Four County Catholic June 2015

Volume 27 Number 6

June 2015

Let Us Become Agents of Mercy Pope Francis to send a Holy Year message of healing and forgiveness

Made Possible in part through your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal

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Four County Catholic June 2015

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All of Mercy High School Class of 2015 are headed to college next year.

Four County

atholic

- Shawn R. Beals, reporter, Hartford Courant, highlighting an extraordinary statistic this graduating season.

Serving the Counties of Middlesex, New London, Tolland, Windham & Fishers Island, NY

Are our lives truly filled 12 with the presence of God? - Pope Francis as quoted by Mary Ellen Mahoney in Thinking Legacy during Hard Times.

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The Pontiff is a Jesuit, and I, in some way, am too. I always studied at Jesuit schools.

- Raul Castro recalling his Catholic roots and expressing his admiration for Pope Francis in advance of the Pope’s upcoming visit to Cuba.

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On the Cover Volum e 27

Numbe r6

June 2015

Let Beco Us Ag me of M ents ercy Pope

Mad e Pos sibl

Fran to se cis n Holy d a mess Year heal age of in forg g and ivene ss

e in par t thr ough

your

genero us

suppor t of the Ann ual

Cathol

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- Mother Dolores speaking of her stunning decision to leave Hollywood stardom behind and become a cloistered nun.

The Holy Father’s silver pectoral cross reflects the Good Shepherd’s message of mercy that will be the foundation of the upcoming Holy Year of Mercy.

On his way home from visiting the poor in Argentina, then Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio (before becoming Pope) would hold the cross tightly and ask God to lift all the enormous weight of suffering afflicting the people he had visited, and transfer it onto the cross in his hands, asking Christ for help and solace.

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Email photos as JPEG attachments and MS Word copy to comtrina@norwichdiocese.net or fax to 860.859.1253. Publication not guaranteed. The Editor reserves the right to reject, omit or edit all editorial and advertising copy. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this newspaper.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

The Most Reverend

Michael R. Cote, D.D.

Bishop of Norwich

Give Love and Forgiveness Without Measure “Jesus has this message for us: I think, and I say it with humility, that this is the Lord’s most powerful message: mercy.”

Pope Francis

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: In last month’s Four County Catholic, Sister Elissa Rinere wrote an insightful column on the upcoming special Holy Year of Mercy as proclaimed by Pope Francis. It will begin officially later this year on December 8. As Sister Elissa conveyed in the words of the Holy Father, “There is a need in the Church for a greater understanding of the never-ending Mercy of God, and the need for all members of the Church to reflect on the reality of that mercy in our lives.” This is most certainly the core message of the Holy Father’s papacy that he wishes to share with the world.

Thanks to Sister Elissa, we have a more informed sense of the history, rarity and symbolism of Holy Year designations. One of the most striking of the symbolic

carry-overs dating back to the fifteenth century is the rite of the opening of the Holy Door. Actual sealed doors at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome will be opened symbolizing that the faithful will be provided an “extraordinary path” toward salvation during the yearlong celebration.

Since the previous issue of this newspaper, we have had a second wave of information from the Vatican, detailing some of the specific commitments of the Holy Year planning. We learned of many of these details from Archbishop Rino Fisichella of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. He has been speaking to the media lately about the events and timelines of this special year.

The historic Holy Year designation is the embodiment of the mission of Pope Francis. This is

the burning focus of this missionary Pope, at a time of chaos over much of the world. The Holy Year is an act of mercy on a remarkably large scale with the intention of helping the world see that mercy can extinguish strife and heal wounds.

“Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.” Pope Francis speaks of “agents of mercy.” This is a direct reference to the commitment he has made during the Holy Year to send “missionaries of mercy” throughout the world to forgive sins and bring God’s mercy to the people.

The missionaries will go out among the dioceses of the world

carrying the transformational message of mercy. Some journalists have referred to this as “an army” of missionaries. I’m not one who would use that analogy, but it is definitely clear that the Holy Father is calling the Church to its missionary priority of being on the ground in a pastoral sense.

Following the recently announced motto “Merciful Like the Father,” adapted from Christ’s command in Luke 6:36, the missionaries will follow the merciful example of the Father who, as the Holy Father reminds us, “asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure.”

We have a Pope for our time who sees the overall mission of the Church as pastoral first, doctrinal second. Mercy is a pastoral priority. “Mercy” in his words “faces hatred with love; defeats violence

with forgiveness; responds to weapons with prayer; overcomes every obstacle; knocks down every wall.” Being close to the people, especially those on the margins of society, is where changing the world for the better begins. A good example would be that among the individual jubilee initiatives being considered for the Holy Year is a Mass celebrated with prisoners inside St. Peter’s so that they can participate not from a jail cell but together with the congregation. Mercy, it is said, is love’s other name.

The Holy Year of Mercy will be one of the defining outreaches of this extraordinary Pope, guided by mercy, love and the joy of living the Gospel.

Sincerely yours in Christ’s love, Bishop Michael R. Cote

Dar Amor y Perdón sin Medidas “Jesús tiene este mensaje para nosotros: Creo y lo digo con humildad, que este es el mensaje más poderoso del Señor: Misericordia”

Papa Francisco

Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas: En Four County Catholic el mes pasado, la Hermana Elissa Rinere escribió una columna perspicaz sobre el próximo especial Año Santo de la Misericordia, proclamado por el Papa Francisco. Comenzará oficialmente a finales de este año el 8 de diciembre. Como la Hermana Elissa transmite en las palabras del Santo

Padre, “Hay una necesidad en la Iglesia para una mayor comprensión de la misericordia infinita de Dios, y la necesidad por todos los miembros de la Iglesia a reflexionar sobre la realidad de esa misericordia en nuestras vidas.” Este es sin duda el mensaje central del pontificado del Santo Padre que desea compartir con el mundo.

Gracias a la Hermana Elissa, tenemos un sentido más informado de la historia, la rareza y el simbolismo de las designaciones del Año Santo.

Uno de los más llamativos remanentes simbólicos que datan del siglo XV es el rito de la apertura de la Puerta Santa. Puertas actuales selladas en la Basílica de San Pedro en Roma, serán abiertas simbolizando

que los fieles serán proporcionados de un “camino extraordinario” hacia la salvación durante la larga celebración de un año.

Desde el número anterior de este periódico, hemos tenido una segunda oleada de información del Vaticano, detallando algunos de los compromisos específicos de la planificación del Año Santo. Nos enter-

amos de muchos de estos detalles por el Arzobispo Rino Fisichella del Consejo Pontificio para la Nueva Evangelización. Él ha estado hablando últimamente con los medios de comunicación sobre los eventos y los plazos de este año especial.

Dar Amor y Perdón Continued on page 4

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Dar Amor y el Perdón Continued from page 3

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for June Universal: That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come.

La designación del histórico Año Santo es la realización de la misión del Papa Francisco. En un momento de caos en gran parte del mundo, éste es el foco ardiente de este Papa misionero. Este Año Santo es un acto de misericordia extraordinaria en gran escala, con la intención de ayudar a que el mundo vea que la misericordia puede extinguir los conflictos y sanar heridas.

“Seamos renovados por la misericordia de Dios, seamos armados por Jesús, permitamos que la fuerza de su amor también transforme nuestras vidas; y convirtámonos en agentes de esta misericordia, canales

a través de los cuales Dios puede proteger a toda la creación y hacer florecer la justicia y la paz.” El Papa Francisco habla de “agentes de misericordia”. Esto es una referencia directa al compromiso que ha hecho durante el Año Santo de enviar “misioneros de misericordia” en todo el mundo para perdonar pecados y traer la misericordia de Dios a la gente.

Los misioneros saldrán de entre las diócesis del mundo llevando el mensaje transformador de la misericordia. Algunos periodistas se han referido a esto como “un ejército” de misioneros. No soy uno quien usaría

esa analogía, pero es definitivamente claro que el Santo Padre está llamando a la Iglesia a su prioridad misionera de estar en la tierra en un sentido pastoral.

Siguiendo el lema recientemente anunciado “Misericordioso como el Padre”, adaptada de la orden de Cristo en Lucas 6:36, los misioneros seguirán el ejemplo misericordioso del Padre quien, como el Santo Padre nos recuerda, “nos pide no juzgar o condenar, sino perdonar y dar amor y perdón sin medidas”.

Tenemos un Papa para nuestro tiempo que ve la misión global de la Iglesia primero como pastoral, se-

FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE

Evangelization: That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life.

Pope Francis @Pontifex • Recent Tweet Amid so many problems, even grave, may we not lose our hope in the infinite mercy of God.

