Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

WASHINGTON—Catholics across the country are invited to take part in the “9 Days for Life” novena January 21-29 for the protection of human life.

ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) — The Rev. Martin Luther King, the slain civil rights leader who is honored with a federal holiday the third Monday of January, “relied upon faith and prayer” to combat the racism and prejudice he and other U.S. Blacks suffered, said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington.

Pictured: A woman holds a placard with an image of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during a silent prayer walk near his memorial in Washington April 4, 2018. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

In a statement issued Jan. 15, on what would have been Rev. King’s 92nd birthday, Bishop Burbidge said: “Through Dr. King’s witness and the power of his echoing words, he championed the inherent God-given dignity of all persons, particularly those subjected to bigotry and prejudice.”

He added, “In his courageous fight against racism and bigotry, Dr. King relied upon faith and prayer. Hope and transformative love were central to his message, as he reminded us, ‘Hate is too great a burden to bear.’”

Bishop Burbidge said, “Sadly, despite significant achievements, the sin of racism continues to affect men, women and children in communities across the nation. As we work to address this evil, we must remember that what we ultimately seek is a genuine conversion of hearts that will compel change.”

He added, “Together, let us pray that those harboring the burden of hate yield to the Prince of Peace, the source of salvation and love, Jesus Christ.”

“Our world has dramatically changed” from the last King holiday, said Bernice King, Rev. King’s youngest child, during a Jan. 11 forum, “The Urgency of Creating the Beloved Community.”

King took note of the coronavirus pandemic, which exposed “the fault lines” of racial inequity.

“We were also forced to come face to face with our nation’s racist reality” and “the depth of the hate and disdain for Black lives,” she said, citing the “violent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor” and so many others,” followed by “protests the likes of which the world has not seen before.”

On top of those, King said, the United States conducted “the world’s most costly, contentious and challenging election of our times, which threatened to disenfranchise millions of voters,” And after that, a mob sought to “stop the democratic process, incited by this country’s leader,” she added.

“This,” she noted, “has been a year of extremes. We’ve experienced extremes in our stock market, extreme darkness, extreme unemployment, extreme underemployment, extreme homelessness — extreme distancing where many have not seen loved ones in person for almost a year or stepped into one another’s homes.”

Moreover, King said, there was “extreme militarism with our police” plus “loss of life, loss of business, even extreme of loss of civility. … Humanity now beckons us with a sense of urgency to shift in these hours to save the very soul of our nation.”

She added, “We not only believe the beloved community can not only be achieved, but must be achieved with great urgency” so the nation can move “toward a more humane, suitable and peaceful society.”

By: Catholic News Service

BRIDGEPORT— “There is very little that is ordinary about the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, because we are invited into the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said in his homily for Sunday January 17.

The bishop, who resumed saying his weekly online Mass from the Catholic Center chapel after nearly two weeks in quarantine following a positive Covid-19 test, said the Gospel of John (1: 35-42) leaves us all with a burning question in life, “What do you really want? What does your heart desire more than anything else?”

It’s the same question Jesus asks the apostles as he begins his public ministry, and invites Simon Peter to join him, (1:38) “Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

“What are you looking for?” the bishop repeated, noting that it’s an innocent question we ask each other at least a thousand times in our lives.

Yet these same words from Jesus invite us to a “deep and profound reflection, a question for the heart, and the answer to that question makes all the difference between heaven and earth,” he said.

The bishop said that we all wish to be happy in life, but if we seek pleasure, power or possessions in an inordinate way, we are looking for the wrong thing.

Likewise, if we do good for others and that gives us a great sense of satisfaction, “even that is not enough to answer the question Jesus asks,” he said.

The bishop said that St. Augustine in the odyssey of his conversion to faith taught us that “the answer is much deeper, and that there is a ‘restlessness of heart’ that only finds peace in God.”

“What we’re truly looking for is God’s life in its fullness in your life and mine, leading us to the fullness of eternal life,” he said. “That alone satisfies your heart and mine… The question is, how do we go about finding it?”

The bishop said that in the time of Jesus, there was a saying that devout young Jewish men “desired to be covered with the dust of the Rabbi.”

