuity. Meet deacos from aroud the diocese witessig their miistries ad jourey of faith. If you are iterested i attedig, or have ay questios, please feel free to cotact Deaco Tim Bolto, Coordiator of Diacoate Vocatios: dbolto@diobpt.org. DATE PARISH ADDRESS St. Stephe 6948 Mai Street, Trumbull St. Phillip 1 Father Colo Place, Norwalk St. Stephe 6948 Mai Street, Trumbull St. Phillip 1 Father Colo Place, Norwalk St. Stephe 6948 Mai Street, Trumbull St. Phillip 1 Father Colo Place, Norwalk St. Stephe 6948 Mai Street, Trumbull St. Phillip 1 Father Colo Place, Norwalk St. Stephe 6948 Mai Street, Trumbull St. Phillip 1 Father Colo Place, Norwalk St. Stephe 6948 Mai Street, Trumbull St. Phillip 1 Father Colo Place, Norwalk The above meetigs will take place from 7-8:30 pm at St. Stephe i the lower church ad St. Phillip i the masio. May Gods from page 7 she came upo the teachig that every god, every deity, leads you to the Oe God. This thought settled her... for a time. She also became more committed to the rituals of Hiduism, prayer, horoscopes ad fastig. Nevertheless, she always prayed the Our Father at bedtime because I felt my prayers were goig somewhere ad there was a sese of itimacy ad assurace. Every time I passed by a church, I would hear this little voice deep iside of me that would say, You eed to go i there ad pray, she recalled. But I would igore that voice. I ever wet i. I was too wrapped up i my life at the time. Ispired by what she had bee taught about Christ s ifiite love ad mercy, Mia told her mother that she should t be tormeted by the fear of puishmet after death. I told her, God wo t make you suffer. Why would God do that? He is lovig, she said. Deep iside me, questios started to arise about the Oe True God, Mia said. Wheever I prayed, I always asked God to reveal himself to me because I wated to kow the Oe True God. Today I kow that God aswered me because, as he says i the Bible, If you seek me, you will fid me. The, somethig happeed that would chage her life completely. She met a youg ma amed Joh Lawrece who worked i iformatio techology ad was movig to the Uited States... ad he was Catholic. We both discovered we had similar values, but I did t thik it was goig to work out, Mia said. He asked if we got married ad had kids what would their faith be, ad I told him Catholic. Shortly afterward, he proposed to me. They were married i 1993 ad moved to the Uited States. I told my husbad I wated to go to church with him every week, ad I loved it, she said. She etered the RCIA program ad i 1995 was baptized a Roma Catholic at St. Patrick Church i Iver Grove Heights, Miesota. I 1999, the couple moved to Coecticut ad started worshipig at St. Lawrece Parish i Shelto ad evetually moved to St. Joseph Parish i that city, where she joied a charismatic prayer group ad became a lector. Whe I told my father, he said it was good that we both wet to church o Suday to worship, ad whe he visited America, he came with us, she said. Sometimes I thik, Who am I that Christ should call me like he did? I am so fortuate. Today, she strogly believes we are called to evagelize ad share the Christia message with our family ad frieds. It is very importat to cotiue the work of Christ o earth, ad I wat to share the Good News with my family members ad frieds ad pray that he will show them the way. God was leadig her to himself all alog. Office of Commuicatios Diocese of Bridgeport 238 Jewett Aveue Bridgeport, Coecticut telephoe fax fcc@diobpt.org Web Facebook BridgeportDiocese USPS o.: Periodical postage paid at Bridgeport, CT 06601, ad additioal mailig offices. Most Revered Frak J. Caggiao Publisher Bria D. Wallace Executive Editor bdwallace@diobpt.org Elizabeth Clyos Writer/Editor elizabeth.clyos@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) 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 2018, Diocese of Bridgeport

