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November, 2007
Michael
C. Culhane of Middlebury is named the new Executive Director of the Connecticut
Catholic Conference
Groundbreaking
for "Catholic Charities Homes," affordable housing for homeless families
beside the Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport, will be held on Wednesday, November
7
2007
recipients of the Saint Augustine Medal of Service will be honored by the Diocese
of Bridgeport on Saturday, November 3, at Saint Augustine Cathedral
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| Nine
Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport qualify for nomination as 2008 "Blue
Ribbon Schools," placing them in the top 10 percent of all schools in the
U.S. |
ACROSS
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Thursday, November 15, 2007 - To be named a "Blue
Ribbon School" is the most coveted education award in the United
States. This year, nine of the 33 Catholic elementary schools in the
Diocese of Bridgeport are candidates for this U.S. Department of Education
award in 2008, having passed a crucial hurdle by qualifying for nomination
status.Only the top 10 percent of all schools - public and private -
in the U.S. achieve this status. Congratulations
to the following Catholic Schools in Fairfield County:
CAPTION:
Principals of "Blue Ribbon" nominated Catholic Schools celebrate
their achievement with their Pastors. (Photo by Pat Hennessy)
Highest
Achievement
"These
nine schools attained the highest level of academic achievement in reading
and mathematics comparatively across the country," explains John Cook,
deputy superintendent of schools for the diocese. "Several schools
actually scored more than ten points higher than the cut-off. This
award represents the outstanding collaborative work of principals,
teachers, students, and parents." "In
these times when we read about so many failing schools, this is good
news indeed!"
writes Bishop William E. Lori in his current Fairfield County
Catholic
column: click here. No
Child Left Behind Program The
"No
Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools Program" was created
by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize elementary and secondary
schools whose students achieve at very high levels. Test data is collected
from national achievement tests, including the Iowa Test administered
by the Diocese of Bridgeport.Having
reached this level, the schools will now participate in the final selection
process, which takes a full school year. Award winners will be announced
in September 2008. "We're positively
thrilled by this news," says Dr. Margaret Dames, superintendent
of schools.
"Not only have we achieved excellence in approximately one-third of our
schools but, in fact, students in all of our Catholic schools read at
or above grade level."
Teamwork
Principals
at all the schools are quick to share credit for their achievement with
parents, teachers, and the students themselves. Saint Rose of Lima's scores
were so outstanding that every single student in grades 3-8 placed in
the top 10 percent on the Iowa Test. "I
think it's due to our cohesive faculty," says Principal Mary Maloney. "We
have high expectations of ourselves." Teachers
frequently come in to work one-on-one with students who need extra help,
and Saint Rose offers after-school tutoring and a homework club. Beyond
that, cross-curriculum work and monthly meeting for professional development
have produced a close-knit team. "We can
redesign our programs as needed," Maloney explains. "We follow the
diocesan curriculum map. If we see a math class coming in with students
who can benefit from advanced math, we'll follow the eighth-grade curriculum
map. We always look at the needs of the students." Linda
Dunn, principal of Saint Jude School, also praised her dedicated
faculty.
"My teachers are constantly striving to improve themselves professionally,
and I have a community of parents who work with the teachers to help
students achieve their potential," she says. Dunn
points out that, at Saint Jude, excellence starts in the pre-K
and kindergarten classes, long before students get to the level of
the Iowa Test. "We
have instituted individual academic plans, including teachers, parents,
and the students themselves," she explains. "The goals are measurable,
specific, attainable, and timely." (For
more information on the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport,
click here.)
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| Michael
C. Culhane of Middlebury is named the new Executive Director of the Connecticut
Catholic Conference |
 HARTFORD,
Thursday, November 8, 2007 - Connecticut's
Catholic Bishops are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Carroll
Culhane of Middlebury as the new Executive Director of the Connecticut
Catholic Conference.
