The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport is a sizable, vibrant,
and growing family of faith that represents the Catholic Church
in Fairfield County.
Here is
a snapshot of our programs, ministries, and services:
Parishes
The Diocese is comprised of 87
parishes, with at least one in every town in Fairfield
County, including more than 460,000 Catholics (51% of the
population, compared to 23% nationally).
Charities
Catholic
Charities, part of the Diocese, is the largest non-governmental
provider of social services in Fairfield County, providing
nutrition, housing, mental health, adoption, immigration,
and family support services to people of all faiths.
Education
The Diocese is the largest private educator, with over 12,000
students in
39 Catholic schools: 32 elementary, 1 middle, 5
high schools, and the State of Connecticut's only Catholic
special education school. In addition, there are over 35,000
children in 87 religious education programs.
Ethnic
Outreach
The Catholic Church embraces its ethnic
diversity. Masses are celebrated in 15 languages in
the Diocese each week in response to the needs of our local
communities and the growing pockets of newly arrived. In addition,
the Diocese maintains bi-lingual social workers "in the field"
to help the newly-arrived with needs such as legal services.
Faith
Formation
Through the Office
for Pastoral Services, the Diocese fosters, guides,
and supports life-long formation in the Catholic faith through
parishes and at a Diocesan level. This is accomplished by
supporting and building up parish catechetical programs, youth
and young adult ministries, adult education, Christian Initiation,
marriage preparation, family life activities, and formation
programs for teachers, catechists, catechetical leaders, and
clergy.
So
Much More....
The Diocese also supports other evangelizing and social service
initiatives, such as the Cardinal
Shehan Center and McGivney
Center, after-school programs for children of all
faiths in Bridgeport; and campus ministry through the Newman
Center at Western Connecticut State University in
Danbury.
The Diocese
supports vocations
to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.
The Safe
Environments Program has trained 90,000 clergy, employees,
volunteers, Catholic high school students, teachers, parents,
and contractors in the warning signs of abuse and the mandatory
reporting requirements.
In communicating
all the news of the Diocese, every Catholic household is entitled
to receive, free, Fairfield
County Catholic, the newspaper published every
2 weeks.
Sound
and accepted financial practices are only part of our story.
Another view is to experience the work we do every day in
every town in Fairfield County. Come
see the services of the Holy Spirit!
Click
here for more Good News
•
The
Catholic Charities audited financial statements for the years
ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, are presented together with the report
of the independent certified public accounting firm, Grant Thornton.
•
Faith
in the Future financial statements for the fiscal years ended June
30, 2007 and 2006. These financial statements have been included in
the Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation's audited financial
statements, but have not been audited on a stand-alone basis.