24 Hour Emergency Service Fire, Water and Smoke Cleanup and Restoration Carpet, Upholstery and Drape Cleaning Odor Removal Complete Move-Outs

of Norwich/Windham County

gundo doctrinal. La misericordia es una prioridad pastoral. “Misericordia”, en sus palabras “enfrenta al odio con amor; derrota la violencia con el perdón; responde a las armas con la oración; supera todos los obstáculos; derriba todas las murallas.”

Al estar cerca de la gente, especialmente aquellos en los márgenes de la sociedad, es donde cambia el mundo para mejor comienzo. Un buen ejemplo será que entre las iniciativas jubilares individuales está siendo considerada para el Año Santo una misa celebrada con los presos dentro de San Pedro, para que ellos puedan participar no desde una celda de la cárcel, pero juntos con la congregación. Misericordia, se dice es, amor de otro nombre.

El Año Santo de la Misericordia será uno de los alcances que definen a este extraordinario Papa. Guiados por la misericordia, el amor y la alegría todos podemos experimentar la vivencia del Evangelio.

Atentamente en el amor de Cristo,

860-887-0447 Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Holy Hour for Vocations The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, leads the Holy Hour: Father Greg Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations vocations@norwichdiocese.net

(860) 887-9294

www.God-Calls.com

Independently Owned and Operated

Like it never even happened

Obispo Michael R. Cote Translated by Paulina Angulo

Some White Collar Jobs Are More Challenging Than Others

June 5, 2015 • 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich July 16, 2015 • 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Saint Lawrence, Killingworth Reverend Brian Christopher Maxwell, Ordained to Priesthood on May 25, 2013, by the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich

Juan Aguirre Theology English Studies St. Mary Seminary Baltimore MD

Frank Gilbert 1st Year Theology Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary Weston, MA

Michael Bovino 1st Year Philosophy Mt. St. Mary Seminary Emmitsburg, MD

Deacon Ron Blank 1st Year Theology Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary Weston, MA

Jeffrey Ellis 3rd Year Theology Mt. St. Mary Seminary Emmitsburg, MD

Peter Langevin 3rd Year Theology Mt. St. Mary Seminary Emmitsburg, MD

You have been thinking about it. Let’s talk...

Thomas Griffin 3rd Year Theology Blessed John XXIII National Seminary Weston, MA

Father Greg Galvin 860-887-9294 www.God-Calls.com Office of Vocations • Diocese of Norwich, CT • vocations@norwichdiocese.net

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Director of Priestly Vocations

Reverend Gregory Galvin

A Glorious Celebration of Ordination to the Diaconate Aguirre who, God willing, may also be ordained a transitional deacon in the coming year, Frank Gilbert, Deacon Ron Blank, Mike Bovino and Sebastian, Dharen, and Michael, the three Colombian men coming to begin their English studies later this summer.

Thank you all for your many

Bishop Cote confers his blessings on the three candidates raised to the Holy Order of the Diaconate.

Photo by Meredith Morrison.

The day arrived amid a magnif- Connecticut. Each of these men your life down and to use the gifts icent blue sky, bright sun and St. has responded to our Lord gener- my Heavenly Father and I have Patrick’s Cathedral filled for the ously and each of them looks for- given you and will continue to glorious celebration of Ordina- ward with great anticipation to give you through the Holy Spirit? tion to the Diaconate of three of beginning his service to the Lord Each of these men responded yes!

Within the step of ordination our seminarians, Rev. Mr. Jeff by serving His Church.

One of the poignant points to transitional diaconate, these Ellis, Rev. Mr. Thomas Griffin about what it means to answer a newly ordained deacons will now and Rev. Mr. Peter Langevin.

The joy in their eyes and in call from the Lord was given in more actively begin their service their faces was evident! The joy of the Gospel reading from the Or- sacramentally by proclaiming the family and friends who came to dination. From Mark Chapter 12: Gospel, sometimes preaching the witness another and very impor- 38-44 regarding the poor widow Gospel, baptizing, witnessing the tant step towards Holy Priest- who gave all she had, Christ sacrament of marriage, assisting to bury the dead, distributing the hood, Ordination as a transitional pointed out to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, this poor precious blood at Holy Mass and deacon for the Church, was also clearly evident. For each man, widow put in more than all the bringing Holy communion to the Jeff, Tom and Peter, the journey other contributors…for they have sick and homebound. They take taken in responding to the Call of all contributed from their surplus on a greater role of being an exThe Lord, has been different and wealth, but she, from her poverty, ample of what it means to have a similar at the same time. Their has contributed all she had, her “heart of service for the Lord” by giving of themselves as completely backgrounds are different; Jeff whole livelihood”.

This is what each servant of the as they can in preparation for coming from working for the government as a computer engineer; Lord is called to. Christ has asked being ordained a priest of Jesus Peter having a background in Jeff, Tom and Peter - are you will- Christ sometime next year, 2016.

We ask that you keep each of Catholic education; Tom many ing to give of your whole liveliyears serving as a banker in differ- hood to serve in my name, to our newly ordained deacons in ent areas throughout the State of serve my bride, the Church, to lay your prayers along with Juan

prayers and please continue to both thank our God in prayer and continue also to beg him to continue sending us more good and holy priestly vocations.

“Let us pray that God the allpowerful Father will mercifully pour out the grace of his blessing on these, his servants.” Bishop Cote.

For the Answer go to Page 19.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Friday, June 12

Blue Mass Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser To benefit the Blue Mass Committee to defray expenses associated with the Annual Mass honoring law enforcement personnel. Spaghetti, salad, bread & butter, soda and water. From 5:30-7:00pm at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick Auditorium, 213 Broadway, Norwich. $10.00 adults, $8.00 seniors, $5.00 children 12 and under. For more information, or tickets please call Monsignor Brown at (860) 887-9294, ext. 232 or Becky Cady (860) 887-9294, ext. 235.

Every Tuesday Prayer, praise, Worship Adoration From 7:00 – 8:00pm at the Spiritual Renewal Services Center, 11 Bath St., Norwich. Leaders: Deacon James Delaney and Nancy Delaney. For more information, please call (860) 887-0702.

Diocese of Norwich Pilgrimage to the Czech Republic, Austria & Hungary

Friday, June 19 St. John, Old Saybrook Confirmation Join the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich at 7:00pm at St. John’s Church, Old Saybrook.

With Bishop Michael R. Cote

October 5­15, 2015 ost Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, will lead an 11­day pilgrimage to the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary. The itinerary will include Prague, Melk, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest.

Cost of Tour:

$3,350.00 per person double occupancy $300.00 deposit required $562.00 single supplement (limited number)

This price includes: Roundtrip motorcoach transportation from Norwich to New York JFK Airport; Rountrip airfare from New York JFK Airport; Airline taxes/fuel surcharges as currently levied; Acco­ modation in First Class hotels; All hotel taxes; Luncheon on day of departure in Norwich; Breakfast and dinner daily at each hotel; Farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Budapest; Land transportation by deluxe motorcoach; All transfers and baggage handling at hotels; Sightseeing with professional local guides; Professional tour manager; All entrance fees per itinerary; Gratuities to tour manager, local guides, drivers and hotel/restaurant staff; Daily Mass.

Saturday, June 13 Healing and Freedom Conference (Unbound) 8:30am (coffee & registration) to 5:00pm at the Spiritual Renewal Center, 11 Bath St., Norwich.

Must pre-register by calling (860) 887-0702. Donation $25. 00. Father Ray, Judith Hughes and team.

For information or reservations please contact: Rebecca McDougal (860) 887­9294 or George’s International Tours 9265 Dowdy Drive, Suite 232 San Diego, CA 92126 Phone: (800) 566­7499 Fax: (858) 271­6692 Email: sales@georgeintl.com Website: www.georgeintl.com

Saturday, June 20 Cathedral of Saint Patrick Confirmation Join the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich at 11:00am at the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Norwich.

Saturday, June 20 Strawberry Festival and Craft Fair St. Lawrence Church is having its annual strawberry festival, craft fair and auction at St. Lawrence Church, 7 Hemlock Drive, Rt.81 in Killingworth from 10:00am4:00pm. There will be crafts, plants, silent auction, quilt raffle, tag sale, book sale, children’s

CST#2035995­40

Norwich, CT (860) 887-7468 www.mmpct.com New London, CT (860) 701-9171 www.mmpnl.com

games, clowns, food, and homemade strawberry shortcake. Live auction begins at 11:00am. For more information, call Rick Henderson at (860) 663-5476.

