Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

BROOKFIELD—Have you ever wondered if you were being “called” to discern the diaconate?  Has someone, your pastor, a priest or a deacon ever mentioned to you that they can see you as deacon someday? Do you feel that God calling you to live your faith differently, perhaps as a deacon? Want to learn more about how to sort this all out?

Join me and explore some of these questions and others that you may have about the Diaconate. Diaconate Discovery Evenings will be a consistent space to wonder, explore, pray and share with other men of faith regarding serving the Church as a Permanent Deacon.

• Be with other men of faith who are wondering if God is calling them to serve as a deacon.
• To have an opportunity for prayer and reflection.
• To form relationships and build community.
• Meet deacons from around the diocese witnessing their ministries and journeys of faith.

We now have discovery evenings available at three different locations. 

If you are interested in attending or have any questions, please feel free to contact Deacon Tim Bolton, Coordinator of Diaconate Vocations, dnbolton@diobpt.org.

“…reputable men filled with the Spirit and wisdom…” Acts 6😊

CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF BRIDGEPORT – A St. Raphael Academy first grade class was surprised with a visit by Mayor Joseph P. Ganim as a “guest reader” on Thursday, January 31, 2019. Mayor Ganim spoke with the students about his role as mayor of Bridgeport, and then shared that he had attended St. Raphael when he was their age! He then read, “A House for Hermit Crab,” by Eric Carle, to the class.

Mayor Ganim’s visit was organized as part of special Catholic Schools Week activity for students to learn about and meet leaders in their local community through having a “guest reader” for each class. City Councilwoman Maria Viggiano Zambrano read to a class on Monday. Other guests included Monsignor Chris Walsh (pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church), Fr. Michael Novajosky (pastor of the Cathedral Parish), Board members of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, and local government workers.

St. Raphael Academy, educating students in prekindergarten through third grade, is one of four campuses of the Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, which provides a Christ-centered, academically rigorous learning environment where cultural diversity is welcome, Catholic values taught and all faiths celebrated. Students are nurtured, encouraged and challenged in preparation for a successful life of leadership and service. The other three campuses are: St. Andrew Academy (grades PK – 8), St. Ann Academy (grades PK – 8) and St. Augustine Academy (grades 4 – 8).

BRIDGEPORT—I have practiced law for nearly 50 years and served as a judge for 36 years. In that span of time, I have never seen a state legislature enact such a condemnable piece of legislation as New York’s so-called Reproductive Health Act, which Governor Cuomo deliberately and delightedly signed into law on the anniversary of the infamous decision of Roe v. Wade. I realize full well that the subject of abortion is perhaps the most divisive and emotional issue of our time and that the most strident of voices for and against abortion make it nearly impossible to have a serious, calm and reasonable discussion of the issue. But we can certainly try.

The law begins by stating that abortion and contraception are “a fundamental component of a woman’s health, privacy and equality, ***  [and that] the intent of the legislature [is] to prevent the enforcement of laws or regulations that are not in furtherance of a legitimate state interest in protecting a woman’s health that burden abortion access.”  It permits and approves of abortions during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy for virtually any reason based on “reasonable and good faith [professional] judgment.” During the third trimester, abortion is permitted (and apparently applauded) if “there is an absence of fetal viability, or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health.” Never has one single word been given such life-taking power as that word “health.” The justification could be based on the mother’s emotional or psychological health or the fact that even the most unlikely medical risk during delivery is deemed unacceptable. A mother could argue that she is unwilling to assume the small risk of having a stroke or heart attack during delivery (no matter how unlikely) because such potentialities threaten her health. The potential “threats” to health are virtually unlimited.

The act also de-criminalized abortion completely, with the stroke of a pen. There is no longer any criminal penalty, even for abortions not justified under the present law. In other words, even if the abortion was not reasonably necessary for the mother’s health or for any other permitted reason, the mother could seek an abortion at the very end of the third trimester and even if the baby were delivered still alive, there would be no criminal penalty imposed for the murder of the child post birth. That is what this act permits, even if unwittingly. Such a scenario is as grotesque and evil as anything Dr. Josef Mengele ever considered during the Nazi reign of terror.

In essence, the act focuses entirely on a woman’s privacy rights, as previously defined (rather lately by constitutional standards) by the United States Supreme Court. Remarkably, it never addresses a right presumably as fundamental as privacy— namely the right to life itself. It is axiomatic and self-evident that no constitutional or moral right has any meaning if the simple right to live is not first guaranteed. That is what I find most disturbing about this warped and ill-conceived piece of legislation. It virtually assumes that a developing child in utero is only a piece of human tissue not worthy of protection until it suddenly bursts forth from the mother’s birth canal. It boggles the mind that any reasonable person could believe such an obvious falsehood. The scientific evidence overwhelmingly confirms the existence of human life as early as the first trimester, never mind the third!

And so, the question I pose is this: why has not the abortion debate centered on the question of when human life is created? It appears that the proponents of unlimited abortion would rather “overlook” that fundamental moral, legal, philosophical and religious question than actually deal with it honestly and openly. I had always thought that President Obama was one of the most intelligent and intellectually curious of any of those who served in his high office, until, one day, he was asked about the beginning of human life. I will never forget his answer. Smiling, he replied that such a matter was “above my pay grade.” With all due and considerable respect, that was a disingenuous answer. Were it not for the political dilemma he was put in, from an intellectual point of view, he and any other serious thinker would have jumped at the chance to discuss such a brain teaser of an issue. The same holds true for Catholic politicians who have conveniently chosen to ignore the issue altogether, and even worse, to assume, without debate, that human life begins only outside of the womb. Scientifically and morally, there is no basis for such an egregiously-flawed conclusion.

For every Christian, including every Catholic Christian, the biblical basis for the beginning of human life is both clear and unequivocal. Luke’s narrative of the Annunciation makes it clear that the moment Mary consented to Gabriel’s invitation to become the Mother of God, “the Word became flesh.” When Mary approached Elizabeth’s door step, we are told that Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy in her womb and that Elizabeth boldly and prophetically proclaimed to Mary: “Who am I that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” Do you realize that these “good” Catholic politicians are impliedly saying that Jesus was not a human being until He was actually born? There is not a single theologian I know of who would ever say such a preposterous and blasphemous thing. It is theoretically possible for a person to conclude that human life begins at birth (despite all the scientific evidence to the contrary), but it is absolutely impossible for a Christian to do so. Such a person would have to reach the impossible conclusion that Jesus had no right to exist in Mary’s womb, because, after all, it wasn’t really Jesus taking up space in Mary’s womb, but only a piece of “pre-human” tissue, no more worthy of  existence than a piece of undigested food! For our Jewish and Muslim friends, the Old Testament is just as clear.

