BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano has invited the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, to establish an oratory and take over the pastoral care of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in Bridgeport.
On Sunday, October 8, Bishop Caggiano installed Canon Andrew Todd as pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius and rector of the new Oratory, and paid tribute to Msgr. Joseph Pekar, who has served as pastor since 1971.
Canon Andrew Todd is a native of New Orleans. Born on November 14, 1987, he was ordained to the priesthood on August 5, 2014. He has served as a vicar at St. Francis de Sales Oratory in St. Louis, and at the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago.
“These appointments have prepared Canon Todd well to become pastor of the historic parish in Bridgeport’s inner city,” said Bishop Caggiano. “The parishioners have been very enthusiastic and welcoming, and they are eager to build on the good work of Msgr. Pekar and the unique traditions of the parish.”
Proud of its Slovak heritage, Ss. Cyril and Methodius was established in 1907 to serve recent immigrants to Bridgeport’s East Side. The current stone edifice was built in 1912, and includes stained glass windows from Germany and a trio of paintings that replicate originals from the chapel of Saints Cyril and Methodius in St. Clement Basilica in Rome.
In 1998, following a request from his parishioners, Msgr. Pekar asked for and received permission from Bishop Edward M. Egan to bring the traditional Latin Mass back to the parish. The result was an energetic mix of parishioners introducing Slovak traditions to a new generation and young families from the surrounding towns who loved the stately beauty of the Latin Mass.
“The people of the parish are strong in their faith and generous in their support,” Msgr. Pekar said when the parish approached its 100th anniversary. He has served as their pastor for 46 years.
The pastoral care and administration of the parish is now being entrusted to the clergy of the Institute of Christ the King, who will continue the celebration of the traditional Roman Liturgy of 1962, carrying on the initiative of Msgr. Pekar and the long-standing custom of the parish.
According to Canon Law, an oratory is a place that is set aside for divine worship by a community or group of the faithful. By inviting the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Bishop Caggiano recognized the unique role of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius and its parishioners.
The institute seeks to carry on the Catholic life and tradition of the parish by offering the traditional Roman liturgy, devotions, daily confessions, days of recollection in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales, classes in spirituality and doctrine and youth formation activities, among others.
The institute was founded in 1990, and its international seminary is located in Gricigliano, in the Archdiocese of Florence, Italy. Recognizing the importance of harmony between faith, liturgy and the power of beauty in attracting the human senses to the things above, an integral part of the Institute’s charism is the use of the traditional Latin Liturgy. Their motto, taken from St. Paul, is “Live the truth in charity.”
After merely twenty-five years of existence, the institute counts 80 apostolates in twelve countries, 80 priests and more than 90 seminarians. In 2004, a community of religious sisters was established to aid the priests in their mission.
The institute’s vicar general, Msgr. Michael Schmitz, was present for the installation. He said he was deeply grateful to Bishop Caggiano for welcoming the Institute of Christ the King to the Diocese of Bridgeport.
A reception was held following the Mass.
Since priests of the Institute of Christ the King normally live in community, Canon Todd will be accompanied by seminarian Bryan Silvey during his first year as pastor.
The Institute of Christ the King operates under the patronage of the Immaculate Conception, to whom it is consecrated.
(Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish is located at 79 Church Street in East Bridgeport. For more information, a new website for the parish will be coming soon at www.institute-christ-king.org/bridgeport/. For more information on the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, visit www.institute-christ-king.org.)