Mon., June 22 –Thurs., June 25 Pilgrimage to the Canadian National Shrines Enjoy a beautiful 4-day pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Cape, Canadian National Shrine to Our Blessed Mother, St. Anne de Beaupre, St. Joseph’s Oratory, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Beavoir Shrine to the Sacred Heart, & others throughout Quebec. $400 p.p. double occupancy. Price includes deluxe motor coach, shrine hotel, all meals & tips for all 4 days. A valid U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card required. For information and applications, please call Father Brain Maxwell at (860) 267-6644 ext.4 or email him at Fatherbrianst.pats@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 27 Our Lady of Grace, Fishers Island Confirmation Join the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich at 12:00pm at Our Lady of Grace, Fishers Island.

Saturday, July 4 Independence Day Wednesday, July 15 Moosup, Children of Light Prayer Group Mass 7:00pm at All Hallows Church Hall, Moosup. For more information, please call (860) 887-0702.

Thursday, July 16 Holy Hour for Vocations The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, leads the Holy Hour from 6:007:00pm at St. Lawrence, Killingworth. For more information, contact Father Greg Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations at vocations@norwichdiocese.net or (860) 887-9294. www.God-Calls.com.

Tuesday, August 4 “Jesus, My Friend” Book Release A Book written by Lue Ann

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Fatima • Madrid • Lourdes, Etc. Wednesday, July 1

Television Mass At 10:00 a.m. Channel 20 WTXX, Charter.

Channel 11 WCCT, Comcast Celebrant is Reverend Ray Introvigne Watchus of Norwich, is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. in book and digital (e-book) format. The story is exhilarating from beginning to end – Readers will realize the richness of faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ as the characters unfold.

Saturday, August 15 Assumption of Mary Thursday, August 20 Holy Hour for Vocations Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, leads the Holy Hour from 6:00-7:00pm at the Most Holy Trinity, Promfret.

For more information, contact Father Greg Galvin, Director of Priestly Vocations at vocations@norwichdiocese.net or (860) 887-9294. www.GodCalls.com.

We Can Help To report inappropriate contact of any kind by a representative of the Diocese of Norwich or for assistance to victims, please call: 1-800-624-7407 Podemos Ayudar Para reportar cualquier contacto inapropiado por un/a representante de la Diócesis de Norwich, o para buscar ayuda para víctimas, favor de llamar: 1-800-624-7407

PILGRIMAGE

“I AM the vine, you (your name) are the branches, whoever remains in ME (Jesus) and I in him/her, will bear much fruit, because...without ME, you can do NOTHING!” (John 15:5)

11 Days: October 6‐16, 2015 Hosted by:

Father Ray Introvigne & Mrs. Judith Hughes Co‐Directors of Spiritual Renewal Services $3199 per person from New York (Air/land tour price is $2349 plus $626 govt. taxes/airline fuel surcharges)

Visiting:

Lisbon, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Avila, Madrid & Lourdes For a brochure & more information contact Mrs. Hughes at:

860‐887‐0702 ~ or ~

srs1223@sbcglobal.net SPACE IS LIMITED AT THIS VERY SPECIAL PRICE!!!

Attention—Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, etc.

Sponsored by Spiritual Renewal Services Co-directors Fr. Ray Introvigne & Mrs. Judith Hughes October 6-16, 2015 $3,199 per person New York Call 1-860-887-0702 or SRS1223@sbcglobal.net Healing Masses, Monday, June 8 and June 22 @ 2:00 p.m.

Spiritual Renewal Center, 11 Bath St., Norwich, CT Masses held on 1st floor – handicap accessible Fr. Ray, Celebrant + Judith Hughes, Healing Prayer Healing and Freedom Conference (Unbound) Saturday, June 13, 2015 – 8:30 a.m. (coffee & registration) to 5:00 pm Spiritual Renewal Center, 11 Bath St., Norwich, CT Must pre-register @ 860-887-0702 Donation $25 Fr. Ray, Judith Hughes and Team Television Mass Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 10:00 a.m..

Channel 20, WTXX, Charter Channel 11, WCCT, Comcast Celebrant, Fr. Ray Introvigne Moosup, Children of Light Prayer Group Mass Wednesday, July 15, 201 @ 7:00 p.m.

All Hallows Church Hall, Moosup, CT Prayer, Praise, Worship Every Tuesday evening @ 6:30 pm Spiritual Renewal Center, Norwich, CT “Everyone’s welcomed to these programs!

Father Ralph DiOrio

Holy Mass, Benediction, Spoken Love Scripture, the Healing Ministry

Sunday, Aug. 23 & Sunday, Nov. 15 NEW LOCATION: Maironis Park, Shrewsbury, MA Cost $50 (includes $10 ticket)

Children, Teenagers & Nun’s welcome as our guest

Bus Departs 9:00 AM Old Mystic Village; New London Shopping Center; I-395 Commuter Parking Lots; Exit 80W, Norwich; Exit 89, Moosup JANET PRZYBYSZ 860-536-6638 przybyszjanet@sbcglobal.net

spiritual renewal services Diocese of Norwich

Dial-A-Prayer (860) 887-7767

P.O. Box 6 • 11 Bath Street Norwich, CT 06360 • (860) 887-0702 email: Renewal@catholicweb.com

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Catholic School Advantage Campaign The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, welcomed approximately 50 priests,

By Sister Barbara Gould Assistant Superintendent Diocese of Norwich

sisters and lay persons to St. Joseph Hall in Willimantic on Thursday, May 21, 2015 to hear

Reverend Joseph Corpora, C.S.C., Director, UniversitySchool Partnerships Alliance for Catholic Education Task Force Co-chair at the University of Notre Dame. Father Corpora reminded the participants that by 2050 the Latino population in the United States will grow from 60

The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy appointments in the Diocese of Norwich:

Clergy Appointments Reverend Monsignor Henry N. Archambault, P.A., 1 year renewal of appointment as Pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Taftville. Effective: April 8, 2015.

Reverend Monsignor James P. Carini, from Pastor, Saint Matthew Parish, Tolland, to Retirement. Effective: July 31, 2015.

Reverend William Olesik, from Director of Propagation of the Faith, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Bernard Parish, Rockville, and Saint Matthew Parish, Tolland.

Effective: July 31, 2015.

Reverend Richard J. Ricard, from Pastor, Saint Bernard Parish, Rockville, to Pastor, Saint Bernard Parish, Rockville, and Saint Matthew Parish, Tolland.

Effective: July 31, 2015.

Reverend Brian Romanowski, to Judge, Diocesan Tribunal Office Effective: May 12, 2015.

Reverend Tadeusz Zadorozny, from Pastor, Saint John Parish, Plainfield, and Saint Augustine Parish, Canterbury, to Pastor, Saint John Parish, Plainfield, Saint Augustine Parish, Canterbury, All Hallows Parish, Moosup, and Sacred Heart Parish, Wauregan.

Effective: July 1, 2015. ~ Monsignor Robert L. Brown, Chancellor ~

million to 106 million. With these statistics, Father challenged us to look at how we welcome the Latino population within the diocese of Norwich. How culturally sensitive are we? our cities ? towns? and neighborhoods? schools? and churches?

Cultural familiarity is important to the Latino population.

Our schools, ministries and parishes can increasingly embrace the cultural imager y, researching the saints and famous people as role models to further encourage relationship building. Bishop Gerald Kicanas, Diocese of Tucson urges “We... must do all we can to encourage Hispanic/Latino parents to send their children to Catholic schools.

For the Church to be successful in

this endeavor, we must create an environment of trust in order to build strong relationships with Hispanic/ Latino families. This requires that bishops and priests assess all ministries and programs at diocesan and parish levels to ensure that a spirit of welcome is indeed present”.

Catholic education is a ministry.

Catholic schools need Latino principals, teachers, and board members invested i n Catholic education.

Earlier centuries we l c o m e d the European immigrants and now we, as its beneficiaries, must strive to provide this Catholic education in the 21st century for Hispanic/Latinos. Therefore, Father Joe strongly urged and recommended these action plans: Use innovative tuition models.

Employ Spanish speakers to mentor families and assist with the paperwork for registration.

Encourage the faculty members within the schools to learn the Hispanic/Latino culture and language. Invite Latino families to tour the schools at convenient times, perhaps weekends or evenings.

Father Corpora recognized that the Diocese of Norwich celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 and that the Cathedral of St. Patrick captures the appearance of Our Lady to Juan Diego in 1531 with the wall painting above Our Lady’s altar. May the reflections and recommendations shared become the roses that will enliven the faith and help bring new life to the Catholic schools and parishes within the Diocese of Norwich.

To quote Reverend Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., Director , Institute for Educational Initiatives University of Notre Dame, “We face an urgent moral imperative to serve our nation and our faith by making the Catholic school advantage accessible to millions of talented underserved Latino children.”

