Press Releases
April, 2004

Catholics invited to join Bishop Lori for Solemn Observance of Holy Week and Easter

April 25 "Red Mass" for Catholic members of the legal profession will welcome Boston Archbishop Seán O'Malley and Judge Robert Bork

Search begins for new Principal of Immaculate High School in Danbury

Al Barber to succeed Brian Cronin as Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County

Not "A Wonderful Life": Without the Church, we would all be much poorer

Vatican issues new Instruction on the Eucharist and the proper celebration of the Sacrament

BRIDGEPORT - Catholics from around Fairfield County are invited to join Bishop William E. Lori for the observance of Holy Week and Easter.

Holy Week is the week preceding Easter, beginning with Palm (Passion) Sunday. For Christians around the world, it is one of the most solemn times of the year, the conclusion of the 40-day penitential season of Lent. Holy Week marks the Catholic Church's annual celebration of the events of Jesus Christ's Passion (suffering), Death, and Resurrection.

All are welcome to attend the following Masses and observances with Bishop Lori, in Bridgeport and in Greenwich. Members of the media are invited to attend.

CAPTION: HOLY THURSDAY - Following the example of Jesus, Bishop William E. Lori (at right) washes the feet of 12 brother priests at Saint Augustine Cathedral. The Holy Thursday Mass, which recall's Jesus' actions at the Last Supper, begins the Easter Triduum, the three-day observance leading to the joy of Easter.

• Mass, 10 a.m., Saint Augustine Cathedral, 359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport Blessing and distribution of palms at Mass.

• Chrism Mass, 3 p.m., Saint Augustine Cathedral, 359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport Blessing of the sacred oils (chrism) and renewal by priests of promises made at their ordination.

• Mass, 7 p.m., Saint Augustine Cathedral, 359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport. Solemn Pontifical Mass of the Lord’s Supper and washing of the disciples’ feet. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 8 p.m. until Midnight.

• Liturgy, 3 p.m., Saint Augustine Cathedral, 359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport Solemn Pontifical Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord • Passion, 7 p.m., Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, 391 Ogden Street, Bridgeport Reenactment of the Passion and Burial of Jesus Christ

• Easter Vigil Mass, 8 p.m., Saint Augustine Cathedral, 359 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport

• Mass, 10 a.m., Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, 4 Riverside Ave., Greenwich

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Back to Breaking News

STAMFORD - Members of the legal profession from around the Diocese of Bridgeport have been invited to attend the Diocese of Bridgeport's annual Red Mass, to be celebrated on Sunday, April 25, at 10 a.m. at Saint John the Evangelist Parish, 279 Atlantic Street, Stamford.

Archbishop Seán P. O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., of Boston will be the principal celebrant and homilist. Bishop William E. Lori, S.T.D., will concelebrate. Following the Mass, a breakfast will be held at the Stamford Marriott Hotel. The guest of honor and speaker will be the Honorable Judge Robert H. Bork, former circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Accredited members of the media are invited to cover both the Mass and the breakfast. Please call (203) 372-4301, ext. 452, to register.

The Red Mass takes its name from two sources: the red vestments worn by the celebrant, signifying the Holy Spirit, and the scarlet robes traditionally worn by judges in the Middle Ages. During the Red Mass, lawyers, judges, legal professionals, and other protectors and administrators of the law, rededicate themselves to live and work as the Holy Spirit asks them to do, in the fullness of their faith.

Archbishop O'Malley
A native of Lakewood, OH, Archbishop O'Malley was professed in the Capuchin Order and ordained in 1970. He holds a master's degree in religious education and a doctorate in Spanish and Portuguese Literature, both from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he taught from 1969 to 1973. He served as episcopal vicar for the Hispanic, Portuguese and Haitian communities of the Archdiocese of Washington, and executive director of the archdiocesan Office of Social Ministry.

In 1984, he was ordained Co-adjutor Bishop of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and was appointed bishop the following year. In 1992 he was appointed Bishop of Fall River, MA, and in 2002, Bishop of Palm Beach, FL. In July 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed him Archbishop of Boston, succeeding Bernard Cardinal Law.

Archbishop O'Malley's motto, "Quodcumque dixerit facite," is taken from John 2:5 and the Virgin Mary's statement at the wedding feast of Cana, "Do whatever He tells you," which, Archbishop O'Malley explains, sums up the totality of the human commitment to Christ.

Judge Bork
Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Judge Bork is one of America's leading legal scholars and political essayists. He earned bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Chicago and served in the Marine Corps. He taught constitutional law at Yale University, and has argued 41 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Bork served as solicitor general and acting attorney general under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He was appointed to the U. S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit by President Ronald Reagan and served from 1982-1988. The U.S. Senate's rejection of President Reagan's nomination of Judge Bork to the Supreme Court in 1987 was a source of great controversy.