This act is quite literally a crime against humanity. It deserves the complete and unequivocal condemnation by the Pope, every bishop, priest, deacon and the religious and lay community. If we as the Body of Christ do not oppose this evil, what evil will we oppose? If we do not attempt to protect the innocent unborn, who will we protect? And if we are unwilling to come to the defense of unborn children, why in the world should we expect God to come to our defense?

Such ponderous questions. And none of them are above our pay grade.

By Deacon Paul Kurmay

STAMFORD—Is “also” part of the present tense participle of a verb? How about “not?” With the sixth grade Personalized Learning English Language Arts (ELA) class at the Catholic Academy of Stamford, teacher Kelly Whipple is leading an examination of verb phrases, a main verb and a helping verb, in the past and present tenses.

English is a tricky language. In the sentence “He should not join,” the word “not” isn’t part of the verb tense. Once Whipple has presented the material and made sure the class understands it, the students break into small groups to devise sentences of their own using the present, present participle, past and past participle verbs.

Eddie likes football, so he tosses out the sentence “Bill is playing football.” He and the others in his group, Samantha, Brandon and Kaitlyn, quickly come up with the simple present tense: “Bill plays football.”

That was easy. Now they consider the next step: “How can we make a past participle of that?”

As they work through the verb tenses, one of the group tosses out “I also played yesterday.” Is “also” part of the verb, they ask Whipple. No, it isn’t, and she takes time to explain why to the whole class.

Each segment of the Personalized Learning session is 20 minutes long. Following the introduction and group work, each student follows an individual path on their iPads. Because their QR badges connect to their personal work history, each student’s study is unique.

Ryan is working on a study of giraffes. “Choose the two websites that would provide the best information on how giraffes adapt to their native habitat,” the program prompts him.

“The point is to find the main idea, and then look for supporting details,” Ryan explains. As he scans through the choices of possible websites, he is analyzing not only the introductory topic, but the way different sites will increase his knowledge and which ones will lead to unhelpful side issues.

This is a skill that will serve him well in every aspect of learning.

As they achieve success on their personal level, the students move along to new material. While Ryan selects a set of notecards on his giraffe, Joey is checking word relationships in science fiction and Kaitlyn analyzes the main idea in her article.

The iPad program sends a report to Whipple for each student. It is not simply that a given lesson has been completed. Instead, the program breaks down the report into how well a student understood main theme, characters, events, vocabulary, words with more than one meaning and point of view.

While students are engaged in independent work, Whipple can address any problems she is seeing. “I can work with someone one-on-one on a particular topic, but if I see that a number of students have trouble with something, I can pull together three or four of them for a group session,” she says. “If a lot of them have trouble with main theme or context clues, I’ll do a class lesson on that.”

“The lesson planning is so much more in depth,” notes Principal Natalia Cruz. “For these longer classes, they’re basically planning a lesson for each student. It was a lot of work initially, but it’s all moving in a positive direction for teachers and students alike.”

For the last segment of this session, the entire class has workbook exercises to compete on today’s topic. “Make sure you have the verb underlined and write the tense of the underlined verb,” she instructs the class. “Ability to follow directions correctly is also graded.”

The latest in technology and a strong, dedicated teacher. That’s what makes Personalized Learning a success.

STAMFORD—Trinity Catholic High School marked today as “The Day the Future Began” with an inspired ceremony attended by nearly five hundred students, administrators and invited guests. The entire ceremony was webcast live to alumni nationwide via Facebook Live.

Bishop Frank Caggiano presided over the one-hour ceremony which included the dedication of new statues and renovated facilities. The statues will grace the grounds and foyer of the newly-renovated school, and the new classrooms, labs, offices and a media center bring a new capability to the sixty-year old institution. The two-year, $5M renovation project was completed this past month.

Trinity Catholic Head of School, Patricia “Pat” Brady said: “Trinity is indeed proud of its glorious past. But today, we look to the future and reimagine an even greater impact than ever before.” Board Chair Roger Fox added: “I recalled a quote I once heard: “Let the word go forth from this time and place that the torch has been passed to a new generation”. That is how I feel today, that the great Trinity torch has been passed to a new generation.”

In a reverent, at times inspiring ceremony, the Bishop told the gathering that Trinity Catholic, and its sister school the Catholic Academy of Stamford (grades PreK 3 through 8) “this campus, this educational institution, is being reborn to provide the center for education and the faith here in lower Fairfield County”. He then told the students: “We dedicate our physical facilities today, where you will learn and go out to make a difference in the world. But (he added), it is you as people that are the reason this exists.”

A 40-voice youth choir from the Catholic Academy of Stamford sung sweetly as students alternated readings and prayers. Scenes played on the large video screen in the auditorium as the Bishop and representatives made their way around the school blessing the new environs one by one. The event was simulcast on Facebook Live with five cameras placed strategically around the route.

The entire event can be viewed on the school’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TCHSCrusaders, accessible through its website at www.trinitycatholic.org.

Photos by Amy Mortensen

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FAIRFIELD—“What is the distributive property of a multiplication statement?” fourth-grade teacher Lauren Korres asks her students at the beginning of a structured Personalized Learning math class at Assumption Catholic School.

“In the past, we taught as if every kid were the same,” says Principal Steve Santoli. “Kids would have gaps in their information, and as they went on, those gaps would give them a problem with more advanced topics. By personalizing our approach, we identify their weakness and work on it directly. More than that, it increases their independence and their interest.”

At Assumption, Personalized Learning is implemented in math, reading, writing, science and social studies.

Introducing this math session, Korres makes the multiplication statement “nine times four” (9×4), and she draws a rectangle of “X”s on the board to illustrate the concept. She asks her students to divide it into two uneven, smaller sections. They quickly work out that 5×4=20 and 4×4=16. The two sums add up to 36—the same number as the original nine times four solution (9×4=36).

“We use this strategy to help us break an equation down into smaller groups,” Korres explains to the class. “It will be helpful when we begin to multiply larger numbers.”

After that introduction, students break into smaller study groups. Groups of four or five use flip cards, graph paper, scissors and glue to make their own multiplication boxes, cut them into smaller arrays, and work out the equation to see that, in each case, the sum of the arrays is the same as that of larger numbers.

While laughter and conversation circle the room, the small groups take charge of their own lesson, helping each other when necessary, collaborating and comparing results. They are no longer passive learners; they are active participants in their own instruction.

