ACROSS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY - As 2004 draws to a close, the Diocese of
Bridgeport presents a "Year in Review," looking back
at the many accomplishments over the past 12 months.
It
was a year of achievement and enrichment, a time when the bonds
between clergy and laity were strengthened, and the Church in
Fairfield County advanced its mission of evangelization, values,
and excellence - a mission of outreach to the needy, education
of the young and not-so-young, and fearless proclamation of the
Good News.
Here
is a month-by-month survey of some of the highlights of 2004,
with links for further reading.
January
2004
Bishop
Leads Rosary Procession to Bridgeport Abortion Clinic
As the New Year began, Bishop William E. Lori led an observance
highlighting one of the greatest tragedies of the modern era,
abortion, emphasizing the power of prayer in the face of iniquity.
Hundreds followed the Bishop and other priests in a January
3 march from the Catholic Center in Bridgeport to the
Summit Women's Center, where abortions are performed. The group
prayed the Rosary together and sang"Silent Night" in
front of the clinic.
“In
an age when evil masquerades as good, it is time for us to turn
to God, and beseech His mercy upon our country,” Bishop Lori said,
inviting all Catholics to join him to pray for a restoration of
a culture of life. For more of the story, click
here.
Independent Audit Finds Diocese in "Total Compliance"
with Dallas Charter
As
the National Audit of the Catholic Church in the United States
was released on January 6, the Diocese of Bridgeport
announced it was found "in total compliance" with the
requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children
and Young People and received praise for Diocesan efforts
to protect children and create a Safe Environment – efforts
which exceed Charter requirements.
"We're
moving forward in the right direction, and have a great story
to tell," said Bishop Lori. "The audit report validates
our continuing efforts to protect children and promote a Safe
Environment in our parishes, schools, and other ministries –
efforts that are done with the help of qualified and committed
lay people." For
more of the story, click
here.
Stamford
Parish Signs Historic Agreement to Lease Property, Raise Revenues
to Help Community
In
the largest real estate transaction in the 50-year history of
the Diocese of Bridgeport, Saint John the Evangelist Parish in
Stamford signed on January 8 a ground lease with
a developer to build an office tower on land owned by the parish.
The
99-year ground lease to construct "Trinity Place" will
generate substantial revenue to restore and endow the landmark
buildings of the parish, including the 1875 Gothic Revival church
and the 1850 Greek Revival rectory. Additional revenues will be
managed by special foundations and earmarked to support Catholic
schools in Fairfield County; poorer Catholic parishes in the inner
cities which are struggling to maintain their services to the
faithful; and other charitable endeavors of Saint John the Evangelist
Parish. For more of the story, click
here.
February
2004
Moving
Forward in a Safe Environment, Diocese Announces "John Jay
Data," 50-Year Analysis
On
February 15, the Diocese of Bridgeport released
details of a 50-year analysis of the role of those clergy who
were involved in the abuse crisis. The data showed a very small
number of clergy were involved in this issue. The
analysis surveyed the 1,279 priests who have served in Fairfield
County since the founding of the Diocese of Bridgeport on August
6, 1953. Authorized by the U.S. Catholic Bishops in Article 9
of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,
the analysis is part of a national study of all 195 dioceses and
eparchies in the United States, conducted by the John Jay College
of Criminal Justice.
"The
John Jay analysis for the Diocese of Bridgeport represents an
important step in our desire to let everyone know what took place,"
Bishop Lori said. "Going forward, we have a strict and comprehensive
policy in place to maintain, to the best of our ability, a Safe
Environment for every man, woman, and child in the Diocese." For
more of the story, click
here.
New
Era of Diocesan Communcations Opens as Bishop Launches a Weekly
Radio Program
On
February 22, "Sunday with the Bishop" made
its debut on WICC radio, 600-AM, Bridgeport. The live one-hour
program, featuring interviews with special guests and call-in
questions from listeners, is broadcast every Sunday from 6-7 p.m.
