BRIDGEPORT, Monday, April 14, 2008 - Bishop
William E. Lori announced today that 14 priests of the
Diocese of Bridgeport have received Papal Honors from
Pope Benedict XVI, carrying with them the title of "Monsignor."
Monsignors are recognized as part of the
Papal Household, and entitled to wear a distinctive cassock
trimmed in red. There are three levels: (in ascending
order) Chaplain to His Holiness, Prelate of Honor to His
Holiness, and Protonotary Apostolic. In today's announcement,
several existing Monsignors have moved up a rank or two.
Celebration of the Priesthood
"On behalf of the entire family of faith
of the Diocese of Bridgeport, I offer my warmest congratulations
and appreciation to my brother priests," said Bishop Lori.
"Papal Honors like these - which arrive on the eve of
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to our country - are really
a celebration of the priesthood. In their own way, each
of our Monsignors are role models in how live out their
lives as priests with fidelity and joy, offering loving
and dedicated service to their parishes, special ministries,
and the Diocese as a whole."
A special Evening Prayer celebration for
the new Monsignors will take place on Sunday, June 8,
at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. Details
to follow.
The honored priests are:
Monsignor J. Peter
Cullen, V.G., P.A.
Msgr. J. Peter Cullen, Vicar General
of the Diocese of Bridgeport and Pastor of Saint Michael
the Archangel Parish in Greenwich, has been named Protonotary
Apostolic (P.A.). He previously held the honor
of Chaplain to His Holiness, which he received in 1991.
Msgr. Cullen, 69, was born in Dorchester,
MA. He graduated from Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore,
MD, and was ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral in 1967.
After an assignment as Parochial Vicar at Saint Mary Parish
in Stamford, he studied at the University of Ponce, Puerto
Rico, and became one of the first priests in this diocese
trained for Hispanic ministry.
Msgr. Cullen served as pastor of Saint Mary
Parish and Saint Peter Parish, both in Bridgeport, and
of Saint Aloysius Parish in New Canaan. He has been Diocesan
Director of the Cursillo movement, Chaplain of
the Bridgeport Fire Department, Diocesan Consultor, and
Vicar of Development. He was Moderator of the Curia for
the Diocese of Bridgeport before becoming Pastor of Saint
Michael's in 2007.
Monsignor Jerald
A. Doyle, J.C.D.
Msgr. Jerald A. Doyle, Episcopal Vicar
for Administration of the Diocese of Bridgeport and Judicial
Vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal, has been named Prelate
of Honor. He previously held the honor of Chaplain
to His Holiness, which he received in 1996.
Msgr. Doyle, 64, was born and raised in
Bridgeport. He graduated from Saint Thomas Seminary in
Bloomfield and completed his theological studies at the
Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained
in Saint Peter's Basilica in 1969. He holds a Doctorate
in Canon Law from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.
Msgr. Doyle's first appointment was as Parochial
Vicar at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Bridgeport. He has
also served at Saint Stephen Parish in Trumbull, Saint
Jerome Parish in Norwalk, and Our Lady of Grace Parish
in Stratford, where he currently resides.
Msgr. Doyle is a member of the College of
Consultors. He has served in the Diocesan Tribunal since
1974 becoming Judical Vicar for the Tribunal, a position
he still holds, in 1992. He was named Episcopal Vicar
for Administration in 2007.
Monsignor Thomas
J. Driscoll, V.G., P.A.
Msgr. Thomas J. Driscoll, Vicar General
and Pastor of Notre Dame Parish in Easton, has been named
Protonotary Apostolic. He
previously held the honor of Prelate of Honor to His Holiness,
which he received in 1991.
Born and raised in Danbury, Msgr. Driscoll,
71, graduated from Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield
and completed his theological studies at the Pontifical
North American College in Rome. He was ordained in Saint
Peter's Basilica in 1961. He holds a licentiate in Moral
Theology from the Academia Alfonsiana in Rome.
His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar
of Saint James Parish in Stratford. He was Spiritual Director
of Cathedral Girls' High School (now Kolbe-Cathedral)
in Bridgeport, and was Pastor of Saint Luke Parish in
Westport. He has been Director of the Ministry of Ecumenism
and Interreligious Affairs, a Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal,
Director of Pastoral Planning, and a Diocesan Consultor
before becoming Chancellor of the Diocese, a position
he held from 1990-99.
Msgr. Driscoll was named Vicar General in
1997, and became Pastor of Notre Dame in 2002.
