By Rose Brennan
BRIDGEPORT—A rainy day next to a construction site might be a less than ideal setting for an occasion as joyous as the Conferral of the St. Augustine Medal of Service. But, as Bishop Frank J. Caggiano quipped, God chose just that day, “in his infinite wisdom” to honor the faithful gathered at St. Augustine Cathedral on October 14, 2023.
Established by Bishop William E, Lori in 2005, the St. Augustine Medal of Service recognizes men and women from across the Diocese of Bridgeport whose exemplary service to Christ and his Church is lived out in extraordinary service in the parishes, schools and charitable works in the Church across Fairfield County. The medal features an image St. Augustine of Hippo, the patron saint of the diocese, as well as the diocesan seal on its reverse.
This year, 178 men and women received the St. Augustine Medal of Service. Their names were read by Al Barber, retired executive director of Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, and Anne McCrory, chief legal and real estate officer of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
The ceremony took place in the context of Daytime Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours—which the bishop noted as the prayer of the Church, and is at all times being recited by someone somewhere in the world.
The day’s prayer included a reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, which read “Let us not tire of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.”
During his homily, the bishop reflected on a story about St. Augustine—the medal’s namesake—in which his parishioners asked him what they were to do about different faith’s presence right next door. And his response, the bishop said, was the reason they were all gathered in the Cathedral that day.
St. Augustine “did not say, ‘Let’s give a series of catechetical talks’ … He didn’t say, ‘Let’s have a fair, let’s have a social event,’ as important as they may be,” Bishop Caggiano said. “He said, ‘Why don’t we sing twice as loud as they do?’”
The bishop described the St. Augustine Medal of Service as a “profound thank you” from every person in the diocese for those honored with it. And that thank you came from choosing to “sing” about God in a world that may not always want to hear it.
Photos by Amy Mortensen
“You, my dear friends, sing with your lives, your witness, your words, your generosity,” he said. “You’re able—by the lives you live, the way you speak, the people you are—to sing in such a way that it enters into the hearts of the people around you in ways that you cannot even imagine.”
Bishop Caggiano noted much has changed since the time St. Augustine walked on the earth. But in another way, some things have not changed. And among the things that have remained the same are the people who choose not to “sing” in the way the honorees do.
“Many of our sisters and brothers are not singing; they’re mumbling,” the bishop joked. “Or worse, they stay silent. How many people out there are deaf to the song we wish to sing?”
But even though some of our brothers and sisters choose not to sing—or even to listen, the bishop said that is no excuse not to sing anyway. And to him, wearing the St. Augustine Medal of Service was an example of that decision.
“Take these medals and wear them with the thanks of the people of this diocese, and my own personal thanks,” Bishop Caggiano said. “But don’t just wear them. Keep singing.”
2023 ST. AUGUSTINE MEDAL RECIPIENTS
Gallery of Award Recipients
Mr. Robert DiMatteo
St. Mary Parish, Bethel
Nominated by Father Corey V. Piccinino
Ms. Patricia Orsino
St. Mary Parish, Bethel
Nominated by Father Corey V. Piccinino
Ms. Lisa Patten
St. Mary School, Bethel
Nominated by Mr. Scott Smith
Ms. Katherine Tucker
St. Mary School, Bethel
Nominated by Mr. Scott Smith
Mr. Cupertino Mora
The Cathedral Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Arthur C. Mollenhauer
Mr. and Mrs. James Claus
Catholic Charities, Bridgeport
Nominated by Mr. Michael Donoghue
