Bishop accepts Fr. Gomez Resignation

BRIDGEPORT—In response to national priest sexual abuse, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will lead a Holy Hour with Rosary and a Mass of Reparation and Purification on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Saturday, September 15th, at the Cathedral of St. Augustine, 399 Washington Avenue in Read More ››
TRUMBULL—“Most of us think that these things happen somewhere else…but it happened to my family, and it can happen to anyone,” a survivor shared her story of her experience with abuse at a young age.
The Office of Safe Environments held a VIRTUS training session on Thursday, Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—One of the major challenges for victims of sexual abuse who have come forward in the past has been getting people to listen to them, to believe their stories and to respect the suffering and pain they’ve experienced.
A recent Catholic News Service story reported that sexual Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT- The Leadership Institute is currently holding an Effective Catechetical Leadership Series workshop that spans over three days, beginning on Tuesday, August 21 through Thursday, August 23rd. The workshop is being held at Queen of Saints Hall at the Catholic Center on 238 Jewett Avenue in Read More ››
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement after a series of meetings with members of the USCCB’s Executive Committee and other bishops. The following statement includes three goals and three principles, along Read More ››
WASHINGTON—Sexual assault victims say they were hurt not only by individual priests, but by church officials and ordinary Catholics who treated them with intolerance and indifference.
Four survivors of sexual assaults by priests shared their stories with Catholic News Service. They are: Jim VanSickle and Mike McDonnell Read More ››
The St. Leo Fair is coming up very soon! Join the parish community of St. Leo Parish in Stamford for their annual – and legendary – fair from Aug 28 – Sep 1! Complete with rides, games, food, beer, pizza frite, and a $35,000 cash AMEX Read More ››
“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience Read More ››
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As the recent scandalous events regarding the crimes of sexual abuse against minors have come to light in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report and the earlier revelations regarding Archbishop McCarrick, I have been sick to my stomach. Read More ››
STAMFORD—Every first Saturday of the month at Saint Gabriel Parish in Stamford, 30-40 devotees gather to pray 2000 Hail Marys between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm in the St. Philip Neri Chapel to “honor and praise the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” says coordinator, Tess Senerador of Read More ››
WASHINGTON—Today, Catholics around the world mark the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, commemorating the end of her earthly life and assumption into Heaven. But while the feast day is a relatively new one, the history of the holiday—and the mystery behind it—has its roots in Read More ››
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is hosting a series of meetings this week responding to the broader issue of safe environments within the Church. An update will be offered upon their conclusion.
In response to today’s Pennsylvania Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—On any particular day in the Adult Day Program at Saint Catherine Center, what you’ll notice is a sense of purposeful activity—and beneath that, a feeling of warmth and respect.
“Consistency and a calm atmosphere are key to having a ‘great day’,” notes Brenda DeMattio, Director. “A Read More ››
STRATFORD—Join St. James School for their third annual “Touch-a-Truck” event. One of the biggest fundraisers that the school hosts, “Touch-a-Truck,” is a “huge community event” that features “awesome, souped-up trucks that will blow your mind!” Over 60 trucks will be on display, including SWAT vehicles, bucket Read More ››
NEWTOWN—24 couples and 22 children gathered Friday evening at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown for a Mass in celebration of up to ten years of marriage.
Father Andy Vill celebrated Mass for all gathered. Couples were then able to partake in a wine and Read More ››
WESTPORT—On Thursday evening, October 11th, Shepherds, a mentoring and scholarship non-profit based in Bridgeport, will celebrate 20 years of “changing students lives” with a gala at The Inn at Longshore in Westport. The evening will feature highly respected TV journalist and co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline, Read More ››
TRUMBULL—St. Catherine of Siena School (SCSS), a private Catholic school for students in pre-K through 8th grade, will be conducting its inaugural Apple Run/Walk 5K / Candy Apple Kids Fun, on Saturday, September 15, at 200 Shelton Road in the historic Nichols area of Trumbull, Connecticut. Read More ››
WATERBURY—More than 1000 people gathered in the rain on top of Holy Land USA as Archbishop Leonard Blair celebrated Mass to honor Venerable Father Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus and native of Waterbury.
The faithful came from across the state for the Mountaintop Mass Read More ››
NEWTOWN—The theme of this year’s Fan the Fire Youth Rally, taking place at St. Rose of Lima Parish on August 11th, was “Be Courageous.”
