Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

STAMFORD—Fourth and fifth grade students at The Catholic Academy of Stamford participated in the National Geographic GeoBee. The students completed the written version of the preliminary competition. The results were scored and the top 10 students were invited to compete in the final competition on Friday, January 18.

The top 10 students were: Alex Evans, Emilia Coppola, Olivier Czoch, Nundhini Mascarenhas, Annika Natarajan, Caitlin Orstad, Henry Schell, Connor Smith, John Thomas and Victoria Vaccaro. Congratulations to all of the students!

After the final competition and championship round, Olivier Czoch was named the school champion. He will complete an online state qualifying test. Good luck to Olivier!

The top three students will be invited to participate in the Ninth Annual Knights of Columbus Southwestern Connecticut Regional Catholic Geography Bee on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at St. Joseph School in Danbury. Olivier Czoch, Annika Natarajan, and John Thomas will be representing The Catholic Academy of Stamford. Good luck to each of them!

The Catholic Academy of Stamford forms and nurtures its children in the Gospel values of the Catholic Faith. It educates in a superior academic environment which challenges its children to discover and to fully develop their unique abilities and talents. Its students are encouraged to love God, learning and one another.

(To find out more about the Catholic Academy of Stamford visit: www.catholicacademystamford.org.)

BRIDGEPORT—I will never forget the excitement I felt as a teacher and principal when a new school year started. As a teacher, I remember standing in my classroom and getting things ready, all the time thinking about the great things the year had in store for my students and me. As a principal, I would walk the school building and grounds and as I paused to watch students doing their preseason athletic practices, feeling a surge of pride for what the year would bring both in the classroom and on the field. When I left the school building and moved to diocesan level administration almost ten years ago, I rarely felt that annual sense of newness and renewal.

Don’t get me wrong, the life of a diocesan school administrator is exciting and invigorating. We enjoy watching our students, teachers and school administrators experience the joy of a new year. That being said, we rarely get the full experience, as the administrative offices of a diocese are not much different in September than they are in June or July. The sense of newness and rejuvenation found in a school building that is bustling with new and returning students and staff just does not exist in a central administrative building. That is, until this year.

This September I had the opportunity to present to the Catholic Center administration and staff to fill them in on the many new and exciting educational programs being implemented throughout our diocesan school system. As I prepared for the meeting, I felt that resurgence of enthusiasm for the start of a new school year that normally alludes me. When I discussed changes such as our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives, new multiage school, the roll-out of personalized learning, new classical education program and developing programs for students with special needs, I could sense the excitement of everyone else in the room. As I walked around the building after the meeting and was stopped in the hall to discuss the programs, I could truly sense the joy and renewal people felt as they learned about the paradigm shift our schools were experiencing. The Catholic Center was abuzz.

That feeling was reinforced as I visited schools, participated in ribbon cuttings and blessings and met with students and teachers whose sense of excitement for change was palpable. Our re-imagination of what Catholic schools could and should be was coming to life and the response was better than I could have imagined! And now, as teachers share what they are discovering in their classrooms and as the personalized learning leadership team shares the results of how these programs are changing the trajectory of student learning in such a positive way, I can’t help but feel excited for what the future holds for our schools and our students.

What is at the root of all this excitement in our schools, teachers, students and even at the diocesan Catholic Center? I believe it is that we have made a conscious and intentional effort to stay true to our mission and Catholic identity and it is paying off. We have committed ourselves to keeping kids at the center, to recognize that every student is created in the image and likeness of God and that each has been given unique gifts and talents. Respecting the inherent dignity of each child, it is our responsibility as Catholic educators to recognize those differences and allow them to inform how we teach. And while I am confident that our Catholic school teachers have always believed this and sought to meet this challenge, they are now being given the tools and support they need and the freedom and permission to be bold in their innovation, which will allow them to meet that challenge in new and creative ways.

This year we have worked hard in our schools to marry what we have traditionally done very well with the innovative practices that technology allows in order to transform the paradigm of education in Catholic schools. That will be very evident to you as you read the articles on Catholic Schools posted on the website this week. I believe that if we keep the student at the center of how we do things and Christ at the center of why we do them, the excitement has just begun!

(By Dr. Steven F. Cheeseman, Superintendent of Schools,  SCheeseman@diobpt.org)

BRIDGEPORT—The Diocese of Bridgeport has been found compliant with all audited articles within the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for the 2017/2018 audit period.

The announcement was made by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano after receiving notice from StoneBridge Business Partners of Rochester, New York, a national financial auditing firm specially trained to review diocesan compliance to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) charter.

“I am deeply grateful for the efforts of our Safe Environments office, our schools, parishes and other institutions,” said Bishop Caggiano. “Because of their commitment and vigilance our children are safer. As a diocese we are working together to prevent abuse and I’m grateful to all those who are at work every day to protect our children.”

