Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

St. Catherine’s 2nd Annual Gingerbread Bash
Sunday, December 3

Registrations close this Friday, November 17

Build a gingerbread nativity while celebrating the birth of Jesus. You’ll hear the Christmas story from the Bible, sing songs, play games, and discover the good news of Jesus through candy canes. It’s a truly sweet way for your family to prepare for the birth of Jesus!

Immediately following the 9am Mass
$20/family includes one nativity kit & breakfast. Additional nativity kits are $10/each.

Register for Gingerbread Bash Now!

BRIDGEPORT- In the eighth year since its founding, Foundations in Education is pleased to release its annual report for the year of 2023.

To date, the foundation hasawarded over $20 million in tuition assistance to thousands of students through the Bishop’s Scholarship Fund, helping families from across Fairfield County achieve the dream of a Catholic education. In addition to tuition assistance, Foundation in Education has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in Innovation and Leadership Grants to teachers and has committed more than $7 million to support specific projects to improve Catholic education at our schools.

To read the full report, see below.

By Emily Clark

TRUMBULL— “It is a great grace to be in the presence of a saint, an apostle who many, many times with this arm embraced the body of Jesus Christ.” These words, spoken by Father Carlos Martins, expressed the awe that thousands of faithful experienced as they venerated the major relic of the arm of St. Jude Thaddeus at St. Theresa Parish in Trumbull on November 8.

During his nationwide tour, Father Martins, director of Treasures of the Church, has accompanied the relic and given people the rare opportunity to pray before one of the church’s most popular saints, also known as the “Apostle of the Impossible” for helping those most in need of healing and miracles.

From 1 pm to 10 pm, lines wound through the church and oftentimes within the vestibule and up the sidewalk as locals as well as those from the greater community and tri-state area waited up to 90 minutes in chilly weather to see the arm of this beloved saint, which was enclosed in a wooden reliquary before the altar. As the only stop in Connecticut, the event drew close to 4,000 devout Catholics of all ages, many of whom said they have long prayed to St. Jude.

Matthew Avigliano and his wife Lisa drove from Madison, N.J. to attend the event with friends from Woodbury.

“I’ve always had a great devotion to St. Jude,” said Avigliano, whose middle name is Jude. “As I kid, we had some difficult situations in my family, and we invoked him during those times. It’s my first time seeing the relic, so truthfully, I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

Julie Sees, who made the drive from the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey, had the same reaction.

“When I saw the relic, I was speechless. It’s such a blessing to have a piece of Rome in our midst,” she said. Her mother Lucielle agreed and said that, like Avigliano, she has prayed to St. Jude many times throughout her life.

Locally, teenagers Ellie and Lauren Holmes who belong to St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Trumbull stopped on their way home from school and waited over an hour in line, though that didn’t seem to bother them.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, a chance to view a saint from Jesus’ time,” said Ellie.

“I’m very religious and don’t mind missing sports or anything to come to this,” Lauren added. “It makes me feel so happy and grateful for my faith.”

As visitors waited to venerate the saint, many purchased gift items such as prayer cards, small medals of St. Jude, Rosary beads, and devotionals which could be held against the glass reliquary during prayer to become third class relics. That is what Carmella Turpin from Albany, N.Y. hoped to do as she waited with her daughter Carla. St. Jude was a favorite of her late husband’s, she said.

“He used to say, ‘I’m such a hopeless case,’ though he wasn’t!” she remembered, holding Rosary beads and a special bracelet. “And he was always devoted to St. Jude.”

Photos by Amy Mortensen

Large, poster-size banners with details of St. Jude hung along the walls of the church giving those in line a chance to learn more about him as well as the protocol for venerating. Despite the long lines, visitors were quiet and patient and had the assistance of more than 100 volunteers. They, like usher Anne Wright and parking attendant George Hess, were grateful to be part of this experience.

“This man had his arm around Jesus,” said Hess, a longtime parishioner at St. Theresa. “They were first cousins. Can you imagine that they probably wrestled together and played together?”

Despite being a first cousin of Our Lord, St. Jude occupies a very humble place, uttering only one sentence in all four Gospels. However, Fr. Carlos said in his homily, he has healed many.