“We live in a world that has very little time for God or Jesus,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said, addressing the teens during Read More ››
WESTON—The Catholic Young Adults of Greater Danbury (CYAGD) organized and hosted the 3rd Annual “Summer Splash” on Sunday, August 5, at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Weston. Father John Connaughton of St. Thomas More parish in Darien celebrated the Mass accompanied by very moving live Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Caggiano is calling youth and young adults ages 18 and older to join him from January 21-28, 2019 to travel on pilgrimage to Panama for World Youth Day 2019, extending Pope Francis’ invitation to all young people of the Church to attend.
World Youth Day provides Read More ››
IOWA CITY, Iowa (CNS)—Davenport Bishop Thomas R. Zinkula made a confession during the final “RAGBRAI Mass” at St. Mary Catholic Church in Iowa City: “I have a love-hate relationship with RAGBRAI.”
Many of the 250 at the evening Mass July 27 could relate. They had bicycled 360 Read More ››
WASHINGTON (CNS)—U.S. Catholic church leaders have been calling for an internal investigation into the handling of allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick and urging such an inquiry be spearheaded by laypeople.
“I think we have reached a point where bishops alone investigating Read More ››
STAMFORD—“He’ll do anything for the kids,” says Executive Director John Gutman, of Chef Michael Arditti. The New Covenant Center Chef has been preparing and cooking the weekday meals for two years for the kids and moms at Inspirica House (shelter) in Stamford.
This week Michael donned his Read More ››
10th Annual Fairfield County Pray-For-Peace Walk
Since 2008, Al has hosted numerous Pray-for-Peace Walks covering more than 4,000 miles. Hundreds have participated and thousands received the Pray-for-Peace Message.
Recently, on June 30th, 50 of Prayer Walkers wearing PRAY-4-PEACE shirts walked from Grand Central Station to Yankee Stadium for Read More ››
NORWALK—“Oh pray tell—what is this neume?” asked David Hughes jovially, melodically, as he held up a paper covered in rectangles and lines.
“A torculus!” cried a chorus of small voices gathered in the yard of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.
And what is a neume, you may well Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Elizabeth Clyons of Trumbull has been named Communications Associate in the Office of Communications of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
She will work as a staff writer and editor for Fairfield County Catholic and the diocesan website, and also report for the various diocesan social media platforms including Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—Fairfield University Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing & Health Studies was one of 16 nursing programs selected nationwide and named as a National League for Nursing (NLN) Center of Excellence. The Egan School will be formally inducted during the Honors Convocation at the 2018 NLN Read More ››
WATERBURY—Twelve years ago on October 29, Sister Veronica and Sister Rita both woke up in the middle of night with the premonition that somebody needed prayers … so they prayed. Sister Veronica didn’t realize that “somebody” was her brother.
Pictured: Brian Caulfield, vice postulator for the cause Read More ››
TRUMBULL—St Joseph High School, striving to be southern Connecticut’s premier college preparatory school, is proud to announce that Kevin Wielk ’95 has been hired to serve as the new varsity head coach for boys basketball.
Kevin is a graduate of St Joseph High School (Class of 1995) Read More ››
Trevor Kelly thought his destiny was to be a rock star.
His mother, his father, his grandparents, his aunts, his uncles and his cousins, said he was meant to be a priest.
They were right. He was wrong.
Trevor, who teaches theology at St. Joseph High School and played Read More ››
VATICAN CITY—Building on the development of Catholic Church teaching against capital punishment, Pope Francis has ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to assert “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” and Read More ››
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement noting the steps the U.S. Bishops Conference will take in addressing the failures of the Church in protecting the people of God.
Cardinal DiNardo’s full Read More ››
All couples married within the past 10 years are invited to our:
When: Friday, August 10, 2018 @ 6 PM
Where: Saint Rose of Lima Church (46 Church Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470)
Please join us at 6 PM for the celebration of the Mass followed by a Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Dr. Steven Cheeseman, Superintendent of Catholic School in the Diocese of Bridgeport has announced the new principals for St. Aloysius School in New Canaan, and St. Rose of Lima School in Newtown.