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Celebrates 60th Anniversary The Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women celebrated its 60th anniversary at their annual

By Anne King, President Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women

convention hosted by the Middletown District on Saturday, May 16th at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Middletown. The theme of the convention was We Are Called to Witness – Be the Voice of Catholic Women. The day began with a welcome by Middletown District President Nancy Russo and a short business meeting conducted

by President Anne King. Judith Pappagallo, a member of St. Patrick Cathedral, was appointed by the NDCCW Board and approved by Bishop Cote as the incoming President. Annette Murphy, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Willimantic was elected Secretary, and Sandy Freiss from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gayles Ferry was elected treasurer. The highlight of the day was a presentation by Mother Dolores Hart.

Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., is a Benedictine nun at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem Connecticut. During her seven-year career in film and on Broadway she starred in ten films, most notably opposite Elvis Presley in Loving You. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the Pleasure of His Company. Her radical choice to enter a cloistered Abbey at the height of her career in 1963 at first shocked and then inspired those who admired her as an actress and public figure.

The HBO Documentary Film God is the Bigger Elvis about Mother Dolores’ life was nominated for a 2012 Academy Award in the Documentary Short category. Her acclaimed autobiography The Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows was released in 2013 and is now in its third printing.

Since 1970, Mother Dolores has been the Dean of Education at Regina Laudis. In this role she has

established a new expression of St. Benedict’s School of the Lord’s Service in which contemporary professional women can be awakened to the classical precepts of monastic life through an arduous process of self-knowledge and conversion of heart.

Mother Dolores shared her experiences starring in movies with Elvis Presley and told the group what a truly good person he was and that his music was all about his whole being.

She told how she was guided by God and her own inner self to seek her vocation. She visited the Abbey of Regina Laudis many times to find her own peace and joy and finally, even though she was engaged to be married at that time, stunned the world by making the decision to become a cloistered nun and enter the Abbey. She said the path you choose in life comes to you, not like a bolt of lightening, but from deep within. Years later, she said, “I just knew that this was what God wanted from me.”

At noon, the liturgy was celebrated by Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop or Norwich, Rev. Brian Maxwell, Diocesan Spiritual Advisor and Rev. Richard Sliwinski, Pastor, of St Mary’s. We were also delighted to have as a guest, Rev. Edward Konopka. Fr. Konopka was the diocesan Spiritual Advisor from 1996 to 2007. He is retired and living in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

At the luncheon which followed, Bishop Cote was presented with a check for $18,428.28 which he turned over to Jim Maffuid, Executive Director of Catholic Charities. This is the diocesan contribution from the annual membership drive held in September.

Following lunch, Maribeth Stewart, NCCW Representative to the World Union of Catholic Women Organisation. (WUCWO), gave a very informative presentation. This organization represents 100 organizations of Catholic women in 60 countries and has 5 million members world wide.

Sixty years ago, on January 29, 1955, women from every part of the Diocese of Norwich assembled at St. Patrick auditorium in Norwich for an organizational meeting of the Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. The women were invited at the request of His Excellency, Most Rev. Bernard J. Flanagan, the first Bishop of Norwich. At that meeting, Bishop Flanagan designated the Council of Catholic Women as the official women’s organization of the diocese. His Excellency stated that the work of women in the church was as old as Christianity itself and cited the epistle of St. Paul in which the apostle acknowledged the work of devoted women to the service of the church. The purpose of establishing the Council was to unite existing parish societies and to

establish new groups to carry on the works of charity and service to their church, community and fellow man.

As the years have passed, the work of the Council has grown and developed in the districts as well as the parishes. It would be impossible to enumerate the ‘works of love’ accomplished in sixty years of special activities, both spiritual and charitable.

In the fall, there is a diocesanwide membership drive. Each year at the Annual NDCCW Convention, sixty percent of all money collected throughout the diocese is given to Catholic Charities for its

pregnancy program.

Over the past 60 years, NDCCW has contributed over $659,000 to Catholic Charities.

In 1980, the “Layette Program” was introduced to NDCCW. In 1981, NDCCW adopted “Project Water Tank.”

NDCCW partners with the National Council of Catholic Women to support nation wide projects.

There are seven Districts in the Norwich Diocese: Middletown, New London, Norwich, Putnam, Rockville, Shoreline, and Willimantic. Each of the districts has active affiliates and they support their pastors and parishes in various ways. There are Christmas bazaars, bake sales, pot luck suppers, fundraisers, chemo hats for cancer patients and various speakers. Many of the ladies are active in Bereavement Committees and as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers at their churches. The Council continues to invite women of all parishes to join their Ladies Guilds and become a part of this very active group.

The Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women, now celebrating its 95th birthday!

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Four County Catholic June 2015

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Blessed Junipero Serra During his visit to the United States in September, Pope Francis will canonize Blessed

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Junipero Serra, the Franciscan missionary, originally from Spain, who brought the Gospel to the indigenous people of Mexico and the area we now know as California.

Born Miguel Ferrar in 1713, he entered the Franciscan seminary in 1730, taking the name Junipero, or Juniper. From the outset, Junipero excelled at his academic studies. He earned a doctorate in theology, and was appointed a university professor by the time he reached the age of thirty.

In 1749, Junipero and several companions secured permission to travel from Spain to Mexico, which was then a Spanish colony, where they were to work with the indigenous population in missions already established in and around Mexico City. For fifteen years, Junipero distinguished himself as a preacher and confessor, and also as an academic in his lectures at the College of San Fernando, in Mexico City.

In 1768 Junipero was asked by his superiors to leave “Baja” or “Lower California,” and establish missions in the area then known as “Alta California.” He and some

companions set out walking north.

For the next sixteen years, until his death in 1784, Junipero walked the length and breadth of “Alta California,” from San Diego to San Francisco, establishing mission

churches, preaching and evangelizing the indigenous people. Under his leadership nine missions and mission churches were established.

Perhaps the most famous is Mission San Juan Capistrano. Built in 1782, it is thought to be the oldest standing building in California, and the only remaining original mission in which Blessed Junipero celebrated Mass.

There has been some controversy about how to understand the missionary work carried out by Blessed Junipero. Some see him as a man of extraordinary faith, who gladly suffered hardship and deprivation for the sake of the Gospel. Others see him as a symbol of oppression with respect to the indigenous people, since with their embrace of Christianity, they were constrained to give up their own culture and lifestyle. Detractors also point to the

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number of indigenous people who contracted fatal diseases because of their contact with European colonizers.

Defenders see Blessed Junipero as a man of his own time, and motivated solely by a love of the Gospel.

Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles said of Blessed Junipero: “(He) believed with all his heart that the Gospel was true. Out of love, he was willing to give up everything – family and home, security and fortune, even his very life – to bring the truth of salvation to people living on the other side of the world, people he did not know, people who did not share his language and customs.”

In January 2015, when announcing the upcoming canonization, Pope Francis made two important points. The first was that Blessed Junipero was to be canonized through a legal provision called “equivalent canonization.” That means that the petition for sainthood did not go through all the steps required, right down to the miracles. Rather, a person who has been designated as “blessed” for some time, and is venerated as a saint by the people, is brought to the end of the canonization process based on the evidence of his or her life. Junipero Serra, who died in 1784, had been beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1987.

The second point Pope Francis made was that Blessed Junipero, “the evangelizer of the western United States,” is one of a group who either have been or will be canonized because they gave their lives to the service of the Gospel. They are examples of what it means to preach the Gospel without reserve.

In addition to Blessed Junipero, others being publically declared saints through this equivalent process are Peter Faber, who spent his life preaching the Gospel in Europe; François de Laval and Marie de l’Incarnation who evangelized Canada, José de Anchieta of Brazil and Joseph Vas of Sri Lanka. All these, Pope Francis said, are “Impressive evangelizers along the lines of Evangelii Gaudium. That is why I chose them. That was the reason.”

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Helping Keep Families Together According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in four

By Jim Maffuid, LMFT Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Norwich

adults−approximately 61.5 million Americans−experiences mental illness in a given year. One in 17−about 13.6 million−live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder. Additionally, approximately 20 percent of youth ages 13 to 18 experience severe mental disorders in a given year.

For ages 8 to 15, the estimate is 13 percent. Certainly these numbers are alarming and the demand on behavioral health services often exceeds the available number of providers.

In any given year, Catholic Charities provides more than 7,500 units of service to more than 750 individuals. Clinical services are provided to people of all ages addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, domestic violence, sexual

abuse, grief, behavioral problems as well as adult and adolescent substance abuse treatment. These psychiatric group, family and individual services include therapeutic interventions designed to

opmentally disabled and those suffering from mental illness. Because of their loneliness, worries, and tension, I was drawn to help them.

They need someone to talk to and listen to them”.

meet a variety of family needs to improve the well-being of family members, reducing risks of crisis, abuse and neglect, with the goal of keeping families together.

