Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

VATICAN CITY—As more and more countries start to feel the economic pinch due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis urged business leaders to seek solutions that will not hurt employees and their families.

“Each (country) must find concrete solutions depending on their situation, but of course, ‘every man for himself,’ is not a solution,” the pope said in an interview via Skype that aired in Spain March 22. “A business that lays off employees to save itself is not a solution. In this moment, instead of laying off, we must welcome and make everyone feel that there is a society of solidarity.”

When told by Spanish journalist Jordi Evole that business leaders could argue that he may not be knowledgeable business management and the struggles of maintaining a business with staggering production losses, the pope said they were right in their assertion.

But, he continued: “I do know the hardships that will face the employee, the workers and their families. And there are certain realities appearing, and we are being asked to take care of those realities.”

Commenting on the images of him blessing an empty St. Peter’s Square at the end of his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis said that the square has become “a desert.”

Although he does not meet with groups, the pope said he still holds personal meetings “every hour or every half-hour, and I continue to work normally.”

He was also asked if he was an “optimist” when it came to how the world would be after the current crisis is over.

“I don’t like that word because optimism sounds to me like makeup,” something false and superficial, he said. “I have hope in humanity, in men and women, and I have hope in the people. I have a lot of hope (in) the people who will take lessons from this crisis to rethink their lives. We are going to come out better, although there will be fewer of us, of course. Many will remain on the path and it is hard. But I have faith we will come out of this better.”

While all of Italy has been on lockdown since March 9 and Spain followed suit March 14, more and more countries, including the United States, have begun to adopt similar measures in an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

As of March 22, the Italian government reported that 5,476 people had died from the virus. However, the daily death toll experienced a slight decrease, which possibly indicated that lockdown measures were working.

When asked what he would tell men, women and families who live in fear due to the pandemic, the pope said that “the last thing I would do is tell them something.”

“What I try to do is make them feel that I am close to them. Today, the language of gestures is more important than words. Of course, something should be said, but it is the gesture of sending them a greeting” that is most important, he said.

The current pandemic, Pope Francis added, has also revealed the plight of the less fortunate, which is a tragedy “that is concealed from societies.”

“A couple of days ago, a police officer —with good intentions—told a man, ‘Sir, please go home, you can’t be out here in the street.’ And this man told him, ‘I don’t have a home. I live on the street,'” the pope recalled.

“We must start to be close to those people who we only know as a concept: the homeless, those who are taken advantage, the sad world of exploited women which is all a business. And this brings us close to those people who, in a way, have very little hope because they don’t have anywhere to lean on. It’s very sad but at the same time, we start to realize that these people exist,” he said.

By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service

It was only an onion. Half an onion, actually. I was going to throw it away. It had been on the cutting board for a few hours. In the time of pandemic quarantine, Daddy’s work on the computer gives way to dinner time, which gives way to bath time, which gives way to toothbrushing time, which gives way to bedtime and its stories about Billy Hennessey the Famous Tiger Hunter.

When the tigers have all been hunted, lights out gives way to a cold beer and a seat next to my beautiful wife on the couch. Cleaning up the kitchen comes last. By the time I got around to it on this particular night, the half onion was looking tired. Onions do poorly in the open air.

If I thought about it I’d have to say we throw away far too much good food: bruised bananas, elderly potatoes, cereal that just didn’t get eaten in time. It’s shameful, but only when you think about it. Most of the time you don’t. The great world spins, the fridge fills up and you say, “Soon it will be summer and we can have blueberries for breakfast and watermelon at lunch and won’t that be the snaps.”

So I deemed the half onion on the cutting board not worth saving. There’s usually a bag full of them on the bottom shelf in the kitchen and sometimes when you reach for one it has a green shoot growing from the top. I’m not sure if those are safe to eat or not.

A yellow onion costs what—30 cents at the store? Why settle for one that isn’t perfect?

Then I had a terrible thought. This coronavirus thing has come on so strong, so quickly. Six weeks from now will I wish I hadn’t wasted that onion? A vision came suddenly, as visions often do, of a broken society, a paralyzed economy, of complete chaos, the kind of place where you can’t get a roll of toilet paper, much less an onion.

I’m sure many have had similar visions in recent weeks. But such is my faith in this country’s resilience that I picked up the half onion and launched it toward the wastebasket with a flick of the wrist, like John Starks. Swish.

I wasn’t going to write about the onion. I was going to write about the sabbath, the Lord’s Day, the day of rest. I was planning a meditation on family and leisure in a culture of distraction. I was going to tie the enforced isolation of our pandemic spring to an assignment Clara was given at her new high school, Cardinal Kung Academy in Stamford: Arrange your weekend in such a way that Sunday can truly be called the sabbath day. Now that’s the kind of assignment you don’t get in a public school.

“Whatever you do, try to keep it light,” my wife told me as I went upstairs to write. “People don’t want to read things that are sad and depressing right now. They want to laugh.”

“Too late,” I said. The onion thing had already settled in my brain. Onions have so many layers.

In Italy they are throwing away people. The Italian health system is so strapped that doctors are doing the unthinkable, rationing care and leaving those deemed unlikely to recover—the old, the weak, the already sick—to their fate. Of course, their fate is death.

