Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

April 8, 2024

My Dear Pastoral Leaders:

It is with gratitude for the many people who were involved in the drafting of the attached pastoral
instruction that I am pleased to present it to you as valuable guidance in your pastoral ministry.

By Emily Clark

When Bella Augusztin was a child, she enjoyed playing “dress up” with her older sisters and pretending to compete with them as they “worked” at their own fashionable boutiques. That sense of competition and drive for success only grew as Bella, now a senior at Notre Dame in Fairfield, became an honors student and a highly ranked soccer player while in high school. And today, she is most grateful for an award that will allow her to continue pursuing these passions in college and beyond.

Each year, the University of Connecticut grants between 15 to 20 Nutmeg Scholarships to exceptional high school seniors throughout the state. This year, Bella was one of those seniors, recognized for her academic achievements, her outstanding community service, and her strong character and leadership skills. Though hopeful when she applied, Bella said she felt that the scholarship was a “shot in the dark.”

“When I heard that the acceptances were coming in, I kept reloading the portal,” she said of her UConn admissions account. “When it said, ‘status update,’ I thought ‘uh oh!’ But then I saw the confetti and knew I was in. I was totally shocked!”

Shocked – but also ecstatic, for this prestigious scholarship provides recipients four years of free tuition, room, and board at the state’s flagship campus in Storrs, a school she always hoped to attend but also realized the high cost. “College is very expensive so this means so much,” said Bella, a Stratford resident. “I’m so glad that there is no financial burden on my parents.”

Because of her high academic accomplishments, Bella was accepted into UConn’s honors program and feels the comparable Distinguished Scholars Program at Notre Dame helped prepare her for this next step with its many Advanced Placement classes and summer studies at Oxford University in England.

“For me, Notre Dame provided opportunities to do it all with personal, academic, and spiritual growth. I’ll take what I learned here and bring it back into the community to make it a better place,” said Bella, who, at 18, has already begun to do just that.

From the Model UN club and varsity sports to student council and Link Crew, Bella immersed herself completely into the culture and climate of Notre Dame, becoming student body president and taking an active role in the Student Leadership Institute. Here, Bella and her peers learn to problem solve and develop interpersonal and time management skills while implementing a project designed to benefit the community.

One of the most meaningful experiences, however, has been her involvement in campus ministry, where service and fellowship emerge at the center of this Catholic high school and where, Bella said, “there are so many opportunities for students to express their faith in and out of school and connect with peers spiritually and socially.” She also treasures the opportunity to attend Mass in the chapel on the campus of Sacred Heart University, which recently purchased Notre Dame High School after a long history of strong bonds and partnership.

“It’s such a beautiful environment, so gorgeous with the stained glass and artwork,” said Bella. “I feel so appreciative to have been here.”

In addition to her service work, Bella also balances a heavy load of challenging classes including AP Calculus, Latin, and Humanities, one of her favorites, where she consistently impresses her teacher, Dr. Mary Callaghan. “She’s critical and sharp-eyed. She takes time to think, and when Bella speaks, others listen,” Dr. Callaghan said. “A wonderful student who does it all with such calm and balance but also has a life! This scholarship is really such a nice honor for her.”

And now, with the school year ending and her senior internship – at a dress boutique, of course – about to begin, Bella is thinking more and more about her plans for UConn and maybe grad school, a business degree and maybe study abroad. When asked what keeps her so active and involved, Bella didn’t hesitate in answering. “My family,” she said, of her parents Mike and Laura and her three sisters. “They’re so supportive of me and so grateful for the scholarship. They’re my internal push to always keep doing the best I can.”

By Emily Clark

MONROE—On the afternoon of Divine Mercy Sunday, a day to remember the gifts of mercy and love given through Christ’s death and resurrection, the diocese celebrated the ordination of one of its own to the transitional diaconate.

Jozef Ukaj, a seminarian originally from Kosovo who has been studying at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, took a final step toward his ordination to the priesthood before a gathering of family, friends, and fellow clergy at St. Jude Parish in Monroe on April 7.

As midday sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, the choir, accompanied by the rich sounds of a trumpet, violin, and organ, welcomed Ukaj and a procession of Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, diocesan priests and deacons, and the Knights of Columbus. Following the Rite for the Blessing and Sprinkling of Water, Father Christopher Ford, director of vocations and seminarians, asked, on behalf of the Church, that Ukaj be ordained and testified to his worthiness.

