Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

STAMFORD—Reverend Monsignor John C. Sanders passed away today, January 6, 2019, the Epiphany of the Lord. He was 93 years of age.

“Known to jazz fans across the country as the priest who played in the Duke Ellington Band, Monsignor Sanders was also much loved in our own diocese as a humble priest and pastor who was grateful for the gift of his vocation. His remarkable life was a blessing and an inspiration to all of us,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. “We ask for prayers for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his family.”

John Conrad Sanders was born in Elmsford, New York, on June 30, 1925, son of Alexander and Agnes (Garcia) Sanders. He was baptized on July 19, 1925, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Elmsford.

Following his graduation from the High School of Commerce in New York in June 1943, he served in the United States Navy at the U.S. Frontier Base in San Diego, California (1943-1945) and in U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School in Orinda, California (1945-1946). During his term of service, he played in the U.S. Navy Band and earned the rank of Musician Second Class. Returning to New York, he entered the Julliard School of Music and received a diploma in Trombone from the Orchestral Instrument Department in 1949. After completing his course work at Julliard, he worked as a trombone player, including playing in and touring with the Duke Ellington Orchestra from 1953-1959. He also worked as a classical music salesman for G. Schirmer, Inc. (1961-1962) and as the orchestral librarian at Julliard (1962-1965).

Pursuing his lifelong dream of being a priest, he began his priestly formation at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut (1965-1968), and continued at Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts (1968-1973). He was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis in Blessed Sacrament Church in Bridgeport on February 10, 1973.

He first served as Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish (1973-1974) and, in June 1974, was named Co-Pastor of Blessed Sacrament and appointed Diocesan Director of the Apostolate of African Americans. In June 1975, he was named Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish in Fairfield, while continuing his role in the Apostolate. In August 1985, he was appointed Parochial Vicar of Saint Mary Parish in Norwalk, where he served until his retirement in July 2000, including two terms as Temporary Administrator of the parish, one in February 1988 and another in October 1998. Throughout his years of priestly ministry in the Diocese, Monsignor Sanders also served on the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors, the Clergy Personnel Committee and the Advisory Board and Executive Committee of Catholic Charities.

Monsignor Sanders was appointed a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor, by Pope Saint John Paul II on May 4, 1988. On May 22, 2005, Fairfield University conferred upon Monsignor Sanders an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his contributions to the Church and to the world of music.

At the request of Monsignor Sanders, there will be no wake or Vigil Mass. The Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Bridget of Ireland Church in Stamford on Wednesday, January 9th at 11:00 AM. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will be the principal celebrant and Monsignor William Scheyd will be the homilist.

Condolences and contributions in his memory to support retired priests can be sent to the Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen of the Clergy Residence, 274 Strawberry Hill Road, Stamford, 06902.

Click to read a profile of Msgr. Sanders from a 2018 “Catholic Culture” posting:

https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/the-priest-who-played-with-duke-ellington/

BRIDGEPORT—Reverend Monsignor Thomas J. Driscoll, P.A., passed away today, December 20, 2018.  He was 81 years of age.

“Monsignor Driscoll will be fondly remembered by many for his service in several leadership posts in the diocese and for his faithful witness over many decades as a priest and pastor. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Driscoll, and for the consolation of his family,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

Thomas Jerome Driscoll was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on February 15, 1937, son of Dr. Jerome and Mary Margaret (Devitt) Driscoll. Following his graduation from Danbury High School, his priestly formation began at St. Thomas Seminary College in Bloomfield, and continued at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport by the Most Reverend Martin J. O’Connor in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on December 20, 1961.

He first served as Parochial Vicar of St. James Parish in Stratford, and later as Spiritual Director of the former Cathedral Girls High School in Bridgeport, before returning to Rome for studies in moral theology at the Accademia Alfonsiana.  Upon his return to the diocese, he served as Priest Secretary to Bishop Walter W. Curtis and as Vice Chancellor and Notary to the Tribunal.

