Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

TRUMBULL—The parish center of St. Catherine of Siena was filled to the brim with diapers, onesies, bibs and all types of items for both mom and baby on the weekend on February 9-10.

A table at the side of the parish center was decorated as it would be for any other baby shower, but this one would benefit those most in need.

The Social Justice and Charitable Outreach group of the parish held an inaugural pro-life baby shower to benefit their Trumbull and Bridgeport neighbors who might be in need of these items.

“The response was overwhelming. Together, we distributed over 3,000 diapers, 7,500 wipes, 400 onesies, 100 blankets, including handmade knitted blankets and a large amount of ointments, bibs, food, accessories and even some pack-and-plays and furniture,” said Salvatore Spadaccino, coordinator for the Social Justice and Charitable Outreach group.

Gifts collected from the pro-life baby shower will benefit the Trumbull Food Bank, Malta House, Convent of Saint Mary Immaculate, Missionaries of Charity, Blessed Sacrament and the Mercy Learning Center.

Other projects the group has worked on include: a toiletry drive to support the homeless, a backpack and school supplies collection, a hat, coat and sweater drive, a Thanksgiving collection and Christmas Giving Tree, as well as visits to St. Joseph’s Manor, prison and bread ministry and many more.

“A great joy that we are experiencing is not that we are outdoing ourselves but that we are open to the Lord outdoing Himself through us,” said Spadaccino. “Through the leadership of our amazing pastor, Father Marcello and the Parish Office Team, it is a very spiritually rewarding time to be a parishioner at Saint Catherine of Siena, Trumbull.”

(For more information on the Social Justice and Charitable Outreach group at St. Catherine of Siena in Trumbull contact Salvatore Spadaccino at: Caritas@stcatherinetrumbull.com.)

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis Wednesday approved the canonization of Bl. John Henry Newman, a Roman Catholic cardinal, scholar, and founder of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England.

Following a Feb. 12 meeting with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the head of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the pope signed off on a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Newman, who was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Birmingham, England on Sept. 19, 2010.

The first miracle attributed to Newman’s intercession involved the complete and inexplicable healing of a deacon from a disabling spinal condition.

His second miracle concerned the healing of a pregnant American woman. The woman prayed for the intercession of Cardinal Newman at the time of a life-threatening diagnosis, and her doctors have been unable to explain how or why she was able to suddenly recover.

The date of his canonization has not yet been announced.

Bl. John Henry Newman was a 19th-century theologian, poet, Catholic priest and cardinal. Originally an Anglican priest, he converted to Catholicism in 1845 and his writings are considered among some of the most important Church-writings in recent centuries.

Ordained a Catholic priest in 1847, he was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879, although he was not a bishop. Newman was also particularly dedicated to education and founded two schools for boys.

Pope Francis also green-lighted Feb. 13 the canonization of Bl. Maria Teresa Chiramel Mankidiyan of India, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family, who died in 1926 in Kuzhikkattussery.

He also approved the canonization of martyred Jesuit Fr. Salvatore Vittorio Emilio Moscoso Cardenas, who was killed in hatred of the faith in Ecuador in 1897.

Those declared to have lived lives of heroic virtue and to be on the path to beatification are Cardinal József Mindszenty, archbishop of Esztergom and primate of Hungary (1892-1975); Fr. Giovanni Battista Zuaboni, founder of the Secular Institute of the Company of the Holy Family (1880-1939); Jesuit Fr. Manuel Garcia Nieto (1894-1974); Sr. Serafina Formai, foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Glad Message (1876-1954); and Sr. Maria Berenice Duque Hencker, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Annunciation (1898-1993).

By Hannah Brockhaus | Catholic News Agency

NORWALK — The Malta House Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Carey Dougherty to the position of Executive Director.

Board Chair, Kim Petrone, states “Carey’s commitment to our mission and her love and care for the women and babies we serve is evident in everything she does. We are delighted that Carey has agreed to take on this leadership role as we begin our 21st year providing a nurturing home environment, support services and independent living skills to pregnant and parenting mothers of all faiths and their children. Carey joined the organization in March 2017 as Director of Development & Strategy and has been instrumental in the strides we have made toward our goals of increasing awareness of our mission, nurturing and growing our donor base, and acquiring a new and larger operating space. The next few years will bring changes and challenges and we are confident that with Carey at the helm we will be able to reach our goal of expanding the population we serve and the services we provide to support the long-term growth of our mothers and their families, and of making a positive impact on the greater Norwalk community.”

States Dougherty, “It is an honor to serve alongside our Board of Directors, dedicated staff, and volunteers in providing ‘hope for life’ to this very vulnerable population. No pregnant mother should be left without the resources required to safely carry, deliver and nurture her baby through the critical first months and years of life. Malta House is so much more than a shelter; we provide job skills, educational assistance, help with budgeting and finance, access to mental and behavioral healthcare, and linkages to stable and secure housing. We help break the cycle of poverty, and most importantly, we show our mothers that they are not alone.”