A trio of health experts wrote recently in the New York Times that we should expect such agonies will be necessary here.

I’m troubled by all this, as perhaps you can tell. My father is 85. He has all the health concerns normally associated with the later stages of this mingled yarn called life. My mother-in-law is 79. Her hearing isn’t so good. My Magdalena has Down syndrome. Society already doesn’t feel like it needs an excuse to throw lives like hers away.

What will become of us in this time of trial, separated as we are from our places of worship, watching Sunday mass on the computer like teenage gamers, kept away from our sacraments and at a social distance from our priests? What will become of our neighbors and friends, our communities, our country? I suppose it’s in God’s hands, as all things must be.

Keep it light, she said. Okay. Soon it’ll be summer. The bans will have lifted and the bars will be full. The shows will all have gone on. There’ll be good news on the radio, sun in the outfielders’ eyes, and fireworks on the Fourth of July. We’ll have a cook-out in the backyard. All our friends will be there, eating hamburgers, hot dogs, and watermelon slices. I’ll have a cold beer in the shade.

And won’t that be the snaps.

MONROE—In a recent online article, the Holy Father has reminded us of the value of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, particularly in a time of crisis: “I encourage the faithful to draw near sincerely to the mercy of God in Confession and to pray especially for those suffering due to the pandemic.”

Given the challenges imposed on us by the COVID-19 coronavirus, particularly the need for “social distancing,” as governments, scientists and medical professionals strive to limit the spread of this very dangerous virus while they search for a cure, the faithful can feel cut off from the life-giving sacraments of Holy Mother Church when Masses have been suspended and church buildings closed.

In an attempt to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the faithful while, at the same time, acting prudently to do everything in our power to prevent the spread of this virus, we, the clergy of St. Jude Parish, are offering “Drive-thru Confessions.”  Those wishing to receive God’s forgiveness for the sins may now do so from the safety and comfort of their car.

At the designated time, rain or shine, the priests of St. Jude will be seated by the curb outside the church; you may pull your car up to the priest and make your confession from a safe distance while maintaining complete privacy.  As with confession in the church, only one penitent and the priest can participate, so you must be in your car alone.

The Church is neither idle nor is it silent; while the current pandemic has threatened to separate and drive us apart as a nation and as a community of faith, the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass continues, we are united in prayer, and we are finding ways to offer the sacraments to the faithful while keeping all of us safe.

(For more information visit: www.stjuderc.org)

TRUMBULL—Despite COVID-19, units are still being renovated at our beautiful Independent Living Senior community, Teresian Towers and Carmel Ridge in Trumbull.

Shown is one of our move in ready two bedroom, full bath and a half cottages at about 1200 square feet. These cottages all have an attached garage, a patio, full size washer & dryer and of course are maintenance free.

Located on the same grounds as St. Joseph’s Center, Teresian Towers & Carmel Ridge is conveniently located within a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, medical facilities, parks and attractions. All units are rentals.

We can’t wait for the warm weather to get here, when COVID-19 isn’t in the news and our residents can start socializing more and just resuming their normal lives. Residents appreciate that they don’t have to worry about yard work or maintenance, but simple gardening—even container patio gardening is enjoyed by many at Carmel Ridge.

For those downsizing, we understand it isn’t usually easy, but as seniors and their families help them move through the process, there is a peace that comes with living more simply, and safely. Living in a safer environment—particularly without stairs, is valued and not always easy to find in this area. All residents are also given an emergency pendant by GreatCall, which provides access to medical care at the push of a button and can be used even in the shower or when traveling.

Easter may be celebrated differently this year, but nevertheless we are optimistic about Spring and its’ promise of new beginnings! If you or a loved one would like to find out more about our unique community, please contact the Management Office at 203.261.2229. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm or by appointment. Visit our website at www.teresianandcarmel.org.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY—While all diocesan school academy buildings are closed through the end of March, they will continue to serve the educational needs of their students.

“Schools have launched their distance learning programs to ensure continuity of education, and teachers and staff are working remotely using various technological tools,” said Dr. Steven Cheeseman, Superintendent of Schools.

Virtual office hours and a video help desk have been set up for teachers and parents who need assistance, and each individual school will set times when they will be open to address any student, family and faculty needs. Dr. Cheeseman noted that the introduction of Personalized Learning in diocesan schools over the past two years has better-prepared teachers and students for online learning platforms.

“I’m really encouraged by how prepared our teachers are to meet this challenge. While other school systems around us are closed for now, we are most definitely open” said Alan Barnicle, diocesan Personalized Learning Coordinator. “Our principals were alerted that a shutdown might happen, and we asked them to work with teachers to prepare long-distance lesson plans. I want to give Superintendent Steve Cheeseman praise for his leadership in getting ahead of this situation.”

Because the Personalized Learning Initiative has been in place for two years, principals and teachers are comfortable working as a team with the Office of the Superintendent of Schools (OSS). “This has provided the structure and confidence teachers need to be ahead of the curve,” noted Project Manager Debra Mitchell.