The
Connecticut Catholic Conference is the public policy and advocacy office of the
Catholic Bishops in Connecticut. The Board of Directors of the Conference includes
the bishops of the four dioceses of Connecticut (Archdiocese of Hartford, Dioceses
of Bridgeport and Norwich, and the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford). Archbishop
Henry J. Mansell, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, chairs the Connecticut
Catholic Conference.
Public
Policy Advocacy
In
this position, Mr. Culhane will be responsible for public policy advocacy as it
pertains to Catholic social teaching. He looks looks forward to this new responsibility.
"I
am truly honored to be appointed as the Executive Director of the Connecticut
Catholic Conference by Archbishop Mansell and the other Bishops of Connecticut,"
Culhane says. "I look forward with great enthusiasm to dealing with the
issues of importance to the Catholic Church and society at large in Connecticut."
Extensive
Experience Archbishop
Mansell applauds this appointment. "After an extensive search, the Connecticut
Catholic Conference is most fortunate to find the right person for this very important
position," he says. "Michael Culhane will no doubt lead the way in
effectively interfacing between Connecticut's hundreds of thousands of Catholics
and their political representatives in State Government. His extensive experience
as a mediator will serve us well in conveying, and fostering, an understanding
of all those truths fundamental to our following of the Gospel in contemporary
society. Truly living the social teachings of the Church is tantamount to living
a life of faith. We welcome Michael Culhane and look forward to the many great
things he will accomplish."
Culhane is a
prominent Waterbury arbitrator. He is a member of the Finance Council of Saint
John of the Cross Parish in Middlebury. He has given years of service to the Archdiocese
of Hartford: as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities, Inc.,
and as a Board Member of both Saint Mary's Hospital Foundation and of the Office
of Urban Affairs. He has also served as Chairman of the March of Dimes Campaign
in Waterbury. Michael received the 2007 Family Champion of the Year Award from
the Connecticut Association of Family Services Agencies.
Culhane
is married for 29 years to his beloved wife, Mary. The have a son who is a junior
at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. (For
more information on the Connecticut Catholic Conference and to sign up for the
Connecticut Catholic Advocacy Network to receive news and information on
legislative issues, click
here.)
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Groundbreaking
for "Catholic Charities Homes," affordable housing for homeless families
beside the Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport, will be held on Wednesday, November
7
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BRIDGEPORT
- In a bold move to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing in
the Park City, Catholic Charities will break ground this week for 22 new housing
units.
Groundbreaking
ceremonies for "Catholic Charities Homes" will be held on Wednesday,
November 7 at 11:00 a.m. at the Thomas Merton Center, 43 Madison
Avenue, Bridgeport.
Accredited
members of the media are invited to attend.
Scheduled
to attend the groundbreaking are: Bishop William E. Lori, Larry Kluetsch,
Executive Director, Mutual Housing Association of SWCT Inc.; Mayor John Fabrizi,
City of Bridgeport; Representative, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority; Representative,
United Way of Eastern Fairfield County; Jeanie Tisdale, Board Member, Catholic
Charities; Al Barber, President/COO, Catholic Charities; and Bill Hoey,
VP & Director of Housing, Catholic Charities
Unwavering
Commitment to the Poor and Homeless
"Catholic
Charities Homes" (rendering above) is the latest example of the unwavering
commitment of the Catholic Church to helping the poor and homeless, supporting
families, and investing in the inner city.
Catholic
Charities Homes will include 22 units (16 apartments and 6 townhouses) for families
on the campus of the Thomas Merton Center, home to Connecticut's largest soup
kitchen. The larger building will be constructed over the present parking lot
adjoining the former church building. The townhouses will be built around the
block at 152-168 Catherine Street.
The
$6.8 million project, expected to house over 100 people, will be a joint venture
with Mutual Housing Association of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc. Work will begin
immediately with a completion date set for early spring 2008.
