BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, for the second year in a row, has designated the Monday of Holy Week, April 15, 2019 as “Reconciliation Monday” throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport.
A total of 25 parishes, two or three from each of the nine Deaneries, will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 3-9 pm, so that the lay faithful may experience God’s mercy as Holy Week begins.
The invitation to participate in Reconciliation Monday was created in the joyful spirit of Pope Francis who said, “Now is the time to be reconciled with God. Staying on the path of evil is only a source of sadness.”
“Last year’s Reconciliation Monday was a huge success throughout the diocese,” said Msgr. Thomas W. Powers, vicar general. “Bishop Caggiano called for participation in Reconciliation Monday to encourage people to experience the healing and blessing of Confession and ‘to be reconciled to the Lord in advance of Easter.’”
“While this is a rather new spiritual practice in our diocese, the observance of Reconciliation Monday has become a tradition in the dioceses adjacent to us for many years. It has grown in popularity in part because every Catholic knows that Sacrament of Reconciliation is widely available,” said the bishop.
The bishop, who will also hear confession on that day, said he is grateful for the pastors and parishes participating in Reconciliation Monday and he hoped that Catholics throughout the diocese would take advantage of the opportunity.
“Many people have misconceptions about what Confession really is. It is not solely a spiritual exercise during which you tell the priest your sins. Rather, it is a profound encounter with the Lord Jesus, who through the words and actions of the priest, meets us in our sinfulness and forgives, liberates and empowers us with the Holy Spirit so that we can go forth and sin no more,” he said
The names and addresses of the parishes participating in “Reconciliation Monday” this year will be posted on the diocesan website and available in parish bulletins.
Deanery A (Queen of Peace)
1. St. Andrew Parish: 435 Anton Street, Bridgeport
2. St. Ann Parish: 481 Brewster Street, Bridgeport
3. St. Augustine Cathedral: 399 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport
Deanery B (Mystical Rose)
1. St. James Parish: 2070 Main Street, Stratford
2. St. Lawrence Parish: 505 Shelton Avenue, Shelton
Deanery C (Queen of Martyrs)
1. St. Catherine of Siena Parish: 220 Shelton Road, Trumbull
2. St. Jude Parish: 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe
3. St. Rose of Lima Parish: 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown
Deanery D (Our Lady, Queen of Confessors)
1. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish: 46 Stone Street, Danbury
2. St. Edward the Confessor Parish: 21 Brush Hill Road, New Fairfield
3. St. Joseph Parish: 8 Robinson Avenue, Danbury
Deanery E (Seat of Wisdom)
1. St. Elizabeth Seton Parish: 520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield
2. St. Mary Parish: 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield
Deanery F (Queen Assumed into Heaven)
1. Church of the Assumption: 98 Riverside Avenue, Westport
2. Our Lady of the Assumption Parish: 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield
3. St. Pius X Parish: 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield
Deanery G (Mother of Divine Grace)
1. St. Aloysius Parish: 21 Cherry Street, New Canaan
2. St. John Parish: 1986 Post Road, Darien
3. St. Matthew Parish: 216 Scribner Avenue, Norwalk
Deanery H (Cause of Our Joy)
1. St. Cecilia Parish: 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford
2. Holy Name of Jesus Parish: 325 Washington Boulevard, Stamford
3. Sacred Heart Parish: 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford
Deanery I (Mary, Mother of the Church)
1. St. Catherine of Siena Parish: 4 Riverside Avenue, Greenwich
2. St. Mary Parish: 178 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich
3. St. Michael the Archangel Parish: 469 North Street, Greenwich