25 September Sports Triity s Joes ears place i Hall of Fame By DON HARRISON Oly a hadful of Coecticut high school players scored more career poits tha Rashamel Joes, Triity Catholic Class of 95. He amassed 2,301 across four varsity seasos with the Crusaders. But Joes achieved a distictio that eluded the five people ahead of him ad all others who developed their game at the Nutmeg State s secodary schools: He was co-captai (with Ricky Moore) of the Uiversity of Coecticut s first NCAA me s basketball atioal champioship team, i Next moth, the 42-year-old Joes will be amog six iductees ito the Fairfield Couty Sports Hall of Fame at the Sports Commissio s 14th aual dier o October 15 at the Stamford Marriott. He ll be reuited that eveig with Mike Walsh, his coach ad metor at Triity Catholic ad a 2016 Hall-of-Fame selectio. We built a legacy together (at Triity) ad to joi Coach Walsh there is a hoor, Joes said. I still speak to coach to this day. He s like family ad a big part of my life. Survivors Share from page 17 Joes s daily trek to the Stamford-based high school required equal parts stamia ad patiece. For his first two years, he rode a Metro-North trai from Mout Vero, N.Y., to Stamford, ad the hopped aboard a bus or the school va to campus. His commute was slightly shorter as a juior ad seior: He boarded the trai i Port Chester. After practice, sometimes Coach Walsh would give me a ride to the statio, Joes recalled. The Catholic school settig was a distict plus for Joes. He matured quickly, especially o the court, earig New Have Register All-State hoors his fial three seasos ad the state s Gatorade Player of the Year award as a seior. At UCo, the 6-foot-4 Joes joied a multi-skilled squad that icluded All-America Ray Alle i most eyes the Huskies greatest player. Slightly later, All-America Richard Hamilto, 6-foot-11 ceter Jake Voskuhl ad poit guard Khalid El-Ami were amog his teammates. All would advace to the Natioal Basketball Associatio raks. Coecticut had become a atioal power uder Coach Jim STAMFORD S OWN Triity Catholic s Rashamel Joes ( 95) will be amog six iductees ito the Fairfield Couty Sports Hall of Fame at the Sports Commissio s 14th aual dier o Oct. 15 at the Stamford Marriott. Oly a hadful of Coecticut high school players scored more career poits tha Rashamel Joes. He amassed 2,301 across four varsity seasos with the Crusaders. Calhou, reachig the NCAA Regioal Semi-fials i Joes freshma seaso ad the NCAA Regioal fials durig his juior year. It all came together i , whe the Huskies wo their first 19 games of the seaso e route to their third Big East title i four seasos ad best-ever 34-2 wo-lost record. Victory No. 34 was the sweetest comig agaist 9 ½-poit favorite Duke i the NCAA atioal champioship game at Tropicaa Field i St. Petersburg, Fla. I ll tell you a story, said Joes. Coach Calhou used to hold a lot of meetigs with the co-captais i our room. He d just left ad ESPN was o televisio. Back i Durham they re celebratig. They ve got tee-shirts that say Duke Wo. Newspapers sayig Duke Wis Title. We had t eve played the game yet! he oted with disgust. That was the best motivatio. We kew we were goig to wi. We were cofidet. Hamilto soared for 27 poits, Ricky Moore provided 13 ad the game s defesive stop i the closig secods, while Joes cotributed three poits ad two rebouds off the bech. UCo prevailed over the Blue Devils, Joes, who ow lives i Bolto, a small commuity i upstate Coecticut, is filled with pride about his electio to the Fairfield Couty Sports Hall of Fame. He s hopig his parets, his sister Tarra Creshaw, his fiacée Nicole ad a cousi, Stew Williams my biggest fa will joi him at the dier to share his proud momet. This is the highest hoor I ve achieved, he said. It speaks highly of your work, of what you ve accomplished as a athlete. The hall of fame will outlive me. It (his plaque) will still be there whe I m goe. (For dier ticket iformatio, call or tomchip21@aol.com.) him if we had the VIRTUS program at the time she said. DiTarato commeted that the Diocese of Bridgeport has a bishop who is very focused o healig We have the programs to go forward, he stated. There are three aspects of the Safe Eviromets program: participatig i a traiig sessio, beig aware that there are policies ad procedures i place, what these are ad the zero tolerace there is for ay breach of procedure, ad the eed to submit to a backgroud check. (VIRTUS traiig sessios are coducted by the Office of Safe Eviromets ad are madatory for ayoe workig or voluteerig i the Diocese of Bridgeport. For questios or cocers relatig to Safe Eviromets, Backgroud Checks, VIRTUS Awareess Traiig, Resources for Victims of Abuse or Madated Reportig, please cotact Eri Neil, L.C.S.W., Director of Safe Eviromets at or eeil@diobpt.org.) CATHOLIC PROFESSIONAL NETWORK Law Office of James M. Hughes Elder Law/TITLE 19/MEDICAID-Plaig Vetera s Beefits - Aid & Attedace Estates/Probate/Real Estate 1432 Post Road, Fairfield, Coecticut hughes_james@sbcglobal.et RESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY DRAIN CLEANING MUNICIPAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE LICENSED & INSURED CATCH BASIN CLEANING HIGH VELOCITY WATER JETTING LARGE DIAMETER POWER RODDING or Office: 534 Surf Aveue Stratford TV PIPE INSPECTION AIR TESTING JET RODDING VACTOR SERVICE