Dr. Alfone Named Principal of St. Aloysius School
NEW CANAAN—Dr. John R. Alfone has been named Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—In describing the international sport of rugby, Pope Francis has said, “It makes us think of life, because our whole life we are heading for a goal. We need to run together, pass the ball from hand to hand, until we get to it. Playing rugby Read More ››
NEW HAVEN—The Knights of Columbus is urging its members and Catholics to join the U.S. bishops in a nationwide Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life on each Friday from August 3 to September 28.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has invited people of Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—He was a soldier who became a saint, creating a religious order that helped reform the Church and spread the Gospel to every corner of the world. As we celebrate today the feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), Read More ››
STAMFORD—“Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.” These words of St. John Paul II have been the foundation for the creation of a new young adult group in the diocese. Catholic Adventures Stamford is a group for young adults in their 20s and 30s who have Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Catholic Charities of Fairfield County caseworker Maria Palacios has joined a humanitarian team working on the Texas border to respond to the needs of families being served by the Humanitarian Respite Center. During her 9-day journey Palacios is working alongside other caseworkers at the request of Read More ››
VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from the College of Cardinals of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, and has ordered him to maintain “a life of prayer and penance” until a canonical trial examines accusations that he sexually abused minors.
The announcement Read More ››
WATERBURY—The organizers of the Holy Land Mountaintop Mass, honoring Venerable Fr. Michael J. McGivney, hope their event will cause a revitalization of faith and increased devotion to the founder of the Knights of Columbus, who grew up in Waterbury.
“We think this will be a significant religious Read More ››
STAMFORD—The Sisters of Life are pleased to announce that the following Sisters will profess their first vows as a Sister of Life on August 4, 2018 at Villa Maria Guadalupe in Stamford, CT. Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Bridgeport Diocese will celebrate the Mass of Profession.
The Read More ››
Fifty years after its publication, the encyclical “Humanae Vitae” of Paul VI presents itself in the eyes of the men of today in a completely different way. In 1968, it was a courageous document—and therefore controversial—that went against the climate of the time, that of the Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—Construction is under way for two additional residence halls that will make up the residence village on Sacred Heart University’s Upper Quad—formerly the site of Jewish Senior Services. The first of what is anticipated to be six halls—housing more than 900 students—opened early this year. It Read More ››
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—What does it mean to be an analog Christian in a digital world?
A digital clock shows every minute separately, each abrupt and independent from the one before and the one after. An analog clock, however, displays time as an unbroken relationship, each minute depending on Read More ››
Chef Wenford Patrick Simpson, or better known as Chef Patrick, grew-up cooking for his younger sister. Now, after a career filled with all sorts of accomplishments and awards, he is still cooking for kids. On July 30th, Chef Patrick will perform a cooking demonstration for the Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Maria Palacios, a member of the Catholic Charities of Fairfield County (CCFC) Immigration Team, departed today for the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas where she will join a national Catholic Charities relief effort for immigrants.
As the federal immigration detention and release practices are rapidly shifting Read More ››
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has ratified the members elected by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to represent the United States at the upcoming XV Ordinary General Assembly: Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. The Synod will take place October 3-28.
The delegates are:
· Cardinal Daniel N. Read More ››
Cristo alegría del mundo, resplandor de la gloria del Padre. ¡Bendita la Mañana que anuncia tu esplendor al universo! (Del Himno de las Laudes Domingo XV del tiempo ordinario).
El pasado domingo 14 de julio de 2018 la parroquia Santa María en Bridgeport vivió una experiencia única Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Last Sunday, July 14, 2018, St. Mary’s Parish of Bridgeport, lived a unique experience that allowed us to unify with nature in prayer.
Amanecer y Atardecer con Cristo was a one-day pilgrimage that took us to Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Litchfield.
It was an idea that Read More ››
WEST BEND, Iowa (CNS) — With apologies to Fats Domino, Father Lawrence Carney is “walkin’ and talkin’ about you and me,” and hoping that listeners will come back to — not “me” — but God.
Known as the “walking priest,” Father Carney brought his message of street Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—The summer that a person graduates from high school marks the beginning of one of the first big transitions of their life. All over the country, teenagers are looking at these next few months as their first taste of freedom, or a looming period of the Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—The Sacred Heart University Audiology Clinic has opened its doors to the Bridgeport community and invites area residents to make an appointment to get their hearing loss diagnosed and treated.
The full-service clinic delivers hearing health care for individuals across the lifespan, while providing SHU speech-language pathology Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—The St. Pius X Knights Of Columbus Council #16347 in Fairfield is pleased to announce that Braden Moore has won the 14-Year-Old division of the Knights of Columbus State Free Throw Competition, held at St. Paul’s High School in Bristol. Braden, an 8th grade student at Read More ››
MASSACHUSETTS—“I urge you to be part of a community of faith that can sustain you and nurture your sense of purpose,” said Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston at the Steubenville East Conference held last weekend.