Mr. Jim O’Neill and Mrs. Paula Summa
Development Office, Diocese of Bridgeport
Nominated by Mr. Joseph Gallagher
Mr. Bui The Cuong and Mrs. Truong Kim Hoa
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Quasi Parish at St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Lanh T. X. Phan
Mr. John and Mrs. Elain Iannarone
Institute for Catholic Formation, Bridgeport
Nominated by Dr. Patrick Donovan
Ms. Lisa Matson
Kolbe Cathedral High School, Bridgeport
Nominated by Mrs. Camille Figluizzi
Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Jennifer Caron
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Rogerio Perri
Miss Megan Allen
SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Canon Francis X. Altiere
Miss Maria Gallant
SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Canon Francis X. Altiere
Mr. Timothy and Mrs. Susan Jensen
St. Andrew Academy, Bridgeport
Nominated by Mr. Gene Holmes
Mr. Matthew and Mrs. Andrea DiPalma
St. Andrew Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Milan Dimic
Mr. Jovan Rhodes
St. Ann Academy, Bridgeport
Nominated by Mrs. Patricia Griffin
Mr. Edgar Rodriguez
St. Ann Academy, Bridgeport
Nominated by Mrs. Patricia Griffin
Mr. Kenneth Johnson
St. Ann Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Ian M. Jeremiah
Mrs. Lidia Sanchez
St. Ann Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Ian M. Jeremiah
Mr. Raul Ruiz and Mrs. Maria Magdalena Lugo
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Jose A. Vasquez
Mr. Joseph M. Aurilio
St. Margaret Shrine, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Peter F. Lenox
Mr. John Tedesco
St. Margaret Shrine, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Peter F. Lenox
Mr. Aquilino and Mrs. Valeria Alvarez
St. Mary Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Rolando Torres
Mr. Edmund and Mrs. Janina Konwa
St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father Norbert Siwinski, OFM Conv.
Mr. Angel and Mrs. Gloria Perez
St. Peter Parish, Bridgeport
Nominated by Father A. Alexis Moronta
Mr. Lawrence and Mrs. Kelly Buchalter
St. Raphael Academy, Bridgeport
Nominated by Sister Elizabeth Doyle, ACSJ
Deacon Frank Masso
Thomas Merton Center, Bridgeport
Nominated by Mr. Michael Donoghue
Ms. Kathleen Olivieri
St. Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Nominated by Father George F. O’Neill
Mr. Andy Pacuk
St. Joseph Parish, Brookfield
Nominated by Father George F. O’Neill
Ms. Linda Diorio
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield
Nominated by Father Shawn W. Jordan
Ms. Adrianna Katz
St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish, Brookfield
Nominated by Father Shawn W. Jordan
Dr. Roger LaGratta
Catholic Charities, Danbury
Nominated by Mr. Michael Donoghue
Mr. Manuel and Mrs. Maria Jose Henriques
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Marcio Antonio Bueno da Silva
Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Carolan Dwyer
Immaculate High School, Danbury
Nominated by Ms. Wendy Neil
Dr. Joao Vieira Nunes and Dra. Lenita Celia F. Nunes
Our Lady of Aparecida Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Leonel S. Medeiros
Mr. Jaime Granillo
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Elio Albano Sosa
Mr. Wilber Prieto
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Elio Albano Sosa
Mrs. Marie Fitzgerald
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Norman J. Guilbert
Ms. Patricia Saviano
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Norman J. Guilbert
Ms. Suzanne Curra
St. Gregory the Great Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Michael L. Dunn
Ms. Maria Falcao
St. Gregory the Great School, Danbury
Nominated by Mrs. Mary Ann Fleming
Mr. Joseph Ferrara
St. Joseph Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Samuel V. Scott
Mr. Warren Platz
St. Joseph Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Samuel V. Scott
Mr. Norman and Mrs. Crystal Buzaid
St. Joseph School, Danbury
Nominated by Dr. Louis Howe, Jr.
