Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

FAIRFIELD COUNTY—“Our hope and destiny lie in becoming one with Him and one another in a community of love,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said during noon Mass on Palm Sunday at St. Matthew Parish in Norwalk.

“We stand on the cusp of the week we call holy,” bishop said. “In the days to come, we will see what happens at the hands of those religious leaders who were convinced that God was a God that wanted the law followed to the letter, not mindful of the compassion and mercy that should go with that.”

The bishop explained that when God came in the flesh he came with a merciful heart, but those religious leaders did not want to hear it. “They decided on the God they wanted.”

“They did not want to hear about a God who cares about justice, peace and right order,” said the bishop.

He said the God they received was the shepherd who came to preach forgiveness, mercy and love.

“This is the week that reveals the fundamental choice every human person needs to make,” said the bishop. “We either, in humility, surrender and trust, kneel before the God who truly is or we cling to a God of our own making who simply will not last.”

The bishop acknowledged how busy everyone is at this time of year. “We are all busy, but this week, my friends, make time to walk with Jesus.”

He encouraged the congregation to return for Holy Week liturgies. “Come back on Holy Thursday night and sit at the table of our salvation with Him. On Good Friday, come for the unveiling for the true face of God so we can make our choice over and over again.So when we come a week from today to celebrate the victory of the Easter, we’ll know in our hearts, in our minds, that the victory is not just His, but it is yours and mine, as well.”

Bishop Caggiano also visited St. Jude parish in Monroe for the 9:30 am Mass.

Photos by Amy Mortensen

Bishop Caggiano’s schedule for Holy Week will include liturgies celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral and other churches in the diocese. All Masses are open to the public. The Masses will also be live-streamed and available online.

Holy Thursday, April 14 10 am

Chrism Mass— St. Theresa Church, Trumbull 7 pm

Mass of the Lord’s Supper— St. Augustine Cathedral

Good Friday, April 15 3 pm

Passion of the Lord— Our Lady of the Assumption, Fairfield

Holy Saturday, April 16 8 pm

Easter Vigil— St. Augustine Cathedral St. Augustine Cathedral is located at 399 Washington Avenue in Bridgeport.

(For online viewing, visit the diocese website: www.bridgeportdiocese.org. For information on Holy Week services in parishes throughout the diocese, visit: www.bridgeportdiocese.org/mass-times.)