Coordinator Barnicle agreed. “Our teachers are prepared. Instead of asking, ‘What on earth are we going to do,’ we get calls from teachers for specific information on best practices. “They might  ask ‘what the best way to engage students during a video lesson’ or ‘what is the best way to assess student learning online.”
He noted that principals and teachers are aware that some families do not have computers at home. “We have both high-tech and low-tech components,” he said, with opportunities to send parents lesson packets with follow-up assessments by phone. Schools are also loaning out Chromebooks to families who need one.

The result is that every school is prepared to meet its students’ needs. In common with other diocesan high schools, Immaculate High School in Danbury has moved its curriculum into the cloud and is teaching everything online so that students have full-schedule days from home.

For the young students at St. Raphael Academy in the heart of Bridgeport, part of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, teachers used the advance notice to prepare a packet of work for students to take home. They are checking in with families by email, phone or video conferencing during the extended school closure. “We are hoping to connect with each family at least three times a week,” Sister Christine, St. Raphael’s Principal, told parents.

Dr. Cheeseman is grateful for the full cooperation of principals, faculty, and staff. “I appreciate your leadership as we set out into these unchartered waters. It is at times like this that I am especially grateful for the collegial spirit that exists among you,” he wrote in a letter to principals.

(For the latest updates on school policies, visit the diocesan Catholic Schools website special coronavirus page: https://www.dioceseofbridgeportcatholicschools.com/coronavirus-updates/. For tweets from individual schools, visit https://twitter.com/CathSchoolsDOB)

DANBURY—Immaculate High School announced two new appointments to its Counseling Department, with the goal of providing new and enhanced educational, intervention, mental health and specialized student college placement services.

Kathleen Maloney of Bethel will serve as the Dean of Student Counseling and Special Services,  a new administrator position. Ms. Maloney was an IHS student counselor for the past four years. As the Dean of Student Counseling and Special Services, she joins the administrator team and will be responsible for managing all Counseling Department operations. The position is designed to personalize services for students and their parents with regard to all student educational, personal and mental health counseling.

“I am thrilled to be supporting the Immaculate community in a new capacity.  I believe that each and every one of our students is born with a gift and a purpose.  My goal as the Dean of the Counseling Department is to deliver an effective and comprehensive school counseling program that will help students to identify, foster and develop their inner gifts and to institute a purpose and meaning to their lives in order for them to become active lifelong learners and create strong bonds to all of their communities in a global society,” Ms. Maloney said.

Michael DiGennaro of Fairfield joins the Counseling team as School Counselor. He has 20 years of professional counseling experience in clinical therapy and has held positions as a College and Career Counselor, High School Counselor and Director of School Counseling. Mr. DiGennaro has vast experience with intervention services for students as well as in specialized student college placement.

“I am very happy to be a part of this amazing school and it is my goal to work with a team that shares my dedication to the growth and advancement of students so that they are competitively prepared for postsecondary education and life in the 21st century,” Mr. DiGennaro said.

Immaculate High School encourages students to find success in academics, athletics, fine arts and clubs and is ranked in the top ten of all Catholic high schools in the State of Connecticut by NICHE. One of the more affordable private high schools, Immaculate High School is also among the highest ranked Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport and continues to attain the highest SAT scores in the Diocese. Immaculate High School students, a representation of area public, private and Catholic schools, seek academic challenges, discover leadership and engage in progressive learning opportunities and have high success rates: 100% of the Class of 2019 were accepted to choice colleges and universities and were awarded college scholarships and grants totaling $27 million.

In addition to a college-preparatory academic program that offers over 33 Advanced Placement classes and a STEAM curriculum featuring advanced technology, a CISCO certification program, renovated science labs and engineering classes and a Certified Nursing Associate program, Immaculate High School has an award-winning Fine Arts program, a student career internship program, athletic teams that have won SWC and State Championships, 44 clubs and a Campus Ministry and community service program that instills faith, compassion and reverence for others. Immaculate High School, founded in 1962, is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York.

TRUMBULL—St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull is offering a special Stations of the Cross experience in these difficult times.

In an email to parishioners, Father Marcello writes, “We invite you and your family to take some time this afternoon or evening to pray the Stations of the Cross with us.

In the Stations of the Cross, we accompany Christ from the tribunal of Pontius Pilate to his Cross and to his tomb. Generations of Catholics have found deeper meaning in Lent through the prayerful experience of the Stations of the Cross.”

Meditations on Stations of the Cross

Composed by Pope St. John Paul II

Read by: Father Joseph Marcello

St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Trumbull CT

Dr. William Atwood, Organ

Laura Intravia, Soprano

Pray the Stations here!

FAIRFIELD—Daily life looks and feels very different in these unprecedented times but what remains is our desire for God. St. Ignatius reminds us that paying attention to what is happening in our heads and hearts is especially important right now. Through the Spiritual Exercises, we learn that God speaks to us through our feelings, imaginations and desires and those movements of the spirit are discerned through prayer. The Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality of Fairfield University invites you to join us for an Ignatian Pilgrimage Retreat beginning next Tuesday, March 24 at 1 pm via Zoom. This virtual journey will begin with a prayer, followed by a short lecture on a concept of Ignatian spirituality followed by a companion prayer exercise designed to deepen our practice of contemplation.