The bishop then said, “Relying on the help of the Lord God and of our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose this our brother for the Order of the Diaconate.”

In his homily, the bishop began with that familiar line said at every Mass after the Lord’s Prayer: “Peace be with you.” He wondered, however, why we cannot live in peace, saying, “Even as we gather here singing joyful praises, we have sisters and brothers around the world who are victims of violence and conflict.” His answer was a simple one. “What the world is looking for is not what Jesus is offering.”

“We gather here on this Divine Mercy Sunday and ask for that gift of peace,” the bishop continued. “Remember that the person who is filled with the peace of Christ is that man or woman who is not afraid to speak the truth, to live the commandments of God even when it’s a struggle.”

Understanding that many would aspire to that truth, Bishop Caggiano said that to achieve such peace, one had only to remember five words spoken by St. Thomas.

“It’s the five words, Jozef,” he said, nodding to the candidate, “that will be inscribed in your heart in a very particular and unique way: my Lord and my God … The path to peace is to be able to surrender our life to one Lord. With every word we speak, every judgment of our lives, we say over and over again: my Lord and my God.”

The bishop acknowledged the many companions the Church provides to assist its faithful on this journey, including those who are called to be servants of God’s people.

“And that’s why today, Jozef, we come with great joy because you have heard that call,” he said. “You have persevered through the twists and turns of life. You have come here to take that next step that God has foreseen since you were conceived. You are going to become a man who walks in charity and mercy as I know you to be. With the grace of Holy Orders, you will have an effect beyond your wildest imagination because Christ will be working in every single thing you do.”

Ukaj rose and stood before the bishop who asked him to declare his resolve and accept the duties and responsibilities of the diaconate. He then knelt and made that promise after which the bishop led the congregation in the Litany of Supplication for this young man to be ordained.

“Bless, sanctify, and consecrate this chosen man,” the bishop prayed, as the faithful chanted in response, “Lord, we ask you, hear our prayer.”

In silence, Bishop Caggiano then initiated the ancient gesture of the Laying on of Hands, followed by the Prayer of Ordination, invoking the Holy Spirit upon the candidate.

“Look on this servant, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,” the bishop said. “We pray that he will carry out the work of the ministry.”

This ritual, dating to the time of the apostles in which the sacrament of Holy Orders in the Diaconal Order is imparted, was then complete.

Newly ordained Deacon Jozef Ukaj was then vested during the traditional Handing On of the Book of the Gospels, embraced by fellow deacons and priests, and seated on the altar next to Bishop Caggiano, whom he assisted during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Joyful rounds of applause ensued before this Mass with the Rite of Ordination concluded when the bishop told Deacon Ukaj that he would remain to serve the congregation of St. Jude.

“You have entered into the great mystery of the diaconate, Jozef, my brother,” he said. “You are a great gift to the whole church, one more among us to discover the true peace that Christ gives us.”

Deacon Ukaj, along with Deacon David Klein, will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, June 15 at St. Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport.

Photos by Amy Mortensen

TRUMBULL—St. Catherine of Siena Parish celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday in a unique and special way this year: with a visit of the major reliquary of St. André Bessette.

At all five weekend Masses, the reliquary containing a piece of St. André’s heart, together with rock from beneath St. Joseph’s Oratory and a medallion with the image of the saint, was exposed for veneration.  After each Mass, Father Joseph Marcello, Deacon Patrick Toole, and Father Jomon Kalladanthiyil, CSC, who accompanied the relic from Canada, imparted blessings with the Oil of St. Joseph, a sacramental from St. Joseph’s Oratory, which was built because of St. André’s devotion to the foster-father of Jesus Christ.

Both Deacon Toole and Father Marcello have had a devotion to St. André for many years.  Prior to the parish’s “Christ at the Center” sanctuary enhancement project five years ago, Father Marcello, Deacon Toole and then-seminarian Father Colin Lomnitzer made a pilgrimage to St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal to pray at the tomb of St. André for the project’s success.  When the church was consecrated in 2019, Bishop Caggiano sealed a relic of St. André into the altar at St. Catherine’s.  There is also an image of St. André in the church’s recently completed stained glass window of ten saints and blesseds from recent centuries, located near the church’s baptismal font.

Hundreds of the faithful came forward for the blessing throughout the weekend, and devotion to St. André was palpable.