At other stations, students work individually on a computer math program. “It’s kind of fun,” says Julie as she works through a set of problems showing the connection between addition, multiplication and division. “At the end, it gives you a score.”

Julie has a perfect score this session. If students don’t do well, they can—just as they might on their video games at home—go back and do it again to see if they can do better.

Each mini-session runs about 20 minutes, and students rotate through each type of learning. The computer keeps track of each individual’s session, and those working in groups will sign and turn in their worksheets. Korres will know right away if any student needs extra work before moving on.

The Personalized Learning format also gives Korres a chance to work with students in groups of two to five, depending on their needs. “Let’s see what we know,” she says with one group. “I’m going to give you a multiplication sentence and you’re going to build it for me.”

The students work with small Lego-like blocks and a wipeable workboard. They translate a sentence, like three times two, into an equation (3×2) and each one places their blocks on the table to reproduce the equation.

As they work through sets of numbers, looking at her blocks Zoe has a revelation: “So times is like adding! There’s more than one way to do the same thing!”

Her insight is exactly what Korres, and the Personalized Learning Initiative, had hoped. Zoe has explored multiplication in a number of different ways, and now the knowledge is solidly hers.

BRIDGEPORT—In 2018, Catholic Charities provided 1,322,500 meals and it anticipates that this number will grow in 2019.

However, the recent government shutdown and the added demand put on food pantries has underscored the growing food insecurity of the poor, elderly and working families.

Al Barber, president of Catholic Charities, reports that the agency’s programs have broadened their ability to assist those in need, particularly during these difficult times.

The agency, sponsored by the diocese, has four major food service programs stationed in the core cities of Bridgeport, Stamford and Danbury, through which they feed the hungry, homeless, elderly and homebound.

“Our food service programs are open to those in need. This includes families recently impacted by the Federal Government shut down and those coming off of SNAP benefits,” Barber said.

Barber said the Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport and New Covenant Center in Stamford both have soup kitchens open and ready to serve meals, as well as food pantries stocked with fresh produce and non-perishable items.

The Morning Glory Breakfast Program in Danbury provides a hot and healthy breakfast and is a great place to ask help locating other resources.”

John Gutman, executive director of New Covenant Center in Stamford, has already noticed a need for help.

“With an increase in the number of people being served, our stock is running low. Donations from outside groups is always beneficial and will help us get by and provide those in crisis with the most basic need—food.”

Guttman said that while New Covenant Center relies heavily on the assistance of Food Banks to stock their soup kitchens, but when it comes to filling their pantries it is outside donations that are the most helpful.

New Covenant Center in Stamford, which offers an expanded array of services to meet the basic needs of every guest, is currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary feeding the needy through its soup kitchen and food pantry.

In Bridgeport, The Thomas Merton Center is entering its 45th year of service. It provides breakfast, lunch and a day shelter to those in need who cannot help themselves.

Catholic Charities also serves the elderly through its Senior Nutrition Program, which provides meals to homebound seniors through their Meals on Wheels program as well as serving meals to the elderly at congregate food sites located in Stamford, Norwalk, Westport and Greenwich.

In Danbury, Morning Glory Breakfast Program serves hot and healthy meals on a daily basis to the hungry and homeless in the Danbury area.

Combined, the Catholic Charities programs served a total 96,000 breakfasts, 185,000 lunches, and 74,000 dinners last year. The food pantries located at New Covenant Center in Stamford and The Thomas Merton Center in Bridgeport welcomed 3,100 individuals to shop in 2018. The Senior Nutrition program delivered 72,500 meals to 180 seniors through their Meals on Wheels service and provided 63,000 lunches at eight senior centers.

“During a time of uncertainty and growing demand for resources, none of this could have been accomplished without the assistance of thousands of volunteers and the generosity of committed donors,” said Barber.

(Anyone interested in learning more about the Food Services of Catholic Charities can visit their website at www.ccfairfield.org. New Covenant Center has a website specific to its program at www.newcovenantcenter.org and The Thomas Merton Center’s website can be found at www.themertoncenter.org.)

NEWTOWN—On the morning of Tuesday, January 29, St. Rose of Lima School invited their community leaders in for coffee and conversation to thank them for their dedication to St. Rose School and the Newtown Community. The school library looked lovely with red cloths and roses, as well as a tasty feast of bagels, coffee cake and fruit.

Student ambassadors greeted their guests at the door, shaking their hands, introducing themselves and thanking them for their service. Casual conversation among faculty/staff, town leaders and students touched on many topics followed by some words from Principal Bardhyl Gjoka, who gave a brief overview of notable achievements since the start of the year, including a significant increase in Math and Language Arts scores (as measured by STAR testing) and an overall positive feeling among families that St. Rose School is a strong community. Mr. Gjoka thanked the community leaders for their unwavering support and they, in turn, complimented St. Rose School for being a stronghold in the community and their students on being well prepared, respectful and positive role models.  

Student ambassadors led tours of the school where students in all classrooms stood to greet guests. As they departed, school ambassadors gave each guest a gift bag that included a framed letter of thanks including a prayer, a wooden ornament with the St. Rose School cross logo inscribed “You are Special to us” and a red St. Rose pen with the school logo on it.

St. Rose also held a school-wide Knowledge Bowl on Jan. 25th to kick off Catholic Schools Week. Teams were comprised of students from preschool through eighth grade, each team denoted by a color—red, blue, green or yellow. Questions were based on all that students learned since September. Special rounds included parents and teachers. The gathering hall was filled with spirit as teams cheered and minds percolated. In the end, the Green team won but it truly was a winning event in terms of school camaraderie.

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.)

BROOKFIELD—“The most exciting thing about personalized and multi-age learning is that it encourages and empowers students to discover their strengths, challenges, interests and passion,” said Pam Fallon, director of education at St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Brookfield.

During a recent visit, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Cheeseman and administrators brought along a special guest to see that passion in action. Tom McInerney and his wife Paula recently gave a $5.5 million gift to Foundations in Education. The gift is financing the diocesan Personalized Learning Initiative and St. Joseph Academy’s multi-age learning program. Tom is chair of Foundations in Education; this visit gave him the opportunity to see the SJCA experience in action.

The day began in the Early Learning Center with the youngest grades. In addition to pre-K for three- and four-year-olds, the academy is arranged in learning bands for grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-6, with seventh and eighth grades on their own tracks.