When asked why she decided to work in the mental health field, Sister Elsy, who currently is completing a clinical internship at Catholic Charities, responded, “ When I was in India I worked with the devel-

While discussing what problems and obstacles our clients face, Dave Ketner, LPC, LADC, Supervisor of Behavioral Health Services in

Catholic Charities New London office, reported, “ Clients lack resources, housing, basic needs and access to medication services as well as transportation”. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, persons living below the poverty level are nearly 2½ times more likely to have depression than those at or above the poverty level.

Sylvia Laudette, LCSW, Supervisor of Behavioral Health Services in the Norwich office, indicates that “services are helpful as they provide solution-focused therapy, allowing people to think outside of the box. Our

providers help people to learn selfcare when dealing with difficult situations.” Catholic Charities Middletown office supervisor, Kim Abram, LCSW, states that “clients feel validated when they come in for therapy. Therapy helps clients walk through past and present problems.” As a trauma specialist, Kim points out that often resolving past traumas is an extremely important part of the healing process.

If you are looking for counseling services in a compassionate environment, our counselors are available at our Norwich, New London and Middletown offices. For more information, please visit our webpage, www.ccfsn.org, or contact William Gilbert, Ph.D., MSW at 860-889-8346.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Thinking Legacy During Hard Times Every day it seems we are greeted with more difficult news, whether it be about social unrest here in our

By Mary Ellen Mahoney Development Manager/Major Gifts

Country, natural disasters throughout the world or the shockingly horrid terrorist actions taken across the globe. When confronted with dismay and sadness, we turn to the one constant in our lives, our faith, our belief in the love and salvation of Jesus Christ. When our heads feel

like dropping and our mood is low, that is when we must look up, pray and remember that God is always with us and will give us the strength we need.

I n addition to fighting the tendency to let worldly influences affect

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our spirits, many people also experience the feeling that they cannot make a dif-

ference in the world, they are only one person in the vast sea of humankind. How much can one person do? Once again, we must think of Christ and remember his words“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40. Jesus is telling us that one person can make a difference. Action taken to help even just one person is enough. Pope Francis echoes Christ’s words over and over again on a daily basis as he travels the world. Pope Francis asks, “Are our

lives truly filled with the presence of God? How many things take the place of God in my life each day?”

He reminds us to let the message of Christ influence all of our decisions.

Each year, the Diocese of Norwich proclaims June as “Leave a Legacy” month.

Through this initiative, parishioners are reminded of the importance of giving through estate planning. As we all turn our hearts upward to Christ and take our strength from Him during these challenging times, let us all know that we can each make a difference in this world by helping others within our Diocese. Through your generosity and planning you can make a gift through your future estate, or even right now, if you desire.

There are a number of tax benefits associated with planned giving as well. Your kindness will be extended

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to many through the works of the Church and its continued care of the less fortunate and disadvantaged. You may direct your support to any of our Diocesan ministries, organizations, parishes, or schools.

You truly can have a huge impact on the lives of your Diocesan neighbors.

Here are some of the top 10 ways to “Leave a Legacy”: 1. Prepare or update your will.

2. Set aside a gift in your will for your parish, the Diocese, or one of the many Annual Catholic Appeal supported ministries.

3. Name your parish, the Diocese, or an ACA funded ministry as the beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy; or purchase a new policy and name your selected charity as the beneficiary.

4. Remember your loved ones through a charitable bequest in their honor.

5. Name your parish, Diocese, or ACA funded ministry as the beneficiary of your pension plan or IRA. 6. Discuss with your advisors the tax advantages you can enjoy now by leaving a gift in your will to the Church.

7. Consider using assets for your legacy gift.

8. Ask your financial or estate planning advisor to include charitable giving as part of your overall financial plan. Encourage them to do so with other clients.

9. Explore the advantages of a charitable gift annuity or charitable trust.

10. Spread the word! Let your family, friends, and fellow parishioners and advisors know that you have taken responsibility for your legacy and for the wellbeing of the Church.

To learn more, contact Mary Ellen Mahoney, Development Manager- Major Gifts by telephone at 860-886-1928 ext. 14 or e-mail memahoney@norwichdiocese.net.

Visit the Planned Giving portion of the Development Office website at www.norwichdiocesedevelopment.org.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Office for Safe Environments An Interview with Director, Karen Caise How did your life’s journey prepare you and lead you to this particular calling so important to the Church and to society as a whole?

My education and background are in science, which is the field I worked in for ten years after college. When my children were born, I decided to change careers, so I would be more available to them. I started two child care centers, which I successfully owned and operated for 18 years. I believe that part of my life prepared me for this position. I understood how vulnerable children are; how it is the calling of every parent to nurture and love their children, yet it is the responsibility of all of society to provide an environment for them where they will be safe.

Are the protective measures now in place across the diocese focused on education, training or screening of employees and volunteers?

In 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops drafted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter mandated that every diocese is to maintain “safe environment” programs which would be responsible for background screening and education of all diocesan personnel and volunteers who have ongoing contact with minors. It should be mentioned, however, that the Diocese of Norwich already had policies in place, since 1993, which addressed this issue. In this diocese, volunteers and contractors who have regular contact with children, all clergy, all members of institutes of all forms of consecrated life, and all employees are background screened and educated in safe environments. This exceeds what the Charter mandates. No one component of our ministry is more important than another. To effectively protect our children and youth, background screening, education and monitoring activities are equally important.

Are children and young people themselves trained in addition to

employees and volunteers?

In our diocese, there are educational programs for children and young people. Safe Environments education is included in the Health or Family Life curriculum in our Catholic Schools. For those youth attending parish religious education programs, the curriculum is reviewed annually with the youth, utilizing brochures provided by the Office for Safe Environments.

How successful have the current policies been? Are there third party audits conducted?

The Diocese of Norwich has written and promulgated four policies with regard to safe environments. These have been revised over the past 11 years to reflect the changes in the Charter, as well as to address the changing needs of our parishes, schools and institutions.

The most recent policy, the Electronics Communication and Computer Use Policy was developed to address the ever changing challenges of using electronic communication in ministry. Adults who are working or volunteering with minors must maintain appropriate behavior and take care to avoid any situation that might be misinterpreted. This policy provides them with the rules for communicating via the internet with our youth.

Our database now contains the names of over 15,000 diocesan personnel and volunteers who have gone through the safe environments program. Since the inception of this ministry in 2004, an annual informational audit, as well as an on- site audit every three years is conducted by a third-party auditing firm. Diocesan offices are

audited for compliance to the Charter. In addition, our office assesses the compliance of individual parishes, schools and institutions with the Diocese of Norwich policies and procedures. This is accomplished through database analysis and visits to individual organizations to clarify our policies and provide support.

How effective has the Diocesan Reporting Line been, and the availability of the diocesan Assistance Coordinator?

The Office of Internal Affairs maintains a Diocesan Reporting Line to facilitate the filing of incident reports. It is intended to be a nonemergency line. That number is 1800-624-7407. When a report is made, the Assistance Coordinator is contacted. The Assistance Coordinator provides outreach and assistance in the healing process to victims and their families.

Appreciating that maintaining safe environments for children is not the responsibility of just one or two people, how are all parishioners in the diocese encouraged to participate in safety vigilance?

Each diocesan parish, school and institution has a Child Advocate.

The Child Advocate assists the pastor, principal or administrator in their responsibilities relative to ensuring safe environments. They are an important link between this

office and their organization. All parishioners and employees of the diocese have access to the Pastoral Code of Conduct (available on www.norwichdiocese.org). This policy outlines the steps that must be taken by all adults so that not only our children, but the adults working with them can minister in a safe environment.

Brochures and handouts are made available to all parishes, schools and diocesan institutions, for distribution to their members.

In what ways do the programs and initiatives of the diocese mirror the national Church poli-

cies as instituted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops?

In the Diocese of Norwich, Father Rick Ricard, the Bishop’s Delegate for Safe Environments, and I, have the continued support of Bishop Cote. He is committed to protecting our youth and providing safe environments in which to minister. Also, Pope Francis has spoken many times on the need for the Catholic Church to address the issue of child safety. So this topic continues to be of great importance to our Church, both locally and world-wide.

I would just like to add that this ministry could not function effectively without the continued support of Fr. Rick Ricard, the Bishop’s Delegate for Safe Environments; nor could we process and interpret the large volumes of data this office receives without the hard work and expertise of Mrs. Randy Bouley, Administrative Assistant.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Bishops Call for a V Encuentro On June 9, 2013, the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs convened pastoral leaders of

By Mother Mary Jude Lazarus, S.C.M.C. Diocesan Director Hispanic Ministry

the Hispanic/Latino community to engage once again in the process of Encuentro. Since the mid 1970’s, Hispanic Ministry in the United States has seen four national gatherings, called “Encuentros,” which have been profoundly instrumental in moving the ministry forward. It is an opportunity for in-depth self-study, beginning on the parish level, then moving to the diocesan and regional levels, and finally ending on the national level. On each of the levels the process ends with an event – Encuentro – which recognizes and celebrates what has been learned.