“Don’t think of this relic as merely bone,” he told those gathered for Mass. “All of St. Jude is here because the soul is here.”

St. Jude “is somebody that people go to when they feel really desperate,” said Father Brian Gannon, pastor of St. Theresa. “He has so many miracles attributed to him throughout the centuries,” and those continue to occur today.

Father Martins recounted the story of a miracle early in the relic’s tour. While in Chicago this September, he planned to see an acquaintance of his whose wife had undergone brain surgery years earlier and was left severely disabled. Many activities were impossible for her; even walking and talking were difficult. Because she unable to venerate the relic in person, Father Martins prayed to St. Jude, asking him to visit the woman himself. The next day, the acquaintance called Father Martins with wonderful news. His wife was well again, and doctors confirmed that she had been cured of her illness.

“There is always a miracle with a saint,” Father Martins said. “He is a gift for each person here.”

Following its Connecticut stop, the relic of St. Jude moved on to Rhode Island and Massachusetts and will continue touring the country through May.

BETHEL – Hundreds of faithful recently witnessed the consecration of a new church building heralding a new home for Our Lady of Aparecida Quasi-Parish on Vail Road in Bethel.
“May God the Father of Mercy dwell in this house of prayer,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. “May the Word of God resound always in this building, in this church.”

Bishop Caggiano and Rev. Leonel S. Medeiros, Episcopal Vicar for Brazilians/Administrator for Our Lady of Aparecida, affectionately known as Fr. Leonel, concelebrated the weekday evening Mass.

“A dream that has been talked about for many years is becoming a reality,” Bishop Caggiano said.

For more than 27 years, Our Lady of Aparecida has been a Brazilian-American Catholic community of faith and was designated a Quasi-Parish by Bishop Caggiano on January 25, 2020, at a ceremony at St. Peter Church in Danbury. The Main Street church partnered with the Brazilian-American Catholic community to host Masses and its pastoral ministry service groups including Bible studies, retreats and social gatherings.

“The community that you have founded, faithful and joyful took a great amount of patience to get it done, I am grateful to all of you,” Bishop Caggiano said. “This is another chapter in the life of the Brazilian community in the life of the Diocese of Bridgeport.”

“Thank you for keeping the dream alive and thank you for shepherding the people,” said Bishop Caggiano as he thanked Fr. Leonel. His remarks were met enthusiastically by those gathered with a standing ovation of applause.

“It is God’s love that has carried you. This place will become His temple and this will become Holy ground,” Bishop Caggiano said before placing a relic that was sealed in the altar and anointing the altar with oil. The bishop then used the oil to bless the crosses throughout the church with Fr. Leonel. The altar was transformed in front of everyone as it was dressed in fine linens and adorned with lit candles and a crucifix.

“On this altar Calvary becomes real over and over again,” Caggiano said. “This altar is the door to everlasting life. Consider how much God loves us to come down upon this night to make this place holy.”

During the Mass, which was also broadcast in another room on a big screen to accommodate everyone who wanted to be present on this very special day, the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida was presented to the bishop adorned with flowers. The statue was blessed and then placed to the right of the altar in front of a lighted gold backdrop.

There were tears of joy and happiness among those gathered as gifts of bread and grapes were brought to the altar and congregants also approached and placed roses at the altar.
“It is with great joy we come to this joyous occasion, this joyous day,” said Fr. Leonel, as he thanked the bishop for his help, support and fatherly guidance throughout the entire process.

“Without his support, it would be impossible,” Fr. Leonel said, to which the congregation gave a standing ovation for the bishop.

“We would like to thank you for having walked with us. We are incredibly thankful to you,” Fr. Leonel said. “You were able to guide us and provide us with everything we need to get where we are today.”

Congregants were elated at the milestone in the church’s history.

“I’m very happy. I feel like we are in heaven. I feel in grace,” said Edna Korn at the conclusion of Mass.

Marcelo and Marilyn Mendonca agreed.

“I feel blessed to be here and be a part of this,” Marcelo Mendonca said. “It was a lot of work to get to this point to have a Brazilian Catholic Church.”