“The multi-age configuration allows students to learn and grow with a cushion of all their friends learning together,” said Fallon. “It takes away the competitive edge common in a traditional classroom and gives students more of a collaborative environment. It’s another way to help student’s grow not just academically but socially and emotionally in an accepting culture. It’s the best of all possible worlds.”

Fallon calls the bright, open, newly-renovated Early Learning Center “the room with the sparkles and happiness.” During this visit, children in the blended kindergarten through second grade were working on their Hour of Code. An introduction to computer science, the worldwide Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week, December 3-9 in 2018.

Because they are so young, these students completed their hour of code in two separate sessions. In the first, they learned how to build a night sky and set it with twinkling stars. This day, these youngest of computer coders were setting up their own computer landscape.

“I’m coloring my own background first,” said second grader Clare, working on a lush tropical beach scene. Seated next to her, kindergartner Aidan created a jungle and was working on the coding to make a monkey jump as he runs. After he had the scene finished to his liking, he could use another set of commands to add his own voice—and even his photo—to one of the animal characters.

The program they’re using is called Scratch Junior, developed from an MIT-based innovation. “It’s geared to their age, but once they understand the coding process and can design projects, they’ll be comfortable coding at a more complex level,” said Alan Barnicle, personalized learning coordinator for the diocesan schools.

In the fifth and sixth grade cluster, social studies students are working on a Museum for Mesopotamia. Each group of students will research background information on their topic on the computer, print out relevant information, and produce three typical artifacts. In one group, fifth-grader Chloe had researched and printed out an alphabet in cuneiform, the ancient Sumerian alphabet. Her two co-workers Tricia and Cameron, both sixth graders, are using the symbols and appropriate text to design Sumerian-style clay tablets.

Around the room, other groups are working on images of Assyrian gods and Babylonian jewelry, learning the history and culture of their assigned Mesopotamian societies as they do so.

“These are the kids who will grow up and manage our society,” said Tom McInerney. “Their energy gets you revved up. It fills you with hope.”

Among other projects in action at SJCA, eighth graders applied their digital media skills to the celebration of the Mass, learning the streaming software to produce the broadcast of the Mass each Tuesday morning at 8:45 am; a science class was preparing to build a deer from a collection of bones; an English Language Arts class worked on a production studio weather report, while students in another were in the final phase of designing a class ring on a 3-D printer.

“Learning doesn’t end when the last bell rings,” Fallon added with pride, listing after school activities as varied as a Chess Club, Walking Club, Odyssey of the Mind, Paleo Club and a Kindness Club—and sports enough to fill the trophy case in the front entry hall. There’s an activity for every age and interest.

“It’s exciting to see the enthusiasm of both the students and their teachers,” said Dr. Cheeseman at the end of his visit, praising the dedication of teachers who worked all summer developing lesson plans for the new classroom model. “It’s great to see this all come together.

“Our teachers didn’t really get a vacation this year; they spent the entire summer developing lesson plans,” said Fallon, echoing his admiration of the SJCA faculty. “As construction and painting was going on, the professional development was ongoing.”

The teachers’ dedication was so outstanding that Foundations in Education has announced that they are among its 2019 honorees. They will be recognized at the 4th annual Spring Gala on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at Woodway Country Club in Darien as innovative orchestrators of a paradigm shift in school structure.

“When you see this in action,” said Tom McInerney, “You feel like you haven’t done enough. These kids are going out into the world emotionally, spiritually and intellectually prepared.”

(For more information on St. Joseph Catholic Academy, visit their website: www.sjsbrookfield.org. Private tours are available. To learn more about Foundations in Education, visit www.foundationsineducation.org.)

Aboard the papal plane, January 28, 2019 / 07:52 am (CNA).
Please read below for CNA’s full transcript of the Pope’s July 28 in-flight press conference from Panama City to Rome:

Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Holy See Press Office: Good evening! Holy Father, we can still hear in our ears the cry of “La Juventud del Papa” [Ed. note: a chant in Spanish translated to “The Young People of the Pope”], the Youth of Jesus Christ, as Monsignor Ulloa said, this great joy, these intense days, which nevertheless gave you so much energy. And, I believe that we have all seen in your face so much joy, the joy of this meeting, as well as the joy of the youth.

I brought something that I think many of the journalists here know about. This will not be a document that enters the magisterium of the Pope, but it is a document that you care so much about. This here is a song written by a girl from Honduras, Marta Avila, whose image I gave you yesterday, and this song is practically a song against bullying, which was a bit like the meeting with Scholas Occurrentes. This is to say that there was also the element of pain of these young people, as well as that of joy that we have seen on many occasions. I just want to say one image that struck me a lot, Holy Father, when you passed with the popemobile and said goodbye, I saw so many young people, perhaps for a single moment, embraced each other after greeting you. This touched me, the sharing of joy: that is, young people who hugged each other after seeing you even just for a moment, and this is perhaps a lesson for us adults. When young people are happy, they share joy, they don’t keep it to themselves. This is something I wanted to share with you and the journalists. Here, Holy Father, you also had—among the many surprises that you had in these days – a meeting with UNICEF in the nunciature, just in the last moments before your departure. I don’t know if you want to say a few words before giving the floor to the journalists for questions and before greeting them.

Pope Francis: Good evening, and then rest well because certainly everyone is tired after such an intense trip. Thank you for your work. Also for me, there were things I did not imagine, surprises, like this one that Gisotti said of the 16-year-old girl from Honduras, a victim of bullying, who sang with a beautiful voice and who wrote this song. Then the meeting before leaving the nunciature with people from the UNICEF of Central America, some testimonies of two young people and then those who work there. I heard things that touch the heart…It was an intense trip! You have the floor!

Gisotti: This is a trip that has many journeys within it, so please stay within the theme of this great voyage that has represented the world through the young people who were present. Obviously, the first word goes to the local press from Panama. Edwin Cabrera Uribe of Radio Panama will ask you two questions on behalf of the whole group of journalists from Panama. He will ask you one question, then after your answer another question. Thank you, Edwin.

Edwin Cabrera Uribe, Radio Panama: On behalf of the six Panamanian colleagues, the journey you gave to the Panamanian people is very big. You spoke to the volunteers about the fact that they have lived a mission. They know how the heart beats when you live a mission. What was your mission for the Central American WYD?

Pope Francis: My mission in a World Youth Day is the mission of Peter, which is to confirm in our faith. And this is not done with cold commands and orders but by letting oneself be touched by the heart and responding to what comes to you. I do not conceive, because I live it like this in me, I find it hard to think that someone can accomplish a mission only with the head. To fulfill a mission you have to feel it, and when you feel it, it strikes you. Life strikes you. Thoughts strike you.