Proposals are formulated and delegates appointed to take the proposals to the next level. At the final celebration, the national gathering, delegates from across the country work to synthesize the proposals which have been garnered from the different levels and put them together in a working document, with practical applications.

The Encuentros have shaped Hispanic Ministry in this country.

They have given it a focus and direction which has been important in guiding the ministry as the Hispanic/Latino presence continues to grow amid increasing chal-

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the faith of young, second and third generation Hispanics/Latinos and to involve them in the life of the Church. The Encuentro will help to discern the Church’s best pastoral and evangelizing response to parishes, dioceses, and ecclesial movements, both at a regional and at a national level.

The vision and theme of the V Encuentro is one of “missionary discipleship,” a spirit of accompaniment based on the Emmaus story from the Gospel of St. Luke.

The V Encuentro calls for a continual pastoral conversation that allows the Church, consistent with its missionary nature, to respond with more fidelity and enthusiasm to the Hispanic/Latino

presence in parishes and dioceses, thereby empowering the Hispanic/Latino people to live their discipleship more fully as joyful missionaries to the whole Church.

Bishops Arturo Cepeda, Gerald Barnes, Nelson Pérez and Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller were elected by the Subcommittee to lead the Encuentro process.

The national gathering of V Encuentro will take place in 2018, and preparations are underway.

Last February, in Baltimore, Bishop Nelson Perez convened the National Team which will guide the process. Their first task is to create Regional Teams in each of the 14 Episcopal Regions, as well as Diocesan Teams. In April, the

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lenges. They have given the Hispanic/Latino people the opportunity to interpret and to project into the future their own identity, presence, and contribution to the Church and to U.S. society as a whole.

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Conference of Diocesan Directors of Hispanic Ministry for Episcopal Region I – our Region – hosted an orientation/training session whose purpose was to give the participants more detailed information on the vision, purpose and process of the V Encuentro, to form the Regional Team, and to prepare them to form the Diocesan Teams. In attendance were pastors with their pastoral staffs and selected lay leaders in Hispanic Ministry from the Dioceses of Portland, Maine to Bridgeport, CT and of course, the Diocese of Norwich.

The event was facilitated by

Alejandro Aguilar-Titus, chair of the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs of the USCCB’s Secretariat for Cultural Diversity, Estela Villagrán, president of the National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Hispanic Ministry, and Dr. Hosffman Ospino, professor at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. The day and a half event ended with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Cote. The first task of the Regional Team will be to form Diocesan Teams in each of the dioceses, in preparation for the grassroots consultation to take place in the parishes by the end of next year.

Rev. Daniel C. Cronin December 25, 1927 – May 3, 2015 Norwich - The Reverend Daniel C. Cronin, retired priest of the Diocese of Norwich, died Sunday, May 3, 2015, at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, Connecticut. He was 87.

Father Cronin is fondly remembered by all who knew him and grew spiritually from his caring presence. Father Cronin, son of the late Michael Cronin and Hannah (Nagle) Cronin of Gneeveguilla, Rathmore, East County Kerry, Ireland, was born in Rathmore, County Kerry, and educated in Ireland at St. Joseph College in Freshford, County Kilkenny. He continued his studies in philosophy and theology at St. Joseph’s Missionary College in Rozendaal, Holland, and Mill Hill, just north of London. It was in Mill Hill, July 10, 1955, where Father Cronin was ordained to the priesthood for service as a Mill Hill Missionary by Bernard Cardinal Griffin.

Immediately following ordination, Father Cronin began an extended missionary assignment in Borneo from 1955 to 1963. Shortly after returning to Freshford, Ireland in 1963, Father Cronin joined the Diocese of Norwich as Assistant Pastor at St. Luke Parish in Ellington. Subsequently, he served as Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart in Norwichtown and, in 1969, St. Mary in Portland. In 1977, he became Pastor of St. Stephen in Quinebaug until 1984 when he was appointed Pastor of St. Columba in Columbia, where he served faithfully until his retirement in January, 2012, at the age of 84.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated by The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columba Church. Interment will be in Ireland.

Daily Television Masses Available

he of ice of radio and tele­ vision for the archdiocese of Hartford and our diocese, as well as all of Connecticut and be­ yond, offers a Mass daily at 10:00am on Comcast, channel 11, WCCT and channel 20, WTXX. Priests from the Diocese of Nor­ wich volunteer to celebrate the Mass on the irst Wednesday of every month.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you or your ill family members to enjoy the “greatest prayer” that Jesus left for us. You could have the name of your loved one(s) living or deceased placed on the TV screen at the beginning of every Mass for a donation of $10.00 per name. For $50.00 or more donation per name, during the prayer of the faithful,

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For more information please call Fr. John Gatzak at 203­758­7367.

16

Four County Catholic June 2015

Memorial Day at St. Mary Cemetery, New London

Photo on left: Memorial Day dedication of St. Mary Statue donated to St. Mary Cemetery by Knights of Columbus, Waterford & New London, EVA Seaside Council 17, Niantic K of C Council 5633 and New London 4th Degree K of C. This initiative was organized from outset to completion by Harrison Fortier, Deputy Grand Knight, Seaside Council 17 and 4th Degree Faithful Navigator. Photo on right: The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, celebrating Memorial Day Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery in New London.

Photos by Trina Fulton.

IMMACULATA RETREAT HOUSE A Ministry of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate 289 Windham Road, Rte. 32 Willimantic, Connecticut

SENIOR RENEWAL DAY: Father Roger Couture, OMI, invites all seniors to join him for this month’s program entitled “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” on Wednesday, June 17, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Offering is $10.00 and includes lunch.

FRENCH HERITAGE DAY: On Sunday, June 14, beginning with Mass at 11:00 AM, Immaculata will host a French Heritage Day, celebrating the French-Canadian heritage of the area and the retreat ministry here at Immaculata. Come and join us for French-Canadian food, friends, music and much more. To register, please call Immaculata, so that we can properly plan for the celebration.

DAY ON THE HILL: Do you feel a need to get away and get refreshed?

Come and spend the first Wednesday of each month at Immaculata. Just come and be alone with your God. The fee is $15.00 and includes lunch.

Call ahead.

To register or for more information: Phone: 860-423-8484 E-mail: info@immaculataretreat.org

Every major achievement that has taken place within the American enterprise - the American Revolution; the abolition of slavery; the civil rights movement; reforms in education, labor and woman’s rights - has been at the urging of religious people seeking a more just and humane society.

In this light, the Knights of Columbus recognizes religious liberty as an indispensable condition for authentic human development.

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Immediate Opening Youth Minister A part-time (25 Hours per week) position is available for a Youth Minister at the Office of Faith Events, Diocese of Norwich. Major responsibilities include coordinating youth events and assisting in other events of the office.

Email faithevents@norwichdiocese.net for the complete job description and qualifications.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

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Four County Catholic June 2015

For the protection of conscience rights and religious liberty, and that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to these fundamental rights, Let us pray to the Lord.

The Fourth Arrival Fortnight for Freedom to be observed June 21-July 4, 2015

Freedom to Bear Witness!

Defending Religious Liberty Pope Francis has said: “Religious freedom is not only that of private thought or worship. It is the liberty to live, both privately and publicly according to the ethical principles resulting from found truth.� This is why it is important that we continue to influence lawmakers to change the federal health care mandate which forces religious institutions to pay for medical procedures that violate their moral principles.

If you haven’t done so already, please voice your opposition to the federal health care mandate by calling U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell at 202-205-5445, and your elected state representatives. Let them know that the mandate is in violation of our First Amendment right to religious freedom.

You asked, we listened‌

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Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop William E. Lori proclaims this as a time when Catholics can unite

themselves in prayer. “For all those who serve us in elected office, that they may enact laws and policies that uphold the sanctity of human life to natural death, the beauty of God’s plan for marriage and

authentic Liberty for all. Let us pray to the Lord.� United in faith, we anticipate the power of solidarity of principles as we prepare to celebrate the Fortnight for Freedom.

Let Your Light Shine for Religious Freedom Any informed Catholic knows that challenges to our religious freedom are increasingly prevalent Submitted by Linda Norton

here in the USA and around the world. Religious freedom is being argued about in the courts, contested in the media, and attacked violently in the streets of the Middle East. Christians of all faiths, as well as our Jewish brothers and sisters, are increasingly aware that if we don’t start standing up for our religious freedoms more firmly we will start losing them one by one.