“My work will be focused on attaining the board’s vision to expand our services and the number of women we serve by raising the funds required to renovate a larger building in Norwalk that will serve as our new home, by continuing to broaden our reach in the community through collaborations and partnerships with other agencies whose mission and work complement our own, and by continuing to provide best-practices in social services with care that is grounded in our belief that every life is a gift from God.”

About Carey

Carey Dougherty,
Executive Director of Malta House

Carey spent the first part of her career in education and the for-profit sector: teaching English as a Second Language in Japan, teaching Japanese and English in an inner-city high school in her hometown of Rochester, NY, working as an Account Executive for an international Fortune 500 Company in San Francisco, and working as an interior designer in Fairfield County. After feeling called to utilize her skills to serve those in need, in 2009 she started Her Haven, a nonprofit that designs trauma-informed spaces that provide healing, hope, comfort and care. Prior to joining Malta House in 2017, Carey served as Director of Development for Recovery Network of Programs, a behavioral healthcare agency in Bridgeport, CT.

Carey holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a certificate in Advanced Japanese from Keio University in Tokyo, and a Residential Interior Design Certificate from Fairfield University.

About Malta House

Malta House was founded in 1998 with the mission to promote the dignity of God-given life by providing a nurturing home environment, supportive services, and independent living skills to pregnant and parenting mothers of all faiths and their children. Since inception, Malta House has helped over 500 women and their infants find a pathway to self-sufficiency.

The vision for Malta House came over 20 years ago when a young father learned that there were few services for the many homeless pregnant women in Fairfield County who chose life for their unborn. Vulnerable young mothers often found themselves living on the street or in sub-standard conditions. Once accepted into our residential program—which can accommodate up to 10 mothers—the young women are supported with programs aimed at self-sufficiency, including training in parenting, education, career, and financial security. It is the only maternity group home for pregnant women over 18 years in Connecticut—and one of only a limited number of residential programs for young parenting mothers and their children in Fairfield County. The Residential Program lasts up to 18 months, followed by the Partnering Success program that provides follow-up services to guide the women through the initial stages of independence. The Outreach Program provides household essentials and baby supplies to over 1,000 families in need in Norwalk area, making Malta House a critical resource in the community for families at risk of homelessness.

For further information, contact Carey Dougherty, cdougherty@maltahouse.org

FAIRFIELD—St. Augustine Dance team competed in the Middle School Hip Hop Division at Fairfield Warde’s Annual Dance Jam on the weekend of February 9-10. The team danced to Beastie Boys’ Intergalactic, dressed as aliens and astronauts.

After months of hard work and great leadership from St. A’s 2018 grad Rachel Elizondo, the team won first place in their division and most original costume of all competing teams!

This was St. A’s second time competing, with two awards to show!

The Catholic Academy of Bridgeport is a welcoming community comprising four different campuses: St. Andrew Academy (Pre K–8), St. Ann Academy (Pre K–8), St. Raphael Academy (Pre K–3) and St. Augustine Academy (Grade 4–8). Serving nearly 1,000 preschool through middle school students throughout the city of Bridgeport, the Catholic Academy schools provide a Christ-centered, academically rigorous learning environment where cultural diversity is welcomed and celebrated.

NEWTOWN—The seventh graders of St. Rose of Lima school participated in the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair competition.

Students presented their boards to four outside judges who reviewed the experiments carefully based on criteria provided.

Winners were announced at the Home & School Association meeting on Thursday, February 7. The top three winners were:

Rohan Carey (3rd place) for his experiment using simulation software “Does the Shape of an Aircraft affect Its Speed and Lift?”

Ava Faroul (1st place) for her experiment “Which Drinks Contain the Most Glucose.”

Joshua Schumacher (2nd place) for his experiment “What type of Water Produces Ice Crystals the Fastest.”

These three students will advance to the Connecticut State Science & Engineering competition at Quinnipiac University on March 11!

Not pictured but also recognized are seventh graders Evie Komninakas (5th place) for her experiment “Which Fruits Contain the Most Vitamin C”, Maddy Watson (4th place) for her experiment “Which Bird Feathers Absorb the Most Oil” and Honorable Mention to Thomas Phelan for his experiment “Can a Water Filter Be Created Using the Processes of Condensation and Evaporation?”

In the photo: Top 3 winners: center is Ava Faroul (1st place), far right Joshua Schumacher (2nd place) and far left is Rohan Carey (3rd place).

