September, 2003

Remembering 9/11

Cardinal Avery Dulles, Eminent Theologian and Scholar, to deliver Jubilee Lecture

"Faith is the distinctive mark of a Christian," Cardinal Dulles says

New "Courage" Apostolate will offer strength to be chaste

Bishop issues call to holiness and service at historic Golden Jubilee Mass

Catholic School Students Earn High Scores on Iowa Tests

Class of 2003 Graduates Attend College, Win Scholarships in Record Numbers

New Principals, Administrators Ready for School Year in Four Cities

Saint Catherine Academy: Connecticut's Only Catholic School for Special Needs Children

BRIDGEPORT - Two special Masses are planned in September to remember those who died on September 11, 2001 and recognize the men and women in uniform who risk their lives every day as police officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel.

Blue Mass of the Diocese of Bridgeport

The second annual diocesan "Blue Mass," honoring Catholic police, fire, and emergency services personnel, will be celebrated by Bishop William E. Lori on Sunday, September 7, at 2:30 p.m. at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull. Hundreds of workers and their families from all over Fairfield County are expected to attend.

The tradition of the Blue Mass dates to 1934 and Father Thomas Dade of Saint Patrick Church in Washington, D.C. Many dioceses, including the Diocese of Bridgeport, began celebrating a Blue Mass after the tragedies of September 11, 2001.

"The purpose of the Blue Mass is to call together these important people in our community, to encourage them and acknowledge their service," explains Father Frank C. McGrath, diocesan director of clergy personnel and chaplain of the Westport Police and Fire Departments. "It is also a time to remember those who have given their lives in service to others, on 9/11 and on many other much more ordinary days."

"Last year, the Blue Mass (pictured at left) drew a crowd of nearly 600 people, filling Saint Augustine Cathedral. This year, letters of invitation were sent to fire, police, and EMS chiefs throughout Fairfield County. A procession of flags will be held at the Blue Mass, and a reception will be held afterwards in the parish hall.

The Mass is open to the public and all Catholic first responders are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 372-4301, ext. 247.

Mass of Remembrance on the Second Anniversary of 9/11

Bishop William E. Lori will celebrate a special Mass of Remembrance on the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Thursday, September 11, at 12 Noon at Saint Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport. Governor John Rowland will be among those in attendance.

Last year, on the first anniversary of 9/11, the Cathedral was filled to capacity for the Remembrance Mass. On that day, Bishop Lori issued a call for healing and peace.

"Filled with the light and truth of the Gospel, we commend to the Lord of life and love those who died, whether as innocent victims or as rescue workers," Bishop Lori said in his homily on September 11, 2002. "Give them, Lord, the peace of your kingdom, where every tear is wiped away. Filled with the hope that comes from Jesus' victory over sin and death, we ask for the grace to continue reaching out to those who still grieve over the loss of loved ones and the traumas of what they may have experienced. Resolute in our faith and in the principles of justice, may we love our country and help it to be a force for peace and justice around the world."

The Mass is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

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BRIDGEPORT– 12,000 students in grades kindergarten through 12 return to the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport this week ready for another year of quality, faith-based education.

Across Fairfield County, the Diocese oversees 32 Catholic elementary schools, one middle school, five high schools, and one special education school. As the new school year begins, four stories below demonstrate the excellence of these Catholic Schools.

BRIDGEPORT - At a time when announcements are made regarding failing schools and poor performance, the Dicoese of Bridgeport has some good news to report on its Catholic elementary schools. Students scored extremely well on the Iowa and Cognitive Abilities Test administered last spring.

“Our students performed at or above average in the Iowa Tests,” explains Dr. John Alfone, assistant superintendent for elementary education in the Diocese of Bridgeport. “For example, in the subject of punctuation, our seventh-graders performed as 10th graders in their seventh month of school,” he says, pointing to a graph with the composite average results of all the diocesan grammar schools.

Dr. Alfone is particularly pleased with the results because of the unique diversity and demographics of the diocesan schools. All students, whether they live in the leafy suburbs or in the inner-city, performed to a high standard on a tough test that is on par with that of the public schools.

Sister Veronica Beato, A.S.C.J., principal of Saint Raphael Regional Elementary School in Bridgeport, says she is satisfied with her school’s Iowa results. “I take the Iowa test seriously because it is a legitimate way to compare our students on a national level,” she says. Reading comprehension and English are two areas that Sister Veronica plans on concentrating resources, as a result of the Iowa test data. “The faculty and I sat together and determined our students needed help with reading comprehension,” she says. “We plan on forming a literacy team this school year.”

Principal Cheryl Nelson and her teachers at Saint Joseph Regional Elementary School in Shelton also take the Iowa results seriously. “We use the test as a guide for the following school year,” she reveals. “They seem to indicate where we are as a school, and it gives us an idea of where we are next to the public schools.” Competitive “One thing we found from the results is that it was time to change our math curriculum,” Nelson says. “The faculty and I met, looked at the Iowa results, looked at where we wanted to be compared to the public schools, and what we need to do to keep our programs up to standard and competitive and came up with changes.”