At the airport, I was greeting the president and they brought me a child, a nice little boy… such a child… They told me that [when] this boy was crossing the Colombian border his mother died and he was left alone. He must be about 5 years old. He is from Africa but they don’t know what country, because he doesn’t speak English, Portuguese or French, but only his tribal language. They adopted him. He was a very lively child, he moved very well. It’s the abuse of a boy abandoned by life because his mother died there, the policeman handed him over to the authorities to be taken care of. This is like a slap in the face and makes the mission take on color. The mission involves me. Maybe because I am… and it comes from inside me. I tell young people what they have to do in life they have to do by walking and using the three languages: head, heart and hands. Three harmonious languages, so that they do what they feel and what they think, think what they feel and what they do, feel what they think and what they do.

I don’t know how to take stock of the mission. With all this I go to prayer and stay there before the Lord, sometimes I fall asleep, but I entrust him with the things I have lived in the mission and ask him to confirm in faith through me. This is how I conceive the pope’s mission and how I live it.

There have been cases in which difficulties of the dogmatic type have been presented and I do not have to respond only with reason but in another way.

Cabrerà: Were the expectations of the WYD of Panama fulfilled?

Pope Francis: Evidently, the thermometer to understand it is tiredness. And, I am destroyed.

Cabrerà: There is a problem throughout Central America, Panama and much of Latin America: girls get pregnant early. Only in Panama have there been [unintelligible] Detractors of the Church say that it is the responsibility of the Church because it opposes sex education. The Catholic Church has many schools in Latin America and in universities. I would like to know the opinion of Pope Francis on sex education…

Pope Francis: I believe that in schools we must give sex education. Sex is a gift from God, it is not a monster, it is a gift from God to love. That some people use it to earn money or exploit is another problem. But we need to give an objective sexual education, that is without ideological colonization. If you start by giving sexual education full of ideological colonization you destroy the person. But sex as a gift from God must be taught. To educate is to educate, to make the best of people emerge and to accompany them along the way.

The problem is with those responsible for education, whether at the national, provincial or unit level (…), which teachers are chosen for this task and which textbooks, etc.. I have seen some books that are a little dirty. There are things that mature and things that do harm. I don’t know if it’s objective or not, that you don’t have sex education in Panama. I say this without putting myself in the political problem of Panama. We need to have sex education for children. The ideal is to start from home, with the parents. It is not always possible because there are so many different situations in families, and because they do not know how to do it. And so the school makes up for this, because otherwise it will remain a void that will then be filled by any ideology.

Javier Martinez Brocal, Rome Reports: Holy Father, first of all I would like to congratulate you because you have set the record; in just four days you’ve become a Panamanian. It was just four days to fill your heart with Panama. And I would like to ask you a question in Italian.

These days, you have spoken with many young people. Surely, you have also spoken with young people who are fallen away from the Church or who have difficulties. In your opinion, where do young people find these difficulties, what are the reasons that drive them away from the Church? Thank you!

Pope Francis: There’s a lot! Some are personal, but most general. I believe that first, it is the lack of Christian witnesses, priests, bishops. I’m not saying that of the popes because that’s too much… but it is also! The lack of witness! If a pastor is an entrepreneur or an organizer of a pastoral program, or if a pastor is not close to the people, this pastor does not give witness of a true pastor. The pastor must be with the people, shepherd and flock we say. The shepherd must be ahead of the flock, to show the way in the midst of the herd, to smell the people, and to understand what they feel, what they need, how they feel, and to guard the flock from behind. But if a shepherd does not live with passion, people feel abandoned or in a certain sense feel despised [Ed. ignored], or when one feels orphaned and where orphanhood exists, I believe this…

I emphasized pastors, but also Christians, the hypocritical Catholics, right? Hypocritical Catholics, you know? They go to mass every Sunday but they don’t pay a bonus and they pay you under the table, using people, then they go to the Caribbean on vacation all through the exploitation of people. “But I’m a Catholic, I go to mass every Sunday.” If you do that, you give a counter-witness. This, in my opinion, alienates people from the Church the most. Even the laity, all of them. But I would say: don’t say that you’re a Catholic if you don’t bear witness. Say ‘I am from a Catholic upbringing, but I’m lukewarm, I’m worldly, forgive me, don’t look at me as a model,’ this must be said.

I’m afraid of Catholics like that, huh? That they believe themselves to be perfect! But history repeats itself. The same with Jesus and the doctors of the law, no? “I thank you Lord because I am not like this poor sinner…” This is the lack of a witness. There are others, like personal difficulties, but this is the most general.

Gisotti: Holy Father, now Caroline Pigozzi of Paris Match will ask you a question.

Pope Francis: First of all I want to thank you, I tracked down Father Benoist de Sinety, he concelebrated with me, good man, and with also 200 young people from Paris.

Caroline Pigozzi, Paris Match: There is another letter for you, Holiness, I will give it to you next week because he must write it.

Pope Francis: Very good.

Pigozzi: For four days, we have seen many young people praying with such intensity. Among them there is maybe a certain number that intend to embrace the religious life, you can think that a certain number have a vocation. But maybe someone is hesitating because he thinks that it will be a difficult path not being able to marry. Is it possible to think that in the Catholic Church, following the Eastern rite, you will permit married men to become priests?

Pope Francis: In the Eastern rite of the Catholic Church they may do it. The celibate option is given before diaconate [ordination].

Pigozzi: But now, with the Catholic Church of the Latin rite, do you think that you will reconsider the decision [of priestly celibacy]?

Pope Francis: For the Latin rite, I am reminded of a phrase of St. Paul VI: “I prefer to give my life before changing the law of celibacy.” This came to me and I want to say it because it is a courageous phrase. In a moment more difficult than this—it was in the years 1968-1970. Personally, I think that celibacy is a gift to the Church. Secondly, I would say that I do not agree with permitting optional celibacy, no. There remains only some possibility for very far places. I think of the Pacific islands, when there is a pastoral necessity, the pastor should think of the faithful.

There is an interesting book by Fr. Lobinger [Ed. note: Fritz Lobinger, bishop emeritus of Aliwal, South Africa] [on this topic]—this is an issue of discussion between theologians, it is not yet my decision—my decision is: optional celibacy before the diaconate, no. It is my thought, personally, but I would not do it. And this remains clear. It is only my personal thought. Am I narrow-minded, maybe? I do not want to put myself before God with this decision.