We already see that happening, don’t we? Some people in the Middle East, even children, have already lost their lives for refusing to denounce Jesus Christ.

Churches are being destroyed, priests are being kidnapped or killed, laws are changing in ways that are starting to remove our religious rights. Whether attacked by terrorists or faced with ever-increasing erosion of our rights in our own country, it is time for all of us, to speak out in one way or another.

You may not be an eloquent speaker, writer, or politician. You may not be comfortable protesting on street corners with signs that read “Save our Religious Freedom�. You may not be good at debating the issues with friends, families, or co-workers. But there is something simple that you can do. You may have already heard about the Candle Project for Reli-

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gious Freedom, which started in southeastern CT in 2012, and is slowly spreading throughout the United States, and as of this last Christmas, the word started to spread beyond our country too.

Your help is needed.

This movement is simple and answers the call of our bishops for the laity to stand up for religious freedom however we can. The Candle Project asks us to put battery or electric candles in our home or business windows and to keep them on constantly as a silent but beautifully glowing message to all communities that we want our religious freedom protected. (No real candles please, for obvious safety reasons.)

After reading this article you can help by taking out your battery/electric candles from your Christmas storage box and placing them in your windows today, or buy some if you need to, and also help pass the word by giving or sending out free “candle cards� to everyone at your parish. If you’d like some free candle cards or more information on how you can help the movement you may contact: candleproject2012@ gmail.com, lindamay@snet.net, or 860-599-2613.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Earthquake Survivor The Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti was very fortunate on January 12, 2010, as a devasBy Dan O’Sullivan Director of Administration & Programs, Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti

tating earthquake hit Haiti. Despite its two facilities being at the center of the damage, there was no loss of life among staff, and

only one permanent, significant injury.

The facilities were not as lucky.

Our two buildings were destroyed. However, the altar shown in the picture was recovered, despite being buried under the destroyed Norwich Mission House. Both the Haitian metal art pedestal, and the glass top,

Father Frank Rouleau, Chaplain and Director of Twinning in Haiti, shown admiring the altar that survived the earthquake of 2010.

were unscathed under a pile of rubble. Clearly, we were meant to rebuild around the altar.

Outreach’s immediate efforts after the earthquake, were to rebuild a temporary health clinic to continue serving the poor in Port-au-Prince, and rent a Mission House to continue hosting parishes visiting their twinned parishes in Haiti, and providing the opportunity for immersion trips to Haiti.

In the meantime, Outreach carefully determined how to most economically rebuild in Haiti. A single building is planned to replace the two that were destroyed.

The lower floor will be the clinic, and the upper floor will be the Guest House. The cost of the project is now projected at $350,000. A campaign was launched the end of last year, with a letter from Bishop Cote, and discussions have taken place at a number of the parishes in the diocese.

Donations and pledges are now at $210,000. We are nearing the home stretch. When the building is completed, it will reduce Outreach’s expenses, allowing more of the money donated to go into services for the Haitians.

Please consider a donation today. The Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti is a 501(c)(3), so your donation is tax deductible. Donations can be sent to Outreach to Haiti at 815 Boswell Ave, Norwich CT, 06360, or you can go to the website at www.outreachtohaiti.org, and donate on the capital campaign page.

Saint John The Evangelist

Reverend Robert F. Buongirno, Pastor Address: 22 Maple Avenue, Montville, CT 06382 Phone: 860-848-1257 Email: stjh4@sbcglobal.net Sunday Masses: 11:00am (Saturday 4:00pm) Holy Day Masses: Eve of Holy Day 6:00pm Yoked with Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Quaker Hill & Our Lady of Lakes, Oakdale

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Four County Catholic June 2015

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Academic Excellence. Character. Self-confidence.

St. Patrick Cathedral School, Norwich 860-889-4174 www.St-patrickschoolnorwich.org Sacred Heart School, Taftville 860-887-1757 www.sacredhearttaftville.org

143 Graduate From Middletown’s Mercy High School Middletown - All of Mercy High School Class of 2015 are headed to colBy Shawn R. Beals Reprint from the Hartford Courant

lege next year.

Sister Mary McCarthy, a longtime principal of the school and its current president, said the class was notable for its dedication and community service, and for the students’ commitment to the standards expected of the “Women of Mercy.”

“You have proven time and again how

much you appreciate and love your school and the values that define Mercy,” McCarthy told the graduates.

Class of 2015 donated $10,000 to the school’s capital campaign for future projects, she said.

Valedictorian Madeline Carroll said Mercy was a special place to each of the graduates. She said her classmates were a daily inspiration and motivated her to succeed.

“As we move on from our Mercy family, I would encourage us all to maintain our character. It has been shaped by our

four years here but will always be uniquely our own,” Carroll said.

She said the Class of 2015 maintained high standards, but noted the expectations of families and faculty members at the school that “made our outstanding accomplishments and determination the norm, rather than the exception, among us.”

Norwich Diocese Bishop Michael R. Cote cited a recent Pew Research Center study that shows the number of Americans who identify as Christians has fallen from 78 percent in 2007 to 70 percent

Sacred Heart School, Groton 860-445-0611 www.sacredheartgroton.org St. Edward School, Stafford Springs 860-684-2600 www.stedward-stafford.org St. James School, Danielson 860-774-3281 www.stjamesdanielson.com St. John Paul II Regional School, Middletown 860-347-2978 www.jpii.org St. John School, Old Saybrook 860-388-0849 www.saintjohnschoolos.com St. Joseph School, Baltic 860-822-6141 www.stjosephbaltic.org St. Joseph School, North Grosvenordale 860-923-2090 www.schoolofstjoseph.com St. Joseph School, New London 860-442-1720 www.sjsnl.com St. Mary-St. Joseph School, Willimantic 860-423-8479 www.smsjschool.org St. Michael School, Pawcatuck 860-599-1084 www.stmichaelschoolct.com

Mercy Graduates, Hannah Albert (L), and Katie Bernard take a selfie before commencement exercises.

Photo by Melanie Stengel, Hartford Courant.

To learn more, contact the Diocesan School Office, 860-887-4086, www.norwichdso.org or contact one of the diocesan schools.

St. Matthew Pre-School, Tolland 860-872-0200 www.stmatthewct.org St. Bernard Pre-School, Rockville 860-875-0753 x113 www.saintbernardchurch.org

22

Four County Catholic June 2015

The Call of the Birds: Slowing Down and Tuning In “The only essential equipment for seeing birds is a pair of eyes.

By Christina Capecchi Four County Catholic Contributor

Good ears are a help too.”

The first edition of “Birds: A Guide To The Most Familiar American Birds” smells like an old missal and reads like a manual for living well – birding as a hobby, a lifestyle and a meditation.

Its intro is written in the voice of a sensible grandma, and the best lines in the 1949 Simon and

Schuster book are the ones that got cut from the 1987 edition released

by Golden Press: “Don’t be in a hurry to buy [field] glasses.” “Practice is essential. Go looking for birds as often as you can.” “Dashing through the woods will get you nothing but shortness of breath.”

There is none of the panicky, pandering language used today by aging clubs in search of the next generation. No, this little cloth book lets you come to it. And what tremendous rewards await if you do.

For the retail price of $1, it de-

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livered 118 paintings, maps, measurements and the most lovingly gathered details. The book celebrates every centimeter: yellowcrowned, gray-cheeked, black-chinned, ruby-throated, rose-breasted, white-rumped. It conjures all their songs: “a lowpitched croak,” a “hoarse ‘quock,’” “harsh, rattling call,” an “unforgettable drumming sound.”

“Birds” is not much much bigger than an iPhone 6 Plus and feels like its antidote: a faded ticket to a bygone era, an invitation to simpler living through the tools we were born with, “a pair of eyes” and “good ears.”

Rachael Butek, a 23year-old from Colfax, Wis., sees it that way.

She doesn’t look like your stereotypical birder of the silverheaded variety, but she can identify 100 birds by their song.

Birding has changed the way she sees the world and deepened her Catholic faith, attuning her to the intricacy of God’s creation. “People underestimate the importance of beauty in our lives,” she told me. “It’s not practical, per se, but it is vital.”

In her mind, most of us have blinders on, oblivious to the flights of fancy in our very own backyards. “More young people should be birders,” she says. “They’re all buried in their phones.”

Rachael has filled 10 journals with penciled-in notes and has witnessed an array of memorable moments: courting kinglets, dueling orioles, sipping humming-

birds, a stretching crow. Her favorite bird, she likes to say, is whichever one she’s currently watching.

This summer Rachael is working as a wildlife technician for the DNR and surveying the Chippewa County Forest through dozens of “point counts”: parking herself in

a specific point for eight minutes, tallying the birds there and then moving on.