Bishop Caggiano said the New Year may hold yet another milestone for the Brazilian-American Catholic community noting that he has received a petition to make the quasi-parish a full parish.

“With the help of Our Lady of Aparecida you will do great things and I promise you I will walk with you the whole way,” Caggiano said. “I will come back in the New Year and hope to have another gift for you as a parish.”

“Remember that the Church is more than these walls, you are the living Church,” Bishop Caggiano said. “We are only beginning to rebuild the Church one living brick at a time.”

Danbury, CT – Freedom is not free. That was the message at Immaculate High School’s Veterans Day Tribute November 9th.

Military color guard presented the United States and military flags while the school’s Inspire Choir opened the ceremony, which included distinguished veterans, Immaculate alumnus and state Superior Court Judge Thomas Saadi, school leaders and students. Immaculate’s sign language students also signed the songs for the audience. The school publicly recognized each local veteran in attendance and presented them with a gift commemorating their service.

Visitors to the ceremony were welcomed to Immaculate by the school’s Veterans Hill of Honor on its front lawn. The school’s community members purchased flags with yellow ribbons to recognize a special veteran by name. Immaculate presented a check for $2,000 from the proceeds of this tribute which will support the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

Immaculate’s Chaplain Father Philip Phan opened the ceremony with gratitude for all who have served. “We thank you for your sacrifice, courage and selflessness. Bless all our veterans, especially those who bear the physical and emotional scars of their service,” Phan said. “Grant them healing, comfort and peace. We pray for those who have given their lives in the service of our nation. May their souls rest in your eternal peace.”

“Tomorrow you’ll be home for a day off from school but it is more than a day to sleep in. Please take a moment to think about all the men and women who have served for you to be able to experience the wonderful lives that you are all leading,” Principal and Acting President Wendy Neil, whose own children are serving in our armed services, told students. “Freedom is not free.”

Danbury native son and celebrated Immaculate alumnus Thomas Saadi ‘88, who is a veteran and now a Superior Court Judge, also reminded Mustangs that they enjoy freedom and democracy thanks to veterans who came before us. “They and the veterans with us today, these men seated in the front row, kept the promise of protecting our liberty and freedom, carrying on that brave legacy, that began with the Massachusetts militiamen who faced down British regular troops at Lexington and Concord and then drove them back to their encampment and trench lines in Boston,” Saadi said.

The Veterans Day Tribute is a much-loved annual tradition at Immaculate.

by Ann Yannetti

Norwalk – On a recent Saturday morning, Liturgical Ministers of St. Matthew Parish gathered to “Eat, Pray, and Be Formed.” This unique opportunity was developed by Fr. Frank Hoffmann, pastor, in response to Bishop Caggiano’s “The One.”

“When the Bishop started talking about how to get people back to church, one of the things he spoke about was small groups and how to pass on our faith,” Fr. Hoffmann explained. “One of the small groups in our church are those who participate in Ministry. Within that group, there are smaller groups: Readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and Choir members,” said Fr. Hoffmann.

“This gathering isn’t nuts and bolts reminders about how to do your ministry,” he said. “Rather this is about the social aspect of sitting together and having a meal, praying together, and then having some sort of talk that’s going to help you be formed in the faith – all to grow closer to God and also give us a chance to get closer to one another.”

The day began with breakfast, followed by Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the daily prayer of the Church. Fr. Frank explained that engaging in this ancient prayer tradition fosters a sense of unity and solidarity with each other and the Church as a whole.

“We are praying with the Church, with millions of people all across the globe who are praying the same prayers, the same hymns, and the same psalms at the same time,” said Fr. Hoffmann.
During the third part of the morning, Fr. Hoffmann introduced the participants to a spiritual practice called the Examen by St. Ignatius. This practice involves reflecting on the events of the day and discerning where God was present and where we may have fallen short.

“Imagine God gazing at you with love. What do you want to tell God you’re thankful for, what fills your heart? Where have you pushed God out in your day or ignored him? What is trying to pull your attention away from God and how can you invite him back in?”

