NORWALK—A procession through the streets of Norwalk, Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary form celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, and a food and music festival highlighted the recent Patronal Feast of St. Mary’s Parish in Norwalk.
“We thank God for this opportunity for the whole parish to come together to celebrate the many graces bestowed on our parish through Our Lady, to whom our parish is dedicated,” said Fr. Richard Gennaro Cipolla, pastor.
“Let us make a good use of this grace to allow our parish to fulfill its singular and important mission of renewal of the liturgy and return to tradition,” he said.
In the parish bulletin Fr. Cipolla thanked all those who participated in the beauty and reverence of the day.
“The Mass was splendid with Mozart’s Sparrow Mass as the setting. And who could have a dry eye after hearing the Laudate Dominum after Communion,” Fr. Cipolla aid.
The procession through the streets of Norwalk, where the parish was founded in 1848, provided a striking witness to the faith of the parish.
“Our Lady of Norwalk blessed our whole city as her images was solemnly carried through the streets. We paused to say the Angelus to let the world know that the Word became flesh in order to save us from our sins and give us a sure hope of eternal life,” he said.
As the faithful re-entered the Church at the end of the procession, a display of fireworks provided “another exuberant burst of joy,” he said.
After that the day was given over to food and music with many young families and their children joining in the festivities.
St. Mary’s is the second oldest parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport. The beautiful Gothic structure was built in 1870 and significant restored in the past decade.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is located at 669 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850, Telephone: 203.866.5546, Email: stmarynorwalk@stmarynorwalk.net. On the web at: www.stmarynorwalk.net/main