Monsignor Blase
M. Gintoli
Msgr. Blase M. Gintoli,, Pastor of Our
Lady of the Assumption Parish in Fairfield, has been
named a Prelate of Honor.
He previously held the honor of Chaplain to His Holiness,
which he received in 1991.
A native of Bridgeport, Msgr. Gintoli, 66,
entered Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, and completed
his seminary studies at Saint Francis Seminary in Loretto,
PA. He was ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral in 1969.
His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar
at Saint Peter Parish in Danbury. He served at Holy Family
Parish in Fairfield and Saint Lawrence Parish in Shelton
before becoming Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Bridgeport.
He became Pastor of Assumption Parish in 1992.
Monsignor Matthew
Bernelli
Msgr. Matthew Bernelli, Pastor of Saint
Mary Parish in Bridgeport, has been named a Prelate
of Honor.
Born in Mondovi, Italy, Msgr. Bernelli,
70, graduated from the Istituto Emigano in Mexico and
studied philosophy in Camino Monastery in Allesandria,
Italy. He completed his theological studies at the College
of Saint Anselm in Rome. He was ordained in 1964.
Msgr. Bernelli served as a missionary priest
in Guatemala for ten years before coming to the Diocese
of Bridgeport as Parochial Vicar of Saint Raphael Parish
in Bridgeport in 1975. He served at Saint Joseph Parish
in South Norwalk and Saint Ambrose Parish in Bridgeport
before becoming Pastor of Saint Mary's in 1980. He is
currently Territorial Vicar of Vicariate IV, which includes
Bridgeport, Trumbull, Monroe, Shelton, and Stratford.
Monsignor Lawrence
J. Carroll
Msgr. Lawrence J. Carroll, Pastor of
Saint Pius
X Parish in Fairfield, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Born in Bridgeport, Msgr. Carroll, 53, attended
Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore, MD, and completed his
theological studies at Christ the King Seminary in East
Aurora, NY. He was ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral
in 1981.
Msgr. Carroll's first assignment was as
Parochial Vicar of Saint Theresa Parish in Trumbull. He
served at Saint Pius, Saint Michael the Archangel Parish
in Greenwich, and Saint James Parish in Stratford.
Msgr. Carroll joined the faculty of Notre
Dame High School in Fairfield in 1984, and served as assistant
principal from 1994-97, before becoming Pastor of Saint
Joseph Parish in Brookfield in 1997. He was named Pastor
of Saint Pius in 2002.
Monsignor Ernest
T. Esposito
Msgr. Ernest T. Esposito, Episcopal Vicar
for Religious for the Diocese of Bridgeport and Chaplain
of Saint Joseph's Manor in Trumbull, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. Esposito, 73, grew up in Mount Vernon,
NY. He graduated from Our Lady of Loretto Seminary in
Loretto, PA, and was ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral
in 1967. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at
Holy Rosary Parish in Bridgeport.
Msgr. Esposito has served at Saint Mary,
Saint Charles, and Saint Raphael Parishes, all in Bridgeport,
and Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Pius X Parishes
in Fairfield. He was named Pastor of Saint Peter Parish
in Bridgeport in 1985. He was Director of Family Life/Respect
Life for the Diocese from 1991-2006, has been on the college
of Consultors, and is currently Director of Continuing
Education for Clergy for the Diocese. He was named Chaplain
of Saint Joseph's Manor in 2007.
Monsignor Frank
C. McGrath
Msgr. Frank C. McGrath, Pastor of Saint
John Parish in Darien, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. McGrath, 63, grew up in Stratford.
He completed his seminary studies at Saint Mary Seminary
in Baltimore, MD, and was ordained in Saint Augustine
Cathedral in 1970. He was Parochial Vicar of Saint Augustine
Cathedral in Bridgeport and Saint Cecilia Parish in Stamford,
and Chaplain of the Cathedral Girls' High School (now
Kolbe Cathedral) in Bridgeport.
Msgr. McGrath was named Pastor of Our Lady
of the Assumption Parish in Westport in 1993. He served
as Director of Clergy Personnel for the Diocese from 1999-2006.
He became Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Stratford,
serving there until receiving his current appointment
as Pastor of Saint John's in 2006. He is also Chaplain
of the Legatus Chapter of Fairfield County.
Monsignor Walter
C. Orlowski
Msgr. Walter C. Orlowski, Pastor of Saint
Matthew Parish in Norwalk, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. Orlowski, 55, was born in Bridgeport
and grew up in Fairfield. He completed his seminary studies
at Mount Saint Mary Seminary in Emmittsburg, MD, and was
ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral in 1979. His first
assignment was as Parochial Vicar at Saint Augustine Cathedral
in Bridgeport.