Ms. Brenda Parrah
St. Peter Parish, Danbury
Nominated by Father Gregg D. Mecca
Mr. Pedro and Mrs. Eday Medeiros
St. Peter School, Danbury
Nominated by Mrs. Mary Lou Torre
Professor Jeanette Brown
St. John Parish, Darien
Nominated by Father William M. Quinlan
Mrs. Mary Jo Dyer
St. Thomas More Parish, Darien
Nominated by Father Paul G. Murphy
Ms. Lisa Sheehan
Notre Dame Parish, Easton
Nominated by Father Michael P. Lyons
Mr. Tom and Mrs. Kristen Fugiel
Assumption Catholic School, Fairfield
Nominated by Mrs. Stacy Clements
Mr. Robert and Mrs. Maureen Kokorda
Holy Cross Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Father Alfred F. Pecaric
Ms. Diane Fahey
Holy Family-St. Emery Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Father Sean R. Kulacz
Mr. Thomas Lanese
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Father Peter A. Cipriani
Mr. George Szondy
St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Dr. Eleanor Sauers
Ms. Nancy Murphy
St. Catherine Academy, Fairfield
Nominated by Ms. Laura Grozier
Mr. Peter Carey
St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Father Samuel S. Kachuba
Ms. Claudia Carpanzano
St. Pius X Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Father Samuel S. Kachuba
Dr. Edward and Mrs. Ellen Finnigan
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Fairfield
Nominated by Father Victor T. Martin
Mr. Greg Sargent
St. Thomas Aquinas School, Fairfield
Nominated by Mrs. Tracy Strub
Mr. Terence and Dr. Danielle Goodwin
Greenwich Catholic School, Greenwich
Nominated by Miss Rebecca Steck
Ms. Candace Hammond
Sacred Heart Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Mark D’Silva
Mr. Thomas Spievak
Sacred Heart Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Mark D’Silva
Mr. Rob and Mrs. Kristin Chmiel
St. Mary Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Michael K. Jones
Ms. Sue Stone
St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Paul D. Holland, SJ
Ms. Lynda Withiam
St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Paul D. Holland, SJ
Mrs. Virginia Weir
St. Paul Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Leszek Szymaszek
Ms. Teresa Espinoza
St. Roch Parish, Greenwich
Nominated by Father Carl D. McIntosh
Mr. Brian and Mrs. Jana Veo
St. Jude Parish, Monroe
Nominated by Father Joseph A. Gill
Dr. William J. and Mrs. Mary Beth Fessler
St. Aloysius Parish, New Canaan
Nominated by Monsignor Robert M. Kinnally
Mrs. Mary Anne O’Neil
St. Edward the Confessor Parish, New Fairfield
Nominated by Father Robert L. Wolfe
Mrs. Elizabeth Ricci
St. Edward the Confessor Parish, New Fairfield
Nominated by Father Robert L. Wolfe
Mrs. Donna Locke
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
Nominated by Monsignor Robert E. Weiss
Mrs. Mary Jo Pecora-Runkle
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
Nominated by Monsignor Robert E. Weiss
Mr. Stephen Pagliaro
St. Rose of Lima School, Newtown
Nominated by Dr. Bardhyl Gjoka
Ms. Susan Fleisch
All Saints School, Norwalk
Nominated by Mrs. Linda Dunn
Mr. Joe and Andrea Licek
St. Jerome Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Rojin Zacharias Karickal
Mr. Jorge and Mrs. Roxana Chuchuca
St. Joseph-St. Ladislaus Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Edicson H. Orozco
Ms. Alejandra De Menezes
St. Mary Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father F. John Ringley
Ms. Kristin McClinch
St. Mary Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father F. John Ringley
Ms. JoAnn Esposito
St. Matthew Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Francis T. Hoffmann
Mrs. Jo-Ann Miller
St. Matthew Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Francis T. Hoffmann
Ms. Filomena Diurno
St. Philip Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Sudhir D’Souza
Ms. Patricia Hill
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Ralph Segura
Ms. Lauren Stoops
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Norwalk
Nominated by Father Ralph Segura
Ms. Martha Radocy
Sacred Heart-St. Patrick Parish, Redding
Nominated by Father Terrence P. Walsh
Mr. Steve and Mrs. Lucia O’Hara
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Ridgefield
Nominated by Father Alphonse Arokiam
Mr. Robert and Mrs. Janet Hebert
St. Mary Parish, Ridgefield
Nominated by Monsignor Kevin T. Royal
Mr. Rich and Mrs. Marcy Miller