This virtual retreat is open to anyone who is seeking connection at this time of uncertainty and no prior experience of prayer or Ignatian spirituality is necessary!

Week 1—Tuesday, March 24th Presenter: Denis Donoghue, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture l: Introduction to Prayer from The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Introduction to the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
This session will explore how prayer is defined in the Catechism and give a snapshot of the life
of St. Ignatius as an exemplar of conversion. The purpose will be to depict prayer in the context
of an ongoing process of conversion towards intimacy with God.

Prayer Experience: Meditation on Psalm 139.
Psalm 139 is the traditional psalm given during the “disposition days” of the Spiritual Exercises. It illuminates the intimate knowledge and love that God has for us.

Week 11 – Tuesday, March 31st Presenter: Denis Donoghue, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 2: Prayer as Relationship
Lecture two will focus on prayer as mutual love relationship with the living God. It will explore how God created us for relationship and how being in a love relationship with God in prayer forms and restores our being.

Prayer Experience: Guided Meditation
Guided mediation is a precursory exercise to Lectio Divina and Ignatian contemplation. It will instruct participants in how to prepare for prayer and listen for the voice of God entering deeply into a sacred text.

Week 111 – Tuesday, April 7th Presenter: John Murray, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 3: Principle & Foundation
The Principle and Foundation is one of Ignatius’ foundational mediations. It explores the creator/creature relationship and provides participants the opportunity to reflect upon how meaning and prayer coalesce in their lives.

Prayer Experience 3: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina IS a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word. It does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but as the living word.

Week IV – Tuesday, April 14th Presenter: John Murray, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 4: Praying with our Sinfulness
Our experience of sin unveils our need to be wholly dependent upon God. Ignatius stresses this vision of sin in the context of the sinful world around us. Lecture 4 will reflect upon how our sinfulness can be prayerfully brought before God to gain a deeper awareness of our human brokenness and fragility.

Prayer Experience 4: Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a receptive method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness

Week V – Tuesday, April 21st Presenter: John Murray, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 5: Discernment of Spirits
The Discernment of Spirits is a hallmark of’ Ignatian Spirituality. This lecture will introduce the concepts of desolation, consolation, and false consolation. The participants will be exposed to the personal ways in which the spirits of light and the spirits of darkness arc the sources behind desolation and consolation.

Prayer Experience 5: Examination of Consciousness
The Examination of Consciousness, also known as the Examen, is the prayer method that undergirds the famous Ignatian maxim: Finding God in all Things. The participants will be taken through a guided Examen to recognize how God has been present and how they have failed to embrace God’s presence during their day.

Week VI – Tuesday, April 28th Presenter: Tom Fitzpatrick, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 6: Prayer as Journey with Jesus – the Embodiment of Love.
Lecture six will cover the dynamism of’ an intimate relationship with Jesus in prayer. It will explore how this relationship becomes the foundation of our identities as disciples. Emphasis will be given to understanding the call of Jesus in prayer.

Prayer Experience 6: Ignatian Contemplation – imaginative prayer
Ignatian contemplation emerges from the heart of the Spiritual Exercises. It employs the imagination to enter into a Gospel passage with Jesus, This method or prayer brings the Gospel alive in a new and creative fashion.

Week VII – Tuesday, May 5th Presenter: Michael Tunney, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 7: Prayer and Suffering
Lecture seven will introduce the role of prayer in suffering. Participants will learn how prayer facilitates intimacy with God amidst our human suffering. This lecture will bring to light some of the ways that God is present in the depths of our being during times of suffering.

Prayer Experience 7: Journaling (creative expression)
In this prayer experience, participants will learn how Journaling provides access to their interiority and, therefore, is a method of prayer. They will be given the opportunity to journal, write poetry, or use other creative means to express themselves prayerfully.

Week VIII, Tuesday, May 12th Presenter: Paul Rourke, SJ
Prayer Presentation: Marcy Haley
Lecture 8: Prayer and Love
The final lecture will explore the relationship between prayer and love. Prayer though often an Inward experience, ideally always leads us outward to love others. This session will develop the notion that all true love is rooted in Christ and flows out of us as love of neighbor.

Prayer Experience 8: The Suscipe – Contemplation to Attain God’s Love
The prayer entitled the Suscipe is about love. As Ignatius introduces the prayer he says that love is better expressed in actions than words. Second, love is about what Ignatius calls a “mutual sharing of goods.” Love, in other words, move us to give to the one we love.

Registration Information Below:

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.

When: Mar 24, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://Fairfield.zoom.us/meeting/register/vJQqcuCgrDgtp5o4Zt7lzVe70lp5pXj69g

 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

HARTFORD- In May 2019, Pope Francis released his apostolic letter, Vos estis lux mundi (“You are the light of the world”) to address the issue of sexual abuse and bishop accountability in the global Catholic Church.

Read More ››

Register for the Nine Days of Prayer at formationreimagined.org →

Join the faithful from around the Diocese of Bridgeport for the recitation of the Rosary at 7 pm beginning on March 25, 2020 (The Feast of the Annunciation) and continuing through April 2, 2020.  Beginning with Bishop Frank Caggiano and continuing each night, a ministry leader from around the diocese will lead us in prayer. We will use the proper mysteries of each day and conclude with the Novena being used by Pope Francis during this pandemic.