While Shelton Public Schools do not take the same test, students do participate in the Connecticut Mastery Test, Nelson explains. “This March, the diocesan school system is adding a writing section for 4th and 6th graders to the Iowa test, which is similar to what the Mastery test has,” she says. With the new writing sample, teamed with reading and math sections, we’ll be able to see where our children are.”

While the results of the Iowa tests provoke many principals to re-assess programs and curriculum in their schools, it also provides an opportunity to appreciate the hard work that has already been accomplished. “I am very pleased with the results of these tests,” says Dr. Alfone. “It shows we are doing very well as a diocese.”

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

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BRIDGEPORT - Recent graduates from the five diocesan Catholic high schools proved that receiving a Catholic education does indeed pay. Winning more than $21 million in scholarship money, 98% of diocesan high school seniors who graduated this spring are continuing their education.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these young men and women from our high schools,” says Armand Fabbri, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Two diocesan high schools, Immaculate High School in Danbury (pictured below), and Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, saw a record 100% of their 2003 graduates going on to higher education. Out of a class of 112 students, Trinity Catholic has sent 103 students to a four-year college, seven to a two-year college, and two to other education programs this fall. Immaculate has sent 87 of 94 graduates to four-year colleges, five to two-year colleges, and two to other education programs.

“Immaculate High School students have always done well in college placement, but we are particularly proud of the class of 2003,” says Dr. Joseph Gerics, principal. “Over 60% of our 94 graduates were offered grants or scholarships, totaling over $3.2 million. Parents get a great return from their investment in Immaculate High School!”

In Fairfield, graduates of Notre Dame High School distinguished themselves by receiving the most scholarship money of any other diocesan high school: more than $6.7 million in scholarships and grants. Twenty percent of the awarded money will be used by the 148 students continuing their education.

“Such success enhances the reputation of Notre Dame in our own school community as well as with colleges and universities who know in advance the qualities that Notre Dame graduates will bring to their campuses,” says Carl Philip, assistant principal. “Notre Dame has an outstanding reputation among colleges and universities.”

Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport and Saint Joseph High School in Trumbull were not far behind in securing significant scholarships and grants for their graduates. Kolbe has sent 97% of its former students to higher education, receiving more than $4 million for its 73 students. Saint Joseph’s students received more than $4.5 million for its 189 graduates, 184 of whom are pursuing a higher education. Additionally, Saint Joseph’s and Kolbe are the only two high schools sending graduates into the armed forces.

Fabbri credits the high schools’ success with the quality of education students are receiving. “We are indebted to the faculty and administration for providing such an extraordinary education,” he says. “We hope these students use their education to become more productive citizens and participating members in the life of the Church.”

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

BRIDGEPORT - As the 2003-2004 school year is poised to begin, the Office for Education for the Diocese of Bridgeport has announced the appointment of three new principals at Catholic elementary schools in the diocese, and a new governing structure with a president and a principal at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford.

PHOTO CAPTION: CATHOLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS gathered for a training day at the Catholic Center. Joining Dr. John Alfone (left), assistant superintendent for elementary education, and Armand Fabbri, director and superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport (right), are newly-appointed administrators and principals (l-r) Kevin Burke, president and CFO of Trinity Catholic High School, Stamford; Robert D’Aquila, principal of Trinity Catholic High; Maria O’Neill, principal of Saint Ann School, Bridgeport; and Mary Maloney, principal of Saint Rose of Lima School, Newtown. Not pictured: Judith Shivy, principal of Saint Joseph School, Brookfield. (PHOTO BY PAT HENNESSY)

“The diocese is fortunate to have these outstanding men and women, many of whom have come up through our system and have decided to move into administration,” says Dr. John D. Alfone, assistant superintendent for the diocese. “They are Catholic educators who fully share our goal of providing outstanding education grounded in our Catholic faith.”

Trinity Catholic High School, Stamford

At Trinity Catholic, Kevin T. Burke of Stamford has been appointed to the newly-created position of president and chief financial officer. Robert F. D’Aquila of Stamford, the former assistant principal in charge of academic affairs at Trinity Catholic, has been promoted to principal. D’Aquila succeeds Thomas Celestino, who resigned as principal on June 9.

Burke, 57, has served on the lay advisory board of Trinity Catholic since 1999, and served as chair both of that board and the school’s finance committee. Burke is a graduate of Iona College, with a bachelor’s degree in science (with distinction). In 1998, he concluded a successful career with Marriott International, where he served as human resource director, comptroller, and general manager. Since 1998, he has served as a consultant to small businesses as an independent contractor. He and his wife, Mary Beth, who graduated from Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, are members of Saint Cecilia Parish in Stamford.

As president and CFO, Burke will oversee process management; finances, including budgets, accounts payable/ receivable, and tuition; development; endowment; institutional advancement; scholarships; and the advisory board.

“Kevin Burke’s dedication and commitment to Trinity Catholic as a volunteer on its board and as a mentor to the administration in financial matters over the last several years have been invaluable,” says Armand R. Fabbri, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Bridgeport. “His experience and support of Catholic education will serve him well as he guides the continued advancement of Trinity Catholic.”