St. Rose of Lima Catholic School is a Christ-centered community committed to academic excellence in an atmosphere that nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and moral development of each child. The dedicated staff partners with families to prepare students to be responsible leaders in a global society by fostering integrity, service and respect. By creating a sense of family where all are welcome, they encourage each child to develop his/her gifts and to become Christ’s compassionate heart and hands in the world. They center their community of learning around the four core values of respect, integrity, academic excellence and service. Their spirituality is fostered through their close connection with St. Rose of Lima church. Students attend weekly Mass and are blessed by the continual presence of Msgr. Robert Weiss and the other parish priests.

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

Click here to read Foundations in Education’s First Annual Report!

Foundations in Education is committed to strengthen and transform the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Bridgeport by supporting innovation in academic and extra-curriculum programs, fostering opportunities for the professional development of school leaders in innovation and leadership and providing scholarship assistance to families in need.

Foundations in Education is the realization of the extraordinary vision of the Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Fifth Bishop of Bridgeport. Begun as the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund in 2015, Foundations in Education was incorporated July 14, 2015 as a new non-for-profit foundation whose exclusive mission is to serve the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Foundations in Education is now governed by a lay Board of Trustees.

The creation of Foundations in Education, Inc. represents a crucial milestone in Bishop Caggiano’s long term strategy to stabilize and improve Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools and provide a path for their sustained growth. In its first year, the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund distributed over $2.1 million worth of tuition assistance to nearly 1,600 students for the 2015-16 academic year.  The Bishop’s Scholarship Fund passed from diocesan control to Foundations in Education in July 2016.

The goals of Foundations in Education include a commitment to raise significant funds for scholarship assistance for children, ensuring all families who wish to send their children to Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic schools of their choice are able to do so regardless of their financial situation. Foundations in Education is equally committed to providing innovation and leadership grants for our Catholic school teachers and administrators so as to promote professional development and guarantee an even brighter future for our Catholic Schools.

(For more information on Foundations in Education, visit their website at: www.foundationsineducation.org.)

STAMFORD—I was deeply saddened this past month to watch the Reproductive Health Act go into effect in New York—an act that is extremely troubling for the future of our most innocent and vulnerable. While NYC celebrated with a pink-lit bridge and building, I was presenting on the future of the abortion industry to a local Legatus chapter. Abortion up until the moment of birth is horrendous but the irony of the act and the future of the abortion industry is this: medical abortion (the abortion pill) is surpassing surgical abortions and the future of abortion will largely take place in the first ten weeks – not up until the point of birth.

According to The State of Abortion in CT – 11th Annual Report medical abortion continues to rise in the state of Conn. In 2007, medical abortion only accounted for 19.8 percent of all abortions performed. Fast forward to 2016 and the percentage has increased to 44.4 percent. This is the trend nationwide according to the National Catholic Register in 2017. Europe is already almost exclusively performing abortion by pill.

If you have been paying attention the battle you will find this to be an even more terrifying shift—and one that has crept frighteningly close to you and me. A few weeks ago, I happened to notice the Plan-B pill behind the counter at my local CVS in Stamford. It’s behind the counter at yours too.

I also experienced the cultural shift from popularity of surgical abortion to medical abortion, through our local sidewalk ministry—a ministry created to help abortion-minded women choose life.

While sidewalk counseling this past October, one woman in particular caught me off guard as she walked past me into the clinic. I had missed the opportunity to engage her because there were no visible signs that led me to believe she was a “woman in crisis.” She was well dressed with perfectly styled hair, emotionally composed and had almost a lightness to her step— which caused me to believe she was a pedestrian on her way to work.

As with the hundreds of women I’ve seen enter that clinic over the years, there was certainly nothing about this particular woman that exhibited qualities often associated with abortion-minded women. An abortion-minded woman can usually be identified by:

  • Baggy/loose/comfortable clothes
  • Emotional, sometimes crying
  • Emotionally drained—appearing as if she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders

This beautiful woman entering the clinic displayed NONE of these signs and so I assumed her to be just another of the many clients entering Planned Parenthood for a well-woman exam.

About 20 minutes later I spotted her leaving the clinic. A surgical abortion will keep a woman in the clinic for several hours – so I knew it couldn’t be an abortion that brought her there that day. As she was passing me, I struck up a conversation—asking her if everything was okay and ultimately attempting to guide her elsewhere for her future medical needs.

She looked confused, so I tried again, “What brought you to Planned Parenthood today?”

She responded, “I was pregnant.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Did she just say she was pregnant? I quickly adapted my conversation to clarify because if she was pregnant and leaving after only 20 minutes, that could only mean one thing.

I gently asked, “Did you take the abortion pill today?”

She nodded yes.