Judge Bork is the author of two bestselling books, Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline and The Tempting of America: The Political Seduction of the Law. He lives in Washington, where he is a senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute.

(Attendance at the Red Mass is open to all, but tickets must be purchased for the breakfast. For more information, call 869-5421 or e-mail smcstc@optonline.net)

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BRIDGEPORT, Friday, April 30, 2004 – Joseph Gerics, Ed.D, principal of Immaculate High School in Danbury since 1996, has announced his resignation, effective July 30. Dr. Gerics has accepted a position as new headmaster of Xavier High School in Manhattan, NY.

Armand R. Fabbri, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport, said that Geric’s resignation was accepted with understanding and support.

"I am proud to acknowledge Dr. Gerics’ friendship and accomplishments as a Catholic lay leader over the past eight years as principal of Immaculate High School," Fabbri says. "During his stay he has been most effective in board organization, development, and curriculum growth, especially in the area of the arts. As a committed Catholic layman, Dr. Gerics has exhibited the kind of leadership that is absolutely vital to the future of the Catholic Church and Catholic education."

A search committee will soon begin the process of selecting a new Principal for Immaculate High School, which has 415 students and 36 faculty members. To obtain a job description and information regarding qualifications and compensation, interested candidates may contact:

Mr. Armand Fabbri
Superintendent of Schools
Diocese of Bridgeport
238 Jewett Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203) 372-4301, ext 380.
Application deadline: May 28. 2004

Immaculate High School is one of five Catholic high schools in Fairfield County administered by the Diocese of Bridgeport

For more information about Immaculate High School, click here.

For more information about the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport, click here.

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For a high resolution picture of the group, click here. For a high resolution portrait of Al Barber, click here. For a high resolution portrait of Brian Cronin, click here.

BRIDGEPORT, Monday, April 12, 2004 - Mr. Al Barber has been named by Bishop William E. Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, to run Catholic Charities, the largest private social services agency in Fairfield County, it was announced today. The appointment is effective July 1.

CAPTION: BISHOP WILLIAM E. LORI joins Brian Cronin (left) of New Fairfield, the current Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, and his successor, Al Barber of New Canaan. (Photo by Pat Hennessy)

Mr. Barber will follow Mr. Brian A. Cronin, who is retiring as Executive Director of the organization.

Catholic Charities in Fairfield County includes 27 programs with a budget of more than $10 million. Its programs include Food & Nutrition services, Case Management to the chronic mentally ill, Behavioral Health and counseling programs, inner-city soup kitchens, Senior Services, and a wide range of services to women and children in Fairfield County.

"A Wonderful Transition"
"This moment represents a wonderful transition in the leadership of Catholic Charities," said Bishop Lori. "Brian Cronin has served the agency with distinction for 40 years. He has left an incredible legacy of service to Al Barber, who, as a prominent businessman, has served on the Catholic Charities' board and acted as a key volunteer for many other Catholic causes in the region."

"We need to do still more in Fairfield County and my goal is to have Catholic Charities here be a model for the rest of the county," Bishop Lori added. "Brian Cronin has created the platform to do that and Al Barber is the right man to now take us forward."

Leadership and Entrepreneurial Skills
In appointing Al Barber to his new post, Bishop Lori said that Mr. Barber's commitment and active volunteerism as a Catholic layman are a match for his considerable experience as a national business leader.

Mr. Barber spent 27 years with GE, and was President of CNBC from 1990 until 1993 (see biography below).

"Al Barber has been a long-time friend of Catholic Charities and many other non-profit groups in the community," Bishop Lori said. "I am delighted to welcome another qualified and committed layperson to the service of the Church and her mission to the poor, the needy, and families in crisis. Al Barber's leadership and entrepreneurial skills will be of invaluable assistance as we seek to expand support for our work in the region."

"I am thrilled with the opportunity to lead an organization that has served so many for so long in Fairfield County," Mr. Barber said. "Working with Bishop Lori, a marvelous shepherd and very good friend, is exciting and inspiring."

Largest Social Services Agency in Fairfield County
Mr. Cronin, who announced his retirement earlier in the year, has served as Executive Director of Catholic Charities since 1992 (see biography below). Under his direction, Charities has grown into the largest private social service agency in Fairfield County, with 27 programs and a budget of over $10 million.

"We have accomplished a great deal together since I was privileged to take over leadership of Catholic Charities," Mr. Cronin said. "I am grateful to the staff and board for their many contributions, and I am certain that Al Barber will provide dynamic leadership in the future."