“This year’s Divine Mercy weekend was definitely the most beautiful and well-attended Divine Mercy weekend in the history of our parish,” said Father Marcello.  “And all of us had a strong sense of St. André coming to visit the church whose renovation and beautification his prayers helped to make possible.”

The major relic of St. André was also present during Divine Mercy Sunday confessions, as well as the Divine Mercy Eucharistic Holy Hour and Chaplet at 3 pm on Divine Mercy Sunday.

“The life of St. André is such a beautiful example of God’s mercy at work in the world,” said Deacon Toole.  “With great kindness and humility, St. André received everyone who came to see him, and after they had spent time with him, they returned to their everyday lives uplifted, encouraged, and healed spiritually – and often healed physically as well.”

FAIRFIELD- At a Prayer Service held at St. Catherine Academy, Sister Cheryl Driscoll, RSM, led students and staff in a reflection in honor of Holy Week, a time of deep significance in our Catholic faith.

The service followed the narrative of Jesus at the at the Last Supper. She explained that, “Holy Thursday was the night Jesus gathered his friends like we are gathered here today.”

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and then told his friends to go out and do the same, exemplifying servitude, humility and love.

“Jesus was us to show others love and compassion like He does,” Sister Cheryl said.

Academy teachers, Sister Cheryl, Sister Marilyn, Jim Winebrenner, and Principal Eric Spencer proceeded to wash the hands of students and staff, mirroring Jesus’ act of love and service.

After the washing of hands, all were prayerfully reminded that on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine, gave to His friends and said, “when you eat this bread and drink this wine, remember me.”

The service further explored Jesus’ moments of prayer in the garden before his arrest, highlighting his acceptance of his impending sacrifice. Students participated at the end of the ceremony, respectfully carrying a wooden cross, reminding us of Jesus’ journey and death.

This service was a wonderful opportunity to provide this significant learning lesson to the students, emphasizing the importance of understanding the events of Holy Week and embodying the spirit of love and compassion exemplified by Jesus. Through reflection and participation, students gained a deeper understanding of the significance of this sacred time, instilling the timeless teachings of Jesus Christ.

Editor’s note: The following is a story of Encounter and Accompaniment from “CM” shared by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano in his weekly “The One” newsletter. To subscribe to this newsletter, click here.

About ten years ago, some of us felt called to pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy on Fridays. We started out slowly, but the little group has been faithful. We have grown together in our love for Jesus and His mother, as well as our fondness for each other. We have experienced many answered prayers and shared the blessings we have faced with each other.

Through the years, four of our members have passed on into His Mercy.

This year we have been blessed by being assigned, as a parochial vicar to our parish, a holy priest who loves St. Faustina and St. John Paul ll. Now, in addition to our prayer group we have a Eucharistic Holy Hour every Friday at 3 pm with Benediction and Confession.

We recently added a first Friday Mass following the holy hour. God continues to bless us with the people He moves in and out of our lives.

God has rewarded our faithfulness by adding blessing upon blessing and grace upon grace. We are so grateful!

If you have a story of encounter or accompaniment you would like to share, please email the.one@diobpt.org. You will have the option of writing your story or meeting with one of the bishop’s team and recording your audio.

By Rose Brennan

MONROE—Jozef Ukaj, a Diocese of Bridgeport seminarian studying at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, is set to be ordained to the transitional diaconate this Sunday, April 7—Divine Mercy Sunday.

Following his transitional diaconate, Ukaj will be ordained to the sacred priesthood on Saturday, June 15 at St. Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport. He will undertake the Sacrament of Holy Orders alongside David Klein, a transitional deacon from Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Stamford, currently assigned to St. Gregory the Great Parish in Danbury.

Born on March 16, 1988 in Kosovo, Ukaj is the youngest of four children. His family moved to the United States in 2000, settling in Yonkers, N.Y.

Ukaj graduated from Saunders Trade and Technical High School in Yonkers, and was a blue collar worker in Manhattan for several years before entering seminary in 2015 at the age of 27.

He attended the Cathedral House of Formation Seminary in Queens, N.Y. while enrolled at St. John’s University from 2015 to 2019. He then studied at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers from 2019 to 2022, and then at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass. from 2022 to 2024.

Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary is a unique one, as it is the only American seminary for these candidates for the priesthood who are 30 and over and is administered by diocesan priests. It is committed to “the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation of candidates aged 30 and older.”