I knew timing was of the essence and if I could convince her to choose life, there was a possibility we could save the baby using the abortion pill reversal procedure—but I would need her to choose life first. I told her that her baby was still alive and if she had doubts about the abortion, we could reverse it with a good chance the baby would be born completely healthy. We exchanged names and phone numbers and I listened while she shared the reason for the abortion. The father had lost his job. They already had a 12-year-old child and a second baby was not in the plans. I gave her the phone number for the abortion pill reversal hotline and pleaded with her to call.

“How far along are you?” I asked.

“Two months,” she responded.

I implored her to act quickly because the baby could still be saved despite what they might have told her inside the clinic. The woman told me she would speak with the father of the baby, but she gave no indication as to whether or not she would call the reversal hotline.

In the end, I had to entrust the fate of the child to the Lord.

The scary reality illustrated by this story is this: We are not dealing with the same abortion battle of 50 years ago or even five years ago! 

The woman who I encountered exhibited no emotional distress – as if she had no idea what she had done. It used to be that a woman exiting the clinic after a surgical abortion, was highly emotional, tearful, deeply saddened by what she had just undergone physically, emotionally and even spiritually…

But this woman presented herself completely opposite, illustrating that the abortion pill has made the abortion process of today seemingly effortless, simple and unseen for women—and their lack of deep emotional distress before and after the “procedure” is visual evidence as such.

I was deeply disturbed by my encounter that day. I couldn’t help but wonder:

How many other women had I passed, in my day to day, who were in the process of aborting their baby—who had taken the 1st dose and were on their way home to take the 2nd dose, completing the abortion, the next day? Due to the simplicity and ease of access, it’s quite apparent that any woman you encounter could be undergoing an abortion right in front of you. Think about it:

The woman ahead of you in the grocery store checkout line, the woman next to you on the train, a colleague, the teenager behind you at church, your daughter or granddaughter. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to tell who may be in the process of having a medical abortion.

The only emotional distress these women will experience will be in the isolation of their bathrooms or bedrooms once the baby passes.

This is the future of abortion.

The abortion pill is the new point of encounter to engage women in a crisis pregnancy and if it’s anything like my experience, we will be operating in the dark.

We must keep our eyes open because the new abortion battle has shifted and not in our favor. We must focus on embracing our young women from the moment of their first well-woman exam and build a relationship with them so that abortion is never the option and doesn’t trickle down to future generations.

Noelle Gross is the Founder of  Project Beloved Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that exists to establish the first-of-its-kind, life-affirming women’s health center in Connecticut in order to meet the very basic yet unaddressed need for dignified, natural, evidence-based, comprehensive health care.

DANBURY—Less than 15 percent of U.S. college-bound high school seniors achieve perfect SAT scores. This year, six Immaculate High School seniors achieved perfect scores on their SAT math section, with two of those students achieving a perfect score on the Level II SAT math test and one achieving a perfect ACT composite score.

Sarah Bohling of Brookfield, Yuxuan Brittany Hu of Ridgefield, Wenqi Angela Lai of Brewster, Qianer Kris Lu of Ridgefield, Zhiwei Catherine Wang of Ridgefield and Mozhu Cindy Zhao of Bethel had a perfect score of 800 on the math portion of their SAT.

Yuxuan Brittany Hu and Wenqi Angela Lai also earned perfect scores (800) on the Math Level II SAT Subject Test, an advanced version of the regular SAT math portion. To succeed in the test, a student needs four years of math which must include precalculus and trigonometry.

Sarah Bohling also earned a perfect composite score on her ACTs, achieving the full 36 points one can average of the four subject area scores—English, Reading, Math and Science.

Immaculate High School, ranked by Niche as a top ten best private college-prep high school in Fairfield County, has the highest student SAT scores of the Diocese of Bridgeport schools. Based on a four-year study of student college recognitions, Immaculate High School reports a return on tuition investment that yields three times the investment when attending Immaculate High School. Most recently, 90 percent of the Class of 2018 were awarded college scholarships and grants totaling $20 million and 100 percent of the students are attending highly respected colleges and universities, with 95 percent of them being accepted to their first or second choice colleges and universities. The top 10 percent of students achieved an average 1309 SAT score and nearly 75 percent of the class earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

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, 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 program that instills faith,

Compassion and reverence for others. Community service is also stressed; in 2018 students performed 27,794 hours of community service. In the 2019-20 school year, Immaculate will be offering additional business courses as well as a Certified Nursing Associate program.

Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School allows students to focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, personal commitments and service to others.  Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system.

The recent passage of disturbing new abortion laws in New York State and public comments from Virginia political leaders has properly raised the public debate on abortion and the rights of the unborn and now born.

The following is a statement in response to these events by Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of the Bridgeport Diocese, Bishop Michael R. Cote of the Norwich Diocese and the Most Reverend Paul P. Chomnycky, OSBM, Ukrainian Eparchy of Stamford.