"Brian Cronin led the agency into a new era of growth and coordinated services to the most vulnerable in our region," Bishop Lori said. "Under his leadership the agency's annual operating budget grew almost five-fold. During a time of cutbacks in social services and consolidation of programs due to managed care constraints, Brian Cronin preserved and expanded the traditional multi-service agency in the Diocese."

The Bishop noted that, as a faith-based agency with a mission rooted in Catholic social teaching, Catholic Charities serves people of all faiths in the region.

"Faith has remained the guiding force behind the work of Catholic Charities. Without proselytizing, Catholic Charities attends to the spiritual needs of those we assist and helps people remove obstacles toward experiencing God's love in their lives. It truly represents the Gospel message in action."

Catholic Charities of Fairfield County
Last year, Catholic Charities of Fairfield County served 488,384 meals to the poor, elderly, and homeless through its senior nutrition and soup kitchen programs. The Catholic Family Services behavioral health network provided 8,314 counseling sessions, and the new Emergency Services program touched the of 15,636 residents through community education programs, health, and safety seminars and materials, and direct financial assistance. It also provides day care, adoption, and life skills training.

Catholic Charities is the sponsor of a network of Catholic Family Services offices as well as New Covenant House of Hospitality in Stamford and Thomas Merton House of Hospitality in Bridgeport, two of the state's largest and most active soup kitchens. Its Community Programs include Senior Nutrition, which provides communal sites and home delivered meals for senior citizens in the Stamford Norwalk area; New Heights Club House in Danbury for the chronically mentally ill, and Case Management Services to the mentally ill in the greater Danbury area.

The agency receives its $10 million funding from a wide range of sources including the Diocese of Bridgeport, United Way, state and federal grants, and private foundations, including the Inner City Foundation for Charity & Education and the Fairfield County Foundation.

Catholic Charities of Fairfield County has 24 offices throughout Fairfield County and sponsors 27 programs open to individuals and families of all faiths. Its main office is located at 238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, in the Catholic Center. For information or a copy of the Annual Report, call 372-4301 or visit www.ccfc-ct.org.

Biography of Al Barber
A native of Rye, NY, Al Barber, 58, is the former Chief Financial Officer of NBC and President of CNBC.

He began his business career at General Electric in 1967 in Pittsfield, MA. In 1984, he came to Bridgeport, where he joined GE Housewares and Audio Division. In 1985, he was named President of GE Railcar Services and, in 1987, was tapped to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NBC. In 1990, he was named President of CNBC, responsible for the start-up cable service. Under his leadership, CNBC acquired the Financial News Network.

In 1994, Mr. Barber left GE to serve as Chairman and CEO of Stuart Entertainment, the world's leading supplier to Bingo and charitable gaming markets with $130 million in sales. In 2001, he was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of E-Media, an Internet leader in broadband delivery of integrated media streaming and hosting applications. He oversaw the company merger with Zerotree Technologies, and eventual sale to Streaming Media Corporation.

Most recently, Mr. Barber has been President of Corporate Lodging Holdings, a provider of custom lodging solutions to Corporate America. A graduate of Holy Cross College with a B.A. in Economics, Mr. Barber has always been active in the community. His many civic commitments include service to Malta House for single mothers, Saint Catherine's Academy, the diocesan school for children with special needs in Bridgeport, South Avenue Cottage for disabled adults; Family and Children's agency; the Thomas Merton Center, and Saint Camillus Nursing Home in Stamford.

Mr. Barber is a member of the Order of Malta. He and his wife, Gina, have five children and one grandchild. They are members of Saint Aloysius Parish in New Canaan.

Biography of Brian Cronin
A native of Worcester, MA, Brian Cronin, 62, joined Catholic Family Services as a Social Work intern in l965, and was named Executive Director of the Danbury office in 1968. In addition to managing CFS' Family Service and Community Mental Health divisions, Mr. Cronin served as administrator of Augustana Homes, now Bishop Curtis Homes, the 100 unit senior housing complex in Bethel, and of the 44 unit Congregate Program also in Bethel.

The Saint Anselm's College graduate earned his Masters in Social Work from Fordham University School of Social Work. He also has studied at Assumption College and at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he participated in a management seminar for executive of voluntary agencies.

Mr. Cronin is the chairman of the board of the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies and President of Network Connecticut, the managed care subsidiary of Catholic Charities in the state of Connecticut.

Mr. Cronin is the past president and present member of the Danbury Lions Club, an incorporator and present member of the Board of Directors of the Hanahoe Children's Pediatric Clinic of Danbury, and past vice president of the Western Connecticut Area on Aging (WCAA). He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), the National Conference of Catholic Charities, and the State of Connecticut Conference of Catholic Charities.

He and his wife, Lee, are members of Saint Edward the Confessor Parish in New Fairfield. They are the parents of three grown daughters and have two grandchildren.