The diocesan audit response was led by Director of Safe Environments & Victim Assistance Coordinator, Erin Neil,  L.C.S.W., and Chief Legal Officer, Anne McCrory, for overseeing the effort to renew programs.

The year’s comprehensive audit included an onsite visit from a StoneBridge auditor in November and phone interviews conducted with pastors, directors of Religious Education and others.
The one recommendation for change cited by the audit was the need to begin parish and school visits to ensure compliance.

“Although the diocese is in communication with parishes and schools throughout the year regarding the status of safe environment programs, onsite parish and school audits are not currently performed,” said Director of Safe Environments for the diocese, Erin Neil.

Neil said the diocese has relied largely on parish/school staff and volunteers self-reporting through an annual report to ensure program compliance and accurate reporting, but it will also introduce parish/school visits during the 2019 fiscal year.

“These visits would allow the diocese to gain a better understanding of how policies and procedures are being implemented at the parish and school level and assist in ensuring compliance with safe environment requirements,” the audit report concluded.

In 2014 VIRTUS launched an update to their program and Bridgeport was the first diocese in the country to use the new online training module. All Safe Environments Policies were updated to include guidelines on cell phone and technology safety and reporting protocol for suspected child pornography. At that time the auditors also reviewed the diocesan outreach to victims to ensure that there is a prompt response consistent with state law and USCCB charter provisions to any allegations.

In 2016, the Office of Safe Environments began offering continuing education opportunities, which expand upon the VIRTUS child sexual abuse prevention, course mandated reporting, bullying awareness and prevention, sexual harassment and other safety issues which impact children and the adults who work with them.

Last year, the diocese introduced the “A Pledge to Protect” website to offer a comprehensive overview of all Safe Environments services including videos, reporting instructions and other information.

“I have commissioned the creation of this website to demonstrate that the Diocese of Bridgeport is transparent and fully accountable in its policies, programs and response to the sexual abuse of minors. It brings together and updates information concerning diocesan Safe Environments efforts, its outreach to victims of clerical sexual abuse and its comprehensive policies and practices to prevent future abuse and intervene immediately when allegations are brought forward,” said Bishop Caggiano.

(For information visit: www.bridgeportdiocese.org/pledge/welcome)

DANBURY—Immaculate High School celebrates Catholic Schools Week 2019 (January 27-February 2) by thanking all those who have helped it grow and thrive in the nearly six decades it has served students from the greater-Danbury area.

“There have been many wonderful people who have supported us in making sure students who want an exemplary, affordable private college-preparatory education where Catholic values are primary have that experience,” said Mary Maloney, president of Immaculate High School. “We are forever grateful to our founders, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, donors, sponsors and volunteers who continue to support us and we publicly thank you all,” she said.

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, 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. 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.

“Catholic schools continue to provide an excellent education that allows students to learn, serve, lead and explore their interests and talents so that they succeed in high school and beyond,” said Mrs. Maloney.

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, Conn., Immaculate High School is part of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s parochial school system.

PANAMA CITY—On Monday morning, 20 pilgrims arrived in Panama City with Bishop Frank J. Caggiano for World Youth Day. After taking a tour of the Panama Canal and the old city, pilgrims settled into their accommodations and prepared for the week.

Since their arrival, each morning has begun with morning prayer and a brief meeting. On Tuesday, pilgrims explored the city and then gathered with thousands of pilgrims from around the world for the opening ceremonies and Mass with the Archbishop of Panama at Cinto Costera.

On Wednesday, pilgrims attended one of the English catechesis sessions with Bishop Caggiano, who spoke about the first part of the world youth day theme “Here I am Lord.” He said that Jesus didn’t call the apostles friends until the Last Supper and we are now called His friends too, so we must also respond to His call to do His Will.

On Wednesday afternoon and evening, pilgrims attended the Fiat Festival at the Figali Convention Center. It was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, FOCUS and the USCCB. Bishop Caggiano, Bishop Burns of Dallas, Bishop Barron of LA and Sister Bethany Madonna, SV spoke. 10,000 English speaking pilgrims were gathered for praise, worship and adoration.

On Thursday, Bishop Caggiano celebrated Mass for the contingent from the Diocese of Bridgeport and led them in reflection and discussion before going to Cinto Costera for the Popes welcoming address.

The Pope encouraged all the young people gathered that the Church is walking with them.

“We come from different cultures and peoples, we speak different languages and we wear different clothes. Each of our peoples has had a different history and lived through different situations. We are different in so many ways! But none of it has stopped us from meeting one another and rejoicing to be together. The reason for this, we know, is that something unites us,” the Pope said.