Delete all previous invitations and reminders.

Instead, the nightly Rosary can be found at https://zoom.us/j/257143915. Please copy and paste this link into your browser.

Participants are asked to click on the link at least five to ten minutes prior to the Rosary to allow any software downloads required by their devices. You may be asked for your name and email address just to confirm that you are a real person. Clicking the link now or before 6:45 will not work.

Those joining by phone can call 646-558-8656 and enter the webinar identification number 257 143 915 when prompted.

If you join by computer and can hear the music, you need not call in. The phone number is provided for those who do not have access to a computer but would like to listen and join by phone.

These instructions will be the same for every evening between now and April 2nd.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Who among us could have imagined just a few months ago that our global society would be confronting such a crisis as the Coronavirus pandemic? In these days, who does not feel our collective vulnerability and personal frailty? This is a time when fear and even panic can overtake us, in part because we have far more questions than answers.  As Christians, we must resist such fears. Rather, we must respond with prudent actions rooted in charity for our neighbor, seeking to protect the most vulnerable among us, heeding the recommendations that have been mandated by civil authorities and to plead for God’s mercy that this scourge will end quickly and that the lives of our sisters and brothers throughout the world will be spared.

In Matthew 8:23-27, we recall the day when the apostles sailing in their boat were suddenly caught in the middle of a great storm that threatened their survival. Their immediate reaction was one of fear and panic. Yet, when they called upon the Lord, He heard their pleas and commanded the winds and the waves to be still. My friends, this is our time, in the middle of a great storm, to cast away our fears, turn to the Lord and to ask for His grace.

In order to protect the lives of the faithful and our priests, I took the extraordinary measure to temporarily suspend public Masses in our diocese. I understand the deep spiritual hardship that this absence has created in the minds and hearts of many. Yet, recognizing that our Churches have served as places of refuge in times of need, we will do all that is possible to see that our Churches remain safely open for private prayer, for Exposition of the Eucharist, and to serve as places to seek solace with the Lord.

I also invite you to use this time we now spend at home to prepare more diligently for the celebration of the Easter Mysteries.  Personally, I have begun to pray the Stations of the Cross each day, since they powerfully remind me that the Lord always walks with us, helping us to carry our own personal crosses.

In my conversations with our priests and people in the past weeks, I am humbled to see their resolve, goodness and readiness to help all those in need. Please be assured that you are remembered in my prayers as I ask for your prayers during this difficult time. We will get through this together and continue the work of renewal in our lives.

As Christians we know that suffering will always be a part of our life. We understand and accept this mystery at the foot of the Cross of Christ. Yet we also know that the Lord suffered and died so that we might live and share in His victory over fear, suffering, and death itself. We are never alone in our sufferings. Christ is here to lead us along paths unknown to victory and life.

This is the time to do as Jesus commanded: to be brave despite fear, to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of others, and to pray. Especially pray. The health and life of so many now hang in the balance. Pray for miracles both medical and spiritual. Pray for the conversion of many hearts. Pray for an end to this scourge in our midst. Pray that the Lord will see us to safety and renewed life. In Him.

Entrusting each one of you to the loving care of our Blessed Mother, I am

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano

Bishop of Bridgeport

 

GREENWICH- Pastors from all over the Diocese of Bridgeport are issuing pastoral letters and reflections to their faithful in this time of trial. One Pastor, Fr. La Pastina of St. Mary Parish in Greenwich, issued the following statement to his parishioners on the Parish Facebook page.

“I thought I would give you a closer view of the image I mentioned at the end of the Rosary tonight. It is a copy of the miraculous image of Our Lady called “Salus Populi Romani” or the Salvation of the Roman People. The original is in a side chapel of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. The image got its name because in the 6th century Pope Gregory I carried the icon in procession through the streets of Rome begging the Virgin to end a plague. Our Lady granted the prayers of the Holy Father and the people of Rome. Since then the image has become the center of Marian devotion in the Eternal City.

It was to this same Church that Pope Francis went in pilgrimage yesterday to pray before Salus Populi Romani to protect Rome, Italy and the rest of the world.

I purchased this copy shortly after my ordination. I had the privilege of offering Mass before the sacred image and when I left the basilica some religious sisters across the street had this hand-painted copy in the window. I purchased it and took it back into the Church to bless on the same altar where the original hangs.

Let us continue to beg the Mother of God who is our mother as well, to protect us from harm and bring us closer to her Son!”

God bless you and protect you,
Father La Pastina

DANBURY- Pastors from all over the Diocese of Bridgeport are issuing pastoral letters to their faithful in this time of trial. One Pastor, Fr. Dunn of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Danbury, issued the following statement to his parishioners on the Parish Facebook page.

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Immediately after the horrific and tragic events on 9/11, a man working in one of the towers that morning barely managed to escape with his life. Covered in debris and ashes, he hopped on a train and returned to his hometown of Weston CT, before New York City was shut down. He didn’t go straight to his house but to his church, St. Francis of Assisi, my last parish. There he wept and prayed, both thankful and devasted by the events. After he left the church, the evidence that he was there remained- that is ashen footprints down the center aisle to the foot of the cross.