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By PAT HENNESSY
Fairfield County Catholic, April 2004 edition

In the classic Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) is visited by an angel, who shows him what the world would be like if he had never been born. Bailey discovers that it is not a rosy picture and that he has taken an awful lot for granted.

Sadly, most Catholics take a lot for granted, too. Fifty minutes of Mass on Sunday is all the contact many Catholics have – or want – with the Church. Oh, yes, the young kids go to religious ed, and the parish might have a youth group. Faithful Eucharistic ministers visit the sick and homebound. They see signs for a blood pressure screening occasionally. End of story.

Right now, as Catholics are being asked to contribute to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, it might be useful to imagine for a minute what life in Fairfield County would be like if Catholic Church activity stopped at the parish borders.

Grim Outlook
Like the terrible vision shown to George Bailey, life without the Catholic Church would be very grim indeed.

For one, taxes would go up, big time. Social services would shrink all over Fairfield Country.

Because education takes up 80 percent of the budget in most towns, park openings, road repair, and recreation programs would suffer as towns struggled to absorb an influx of students from Catholic schools. Increased taxes would force some seniors to give up their homes. Stressed families would find it harder to make ends meet, just as the safety net of Church-assisted soup kitchens and food pantries disappeared. The counseling offered by Catholic Family Services would go with them.

Bleak though that sounds, it’s only the beginning. The poor and the vulnerable would suffer most without the presence of the Church. Seniors on fixed income would have no one to speak up for them in the legislature as their prescription drug coverage is cut. No one would speak forcefully for the rights of immigrants and refugees. The imbedded anti-Catholic attitude of much of our prevailing culture would go unchallenged, denying the value of a human life, destroying the sanctity of marriage, and invading the privacy of confession.

Numbers testify to the accuracy of this harsh scenario.

Catholic Schools
Regional elementary schools and diocesan high schools provide an excellent education for 11,326 students. Without these schools, the cost on Fairfield County’s cities and towns would be tremendous.

“The average per pupil spending in Connecticut is $10,800 per child,” says Matthew Boyle, executive director of the Connecticut Federation of Catholic School Parents. Of that number, statewide, local taxpayers pay 61 percent; the state takes up 35 percent, and the federal government kicks in 4 percent.

Averages can be deceiving. In the town of Fairfield, for example, local taxpayers cover 95 percent of the per-pupil costs of public education, with the state funding only 3.5 percent and the federal government only 1.5 percent. “Only 83 percent of the school-age students in Fairfield attend public schools,” Boyle adds. “Without Catholic schools, there would be a huge impact on the local taxpayers.”

Because Catholic schools are regionalized, even towns that have no Catholic school within their border would be hard hit as they picked up the cost of additional students. That’s only part of the problem. Many towns, like Norwalk, which has 800 students at All Saints Regional Elementary School, or Trumbull, which is home to two elementary schools and Saint Joseph High School, would face even higher charges.

“Every town is already maxed out in terms of the number of kids in the schools,” Boyle says. “Without Catholic schools, towns would have to add on new additions, and some would have to find the funding for new schools.”

It recently cost $17 million to build a new middle school in one Fairfield County town. That number would be repeated in one community after another if Catholic schools disappeared.

Social Concerns
“Our treasure supports the ministries of Catholic Charities through Church-sponsored fundraisers like Operation Rice Bowl, the Loaves & Fishes campaign, and the Annual Bishop’s Appeal,” says Edie Cassidy, the director of social concerns. Catholic Charities of Fairfield County staffs soup kitchens, cares for preschoolers, and provides meals and assistance to the elderly. Last year its programs helped almost 700 men and women make the transition from welfare to work. “Catholic Charities is the largest provider of social services in the country after the government,” Cassidy says. “They are also the largest county-wide in Fairfield County.”

Charitable assistance could continue without the support of the Catholic Church. Federal and state governments might pick up more support for the poor and marginalized, at the cost of an increase in taxes, although the government has shown exactly the opposite trend – cutting funds for the poor, and expecting the Church to pick up the services.

CAPTION: THE FIRST OF THE BISHOP CURTIS HOMES, then called Augustana Homes, was dedicated in Bethel in 1969. “When they were built, there was no senior housing at any expense,” says Grace Culhane, who has lived there since 1989. “They were showcases.”
Over her lifetime, Culhane graduated cum laude from Syracuse University, NY, taught at Danbury High School, and worked in the drafting department at Sikorsky Aircraft during World War II. On March 6, family and friends gathered in the community room to surprise Culhane on her 100th birthday.
A quilt made by her cousin includes family photos and a border embrodered with significant inventions developed during the span of her life, including tea bags, cake mixes, television, and – of course – computers.
The diocese now has 604 units of senior housing, including Teresian Towers and Carmel Ridge in Trumbull. An additional 48 units at Bishop Curtis Homes, East Bridgeport, are due to open this spring. Seniors pay 30 percent of gross income for the subsidized housing.
“If these weren’t here, people would have to apply to the local city housing authorities, or move in with their kids,” says Larry Arzyla, director of the Bishop Curtis Homes.