D’Aquila, 49, has served at Trinity Catholic since 1976 as a math teacher, chair of the math department, director of the summer school, technology coordinator, and network administrator. Since 1997, he has served as assistant principal in charge of Academic Affairs. D’Aquila received his bachelor’s degree in math from Central Connecticut State University and his master’s degree in math and computer science from Iona College. He is currently working on his certificate of advanced studies at Fairfield University. In addition to holding Connecticut state certification, D’Aquila is a member of National Catholic Education Association and the National Council Teachers of Math. He served on the accreditation teams of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in 1997 and 2001. D’Aquila has been a lifelong member of Saint John Parish in Darien. He and his wife, Mary, live in Stamford. Mary is a religion teacher at Trinity Catholic. Their daughter Kathleen, who attends James Madison University, graduated from Trinity Catholic in 2002. Their son, John, is in the junior class.

“For 27 years Bob D’Aquila has been part of the glue that has held Trinity Catholic together,” Fabbri says. “His expertise, his experience and his commitment provide him with the necessary skills to be the spiritual, moral, and educational leader of this great school.”

Saint Ann Regional Elementary School, Bridgeport

Maria J. O’Neill, 40, is the new principal of Saint Ann Regional Elementary School in Bridgeport. O’Neill has been a teacher in the diocese for 18 years, first at Saint Gabriel Middle School in Stamford, and for the past five years at Saint Andrew School in Bridgeport. Her classroom duties have included mostly upper elementary grades. O’Neill received her Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York, College at Cortland and is currently enrolled in a Masters of Science program at the University of Phoenix Online. She lives in Bridgeport with her husband, Dan, and daughter, Katie. The family are parishioners of Saint Andrew’s.

“I am very excited to assume the principalship at Saint Ann School,” says O’Neill. “My years as a teacher within the diocese have prepared me well. The teachers and staff have been most welcoming, and I cannot wait for the students to come back to school!”

Saint Rose of Lima Regional Elementary School, Newtown

Mary S. Maloney, 48, is the new principal of Saint Rose of Lima Regional Elementary School in Newtown. She and her husband, Kevin, serve as Eucharistic ministers and as catechists for the religious education program at Saint Rose of Lima. Their daughter, Kathleen, is a sophomore at Fairfield University and their son, Connor, is a junior at Fairfield Prep. Maloney received her Bachelor of Science degree from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV, and received her certification in language arts 6-9 at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. In addition to other assignments, she taught at the Marymount School in Paris, France, and was an independent tutor in Tokyo, Japan. Most recently, she has been the language arts instructor for grades 6-8 at Saint Rose of Lima School. A writer and editor, she served as editor for the book, Bloom Where You Are Planted.

“As principal, my goal is to provide a nurturing yet challenging school environment that upholds the philosophy of serving God through a spirit of love, joy and service to others,” she says. “It is vital to encourage the interconnection of knowledge, experience, and faith, so that students recognize that their total Catholic education will impact our world positively and responsibly.”

Saint Joseph Regional Elementary School, Brookfield

Judith B. Shivy has been named the new principal of Saint Joseph Regional Elementary School in Brookfield. Shivy, 57, a resident of Southbury, is a member of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Joseph’s College, with a concentration in psychology and a minor in special education. She holds her Master’s Degree and 6th Year Certificate in Administration/Supervision from Southern Connecticut State University. Shivy taught in Oxford Public Schools for 24 years, serving most recently as district coordinator of curriculum K-8, middle school assistant principal, and district professional.

“There’s a sense of community in Catholic schools, and I’ve always valued that,” says Shivy. She, her husband, Victor, and their two daughters are products of Catholic schools. “I have a strong belief in the importance of Catholic education, and I want to be part of that community.”

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

BRIDGEPORT - The State of Connecticut Commissioner on Education has accredited Saint Catherine Academy as a state-approved special education facility. Saint Catherine’s is the only Catholic school in the state for special education students.

 

CAPTION: TEACHING EACH CHILD according to their individual needs and potential, Saint Catherine Academy has now been accredited as a state-approved special education facility. The only Catholic school in the state for special education students, Saint Catherine’s offers a faith-filled academic and life-skills program. (PHOTO BY JOHN GLOVER)

Saint Catherine’s, which has 12 students this year, is approved for up to 14 students. It is now listed among the state-approved private special education facilities.

“Saint Catherine’s is now eligible to receive students placed by their local public school districts, if the district determines that it can’t provide appropriate education for that student,” explains Sister Eleace King, I.H.M., assistant superintendent for special education for the Diocese of Bridgeport.

“This step puts us on a footing with all public schools and private accredited special education schools,” adds Sister Marilyn Muldoon, O.S.U., Saint Catherine’s chief administrator. “It assures parents that we offer a quality education.”

Quality Education
Opened in 1999, Saint Catherine’s accepts children and adolescents whose cognitive limitations indicate the need for a functional academic and life skills program. The school enrolls students with intellectual deficiency, learning disabilities, language impairment, multiple disabilities, neurological impairment, and developmental delay.

In contrast to the current public school policy of placing children with special needs in the mainstream curriculum, at Saint Catherine’s, each child has their own program based on their own deficiencies and potential.

“I wanted my son to be in a small group rather than a big packed school,” says Marry Barry, whose son, James, has been at Saint Catherine’s since it opened. “He was very, very shy, and he didn’t do well with changes.”