Bishop
Lori regards the radio program as a natural complement to other
award-winning diocesan communication and evangelization efforts,
including the monthly newspaper, Fairfield
County Catholic (which is direct-mailed to every
Catholic home in Fairfield County, nearly 90,000), and the diocesan
website, www.bridgeportdiocese.com. “The
radio show will take us to the next level of awareness and education,”
he predicted. For more of the story, click
here.
March
2004
Major
Conference Explored Human Love and Sexuality
"Human Love in the Divine Plan: Pope John Paul II's 'Theology
of the Body,'" was the focus of a major conference sponsored by
the Diocese of Bridgeport on March 20 and 21 at Sacred
Heart University. Nine distinguished speakers, including George
Weigel, the official papal biographer, discussed the pope's vision
of human love and sexuality, and how the Catholic Church promotes
a culture of life.
The conference
was the largest gathering of eminent speakers in the 50-year history
of the Diocese of Bridgeport. More than 1,000 people from across
Fairfield County attended. For
more of the story, click
here.
April
2004
Landmark
Analysis Documents Impact of Catholic Church on Society
On April 1, Fairfield
County Catholic published a landmark study entitled, "Without
the Church, We Would Be Much Poorer," illustrating that life
without the Catholic Church would be very grim indeed.
Taxes would go up. 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. 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. For more of the story, click
here.
New
Head of Catholic Charities Hails from the Business World
On April 12, Bishop Lori announced the appointment
of Al Barber as Executive Director of Catholic Charities, the
largest private social services agency in Fairfield County. He
succeeds Brian Cronin, who headed Catholic Charities since 1992,
overseeing its expansion into the largest private social service
agency in Fairfield County.
Barber,
who spent 27 years with GE, and was President of CNBC from 1990
until 1993, is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Catholic
Charities. "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," said Bishop Lori. "Al
Barber's leadership and entrepreneurial skills will be of invaluable
assistance as we seek to expand support for our work in the region."
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. For
more of the story, click
here.
Boston Archbishop and Eminent Judge Inspired Legal Profession
at "Red Mass"
Members
of the legal profession from around the Diocese of Bridgeport
attended the Diocese of Bridgeport's annual Red Mass on April
25 at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Stamford. Archbishop
Seán P. O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., of Boston was the principal
celebrant and homilist, and the guest of honor and speaker at
the breakfast following was the Honorable Judge Robert H. Bork,
former circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia.
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. For
more of the story, click
here.
May
2004
Four
Men Ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese
On May 22, at
Saint Augustine Cathedral, Bishop Lori ordained four new priests
for the Diocese of Bridgeport: Fathers Peter Cipriani, Pawel Hrebenko,
Leonel Medeiros, and Terrence Walsh. The Ordination Mass capped
a month of special promotion of vocations to the priesthood and
religious life in all 87 parishes of the Diocese, as well as the
39 Catholic schools.
"These
are four excellent young men," said Father Chris Walsh, director
of vocations for the diocese. "They each bring a varied background
of life experience and service to the Church. From successful
business careers and Catholic high school teaching, to familiarity
with the pastoral needs of our Brazilian and Polish communities,
these four new priests will have tremendous gifts to offer in
the Diocese of Bridgeport." For
more of the story, click
here.
June
2004
Across
Fairfield County, Catholic Faithful Gathered to Pray for Peace
As the struggle in Iraq grew ever
more bitter and tangled, Bishop Lori requested that every parish
in the Diocese of Bridgeport observe a Eucharistic Vigil for Peace
on June 12, the vigil of the Solemnity of the
Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The
Holy Hour followed the normal Sunday vigil Mass in every parish.
"Many
of us have been touched by the deaths of young men and women,
some from this diocese and this state, others in our immediate
or extended families," Bishop Lori said. "Many others
have friends or loved ones serving in the military, and we fear
for their well-being. Whatever we feel about the war and the complex
dilemmas that it poses, it affects all our lives." For
more of the story, click
here.