26 26 Obituaries Msgr. DeProfio, 91 STAMFORD The Revered Mosigor Louis A. DeProfio, P.A., passed away o August 15, 2018, the Solemity of the Assumptio of the Blessed Virgi Mary, i Stamford. He was 91 years of age. Perhaps best remembered for his log ad distiguished service as pastor of St. Theresa Church i Trumbull, Msgr. DeProfio held may posts ad assigmets throughout the diocese ad remaied active as a priest i retiremet at the Catherie Deis Keefe Quee of Clergy Residece i Stamford. Msgr. DeProfio was a ma of remarkable vitality, eergy ad optimism. He brought good cheer, atural leadership ad deep faith to his sacrificial service as a priest. He ispired geeratios of Catholics ad leaves a lastig legacy of the joy of faithful witess, said Bishop Frak J. Caggiao. I ask all to please pray for the repose of the soul of Mosigor DeProfio, ad for the cosolatio of his family. Louis Athoy DeProfio was bor i Bridgeport o May 20, 1927, the yougest of the seve childre of Luigi ad Lucia (Dostillio) DeProfio. Followig where he served with great distictio util his retiremet from active miistry i May Thereafter, he served as director of the Catherie Deis Keefe Quee of the Clergy Residece i Stamford. He was appoited a Prelate of Hoor of His Holiess, with the title of Mosigor, by Pope Joh Paul II o Jauary 4, 1983, ad a Protootary Apostolic superumerary, also by Pope Joh Paul II, o December 19, Mosigor DeProfio s body was received at St. Theresa Church, Trumbull. Mosigor Thomas Powers was the celebrat, ad Father Joseph Marcello was the homilist. Bishop Caggiao celebrated the fueral Mass o Friday, August 24, at 11 am, ad Mosigor Adrew Varga was the homilist. Codoleces may be set to Mrs. Carol Macko at 92 Phyfe Road i Fairfield, Coecticut I lieu of flowers, doahis graduatio from Cetral High School i Bridgeport ad a year s service i the Uited States Navy, his priestly formatio bega at St. Thomas Semiary i Bloomfield. He cotiued studies at St. Mary s Semiary i Baltimore ad was ordaied to the priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Revered Lawrece J. Sheha at St. Augustie Cathedral i Bridgeport o Ascesio Thursday, May 10, His first assigmet was as parochial vicar of his home parish, St. Raphael i Bridgeport. He served also as parochial vicar of Sacred Heart i Stamford before beig appoited diocesa director of the C.Y.O ad diocesa director of Social Actio. I additio to his service o various boards ad committees, ad for a time as admiistrator of St. Margaret s Shrie i Bridgeport, Mosigor DeProfio directed the secod Syod of the Diocese of Bridgeport i 1971, ad was the Campaig Chair for the Faith i the Future diocesa capital campaig i O September 11, 1971, Mosigor DeProfio became pastor of St. Theresa Parish i Trumbull, Msgr. Louis A. DeProfio, P.A. September 2018 Sister O Brie, 93 WILTON Sister Sheila O Brie, O.P., age 93, a member of the Domiica Sisters of Our Lady of the Sprigs of Bridgeport, wet to the Lord o Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Lourdes Health Care Ceter, Wilto. Bor i Gle Cove, Log Islad o March 11, 1925, she was a daughter of the late Patrick ad Julia Marti O Brie. Sister Sheila received her master s i educatio at Huter College i New York ad was a brilliat educator for over 30 years. She was a New York sports ethusiast followig all the New York teams closely but her true passio was the Yakees. She was predeceased by brothers, Patrick ad Jeremiah ad her twi sister, Eilee. Survivors iclude may ieces ad ephews ad may great ieces ad Sister Sheila O Brie, O.P. ephews. A Mass of Christia Burial was celebrated o Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 12 oo at Sait Jude Church i Moroe. Itermet followed at Gate of Heave Cemetery i Trumbull. tios may be made to Quee of the Clergy Residece, 274 Strawberry Hill Ave., Stamford, CT 06902, St. Margaret Shrie, 2523 Park Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06604, or to St. Theresa s Roma Catholic Church, 5301 Mai St. Trumbull, CT 06611, i memory of Revered