Fr. Hoffmann provided guidance on how to practice the Examen and encouraged participants to incorporate it into their daily routine as a powerful tool for spiritual growth.

“Even if you don’t do anything else, do the Examen. You’ll eventually come to see that when God presents us with difficult challenges, He does not simply throw us in the pool without support. God gives us the grace, strength, and tools necessary to overcome these challenges.”
“I like to call the Examen ‘looking for God in the rearview mirror.’ Eventually, you’ll see God in the windshield, and that’s the spiritual goal,” said Fr. Hoffmann.
Participants emerged from the morning with a renewed sense of purpose, a deeper connection to God, and a closer connection to those who are walking alongside them in their faith journey.

“I loved this mini session, and the reason is simple,” Lorraine DeRosa shared. “Although I pray and attend Mass, for quite some time I’ve felt starved spiritually. Spirituality to me is more than the prayers we recite by rote. Spirituality is having a conversation with the Lord as we would with a treasured friend. Being honest with a friend we trust, with little judgement in return,” she said, noting that she planned to use the Examen as a daily technique of prayerful reflection to detect God’s presence and discern his direction.

Paul and Susan Wolff expressed gratitude for Fr. Hoffmann’s guidance in introducing them to the Liturgy of the Hours and the Examen. “It was wonderful how Father took the time to go through each one in detail, and the breakfast gathering was a great way to begin the day!”

Fr. Hoffmann emphasized the importance of the Ministry groups and thanked them for their dedication. “Let me just say how much I appreciate each of you. You are valuable. We need people like you. You make such a difference to us.”
The next “Eat, Pray, Be Formed” session will meet in February. “My intention is that most of the talks will be more about our spiritual lives and our prayer lives, to continue growing closer in our relationship with God and each other,” according to Fr. Hoffmann.

BRIDGEPORT- Free exercise classes are now being offered for Parkinson’s disease patients by Sacred Heart University.

The classes meet on Mondays from 12:30 to 1:30 pm at the Sacred Heart University Center for Healthcare Education, 4000 Park Ave. in Bridgeport.

For more information, call 203.742.1440 or visit www.parkinsonbodyandmind.org

By Emily Clark

FAIRFIELD- A lightning rod. A preacher. A profound cultural advocate. A modern African-American sister. These descriptors, proclaimed by those paying tribute to her on film, characterize Thea Bowman, a woman who shared the message of God’s love and left a lasting impact on Blacks and Catholics worldwide.

In observance of National Black Catholic History month, the Social Justice committee at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fairfield sponsored a showing the documentary film, “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood” on Sunday afternoon, November 5 in their parish hall. According to committee chair Donna Spigarolo, the 65 people in attendance were deeply moved by the film and the conversations that followed.

“It showed that people are interested in racial justice and want to learn more and also learn how we can do better by owning our history and moving forward in an equitable way,” she said. “Her story really affected people. They were getting out the tissues at the end.”

That story is one of great faith despite the blatant racism, prejudice, and inequality that Sister Thea faced growing up Protestant in 1940s Mississippi. When the eight-year-old witnessed the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, who had arrived in her community to establish a school for Black children, treating all people with the utmost respect, she told her parents she wanted to convert to Catholicism. They resisted but eventually relented. “A burning desire was there,” said Spigarolo, and she then entered the convent at age 15.

While in the order of Perpetual Adoration, Sister Thea became a teacher, musician, evangelizer, liturgist, and scholar, telling everyone that they were God’s children, often through song.

“She had a world class singing voice with a depth of hope,” said Spigarolo.

Eleanor Sauers, the parish life coordinator at St. Anthony, felt “Going Home Like a Shooting Star” depicted an honest view of Sister Thea, saying, “The movie was uplifting in so many ways. It showed her as a real person with an incredible vocation and how she made such a difference.”

Sister Thea’s message of hope, racial equality, and love of God is one that the Social Justice committee also wished to honor, especially during National Black Catholic History month. Following the hour-long documentary, attendees sitting at tables of seven enjoyed refreshments and engaged in a discussion of her life, spending more than 30 minutes sharing responses to such questions as “What action, if any, are you motivated to take in light of the story about Sister Thea’s life and work?” According to Spigarolo, the conversations always circled back to social justice and her unending joy, even in the face of adversity.