CAPTION: Looking
over plans at the construction site, with the Thomas Merton Center in the
background, are Catholic Charities CEO Al Barber,
Merton Center Board Member Jeanie Tisdale,
and Bill Hoey, who oversees housing efforts for Catholic Charities. (Photo by
John Glover)
Permanent
Housing for Families
The
project will provide two-and three-bedroom apartments for the working poor and
others (of all faiths), permanent supportive housing for families that are homeless
or at risk of homelessness and have a head-of-household who is disabled by mental
illness, substance abuse, or both. Mutual Housing Association will be the owner
of record for these newly-developed units, and support services will be provided
through Catholic Charities in a collaborative and cooperative relationship. Mutual
Housing Association will also be the on-site property manager.
Funding
is provided through the following Community Partners: Connecticut Housing
Finance Authority (CHFA); Next Steps Initiative & Housing Tax Credit Contribution Program
(HTCC); State of CT Department of Social Services (DSS); State of CT Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS); City of Bridgeport HOME funds
through U.S. Housing & Urban Development ( HUD); United Illuminating (HTCC
Investor); Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH); United Way of Eastern
Fairfield County; and TD Banknorth.
Commitment
to Bridgeport
Catholic
Charities Homes is the latest in a series of housing
projects initiated by Catholic Charities in Bridgeport, including Conger
House, supportive housing for 16 individuals on Washington Park; two Habitat for
Humanity projects; and 23 scattered-site and permanent housing units throughout
the city.
Affordable
housing is but one example of the Catholic Church's vibrant presence in the City
of Bridgeport, including:
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parish communities, including the "Mother Church" of the Diocese
of Bridgeport, Saint Augustine Cathedral, are beacons of hope and faith,
especially for new arrivals from a wide array of countries, such as Brazil,
Haiti, Vietnam, Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico.
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The
Catholic Church sponsors 6
elementary schools (Saint Ambrose, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Augustine,
Saint Peter, Saint Raphael) and Kolbe-Cathedral High School, where 100 percent of graduates attend college.
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Catholic
Charities feeds the hungry and counsels those in need at the Thomas
Merton Center and at a comprehensive counseling facility based at the Catholic Center on Jewett Avenue.
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Three
Bishop Curtis Homes offer safe, affordable housing to seniors.
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The Cardinal Shehan Center,
the McGivney Center,
and Kolbe House offer enrichment and activities for youth, teens, and young
adults.
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Dedicated
Priest Chaplains and Communities of Religious Sisters, such as the
Missionaries of Charity, bring God's loving presence to the infirm in hospitals
and nursing homes.
(Catholic
Charities is a leading provider of nutrition, mental health, adoption, and family
support services to people of all faiths in Fairfield County. For more information,
call 372-4301, ext. 391, or click
here.)
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2007
recipients of the Saint Augustine Medal of Service will be honored by the Diocese
of Bridgeport on Saturday, November 3, at Saint Augustine Cathedral
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 BRIDGEPORT
– The third annual
presentation of the Saint Augustine Medals of Service of the Diocese of
Bridgeport will be held on Saturday, November 3, at 1 p.m. at Saint Augustine
Cathedral.
Bishop
William Lori will bestow medals (shown at right) on an individual or couple
from each of the 87 parishes in Fairfield County who have demonstrated extraordinary
service in parish ministry, administration, or some other significant volunteer
role. Medals will also honor service to Catholic Charities and to the diocese.
Nominations of
medal recipients were made by Pastors and department heads.
Admission
to the prayer service and medals ceremony is by ticket only, distributed
to family members and friends of medal recipients.
Accredited
members of the media are invited to attend.
Taking
Jesus' Teaching to Heart
“Our honorees make it abundantly clear that they have taken to heart Jesus’ teaching
that true greatness comes when we serve the needs of others,” says Bishop William
E. Lori, who will conferr the medals.
“These
dedicated volunteers and leaders give of themselves, not for their own satisfaction,
but to build up and strengthen the Church by serving their parishes, assisting
in the Church’s charitable and educational mission, or by helping the diocese
find the resources necessary for the Church’s work. They are a sterling example
to each of us. God bless them all!”
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