Cassidy notes that Protestant congregations also reach out with great generosity to the poor, offering community suppers, counseling for troubled families, and assistance to women in crisis pregnancies.

“There are community suppers at Protestant churches almost every night in our cities,” Cassidy observes, “but our soup kitchens go beyond the very basic serving of meals. They have developed into much more sophisticated service centers. They offer medical clinics, after-school programs, family support, job-training programs, and referrals to other social services.”

Government funds contribute nothing toward the soup kitchens. “Our soup kitchens depend solely on the generosity of volunteers and people who donate food,” says Brian Cronin, executive director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County. The total number of meals prepared, served, or distributed by Catholic Charities was more than 488,000 last year. “The value of meals served at our soup kitchens is over $1 million a year,” Cronin adds.

Each year, Catholic Charities counsels more than 15,630 people, serves the elderly through nutrition, outreach, and practical assistance, and assists families and adults through behavioral health sessions, socialization, and support services.

“We’re a very efficient service provider,” says Cassidy. “There is no possible way the state could supply the range of services we offer.”

Eldercare
There are three Catholic nursing homes in Fairfield County: Pope John Paul II in Danbury, Saint Camillus in Stamford, and Saint Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull. Together they accommodate 568 frail elderly.

The majority of the cost of nursing home care is funded through Medicare and Medicaid programs. “State reimbursement amounts to about 85 cents on the dollar of total cost,” says Michael Bird, director of the Bridgeport Diocesan Health Care Corporation. “The rest is covered through private payment and the generosity of benefactors.”

Increases in funding for Medicare and Medicaid have not kept up with inflation, Bird adds. “We don’t directly participate in the Bishop’s Appeal” he notes, “but the support of the diocese has afforded us the opportunity to remain true to our mission while the shortfalls in the Medicare and Medicaid programs get worked out, at a time when a dozen nursing homes statewide have had to close.”

The loss of nursing homes does not carry a financial burden, but the emotional financial burden, but the emotional cost to families could be enormous. “People would be sent wherever an available bed might be,” says Bird. “They might be relocated a number of miles from their family.”

Assistance to the elderly goes beyond assuring the stability of nursing homes. “Bishop Lori is a tremendous advocate for the elderly in the Capitol,” Bird says. “He’ll go up to Hartford and meet with legislators all day long on these issues. They hold a great respect for him. He’s really made a difference for us up there.”

Crisis Pregnancies
Young women who choose not to have an abortion often find themselves living in untenable situations, and it can be very expensive to provide the continuum of care that young mothers need. Malta House, sponsored by the Knights and Dames of Malta of Fairfield County, and Family Stages under Catholic Charities, provide a tremendous amount of wrap-around services to single mothers, including job training, child care, domestic violence services, mental health services, and transitional housing.

“If you have no support and you’re a teenager, it’s tough,” Cassidy says. Fear, lack of resources, and family and social pressure can force mothers to consider the “choice” of an abortion.

No dollar figure can speak of the tragedy both to the unborn child and to its mother.

Refugees and Immigrants
The Church assists new immigrants making their home in Fairfield County, and often speaks for them. “Due to laws passed last year, immigrant children – in this country legally – can’t sign up for health insurance until they have been in the country for five years,” says Cassidy. “The Catholic Church is their voice. This legislative session, the Action for Justice Network is working as a coalition with the Connecticut Catholic Conference and other people of good will, including hospitals and agencies involved with children, to allow immigrant children to once again get medical insurance.”

Without medical insurance, an emergency room becomes the primary care facility for poor people. “It’s enormously more expensive to treat problems in the emergency rooms than in a doctor’s office,” says Cassidy. “Hospitals have to balance their budgets, and I don’t know how they do that. It ends up costing all of us, one way or another.”

Advocacy in the Legislature
Through the Connecticut Catholic Conference, the Church advocates on the state and federal level for affordable housing, protects the rights of immigrants, and brings the voice of faith to legislation concerning the needs of senior citizens.

The CenterEdge project, sponsored by the four Catholic dioceses in the state, looks at the impact of how we develop in Connecticut: sprawl and its effect on property taxes, education, air and water quality, and housing. While environmental groups consider the effect of development on rivers and coastline, the Church not only provides a forum where small groups can connect with one another on shared interests, but it also speaks powerfully on the human impact of uncontrolled development on decaying urban centers, stressed suburbs, and vanishing rural towns.