February 7, 2019

Dear Friends in Christ:

On January 22, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York signed into law the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), a tragic abortion expansion bill which allows for the killing of an unborn child until birth as a “fundamental” right. Safeguards that previously protected those infants accidentally born alive during an abortion have also been repealed under this new law. Other provisions of this unjust law also place the lives of women in jeopardy by allowing abortions to be performed by non-physicians at the discretion of the abortionist and prevent prosecution for an attack on an unborn child through criminal acts of violence or coerced abortion.

Other states such as Rhode Island, Virginia, and New Mexico are now trying to pass similar legislation.

We, the Catholic Bishops of Connecticut, unequivocally denounce such legislation and all legislation that allows the direct taking of human life at any stage of development, especially in the womb. We uphold the Church’s unchanging teaching that affirms every human life to be unique, precious, and a gift from God. It is a basic human right that every life be protected from the moment of conception to natural death.

At a time when we should be working together to better safeguard all lives and find common ground in our increasingly polarized society the New York law makes late­term abortion more available by adopting an absolutist “pro-choice” position that is unacceptable and should speak to the conscience of all those who value life.

As a community of faith, we must continue to take a stand for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters in the womb and their mothers, who are often coerced and pressured into making choices against the life they carry. They need our prayers, support and accompaniment to help them choose life, especially when they face any difficulties during pregnancy.

For those who have undergone an abortion, the church stands ready to assist with healing and reconciliation through a variety of means, including Project Rachel, a program which manifests the forgiveness and mercy of God.

As we continue this struggle, we can remain confident that everything is. in the hands of God, who sees all, who judges justly, and from whose hand no one can be snatched away—especially an innocent unborn child.

Committed to prayer, education, advocacy and acts of reparation for the millions of lives already lost through abortion, we invite you to join us to serve as witnesses of the truth and defenders of human life in our society.

With every best wish and prayer, we remain,

DANBURY—Four Immaculate High School student-athletes recently signed to play sports in the Fall of 2019 at Columbia University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Quinnipiac University and Mount Saint Mary’s University.

“This is a very exciting time for these young student-athletes. Years of hard work have led to this special moment of deserved recognition of their ability to achieve exponentially in their academic studies and athletic prowess.  We wish each of them continued success as they pursue their dreams,” said Mary Maloney, President of Immaculate High School.

Angela Saidman of Bethel will continue running cross country and track and field at Columbia University, where she plans to major in economics. Angela, a distinguished honors student, has run varsity cross country and outdoor track all four years at Immaculate. After playing varsity basketball her freshman and sophomore years, she began running indoor track as well. While on these teams Angela won many awards and accolades, including being part of the cross country teams that won the 2018 Southwest Conference (SWC) Championship and Class State Championship four times in a row, from 2015-2018; individually she was a SWC champion twice, a three-time individual State champion, and three-time All-New England honoree. For outdoor track, Angela was State champion of the 1600m in 2018 and a New Balance Nationals participant in the distance medley relay (DMR). During the 2018 indoor track season, she also ran at New Balance Nationals in the DMR, was the SWC champion for the 3200m, was a State champion in the 1600m and 3200m, and was All New-England for her mile run. Besides her impressive athletic achievements, Angela received the Ronald Reagan Student Leadership Award, the President’s Award for Educational Excellence and the Holy Cross Book Prize. She is president of IHS’ National Honor Society as well as a member of the IHS Math National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, and is the editor-in-chief of the IHS school newspaper.

Mackenzy Garden of Danbury will play field hockey for the Stevens Institute of Technology, where she will major in biomedical engineering. At IHS, Mackenzy played almost every position on the field hockey field and was a captain this past season; she is also on the school’s golf team and will be a captain this season. In her junior and senior years Mackenzy was named to the All-Patriot Division team for field hockey; she has also been named to the CHSCA Junior Select team and named the team’s Most Improved Player, also for field hockey. She helped lead her IHS field hockey teams to the 2017 SWC and the 2018 Class S State championship titles. Mackenzy was also named a Nike Field Hockey Player of the Week and a WestConn Prepare for Preseason All-Star player during summer programs.  A Distinguished Honors student, Mackenzy received the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal and was invited to the Columbia University Engineering Women’s Forum. She is a member of IHS’ Math Honors Society, Science Honors Society and National Honors Society. Mackenzie also participates in Campus Ministry, Key Club and the Rosary Club. Additionally, Mackenzy is member of Immaculate’s Brave Engineers team which just won the state-level Real Word Design Competition (RWDC) and will compete with her team in the national contest in April.