He continued, “We can ask: What keeps us united? Why are we united? What prompts us to encounter each other? The certainty of knowing that we have been loved with a profound love that we neither can nor want to keep quiet about a love that challenges us to respond in the same way: with love. It is the love of Christ that urges us on (cf. 2 Cor 5:14).”

During the rest of their time in Panama, pilgrims will attend stations of the cross and an evening vigil with the Pope while enjoying all the beauty Panama has to offer!

PANAMA CITY (CNS)—Young men and women in the church can bring the joy of the Gospel to the world by showing that God’s love extends to all people and excludes no one, Pope Francis said.

“By your actions and your approach, your way of looking at things, your desires and above all your sensitivity, you discredit and defuse the kind of talk that is intent on sowing division, on excluding or rejecting those who are not ‘like us,’” the pope said Jan. 24 during the official ceremony welcoming him to World Youth Day in Panama.

Arriving at the site, which sat along the picturesque Panamanian coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the pope was welcomed by an estimated 250,000 young people enthusiastically waving their country’s flags as the popemobile passed.

Five young people, representing each of the five continents present at the gathering, greeted the pope. Taking those near him by the hand, Pope Francis walked toward the main stage as young people processed, carrying the World Youth Day cross.

Interspersed with festive music and dancing, the opening ceremony celebrated the universality of the church as young people dressed in the traditional outfits of their native countries entertained the multitude.

Young people from Panama presented the pope with a stole made of “mola,” a handmade textile form featuring ornate designs that are part of the indigenous Guna people of Panama.

In his speech, the pope thanked the young people for coming to Panama and encouraged them to be better witnesses of the Gospel.

While World Youth Day is usually marked by festive celebrations, its goal is not to “create a parallel church that would be more ‘fun’ or ‘cool,’” the pope said.

“That way of thinking,” he said, “would not respect either you or everything that the Spirit is saying through you.”

Instead, the pope continued, World Youth Day is an opportunity to reawaken “the church’s constant freshness and youth” that happens only by listening and sharing with others as well as by serving others.

Acknowledging the difficulty many young men and women faced in making the journey to Panama, Pope Francis said it mirrored the life of a disciple who “is not merely someone who arrives at a certain place, but one who sets out decisively, who is not afraid to take risks and keeps walking.”

In making the sacrifices that allowed them to participate in World Youth Day, he added, young people have become “true teachers and builders of the culture of encounter.”

Their example, he continued, teaches that the culture of encounter “does not mean having to look alike, or think the same way or do the same things, listening to the same music or wearing the same football jersey.”

Instead, young people can teach the world that the culture of encounter is built by a shared dream, “a great dream, a dream that has a place for everyone.”

It is “a dream named Jesus, sown by the Father in the confidence that it would grow and live in every heart,” he said. “A dream running through our veins, thrilling our hearts and making them dance whenever we hear the command: ‘that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

Citing the words of St. Oscar Romero, Pope Francis reminded the young pilgrims that Christianity is not merely “a collection of truths to be believed, of rules to be followed or of prohibitions. Seen that way, it puts us off.”

“Christianity is a person who loved me immensely, who demands and asks for my love. Christianity is Christ. It means pursuing the dream for which he gave his life: loving with the same love with which he loved us,” the pope said.

Like Mary, who was asked by the angel Gabriel if she wanted to bear the son of God in her womb, the pope said young people are still asked today if they are willing to bear Christ’s love in their hearts.

The result of World Youth Day will not be a final document or a program, he said, but rather each young person returning home with “the new strength born of every encounter with others and with the Lord” to keep love alive and not let it “grow cold in the heart of our world.”

“Wherever we may be and whatever we may do, we can always look up and say, ‘Lord, teach me to love as you have loved us,’” Pope Francis said.

By Junno Arocho Esteves | Catholic News Service

STAMFORD—On February 2, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano ordained Mr. Michael James Vian Clark as a deacon for the Diocese of Bridgeport at St. Gabriel Parish in Stamford, 11 am, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Clark was born in Chichester, England on May 5, 1983 to Timothy and Lesley Clark, who are both parishioners at St. Mary’s Abbey, Buckfast, Buckfastleigh, UK. He attended Exeter Cathedral School in Exeter, UK from which he graduated in 1996. Clark then attended Devonport High School for Boys in Plymouth, UK from which he graduated in 2001.

He studied at Cambridge University, graduating with a master’s in theology and law in 2005. He studied for and was called to the bar in 2008 and practiced law as a barrister for five years. At the same time he was singing professionally at Exeter Cathedral and later moved to Buckfast Abbey as director of music, establishing a new professional choir of men and women from scratch.

In 2012, Clark entered seminary to study philosophy and theology. He received an S.T.B. from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2016 and studied at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute.

