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October 2015
Local News
Deacon Cassaneto named director of deacons BY BRIAN D. WALLACE
Deacon Anthony P. Cassaneto, Ph.D., has been named Director of the Diaconate for the Diocese of Bridgeport, effective October 1. The appointment was made by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. Deacon Cassaneto’s appointment follows the deliberations of a search committee that the bishop convened to interview applicants following the retirement of Deacon Tony Detje of Brookfield after 29 years of service as director of the program. “I believe that Deacon Cassaneto has the gifts, talents, and energy to lead a comprehensive program of formation that includes the human, theological, spiritual and pastoral dimensions. He and his team will accomplish this from the moment he begins his new assignment, which will serve men who feel called by
the Lord to ordination day and beyond. Please keep Deacon Cassaneto in your prayers as he begins this important work,” Bishop Caggiano said. The bishop said that Deacon Cassaneto is already working with members of the diaconal council to organize various committees and ensure the thoughtful and thorough implementation of a new program of diaconal formation. According to Deacon John DiTaranto, special assistant to the bishop, who has been serving as temporary director of deacons, there are 100 ordained deacons in the diocese, 71 of whom are active and 29 who have recently retired. There are currently six men who are Candidates in the Diaconate Formation Program and there are ten men who are Aspirants in the formation program, which will undergo changes under the direction of Deacon
DEACON ANTHONY CASSANETO
Cassaneto. The deacon’s role in liturgical ceremonies includes administering Baptism, witnessing and blessing marriages, officiating at wakes, funerals and burial services, administering sacramentals and presiding at prayer services. Deacons also distribute
Holy Communion, proclaim the Gospel, preach the homily and assist at Mass. They also share in the pastoral duties of the parish, and help in the work of sanctifying the people, as well as other more practical ministries, such as tending to the poor and teaching the faith.
A native of Bronx, New York, Deacon Cassaneto and his wife, Gabriela, are residents of Beacon Falls, where they assist with the care of Gabriela’s mother. Deacon Cassaneto was ordained on May 24, 1986, and was assigned to St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish in the Bronx, where he served until 2015. From 1993 to 2012 he was director of formation and director of ministry and life for the permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of New York. Deacon Cassaneto received his bachelor’s degree from Hunter College of the City of New York, a master’s degree from Manhattan College, a Ph.D. degree in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, and a second doctorate in religion and religious education from Fordham University. While working for many years ➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE
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Patrick Turner named director of planning BRIDGEPORT—Patrick Turner has been named the new director of strategic and pasto-
Dogali, the episcopal vicar for strategic planning, Turner will engage with priests, deacons,
PATRICK TURNER THANKING delegates and faithful after the recent Synod Celebration Mass at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport
ral planning by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, effective October 1. Turner, who was named deputy synod director in June 2014, has quickly become a familiar face around the diocese as a result of his leadership at the Synod General Sessions and other synod events over the past year. Working with Father Michael
religious, professional staff and lay leaders in the parishes to create a process that will ultimately develop pastoral plans to address a parish’s individual needs and respond to the challenges identified by the synod. “With the completion of the Synod Mass, attention now turns to implementing the recommen-
dations of the synod and maintaining the momentum that has developed through the synod process,” said Bishop Caggiano. Turner came to the diocese after serving as vicariate representative for the Diocese of Brooklyn for eight years. In that capacity he served as a bridge between the diocesan curial offices and the more than 90 parishes in Brooklyn and Queens. “He brought great organizational and strategic planning skills to his new role in Bridgeport and in the synod and will help us to move forward in the planning process,” said the bishop. Father Dogali, who was appointed vicar for strategic and pastoral planning in November 2014 as part of the diocesan reorganization, said that in the coming months each parish will ultimately be asked to create a Pastoral Planning Council to assist the pastor in overseeing the planning process. “Lay leaders and priests across the diocese have been invited to training sessions this fall to learn more about the roles of parish council members, finance council
members, and trustees, and how these entities are developed to provide assistance to the pastor and parish staff,” Father Dogali said. One of the initiatives approved by the synod delegates last May called for the creation of a comprehensive pastoral planning process to engage each parish in ongoing, systematic and comprehensive planning to create a roadmap to ensure long-term viability and pastoral vitality. “The long-term goal for pastoral planning is to develop a mechanism by which all aspects of parish life are intentional, mission-driven, and open to periodic evaluation and improvement,” said Father Dogali. In addition, the Office of Strategic and Pastoral Planning will be responsible for working with the Diocesan Strategic Planning Commission and overseeing the post-synod implementation process, and will maintain relations with the synod delegates over the next two years as they continue to serve as an advisory body to Bishop Caggiano. Turner said he was excited to have the opportunity to continue
his work with the Diocese of Bridgeport and that he looked forward to working with pastors and parish representatives throughout the process. “In the 16-plus months that I have been here, I have met many wonderful individuals who are excited about the synod journey and the future of the Church in Fairfield County. Working with our synod delegates has been a truly joyous experience, and I look forward to more deeply engaging the priests and lay leaders in the diocese to respond to the synod challenges. I also truly appreciate the confidence that Bishop Caggiano has shown by appointing me to this position.” Prior to beginning his work for the Diocese of Brooklyn, Turner spent nearly 21 years in Washington, D.C., working in the public policy/government relations arena. An undergraduate of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, he completed graduate level coursework at Loyola College in Baltimore in pastoral and spiritual care. Turner was born in Texas and grew up near Seattle. n