Reaching Goals
With a student-staff ratio of 1:1, Saint Catherine Academy is committed to teaching the whole child. James, now 9, flourished in the school’s family atmosphere. “Each time they set goals for him, he accomplishes it,” says his mother. “He has academics, speech, occupational therapy, art, music, and swimming. We work with the teachers, and they work with us. He’s so proud of everything he’s achieved, and he’s getting so independent. You’d never know that he used to be so shy.”

As part of the accreditation process, state officials assessed the appropriateness of the program for each of Saint Catherine’s students, and compared the individual plans to what the visiting team saw in the classroom. Officials studied the physical plant, and checked that all staff, including the speech pathologist, physical therapist, teachers, and aides, has appropriate certification.

The state agency had high praise for Saint Catherine’s programs. “A child may need reading material geared to a sixth-grade interest level, but have the reading skills of a second grader,” Sister Marilyn explains. “In addition to academics, we teach practical living skills like laundry handling, table setting, and simple cooking – things they’ll need to do as adults. Kids with cognitive learning delays often can’t pick that up at home.”

Varied Curriculum
Every week students receive instruction in art and music. Students who need it receive physical therapy, speech-language services, and occupational therapy from licensed professionals. Twice a week they go to the Cardinal Shehan Center in Bridgeport for classes in swimming and physical education. Some of the older students take gym with students at Saint Catherine of Siena Regional School in Trumbull.

This individualized attention is demonstrated again in Saint Catherine’s religious instruction classes. Religion is a daily subject, as it is in all Catholic schools in the diocese. In addition, children who are Catholic receive sacramental preparation. “James made his First Communion last Mother’s Day at Saint Ambrose Parish,” Barry says. “That was really a thrill for us.”

With accreditation achieved, Bishop William E. Lori is working with the special education office to select an appropriate facility to give Saint Catherine’s a new location with room to expand.

“We need a school facility with room to grow, with a media center, library, and playing fields,” says Sister Eleace. “We hope to be in our new home by September of 2004.”

For more information on Saint Catherine Academy, call 372-4301, email srking@diobpt.org, or visit: www.diobptctofe.com.

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GREENWICH -- His Eminence, Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J., one of the foremost Catholic theologians in the United States, will deliver the Golden Jubilee Lecture of the Diocese of Bridgeport on Wednesday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, 469 North Street, Greenwich. Telephone (203) 869-5421.

Cardinal Dulles will speak on "The Enrichment of Faith for a New Millennium." The event is free and open to the public.

Cardinal Dulles is the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University, and the author of more than 20 books, including The New World of Faith (2000). He is also Professor Emeritus of Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

The son of the late U.S. Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, Cardinal Dulles converted to Catholicism while a student at Harvard University, noting later in life, "Everything in my life since that time has confirmed the rightness of that decision." He has been a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) for 47 years.

Cardinal Dulles was elevated to the College of Cardinals, along with the former Bishop of Bridgeport, Cardinal Edward Egan, by Pope John Paul II on February 21, 2001. The last time an English-speaking theologian was accorded this honor was in 1879, when Pope Leo XIII elevated John Henry Cardinal Newman.

In this, the third and final lecture marking the 50th Anniversary of the foundation of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Cardinal Dulles will speak on the centrality of faith in the Christian life; Vatican II's call for renewal; faith and its enrichment according to Pope John Paul II; and obstacles to faith in the present cultural environment.

By PAT HENNESSY

"In the United States, Catholics are shaken and uncertain in their faith," His Eminence, Avery Cardinal Dulles told the assembly gathered for the final Golden Jubilee Lecture, organized to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

The focus of the lecture, "The Enrichment of Faith for a New Millennium," held September 17 at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Greenwich, was the centrality of faith in Christian life, and the obstacles to faith in our culture.

Cardinal Dulles, 85, the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University, is the foremost Catholic theologian in the United States. When Pope John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals in 2001, he became only the second English-speaking theologian to be accorded this honor, along with John Henry Cardinal Newman.

Cardinal Dulles set the groundwork for his observations by noting the key significance given to faith in the New Testament writings, and carefully defining what faith is, and what it is not.

"Faith is a grace, a gift, rather than a human achievement," he explained. "In the end, we believe because by God's grace we will to believe."

Dependence on faith, making God the measure of our hopes and desires, is the distinctive mark of a Christian. Faith is both objective, focusing on the redemptive sacrifice of Christ's passion and death, and subjective, marking a personal commitment to that sacrifice.

The Church has proclaimed and encouraged the faith of Christians for two thousand years. Vatican II, primarily a pastoral council, called for a renewal of faith in the modern world. It emphasized the Church as a community of faith, whose members collectively take responsibility for the faith handed down to them.

"Vatican II must be understood in continuity with the tradition of the Church," Cardinal Dulles said, warning that the Second Vatican Council's call for renewal was often misinterpreted as rejecting the venerable tradition of the Church.

Rather, Pope John Paul II saw Vatican II's call for renewal as a powerful tool for the enrichment of faith for the new millennium. Religious freedom encourages not relativism, but responsibility, Cardinal Dulles explained. "The freer we are, the more we have to act responsibly with regard to divine truth."