A young man was chosen and formed by the Rabbi who allowed him to enter into the community of life with other young men, “so that he could learn what the Rabbi knew, follow his example, share food at his table, and walk close enough behind him to be covered in the dust of his sandals, so that he might fall in love with God.”

The bishop said that Jesus offered that to the apostles and is inviting us to do the same thing, to see and stay with him, to enter into his life, to walk with him in our solitude and learn his Holy Word.

“Every moment we are invited to be intentionally with Jesus, to desire to spend time with him, to learn and imitate him, and allow him to lead us. What will happen is that we will begin to get a glimpse of the love God already has for you and me–the love that invites us to greatness in him and to be different from those around us, and authentic in faith.”

The bishop said it’s not the clothes we walk in that matter in life, but what makes us different is the dust we accumulate—the testament and witness we give to the sacred.

The bishop concluded his homily by recalling that when he was a little boy, he was fascinated by the story of the genie and the three wishes, and he often wondered what his should be.

“This is a spiritual challenge for you and me alike. If the Lord appeared before us right now and would give us three wishes, what would you ask for? What would you really desire? What would you really want?” he asked.

“Allow me to suggest that if one of those three wishes is not to be covered in the dust of the example of Jesus Christ, then you and I in the weeks ahead have a lot of work to do.”

Before giving the final blessing the bishop offered his “personal and sincere thanks” for all of the prayers, emails and notes he received during his quarantine period.

“Thank you for your support, but let’s not forget all those who are suffering and remain in quarantine, and those in hospitals. Now more than ever we need to pray for each other and support each other. And all who are eligible for the vaccine, please consider receiving it, so that we can turn the tide on this menace and with God’s mercy come back to the normality that you and I desperately want.”

The Bishop’s Sunday Mass is released online every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and available for replay throughout the day. To view the Bishop’s Sunday Mass, recorded and published weekly, click this link or visit the YouTube Mass Playlist.

You are also invited to join Bishop Caggiano for the Sunday Family Rosary every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. visit: https://formationreimagined.org/sundayfamilyrosary/

BRIDGEPORT- The Diocese of Bridgeport has released the 2021-2024 Strategic Plan for Catholic Schools: “To Make All Things New.”

This strategic plan focuses on four strategic priorities including ensuring a vibrant Catholic identity, fostering academic excellence, and strengthening the operational vitality and financial stability of schools.

The report is the result of a three-year effort by the Strategic Plan Steering Committee composed of diocesan and non-diocesan leaders in areas of education, finance, marketing, and strategic planning who worked collaboratively with the school leadership and consulted with others throughout the diocese.

“My gratitude goes out to all who participated in the planning process and made this strategic plan possible. I am especially grateful to our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Cheeseman, and his team in the Office of the Superintendent, as well as the members of the Education Commission of the Diocese who spend countless hours supporting our schools with their expertise,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

The diocesan school system includes 25 elementary and high schools that educate over 7,000 students throughout Fairfield County.

Among the recommendations made in the report is the creation of an Operational Support Network (OSN) to centralize and streamline certain administrative tasks across schools in the diocese, the development of financial and viability plans for all schools, the introduction of new governance models, and a yearly assessment of the Catholic identity in the schools.

“It is my belief that the successful implementation of this plan will lead to long term and systemic change. Through a re-allocation of resources, redistribution of leadership responsibilities, and a reimagining of the ways in which our schools carry out administrative and management functions, our hope is that we can remove much of the burden our school leaders shoulder so that they can focus on nurturing an ever-improving faith-filled academic program,” the bishop said.

Dr. Steven Cheeseman, Superintendent of Diocesan Catholic Schools, said the plan enables the schools to think strategically about their future while remaining student-centered and faith-focused.

“As we look to our future, we must challenge some of the fundamental assumptions under which we operate in order to meet the changing dynamics of our world. We need to ensure that schools can be nimble and agile, and that school-based leadership has the capacity to anticipate and envision the future, maintain flexibility, think strategically, and engage the broader community. Most importantly, as we think strategically about our future, we must always remain student-centered, and faith focused.