In 2016, he visited the Diocese of Bridgeport as a guest but began to discern the possibility of a call to serve as a priest in Bridgeport, upon returning to seminary.

Dioconate Ordination Photos by Amy Mortensen

Clark arrived at St. Thomas More in Darien in November of 2017 as a guest of the diocese to discern the call further and started a second assignment at the Catholic Academy of Stamford/Trinity Catholic High School in August 2018.

Clark completed major seminary in 2018 at the Venerable English College in Rome. Clark is currently teaching Theology and Music at Cardinal Kung Academy in Stamford and teaching Religion at Trinity Catholic.

“My experience of seminary formation has been a gradual process of opening myself up to say a deeper ‘yes’ to God; a ‘yes’ that involves trusting Him no matter what the logic of the world may say, a ‘yes’ that occupies chambers of my heart I did not know existed. When I started, I could have had no idea that His divine providence would lead me to the United States, but as I prepare to receive Holy Orders for the Diocese of Bridgeport, my restless heart has great peace in knowing that I come to serve where He has led me by His own mighty hand and outstretched arm,” says Clark.

During his homily, Bishop Caggiano said,

“We are here my friends because we welcome the light that is Christ in every moment in every day, as His disciples. But Michael that light has led you to this moment. A remarkable odyssey, one that you could not have ever forseen as a little boy. And yet how good God is, how gracious. ”

“His light has guided you…I applaud your courage and fidelity, to have walked faithfully where the light has led you. And He has led you here, for which this your family of faith that is the Diocese of Bridgeport welcomes you with open arms and I am deeply, deeply grateful.”

“But that light has much more for you to do… so that you may now be configured to Christ who shows His light to the world as a servant. That light will give you the grace to continue to enlighten your mind so that you may be a herald of the truth.”

“Also allow the light who is Christ to enlighten your heart. As a deacon you will have the privilege to serve at the altar… as the bridge to all the hopes and dreams and sufferings and pains of God’s people.”

“He will enlighten your ministry at Trinity Catholic High School…where many young people are searching. It is only the light of Christ that can heal. Christ will give you that grace, first in your own life and then to the lives of those entrusted to your care.”

“I have come to know you as a man of great charity. But the Lord will ask more, for more is asked of those for whom more is given.”

“There will never be a moment in your life that for whatever the Lord asks of you He will not give you the abundance of His grace to respond as generously as you can. The light will always be there no matter how dark the horizon may be.”

“Spend your life joyfully in service of God’s people and the light will lead you one day, my brother, to the gift of seeing the light face to face in the glory of everlasting life. Congratulations Michael, may God continue to bless you, we are all very proud of you, and may the light lead you forward all the days of your life.”

Deacon Clark will assist at his first Mass in his present home parish of St. Joseph in South Norwalk on February 3 at 10 am. Father Peter Lenox, pastor, will celebrate the Mass.

Dioconate Ordination Reception Photos by Amy Mortensen

DANBURY—Why is it easier to push a shopping cart than a car? Because a shopping cart has less mass (it’s not as heavy), and the less the mass, the easier it is to accelerate. Newton’s second law of motion spells it out: acceleration depends on force divided by mass.

The topic the eighth graders are exploring during a Personalized Learning science class at St. Gregory the Great School in Danbury goes to the very basis of physics. Physicist Isaac Newton formulated three laws in his Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, first published in 1687. Used to explain the motion of physical objects and systems, these laid the foundation for all classical mechanics.

“What is Newton’s second law?” science teacher Christine Fahey asks a small group gathered at one table.

“It’s the relationship between mass and force and acceleration,” comes the quick answer from one student.

“When mass goes up, acceleration goes down,” adds another.

The students are deep into exploring this fundamental physical principle, with small groups rotating through several different ways of exploring the concept. At the beginning of the class, Fahey had worked through a variety of problems, solving for force, acceleration and mass. “You have to figure out what you’re looking for, figure out what you’re given and establish an equation,” she explained.

As they put that challenge into practice, one group is watching a video, with pauses along the way to answer embedded questions. At the end, they’ll complete a survey of the material.

A second group reads short comprehension paragraphs followed by questions. “This gives this a reading analysis of the equation,” explains Aidan, who has already completed the video section.

At another station, “Study Island” drills with straight problems—and the chance to play a video game following correct answers. Answers done perfectly, Sarah has successfully completed her studies and is playing a game called Lunar Rally. “This one is the most fun, because of the games,” she says.

When students are finished at Study Island, they can complete other work or look at a report on gravity, space and the human body published by NASA this year.

“We’ve always used technology here at St. Gregory’s and, especially for science, we’ve always had small groups,” Fahey says. “The diocesan Personalized Learning Initiative has made me focus a little bit more, pay more attention to the different ways students learn.”