All Catholics, not just clergy or official spokespersons, are called to be a part of legislative advocacy.

“Catholics in Connecticut represent 43 percent of the population,” says Dr. Marie T. Hilliard, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference. “No organization does more to foster the consistent life ethic than the Catholic Church. The Church is a leader in ministering to all, including the most disenfranchised prisoners or refugees, and those suffering from post-abortion trauma.”

It is crucial, Dr. Hilliard says, for Catholics to speak up for their beliefs. “Government cannot be value neutral: some values will prevail,” she says. “In the void created by our hesitancy to step forward, other values – power, money, and special interest – will become the ‘religion’ of government. We are called to exercise faithful citizenship.”

Diocesan Ministries
As Catholics across Fairfield County consider making a gift to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, they become aware of many additional ministries undertaken by the Church in Fairfield County.

Consider, for example, the diocesan vocations program. The priesthood itself requires the efforts of the wider Church. A family, and a parish, can nurture the call to a priestly vocation, but the Church as a whole trains young men for the priesthood. Think of the financial burden a family assumes if a son or daughter wants to become a doctor. The bill can run well over $200,000. Doctors expect to recoup that investment many times over during their careers. Priests expect to invest their lifetimes in service to others.

The Church supports sick and disabled priests, and cares for priests who have retired. The Church makes chaplains available at hospitals and prisons, and funds priests and religious engaged in campus ministry. In this diocese, some funding for religious Sisters in parish ministry comes through the assistance of the Appeal.

Lastly, communications efforts would disappear without the Church. There would be no Fairfield County Catholic, which is mailed directly to every Catholic household (and is the only Catholic reading for many). There would be no diocesan website, and no Sunday radio program.

At Mass on Sundays, Catholics hear the word of God’s love, and are strengthened by the Eucharist to bring that love to the world. If the Church were limited to Sunday Mass, the practical effect of God’s love would never reach the wider world. Not only would services would be cut and taxes raised – our entire society would be poorer.

VATICAN CITY - The centrality of the Eucharist in Catholic life, and norms to insure the proper celebration of the sacrament, are at the heart of "Redemptionis Sacramentum: On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist," issued by the Holy See's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

An Instruction is a document which provides guidance on how to properly implement the Church's law. This new Instruction is a follow-up to the encyclical Ecclesia De Eucharistia, published by Pope John Paul II on Holy Thursday, April 17, 2003. In that encyclical, the Holy Father noted that the mystery of the Eucharist "is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal ordering would be obscured."

The title, Sacrament of Redemption, is taken from the opening words of the Instruction: “In the Most Holy Eucharist, Mother Church with steadfast faith acknowledges the Sacrament of redemption, joyfully takes it to herself, celebrates it and reveres it in adoration, proclaiming the death of Christ Jesus and confessing his Resurrection until he comes in glory to hand over, as unconquered Lord and Ruler, eternal Priest and King of the Universe, a kingdom of truth and life to the immense majesty of the Almighty Father.”

The preamble to the Instruction begins by recalling how Christ has given authority over the liturgy to his Church, that the truth concerning him found in the liturgy might be preserved. Thus great care should be taken so that the liturgy is celebrated according to the norms of the liturgical books, the Instruction says.

Sections are devoted to such questions as who regulates the sacred liturgy, how the participation of the lay faithful can be encouraged, the way Mass is properly celebrated, and the distribution of Holy Communion.

The Instruction makes no change in already existing liturgical law. The document does re-emphasize, however, the mandate of the Second Vatican Council that the full, conscious, and active participation of the laity is the goal to be considered before all else in the reform of the sacred liturgy.

Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), welcomed the Instruction. "In response to our Holy Father's mandate that bishops do all in their power to foster an appreciation of the inestimable treasure which is the Eucharistic mystery, the Congregation has provided us with a carefully developed tool to foster the authentic celebration of the Mass," Bishop Gregory said.

To read Redemptionis Sacramentum on the Vatican website, click here.

To read Redemptionis Sacramentum on the U.S. Bishops' website, click here.

Thirty Questions on the Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum
compiled by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

1. What is the translation of the title of the instruction “Redemptionis Sacramentum”?
The title, Sacrament of Redemption, is taken from the opening words of the instruction: “In the Most Holy Eucharist, Mother Church with steadfast faith acknowledges the Sacrament of redemption, joyfully takes it to herself, celebrates it and reveres it in adoration, proclaiming the death of Christ Jesus and confessing his Resurrection until he comes in glory to hand over, as unconquered Lord and Ruler, eternal Priest and King of the Universe, a kingdom of truth and life to the immense majesty of the Almighty Father.”