He said that as the schools move into the future, one of the biggest challenges remains the financial stability of the diocesan system as it is currently configured.

“With a concern that the true economic impact of the pandemic has not yet been fully revealed, we have to reexamine the financial health of our schools to reimagine how we share resources and services across schools, how we determine funding strategies given the financial strains of our families, and how we determine the number and location of schools needed in the system given demographic shift and community engagement,” Dr. Cheeseman said.

A realistic strategic plan for growth supports the entire diocesan school system and encourages further investment in schools challenged by demographics or other serious impediments, he said.

“The current educational, social, and economic realities represent the context within which this plan was written and require us to take bold action. It is against that backdrop that this strategic plan, To Make All Things New has been developed,” Dr. Cheeseman said.

The Strategic Planning Committee developed the To Make All Things New plan based on four fundamental guiding principles:

Above all else, schools must be “Catholic First”
Schools must provide academically superior educational programs
Schools must demonstrate the vitality and financial stability
Community stakeholders, including staff, parents, pastors, and board members must work collaboratively and engage the wider community in support of the school

The Strategic planning process was led by the Education Commission of the Diocese of Bridgeport who work collaboratively with the Superintendent to provide students with an academically rigorous education rooted in the Catholic faith and to ensure the future viability and vitality of our Catholic schools.

Click here to read the full strategic plan.

TRUMBULL—St. Joseph High School, southern Connecticut’s premier college preparatory school, announced today the names of thirteen senior student-athletes who will sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) or Celebratory Letters in four different sports.

Student-athletes, alongside their parents, will celebrate their achievements at a signing/commitment event in St. Joseph High School’s newly renovated gymnasium on Thursday, January 21 at 9 am. The event will be socially distant and all will be required to wear masks.

The NLI is a document used to indicate a student’s commitment to participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association colleges and universities in the United States. The NLI is a binding agreement between a prospective student-athlete and a member institution. The Celebratory Letter (for Division III athletes) indicates that a student has been accepted to and plans to attend an institution. The following St Joes Seniors will participate:

Jack Fearnley – Lacrosse – Binghamton University – Division I
Madison Fitzgerald – Softball – Bryant University – Division I
Madeline Fried – Soccer – Villanova University – Division I
Andriana Cabral – Soccer – American University – Division I
Preston Kral – Lacrosse – Stonybrook University – Division I
Mia Alicea – Softball – American International College – Division II
Eric Burbank – Lacrosse – York College – Division III
Hailey Cocca – Soccer – Eastern CT State University – Division III
Andrew Eisenman – Lacrosse – Lake Forest College – Division III
Grace Hickey – Soccer – Ithaca College – Division III
Justin Keeler – Baseball – Brandeis University – Division III
Max Kimmel – Lacrosse – Roger Williams University – Division III
Samantha Miller – Lacrosse – Hartwick College – Division III

“We are so proud of the academic and athletic accomplishments of all our student-athletes,” remarked Kevin Butler, Assistant Principal for Athletics. “Their dedication, hard work and commitment both in the classroom and on the athletic fields is a huge achievement. We wish them all the best next year in college and beyond.”

As part of their NLI, prospective student-athletes agree to attend the institution full-time for one academic year and the institution agrees to provide athletes financial aid for one academic year.

BRIDGEPORT—Foundations in Education’s gala returns to Woodway Country Club in Darien, on May 6, 2021 with honorees Lynn and Francis X. Mara of the New York Football Giants, Inc. and Dr. Julia M. McNamara, President Emerita, Albertus Magnus College.

Gala Co-chairs Barbara Ripp and Xandy Duffy met with Foundations in Education staff to begin planning this year’s unique event. The full gala committee will meet virtually later this month. Celebrity auctioneer Pat Tully will provide an entertaining evening of humor and high energy as guests bid on exclusive packages, including a priceless experience with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. The evening will include cocktails and dinner at Woodway Country Club, with a virtual option for the formal program.

Foundations in Education supports the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Bridgeport. The annual gala brings together business, political and charitable leaders throughout Fairfield County.

