FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2026

The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano
By the Grace of God and Authority of the Apostolic See Bishop of Bridgeport
DECREE MANDATING THE CREATION OF THE
HISPANIC COUNCIL OF ECCLESIAL MOVEMENTS AND COMMUNITIES

Having considered the pastoral needs of the Diocese of Bridgeport and desiring to foster communion in mission, evangelization, leadership formation, and collaboration among Hispanic ecclesial movements, communities, prayer groups, apostolic groups, and related pastoral leaders; mindful of my duty to coordinate the apostolate in the Diocese and to provide suitable consultative structures for pastoral discernment; and having reviewed the revised Statutes of the Hispanic Council of Ecclesial Movements and Communities of the Diocese of Bridgeport:

I, the Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport,

HEREBY DECREE:

1. The establishment of the Hispanic Council of Ecclesial Movements and Communities of the Diocese of Bridgeport as a diocesan consultative body, distinct from the Diocesan Pastoral Council and distinct from a public or private association of the faithful.
2. I hereby approve ad experimentum, for an initial period of three years, the Statutes of the Hispanic Council of Ecclesial Movements and Communities of the Diocese of Bridgeport, attached hereto or otherwise referenced herein, which shall take effect on June 1, 2026.
3. The English and Spanish texts of the Statutes are approved together. In the event of interpretive doubt, both texts shall be regarded as official, subject to the interpretation of the Bishop of Bridgeport.

At the conclusion of the ad experimentum period, the Statutes and the operation of the Council shall be reviewed and may be confirmed, revised, or replaced by the competent authority.

I order that the provisions of this decree have firm and stable effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention, and that they be promulgated by inclusion in the official diocesan newspaper, The Fairfield County Catholic, entering into force on May 3,

Furthermore, I order that the present provisions be duly communicated electronically and/or by ordinary mail to all pastors, administrators or clerics in charge of diocesan parishes, quasi­parishes, shrines, oratories and chapels that are subject to these provisions.

Given this 3rd of May of 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Easter at the Catholic Center.

Click here to download the signed document.