2. What is an “instruction”?
An instruction is a document of a Roman Congregation which provides guidance on how to properly implement the Church’s law. In this case, the instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum is intended to assist Bishops in the implementation of the Missale Romanum or Roman Missal and those rites which pertain to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside Mass (see Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass). The third edition of the Missale Romanum was published by the authority of Pope John Paul II in 2002 and is now being implemented by Bishops throughout the world.

3. Why is this document being published?
On April 17, 2003, Pope John Paul II published an encyclical letter on the Most Holy Eucharist, entitled Ecclesia De Eucharistia. In that letter, the Pope called upon the Roman Congregations to develop an instruction explaining the deeper level of liturgical norms in the light of recent abuses of liturgical law throughout the world.

4. Why are abuses of liturgical norms of such great concern?
In his encyclical letter last year, the Holy Father noted that the Mystery of the Eucharist “is too great for anyone to permit himself to treat according to his own whim, so that its sacredness and its universal ordering would be obscured.” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, no. 52). The instruction expands on this by noting that “the one who acts thus by giving free reign to his own inclinations, even if he is a Priest, injures the substantial unity of the Roman Rite, which is to be vigorously preserved, and becomes responsible for actions that are in no way consistent with the hunger and thirst for the living God that is experienced by people today.” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, no.11)

5. Does the instruction recommend anything beyond the observance of laws?
Yes. The instruction urges that efforts be made to encourage an appreciation of “the sense of deep wonder before the mystery of faith” which is at the heart of an interior participation [in the Liturgy,] best fostered by a regular participation in the Liturgy of the Hours, sacramentals, and popular devotions. The instruction also points out that there is a pressing need for the biblical and liturgical formation of the People of God.

6. Is this instruction aimed only at liturgical abuses in the United States?
No. The instruction was developed after consultation among Bishops and experts throughout the world. The abuses of liturgical law addressed by the instruction occur in many parts of the world and may not all be present in the dioceses of the United States of America. The instruction provides an opportunity for all Bishops, priests, and liturgical experts to conduct an “examination of conscience” on how faithfully we have implemented the revised Eucharistic rites.

7. Are there specific concerns that are being addressed?
The document addresses a wide range of abuses, or violations of liturgical law in regard to the celebration of Mass and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Sections are devoted to such questions as who regulates the sacred liturgy, how the participation of the lay faithful can be encouraged, the way Mass is properly celebrated, the distribution of Holy Communion, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

8. How does this affect the role of the laity at Mass?
The instruction makes no change in already existing liturgical law. There is, therefore, no change in this regard. The document does re-emphasize, however, the mandate of the Second Vatican Council some forty years ago that the full, conscious, and active participation of the laity is the goal to be considered before all else in the reform of the sacred liturgy.

9. What does it say about altar girls?
The instruction recalls that servers of both genders are allowed at the discretion of the Diocesan Bishop and in accord with the provisions of liturgical law.

10. The document states “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.” Does this mean that politicians who hold positions antithetical to the church cannot be denied communion if they approach the altar?
Such matters are decided by the Diocesan Bishop in conformity with Canon Law and other documents of the Holy See.

11. Will I see specific changes in my parish?
Hopefully, the instruction will serve as an occasion for all parishes to examine carefully ways in which they can more faithfully celebrate the Eucharist according to the liturgical books. In those places where careful attention to the Liturgy has been given in the past, the instruction will not be as necessary as in other places.

12. What is the acceptable posture for receiving Communion? What if someone takes another posture?
The instruction recalls that the Roman Missal directs Conferences of Bishops to determine the proper posture for receiving Holy Communion. The Bishops of the United States have decided that the norm for receiving Holy Communion is standing, but that those who kneel to receive Holy Communion should not be denied the Sacrament.

13. How do these changes relate to the renewal of the liturgy called for by the Second Vatican Council? Are we going back?
The instruction is based strictly on the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum concilium) and the reformed liturgical books produced in response to the mandate of the Second Vatican Council. It was the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council who first taught that “regulation of the liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, accordingly as law determines, on the Bishop.” (SC, no. 22§1) Therefore, “no other person, not even if he is a priest, may on his own add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy.” (SC, no. 22§3)

14. Who in a diocese decides what is appropriate liturgical practice?
The Diocesan Bishop, as moderator of the liturgical life of his diocese, is responsible for the implementation of the liturgical reform. He is often assisted in this task by liturgical experts on a Liturgical Commission or in an Office for Worship.

15. There seems to be a concern for not confusing liturgical roles? What does this mean?
The instruction is seeking to implement the Constitution on the Liturgy, no. 28: “In liturgical celebrations each one, minister or layperson, who has an office to perform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to that office by the nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy.”