Mosigor Louis A. DeProfio. (Visit the website to read Father Marcello s tribute to Msgr DeProfio Deceased Clergy of the Diocese of Bridgeport September 9 October 13 FUNERAL GUIDE NEIL F. HARDING Director/Ower Hardig FUNERAL HOME 203/ FAX 203/ POST ROAD EAST WESTPORT, CT Collis Fueral Home 92 East Aveue Norwalk William A. Skidd William R. Kelley Quiet Digity Without Extravagace Affordable Direct Crematio Title XIX Welcome Z Family owed for three geeratios Z Call for free iformative brochure Z or William G. Lahey, Jr. William P. Skidd Adrew D. Skidd Family owed for four geeratios Z Hadlig every detail Z I home arragemets Z Memorial service facility September 9 Rev. Coli McKea Rev. Richard Moaha Rev. Frak D. Yoia Aloysius J. Hribšek Rev. Joseph V. Rossitto Rev. William J. Cokli Rev. Marti Deehy Rev. Joh A. Sulliva Rev. Robert L. Christopher 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 Rev. Ralph Seraphim Rohlma Msgr. Joh H. Aderso Msgr. Victor Balcerak, O.F.M. Cov Deaco William Owe Murphy Rev. Fracis Posluszy Deaco Michael Wolfer

27 September Mis Hermaos y Hermaas e el Señor Muchas palabras se ha dicho acerca del crime de abuso sexual a meores y los escádalos que ha resultado de dichos abusos, estas palabras ha sido ecesarias para expresar el dolor, rabia y cofusió que todos setimos. Si embargo, las palabras o so suficietes, ha llegado el tiempo de actuar. Les escribo hoy para compartir las primeras de ua serie de medidas que tomaré, como su Obispo, para efretar la crisis que afecta a uestra Diócesis. Mi esperaza es que estas medidas empiece a saar las heridas que setimos, que demuestre el deseo legítimo de cambio real y ayude a reestablecer su cofiaza e cada ivel de liderazgo co el objetivo de realizar a pleitud la misió divia de la Iglesia. Estas medidas se suma al trabajo extesivo que veimos llevado a cabo desde 2002 de cotactar y apoyar a los sobrevivietes de abuso sexual por parte del clero e uestra Diócesis y de proveer etreamieto y protecció para uestros iños y que asegura que los adultos recoozca las señales de advertecia de cualquier abuso potecial a meores. Co este objetivo e mete, deseo atacar la raíz del problema de múltiples maeras, comezado co ua serie de iiciativas espirituales y accioes admiistrativas. Los evetos espirituales descritos a cotiuació se efoca e la imesa ecesidad del clero de buscar reparar los pecados del pasado de aquellos que ha pecado y lastimado iños y jóvees iocetes. 1. Liderare ua Hora Sata y ofreceré ua Misa de Reparació para Clero el Sábado 15 de Septiembre, Remembraza de Nuestra Señora de Dolores e la Catedral de Sa Agustí. La Hora Sata (co Rosario) empezara a las 9:30 am seguida de Misa a las 10:30 am. He ivitado a participar a todos los Sacerdotes y Diácoos de la Diócesis. Tu estas tambié ivitado a asistir, así os podemos uir como familia Diocesaa e este mometo de ecesidad y buscar la gracia de reparació y reovació. 2. He pedido a todos los pastores que celebre ua Misa Local de Reparació e sus parroquias ates del 31 de Octubre de La lista co todas estas Misas será publicada e uestro sitio Web Diocesao. 3. Debemos recoocer que os ecotramos e medio de ua batalla espiritual, por la cual ecesitamos la ayuda de Dios. Por esta razó, he pedido que la Oració a Sa Miguel Arcágel sea recitada al fial de cada Misa celebrada e la Diócesis empezado el 15 de Septiembre. La versió oficial de esta oració estará dispoible e uestro sitio Web Diocesao. Es mi deseo que estas medidas procure el espíritu de reparació y coversió e la vida de cada clérigo y e toda uestra Diócesis. Recoocemos que todos teemos diferetes ecesidades espirituales para lograr la saació, habrá iiciativas espirituales adicioales que será auciadas e las semaas siguietes. Ate la urgete ecesidad de accioes admiistrativas, las siguietes medidas será istituidas: 1. Resposabilidad del Obispo. Cuado el Capítulo para la Protecció de Niños y Jóvees fue adoptada e 2002, tambié fue aprobado ua Declaració de Compromiso Episcopal. Los evetos recietes hace evidete que las provisioes e dicho Compromiso ecesita ser reforzadas. Mietras esperamos que esto suceda a ivel acioal y reafirmamos que o hay adie por ecima de la ley, icluyedo al Obispo, por medio de la presete me adhiero persoalmete a las siguietes provisioes adicioales. Desde este mometo, si sucede ua acusació de abuso sexual a u meor o e dado caso que o se actúe efectivamete e caso de alegacioes presuto abuso sexual a u meor que icluya al Obispo, ua Juta de Revisió idepediete de fuera de la Diócesis tomara las resposabilidades y deberes eumerados e el Capítulo y reportará sus hallazgos a La Sata Sede. U resume detallado de este proceso, icluyedo la Juta de Revisió que servirá e esta capacidad, será publicado e uestro sitio Web Diocesao. 