In 1974, then-Father Driscoll was appointed Pastor of St. Luke Parish in Westport, where he served until 1990, at which time he was appointed Chancellor by Bishop Edward M. Egan. In 1997, he was appointed Vicar General, and served Bishop Egan and Bishop Lori in this capacity until 2012. His last assignment was as Pastor of Notre Dame of Easton Parish, where he served from 1999 until his retirement from active ministry in 2014. He also served on various boards, committees, and councils during the years of his long and varied service to Christ and the Church.

He was appointed a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor, by Pope St. John Paul II on August 31, 1991, and a Protonotary Apostolic supernumerary by Pope Benedict XVI on November 22, 2007.

Monsignor Driscoll’s body will be received at Saint Luke Church located at 49 North Turkey Hill Road, Westport, CT 06880, 4:00 pm on Thursday, December 27 and will lie in repose until the Vigil Mass at 7:00 pm. Monsignor Thomas W. Powers will be the celebrant, and Monsignor Laurence R. Bronkiewicz will be the homilist.

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am on Friday, December 28, and Monsignor Charles Murphy will be the homilist.

Condolences may be sent to Monsignor Driscoll’s brothers, Alfred F. Driscoll, 9154 Beaver Brook Way, Charlotte, NC 28277 and Jerome Driscoll, 6 Shady Knolls, Danbury, CT 06811.

BRIDGEPORT—Reverend Carducci D’Amico, born on November 1, 1935, returned to his Heavenly Father on Friday, November 23, 2018 in Cercemaggiore, in the province of Campobasso. Italy.

“Many in the Bridgeport area fondly remember Fr. D’Amico for his energy, vision and commitment to the renewal of St. Margaret Shrine,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. “Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father D’Amico and the consolation of his family.”

Fr. D’Amico served at St. Raphael/St. Margaret Shrine from 1977 to 2006, becoming pastor in 1984. It was his vision to begin the St. Anthony Feast at the Shrine in 1978. Many parishioners remember that he used his own talents as a carpenter and mason to begin the restoration of the original chapel and ground of the Shrine.

In 1973, Fr. D’Amico was welcomed into the Diocese of Bridgeport as assistant to the late Msgr. David Bannon, pastor of St. Peter Church in Bridgeport. He also served as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Stamford.

“As your pastor, I have tried to devote all of my energies to the service of St. Raphael/St. Margaret parish. I have been given a precious heritage and the inspiring example of many holy priests, sisters and laity. Encouraged by their untiring zeal and generous commitment, I have tried in my own way to build a community of faith within our church,” Fr. D’Amico wrote on the occasion of his Silver Jubilee as a priest in March, 1989.

He entered the Seminary of the Somascan Order in Corbetta, Milano at the age of thirteen. There he completed his secondary school studies and in 1954 professed vows in the Order of St. Jerome Emiliani. Fr. D’Amico obtained a degree in philosophy and went on to attend the School of Theology at Saint Anselm University on the Aventino Hill in Rome. On March 14, 1964, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Giuseppe Ferretto in the Basilica of Saint Alessio.

Fr. D’Amico retired on March 12, 2009 and returned to Italy, where he resided in his last years.

Fr. Giandomenico Flora will celebrate a Memorial Mass for Father Carducci S. D’Amico at St. Margaret Shrine, 2523 Park Avenue, Bridgeport on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 5:30 pm. All are welcome to attend the Memorial Mass.

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, Executive Editor.

Please read this tribute by Dr. Joseph McAleer, former editor of Fairfield County Catholic and friend of John Glover:

Remembering John R. Glover (1954-2018)

He was larger than life—literally and figuratively.

John Glover was a gentle giant. He was built like a line backer but had a sweet, sensitive nature. Gregarious to a fault, he would engage perfect strangers on a wide variety of topics. He was a man of broad knowledge and strong opinions, always insisting—stubbornly, maddeningly—that he was right.

Funny thing is, he usually was.

John served as the official photographer of the Diocese of Bridgeport for 12 years. In that capacity, he visited every single parish, Catholic school, Catholic Charities location, and major event, often clad in his signature attire: white dress shirt, blue shorts, and brown moccasins (even in winter). Nuns in particular loved him.