The teachers at St. Gregory’s, from the youngest preschool to the eighth grade, have embraced the Personalized Learning Initiative with enthusiasm, says principal Suzanne Curra. “They report that students are way more engaged and, in some cases, their classes are ahead of where they were last year,” she says.

Because the program is so new, teachers meet as a professional learning community on Wednesday morning, every week. “They discuss what the needs are and what they’re finding,” Curra says. “Through discussion, teachers can modify their plans and make them better. That’s the craft of teaching.”

In a small group, Fahey can exercise the craft of teaching as she shows students how to manipulate the law of motion through equations. “What can you do to increase the acceleration?” she asks one group of students. As they change their equations, they can either increase the force or decrease the mass. She checks their worksheets, looking for comprehension, mathematical accuracy and completeness.

During the school year, the eighth-graders have been introduced to the scientific method and are now exploring physics, followed by genetics and chemistry. “For each of these topics, each of these stations has a different strategy for learning,” says Fahey. “When they get to high school, they’ll have a solid foundation in science.”

By Pat Hennessy

STAMFORD—In observance of the feast day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants, Sacred Heart Church celebrated Mass and held a panel discussion about the immigration services provided by Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.

In his homily, Msgr. Thomas Powers, vicar general of the diocese, described St. Frances Cabrini as a powerful example of a woman who understood the importance of loving your neighbor rather than humanity in the abstract.

“We have been made in the likeness of God and therefore we show we are responding to Jesus’s grace by caring for our neighbors and by caring for those we might not like as much, and for the foreigner who is escaping violence and poverty,” he said. “Mother Cabrini fought for the people she loved and cared for the poor and immigrants.”

Mother Cabrini, who was the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, started the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Italy with seven other women in 1880. The congregation provided support to Italian immigrants in the United States, and during the course of 35 years, she began 67 institutions to care for orphans, the poor, the sick and the uneducated. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1909.

Peg Regan, SSND, former executive director of Caroline House in Bridgeport, which teaches English as a Second Language and life skills to women, said, “Mother Cabrini was concerned about doing things for others, and all of her work came out of a heart full of empathy and concern for people who were suffering.” Sister Regan, who teaches ESL in Norwalk and is developing a program for Room to Grow, said Mother Cabrini’s example is especially relevant in America today, where immigration issues often provoke an acrimonious political debate.

Peter Maloney, a board member of Catholic Charities, said, “This was the second time we celebrated Mother Cabrini’s feast day at Sacred Heart. The first was in 2016 after an Italian Mass. We give her a lot of credit for being a person of tremendous strength, but often overlook that she worked against a tremendous tide of hate directed against Italian immigrants… I remember her strength every time some foolish or unkind word pops up in the media concerning today’s immigrants.”

More than 200 people turned out for the event titled, “A Celebration of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants,” which included a presentation about the services available through Catholic Charities of Fairfield County. The panelists were immigration counselors Alex Arevalo and Maria Palacios, and board members Daniel Casal and Maloney.

Father Alfonso Picone, pastor of Sacred Heart, thanked the panelists for their participation and said a prayer to Mother Cabrini that she intercede for the well-being of the immigrants and their families.

Alex Arevalo, who is program manager of Immigration Services, is accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeal to represent clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in matters of immigration. He said the team makes the annual visit to remind people of the services that are available to them through Catholic Charities.

“These are trying times for immigrants, and the Church needs to be there for them to explain faithfully what their options are for improving their lives and the lives of their children,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo has been with Catholic Charities since 2001, first working with at-risk youth, and since 2006 with immigration services.

“We have made an annual commitment to celebrate Mother Cabrini with different immigrant communities,” he said. “We help people navigate the complexity of immigration law, and we hope to continue to expand the program because of the growing need.”

He urged the audience members to make an appointment and visit the immigration services offices so that their cases can be analyzed individually. He also cautioned them and said immigration fraud by unauthorized practitioners is rampant.

The immigration team of Catholic Charities is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals of the Department of Justice. The immigration services program provides affordable counseling and legal assistance to newcomers throughout Fairfield County regardless of race, religion, sex, creed or economic status. It also provides consultation on immigration-related problems, and accredited representation at USCIS Immigration appointments.

Service fees are nominal, and donations are welcome. Services are provided at two locations: The Catholic Center, 238 Jewett Avenue in Bridgeport and 174 Richmond Hill Avenue in Stamford.

(For more information or to make a donation, call 203.416.1322 or visit www.ccfairfield.org.)

By Joe Pisani

PANAMA CITY, Panama—At last fall’s Vatican summit on young people, Bishop Frank Caggiano was the first participant to raise the issue of clerical sex abuse. On Wednesday, when he addresses English language pilgrims gathered in Panama for this week’s World Youth Day, he’ll once more weigh in on that same topic.