St. Mary School, Ridgefield
Nominated by Mrs. Rachel Ambrosio
Ms. Flavia Oubina
Greenwich Hispanic Regional Collaborative, Riverside
Nominated by Father Miguel A. Bernal
Mr. Mark and Mrs. Robin Magda
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Agnes Parish, Riverside
Nominated by Father William F. Platt
Mr. John and Mrs. Shannon Fahey
Holy Trinity Catholic Academy, Shelton
Nominated by Mrs. Lisa Lanni
Mrs. Leslie Allaire
St. Joseph Parish, Shelton
Nominated by Father Michael F. Dogali
Mrs. Eustolia Martinez
St. Joseph Parish, Shelton
Nominated by Father Michael F. Dogali
Mr. William and Mrs. Kelly Farmer
St. Lawrence Parish, Shelton
Nominated by Father Ciprian Bejan
Mr. Richard and Mrs. Theresa Janes
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish, Shelton
Nominated by Father Joseph Cervero
Mr. Kevin and Mrs. Dierdre Breen
Catholic Academy of Stamford, Stamford
Nominated by Ms. Patricia Brady
Ms. Boga Davidson
Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Pawel M. Hrebenko
Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Linda Milano
Holy Spirit Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Luke P. Suarez
Mr. John and Mrs. Janet Roemer
New Covenant Center, Stamford
Nominated by Mr. Michael Donoghue
Mr. Frantz and Mrs. Emmanuella Lauture
Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Guy Dormevil
Mr. Lucas and Mrs. Maria Romero
Sacred Heart Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Alfonso Picone
Mr. Scott and Mrs. Anne Heekin-Canedy
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Peter K. Smolik
Mr. Wilmer and Mrs. Yaqueline Martinez
St. Benedict-Our Lady of Montserrat Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Gustavo A. Falla
Mr. Leonard Gambino
St. Bridget of Ireland Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father James K. Bates
Mr. Charles and Mrs. Regina Denner
St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father John P. Connaughton
Mrs. Marie Cordiero
St. Leo Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father James D. Grosso
Ms. Sandie DeFilippis
St. Maurice Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father James K. Bates
Mr. Giuseppe and Mrs. Gina Leale
St. Mary Parish, Stamford
Nominated by Father Gustavo A. Falla
Mr. Thich (Charlie) Nguyen
Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Father Albert G. Pinciaro
Ms. Patricia Varvella
Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Father Albert G. Pinciaro
Mr. Charles and Mrs. Melissa Lembo
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Monsignor Martin P. Ryan
Deacon Thomas L. Fekete
Our Lady of Peace Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Father Peter J. Towsley
Ms. Kate Gloss
St. James Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Father Peter J. Adamski
Mr. Lap Nguyen
St. James Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Father Peter J. Adamski
Ms. Jessica Marraffa
St. James School, Stratford
Nominated by Mr. Christopher Robertson
Ms. Heidi Prenty
St. James School, Stratford
Nominated by Mr. Christopher Robertson
Mr. David and Mrs. Laura Robertson
St. Mark Parish, Stratford
Nominated by Father Birenda Soreng
Mr. Tony and Mrs. Amy Pagano
St. Mark School, Stratford
Nominated by Mrs. Melissa Warner
Mr. Robert and Mrs. Patricia Silk
Christ the King Parish, Trumbull
Nominated by Father Richard J. Gemza
Mr. Eric and Mrs. Patricia Vogel
St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Trumbull
Nominated by Father Joseph A. Marcello
Ms. Maureen Anderson
St. Joseph High School, Trumbull
Nominated by Mr. Brian Gavin
Ms. Bonnie Kellog
St. Stephen Parish, Trumbull
Nominated by Father Henry J. Hoffman
Ms. Tracy R. Maus
St. Stephen Parish, Trumbull
Nominated by Father Henry J. Hoffman
Ms. Irene Bartlett
St. Theresa Parish, Trumbull
Nominated by Father Brian P. Gannon
Mr. Cory and Mrs. Angela Brunetti
St. Theresa School, Trumbull
Nominated by Mrs. Barbara Logsdail
Mr. Martin and Mrs. Marlane Tubridy
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Weston
Nominated by Father Augustine Nguyen
Mr. Vincent Penna
Assumption Parish, Westport
Nominated by Father Cyrus Bartolome
Mrs. Barbara Reilly
St. Luke Parish, Westport
Nominated by Father Kumar Xavariapitchai
Mr George Seeberger
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Wilton
Nominated by Father Reginald Norman