Kayla Mingachos of Danbury, a soccer All-American, will play soccer at Quinnipiac University and is still determining her major. Kayla plaid center midfield and was captain her senior year for the IHS girls soccer team. Her list of accolades and honors is impressive, most notably that she was selected to the prestigious 2018 Fall High School Girls All-America Team by United Soccer Coaches. Kayla is one of only 58 girls in the country to receive this honor this past season. United Soccer Coaches is the world’s largest soccer coaches organization. Kayla was also named an All-New England and All-State First Team player for girls soccer. Kayla lead her team to the SWC Championship title in 2017 (for their fifth title win) with a record of 19-1 and the Class M State Championship in 2016, and was an integral part of the Immaculate girls soccer team that ended their 2018 season 12-3-1 with an appearance in the SWC finals and the State Championship tournament, where they were runner-ups. She was named to the First Team-All SWC and named All-State and All-New England in 2017 and 2018. Kayla is also a member of the IHS National Honors Society and participates in Campus Ministry.

Spencer Brown of New Milford will participate in the school’s track and field program, including the long and high jump, at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland where he will major in special and elementary education. Spencer is an important member of the IHS outdoor track and field team all four years at Immaculate, where he is a jumper and a sprinter and captain senior year and broke school records for the long jump and the high jump as well as the distance medley run for outdoor runs. He also ran indoor track 10th through 12th grades.  Spencer’s talents helped the indoor track team win the SWC and Class S State Championships in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Spencer was named an All-SWC athlete three times, a team MVP, an All-State athlete, a Top 100 U.S. long jumper and high jumper by Milesplit, and qualified at the New Balance Nationals. He is still competing in this year’s indoor track season and soon outdoor track and field. A High Honors student all four years at IHS, Spencer also participates in the Culinary Club, Model UN, the Special Friends Club, the Chess Club, the Pottery Club, the Yearbook Club and the Film and Animation Club.

“Immaculate High School has always had a strong athletic program, with many of our teams winning SWC and State Championships, and it is possible because of the commitment, talents and hard work of our student-athletes like the ones signing to play in college today,” said Dr. Patrick D. Higgins, Principal.  “In the past 10 months, Immaculate has won four State Championships including our girls field hockey team, girls cross country team, boys cross country team and our boys basketball team, and we have been ranked #2 out of 176 CT schools for Fall 2018 sports teams by Vantage SportsNet based on success in the CIAC tournaments,” he added.

Immaculate High School, ranked by Niche as a top ten best private college-prep high school in Fairfield County, has the highest student SAT scores in the Diocese of Bridgeport schools. 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, 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 community service and Campus Ministry program that instills faith, compassion and reverence for others. Community service is also stressed; in 2018 students performed 27,794 hours of community service.  In the 2019-20 school year, Immaculate will be offering additional business courses as well as a Certified Nursing Associate program.

Immaculate High School is a private, non-profit Catholic college-preparatory institution serving students from 28 communities in Connecticut and New York. Founded in 1962, Immaculate High School allows students to focus on academic excellence, spiritual development, personal commitments and service to others.  Located in Danbury, CT, Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system.

BRIDGEPORT—St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound will host its Annual Sports Gala and Auction benefiting Connecticut police, fire, and correction officers, EMS personnel, public safety dispatchers, and their families battling cancer. Retired NFL Star, Merril Hoge, will be the guest speaker at the event on March 20, 2019, at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, CT. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut is the title sponsor of this event.

Merril Hoge is a retired football player who played eight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. During that time, he set the team record for most receptions by a running back. After he retired, he transformed himself into a football analyst for ESPN for 21 years. He then became a bestselling author and motivational speaker. His first book, “Find A Way: Three Words That Changed My Life,” was released in 2010 and helped him achieve his dream of becoming an NFL powerhouse—and would later help him fight to live as he struggled to overcome cancer, open heart surgery and family tragedy.

All donations will be used to fund programs to support first responders throughout Connecticut. Courageous first responders put themselves in harm’s way to protect and keep Connecticut residents safe. The funds raised will provide financial support for these heroes so they may worry less about utility bills, mortgage payments, car insurance, and other expenses, enabling them to concentrate on their recovery should they have to battle cancer.

Ticket donations are $100 each. Table hosts (ten seats) are available for $1,000.

(For more information, contact St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation at 203.382.2301 or visit https://SwimAcrossTheSound.org/sports2019.)

About St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound

St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound is a charitable not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization run by the
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation of Bridgeport, CT. Since 1987, the SWIM has had a unique niche helping individuals and families struggling through the difficult changes that cancer brings with it.  The SWIM serves approximately 30,000 people annually by providing over 44 programs, including cancer education, screening, prevention and support programs at low- or no-cost for the uninsured and underinsured. In addition, the SWIM helps individual cancer patients on a case-by-case basis with specific financial assistance, funding of wigs and prostheses, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships, support groups and more.