Catholics are called to understand the objective content of their faith, and to enrich it through prayer and the witness of their daily lives. "Although faith can be childlike, it should not become childish," the Cardinal noted. "Too many Catholics, while professionally educated, have only an elementary school education in their faith. It is critically important for Catholics to be better formed, and informed, in their faith."

But he cautioned that intellectual knowledge, by itself, is not faith. "The person who does not pray can hardly preserve faith at all," he said.

Faith, total dependence on the action of the Holy Spirit in the human soul, finds no correspondence with American secular culture.

"A secularistic tendency is eating away at the heart of the Catholic faith," Cardinal Dulles warned. "Securalism is a denial of the sacred. It reduces all religions to a human striving to reach out toward God." Lost is the sense of the intervention of God in the world.

Contemporary Catholics are almost completely dominated by secularism, the Cardinal noted. The erosion of a sense of the sacred, combined with a lack of knowledge of the Church's teachings, are root causes of the current crisis of faith.

"Be suspicious of that which makes the Church to be like civil society," he urged. "Hold on to what is sacred."

Throughout his lecture, and during a question and answer session that followed, Cardinal Dulles encouraged Catholics to put on the attitudes of Christ, and to strive to bring all people into an environment of faith. "A Church that does not evangelize will shrivel in size, and become weak and anemic," he warned. "Faith is strengthened when it is given away."

The new millennium holds challenges and opportunities for growth of the faith. Even in a world that is moving away from Christianity and the Christian faith, the responsibility to make known the Gospel message continues.

"This is the charism of the Church," Cardinal Dulles concluded, "to teach in season and out of season what Christ has proclaimed."

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BRIDGEPORT -- Bishop William E. Lori has announced the creation of a new apostolate in the Diocese of Bridgeport to enable men and women with same-sex attractions to live their lives chastely and in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Starting in October, “Courage,” a spiritual support group, will begin meeting in Fairfield County. Father Paul N. Check, S.T.L., parochial vicar of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Stamford, will serve as director. Father Check holds a degree in moral theology from the University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and teaches at the Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence.

Spiritual Support System
Courage was founded in 1980 in the Archdiocese of New York by Terence Cardinal Cooke. Troubled by the excesses of the secular society and its promotion of “free love,” Cardinal Cooke sought to establish a spiritual support system which would assist men and women with same-sex attractions to live chaste lives in fellowship, truth, and love. Father John F. Harvey, O.S.F.S., began the first apostolate.

Today, there are more than 90 Courage chapters in 70 dioceses throughout the United States, including one in New Haven and several in New York City. The apostolate has the endorsement of the Holy See.

Diocesan Support
“I am very happy that a new Courage chapter is being launched in the Diocese of Bridgeport,” says Father Harvey. “I know Bishop Lori well from his years in the Archdiocese of Washington, where he was firmly supportive of Courage, and he has been anxious to bring it to his new diocese.

“Father Check is an excellent choice to lead the new chapter,” Father Harvey adds. “His priestly experience in working one-on-one with parishioners will be invaluable in this new ministry.”

Heavy Cross
The mission of Courage, Father Check explains, is to offer spiritual, moral, and fraternal support to individuals who bear a heavy cross. “We help good people to embrace their faith, overcome difficulties, and lead chaste lives,” he says. “They desire an everdeeper conversion of heart and to always live in a state of grace.”

Father Check adds that the Church, within the context of the natural moral law, defends the personal freedom and dignity of men and women who are attracted to members of the same sex. “However, the sexual fulfillment of same-sex attraction is contrary to the good of the human person, just as all sexual activity apart from God’s plan for marriage is destructive to the human heart and human relationships,” he explains.

Confidentiality
Courage chapters place great emphasis on confidentiality. No membership lists are kept. Meeting places and times are not publicized, and first names only are used at meetings. Individual meetings are held on request. Separate meetings are held for men and women. A different group, “Encourage,” seeks to support parents of children with same-sex attractions.

Members meet regularly for a session of prayer and discussion of the Church’s teachings on homosexuality. There are five goals of Courage, which were created by the members themselves when Courage was founded.

The Courage goals are read at the start of each meeting and practiced by every member in daily life:

• “Live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality” (Chastity).
• “Dedicate one’s life to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist “ (Prayer and Dedication).
• “Foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone” (Fellowship).
• “Be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life and in doing so provide encouragement to one another in forming and sustaining them” (Support).
• “Live lives that may serve as good examples to others” (Good Example).

Courage arrives in the Diocese of Bridgeport at a time when popular culture has embraced the homosexual lifestyle, which is vigorously promoted in print and broadcast media.

Last month, the Holy See issued a new directive encouraging Catholics, especially Catholics in the political arena, to resist all attempts to legalize same-sex unions and change the traditional, sacramental definition of marriage.

Love of Christ
“As in all doctrinal and moral matters, the Church speaks with the authority and love of Christ for the good of souls,” says Bishop Lori. “Popular culture bombards us with moral reasoning that is self-centered, not God-centered, and it leads to selfishness, not self-sacrifice. The Church and the apostolate of Courage offer hope that the embrace of the cross will lead to peace and salvation.”