Proceeds from the gala benefit Foundations in Education, including the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund and Innovation and Leadership Grant Program. This year Foundations awarded 1,271 children $2,700,000 in tuition assistance to attend Catholic schools throughout the Bridgeport Diocese. The Foundation also makes grants to teachers for innovative and leadership initiatives in our Catholic schools. This year the Foundation recognized all teachers and staff with an Amazon gift card for their Innovation and Leadership for their heroic efforts in teaching throughout the pandemic.

If you wish to volunteer, sponsor, contribute or learn more about Foundations in Education or the Gala, please visit www.foundationsineducation.org or contact Megan Quinn at 203.416.1671 or mquinn@foundationsineducation.org.

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis offered prayers for the people of the United States “shaken by the recent siege on Congress” and prayed for the five people who lost their lives “in those dramatic moments” when protesters stormed the Capitol January 6.

Remarking on the events after reciting the Angelus prayer January 10, the pope insisted that “violence is always self-destructive. Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost.”

The pope urged government leaders “and the entire population to maintain a high sense of responsibility in order to soothe tempers, promote national reconciliation and protect the democratic values rooted in American society.”

And he prayed that “Mary Immaculate, patroness of the United States of America,” would “help keep alive the culture of encounter, the culture of caring, as the way to build together the common good; and may she do so with all who live in that land.”

Pope Francis’ remarks came one day after the release of clips of an interview in which he said he was “astonished” by the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, especially because the people of the United States are “so disciplined in democracy.”

The interview with Italy’s Canale 5 was scheduled for broadcast January 10, but some clips were aired January 9.

Violence, he told the interviewer, must always be condemned, but it also is true that in even the most “mature” societies, there are violent minorities, “people taking a path against the community, against democracy, against the common good.”

“But thank God this erupted and people could see it well. That way it can be remedied,” he said.

“No nation can brag about never having a case of violence—it happens,” he said. “We must understand it, so it is not repeated—learn from history, right?”

In the interview, Pope Francis also spoke about the COVID-19 vaccine.

From an ethical point of view, he said, “I think everyone must take the vaccine; it’s the ethical option because you are playing with your health, life, but you also are playing with the lives of others.”

Sometime in the week beginning January 11 the Vatican expects to begin vaccinating residents and employees who have asked to be vaccinated, “and I signed up; it must be done.”

Pope Francis recalled that when he was a child, polio was a real threat, “and many children were left paralyzed and people were desperate for a vaccine. When the vaccine came out, they gave it to you with a bit of sugar.”

“I don’t know why some people say, ‘No, the vaccine is dangerous,’ but if physicians present it to you as something that will do good, that doesn’t carry particular dangers, why not take it?” he said.

Pope Francis said he could not explain “suicidal denialism,” but “people must take the vaccine.”

By Cindy Wooden I Catholic News Service

Throughout the coronavirus crisis, there have been countless “next-door saints,” as Pope Francis describes them. They include volunteers working with their parishes and Catholic Charities, who responded to the increased demand by the needy who were homeless, jobless and without food. They include priests in hospitals, nursing homes and churches who ministered to the sick and the dying. Some of them, following the example of St. Charles Borromeo, walked through their neighborhoods or flew above Fairfield County with the Blessed Sacrament, offering prayers and blessing to abate the COVID pandemic.

Msgr. Gregory J. Fairbanks, a church historian who is Dean of the School of Diaconal Formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Penn., says that during plagues and pandemics, heroism has been a common characteristic demonstrated by followers of Christ. And these periods of crisis have proven to be the times “when the greatest saints are born.”

“Christians have tried to do their best to minister to those who were suffering and didn’t have anyone else to take care of them,” he says.

An example within his own community occurred a century ago during the Spanish flu of 1918, when 300 seminarians from St. Charles assisted at area hospitals and helped bury many of those who died in their homes in Philadelphia.

The Spanish flu in some ways rivaled the medieval plague. Many of the victims woke up in good health and were dead within 24 hours because their lungs filled up with fluid and they suffocated. Health experts believe the flu infected up to 500 million people, or a third of the world’s population.

