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Introduction
Often I come to St.
Theresa Parish for the celebration of wedding jubilees of couples
from all around the Diocese of Bridgeport. Some couples celebrate
as many as 70 years of wedded life and others as few as 15.
When
I began to study and pray over today’s Scripture readings, I
almost thought I was coming here for another of those wedding
anniversary Masses. The Book of Genesis shows how God, at the
dawn of creation, instituted the marriage of man and woman and
inscribed it on the human heart. In the Gospel Jesus renews the
institution of marriage not only by teaching what the Heavenly
Father intended when he instituted marriage but also by giving
us the Holy Spirit to live the vocation of marriage as a sign
of his love for the Church and for the good of society.
If I
were preaching the wedding jubilee Mass that’s probably what
I’d say. On second thought, however, it occurred to me how apt
these readings are for the 75th Anniversary of St. Theresa Parish,
which is, after all, a family of faith founded on the marriage
between Christ and the Church. In fact, during every Mass celebrated
in this beautiful church and its predecessor over this past
three quarters of a century – Christ has poured out his life
for us in love; Christ has joined this parish family and the
whole church to Himself in love; Christ has invited every member
of this parish family to a wedding feast in which we share
in his life-giving Word and in the strength and joy of his
Body and Blood.
How beautifully this truth is illustrated by
the mosaic that adorns the altar of sacrifice. Based on the
Book of Revelation, it depicts the Lamb of God recumbent on
the Book of Life with seven seals, who calls out to us in love:
“Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb.”
The Fruits
of the Lamb’s Nuptial Supper
And what has been the fruits of
that sacrificial love; what has come from that mystical marriage
between Christ and the Church, reenacted at every Mass? Can
we not see the abundant new life that has been begotten in
love during this three-quarters of a century? Think of all
the children and adults reborn at the baptismal font by water
and the Holy Spirit!
Think of all the children who have been
instructed in the faith at St. Theresa School and the religious
education program – as gratefully we recall the service of
the School Sisters of Notre Dame and more recently the Sisters
Minor of Mary Immaculate. Reflect with joy on thousands of
children who received the Bread of Life for the first time
in this parish and all those who recovered that new life through
the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Imagine the Confirmations,
year after year, in which young people are given the strength
of the Holy Spirit to live as members of the Church. Consider
as well those who entered eternity with confidence from this
Parish because of the love they experienced in the Anointing
of the Sick, the Sacrament of Penance, Viaticum, and the prayers
for the dying. With confidence that they now share in the wedding
feast of heaven, we pray for these deceased parishioners –
many of them your relatives and friends.
A Family Parish
Today and throughout its history, St. Theresa has
always been a ‘family’ parish. The love of Christ has been reflected
and symbolized literally in thousands of married couples and
their families – couples who try their best to live the faith,
form their children in faith, and strengthen us all by homes
and hearths that reflect Christ’s love for us. The heart of any
parish is its families and all that you, its families do to
educate young people in the ways of faith, knowledge, and life-skills
in a culture that is anything but family-friendly. Crucial
to the health of any parish is love of husbands and wives,
moms and dads, who create loving homes that are domestic churches,
churches in miniature, homes that radiate the love of Christ
to all who are in need. And every parish is vibrant when it
has families who cherish family members in their advancing
years and who exhibit a deep respect for human life and for
moral truth. This is what really makes for a great parish and
for that I thank you!
From families in this parish have come
priestly vocations: Msgr. James Cuneo; Fr. David Leopold; Fr.
George Lucas, CSC; Fr. Joseph Palacino, Fr. Joseph Marcello:
This parish also has three seminarians: Deacon Michael Novajosky;
Colin Nykasa; and John Connaughton – and I know there are more
vocations to come, and a number of young women who have entered
religious life as well as number of men who have become permanent
deacons. We thank you and we thank your families for your these
vocations so critical to the life and health of the Church
now and in the future.
With hearts filled with gratitude we
recall the priests who have served this parish, beginning in
1934 with the first pastor, Father Robert Killian, and Msgr.
Bartholomew Skelly, pastor from 1949-67, who built this Church,
and of course, we welcome back Msgr. DeProfio, your Pastor
for 32 years! At the same time we welcome back Msgr. Peter
Dora, a great pastor of souls and an angel of mercy to the
sick & dying at Stamford Hospital! And with him we thank
the many parochial vicars here present tonight, many of whom
got their first experience of priestly ministry in this parish.
Tonight we want to thank most warmly the 7th Pastor of St.
Theresa Parish, Father Richard Murphy and with him Fr. Dunn,
Fr. Flynn, and Fr. Cipriani ― Deacon Sal Clarizio.
Let us also
remember in love Fr. Joseph Linck who served here as a parochial
vicar and was taken from us, according to human reckoning,
much too soon but who is praying with us and for us from his
place in eternity. It is his chalice that I use tonight in
the celebration of this liturgy.
Conclusion
Tonight let us
not be content only to celebrate the past, glorious as it is.
The many works of this parish ― its ministries were on display
during the entrance procession. I thank you who volunteer your
time to make St. Theresa’s a community of faith, worship, and
service.
With the prayers of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
to guide and strengthen us, may each of us resolve to open
our hearts to the Holy Spirit, to fall more deeply in love
with Christ and to continue strengthening and building up this
parish family for the glory of God, for our salvation, and
for the good of this entire community.
May God bless us and
keep us in his love!
Return to the Writings of Bishop
Lori
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