Dan Braccio, a member of the social justice committee, also witnessed that same engagement.

“Conversations at the tables after the film were unanimous in their admiration for Sister Thea Bowman’s dedication to her vocation and the joy that she brought to others through her gifts of song and preaching,” he said.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984, Sister Thea died six years later at age 52 and received the University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal posthumously that year.

“We were all so sorry that her life was cut short,” Spigarolo said. “She could have accomplished so much more.” What she did accomplish led the Diocese of Jackson, Miss. to open the canonization process for Sister Thea, and much support has been given to the cause. According to the documentary, she is currently one of six Black Catholics under consideration for sainthood.

“Even those who had seen the movie previously were touched by the strength of Thea’s vocation,” Braccio said. “Several professed religious in the audience had actually seen her in person.”

Spigarolo herself recalled attending a conference for religious educators in Washington, D.C. years ago at which Sister Thea spoke and sang with her characteristic joy.

“I’ve never heard anyone proclaim the Word like she did. She had us up singing! It was such a beautiful experience,” Spigarolo remembered.

Because of the success of this event, Sauers said the Social Justice committee is planning similar events in the future. Their studies of racial issues in the Catholic Church began two years ago as they read books and attended workshops on micro aggression. With a strong commitment to charitable work and social justice, this group has become very active in the community.

“We need to do better,” Spigarolo said, regarding racial justice, “and we look to God and Sister Thea for guidance.”

NORWALK—On Saturday, November 4, more than 750 brand new coats, winter hats, and gloves were distributed to clients of Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) by the greater Norwalk area Knights of Columbus Councils as part of the Order’s Coats for Kids Initiative. Since the initiative launched in 2009, more than 1 million coats have been distributed in 49 states and all 10 Canadian provinces to keep kids warm through the winter. This is the first of many sites in which Knights councils around the state will distribute coats to those in need in various towns and cities in Connecticut including Bridgeport, Stamford, Greenwich, New Haven, Hartford, and Waterbury.

Knights of Columbus Councils from Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Westport, Wilton, and Bishop Fenwick Assembly 4th Degree Assembly 100 worked together to purchase the brand-new coats through various fundraisers throughout the year.

“Inflation has created an even bigger need in our community, so we do what Knights do by assisting our brothers and sisters when times are rough,” said Project Chairman George Ribellino. “My biggest joy is seeing the smiles of the kids faces as they try on a brand new coat.”

In addition to the brand-new coats, St. Matthew Parishioners Karen Delvecchio and Terri Sargent donated handmade winters hats and scarves for the fifth straight year.

“I am so grateful to once again have the Knights of Columbus providing brand new coats to our clients in need. As prices rise and children grow, winter clothing can be a financial burden for families, so this partnership with the Knights has been truly impactful in the community,” said Robert F. Cashel, President & CEO of FCA.

Local participating councils-
Msgr. Thomas J Finn Council #46-Norwalk
Father John Stapleton Council #2287-New Canaan
Church of the Assumption Council #3688-Westoport
Rev James J McGuane Council # 4460-Darien
Our Lady of Fatima Council #12698-Wilton
St Matthew Council #14360-Norwalk
Bishop Fenwick Assembly 100 4th Degree

TRUMBULL— St. Joseph High School, Connecticut’s largest, co-ed, Catholic, college preparatory school, announced today the names of 10 student-athletes who will sign National Letters of Intent or Celebratory Letters in five different sports on Monday, November 13at 9:30 am.