John was not Catholic, but he was our Church’s best ambassador. You could not meet a man more respectful of the Mass. Sensitive to his outsize presence, he took care to be discreet. He was unhappy when people were not paying attention or talking during Mass. John would gently advise a priest to put on his jacket or straighten his collar so as to make the best impression.

Dr. Joseph McAleer & John Glover

A favorite of then-Bishop Egan, John followed him to New York and on to the Vatican when Cardinal Egan received his red hat. Those present in St. Peter’s Square that bright February day will remember looking up at the top of the colonnade with pride and seeing John, in white t-shirt and shorts, pointing his lens at the crowd. He also represented the Diocese on official press trips to Jordan and Israel. Upon retiring from Fairfield County for greener pastures in Kent, John travelled widely across the United States, photographing churches for commemorative diocesan publications, including a landmark book on St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

John did not suffer fools gladly. Woe the person who was discourteous or overreaching. He would fearlessly argue with T.S.A. agents at the airport, or demand an explanation why the I.R.S. was asking so many questions. He approached a state trooper in line at the Post Office, wanting to know why she was carrying a firearm; she nearly took him out.

Well-intentioned but intense, John demanded a respect that most of us have given up expecting. He was unique, and how blessed we are for having basked in his very bright light.

NORWALK—Deacon Dean W. Finch passed away on Thursday, May 31, at his home in Norwalk at the age of 72.

Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has asked all to pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Finch and for the consolation of his family.

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BRIDGEPORT—Deacon Joseph M. Melita died Sunday, May 13, at the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield. He was 96 years old.

Born in Bridgeport on April 22, 1923, Deacon Melita graduated from Warren Harding High School in 1941 and served as Technical Sergeant in the Air Corps from 1943-1945. He fought in the Battle of Normandy and flew 55 sorties in dangerous combat that took the lives of many of his fellow soldiers.
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STAMFORD—Msgr. John Bernard Hossan died on May 6 at the Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen of the Clergy Residence in Stamford. The retired pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Redding Ridge was 90 years old.
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Msgr. Thomas Green, professor of canon law, died on April 28 at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Chester, Penn., at the age of 79.
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SHELTON—Peter Thomas Farrelly, Jr., age 65, a parishioner of St. Lawrence Parish in Shelton, entered into rest on Friday, April 6. He is the beloved husband of 40 years of Mary Jo (Ertola) Farrelly.

Farrelly was born in the Bronx, NY on July 30, 1952. He grew up in Norwalk, attending local Catholic schools and serving as an altar boy at St. Jerome Parish. He graduated from Central Catholic High School (now All Saints School) in 1970. Always active in his faith, he was a lector of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Norwalk before moving to Shelton 29 years ago.
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BRIDGEPORT—Father Andrew G. Marus, Pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Stratford, passed away on March 26, at New York Community Hospital in Brooklyn at the age of 72.

The body of Father Marus will be received at 9 am on Monday, April 2, at Holy Name of Jesus Church located at 1950 Barnum Avenue in Stratford. Calling hours will be from 9 to 11 am.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated immediately following at 11 am. Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano will be the principal celebrant.

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FAIRFIELD—Rev. John P. Baran, age 59, Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, died and entered eternal life on Saturday, March 24, 2018 in Bridgeport Hospital.

Father John was born in Derby, son of the late Andrew and Mary Bulbert Baran. Raised in Shelton, he is a graduate of St. Joseph High School, Trumbull, received his Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Fairfield University, and his Master’s of Divinity degree from St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA.

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STRATFORD—Reverend Martin J. Nikodem, age 78 of Trumbull passed away peacefully on March 8, at Lord Chamberlain after a courageous battle with cancer. (Please note re-scheduled funeral time below due to impending snow storm.)
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FAIRFIELD—The Diocese of Bridgeport is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Fairfield Probate Judge Daniel Caruso 60, on Sunday at his home in Fairfield. “The passing of Judge Daniel Caruso is a loss not only for the people he served so well as Probate Judge but for the entire diocese,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.
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