2. Reporte de Resposabilidad Diocesaa. Tambié he autorizado que se prepare ua revisió de resposabilidades que aborde dos áreas importates: a. Trasparecia e relació co icidetes de abuso sexual a meores e el pasado: Solicitaré que ua firma calificada e idepediete prepare ua revisió completa de los casos de abuso sexual a meores por parte de clero Diocesao y le sea iformado al público de la Diócesis. Auciaré iformació acerca de los detalles y los tiempos de esta revisió e las próximas semaas. b. U reporte fiaciero acerca de abuso sexual a meores del pasado: Prepararemos u reporte fiaciero completo que icluya las catidades de acuerdos fiacieros establecidos ate acusacioes pasadas de abuso sexual a meores por clero desde el establecimieto de la Diócesis hasta el presete. Este reporte icluirá las fuetes de proveiecia de diero para fiaciar dichos acuerdos. Tambié publicaremos ua St. Adrew St. Augustie Las cuatro escuelas de la Academia Católica de Bridgeport proporcioa u etoro de apredizaje cetrado e Cristo, académicamete riguroso e el cual la diversidad cultural es bieveida y celebrada. Nutrimos, fometamos y retamos a uestros estudiates e preparació para ua vida exitosa de liderazgo y servicio. TODAS LAS RELIGIONES SON BIENVENIDAS. ASISTENCIA FINANCIERA DISPONIBLE. cueta verificada del apoyo fiaciero actualmete provisto por la Diócesis y la fuete de soporte fiaciero a cualquier sacerdote que haya sido acusado de abuso sexual a u meor y que se ecuetre actualmete e licecia admiistrativa o aquellos a quiees se ha dado de baja sus fucioes eclesiásticas. Este reporte fiaciero será cocluido a más tardar Octubre 30, Me gustaría cocluir ofreciedo ua reflexió persoal. Mi corazó se acogoja ate el daño causado por el clero predador y por los lideres eclesiales icompetetes y complacietes. Quisiera expresar mis más setidas disculpas a todas aquellas persoas que ha sido afectadas por esta tragedia. Tambié recoozco que reestablecer la cofiaza requerirá la presecia satísima y heroica por parte de cada Sacerdote, especialmete de mí mismo. Cofío que el Señor os saará y fortalecerá a cada uo de osotros. E estos días difíciles, por favor sepa que mis oracioes acompaña a cada uo de ustedes y sus familias. Les pido que ore por los lideres laicos de la Iglesia, por el clero y por mí. Siceramete suyo e Cristo, Mas Reveredo Frak J. Caggiao Obispo de Bridgeport Septiembre 7, 2018 SABADO, OCTUBRE 13, :00-7:30 PM Triity Catholic High School 926 Newfield Aveue Stamford, CT Por favor reserve su etrada e: o llamado al St. A AHORA INSCRIBIÉNDOSE! Recorridos diarios Llameos hoy ST. ANN ACADEMY (Grades PreK 8) 521 Brewster Street ST. RAPHAEL ACADEMY (Grades PreK 3) 324 Frak Street St. Raphael ST. AUGUSTINE ACADEMY (Grades 4 8) 63 Pequoock Street ST. ANDREW ACADEMY (Grades PreK 8) 395 Ato Street catholicacademybridgeport.org

28 28 September 2018 Colum: Thomas Hicks September s call to look back comes to you disguised as your life God (Richard Rohr) The su edges south. Days shorte. Nights deepe. The days are loud with cicadas ad ights loud with katydids. It is September. Birds are already gatherig i restless flocks, migratio o their mids. A mother may paste the summer i a album. Most yougsters have a grudge Potpourri By Thomas H. Hicks Thomas Hicks is a member of St. Theresa Parish i Trumbull. agaist September; so do teachers. September always gives a sese of time hasteig. September always calls me to look back. A lie i Psalm 40:17 says, The Lord takes thought of me. Whe you thik about it, that s a amazig idea. Do I persoally come to God s attetio? I am oe of 7.6 billio o this earth. Am I a object of God s kowledge, a thought of God? Someoe to be listeed to, to be uderstood by Him? It s a amazig idea. Sometimes I have a sese that I m just aother fleck of life who has my ow small importace for a brief spa of time. Sometimes I thik that we all make some oise i the world for a little while ad the get off the stage. Wheever we tell stories about our lives, we ca be expected to egage i a good deal of faciful recostructio, cover