(For more information on Courage, contact Father Paul Check: 324-1553, ext. 14, or e-mail courage@diobpt.org. The national website of Courage is www.CourageRC.net)

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By BETH LONGWARE DUFF

An estimated 8,000 Catholics from every corner of Fairfield County gathered on September 28 at The Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport to mark the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Pomp and Solemnity

From Greenwich to Stratford, and Sherman to Norwalk, they came together for the historic, three-and-ahalf hour Golden Jubilee Mass. The celebration combined pomp and solemnity with a multi-cultural ceremony that reflected the diversity of language, culture, and tradition that characterizes the diocese’s 87 parishes and 375,000 Catholics.

It also included three challenges from their spiritual leader, Bishop William E. Lori: to be holy, to evangelize, and to get personally involved in the Church’s mission.

Meeting with the assembled news media prior to the Mass, Bishop Lori wryly noted that “the Lord has blessed us with a great deal of holy water,” a reference to the rain that had been falling steadily all day. The weather did not hamper the determination of faithful to attend, most of whom traveled together by bus from their parish.

Colorful Procession

For 90 minutes before the scheduled start, attendees were treated to a viewing of a special video on the history of the diocese, prepared for this occasion. In words, pictures, and music, the 50-year saga unfolded, beginning with Bishop Lawrence Shehan’s arrival and installation in 1953.

The liturgy, the highlight of the year-long “One Family in Faith” observation, got under way at 2 p.m. with a colorful hour-long procession of 160 handmade banners, each representing a parish, Catholic school, religious community, ministry, apostolate, diocesan organization, or Catholic Charities outreach. As each banner was carried aloft down the long center aisle, recognition through cheers and applause rippled around the Arena.

A Knights of Columbus honor guard led more than 300 priests and deacons of the diocese, Bishop Lori, and guest dignitaries including his predecessor, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York, and Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, D.C. Also in attendance were several other archbishops and bishops, including Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin of Hartford, Bishop Michael R. Cote of Norwich, and Bishop Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Stamford.

Papal Praise

In his opening remarks, Archbishop Cronin read a letter written on behalf of Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father paid tribute to the clergy, religious, and laity “who in the past 50 years have enabled the diocese to respond to the challenges of steady development and to establish an impressive network of parishes, schools and charitable institutions.”

In his homily (reprinted below), Bishop Lori noted that the colorful procession was but “an extension of one that has moved through the world since Christ asked our forebearers to pick up their crosses and follow Him.” As it has been since the time of Christ, the Church has often been a target of ridicule and prejudice, Bishop Lori said. “Some observers of our pilgrimage, our procession, indeed some viewing us right now, are asking themselves ‘What is THIS all about?’”

His response was emphatic. “We’re here because we love the Church!”

Bishop Lori noted that the gathering was a celebration of love for the Church, even though we recognize that the Church occasionally has its shortcomings. “We love the Church the way family members love one another, with a love that demands that we squarely face our shortcomings and sinfulness and, yes, the scandals that occasionally beset even divine institutions left in the hands of weak human beings,” Bishop Lori said. “Our love, which should be patterned on Christ’s, demands that we face our failures, not excuse them.”

We Love the Church

The saving love of Jesus lives on and through His Church, Bishop Lori told the assembly. He enumerated the reasons Catholics continue to respond to that love, in spite of the Church’s human failings:

“We love what Christ has taught us and continues to teach us through the Church. We love the Church because she educates our young. We love the sacraments of the Church; they are our nourishment. We love the Church because the Church loves the poor, welcomes the immigrant, heals the sick, comforts the troubled. We love the Church because it is a strong and wise voice in the public square, speaking up for the poor, defending the family, working for justice and peace, and proclaiming the Gospel of life around the world.”

Bishop Lori concluded his remarks by urging the faithful to know, live, and defend the faith, participate more fully in parish life, and support their clergy.

Home for Christmas

“I invite you to bring one person, at least one person, back to the Church by Christmas,” he continued. “We have a lot of work to do!” The bishop also urged that more Catholics get involved in the Church’s mission to serve the poor and educate the young by volunteering in their communities.

Prayerful intercessions were offered in 16 languages by laypeople and religious, many of whom wore the costumes of their native land. Musical accompaniment throughout the afternoon was provided by more than 300 singers in 11 multi-cultural choirs, and musicians from parishes throughout the diocese.

Jubilation

The Mass concluded with remarks by Cardinal Egan (reprinted below), who served as the third bishop of Bridgeport from 1988 to 2000. He was interrupted several times by applause as he reminisced about the dedication and kindness that he had received from clergy and laity alike during his tenure.

“I believe that Pope Pius XII looks down from heaven and says, ‘Wasn’t I wise to establish this diocese?’” Cardinal Egan told the assembly. “And I ask you, ‘Wasn’t I lucky to be here?’”

The prevailing emotion among participants appeared to be jubilation as they left the Arena. Kathy O’Shea of Holy Family Parish in Fairfield said she felt she had received much more than she had given.

“The Church is finally getting the coverage everyone else in the world gets,” O’Shea said.

Click here to view pictures from the Harbor Yard Event.