“I will not dwell on it for long,” he told Crux in an interview on Tuesday, “but I’ll begin by giving young people a choice.”

Caggiano, who leads the diocese of Bridgeport and who is widely considered as a rising star among the U.S. hierarchy, says he’ll return to an image he’s used on several occasions, that of twilight.

“It happens twice everyday: dawn and dusk,” he said. “And I’m going to ask young people: where do you want to stand?”

“I’m going to invite them to stand in the dawn, which is a personal commitment to holiness, where it doesn’t depend on what others around you are doing,” he continued.

The 59-year old Brooklyn native, who doesn’t mince words, isn’t naïve, adding that he recognizes the difficulty of such a commitment at a time when “leaders and those you depend on do not walk the road of holiness.”

“That’s something they’ll have to answer for before God,” he said. Even so, whether to commit to holiness is “an inescapable choice for every believer.”

At World Youth Day – where over 12,000 pilgrims from the U.S. will be on hand, as well as another 140,000 participants—Caggiano says he hopes that when young people see that there are thousands of other young people asking the same questions and sharing in the same commitments, they’ll leave vowing “to allow the light to grow in us … and scatter the darkness.”

As one of the U.S. bishops selected to participate in last October’s Synod on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment, the theme of young adults in the Church has consumed much of Caggiano’s life in recent months.

In the three months since he’s been home from the synod, he says that the idea that’s gained the most traction from the synod’s concluding document is the idea of mentoring (or “accompaniment,” as Pope Francis often terms it).

“I think it is being received mostly as ‘who are the faithful witnesses that can both guide us and who we can look up to as role models,’ which I find very inspiring,” he said.

“From the earliest times, the Lord sent them out two by two for a reason. Not just simply for mutual support—like the road to Emmaus —somehow you co-form each other,” he told Crux.

Beginning next month, he’s gathering young leadership within his diocese to begin formulating a plan to actually tease out what this process of mentorship will look like.

Given the current crisis of leadership within the Church, Caggiano said that “leadership is most effective when it’s most local.”

In the coming days in Panama, he believes participants will hear Pope Francis expand on the idea of vocation, drawing from the Synod’s reflections.

Noting that traditionally the Church has spoken about vocations on three levels—the universal call to holiness that all people share in, and then the permanent states of married life or consecrated life—he said that “We’ve always been uncertain about how to speak of the states of life that are not permanent but are meaningful to holiness.”

“The synod gave language to that,” he continued, adding that for young people, the single life is at the heart of many struggles and that it’s the Church’s duty to evidence that “it’s meaningful and has tremendous value that you must live day by day.”

At this point, Caggiano is a World Youth Day veteran. Panama is his fifth, going back to Sydney in 2008, and on the last two he served as the event’s liaison among the U.S. bishops.

Even though he usually comes back jetlagged (Panama will be the happy exception, given that it’s the same time zone as the East Coast), he’s a strong believer in the event because he returns encouraged by the enthusiasm and faith of young people in the Church.

“It forces me to go back to the basics and what’s really essential,” said Caggiano. “Being a bishop in the contemporary Church, you’re wrapped up in a lot of important work that is not, on the surface, kerygmatic.”

“Administration is needed,” he said, “but it’s like my dad fixing the roof of the house. It’s an act of love, but it’s kind of a few steps removed from saying, ‘I love you.’”

While some have questioned the need for such a large-scale event that takes years of planning and is often a huge financial burden on the host country—especially at a time when Francis has called for ‘a poor Church for the poor” – Caggiano insists that “false choices put us in a debilitated place.”

“The genius of Catholicism is that it’s never either/or, it’s always both/and,” he said.

For Caggiano, World Youth Days are an investment in the future leaders of a diocese.

“I see this place as the seedbed of leadership,” he said, adding that the real question for dioceses is how and what they will do after the event is over with and pilgrims return home in order to get a proper return on their investments.

“There is no community that can prosper without investing in its people,” he said.

Follow Ines San Martin on Twitter @inesanma and Christopher White, @CWWhite212, for extensive on the ground coverage from Panama of World Youth Day 2019.

Christopher White  |  CRUX

WILTON—The 12^th Annual Our Lady Fatima School-Wilton Tyler Ugolyn Basketball Tournament will be held Thursday, January 24 through Friday, February 8. This event honors the memory of Tyler Ugolyn, a 1997 Fatima graduate who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attack.

“We anticipate the tournament will include 46 teams competing in six divisions with over 130 players from 13 schools representing the Dioceses of Bridgeport and Hartford and the Archdiocese of New York” notes Rob Benedetto, Fatima Athletic Director. “We also have an All-Star Game for both boys’ and girls’ varsity teams (seventh and eighth graders). In addition, Fatima will take this opportunity to welcome alumni back to the school to participate in a special Alumni Game to be held on Friday, February 1 at 8:30 pm. We are also fortunate that Tyler’s parents will take part in this event and will join us on Friday, February 1.”