Philadelphia was the epicenter of the flu in America, Msgr. Fairbanks says, and its spread was accelerated by a large gathering at a war bond rally downtown. A week later the number of deaths spiked.

“The real problem was people were dying in their homes because the hospitals were full, and there was a nurse shortage,” he said. “And because the grave diggers couldn’t keep up with the number of burials, bodies were piling up in rows at the city’s cemeteries.”

The new archbishop of Philadelphia mandated that religious go into the city and that the sisters and priests care for the poor and help in hospitals. He also asked the seminarians to dig graves in the cemeteries, and they all volunteered. One or two seminarians died from the flu.

“The city was not ready for a crisis of that magnitude, but the Church came out big and was later recognized by the city and the state for how well it responded,” Monsignor said.

He uses that example in his classes to remind seminarians that they are descendants of “a long tradition of caring for the poor and the sick and the downtrodden.”

A century later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 seminarians from St. Charles continued the tradition by helping to feed the hungry in Philadelphia through the private organization Caring for Friends, while six others handed out food to the homeless at the Hub of Hope shelter.

This January, four seminarians from the Diocese of Bridgeport will begin studies at St. Charles and join 149 others from dioceses across the nation.

Msgr. Fairbanks of St. Charles Borromeo seminary

“When we look back in Church history, we see men and women who stood up in times of great trial and turmoil and made a difference,” Msgr. Fairbanks said. “They really showed that their faith could lead them through the difficulties of their times, whether it be plague or great periods of war or whatever the cause.”

Early Christians helped victims of the Antonine Plague in the second century, during the Plague of Cyprian in the third century and the Plague of Justinian, which began in 542 CE.

In the fourth century, when another plague spread across the empire, Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, wrote: “In the midst of such illness, the Christians alone showed their sympathy and humanity through their deeds.

Every day some continued caring for and burying the dead, for there were multitudes who had no one to care for them; others collected those who were afflicted by the famine throughout the entire city into one place, and gave bread to them all.”

During the 16th century plague in Northern Italy, Archbishop of Milan Charles Borromeo told his priests, “Do not be so forgetful of your priesthood as to prefer a late death to a holy one.”

He made them increase the number of Masses, which were celebrated outside, and erected 19 pillars throughout Milan to show where Mass was held every morning. Catechism classes were conducted on street corners, and priests heard confessions in the doorways of homes and brought Communion to the faithful on Sundays. There was public prayer and penance, and three times a week, the Archbishop walked through the city barefoot with a penitential cord draped around his neck. Every day, he went to the leper house to administer the sacraments. He gave last rites to the dying and baptized newborns.

One Capuchin friar said of him: “He fears nothing. It is useless to try to frighten him. He exposes himself to much danger, but so far he has been preserved by the special grace of God. He says he cannot do otherwise — indeed, the city has no other help and consolation.”

Three centuries later, Servant of God Fr. Patrick Ryan, whose cause for sainthood is before the Vatican, showed heroic virtue in fighting the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878. The pastor of Saints Peter and Paul parish in Chattanooga, Tenn., he died at 33 after refusing to leave when the virus swept through the city. Instead, like St. Charles, he stayed and ministered to the sick and dying in one of the poorest neighborhoods. On his grave is the epitaph, “The just shall be in everlasting remembrance.”

During the Spanish flu pandemic, Fr. James Coyle, pastor of St. Paul’s Church in Birmingham, Alabama, saw the city’s churches shuttered after the governor ordered schools, houses of worship and theaters to close to prevent spreading the flu.

However, Father Coyle continued to write sermons and columns, which were published in the Birmingham News, and offer encouragement to his flock during the pandemic.

In a column that appeared October 1918, he wrote: “Indeed, the times are out of joint. Holding as we do with firmest faith a belief that to many is folly — that Holy Mass is Calvary continued, that our sins when repented sincerely and confessed are washed away, that the Holy Eucharist is the true, real substantial Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of God’s Son — small wonder that deprived of these we hope and pray fervently the epidemic will soon pass away, that our churches may once more be thrown open to our devout worshippers. Darkness is over the face of the city. May there soon be a fiat lux — ‘Let there be light.’”