16. What roles are available to laity? Can any lay person be a liturgical minister?
The instruction notes that lay persons “rightly and laudably” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 43) serve in a variety of ministries at Mass, such as acolyte, lector, sacristan, cantor, etc… Like all ministries, lay ministries should be the subject of careful preparation and catechesis.

17. What about the Liturgy of the Word?
The instruction reminds us that the proclamation of the Scriptures be well prepared and explained and liturgical texts and songs are to be carefully selected. The liturgical texts should not be emended and the Liturgy of the Word should be celebrated immediately before the Liturgy of the Eucharist and in the same place. Scriptural readings are to be chosen according to the norms and non-biblical readings are never to be substituted.

18. Who can read the Gospel and deliver a homily at Mass?
The proclamation of the Gospel and the homily are reserved to the ordained, while a lay person is prohibited from preaching at any time during Mass, even in the cases of a seminarian or pastoral assistant. Instructions or testimonies by a lay person, however, may be given after the Prayer after Communion for a serious reason, but the homily should not be omitted. Such matters are regulated by the Diocesan Bishop.

19. Does the instruction change the Offertory Procession?
No. The Roman Missal states, and the instruction reiterates, that the gifts presented by the faithful are received by the priest or deacon and should consist only of bread and wine and actual money and gifts for the poor or the Church. The instruction does clarify the law in noting that “Money…just as other contributions for the poor, should be placed in an appropriate place which should be away from the eucharistic table (altar).” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, no. 70).

20. What abuses are described concerning the Eucharistic prayer?
The instruction describes as abuses the use of unauthorized Eucharistic Prayers or the division of the Eucharistic Prayer among deacons or lay persons, the insertion of unauthorized acclamations, and the breaking of the host at the words of institution.

21. Does this document change the Sign of Peace?
No. The instruction simply reiterates the Roman Missal in saying that the sign of peace is given before Holy Communion in a sober manner by each person present and to those standing around them.

22. Should the priest regularly go to the tabernacle before the distribution of Holy Communion?
No. The instruction cites the Roman Missal in reminding us that because the faithful should ordinarily receive only hosts consecrated at the Mass which they are attending, the priest should not usually go to the tabernacle for already consecrated hosts to be used in the distribution of Holy Communion.

23. Must concelebrating priests receive Holy Communion under both kinds?
Yes. The instruction states that they should receive Holy Communion under both kinds from the Eucharist consecrated at that Mass.

24. What procedure is to be followed when more than one chalice is needed for the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds?
When more than one chalice is needed for the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds, several smaller chalices may be placed on the altar at the preparation of the gifts. The instruction prohibits the use of “flagons” or other such vessels from which the precious Blood is poured. While the use of flagons is a widespread practice in the United States, the instruction directs that they no longer be used in order to reduce the risk of spilling of the Precious Blood.

25. What happens to the Sacred Species after the distribution of Holy Communion?
The pouring of the Precious Blood down the sacrarium or onto the ground is prohibited in the strongest of terms, while the instruction notes that whatever remains of the Precious Blood after Holy Communion is consumed by the priest or other ministers, and the extra consecrated hosts are to be reserved in the tabernacle.

26. Why the emphasis on the title “Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion” instead of “Eucharistic Minister”?
The full title of this ministry more accurately reflects its purpose, which is to distribute Holy Communion in the absence of an ordinary minister of Holy Communion. The instruction notes that Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion never perform their ministry in the presence of a sufficient number of ordinary ministers of Holy Communion.

27. How many ways can one receive Communion? In the hand, on the tongue, by initinction?
The consecrated host may be received on the tongue or in the hand at the discretion of the individual communicant. The instruction also recommends that, when possible, the Precious Blood be offered to the faithful by drinking from the chalice or by receiving on the tongue a consecrated host which has been dipped in the Precious Blood by the minister. Self-communication by the faithful is never permitted.

28. Is it acceptable to genuflect before receiving Communion?
The Roman Missal directs that Bishops are to choose a sign of veneration for the faithful when they receive Holy Communion standing. While the sign of veneration chosen by the Bishops of the United States is a simple bow of head, no person should ever be denied Holy Communion because they have made a different gesture.

29. What about Eucharistic exposition?
Eucharistic exposition should be celebrated in every parish at least annually and, with the guidance of the Bishop, even perpetual adoration may take place in those places where there is a sufficient number of the faithful to continually worship the exposed Sacrament. “It is highly recommended that at least in the cities and the larger towns, the diocesan Bishop should designate a church building for perpetual adoration…” (SR, no. 140)

30. What does the instruction state about First Confession?
The instruction reminds us that First Communion is always preceded by First Penance, except in cases of necessity. The celebration of First Communion is recommended between the second and sixth Sundays of Easter, on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, or at another time, but not on Holy Thursday, apart from exceptional cases.

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