Msgr. Orlowski served at Saint Mary Parish
in Bethel and Saint Luke Parish in Westport before being
named Pastor of Saint Matthew's in 1994. He is a member
of the College of Consultors.
Monsignor Kevin
T. Royal
Msgr. Kevin T. Royal, Episcopal Vicar
for Clergy of the Diocese of Bridgeport, has been named
Chaplain to His Holiness.
Msgr. Royal, 55, grew up in Stratford. He
completed his theological studies at the Pontifical North
American College in Rome, and was ordained in Saint Augustine
Cathedral in 1985. He holds a licentiate in Biblical Theology
from the Gregorian University in Rome.
Msgr. Royal served as Parochial Vicar at
Saint Mary Parish in Stamford, Saint Catherine of Siena
Parish in Riverside, and Saint Aloysius Parish in New
Canaan before becoming Rector of the Saint John Fisher
Seminary Residence in Stamford in 1996. He has been Director
of the Diocesan Office of Ecumenical & Interreligious
Affairs, and is Director of Continuing Formation of Priests
and Coordinator for Ministry to the Newly Ordained.
Msgr. Royal became Director of Clergy Personnel
(now Episcopal Vicar for Clergy) in 2006.
Monsignor Andrew
G. Varga
Msgr. Andrew G. Varga, Pastor of Saint
Luke Parish in Westport, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. Varga, 55, grew up in Stratford.
He graduated from Fairfield University, and completed
his seminary studies at the Theological College of The
Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was
ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral in 1978. He also
completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Catholic University.
Msgr. Varga's first assignment was as Parochial
Vicar at Saint Matthew Parish in Norwalk. He served at
Saint Theresa Parish in Trumbull and Saint Leo Parish
in Stamford before becoming Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish
in Brookfield in 1992. He has been a member of the College
of Consultors for the Diocese, served as chair of the
Diocesan Liturgical Commission, and an instructor in the
Permanent Diaconate Formation Program. Msgr. Varga was
named pastor of Saint Luke's in 1997.
Monsignor Christopher
J. Walsh, Ph.D.
Msgr. Christopher J. Walsh, Pastor of
Saint
Joseph Parish in Shelton, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. Walsh, 53, was born in St. Louis,
MO. He graduated from Fairfield University, and completed
his seminary studies at the Theological College of The
Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He was
ordained in Saint Augustine Cathedral in 1987. Msgr. Walsh
holds a Doctorate in Theology from Catholic University.
Msgr. Walsh's first appointment was as Parochial
Vicar of Saint Patrick Parish in Redding. He served at
Saint Lawrence Parish in Shelton before becoming Director
of the Diocesan Office for Communications and Editor of
the Fairfield County Catholic in 1992.
In 1998, Msgr. Walsh was named Spiritual
Director of the Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence in
Stamford and Director for Vocations for the Diocese of
Bridgeport. He received his current appointment as Pastor
of Saint Joseph's in 2005.
Monsignor Robert
E. Weiss
Msgr. Robert E. Weiss, Pastor of Saint
Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. Weiss, 61, grew up in Florida. He
completed his seminary studies at Saint Bernard Seminary
in Rochester, NY, and was ordained in Saint Christopher
Church, North Chili, NY, in 1973. Coming to the Diocese
of Bridgeport in 1976, he served as parochial vicar at
Saint Andrew Parish in Bridgeport, Saint Leo Parish in
Stamford, and Saint Jude Parish in Monroe, before becoming
Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Shelton in 1990.
Msgr. Weiss was Spiritual Director for Stamford
Catholic High School (now Trinity Catholic), has been
a member of the college of Consultors, and was Territorial
Vicar of Vicariate V. He was appointed Pastor of Saint
Rose in 1999.
Monsignor Dariusz
J. Zielonka
Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka, Vice Chancellor
of the Diocese of Bridgeport and Priest Secretary to Bishop
Lori, has been named Chaplain
to His Holiness.
Msgr. Zielonka, 39, was born in Piotrkow
Tryb, Poland. He entered the diocesan seminary in Lodz,
Poland, and completed his theological studies at Saint
Charles Borrowmeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA. He was ordained
in Saint Augustine Cathedral in 1995.
Msgr. Zielonka served as Parochial Vicar
at Saint James Parish in Stratford and Saint Aloysius
Parish in New Canaan. A member of the College of Consultors,
he was appointed Vice Chancellor and Priest Secretary
in 2002.
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