(The above report is Part II of a three-part series by Joe Pisani on “The Church during plagues and pandemics.” Part 1 offered a look at how the Church of today’s pandemic and the Church that coped with the plague are united in their faith and attempts to safeguard life. Part III will reflect on “Standing with Christ during the Crisis.”)

January 8, 2021 — Bishop Caggiano has issued the following Decree Establishing The Quasi-parish Notre Dame Du Perpetuel Secours For The Haitian Catholic Community. Use the arrow buttons to page through the document below.

Haitian Catholic Community Decree

NEWTOWN— St. Rose students are back in school after the Christmas break and very excited to be here!

Enjoy these fun photos: Preschoolers jump for joy on their first day back in the new year; two Kindergarten students exchange Advent Angel gifts on the Feast of the Epiphany and first grade students place hay out for the camels on the Feast of the Epiphany then receive coins and little kings to celebrate the day.

St. Rose School is looking forward to their Virtual Open House on January 31st and special activities for Catholic Schools Week!

(For more information on St. Rose of Lima school, visit their website at: www.stroseschool.com.)

DANBURY—Immaculate High School recently inducted 57 students into the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapter of the National Honor Society, an affiliated chartered chapter of the National Honor Society. Students who are inducted into the National Society are required to have a minimum 3.5 GPA. They must also have a leadership role in either the school or community, inspire positive behavior in others, have served at least 75 hours (juniors) or 100 hours (seniors) of community service and consistently demonstrate respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and good citizenship. Membership is offered to juniors and seniors who meet the criteria established by the National Association of Secondary School Principals in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service and character. Once accepted, they are expected to uphold the criteria of excellence in all four areas.

“It’s unfortunate that we can’t celebrate as we usually do, but these students should be proud to be members. It’s more than just academics: these students provide many hours of service to the community and are leaders among their peers,” says Dana Pickney, advisor of the National Honor Society.

The following students were inducted into the National Honor Society during a virtual ceremony that can be viewed here.

Danbury Students: Stephanie Antonios ‘22, Nikolas Badinelli ‘22, Caitlin Doherty ‘22, William Doran ‘22, Eduardo Dos Santos ‘21, Danielle Garcia ‘22, Alexys Garden ‘21, Julia Goodwin ‘21, Wyatt Jarboe ‘22, Ernst Koch ’22, Sara MacKinnon ‘22, Kiera McCoy ‘22, Caroline Merritt ‘22, Anish Nanda ‘22, Quy Ngoc Huynh “Victoria” Nguyen ‘21, Conor O’Keefe ‘22, Gabriela Ortiz ‘22, Mario Perez ‘22, Matthew Riggs ‘21, Lynn Sanchez ‘22, Magdalena Swierczek ‘22, Caroline Tucker ‘22, Amanda Tureaud ‘22, Joseph Williams ‘22, Jake Windas ‘22

Bethel Students: Chloe Gleissner ‘22, Richard Lawlor ‘22, Audrey Quish ‘22, Christopher Suarez ‘22, Oona Tuccinardi ‘22

Brookfield Students: Arianna Petta ‘22, Nathanial Varda ‘22, Alexis Walsh ‘22

Ridgefield Students: Patrik Backus ‘22, John Christopher Karle ‘22, Kennedi Muller ‘22

Redding Students: Allie Bellone ‘22, Chloe Bellone ‘22, Calista Dudas ‘22, Carolyn Jandura ‘22, Julong Williams ‘22

Newtown Students: Katerina Crowe ‘22, Grace McLoughlin ‘22, Sophia Pertoso ‘22, Steven Reese ‘22, Thai Sapenter ‘22

Sandy Hook Students: Logan McAloon ‘21, Walker Prevedi ‘22

New Fairfield Students: Sarra Darby ‘22, Anna Flaherty ‘22, Susan Radliff ‘22, Lilly Zuccala ‘22

New Milford Students: Matthew Reeves ‘22

Bridgewater Students: Lauren Manning ‘22

North Salem, NY Students: Diana DiVestea ‘22

South Salem, NY Students: Ryan Tappan ‘22

Wingdale, NY Students: Harrison Palmer ‘21

STRATFORD—St. Mark School, Stratford’s Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, recently received an overall A+ rating by Niche for Academics, Teachers and Diversity.