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a document used to indicate a student’s commitment to participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) colleges and universities. The NLI is a binding agreement between a student-athlete and an NLI member institution. The Celebratory Letter (for Division III athletes) indicates that a student has been accepted to and plans to attend an institution. The following St. Joes Seniors will participate:

Nick Coppola – Baseball, Marist College – Division I

Taylor Jenkins – Soccer, University of Connecticut – Division I

Meghan Hoynes – Lacrosse, LaSalle University – Division I

Maeve Matthews – Soccer, University of Rhode Island – Division I

Janelli Pratts – Softball, Assumption University – Division II

James Corry – Lacrosse, Rochester Institute of Technology – Division III

Sofia Chaves – Field Hockey, Kenyon College – Division III

Lauren Davis – Softball, Williams College – Division III

Jill Guilfoyle – Softball, Rhode Island College – Division III

Analise Hubert – Softball, Western Connecticut State University – Division III

“Student-athletes at St. Joseph High School are driven and ambitious. Not only do they care about their team and their sport, but they care just as much about their academics and ensuring that they are properly prepared for college,” remarked Kevin Butler, Athletics Director at St. Joseph High School. “When you think about the amount of time spent on and off the field – the hard work and commitment, both academically and athletically – it’s no wonder that they were selected to play at the collegiate level. We wish all of our Cadets the best and we cannot wait to see what they do next.”

As part of their NLI, prospective student-athletes agree to attend the institution full-time for one academic year and the institution agrees to provide athletes financial aid for one academic year. St. Joseph High School will host an additional NCAA Signing Day in the Spring for scholar-athletes who sign later in the year.

By Matthew Carrara

TRUMBULL- On Sunday, November 5, the St. Sebastian Athletic Association held their league Cross Country Championship races at St. Joseph High School. The school grounds provided a scenic fall backdrop to the course for the over 50 athletes representing 10 schools from across the district.

The results were as follows: 

Girls Varsity
1st Place: Mia Alvarado: All Saints Catholic School, Norwalk– 8th Grade
2nd Place: Peyton Biggs: St. Mark School, Stratford– 7th Grade 
3rd Place: Michela DeVitvo: St. Catherine of Siena School, Trumbull– 8th Grade 

Girls JV 
1st Place: Bridget Letko: St. Catherine of Siena School, Trumbull– 6th Grade
2nd Place: Jillian Amato: All Saints Catholic School, Norwalk– 6th Grade
3rd Place: Carrie Tesbir: St. Gregory the Great School, Danbury– 5th Grade 

Boys Varsity 
1st Place: Zack Dilorio: All Saints Catholic School, Norwalk– 8th Grade
2nd Place: Joey Rosati: St. Mark School, Stratford– 7th Grade
3rd Place: Tiernen McDonagh: St. Catherine of Siena School– 7th Grade  

Boys JV 
1st Place: Gavin Zeck: St. Mary School, Ridgefield– 6th Grade
2nd Place: Isaiah Lathan: St. Thomas Aquinas School, Fairfield– 5th Grade
3rd Place: Jacob Kershner: St. Thomas Aquinas, Fairfield– 5th Grade 

Great races were run by all with one very close race coming out of the Girls Varsity matchup, which saw the 1st and 2nd place runners finishing with a two second difference. Congratulations to all the winners!  

By Joe Pisani

BRIDGEPORT — Bishop Frank J. Caggiano told more than 100 members of the legal profession at the annual Red Mass that it is “not enough to administer and protect the law, but you must also embrace the values upon which divine law and civil law were created and live them every day of your lives.”

In his homily at the November 5 Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral, he urged them to adhere to both the spirit and the letter of the law and said, “If you cannot legislate the spirit, what you and I can do is witness to it and order our lives in such a way that we need not ever fear breaking the law because we are living the spirit of the law ever more deeply and perfectly in our life. We must persuade society to find its way back to unity and peace, to persuade our sisters and brothers that the greater value is not to avoid punishment, but to strive for greatness.”

Bishop Caggiano said we live in an age where “the Church and civil society are fracturing before our eyes, and we cannot even begin to agree on the values upon which the law was created in the first place … And it seems to me the Lord in his great kindness is reminding us that we can find a way forward not simply by protecting the letter of the law, but to be men and women who live the spirit of the law.”

He told the legal professionals he was pleased they could gather and celebrate their vocation, saying, “I believe God has given it to you and that we must pray for you in this very frenetic time we are living in.”

The Red Mass was followed by a talk at Brooklawn Country Club by Dr. Amy Uelmen, Director of Mission & Ministry at Georgetown Law School.