Around 3,000 teens gathered in Lowell, MA, for the conference, which included Read More ››
The 13th Annual Fan the Fire Youth Rally will take place on Saturday, August 11 from 9:30am to 10pm at St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, CT. All young people in grades 8 through 12 are invited and encouraged to attend this incredible opportunity to grow Read More ››
Dear Friends of Quest for Peace and Covenant House Casa Alianza in Nicaragua:
These weeks we have been witnessing with great anguish the violence and anarchy that has erupted in Nicaragua which has set the government and its paramilitaries against students, workers, the poor and the Catholic Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—The St. Margaret Shrine in Bridgeport might be the only large-scale shrine in the United States dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch, a late third-century/early fourth-century martyr whose feast was formerly July 20 (she was among some saints removed in 1969 from the liturgical calendar to Read More ››
MERIDEN—Saint Francis of Assisi said, “It is not fitting, when one is in God’s service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look.” The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist not only lived this instruction of Brother Francis, but helped the Seminarians of the Diocese understand Read More ››
WINNEBAGO—A few weeks ago, I went with my youth group from Saint Aloysius Parish in New Canaan on a mission trip to Nebraska. For an entire week, we did service work on the Native American Reservation of Winnebago.
Our time with the people of the Omaha and Read More ››
The late author Thomas Craughwell knew how to weave together exciting stories. His last book, Heroic Catholic Chaplains, released this May, a month before his unexpected death, is filled with them. The subtitle captures them this way: Stories of the Brave and Holy Men Who Dodged Read More ››
On the centenary of the late priest’s birth, those who knew him personally offer reflections about his transformational legacy of helping people who experience same-sex attraction.
PHILADELPHIA—When Father John Harvey presented the full truth of the Church’s teaching on homosexuality, Tina Nair never felt like she was Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—It’s summertime, and the fishing is easy! At least it was on the beautiful day recently for adults in the day program of St. Catherine Academy.
The adult students enjoyed a morning of recreation at the pond on Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens in Westport, followed by lunch on Read More ››
BRIDGEPORT—Loyola Press is partnering with the Diocese of Bridgeport Office of Faith Formation and The Leadership Institute to bring several speakers to the area for all those who share the faith as catechists and youth ministers.
The first day will serve as a kick-off meeting for all Read More ››
KENT—Former Fairfield County Catholic photographer John Glover, 64, passed away suddenly last Friday in his home in Kent.
A full obituary including funeral arrangements will be released as it becomes available.
Glover joined Fairfield County Catholic in 1998 as staff photographer at the invitation of Dr. Joseph McAleer, Read More ››
Calling All Catholic Young Adults (CYAs)!
Join us for the 3rd Annual “Summer Splash” on Sunday, August 5, 2-5pm
Hosted by the Catholic Young Adults of Greater Danbury (CYAGB), we’ll gather at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Weston, CT, for Mass celebrated by Fr. John Connaughton of Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—Sacred Heart University has assumed operations of St. Vincent’s College, effective July 2, merging the valuable resources of two of the region’s longstanding, venerable learning institutions. “Sacred Heart University and St. Vincent’s College are two institutions with a strong Catholic identity and similar missions and core Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—Fourteen nurses in Ghana are earning their master’s degrees and will be able to educate student nurses and improve patient outcomes, thanks to an innovative, tuition-free partnership with Sacred Heart University.
The partnership between SHU’s College of Nursing and Ghana’s Holy Family Nursing & Midwifery Training College Read More ››
FAIRFIELD—When the St. Thomas Aquinas School library needed an update, some people suggested to Librarian Adrienne Wilson that she appeal to the Knights of Columbus for help.
The Knights of Columbus, Father Coleman Council #2616, came to the rescue in big way recently by making a $10,000 Read More ››
BETHEL—St Mary’s Bethel students Francesca Friscia and Tyler Burns were recently presented Catholic Charities “Guardian Angel” awards for their work on behalf of the hungry and homeless in the Danbury area.
The hard working duo raised funds for the “Take a Walk in Their Shoes” Walkathon for Read More ››
A lifetime ago, when Tom McInerney was a sophomore at St. Augustine High School in Brooklyn, his world history teacher, Mr. Hitti, took him aside for the kind of talk teenagers would rather avoid.
Mr. Hitti didn’t mince his words. He told Tom that he was “way Read More ››
IRONDALE, Alanta—EWTN Global Catholic Network will observe America’s Independence Day with airings of Called and Chosen: Father Vincent R. Capodanno.
The 90-minute documentary about the life and death of Fr. Capodanno will air on EWTN July 4 at 10 am and 4 pm Eastern time. Produced by Read More ››