Niche is the leader in K-12 and college school search with the most comprehensive data on U.S. schools and neighborhoods. Its mission is to make researching and enrolling in schools easy, transparent, and free.

“As principal of St. Mark School, I know St. Mark School provides an exceptional learning environment and a warm, inclusive community that promotes positive character and growth,” said Melissa Warner. “That continues to be true during the pandemic. Our teachers and students have risen to new heights and are doing superb work with in-person instruction. To be recognized for our strengths by Niche with the top ranking is gratifying for all of us who work hard to challenge and support our students’ growth and achievements every day.”

The newly released Niche grades are calculated using the most up-to-date data available from dozens of public sources along with millions of reviews from students, and parents.

“A high ranking indicates that the school is an exceptional academic institution with a diverse set of high-achieving students who rate their experience very highly,” according to Niche, which was founded in 2002 by Carnegie Mellon University students as an education research/review service.

St. Mark School opened its campus for in-person learning in September and continues to offer robust educational programs for students in Pre-K through Grade Eight, including those who choose to be enrolled in remote learning. This year alone, St. Mark School welcomed 56 new students and continues to attract families looking for an exceptional in-person education.

The Biggs Family, who recently transferred their 4th and 6th grade children to St. Mark School from public school, reported, “We are so very happy to be at St. Mark School. My husband loves the homework and is thrilled that our children are being pushed more than they were before. I am so thankful for all the support and offer of help and guidance we have received thus far.”

To kick off Catholic Schools Week, St. Mark School will offer School Tours for prospective families on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 10 am – 12 noon. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.stmarkschool.org. To take a virtual tour click here.

STRATFORD—It’s not uncommon for elementary school students to have a class pet such as a rabbit, guinea pig or similar little critter. But, a cow?

Remarkably, St. Mark School in Stratford has recently adopted not one cow, but three! Although they won’t have to feed the cows or clean up after them, they will get to learn a lot about the dairy industry from virtual fieldtrips and classroom lessons.

The St. Mark kindergarten class adopted a calf named Frostee, second grade adopted Cherrio and the after school program adopted Favorite.

The Adopt a Cow Program is run through Discover Dairy, a Pennsylvania-based agricultural initiative that provides interactive lessons for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Through hands-on learning activities and curriculum provided by Discover Dairy, students gain a deeper understanding of dairy farming in the community, economy, state and country.

St. Mark School was assigned to Dutch Hollow Farm in Schodack Landing, New York, where Frostee, Cherrio and Favorite were born in October 2020. The farm was established in 1976 by third-generation farmer Paul Chittenden and his wife, Melanie and now includes more than 700 milk cows.

St. Mark Students have the opportunity to talk directly with Farmer Nate, meet their calves, take virtual farm tours, and ask questions about milk production. Teachers and students receive photos, video updates, and activity sheets throughout the school year that allow them to watch their calves grow.

After School Program Director Sarah Carrano stated, “The students are very excited to learn more about their dairy cow. It is an exciting way for them to watch a calf grow throughout the year and learn how dairy farmers are impacting our communities.”

“The Adopt A Cow Program does more than just educate students about dairy—it inspires them to care about their health, the cows, and their local farmers,” claimed Second Grade Teacher Stacey Zenowich. “Through immersive activities and technology-driven content, it’s an in-classroom experience like no other.”

“I so appreciate the energy and commitment from our teachers to make this challenging year a positive, in-person experience for our students,” remarked St. Mark Principal Melissa Warner. “I am proud of everyone’s efforts and the wonderful successes we are seeing as teachers offer new, unexpected opportunities to engage students.”

St. Mark School is a Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School of Academic Excellence, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). To kick off Catholic Schools Week, St. Mark School will offer School Tours for prospective families on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 10 am–12 noon. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.stmarkschool.org. To take a virtual tour, visit https://youtu.be/TC1Y7zNkQy8.

Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

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