Fatima honors Tyler’s love of the game each year with this special tournament. After graduating from Fatima, Ugolyn attended Ridgefield High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.  Tyler was a McDonald’s High School All-American Basketball nominee and was ranked as one of the top 250 seniors in the country.  He was recruited to play Division 1 basketball at Columbia. While there, Tyler founded Columbia Catholic Athletes and ran an inner-city basketball league for Harlem youth.

Fatima Principal Stanley Steele feels it is appropriate that the basketball tournament should be named in honor of Tyler Ugolyn, as the former student always said, “I just love the game”.  As Mr. Steele indicates, “Every aspect of planning and running this tournament is a testament to the love – from the way the game is played, the way the volunteers give so selflessly, and the feeling you get when you walk into the building as the entire Fatima family is involved.  Our school motto is “Service above self” and the tournament is an example of the motto in action.”

The tournament will be held at Our lady of Fatima School, located at 225 Danbury Road, Wilton, Conn. To learn more about the tournament and see a detailed game schedule, visit the school’s website page dedicated to the tournament: https://www.fatimaschoolwilton.org/apps/pages/Overview.

A portion of the funds raised during the tournament will be donated to the Tyler Ugolyn Foundation. Founded after his death, the Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to promoting youth basketball programs and the refurbishment of inner-city basketball courts. Courts have been renovated in Tyler’s memory all across the country in conjunction with the NCAA Men’s Final Four, including cities such as San Antonio, Detroit, Indianapolis and Houston.

Coinciding and in conjunction with the Tournament, the Our Lady of Fatima Church Youth Ministry will host its 2^rd Annual Sneaker Drive. Youth Ministry be collecting new and used sneakers to be donated to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters charity organization. Three convenient collection sites will be available during the tournament time period. The collection sites will be located at Our Lady of Fatima School, Our Lady of Fatima Church, and the children’s wing of the Wilton Public Library. Mara Fleming of the Youth Ministry shares “Tyler was an active volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, too.  His talent and brilliance was outmatched only by his generosity and selflessness. I believe he would be so happy that the community he called home is following his example and giving to those in need. Last year we collected 400+ pairs of sneakers and we hope to surpass this number for 2019!”

Our Lady of Fatima School is a Roman Catholic co-educational school offering Pre-Kindergarten 3 through Grade 8. Recognized as a 2009 National Blue Ribbon School, Our Lady of Fatima has a rich history of Catholic education and academic excellence spanning over 56 years.

(For Open House, tours and admissions information, please contact 203.762.8100 or visit www.fatimaschoolwilton.org.)

WASHINGTON (CNS)—An exchange between Catholic high school students and a Native American tribal leader in Washington Jan. 18 was vilified on social media the following day, but the immediate accusations the students showed racist behavior have been stepped back as more details of the entire situation have emerged.

Many say the incident still needs to be investigated or discussed and others have pointed out that what happened can still provide a teaching moment not just about racism but also about news coverage and social media’s rapid response.

The student most prominent in the footage, junior Nick Sandmann of Covington High School in Kentucky, issued a statement Jan. 20 saying he has “received physical and death threats via social media, as well as hateful insults” based on reaction across social media. He also said he would cooperate in any investigation church leaders plan to undertake.

The group’s chaperones, also criticized on social media, said later the students “were targeted from the get-go.”

On Jan. 18, tens of thousands gathered in Washington for the annual March for Life, a march along Constitution Avenue after a rally on the National Mall to the Supreme Court to mark the court’s January 22, 1973, decision that legalized abortion.

The march, held a few days before the actual anniversary this year, took place on the same day as the first Indigenous People’s March where marchers walked in the other direction on Constitution Avenue to draw attention to injustices against indigenous people.

At the day’s end, while students from Covington Catholic High School who had attended the March for Life were waiting for their buses to pick them up near the Lincoln Memorial, they met up with members of the Indigenous People’s March, in particular Nathan Phillips, tribal elder for the Omaha Tribe.

In clips from a video that went viral almost immediately, students are shown surrounding the leader, who is chanting and beating a drum. They appear to be mocking him and one student in particular, who is inches away from the drummer and never moves, was accused of flagrant disrespect.

Some students in the crowd were identified by their Covington High School sweatshirts but the attire that drew the most rage was the “Make America Great Again” hats worn by a few in the group. That phrase, which President Donald Trump coined during his successful presidential campaign, has been deemed to be “racist” by his opponents.

The clip caused immediate outrage.