"Jubilee
House," Habitat Home Built by the Diocese, Blessed and Dedicated
On June 12, surrounded
by volunteers and well-wishers, Bishop Lori blessed and dedicated
"Jubilee House," a Habitat for Humanity project undertaken
as part of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese
of Bridgeport. Since
November 2003, Catholics young and old from across Fairfield County
participated in the construction of the home at 573 Ogden Street
on the East Side of Bridgeport. Anna and Raul Leguizamon and their
two children now own and live in the house.
"Jubilee
House represents a sincere acknowledgment of the need to end substandard
housing in Fairfield County," said Bishop Lori. "Many
of our parishes have participated in Habitat for Humanity. This
is a way to introduce the effort on a wider scale and allow our
'One Family in Faith' to come together to help one family in real
need." For
more of the story, click
here.
Six Men Ordained as Permanent Deacons for the Diocese
At
Saint Augustine Catheral on June 12,
Bishop Lori ordained six men to the permanent diaconate for the
Diocese of Bridgeport: Deacons Robert Salvestrini, William Koniers,
John Linsenmeyer, Robert Morris, Augustin Pierre-Louis, and Joseph
DeBiase.
"Permanent
deacons carry out specific functions within the Church, such as
assisting and preaching at Mass, performing baptisms, and preparing
couples for marriage," said Deacon Anthony J. Detje, director
of diaconate formation for the diocese. "Deacons are active
in ministries in the parishes wherever they are needed. They may
officiate at weddings, wake services, and grave internments,"
Deacon Detje explains. "They may lead popular devotions in
a parish, such as Stations of the Cross. They may visit hospitals
and homebound parishioners, or be involved in youth ministry.
We presently have five deacons who are directors of religious
education in their parishes, and four deacons who are administrative
assistants to pastors." For
more of the story, click
here.
July
and August 2004
Special
Events Invited Catholic Young Adults to Grow in Faith, Together
The thriving Young Adult Ministry
of the Diocese, for Catholics single or married in their 20s and
30s, hosted a series of special events over the summer. First
up was a July 16 bilingual Praise and Worship
evening at the Catholic Center in Bridgeport, featuring Jaime
Cortex and the "Who do you say I am" musical group,
who combined Latin style with a fervent love of God.
Once
a week from July 22 until August 12, "God,
You, & Sex" was the topic of a discussion series with
four young priests: Father Greg Markey, Father Paul Check, Father
Tom Powers, and Father Joe Marcello. As many as 75 people attended
for talks about relationships and sexuality as expressed in Pope
John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" series.
The summer
of enrichment culminated with a Mass of Thanksgiving for Young
Adults, celebrated by Bishop Lori at Saint Augustine Cathedral
on August 21. "This is a Mass of appreciation
for your interest and your dedication to serving the Church,"
Betty Anne Casaretti, director of Young Adult Ministry, told the
group. "You aren't the future of the Church - you are the
Church!" For
more of the story, click
here.
Diocese Calls Meeting to Share News of Land Sale with Greenwich
Neighborhood
On August 2,
the Diocese
hosted a meeting for Greenwich residents on plans to sell 25 acres
of undeveloped surplus land along Stanwich and Cat Rock Roads.
The property, purchased by the Diocese in 1963, borders Saint
Agnes Parish. It has not yet been sold.
The meeting,
open to all residents in the neighborhood, was called in response
to growing concerns and speculation in the neighborhood, and for
the opportunity to set the record straight. For
more of the story, click
here.
September
2004
New
Independent Audit Finds DIocese Remains in Full Compliance with
Dallas "Charter"
On September 24,
it was announced that officials of The Gavin Group had found the
Diocese of Bridgeport to be in full compliance with the requirements
of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
This
was the second audit of the Diocese, and the second time the Diocese
has been found in full compliance.
"I am
very gratified by the results of our latest audit," said
Bishop William E. Lori. "The measures that we have taken
have increased significantly the accountability within our parishes,
schools, and institutions to continue to build a Safe Environment.