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Homily
Golden Jubilee Mass
The Arena at Harbor Yard
Sunday, September 28, 2003

The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D.
Bishop of Bridgeport

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

We have witnessed a beautiful, long and joyous procession depicting our One Family in Faith. Hundreds of parishioners representing the 87 parishes of our Diocese carried their banners, representing all 370,000 of us, a family of faith of many languages and cultures. In that procession you saw people who are engaged in every form of service: evangelists, catechists and educators, representatives of the Catholic healthcare ministry and Catholic Charities. In our ranks today were our members of religious orders, especially the religious sisters who serve us in so many ways. And our seminarians are here! We're blessed with many vocations, and, I am sure the Lord is calling many others here today to His priesthood and religious life.

Listen in your hearts today to His call! Our Deacons and their wives have joined us today, and there were nearly 250 Priests in our procession, men who so generously serve our family of faith in the parishes, schools and social ministries of our Diocese. Archbishop Daniel Cronin of Hartford graces our celebration today, along with my former boss, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who came, I suspect, all the way from Washington to check up on me! And our old friend and shepherd, Cardinal Edward Egan of New York, honors us and this Diocese by joining us today. Let's give all our guests a warm welcome!

What a Day! What a procession! And it's a procession that is but an extension of one that has moved through this world since Christ asked our forbears to pick up their crosses and come follow Him. This procession swells with the radiant spirits of our great grandparents, grandparents, parents and countless loved ones. It includes our beloved dead from 9/11, for whom and with whom we pray. This procession is graced by our founding bishop, Cardinal Lawrence Shehan, and by Bishop Walter Curtis who served us so long and so well. All these live on in our memories and our prayers. They've passed by before us in this wondrous procession and in their footsteps we now follow, toward our destination, which is, God willing, an eternity of light and bliss. I know in my heart who have gone before us in faith, are here, with us, today, praying that all of us will be united with them again in joy some day when our own processions through this life are done.

And at the end of the line today, here I am, your current bishop, a spectacle to men and angels, who will shamelessly use ANY occasion as an opportunity to ask for your prayers, your support, and your love!

But let's be clear. Some observers of our pilgrimage, our procession, indeed some viewing us right now, are asking themselves, and maybe others riding in their cars, "What is THIS all about?" "Why did they tie up traffic on I-95 this afternoon?" "What have THEY got to celebrate?" These people want to know, "Why are we here?"

That question deserves an answer. And here it is:

WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE LOVE THE CHURCH!

We love the Church, deeply and passionately, the way husbands and wives love each other, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. We love the Church the way family members love one another, with a love that demands that we squarely face our shortcomings and sinfulness, and, yes, the scandals that occasionally beset even divine institutions left in the hands of weak humans beings. Our love, which should be patterned on Christ's, demands that we face our failures, not excuse them.

But we must never waver for a moment, waver in our love of the Church Christ gave us 2,000 years ago with His sacred hands! He told us then: "Behold, I am with you all days, even to the end of the world." He did not say: "Behold, I am with you as long as you don't mess up!"

We are here today because we love the Church! But not everyone does. The Church has often been the object of ridicule, vilification, prejudice and even persecution, as was its founder, Jesus Christ, who came to earth to redeem a humanity whose vision of a perfect messiah was that of a mighty king from the clouds, a sovereign who would rule with the blinding, limitless power of the Almighty. The Redeemer came, instead, born into the simple household of Mary and Joseph, a carpenter, a preacher of truth and love, not vengeance, a Redeemer who walked and ate with sinners and outcasts, and washed the feet of His disciples and friends.

The world could not conceive of a Messiah who would allow Himself to be rejected, ridiculed, beaten, spat-upon, and hanged in agony on a cross, in front of His beloved Mother, and the few of His friends who had not denied Him , or run away. The world would not accept a Messiah, a King, who would spend His last agonized breaths crying out to His Father, not for vengeance, but for forgiveness, for those executing Him that awful day, a Christ who would devote the last moments of His life on earth consoling a dying criminal, on the cross next to Him, with this promise: "This day you shall be with me in Paradise." Has there ever, in history, been uttered a more comforting and beautiful sentence?

That criminal, about whom we know very little, probably never did a decent thing in his entire life until its very end, when he accepted Jesus as Lord, and simply asked Him to remember him when he came into His kingdom. We, today, follow that now sainted criminal in that long procession of disciples who accepted Christ as Redeemer, but on the terms the Father gave Him to us.

We are here today because in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' saving love lives on and through His Church. The Lord's teaching, miracles of love, and, above all, His saving death and resurrection, and the personal resurrection all of us pray for, come to us through the Church, given us by the Savior. We are here because we love the Church!

We love what Christ has taught us and continues to teach us through the Church, even when that teaching flies in the face of the modern, the trendy, the avant garde, the cool. Our Catholic faith demands that we live the moral virtues and values that are often in conflict with the moods of our times: respect for life from the moment of conception until natural death, chastity according to one's state in life, fidelity in marriage and the welcoming of children, decency and integrity in one's work life, and openheartedness to the poor. The more we reflect on and embrace the teachings of the Church the more we will grasp their coherence, their truth, their beauty, and their power to save you and me.