In response to the escalating fury and disgust on social media against these students, Covington High School and the Diocese of Covington issued a joint statement January 19 saying they condemned the students’ actions “toward Nathan Phillips specifically, and Native Americans in general.”

“We extend our deepest apologies to Mr. Phillips. This behavior is opposed to the church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person,” it said, adding that the incident was “being investigated and we will take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion.”

The school and diocese also said the event “tainted the entire witness of the March for Life” and they apologized to those who attended and “all those who support the pro-life movement.”

March for Life president Jeanne Mancini also issued a statement that day saying the encounter did not represent her organization or “the vast majority of the marchers” and that the students’ behavior is not welcome at the march and never will be.

The next day the March for Life said it in a tweet had deleted its original tweet about the students “given recent developments.

“It is clear from new footage and additional accounts that there is more to this story than the original video captured. We will refrain from commenting further until the truth is understood,” the tweet said.

The day after the initial clip of the exchange went viral, extended footage of how the situation unfolded appeared on social media, and the students issued their own statements about it, like Sandmann, who was directly in front of the Native American drummer.

Longer videos shown online reveal that another group at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial included members of the Hebrew Israelites, who also were attending the Indigenous People’s March to share their own beliefs that African-Americans are God’s chosen people and the true Hebrew descendants.

Members of this group, as shown in video footage, taunted the students and some responded back. Phillips, the Native American, walked over to the students and the group, as an intervention, singing and beating a song of prayer.

Sandmann, in a statement, said Phillips “locked eyes with me and approached me, coming within inches of my face.”

“I did not speak to him. I did not make any hand gestures or other aggressive moves. To be honest, I was startled and confused as to why he had approached me. We had already been yelled at by another group of protesters … I was worried that a situation was getting out of control.”

Sandmann said the group started doing school spirit chants to “counter the hateful things that were being shouted at our group” and they had asked for chaperone permission to do so.

He said he stayed motionless to help diffuse the situation and also prayed silently that it would not get out of hand.

“During the period of the drumming, a member of the protester’s entourage began yelling at a fellow student that we ‘stole our land’ and that we should ‘go back to Europe.’ I heard one of my fellow students begin to respond. I motioned to my classmate and tried to get him to stop engaging with the protester,” an action that can be seen on the video where he motions to the student to stop and points and nods to the tribal leader.

The student said he didn’t understand “why either of the two groups of protesters were engaging with us, or exactly what they were protesting” and that his group was just there to meet a bus, “not become central players in a media spectacle.”

“I was not intentionally making faces at the protester. I did smile at one point because I wanted him to know that I was not going to become angry, intimidated or be provoked into a larger confrontation. I am a faithful Christian and practicing Catholic, and I always try to live up to the ideals my faith teaches me—to remain respectful of others, and to take no action that would lead to conflict or violence,” he added.

The student said he has been called “every name in the book, including a racist” and has received death threats and hateful insults.

“I am mortified that so many people have come to believe something that did not happen—that students from my school were chanting or acting in a racist fashion toward African-Americans or Native Americans. I did not do that, do not have hateful feelings in my heart, and did not witness any of my classmates doing that,” he said. His statement was posted on the CNN website, https://cnn.it/2FOLNCC.

A local CBS-affiliate, WKRC in Cincinnati, also received statements from students, some who asked to remain anonymous, also saying they were unfairly portrayed in media coverage of this incident.

Chaperones, also criticized on social media, spoke to the TV station reiterating that the students had been taunted. “They were targeted from the get-go. Immediately, there were people running around filming and this isn’t going to be a truthful depiction of what happened,” one chaperone said.

Jesuit Father Jim Martin, an author and editor of America magazine, who was critical of the students’ behavior on Twitter January 19, said in a tweet the following day that he would be “happy to apologize for condemning the actions of the students if it turns out that they were somehow acting as good and moral Christians. The last thing I want is to see Catholic schools and Catholic students held in any disrepute.”

He also tweeted: “We may never know exactly what happened and the various ‘sides’ may continue to disagree and condemn one another. But I hope the truth emerges.”

He said the situation can provide a teachable moment with “important lessons about racism and marginalization, about dialogue and encounter, and about truth and reconciliation, during this coming week, which is, believe it or not, Catholic Schools Week.”

Eileen Marx, a religion teacher at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, who also is the faculty moderator of the school’s diversity club, told Catholic News Service January 21 that she certainly planned to discuss this incident with her classes this week in light of Catholic social teaching which “so clearly states that we are meant to live in relationship with one another, not as enemies. We are all part of the human family.”

She also acknowledged that there is more to discuss now as more details of what happened after the march are emerging.

As this story continues to be sorted out, she said, she also will bring up the role of social media with her students and its power to “build up and to knock down individuals.”

By Carol Zimmermann | Catholic News Service