Fr. Lobinger says that the Church makes the Eucharist and the Eucharist makes the Church. But where there is not the Eucharist, do you think Caroline, in the Pacific islands, maybe there… In many places, says Lobinger, who does the Eucharist? The directors, the organizers of those communities are deacons or sisters, or directly, the laity. And Lobinger says: you can ordain an older married man, it is his thesis, but only that exercise the munus santificandi, that is, that celebrate the Mass, that administer the sacrament of reconciliation and of unction.

Priestly ordination gives three munera [functions]: regendi [governing], that that commands; docendi [teaching], that that teaches, and santificandi [sanctifying]. This comes with ordination. But the bishop gives them [the viri probati] only the license of santificandi. The book [of Lobinger] is interesting. And maybe it could help to think about the problem. I believe that the problem should be open in this sense: where there is a pastoral problem due to the lack of priests. I do not say that it should be done, because I have not reflected, I have not prayed sufficiently on this. But the theology should be studied.

For example, Fr. Lobinger is an example, is a fidei donum of South Africa. [The potential candidate for priesthood] is already a mature man. I make this example to show the places where it should be done. I was speaking with an official of the Secretary of State, a bishop, that had worked in a communist country at the beginning of the revolution. When he had seen the crisis of the Revolution arrive it was the 1950s. The bishops secretly ordained peasants, of good religious faith. The crisis passed and 30 years later the thing was resolved. And he told me the emotion that he had when during a concelebration of the Mass he saw these farmers with their farmer hands put on their shirts to concelebrate with the bishops. This has been given in the history of the Church. It is something to study, think, rethink, and pray about.

Pigozzi: But there are also married Protestant clergy that have become Catholic?

Pope Francis: You ask me a question about that which Benedict did, that it is true, I had forgotten this. Benedict XVI made the “Anglicanorum coetibus” [Ed. creating personal ordinariates for the reception of former anglicans]. Anglican priests that have become Catholic and maintain the life an Eastern priest would. I remember in a Wednesday audience that I saw many men with a collar, but many women and children with them, in the hands of the priests, and they explained it to me… it’s true, thank you for reminding me of this.

Gisotti: She will now ask you a question, Lena Klimkeit of the DPA.

Lena Klimkeit, DPA: Holy Father, during the Stations of the Cross on Friday a young man spoke very strong words about abortion. I want to repeat them for a moment. [Ed. note: The reporter repeats the comment in Spanish] ‘There is a tomb that cries out to heaven and denounces the terrible cruelty of humanity. It is the tomb that opens in the womb of the mothers from which innocent life is plucked. May God grant us to truly humanize ourselves, to defend life fervently, to make the laws that kill life not feel erased forever.’ This is a very radical position, in my opinion. I wonder and would like to ask you if this position also respects the suffering of women in this situation and if it corresponds to your message of mercy.

Pope Francis: The message of mercy is for everyone. Also for the human person who is in gestation. It is for everyone. After this failure, there is mercy as well. But a difficult mercy because the problem is not in giving forgiveness. The problem is to accompany a woman who has become aware of [what it means to have had] an abortion. These are terrible tragedies. Once I heard a doctor talking about a theory that a cell of the newly conceived fetus goes to the marrow of the mother and there is also a physical memory. This is a theory, but to say, a woman when she thinks about what she did… but I tell you the truth, you have to be in the confessional and you have to give comfort there, you can’t say anything. That is why I have opened up the power [for priests] to absolve abortion out of mercy, because many times, but always, they have to meet with their child. I advise many times when they call, they have this anguish: “Your child is in heaven, talk to him. Sing to him the lullaby that you have not sung… you have not been able to sing to him”. And there is a way for the mother to reconcile with her child. With God there is already forgiveness, God always forgives. But mercy also, that you elaborate this. The tragedy of abortion, to understand it well, one must be in a confessional. Terrible.

Gisotti: Thanks, Holy Father. The next question is from Valentina Alazraki of Televisa. Valentina, come. Valentina is coming up. If I remember well, it’s her 150th Apostolic Trip. I believe.

Valentina Alazraki, Televisa: Pope Francis, you have said these days here in Panama that you were very close to Venezuela, that you felt very close to the Venezuelans and today you asked for a just, peaceful solution, in respect of the human rights of all. The Venezuelans want to know what this means. They await your word. They want to know if this solution passes through the recognition of Juan Guaido, who has been backed by many countries. Others are asking for elections in the short term, free elections so the people can vote. They feel that you are a Latin American Pope and they want to hear your support, your help, your counsel. Thanks.

Pope Francis: I support in this moment all of the Venezuelan people – it is a people that is suffering – including those who are one side and the other. All of the people are suffering. If I entered to say, “listen to these countries,” or “listen to these others who say this,” I would be putting myself in a role I don’t know. It would be a pastoral imprudence on my side, and it would do damage. The words. I thought about them and thought about them again. And I think with this I expressed my closeness, what I feel. I suffer for what is happening in Venezuela right now. And for this I desire that they come to an agreement. I don’t know, not even saying to come to an agreement is okay. A just and peaceful solution. What is it that scares me? The shedding of blood. And there I also ask greatness to help, to those who can help and resolve the problem.

The problem of violence terrifies me. After all the effort made in Colombia, what happened in the cadets’ school the other day was terrifying. Blood is not the solution. That why I have to be… I don’t like the word “balanced.” I have to be a shepherd, to all. And if they need help, from a mutual agreement, may they ask for it. That’s it, to help. Thanks.

Gisotti: Thank you, Holy Father. It is the turn of Junno Arocho Estevez of Catholic News Service. Junno.

Junno Arocho Estevez, CNS: Good evening, Holiness. During her lunch with a group of young pilgrims, a young American girl told us that she had been asked about the pain and indignation of so many Catholics, particularly of the United States, for the crisis of abuse. Many American Catholics pray for the Church, but many feel betrayed and downcast after recent reports of abuse and cover-up by some bishops and have lost faith in them. Holiness, what are your expectations or hopes for the meeting in February so that the church can begin to rebuild trust between the faithful and their bishops?

Pope Francis: This is sneaky, he left WYD and he arrived here. My compliments. No, but thank you for the question.

The idea of ​​this was born in the G9 [Ed. note: he means “C9”] because we saw that some bishops did not understand well or did not know what to do or did something good or wrong and we felt the responsibility to give a “catechesis,” in quotation marks, on this problem to the episcopal conferences. That is why we called upon the presidents.