ups ad deceit. It is difficult to see our lives truthfully. We are frighteed creatures who ca be couted upo to make up stories about ourselves i order to get by. I thik of all the people I ve bee: the boucig boy, my mother s pride, the pimply adolescet ad secret sesualist. I am o loger these selves, but occasioally I remember scraps ad pieces about them. I have a sapshot of myself aged twelve or so with my backpack ad raiy weather gear, Catholic schools are i the midst of a extraordiary revival i the Diocese of Bridgeport. With the geerous support of Foudatios i Educatio, the school year is full of some excitig shifts for the Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools ad excitig ew opportuities for our studets. We are firm believers that every child has bee give special uique gifts ad talets from God, said Dr. Steve Cheesema, superitedet of schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport. It is our resposibility as Catholic school leaders ad teachers to educate i a way that recogizes ad respects those gifts ad allows studets the cotiued opportuity to lear i classroom eviromets that are faith-filled ad also iovative ad all-iclusive. The recetly aouced Persoalized Learig Program, rollig out i six schools, will create a seamless kidergarte to eighth grade bleded learig experiece that effectively marries the traditioal excellece of Catholic schools with the wealth of techology resources available to challege, ispire ad motivate studets. Creatig educatioal oppor- about to head off to school. My frighteed eyes show i the picture. That gaze of sadess is uchaged i me. I m touched with a certai melacholy. So much strikes me as ualterably sad. I suppose it s true that behid us all stad the multitude of our acestors who through the mysterious alchemy of heredity have each of them passed o to us somethig of their character of mid ad body, of their icliatios, good ad bad. Ultimately, I am a mystery to myself. I sometimes see myself as a ma I kow but ot itimately. St. Augustie wrote: I became a great mystery to myself. I ca uderstad the words of the 17th cetury Eglish author, Sir Thomas Browe, who wrote: there s aother ma withi me that s agry with me. Gerard Maley Hopkis wrote someplace that I have lost iterest i myself. Yes, sometimes I m tired of myself. I remember my boyhood dreams of the future: as a basketball star, test pilot, private eye, or Errol Fly or Fred Astaire. I do t wat to be that boy agai, but I like havig bee him. Whe I was a youg ma I believed, as a youg ma has to believe, that people ca actually chage, that society ca improve, ad humakid ca become wise. I felt that my efforts would cout for much, they were sure to make a differece to the future of humakid. Now my life seems overpopulated with ucertaities ad questios. I thik all our ow idividual lives have brought their share of evil ito the world. Now my hope is that I may fid i myself a heart more compas- sioate ad less judgmetal, more humble ad less self-righteous, more grateful ad less resetful. I try i simple ways to give what I ca give. I m at a time whe old grievaces, disappoitmets, irritatios, failures cease to matter much. I m sorry for havig bee a cause of sorrow to ayoe. My life s timelie has two broke places that took a lot of ier recovery. I have ever fully recovered. I leared to redefie my life, but it was ever the same. There was my mother s early death, ad the death of my wife. They were the losses that defied my life. My wife s death is the cetral woud of my history. After she died, I was wed to loeliess. I got used to beig loely. For a while I thought that Someoe owed me a apology, or at the very least, a explaatio. Nevertheless, despite the sorrows, much of my life has take o the aspect of aswered prayers. A beig Providece has govered my days. There were times whe I was etertaiig agels uaware (Geesis 18). I have the covictio that God called me to be this rather tha that, called me to be here rather tha there; called me to be ow rather tha the. I have a touch of what Gerard Maley Hopkis wrote: What I do is mie; for that I came. Or, as Kierkegaard put it: to be the self which oe truly is. I woder how would I respod to Jesus questio: What do you wat me to do for you? (Lk.18:41). So I must cotiue to put up with me ad cotiue to worry my worries. Growig up, Catholicism was i the air I breathed. Today, Catholicism is a asset, a fried.