Ukaj said when he is ordained to the priesthood, he is looking forward to hearing confessions and offering spiritual direction to the faithful.

Ukaj will be ordained on Sunday, April 7 at 3 pm at St. Jude Parish in Monroe. All are invited to attend.

By Kathy-Ann Gobin

BROOKFIELD—More than 100 lit luminaries lined the front of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Church in Brookfield as the faithful gathered for the annual Easter Vigil Mass.

“This is the greatest night in the Church,” said Father Shawn W. Jordan, St. Marguerite’s pastor. “On this Easter night, we celebrate this great light in our life.”

As each person entered the Candlewood Lake Road church, they received a white candle. The Mass began in darkness and after the Easter Paschal Candle was lit, Father Jordan proceeded to light a parishioner’s candle and each parishioner turned and lit the candle of the person next to them until the entire church was awash in candlelight, signifying the light of Christ being shared with everyone and the hope and renewal of Easter and Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

Several Old Testament readings were read by candlelight. Following the Gospel reading, the lights of the church were turned on and candles extinguished, indicating that Christ is Risen.

“We are not made to live in darkness,” said Father Jordan during his homily. “Our eyes naturally went to the light not the darkness, our lives naturally gravitate to him.”

“People live with a great sense of darkness in our life today,” said Father Jordan, referencing the prayer requests that were hand-written on the paper luminaries lining the outside of the church.

The luminaries were available in the narthex of the church for anyone to write their prayer intentions. Father Jordan said many of the luminaries, which were lit with battery-operated votive candles, had requests for prayers for family members to come back to church, for family relationships in complete breakdown to be repaired, for marriages to be better and for addictions to be broken.

Following the homily, the candles held by the faithful, were once again lit before the renewal of baptismal promises. Father Jordan then blessed those gathered by walking throughout the church and sprinkling Holy Water on the congregation. Bottles of Holy Water were available for everyone to take home.

“I like the candlelight ceremony and the symbolism of being in the dark and coming into the light,” said Jennifer Maas, who was attending the Mass with her family.

Parishioner and choir member Phyllis Babulini agreed.

“It’s very emotional,” she said. “It just means so much.”

Father Jordan said it is important to follow what the angels instructed the women at the tomb of Christ to do; to spread the Good News that Christ is Risen from the dead.

“Now like the angels told the women, may we go and do it.”

FAIRFIELD—Meet Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, SJ, at the intersection of science and theology and embark with him on a conversation titled “Adventures of a Vatican Astronomer” at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Presented by Fairfield University’s Office of Mission & Ministry, this event is free and open to the public; register to attend at quickcenter.com.

Known widely as “the Pope’s astronomer,” Br. Consolmagno is both a Jesuit brother and a planetary scientist at the Vatican Observatory, splitting his time between the meteorite collection in Rome and the Vatican telescope in Arizona. Thanks to his Vatican connections, his work has sent him around the world — several times — to dozens of countries and every continent, including a meteorite hunting expedition to Antarctica.

During his talk at the Quick Center, Br. Consolmagno said that he will “share some of those adventures, and reflect on the larger meaning of our common experience as scientists… not only what we do, but why we do it.”

The coauthor of two astronomy books, Turn Left at Orion and Worlds Apart, Br. Consolmagno is also the author or co-author of four books exploring faith and science issues, including The Way to the Dwelling of Light, Brother Astronomer, God’s Mechanics, and Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial?

He has hosted science programs for BBC Radio 4, has been interviewed in numerous documentary films, and has appeared on The Colbert Report. In 2000, the International Astronomical Association (IAU) named an asteroid after him, Asteroid 4597 Consolmagno, in honor of his contributions to the study of meteorites and asteroids.

In 2018, Br. Consolmagno delivered the Commencement address to Fairfield’s Class of 2018 and received an honorary degree from the university for his contributions to the field of science.

Originally from Detroit, Br. Consolmagno earned his BS and MS degrees in earth and planetary studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his PhD in planetary science from the University of Arizona. He was a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at the Harvard Observatory from 1978 to 1980, and continued as a postdoc and lecturer at MIT.

In 1983, Br. Consolmagno left MIT to join the U.S. Peace Corps and serve in Kenya for two years, teaching physics and astronomy. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1985, he taught physics at Lafayette College prior to entering the Jesuit order in 1989 and taking vows as a Jesuit brother in 1991. Br. Consolmagno also studied philosophy and theology at Loyola University Chicago, and physics at the University of Chicago, prior to his assignment to the Vatican Observatory in 1993.