So too with many others, the terrible events from 9/11, led to a return to God and His Church. Churches were filled with those wanting to pray and find peace. Sunday Mass attendance surged and Confessionals were busy. The events of 9/11 reminded us that God is capable of bringing good even out of the greatest evils- as he did through his own suffering and death on the cross. The sad thing is that the return to God and His Church didn’t last long, perhaps only a couple of weeks. The surge in faith ended. For most people life went back to normal- life went on as it did before 9/11.

With the danger of the coronavirus and the drastic changes in our lifestyle now, many are feeling anxious and afraid. Perhaps we know someone with the virus, are fearful for our elderly parents, are separated from loved ones, worried about the economy, or currently losing a good portion of our normal income. It is exactly at this time that Jesus tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, have faith in God and in me.” This change in lifestyle that we are all experiencing at this time, although difficult, presents us with an opportunity to return to God- to pray and deepen our relationship with Him. Our God and His words can comfort and console us like nothing else in this world can. With God, we have nothing to fear, nothing to be afraid of. With Him at our side, not a hair on our heads will be harmed. Let us use this time to grow in our faith and love of God- for therein lies our peace and joy. St. Paul understood this well as he said, “Everything works out for the good, for those that love God.” This is the message that not only we can embrace at this time, but seek to encourage others and our children to do so as well.

This virus didn’t come from God, nor is he punishing our world, for God is not the author of anything bad or evil. However, he may very well be using this virus to capture the world’s attention- to let us know that we are not in charge, He is. He may want the world to know that He is the one God of us all, we are all his sons and daughters, that He deeply loves us all, and wishes for the world to return to Him. Let us use this time to join in prayer with all the faithful in our world. Let us pray for the conversion of the world and that the world may give God his proper place, the highest place, above anyone or anything else.

Please know that I as your Pastor, am continuing to think of and pray for you in this unusual and trying time. I and Fr. Ford are offering Mass daily for your protection, health, and peace. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary our Mother, be with you and protect you. May we place our trust in the great mercy and love of our God, a love that knows no bounds or limits.

God Loves you,
Rev. Michael L. Dunn

MONROE—Father Henry Hoffman, pastor of St. Jude Parish in Monroe, recently issued the following email newsletter to his parishioners.

March 18, 2020

Fellow St Jude Parishioners:

Please know that you are very much in my thoughts and prayers. Every morning as I do my Holy Hour. Every day as I celebrate Mass alone. Oh, that word “alone.” Yes, restrictions are being placed on us that physically separate us.

But we are together in Spirit! This is the time for us to rely on what has been built right here, on our Church property, over the years. Some of us, myself included, have spent the past few years helping to build up our Parish Community. Others of you have spent upwards of forty and more years building up our Parish Community. We are the wonderful St Jude Parish Community! We, the St Jude Parish Community, have bonds that still connect us, and that will continue to endure and overcome any current restrictions that we are called to live out.

As I am sure that you miss attending Mass in the very Church that many of you gathered rocks to build, and as I am sure that you miss receiving the Eucharist, please know that I am experiencing how much I miss celebrating Mass with you. As you patiently await the next time that you will — Praise God! — be able to receive the Eucharist, I ask that you enter into a prayer experience.

Imagine yourselves to be the Apostles on Good Friday evening, into the night, and all day Saturday. Along with the many other prayers you are saying, align the fact that you cannot temporarily receive the Eucharist with the experience of the Apostles, who were temporarily without Jesus— from 3 pm on that day some two-thousand years ago that we have come to call Good Friday, until they encountered the Resurrected Jesus. I have included a prayer, below, for the Act of Spiritual Communion that we can pray while we are temporarily removed from the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Please keep all who are affected in any way by the Coronavirus in your prayers. Let us also continue to come together as a parish, in unity with the Town of Monroe, the State of Connecticut, our Nation, and the entire world community, in an effort to do what we are called to do for the health of all.

Please know that I am available in any way that you would like. Although we cannot meet face-to-face, I am available in a more remote way, by phone or email to each one of you individually, or to any group of you. So please do not hesitate to initiate email correspondence with me, or to ask for me to give you a phone call.

We all have to be creative, to figure out how to the best live out our life as a parish family, during this time of restrictions.

Sincerely, Fr. Henry Hoffman

 

Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Announcement: “Moving Forward Together”

The announcement this past Monday that all weekday and Sunday public Masses would be suspended until at least Friday April 4, has left many of us with a large void in our lives. It is a difficult time for our Pastor Father Henry, Father Jim, and our Deacons to shepherd our St. Jude Community when they cannot see or be with the community and tend to their spiritual needs. It is hoped that this will pass quickly.