I remain grateful to the many qualified and committed lay people
who help to implement our program, and for the cooperation and
enthusiasm of our priests, deacons, religious, lay employees,
and volunteers. As
I have said before, we are moving forward together as a family
of faith in the right direction." For
more of the story, click
here.
Dr.
Margaret Dames, New Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Brings
Experience from Public Sector
On September 28,
Bishop Lori announced the
appointment of Margaret A. Dames, Ed.D., the former Public School
Superintendent in Cornwall, NY, as the new Superintendent of the
39 Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Dr. Dames succeeds
Armand Fabbri.
"I am
delighted to welcome Dr. Dames to the Diocese of Bridgeport,"
said Bishop Lori. "She brings to the service of our Catholic
schools a wealth of experience and significant achievement in
academic excellence, teacher development, and fiscal health. She
is also a product of Catholic schools, and knows first-hand how
vital a faith-based education is for a child." For
more of the story, click
here.
October
2004
Bishop
Joins Lay leaders in issuing a "Call to Service" to
Help Grow the Catholic Schools in Fairfield County
More
than 750 people, including parents, teachers, and concerned Catholics,
gathered at Fairfield University on October 12 for
"Our Children, Our Future: A Renewed Commitment to Catholic
Education in Fairfield County," a special evening which explored
changes in the governance, funding, and curricula for the existing
39 Catholic Schools run by the Diocese of Bridgeport. The Diocese
is committed to not only keeping these schools open and flourishing,
but to enhancing their currently high levels of academic achievement
and faith-based education, and making the dream of Catholic education
a reality for every child.
"A
Catholic education is a parent's best partner in helping to prepare
young people for life," said Bishop Lori in his keynote address.
"A Catholic education helps form strong moral character and
raise up future leaders for the Church and our society."
In a bold
move, Bishop Lori and key lay leaders of the new "Cathedral
Cluster Board" issued a call to service, inviting lay people
from across Fairfield County to donate their time and talents
by serving on the new Board of Directors of their local Catholic
School, one more example of the close cooperation between the
Church and the laity. Postcards were passed out soliciting information,
and interested Catholics can also complete the form online.
For
more of the story, click
here.
"Villa Maria Guadalupe Life Center" Opens in Stamford,
thanks to the Knights of Columbus
Stamford
is poised to become an international destination for pro-life
retreats and outreach, thanks to a unique partnership between
the Knights of Columbus, the Sisters of Life, and the Diocese
of Bridgeport. On October 20, Bishop Lori blessed and dedicated
the new "Villa Maria Guadalupe Life Center" on the grounds
of the former Villa Maria Retreat Center. The property was purchased
by the Knights, who
invited the Sisters of Life, a religious community dedicated to
protecting and advancing a sense of the sacredness of all human
life, to offer retreats for families and married couples, for
women facing problem pregnancies, for pro-life leaders, and for
Knights and their families.
"The
Villa Maria Guadalupe Life Center will be a place where people,
young and old, single and married, can gather to take seriously
the call of Pope John Paul II that we Catholic people become a
people of life and for life," said Bishop Lori. "What
a wonderful blessing for the Catholic faithful of Fairfield County,
especially during October, which the Catholic Church designates
as 'Respect Life Month.'" For
more of the story, click
here.
November
2004
Catholics
Encouraged to Inform Their Consciences Before They Vote on Election
Day
As
Election Day, November 2, approached, Catholics
were reminded of the importance of an informed conscience on the
issues, which could be nurtured with the help of Voters' Guides
and documents of the Church. For
more of the story, click
here.
William Pitt Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to Bridgeport's
Catholic Schools
The
Stamford-based William H. Pitt Foundation awarded a grant of $100,000
to the Diocese of Bridgeport’s Cathedral Education Cluster,
which encompasses the six Catholic elementary schools in the City
of Bridgeport. Of that amount, $90,000 is earmarked for scholarships
for newly-enrolled students, and $10,000 will support professional
development for teachers.
The Cathedral
Cluster, formed this past summer, is the prototype for the new
diocesan schools structure planned to update the regionalization
model initiated 14 years ago. The Cluster Board is the model for
boards that will be established across Fairfield County to assist
schools with marketing, fundraising, and budgeting.