(For more information, contact the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation at 203.576.5451 or visit www.SwimAcrossTheSound.org.)

 

I am sorry to inform you of the death of the Reverend William F. Sangiovanni yesterday, February 4, 2019. He was 77 years of age.

William Francis Sangiovanni was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 24, 1941, son of Francis and Margaret (Muldoon) Sangiovanni. He was baptized on April 6, 1941, at Saint Bernadette Church in Brooklyn.

He attended Saint Gregory Elementary School and Saint Jerome Elementary School, Brooklyn, La Salle Academy, New York, and graduated from Fairfield University in 1962. He received a Bachelor of Social Science in 1962 from Fairfield University.

Father Sangiovanni received his priestly formation at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels in Albany, New York, (1965-1969). After completing his theological studies, he took a leave of absence and served as special assistant to the Minority Leader of the Connecticut General Assembly and as assistant to Congressman Steward McKinney. He also worked with Glenmary Home Missions. After returning to the Diocese, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis in Saint Patrick Church on March 19, 1977.

He first served as Parochial Vicar of Saint Patrick Parish (1977-1981). In June 1980, he was named a part­-time member of the faculty of Notre Dame High School, while continuing to serve at Saint Patrick. In July 1981, he was appointed Spiritual Director of Notre Dame while residing at Holy Rosary Parish in Bridgeport. In January 1986, he was named Director of Sacred Heart University Chaplains and took up residency at Saint Theresa Parish in Trumbull. In August 1990, he became a full-time member of the faculty of Notre Dame High School. At Notre Dame High School, he was appointed Assistant Principal in July 1992, Principal in July 1994 and President in July 2010.

Throughout his years of priestly ministry in the Diocese, Father Sangiovanni also served on the Presbyteral Council and as Chaplain of the Columbiettes of Park City Council #16 Knights of Columbus. He also was appointed to the Ethics Commission of the State of Connecticut and served as Chaplain to the Bridgeport Correctional Center.

Father Sangiovanni retired on June 30, 2017, holding the title of President Emeritus of Notre Dame High School.

Father Sangiovanni’s body will be received in the Gymnasium of Notre Dame High School on Friday, February 8th at 3:00 pm and will lie in repose until 7:00 pm. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 7:00 pm in the Gymnasium. Father Peter Cipriani will be the celebrant, and Father Michael Dunn will be the homilist. I will celebrate the Funeral Mass on Saturday, February 9th at 11:00 am at Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield, and Father Peter Cipriani will be the homilist. Priests who will be concelebrating at the Funeral Mass should bring diocesan vestments.

Condolences can be sent c/o Notre Dame High School, 220 Jefferson Street, Fairfield, CT, 06825. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Sangiovanni and for the consolation of his family.

Fraternally in Christ,


Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano
Bishop of Bridgeport

Click here for more info on Father Sangiovanni

The Diocese of Bridgeport has been informed that individuals from various towns and parishes are receiving emails and/or phone calls that claim to be from pastors or other clergy members. Anyone whose phone number is listed on a church website may possibly be targeted. These scammers are posing as clergy to get people to provide financial information.

PLEASE NOTE – THE DIOCESE DOES NOT MAKE UNSOLICITED CALLS OR CONTACT ANYONE BY EMAIL OR PHONE TO REQUEST FINANCIAL INFORMATION. THEREFORE, SHOULD A PARISHIONER OR INDIVIDUAL RECEIVE SUCH A REQUEST, THEY ARE ADVISED NOT TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION TO THE SENDER.

The Diocese has made the appropriate notifications to civil authorities and urges anyone who is contacted NOT to respond or provide any information. Anyone with questions or concerns should contact the Development Office of the Diocese of Bridgeport: (203) 416-1479 or (203) 416-1473.

ABU DHABI—In an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi Monday, Pope Francis said that for peace to flourish among religions, there must be justice, and respect for human dignity and freedom.

“Justice is the second wing of peace. No one, therefore, can believe in God and not seek to live in justice with everyone, according to the Golden Rule,” the pope said Feb. 4. “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

“Peace and justice are inseparable!”

Speaking at Abu Dhabi’s “Founder’s Monument,” which commemorates the founder and first president of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the pope emphasized that is the task of religions to promote human dignity, particularly for the least and the poor.

Religions “should keep watch as sentinels of fraternity in the night of conflict. They should be vigilant warnings to humanity not to close our eyes in the face of injustice and never to resign ourselves to the many tragedies in the world,” he said.

This “human fraternity” also comes with the duty of rejecting and condemning war, he stated, noting its “miserable crudeness” and “fateful consequences.”