In the meantime, we will be launching an additional email newsletter entitledMoving Forward Together. This email newsletter will focus totally on the spiritual needs of our St, Jude parish. It will contain items like the above letter from Fr. Henry, meditations and reflections of the day from our clergy, links to on-line masses, prayers, readings, devotions like the rosary, stations of the cross, chaplets novenas, and on-line articles of interest. Some examples are below. It will be short and will be emailed out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The first email will be sent this Friday March 20, 2020. The weekly newsletter which you are reading right now will continue to be sent typically Wednesday or Thursday and will highlight news, announcements, events and other parish activities. If any of you find something that would be of interest, have comments and feedback, please email your ideas or questions to communications.stjuderc.gmail.com.

We will be emailing the Moving Forward Together newsletter to the same emails that we currently have in our database. You will be receiving both the weekly newsletter and the Moving Forward Together newsletter. This means that if you decide to unsubscribe for any reason, you will not receive either newsletter.

Online Daily Mass offered on the Word on Fire website.

Friends, in an effort to continue the practice of our faith in these trying times, when many parishes have closed due to restrictions around the coronavirus, we invite you to join us online for daily Mass from Bishop Barron’s chapel, celebrated either by Bishop Barron himself or by Fr. Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire.

The video will be posted below at 8:15 am ET each day at https://www.wordonfire.org/daily-mass/

Note: additional online Masses are listed on the Diocesan website at https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/coronavirus-resources-and-information/

Just in! Guidance on Confession and Adoration

Confessions

Confessions will be offered at regularly scheduled times, with social distancing and number restrictions.

At all times, everybody needs to be at least six feet apart in all directions, including the priest and penitent when the confession actually occurs. If confessions take place in the church and people stand in line in the church, they need to be at least six feet apart, at all times. And only a limited number of people in the church at one time (less than 50).

Confessionals are not allowed to be used, as the confession needs to be heard in an open area.

Drive-by confessions were specifically mentioned and recommended, in which, outdoors, the penitent remains in the car and the priest stands outside the car.

Communal penances are not allowed. The Bishop has canceled the previously announced Reconciliation Monday.

Confessions will be held at our regularly scheduled times of every Saturday at 3pm-4pm… as well as the following specific dates and times:

Sunday, April 5, 2020 Palm Sunday, 5-6pm confessions
Tuesday, April 7, 2020, 5-6:30pm confessions
Wednesday, April 8, 2020, 4-5pm confessions and 8-9pm confessions

On Saturdays. 3pm Fr Jim will be in the church, with social distancing restrictions. Fr Henry will be outside for drive-by confessions, rain or shine (Fr Henry can always use an umbrella.).

If there is only one priest for the other non-Saturday days and times, drive-by confessions only. If there are two priests, one will be outside for drive by confessions and one inside the church for confessions.

Only one person is allowed in the car while the confession takes place. Priest standing outside the car and penitent inside the car, with car window rolled down. (Needless if the penitent is a young child, the parent needs to exit the car while the young child makes his/her confession.)

Adoration

Sundays: Simple Adoration will be available only during normal mass times.

Therefore, Adoration in the main church Sundays 7:30am to 1pm. There is Benediction.

With social distancing and number restrictions at all times, the Parish is responsible for implementing safeguards to maintain (1) social distancing, six feet apart at all times, and (2) no more than fifty people in the church at any time.

A new statement from the Diocese about Coronavirus 3/16/2020

Daily and Weekend Masses are suspended from March 16th to April 3rd

Effective this evening (March 16) at 8 pm, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has mandated that all weekday and Sunday public Masses celebrated in the presence of the lay faithful are temporarily suspended in the Diocese of Bridgeport. The temporary suspension will remain in effect until Friday, April 3. You will receive a confirmation or revision of that date on Monday, March 30.

Beginning this Sunday, Sunday Mass celebrated by Bishop Caggiano or Monsignor Thomas Powers, Vicar General, will be available on our Diocesan Website (www.bridgeportdiocese.org) or on diocesan social media channels (www.bridgeportdiocese.org/dobsocial/home).

The bishop’s decision was made in response to the March 15, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that, for the next 8 weeks, any in-person gatherings of 50 people or more throughout the United States be cancelled or postponed. Governor Lamont today followed that directive and has limited crowds to less than 50 in the State of Connecticut.

“With those standards now in place, out of concern for the common good of ending the spread of the Coronavirus and for the well-being of the clergy (many of whom are older and at greater risk) and the lay faithful of the Diocese of Bridgeport, I would like to inform you of some important new directives that will be binding throughout the diocese,” the bishop said today in a letter to all priests and diocesan officials.

“Please know that I do not make this decision easily. However, this is an extraordinary—and, in some ways, unprecedented—time in the life of the Church, the country and the world, and it requires extraordinary action to ensure the safety of those whom we serve. I appreciate greatly the cooperation of our pastors in communicating this decision to parishioners in a clear and pastoral manner. May we continue to place our trust in Jesus, the Divine Physician, through the loving hands of Our Blessed Mother, the bishop said.

Churches may remain open for private prayer at the discretion of the Pastor. Some parishes will also begin live streaming of Masses, and the diocese will publish that information on its website. The diocese will continue to provide updates and the latest news on its website: www.bridgeportdiocese.com and on Facebook and other social media.

St. Jude Daily Hour of Prayer – 3 PM

St. Jude community,

Please let us join together in prayer daily to pray this and other prayers for our community, families, friends and the world. Please pray this prayer at 3:00 pm, asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for us, asking for an end to this pandemic, for protection, healing, and a cure.

