BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will begin celebrating Sunday Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral this Sunday, October 23, 8:30 am.
Catholics throughout the diocese are welcome to join him for the weekly Mass at 399 Washington Avenue in Bridgeport.
The bishop said he is looking forward to celebrating Mass at St. Augustine’s, and he is inviting people throughout the diocese to make a special effort to attend a Mass at the Cathedral during the year.
Throughout much of the coronavirus pandemic, the bishop celebrated a Mass that was live-streamed out of the Catholic Center chapel. He said the new Sunday Mass from St. Augustine Cathedral is a moment of joy because people are once again gathering together in person for worship.
The bishop said the Cathedral holds a unique place in the life of the diocese, and the regular Sunday Mass will be an opportunity to celebrate the diversity and unity of the diocese, while supporting the Cathedral and rediscovering its history and beauty. St. Augustine Cathedral is the official church of the diocese where the bishop’s chair is placed. It is also the site of most major diocesan liturgies throughout the year.
The Cathedral has been the spiritual home of generations of Catholics. It was built during the Civil War when many of the faithful of that time hauled stones from a nearby Bridgeport quarry to the church site, helping to build the foundation of faith for the diocese.
“The Cathedral is an invitation for all of us to become living stones by renewing the faith in our lifetime and passing it on to the next generation. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us,” Bishop Caggiano said.
In the past year through the generosity of private donors, the Cathedral campus, which includes Catholic Academy of Bridgeport-St. Augustine, and Kolbe- Cathedral High School has been revitalized including new perimeter fencing, the installation of geothermal heating and cooling, and improvements to the interior of the historic cathedral.
On Sundays when the bishop’s schedule does not permit him to be the celebrant, Father Arthur Mollenhauer, Rector of St. Augustine Cathedral and pastor of the Cathedral Parish, or another diocesan priest leader will celebrate the 8:30 am Mass.
The Mass will also be live-streamed and available on the St. Augustine Cathedral website. www.thecathedralparish.org.