First, a catechesis: that we become aware of the tragedy, what is an abused boy, an abused girl. I regularly receive abused people [in audience]. I remember one… 40 years without being able to pray. It is terrible, the suffering is terrible. That first, [the bishops] become aware of this.

Second: that they know what must be done, the procedure, because sometimes the bishop does not know what to do. It is something that has grown very strong and has not arrived at all angles, so to speak. And then, let them make general programs, but they will come from all the episcopal conferences: what the bishop must do, what the archbishop who is the metropolitan must do, what the president of the episcopal conference must do. But it must be clear in that… that they are – let’s say it in terms [that are] a little juridical – that there are protocols that are clear. This is the main thing. But, before [talking of] what must be done, is that which I said before, raising awareness.

Then, there we will pray. There will be testimonies to help to become aware and then a penitential liturgy to ask forgiveness for the whole Church. But they are working well in preparation for this. I permit myself to say that I’ve perceived a bit of an inflated expectation. We need to deflate the expectations to these points that I’m saying. Because the problem of abuse will continue. It’s a human problem, but human everywhere. I read a statistic the other day, there are those statistics that say that 50 percent is reported, of this 50 percent, 20 percent is listened to… and it goes down, and it finished like this: five percent is condemned. Terrible. Terrible. It’s a human tragedy and we need to become aware. Also us, resolving the problem in the Church, but becoming aware will help to resolve it in society, in the families where shame covers everything, and the victim… in so many others… or in so many other societies. But first, we must become aware, have the protocols [in place] and move forward. This is the thing.

Gisotti: So, I’m not sure there is time for another question. Maybe another quick question would be possible… Yes. Manuela Tulli. Please, if you could be brief because they are about to serve dinner. Thank you, Manuela.

Manuela Tulli, ANSA: Good evening, Holy Father. During this WYD, you said that it’s absurd and irresponsible to consider migrants as bearers of social problems. In Italy the new immigration policies have led to the closing of the CARA facility at Castelnuovo di Porto, which you know well. That was an experiment where you could see seeds of integration, the children were attending school, and people are at risk of being evicted. You have chosen that precise facility to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass back in 2016. Therefore, I would like to ask you what your opinion about the closing of the CARA facility in Castelnuovo di Porto is.

Pope Francis: I did not understand the question. What was ultimately decided?

Tulli: to close the CARA facility of Castelnuovo di Porto, where you celebrated Holy Thursday Mass in 2016 and now there is the risk that the people involved in the experience will be sent away.

Pope Francis: I did hear rumors about what was happening in Italy, but I was immersed in the WYD preparations, so I am not well aware of the circumstances, but I can imagine what is going on, I can imagine. It is true that the issue regarding the arrival of migrants is a very complex situation, a problem that wants memory, to ask ourselves what would happen if my country was made of immigrants. We, the Argentinians, for instance, we are all migrants. The United States was all made of immigrants. It takes recalling and… Recently, one bishop, a cardinal actually, I can’t remember his name, but he has written a beautiful article about the ‘problem of our lack of memory,’ that was the article’s title.

Then, the words that I use to express myself… is to receive, to have a heart willing to receive, to welcome, to accompany, to help grow and integrate. And I also say: the ruler must use prudence because prudence is the ruler’s most proper virtue. I said that in my last flight. With these words, yes. It is a tough equation. It comes to my mind the example of Sweden, a country that back in the 1970’s has received many, many immigrants due to a situation of dictatorship in Latin American countries and managed to integrate all the people who migrated. It is what I see that the Sant’Egidio Community [in Rome] does: they integrate migrants very fast. But the Swedish have said a few years ago that they should take this process more slowly so they can finish it, and this is the prudence of the rulers. It is a problem of charity, of love, of solidarity, and I praise the nations that have been more generous to welcome migrants, but we have other countries that did not manage to do as much, nevertheless, we have the example of Italy and Greece, and Turkey on a lesser scale. Greece was extremely generous and so was Italy. When I went to Lampedusa, that was just the beginning…. But it is true that it’s important to think realistically. Then there’s another important aspect, something we should all consider: one way of helping migrants is to offer help to the countries where they come from. Migrants often flee because of famine or because of wars. It’s necessary to invest where there’s starvation. Europe is capable of doing it and it is a way of fostering growth. But, speaking again about the case of Africa, there is always that unconscious thought: Africa is to be exploited. This remains in our history and it causes a large damage. The migrants from the Middle East on the other hand, they have found another way out. In Lebanon, generosity is outstanding: there are over one million citizens from Syria living there. Jordan is the same thing, they are open, they do what they can, hoping to reintegrate everyone. And also, Turkey has received quite a few [migrants], right? And so did we in Italy. But it’s a complex problem, that we must speak about without prejudice. Considering all these things that just came to my mind.

Gisotti: Thank you, Holy Father. So, have a good dinner and a good trip and within in a week we’ll see you again for another very important trip, so…

Pope Francis: I thank you so much for you work. I would just like to say a thing about Panama. I felt a new feeling. I know Latin America but not Panama. And this word came to me: Panama is a noble nation. I found nobility. This I wish to say, and I want to say another thing that I said when I came back from Colombia, speaking of the experience in Cartagena and the other cities, a thing that we don’t see in Europe, that is, the pride, in this case of the Panamanians. You lift up the children and they say to you, “this is my victory,” “this is my future,” “this is my pride.” This in the midst of the demographic winter we’re living in Europe. In Italy, below zero. It has to make us think. What is my pride? Tourism? The villa [home]? The dog? Or lifting up a child? Thanks! Pray for me, I need it.

Catholic News Service

BRIDGEPORT—Foundations in Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Canevari as Assistant to the Executive Director.

“Diane comes to us with a good deal of experience working with a similar student demographic to those students we serve. Her skills are readily transferrable to work of the Foundation,” remarked Executive Director Holly Doherty-Lemoine. “We are delighted Diane chose to join our team and share her many talents with us.”

As Assistant to the Executive Director, Diane is tasked with the administrative support of Holly Doherty-Lemoine as well as other initiatives that advance the organization’s mission of strengthening and transforming Catholic education.

“An excellent faith-based education is a great gift for students and families to experience. I am excited to be part of the work Foundations in Education does to support Catholic education and make it possible for many students to attend who might otherwise not have the opportunity,” Diane commented.

Previously, Diane worked as Development Associate at New Beginnings Family Academy in Bridgeport where she spent five years researching and writing grants and planning fundraising activities and events. Before becoming Development Associate, she spent six years as Executive Assistant to both the Development Director and the Executive Director of New Beginnings Family Academy.