This event is free and open to the general public. Register to attend at quickcenter.com.

By Kathy-Ann Gobin

DANBURY – Experiencing Christ’s healing love and His ministry of service to one another was embodied during the Holy Thursday Mass at St. Joseph Church in Danbury.

“We celebrate tonight the gift, the institution, of the Eucharist, which is our nourishment and our salvation by Jesus the Great High Priest, at the Last Supper,” said Pastor Fr. Samuel Scott as he welcomed all gathered to the evening Mass.

“At that First Eucharist, Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of his healing love. Tonight’s commemoration is not a historical reenactment of that event,” Fr. Scott said, adding, “The feet of today’s disciples, in our community, our being washed in order for all to experience Christ’s healing love and as a sign of Christ’s ministry of service to one another.”

This year, the twelve people participating in the washing of the feet were educators, teachers, catechists and coaches.

The washing of the feet imitates the humility and selfless love of Jesus, who washed the feet of the Twelve Apostles at the Last Supper, the night before his Crucifixion.

“On this night, on this day of the year, Holy Thursday, we specifically remember Jesus’s actions and we hear how he instituted the Eucharist and gave us, his disciples, the commandment of fraternal charity and to exemplify what he meant by this commandment to, “Love one another as I have loved you,” Jesus, washes the feet of his disciples,” said Fr. Harry Prieto during his homily.

Fr. Prieto said Jesus did not discriminate and lived a life of service to all including the poor, the sick, sinners, people neglected or despised by society, to the oppressed and anyone in need who sought him. He said all of Jesus’ disciples should do the same.

“We are called to that kind of love and service and sometimes perhaps it will have to be done at great personal risk but that is the true test of a disciple of Jesus to follow the teacher to follow the master, in service to all offering everything of ourselves without reservation or hesitations and without any conditions,” Fr. Prieto said.

Following his homily, Fr. Prieto, assisted by Deacon Bill Timmel, washed the feet of twelve people seated at the altar.

“As Jesus’s modern-day disciples, we are called to extend the spirit of Jesus’ symbolic actions and the spirit of his presence among us,” said Fr. Prieto, adding that as Jesus’ disciples should work for the salvation of the world.

Fr. Prieto said this can be accomplished through forgiving grudges against family members, sincerely engaging with a homeless person who we may encounter or showing compassion or respect to those who may disagree with us.

“Jesus, the teacher, showed us that to lead, is to serve,” Fr. Prieto said, adding that we should imitate Jesus through genuine acts of service and compassion towards others. “Let us embrace the call to be humble servants and teachers of love, kindness and mercy, in such a way, that we may see Christ in all those we serve.”

The following is a transcript of Bishop Caggiano at Saturday’s Easter Vigil.

My dear sisters and brothers in the Lord, tonight, we join our voices in song with Christians throughout the world, when we proclaim, “Christ is risen, Christ is truly risen.”

You and I have heard the sacred Scriptures heard tonight about how God kept faithful from the beginning of creation and despite the sins of his people in the fullness of time, sent his son into the world, he who is love himself and that love this night, this holy night, had victory over sin and death.

You and I entered this church in darkness, and we saw the light peel away the darkness. We entered this church in silence, and soon the church was filled with song and praise. For my dear friends, we come here tonight just not to celebrate the victory that Christ had, but the victory you and I will have in him, for his life is our life, and his glory will be our glory.

Those of us already baptized have that promise of eternal life. And you, my dear friends, who will be baptized to this night tonight, God will enter into you, forgive your original sin and all the sins you have committed in your life and will give you a share of the song of glory that one day you too will rise from the dead as he did. And you, my dear friends who will be confirmed, you will stand up and confirm your baptism in the power of the Holy Spirit. And once again, the Lord will remind you that your destiny is not death, but life. It’s not slavery, but freedom in him.

But you see my friends, the challenge of this night is not simply to come here and sing the praises of God, but to learn that we are to sing his praises, that he’s truly risen, every day of our lives. For tonight, it may appear easy in the joy of this season, but may I ask you, what about the times you and I suffer? What about the times you and I are confused or betrayed or hurt? What about the times in your life and mind when we don’t get what we want the way we want it, or those around us are suffering or are in pain Those days it may not be as easy to sing, “Christ is risen. Christ is truly risen.” But he is. And even in those moments, my friends, we must learn to have the courage to stand faithful to him as he was, and to sing his glories even when we do not know where life will bring us.