Catholics
in Diocese Mobilize to Help Disaster Victims in Haiti
Several
hurricanes have brought death and destruction to Haiti, leaving
thousands of people homeless and destroying crops and livestock.
In response to the crisis, the Haitian community in Fairfield
County has embarked on several initiatives to provide relief for
this stricken country.
“We,
the community abroad, are rallying to help Haitians in times of
crisis,” said Father Jean Ridley Julien, director of the
Haitian-American Catholic Center in Stamford. Father Julien chairs
the Connecticut Relief Effort for Haiti (CRE-Haiti), which has
joined with other concerned groups, asking churches — Catholic
and non- Catholic alike — to assist the victims of Hurricane
Jeanne. “Our
goal is to raise needed resources to support efforts in Haiti.
If we fail to act now, thousands more will die as a result of
lack of assistance.” For
more of the story, click
here.
Holy Hours for Vocations Begin in Special Observance of "Year
of the Eucharist"
Starting
on the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, and
running through October 2005, parishes are invited
by Bishop Lori to host Holy Hours of Eucharistic Adoration, with
a special intention for increased vocations to the priesthood
and the religious life. The
priest alumni of Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence, where perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration has been hosted since 1994, are organizing
this observance, led by the two new Assistant Directors of Vocations,
Father Peter Lynch and Father Joseph Marcello.
At each holy
hour, a special monstrance will be used. Purchased in Rome with
the help of the Knights of Columbus, the monstrance is a reproduction
of an 18th-century Baroque monstrance, standing 30 inches high.
It has been blessed by Pope John Paul II, who has proclaimed the
special "Year of the Eucharist."
“We
expect that each holy hour will include exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament and benediction, special prayers for priestly and religious
vocations, and ample time for quiet prayer and reflection,”
said Father Marcello. “Newcomers to Adoration will find
that prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament is peaceful
and grace-filled, and hopefully will bear great fruit for the
Church and vocations.” For
more of the story, click
here.
December
2004
Bishop
Lori Joins Burt Wolf for Special Edition of PBS Program on Our
Lady of Guadalupe
Following
celebrations of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December
12, and in anticipation of the Christmas giving season,
Catholics in Fairfield County have the opportunity to own a copy
of a limited-edition PBS program on Our Lady of Guadalupe. "Sacred
Places: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City" is part of a
PBS series hosted by Burt Wolf, renowned travel and food writer.
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and with a special introduction
by Bishop Lori, the one-hour program explores the history of the
holy site of the Patroness of the Americas, as well as the culture,
art, architecture, foods, and festivals of the Mexican capital.
"The
Holy Father called Our Lady of Guadalupe the 'Star of the first
and new evangelization,' asking that 'her maternal intercession
guide the Church in America, obtaining the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit so that the new evangelization may yield a splendid flowering
of Christian life,'" Bishop Lori said. "Through greater
devotion to Our Lady and her intercession, may we all grow in
our own faith, and seek to bring others closer to God."
For
more of the story, click
here.
Catholic
Charities' Programs and Services Prepare to Make Christmas Brighter
for Needy Individuals and Families
Christmas
at Catholic Charities is a partnership between individual donors,
parishes, and other groups that come forward to serve the poor
during the Christmas season. “The
goal of each of our offices or programs is to serve our needy
guests and to celebrate Christmas,” said Al Barber, executive
director. “Any surplus gifts are distributed within the
program or shared with other Catholic Charities’ offices.
This is a very special time which reminds us of our mission to
serve the less fortunate among us, day in and day out.”
Across Fairfield
County, people will be fed, and needy families will receive clothing
and other essentials of life. Bishop Lori visited the Thomas Merton
Center in Bridgeport and the New Covenant House of Hospitality
in Stamford - two of the largest soup kitchens in the state -
on December 17.
For a
listing of additional events and happenings of the past 12 months
and beyond, visit the Media
Archive.
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