29 September Bits ad Pieces BEREAVEMENT SUPPOPRT GROUP for ayoe grievig the loss of a loved oe will meet at St. Stephe Parish, 6948 Mai St., Trumbull. A series of 10 weekly meetigs with experieced couselors will begi o Thurs., Sept. 13 from 4:00-5:30 pm. Must register i advace. For ifo call the parish office at: APPLE RUN evet brigs athletes of all ages ad abilities together for a computer timed 5K Ru/Walk ad a shorter utimed walk. This evet is beig held o Sat., Sept. 15 at 9 am. Register olie at: rusigup.com/race/ CT/Trumbull/appleRuWalk- CadyAppleKidsRu. All proceeds will beefit St. Catherie of Siea School, Trumbull. MINISTRY FAIR will be held at St. Catherie of Siea Church i Riverside o Sat., Sept. 15 ad Su. Sept. 16 after all Masses. For more ifo cotact Pam Sloae at: psloae@optolie.et. SEPTEMBER FEST! Our Lady of the Assumptio Church Aual September Fest eters 25th Year o the church grouds located at 545 Stratfield Road i Fairfield. The September Fest traditio kicks off o Fri., Sept. 14 at 6 pm ad eds o Su., Sept. 16 at 6 pm. AN EVENING WITH FRANK MASTRONE AND FRIENDS will take place at Sacred Heart Church i Stamford, for its 95th aiversary with A Eveig with Frak Mastroe ad Frieds o Sat., Sept. 15 from 6 pm-11 pm. Please call Jeff Curtis at: or Fra Biaco at: for more ifor ad tickets. GOLF OUTING. The 2018 Immaculate High School Golf Outig will take place o Wed., Sept. 19 at Richter Park i Dabury. Registratio ad sposorship opportuities are available ow. To reserve your spot ad/or sposor the IHS Golf Outig, go to: GOLF TOURNAMENT at Ridgefield Golf Club o Fri., Sept. 21 from 11 am-7 pm. Joi St. Marguerite Bourgeoys for their aual Golf Touramet Fudraiser to support their Fud for the Needy! For more ifo cotact Greg Dembowski at: or gregdembowski@yahoo.com. PADRE PIO WEEKEND at St. Catherie of Siea Parish i Trumbull will be takig place from Sept. 22-Sept. 23. Our favorite aual family evet of games, picic fare ad fellowship is combied with a full weeked of devotios to Sait Padre Pio! A DAY WITH MARY is a free Maria Eucharistic Day Retreat with the Fracisca Friars of the Immaculate at Sts. Cyril ad Methodius Oratory. Sat., Sept. 22 at 8:45 am-3 pm. Retreat is FREE. FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL Joi us o Sat., Sept. 22 from 9 am-4 pm at St. Philip Church i Norwalk. Games, good food, fu activities, shoppig ad music! TOUCH-A-TRUCK evet brought to you by St. James School at Deluca Field i Stratford o Sat., Sept. 22 from 10 am-3 pm. Over 60 amazig trucks o display! $5 a perso/$20 max per family. Quiet time 10-10:30 am. NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING SERIES will be held o the followig Sat. morigs: Sept. 22, Oct. 20, ad Nov. 17 from 9 am-11 am at St. Rose of BISHOP S LECTURE SERIES PRESENTS Natioally kow Catholic speaker Jo Leoetti o Thursday, October 4 at 7 pm at Assumptio Parish i Westport with receptio to follow. There is o cost but we ask that you RSVP olie or by phoe. For more iformatio call or visit formatioreimagied.org. Lima i Newtow i the Rectory Coferece Room. For more ifo about NFP ad/or to register for class, please visit the website at: ccli.org. Cotact Albert ad Adriee Keogler at a.keogler@ att.et with ay questios. PILGRIMAGE INFO SESSION o Thurs., Sept. 27 at 6:30 pm to lear about the beautiful Italy Pilgrimage with Fr. Bria Gao from Feb. 3-14, We will go over the details, aswer questios ad you will be able to sig up for the trip that ight. Refreshmets will be served. Please RSVP to vdedad@ cruiseplaers.com by Sept. 20. ST. ANN GOLF TOURNAMENT will take place o Sat., Sept. 29 from 12 pm-7 pm. Golfers will ejoy, luch ad 18 holes at Fairchild Wheeler golf course i Fairfield. Registratio 12 pm; Shotgu start 1 pm, followed by a 6 pm cocktail hour & dier at St. A Academy. You ca purchase dier oly tickets for oly $50. Dier receptio will be at St. A Alumi Hall 6-7:30 pm FUN RUN GAMES is beig held by Catholic Charities of Fairfield Couty to beefit Room to Grow Preschool o Su., Sept. 30 from 1-3 pm at Oyster Shell Park i Norwalk (ext to the Maritime Aquarium). BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY at Our Lady of Peace Parish, Stratford, will be coductig a free program from Oct. 3 to Dec. 3. The group will meet every Wed. from 12-2 pm cotiued o page 30