“I am thinking in particular of Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Libya,” he said. “Together, as brothers and sisters in the one human family willed by God, let us commit ourselves against the logic of armed power … let us oppose all this with the sweet power of prayer and daily commitment to dialogue.”

Pope Francis, the first pope to visit the Arabian peninsula, is in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, Feb. 3-5 to promote interreligious dialogue and give support to the country’s Christian minority.

Before the interreligious meeting, he met for around 30 minutes with the Muslim Council of Elders. He then visited the city’s Grand Mosque with the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, before paying his respects at Zayed’s tomb.

At the interreligious meeting, the pope praised last November’s meeting, the first, of the Forum of the Interreligious Alliance for Safer Communities, which was on the theme of child dignity in the digital world.

“I thank, therefore, all the leaders who are engaged in this field,” he said, “and I assure them of my support, solidarity and participation and that of the Catholic Church, in this very important cause of the protection of minors in all its forms.”

Reflecting on interreligious dialogue, he said the point of departure is recognizing God as the origin of “one human family,” that “He who is the Creator of all things and of all persons wants us to live as brothers and sisters, dwelling in the common home of creation which he has given us.”

Francis pointed out that to honor the creator requires valuing the sacredness of each human life, “equally precious in the eyes of God.”

“Thus, to recognize the same rights for every human being is to glorify the name of God on earth. In the name of God the Creator, therefore, every form of violence must be condemned without hesitation, because we gravely profane God’s name when we use it to justify hatred and violence against a brother or sister,” he said.

An important part of effective dialogue and human fraternity is prayer, he said. It “purifies the heart from turning in on itself. Prayer of the heart restores fraternity.”

Quoting The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, he said: “May our prayer – each one according to his or her own tradition – adhere fully to the will of God, who wants all men and women to recognize they are brothers and sisters and live as such, forming the great human family in the harmony of diversity.”

“There is no alternative: we will either build the future together or there will not be a future,” he continued. “The time has come when religions should more actively exert themselves, with courage and audacity, and without pretense, to help the human family deepen the capacity for reconciliation, the vision of hope and the concrete paths of peace.”

During the meeting, Pope Francis and Tayeb signed a joint declaration “on human fraternity for world peace and living together,” asking that the document “become the object of research and reflection in all schools, universities and institutes of formation.”

The four-and-a-half-page declaration condemned issues such as the taking of innocent human life, terrorism, world hunger, materialism, and a lack of equitable distribution of natural resources.

It also stated that the family is “the fundamental nucleus of society and humanity,” and noted that to attack, to regard with contempt, or to doubt the importance of the institution of the family “is one of the most threatening evils of our era.”

“In conclusion, our aspiration is that … this Declaration may be a sign of the closeness between East and West, between North and South, and between all who believe that God has created us to understand one another, cooperate with one another and live as brothers and sisters who love one another,” it stated.

By Hannah Brockhaus | Catholic News Agency

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis said Friday that health centers should always be places of life, where the sick and suffering are cared for both physically and spiritually.

“Your buildings must be ‘inns’ – like that of the parable of the Samaritan – at the service of life, spaces where especially the sick and the poor feel welcomed,” the pope said Feb. 1 to a group of the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God.

The Good Samaritan “took care of the wounded. The expression ‘taking care’ has a human and spiritual dimension. Jesus wants us to touch human misery, that we touch his flesh in the flesh of those who suffer in body or spirit.”

“To touch, let us touch. It would do us so much good!” he continued. “And then your life will become an icon of God’s mercy of mercy, finally becoming a compassionate and merciful Christ, who passed into the world doing good to all and healing all sorts of diseases and infirmities.”

The charism of the Brothers of St. John of God, also called “Fatebenefratelli,” is caring for the sick, and the religious order has health and social service activities in 52 countries on five continents. The order consists of 1,099 brothers from 51 countries.

The pope told the group, in Rome for their general chapter, that no matter the number or age of an order’s members, “the Spirit always creates a renewed fruitfulness … so that religious and laity have a missionary heart that rejoices in joy, in experiencing the salvation of Christ.”

He also talked about the importance of love of God being at the center of all service: “In a consecrated person, and in every baptized person, there can be no genuine compassion for others if there is no passion of love for Jesus,” he said.

“Bring the compassion and mercy of Jesus to the sick and the most in need,” he encouraged. “Get out of yourself, your limits, your problems and difficulties, to join others in a caravan of solidarity.”

Noting that the brothers should not neglect their own formation, Francis also urged them to train the laity in their charism of care for the poor and sick, and “in the spirituality and mission of Christian hospitality.”

“May the cause of the human as a cause of God resound in you,” he said. “And so, feeling a family, you can always be at the service of the wounded and sick world.”

By Hannah Brockhaus | Catholic News Agency