We love the Church because she educates our young, in parish religious education programs, and in 41 splendid Catholic schools that educate 12,500 students throughout the county, schools that give them an excellent education and equip them to become leaders in Church and society.

We love the sacraments of the Church. They are our nourishment, our provisions, the repairs to the souls we sometimes damage on this journey, this procession to our heavenly home. And the most wondrous of these sacraments is the Eucharist, which must be ours each week at Mass on Sunday, every Sunday, even when away from home, even when there was too much celebration and too little sleep the night before. Mass even when we just don't feel like it. Because the Mass is what He was referring to when He said: "Do this in memory of Me."

We love the Church because the Church loves the poor, welcomes the immigrant, heals the sick, comforts the troubled, offers healing to those who were harmed so shamefully by her own. The Church reaches out to the disabled, and the elderly, and to those ensnared in drug and alcohol abuse. The Church does not just preach - it delivers. The Diocese, through Catholic Charities, is by far the largest private provider of social services in Fairfield County, serving thousands of people each year.

We love the Church because it is a strong and wise voice in the public square, speaking up for the poor, defending the family, working for justice and peace, and proclaiming the Gospel of life around the world.

We love the Church, and we are saddened, not when the Church fails us, which it cannot, because Christ, as promised, is with us always, but when we fail the Church.

The Catholic Church into which we were baptized is not a lifeless set of rules, not a hobby nor an avocation to be pursued only in our free time. Being a follower of Christ is a 24/7 job, and it's not easy. You know that and I know that.

So looking to the future, where is Christ leading us? How is He challenging us?

Here are three big challenges:

First of all, Christ is challenging you and me to be holy, to grow in daily prayer, to know, live and defend our faith, to participate more fully in parish life, to offer love and support for your clergy, especially now.

Secondly, Christ is challenging us to be evangelizers, to know and love our faith so much that we will spread it. All of us know someone who no longer goes to Church or who is searching for a spiritual home. I invite you to bring one person, at least one person, back to the Church by Christmas! We have work to do!

Thirdly, Christ is challenging us to get involved, personally involved in the Church's mission to serve the poor and educate the young. Can you find it in your hearts to pick up the phone tomorrow - places like Bridgeport's Thomas Merton House, Table to Table in Stamford, or any of our Catholic regional schools - and volunteer for a few hours of your time each week?

If you accept one or more of these challenges, know that I as your Bishop and the Priests and Deacons are here to welcome you, support you, and to be your co-workers, so that as One Family in Faith we may continue to take our place in this mighty procession that leads us to the greatest Jubilee of all - the great Jubilee in heaven where we will meet in person the Virgin Mary, Saint Augustine, our Patron, and the great company of Saints who rejoice eternally before the Throne of God.

May God bless us and keep us in His love!

Remarks
Golden Jubilee Mass
The Arena at Harbor Yard
Sunday, September 28, 2003

His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York
Third Bishop of Bridgeport (1988-2000)

I want to express to Bishop Lori and each and every one of you my heartfelt congratulations on the Fiftieth anniversary of the Diocese of Bridgeport. You are a community of faith and a people of God whom I had the honor to serve for over 11 years.

I thank you for giving me the opportunity to come back to the Diocese of Bridgeport, and to thank you for all you’ve been in my life. I congratulate you from my heart.

On the wall of my office in the Catholic Center was hung the papal document whereby the Diocese was established by Pope Pius XII in 1953. In that document it says, in Latin (which was eloquent indeed), “Fairfield County has grown in such numbers, such prosperity, and such holiness that the Holy Father feels compelled to establish a new diocese.” What beautiful words!

CAPTION: Past and present Bishops of Bridgeport meet before the Golden Jubilee Mass: Bishop William E. Lori (2001-present) and Edward Cardinal Egan (1988-2000). (Photo by John Glover)

During these three years I’ve been away, I look back at this Diocese and see the growth that has continued with splendid catechetical programs, outstanding education in our Catholic schools, great hospitals and health care facilities, religious communities, a pre-Seminary, care for ethnic groups, and a splendid Diocesan newspaper. The growth continues, and so much has been accomplished these last three years.

I have never known more dedicated priests, or been more proud of the religious communities. I see so many extraordinary religious, devoted religious women who are an inspiration to everyone whose lives they touched. I also see so many of the devoted religious men, priests, deacons, and vicars, as they distributed the Lord’s Body and Blood.

The laity of this Diocese are the best, the most religious I’ve ever known. As you were coming up to Communion, I found that I still know so many of your names. The loyalty and love of this Diocese is tremendous. How lucky I was for 11 years to have been part of this beautiful community of faith.

I had been to Connecticut only once before the Holy See named me as your bishop in 1988. I was stranger in every sense and, after the first day, I was truly "home" because of your kindness and generosity, and the support from the priests, deacons, and religious. I hope the Lord will persuade all of you of my gratitude and affection.

Thank you, the People of God in the Diocese of Bridgeport. You fulfilled all the expectations of Pope Pius XII. I think of him looking down from heaven and saying, ‘Wasn’t I wise to establish this Diocese!’ And I say to you, “Wasn’t I lucky to be here!”