Suggested prayer is the Pope’s Prayer for the Intercession of Mary for Healing and Protection from the Coronavirus. Since it is the 3:00 o’clock hour, please consider also saying the Divine Mercy Chaplet as well.

Pope’s Prayer for the Intercession of Mary for Healing and Protection from the Coronavirus

Let us join in praying the English translation of an excerpt from Our Holy Father”s own prayer, asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for us, for healing and protection from the coronavirus.

O Blessed Virgin Mary,

you always shine on our path

as a sign of salvation and of hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,

who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.

You know what we need,

and we are sure you will provide

so that, as in Cana of Galilee,

we may return to joy and to feasting

after this time of trial.

Help us to see how Jesus took upon himself our sufferings

and carried our sorrows

to lead us, through the cross,

to the joy of the resurrection.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

How to Recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades. The Chaplet is preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer.

  1. Make the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

  1. Optional Opening Prayers

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(Repeat three times)

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!

  1. Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

  1. Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

  1. The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

  1. The Eternal Father

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

  1. On the 10 Small Beads of Each Decade

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

  1. Repeat for the remaining decades

Saying the “Eternal Father” (6) on the “Our Father” bead and then 10 “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” (7) on the following “Hail Mary” beads.

  1. Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times)

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

  1. Optional Closing Prayer

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

The Church is open for private prayer March 17 – March 22

The Bishop has given us permission to have our church open for private prayer only. There will be no Mass or Sacraments at these times. If more than one person are present in the church, they are to remain at a distance from one another. This schedule is from Tuesday March 17th to Sunday March 22nd only.

We will open our church from 8am until 10am on Tuesday March 17.

From 8am until 12noon for the remainder of the week.

Church is closed Saturday morning.

Church is open Saturday 3pm-5pm.

Church is open Sunday 7am until 2pm. Sunday March 22, 2020.

While you are there, you might consider lighting a candle or saying the following prayer which can be offered for all those who have died or are suffering from Coronavirus.

Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

Knights of Columbus Palm Cross Sale

If you have not placed your order for palm crosses due to the suspension of masses for the next 2 weeks we need to adapt the ordering process for the final week. Please email your form to Kevin Donovan at kpadonovan@aol.com or call 203-570-4372, email is preferred. You may pay for your palm crosses when you pick them, the Knights trust you. Pick up is still scheduled for the weekend of April 3/4 after the masses in the social hall.
The Knights thank you for your support.

Parish Cancellation Announcements

Bishop Caggiano has strongly recommended that parishes consider canceling non-liturgical events. Because the health and safety of our patrons and our volunteers are a top priority, out of an abundance of caution we are canceling the following events and activities as of Tuesday March 17.

Knights of Columbus 4th degree and Assembly Meeting Tuesday March 17 canceled.

Friday Evening Stations and Adoration March 20 and March 27 Canceled until further notice.

Knights of Columbus Monthly visit to Southbury March 31st canceled.

Friday Night Bingo Canceled until further notice.

Emmaus Lenten Dinners. Friday evenings 3/20, 3/27 and 4/3 canceled.

Columbiettes Soup Night March 28 canceled.

Pro-Life Ministry Prayer Vigil in Bridgeport, March 29th has been canceled. Please continue to pray for our precious babies and for an end to abortions. Prayer Vigil in St.Jude Church is also canceled.

4th Lecture of the Ignatian Parish Pilgrimage March 28, alternatives are currently being explored. (in case, you could not attend the 3rd Lecture on March 14, you can view the entire session at https://saintjude.smugmug.com/2020/Videos/Ignation-Parish-Pilgrimag

Family Rosary Sunday March 29, 2020 canceled.

Day of Reflection, April 1st at Dominican Sisters, Helen Kieran and Melanie Hannigan, O.P. canceled.

Relics of the Passion event on April 2 is postponed to a later date.

Living Stations Good Friday April 10 canceled(however, you can view a video of the Living Stations 2007 at https://saintjude.smugmug.com/2020/Videos/Living-Stations

CT March for Life April 15 canceled.

Please check our parish website (www.stjuderc.org) or call the office (203-261-6404) for updates.

Ignatian Parish Pilgrimage Next Lecture is Saturday March 28th at 10:30

At this time, the 4th lecture planned for Saturday morning, March 28th in the Social Hall has been postponed. We are currently looking at alternatives.

Our Deepest Longing Men’s Retreat May 1st – 3rd

All Men Long for God

Men, especially Catholic men, long for a deep, authentic relationship with God. Defining, reaching and sustaining that goal, though, can be elusive and fleeting. Men from St. Jude are encouraged to attend the May 1st to May 3rd weekend retreat at the Passionist Retreat Center, to explore ways to fulfill one’s deepest sacred longings.

To learn more about enriching your life and registering for the retreat, email Gary Thomas at knights5987@aol.com or call (203) 209-9072.

The Living Stations Update

The Living Stations scheduled for Good Friday April 10 are canceled. However, you can view a video of the Living Stations 2007 at https://saintjude.smugmug.com/2020/Videos/Living-Stations.