Diane holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in English with a Minor in Business from Sacred Heart University.

She resides in Stratford with her family and is a member of St. James Parish where she volunteers with their women’s and music ministries.

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

(For more information about Foundations in Education, please visit www.foundationsineducation.org)

PANAMA CITY—Just before leaving the physical and human warmth of Panama Jan. 27, Pope Francis stopped to thank the thousands of official volunteers, young and old, gathered at the capital city’s Rommel Fernandez Stadium to tell them that they had just participated in an event similar to one that took place early in Christianity.

In their case, they didn’t just multiply food, he said.

“You could have easily chosen to do other things, but you wanted to be involved, to give your best to making possible the miracle of the multiplication, not only of loaves, but also hope,” he said, telling the volunteers to go out into the world and make that attitude contagious. “We need to multiply that hope.”

Volunteers at Panama’s World Youth Day showed it was possible to renounce one’s interests in favor of others, the pope said.

“You made a commitment,” he said. “Thank you.”

On stage, before the pope spoke, Bartosz Placak of Poland offered his testimony in Spanish to those gathered at the stadium and said that while volunteering for World Youth Day in Panama, he had experienced a taste of what living in the early Christian communities must have been like: sharing food, homes, anything other people needed.

“In sharing, you create a small community and we return to the times of the first Christians … we follow their example,” he said.

Panamanian volunteer Stella Maris del Carmen told the story of how she had planned to attend the previous World Youth Day, an event she’d longed to attend since she was a child. She had saved enough money to go to Poland in 2016 and then her grandparents died. She canceled her plans and used the money she had saved to tend to her family.

The pope said he was touched by her story. By renouncing the trip for the family, “you honored your roots,” the pope told her. “That’s what makes you a woman, an adult.” But then consider what happened because of that sacrifice, he said.

“The Lord had the gift of (World Youth Day) waiting for you in your homeland,” he said. “The Lord likes to play those tricks. That’s how God is.”

What a person gives to others “the Lord returns” many times over, he said. And the world needs more such examples of surrender and love to provide a “balm in the lives of others,” he said.

Panamanians certainly had heeded that counsel long before the event.

World Youth Day 2019 in Panama may not have been the largest, in terms of attendance. Event officials say some 113,000 registered as pilgrims to attend various events—though it was obvious that many more who did not register filled up the venues.

What the event in Panama may—or may not—have lacked in numbers, it made up for in its treatment of young pilgrims. Priests, bishops, women religious and thousands of volunteers, young and old, officially and unofficially, seemed to devote more quality time to participants than in the past, said pilgrims such as Francisco Apenu Cofie of Ghana.

“It was more intimate,” said Cofie, who attended World Youth Day in Poland and Brazil. Panama had a special touch, he said.

Those like Polish volunteer Placak said it was not always easy to help and admitted moments of weakness, but he said he learned powerful lessons along the way.

“I have received more than what I expected, and this is the mystery of the divine gifts. I am happy,” he said.

Though the pope spent time with the volunteers who attended the ceremony at the stadium, there were thousands of other unofficial helpers, such as those who offered water to pilgrims passing through their neighborhoods, who sprayed them with water hoses to cool them off, and offered use of their facilities or couches to rest, but who did not attend the event.

“Thank you all, because in these days you have been attentive to even the smallest details, however ordinary and apparently insignificant, like offering someone a glass of water,” the pope said to volunteers at the ceremony.

In giving to others, God blesses, the pope said,

“You have had a more lively and real experience of faith. You have experienced the strength born of prayer and a new and different kind of joy, the fruit of working side by side even with people you did not know,” he said.

There were many moments when volunteers did not understand the pilgrims or vice versa but, by and large, most did not let that stop them from attempting to communicate with one another.

Panamanians outwardly celebrated pilgrims from various visiting countries, spontaneously shouting out the name of the nation as they spotted them carrying their respective flags on the streets of their city.

One of the gifts of Panama’s World Youth Day, El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz told Catholic News Service, is that at a time when some in the world are embracing nationalism, the international Catholic festival for youth, in which 156 countries participated, delivered the opposite message. People from different countries, who spoke different languages and had different customs and practices, managed to unite around faith and serving others.

“World Youth Day says, ‘We’re one family of humanity,'” Bishop Seitz said. “Separating ourselves from others does not make us secure.”

By Rhina Guidos | Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON—National Catholic Schools Week 2019 (CSW) will be observed in dioceses around the country January 27–February 2. This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.,” focuses on the important spiritual, academic and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education firmly rooted in the Truth of the Gospel.

As Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, Oakland, newly elected chairman of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Catholic Education said, “Young people today need Catholic education more than ever. In a world where truth, beauty and goodness are considered all but subjective, the Way, Truth and Life offered us in Jesus Christ are our only source of direction, clarity and hope. Furthermore, being rooted in faith does not endanger the academic quality of Catholic schools, but in fact is their very motivation for excellence in all things.”

Nearly 1.8 million students are currently educated in 6,352 Catholic schools in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities around the country. Students receive an education that helps them become critical thinkers, strong communicators and active members of society, thus equipping them for higher education, a competitive work environment, and most importantly, living a Christian life of virtue in a challenging society. “Following Christ’s example of loving and serving all people, Catholic schools proudly provide a well-rounded education to disadvantaged families, new arrivals to America and to all who seek a seat in our schools. Since the inception of Catholic schools in our country, we have always sought to welcome families of all backgrounds while maintaining our principles and teaching in a spirit of charity,” Bishop Barber said.

The observance of CSW began in 1974. Schools and parishes around the country will hold activities such as Masses, open houses, and family gatherings to celebrate the communities they represent. The week also highlights the educational and community successes of Catholic schools nationwide. Ninety nine percent of Catholic school students graduate from high school and 86 percent of Catholic school graduates attend college. This percentage has been consistent for over 20 years.

In the Diocese of Bridgeport, 9,000 students attend our 20 elementary schools, five high schools, and one special education school, St. Catherine’s Academy.

Our academic program, faith-filled learning communities, and safe and secure classroom environments, help us educate the whole student. We promote our students successful journey to higher education and throughout their lives. 50 percent of our elementary schools achieved the Blue Ribbon of National Recognition. 99 percent of graduating high school seniors go on to college. College financial aid awards to our graduating seniors total six million dollars in federal, state, and local scholarships and grants. Nationally recognized curriculum mapping process exceeds Connecticut state standards. Faculty participate in highest caliber professional development.

(To find out more about Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport visit: www.dioceseofbridgeportcatholicschools.com.)