You see, my friends, the early Christians knew that, for they sang the praises of God in the catacombs. When they were persecuted, even when they were put to death, they sang because they knew that Christ would be faithful and they knew that would one day share his glory. And you and I, 21 centuries later must learn the same lesson.

Pray my friends on this holy night, that your faith and mine in the Risen Lord will grow deeper. Pray with me that when I suffer or when you suffer, that we will not lose hope. Pray with me that you and I, in the moments when we find ourselves in darkness, will not believe that the tomb is not empty. Pray with me, you and I together, that in a world that refuses to see resurrection, forgiveness and life, that that world will see it in you and me.

Pray my friends, that at every moment of every day, of every circumstance we find ourselves, whether we are joyful or sorrowing, whether we are laughing or crying, we will remember the song of this night and by our words, by our actions, by our example, by our life, and even by our death, we will forever sing the hymn in which we have hope: “Christ is risen. Christ is truly risen.” To him be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Photos by Amy Mortensen

BRIDGEPORT — Bishop Frank Caggiano led the annual Good Friday multi-parish stations of the cross procession through the city, from St. Mary to Our Lady of Fatima Friday.

The city closed East Main Street for the 10 a.m. event, which featured music and prayers in English, Creole, Portuguese and Spanish.

Credit: ctpost.com for story

Photos by Amy Mortensen

By Emily Clark

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano commemorated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Augustine Cathedral on Holy Thursday, the first of the three solemn days of the Sacred Paschal Triduum. The faithful gathered to remember Jesus’ final meal but also to celebrate the washing of his apostles’ feet and the institution of the Eucharist as the true body and blood of Christ. As incense rose heavenward, voices from the choir so reverently proclaimed hymns in both Latin and English, commemorating the moment when Jesus uttered what the bishop called “words that changed all creation.”

“Words matter,” he said as he opened the homily. “We gather tonight in this sacred space to sit in awe of the words Jesus spoke this night to his apostles: this is my body; this is the cup of my blood. He did not say ‘this is like my body’ or ‘this is a sign of my body.’ And if words matter, the one who speaks the words matters even more. The one who spoke the words is our savior, our redeemer.”

The bishop reminded those before him that Jesus took a simple meal and transformed it into the sacrament of his Passover. This, he said, though a mystery, is also a great gift. “My friends, here is the Lord Jesus’ true body, true blood, soul and divinity,” he continued. “He comes to us every time we gather to do this in his memory. There are no words in any language that can fully describe the mystery we celebrate so that we might, with his grace, love as he did.”

In attempting to do so, the bishop asked the congregation if, when they receive this sacrament each Sunday, they are willing to allow it to fill their hearts so they may love as he did and love in a way “different from the world that wants to divide us.” He also offered a reminder of how easy it is to take another, including the Lord, for granted. Referring to the removal of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, Bishop Caggiano said, “Tonight, he is no longer in this tabernacle so that we may once again not take his presence for granted. Tonight, we have the opportunity to spend time with him, so please my friends, spend that time.”

“This is my body. This is my blood,” the bishop recited. “These are the words that have changed the whole world. What words will we say to him in return?”
Following the homily, a reenactment of the humble washing of the feet began, in which, the bishop said, Jesus taught his followers how to love one another. With a towel and a basin of water, the bishop emulated Jesus on the night before his death as he washed the feet of 12 men, some in dress shirts and ties, others in T-shirts and jeans. The choir sang the antiphons as those in attendance responded with “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” Many of these men, who all volunteered just prior to Mass, bowed in prayer as the bishop completed this ritual.

After Holy Communion, the bishop knelt before the altar and incensed the Blessed Sacrament. Led by fellow priests and altar servers, Bishop Caggiano carried a veiled ciborium and processed through the cathedral as the choir sang the traditional “Pange Lingua Glorisi.” The body of Christ was then placed in an altar of repose as the strands of “Tantum Ergo” ended, concluding the liturgy.

From the altar, flowers were removed and candles were snuffed. While the priests left the sanctuary, a line began to form for adoration, and the faithful prayed in silence as the sacred observance of Good Friday approached.

Photos by Amy Mortensen