30 30 September 2018 Swimmig Upstream from page 9 ad call home those who have wadered far from Me. Eucharistic Adoratio is superaturally efficacious. He said that failure is certai for those who put their faith «i huma schemes, i plas devised by the worldly-wise, ad i programs draw up alog short-sighted huma priciples. Ad so they go, ad will cotiue to go, from failure to failure, ad from disillusiomet to disillusiomet...woe to those who trust i purely huma solutios to the problems that beset My Church! They will be grievously disappoited, ad may souls will fall away because they have eglected to take up the superatural weapos I have prepared for them i this time of spiritual combat. Here is a prayer He told the priest to say for his fellow priests mired i si: Lord Jesus Christ, Priest ad Victim, Lamb without stai or blemish, I come before Thy Face, lade with the sis ad betrayals of my brother priests ad with the burde of my ow sis ad ifidelities. Allow me to represet those priests who are most i eed of Thy mercy. For them, let me abide before Thy Eucharistic Face, close to Thy ope Heart. Through the Sorrowful ad Immaculate Heart of Thy Mother, Advocate ad Mediatrix of all graces, pour forth upo all the priests of Thy Church that torret of mercy that ever flows from Thy Heart, to purify ad heal them, to sactify ad refresh them, ad, at the hour of their death, to make them worthy of joiig Thee before the Father i the heavely Holy Place beyod the veil. Ame. Oe Thig. Bits ad Pieces i the Parish Ceter. Ope to all, SPECIAL NEEDS MASS advaced registratio required. beig held o Su., Oct. 7 at For more ifo ad to register call St. Catherie of Siea Parish i Jaet Gillick, certified facilitator, Riverside, welcomig, accompayig ad accommodatig per or call the parish office sos of all ages with disabilities FORMATION DAY for ad special eeds. Mass will be Parish/School Admiistrative held at oo with a luch immediately followig. Staff is beig held o Fri., Oct. 5 at 9 am-2 pm i Quee A ROSARY RALLY will be of Saits Hall at the Catholic held at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Ceter i Bridgeport. Featurig Parish i Brookfield o Sat., Oct. speaker Jo Leoetti. There is o 13 at 12 oo i frot of our outdoor statue of Our Lady i celebra- cost! For more ifo or to register, visit: tio of the 101st Aiversary of Our org/formatio-day-for-parish-school-admiistrative-staff. the Su. Brig your rosary ad joi Lady of Fatima ad the Miracle of ST. ROSE SCHOOL TURNS us! Please arrive at 11:45 am. 60 this year! O Sat., Oct. 6 with PROJECT RACHEL is offerig a Eterig Caaa Day a 11 am Mass of Thaksgivig ad a Oktoberfest themed celebratio o the grouds imme- Oct. 13 from 9 am-4 pm for of Prayer ad Healig o Sat., diately followig, oo-4 pm. wome who are sufferig from We expect alumi ad curret a past abortio. Please cotact families to joi us for the celebratio ad look forward to offerig diobpt.org for more ifo ad co or projectrachel@ tours of the school, photos, a DJ/ fidetial registratio. dacig ad crafts/games for the OFF THE STREETS childre as well as great food. A BENEFIT FOR THE HEAR SPEAKER JON HOMELESS: Joe Utterback LEONETTI o Sat., Oct. 6 atioal acclaimed piaist will from 9 am-1 pm at All Saits etertai with blues, ballads, Catholic School i Norwalk talk Broadway ad traditioal jazz o the missio of the family. music from his famous America Cotietal breakfast will be Sogbook. This fudraiser will served. Doors ope at 8:45 am. take place o Sat., Oct. 13 at Cost is $15 per perso or $25 per 6:30 pm at St. Thomas Church couple. Register at: style: BYOB ad sacks. Auditorium i Fairfield. Cabaret Coffee If you have t made your gift, please help us reach our goal today. Please visit: or call Your gift is payable through December 31, Make your gift today! ad dessert provided. Cost: $30. To make reservatios ad obtai tickets please cotact Elle Moore: RAIN DOWN is a icredible gatherig of youth for prayer, fellowship, food, fu, ad Eucharistic Adoratio. This evet is takig place Su., Oct. 28 from 2-8:30 pm at St. Cecilia Church i Stamford ad is ope to youth i grades 8-12! The keyote presetatio ad etertaimet will be provided by the iteratioal performer Toy Meledez. The cost is just $10 per participat. Register today as space is limited! VENDORS WANTED for Christmas Fair at Our Lady of Good Coucil Chapel at 163 Ortega Ave. i Bridgeport o Sat., Nov. 10 from 9 am-4 pm. To reserve a table for $25 call Johaa Ciotti at Proud priters of Fairfield Couty Catholic Please cotact us for a FREE cosultatio, prit samples & quote. We also offer a simple olie quote request form. 205 Sprig Hill Road, Trumbull CT Newspapers Publicatios Shoppers Catalogs Magazies Directories Coupo Books College Course Catalogs Free Stadig Iserts Busiess ad Fiacial Periodicals Advertisig Supplemets

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