The family of the late Robert N. Talarico Esq. gathered to celebrate his recognition at the brunch following the Red Mass. Mr. Talarico was posthumously awarded the St. Thomas More Society Award for his service. His wife Barbara accepted the honor, and longtime friend Deacon Bill Murphy gave a tribute to him.

She urged those in law to connect their faith and professional lives, and gave personal examples of how she has tried “to keep my heart in and connected to my work as a lawyer” and how “having an awareness of the presence of Christ in each neighbor can permeate a professional life.”

Dr. Uelmen said that during her career, she has relied on the “transformative power of Scripture” to strengthen her and stay focused on Christ.

“I realized early on that this can go a very, very long way in shoring up my heart from letting work, or the chase after success, or simply wanting to be liked by others, sneak into my heart as an idol,” she said.

She said a focus on the presence of Christ can be maintained by relying on words from Scripture, such as “Your Word, O Lord, is a light for my path,” “Perfect love casts out fear,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Dr. Uelmen also talked about the particular challenges young adults confront who are pursuing a career in law and have to deal with pressures that arise from different sources, including dependence on social media.

“As adult professionals, what does it mean to model for our youth — children, teenagers and young adults — relationships that can be transformed by the power of recognizing the presence of Christ in each person?” she asked.

The annual Red Mass is celebrated for everyone in the legal profession. The Catholic tradition dates back to the 13th century. It was named “Red Mass,” reminiscent of the scarlet robes worn by the English Supreme Court. There is also a theological association with the Holy Spirit and tongues of fire on Pentecost. At the Mass, the Spirit is invoked to bestow his gifts upon those practicing law. In addition, St. Thomas More, who was executed by King Henry VIII, is the patron of lawyers, and red signifies martyrdom.

Bishop Caggiano said that even though legal professionals practice the law in their daily lives, they “can’t legislate somebody’s heart” so he urged them to give “zealous witness.”

“Whether we are in the courtroom, whether we are in the supermarket, whether we are in the sacred space of our churches, heroic and zealous witness is far more persuasive than any homily, any legal brief, any talk that can be given,” he said. “If you and I, who administer and are the guardians of the law, are given this noble task to allow our society to find what it seeks — that every human heart may find the peace it deeply desires — then perhaps the best way forward is for us to personally commit ourselves to be a mirror, a shining example by living a life of integrity that takes the very values we believe in and the values that our society is built on and live them ever more perfectly.”

He told the group that the whole church would pray for them “because your vocation is noble and is being lived in very difficult circumstances.”

Bishop Caggiano also reminded them to ensure the law is administered justly “to allow for the right ordering of society, the protection of the common good and the protection of individual rights so society can enshrine its values and live by them, and so all God’s children can live in justice, equality and peace.”

At breakfast following the Red Mass, the late Robert N. Talarico Esq. was posthumously awarded the St. Thomas More Society Award for his service. His wife Barbara accepted the honor, and longtime friend Deacon Bill Murphy gave a tribute to him.

Anne McCrory, Chief Legal and Real Estate Officer of the Diocese, read comments from Father Greg Mecca, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Danbury, who remembered Mr. Talarico as a man whose “priorities were family, friends, the Church and the law,” adding that “Bob was a kind, fair, loyal, humble, decent and empathetic man — a true gentleman.”

Robert Talarico practiced with the firm Talarico, Frizzell and Olivo and was a lector and trustee at St. Peter’s.

Bishop Caggiano praised Mr. Talarico and said: When I came to the diocese, Bob was one of the first people I met … and from that moment, he was always a man I knew I could trust, that I could be totally confidential with, and who was always watching my back. So when I preached at the cathedral about the person who doesn’t just follow the law but lives the Spirit of the law, if there was a poster child for that, it is Bob Talarico.”

Anne McCrory, who organized the event, said she was pleased to be able to host the first Red Mass since 2019, when they stopped because of the cornavirus pandemic.

“Many of our legal community were with us at the cathedral for a beautiful Mass with Bishop Caggiano,” she said. “We were also so fortunate to hear from Dr. Amy Uelmen, who was truly inspiring. She spoke with such faith and confidence regarding the ways we can infuse faith into our legal work.”