She filled out her application for the internship during Eucharistic adoration at St. John the Baptist in nearby Cooks Valley. She has the 7-to-8 Tuesday morning slot.

“Having that hour of peace and solitude with Christ is very helpful to review my week, give thanks to God and get perspective,” Rachael said.

God’s call in her life may not ring out as clearly as a Song Sparrow, but she’s allowing for the silence to hear its faintest hums.

Like Rachael, the most vibrant young Catholics I know embrace elements of the old as they rely on the new. Their Instagram feeds show comic books and vinyl records, knitting needles and calligraphy, gardens, libraries, things that take time. They are compelled to insert the vintage amid the modern, stimulated by the contrasts, drawn to the tactile in a touch-screen world.

We can claim the oldest Christian faith, the one with the most patina, the first edition. We inscribe our name in its book, the ultimate field guide.

Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, Minn., and the editor of SisterStory.org.

Mercy Graduates Continued from page 21 this year. He encouraged the graduates to maintain their faith because of the ideals and personal strength it will provide them as they pursue careers and build families.

“Do not neglect your faith and your inner life,” Bishop Cote said.

“Seek to love the Lord more and more each year of your lives. May you always know His presence in

your lives.”

McCarthy, during her remarks, recognized Sylvia Garstka, who is retiring this year after nearly 50 years teaching at Mercy.

Salutatorian Allison Wojciechowski said the graduation ceremony is a celebration of education and what it will mean for students in coming years.

“Why take the time to partici-

pate in an event that is largely reigned by symbolism and the past? We do so because we believe in our power to design a more perfect future,” Wojciechowski said. “When my fellow graduates and I cross this stage, it is not to receive proof of attending Mercy High School, it is to bridge the gap between obtaining knowledge and using it.”

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Graduates Urged to Value Their Time at Saint Bernard as a Foundation for Success The graduates of the 57-year-old Uncasville school included students from 21 towns in Connecticut and one in Rhode Island, as well as 13 Chinese students from seven different communities there. Sixteen of the graduates are the sons, daughters or grandchildren of Saint Bernard alumni.

In closing remarks, the bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, urged the students to draw on the religious education they received at Saint Bernard to continue growing in their faith. He noted a recent Pew Research Center poll showing that 70.6 percent of Americans identify as mainline Christians, a decline from 78.4 percent seven years earlier, and that 22.8 percent identify as atheists, agnostics or without religious affiliation, up from 16.1 per-

cent in 2007.

“My hope is that none of you will fall into the group that is growing,” he said. “Faith is important. Don’t neglect your faith. Don’t neglect that inner part of you, the spirit within you. A good life is answering God’s call.”

Graduating class at Saint Bernard School: Shannon Amarello, Natalie Anderson, Kaitlyn Berkel, Shoshana Berkman, Charles Bonser, Megan Bosetti, Timothy Bouchard, Courtney Bove, Jonathan Burianek, Hope Burnside, Jonathan Cabral, Amanda Carpentier, Kiona Carter, William Carver, Ashley Catala, Ruixian Chen, Yuqing Chen, Laura Costello, McKenzie Coughlin, Jingyan Dai, Sarah Ferraro, Shannon Foley, Shannon Forrester, Crystal Grabowski, Patrick Griffin, Marina Hanna, Zix-

uan He, Meredith Hird, Jincheng Hu, Elizabeth Jezierski, Audrey Jones, Gavin Jones, Nicholas Kane, Danielle Keefe, David Kennedy Jr., Logan Lacroix, Yajun Li, Keze Lin, Pengcheng Liu, Ryan Londregan.

Also: Eilish Maher, Madeleine Mahoney, Erica Massad, Grace Mayeda, Kathryn McKinley, Cassandra Meehan, Aaron Michaud, Nicholas Morrow, Monica Muriel, Olivia Novak, Eric Ostaszewski, Paul Pepas, Jr., Daniel Percy, Margaret Reagan, Emma Rose, Rachel Rossier, Alexandra Santiago, Margaret Shea, Autumn Sutton, Daniel Terracciano, Christen Teskey, Mallory Thomas, Molly Turban, Gabriel Vallario, Eric Vallieres, Heather Wallace, Kangze Xu, Peter Yackovetsky, Yuanhao Yang, An Zhang, Qindong Zhang, Yifan Zhang, Nicholas Zuczek.

There’s more to Saint Bernard School!

Norwich - Most recent high school graduates are still figuring out what they want to do, and often feel

By Judy Benson Reprint from The Day

confused, scared and anxious about the future.

Less common are those who know exactly what they want to become.

Dr. Brian McKeon, keynote speaker at the Saint Bernard School graduation Friday, was one of those rare students who knew exactly what he wanted — he just faltered on his way to achieving it.

“I knew from day one that I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to help people,” said McKeon, who graduated from the Catholic high school in 1984 and is now the chief medical officer and team physician for the Boston Celtics.

McKeon credited his the two

years he spent at Saint Bernard, after doing poorly during his first two years at a public high school, with giving him the foundation he needed to persevere.

“You may be a late bloomer like me, but this education you got here is amazing,” said McKeon, addressing the 73 graduates in the ceremony at Saint Patrick Cathedral.

Student speaker Alexandra Santiago of Griswold said that while the last four years at Saint Bernard have passed too quickly, they have shaped her and her classmates in positive ways that will last a lifetime.

“We have become part of a place that will accept us as a family forever,” she said. “We are a community, a family, an interconnecting network of saints. We provide for those less fortunate. We have pride in our school. We smile brightly as we hold the door open for a stranger.”

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Four County Catholic June 2015

“We Are Ready to Step Into Our Future!”

Sprague - No graduating class in Eastern Connecticut is smaller than Sprague’s Academy of the

By Adam Benson Reprint from The Bulletin

Holy Family, which on Tuesday bestowed diplomas to the eight girls comprising the Class of 2015.

But it would be difficult to find a group as tightly knit and appreciative of their education as the young women who walked across the St. Michael’s Center stage during 140th commencement ceremonies.

“It was a very good experience.

I met people from all over the world and was able to find out who I want to be,” said 18-yearold Alicia Wessel, of Ledyard.

“And I’m ready to go do whatever it is I’m going to do.”

Wessel will attend Three Rivers Community College later this year and plans to study journalism.

Academy Principal Mother Mary David Riquier said Tuesday’s commencement capped off “a wonderful day of memories.”

“Our graduates have grown from immature, insecure little girls into the confident young women we honor tonight,” she said. “In the past several days, I’ve been

touched by the affection the girls have for the sisters and the lay staff, and that feeling is mutual.

Never forget: once an academy girl, always an academy girl.”

The school is also sending its first ever graduate to Harvard. Jiin Ashley Kim was accepted to the Ivy League school on Dec. 12 on a full academic scholarship. She plans to double major in international relations and biology.

Just before ceremonies began, several of the girls gathered in front of St. Michael’s Center for last-minute pictures and to help one another adjust their gowns.

They also took a moment to revel in their accomplishment.

“Oh my gosh! This is real,” an excited Francy Camacho said to Martha Preciado.

Salutatorian and senior class president Sarah Majewski, a talented athlete who made the Connecticut State Conference all-first and second softball teams during her four-year career and an aspiring FBI agent, credited her peers and teachers for helping her thrive.

“I learned a great deal these past four years. I’ve been given the opportunity to become friends with girls from all over the world,” Ma-

The Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, congratulates Alicia Wessel, center, and Sarah Majewski at the St. Michael’s Center in Sprague for Academy of the Holy Family’s 140th commencement.

Photo by Adam Benson, The Bulletin. jewski said. “I have learned how to live with a group of girls that are different from my friends and family. I have grown to become personally responsible for myself and my behaviors, and the decisions that I make.”

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Majewski said getting involved in sports helped instill in her a positive attitude that carried over into other parts of her life.

“Taking the next step forward in my life, I will miss so much being able to go out on the field

or court with my teammates and knowing that no matter what, I gave my all and did the best I could,” Majewski, of Wantanah, Ind., said. She will attend Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana. “We are ready to step into our future.”

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Four County Catholic June 2015

203 Graduate From Middletown’s Xavier High School Middletown - Xavier High School’s Class of 2015 celebrated the start of a new chapter Sunday with

Xavier High School Class 2015 (from left) Matthew Daigle, Tom Fredericks and Joe Cambareri poses for photograph before commencement Exercises.

Photo by Marc-Yves Regis I, Hartford Courant.

By Jordan Otero Reprint from the Hartford Courant

the school’s 49th commencement exercises.

Xavier High School, a Catholic school for boys founded in 1963, graduated 203 students during the ceremony.

Friends, family and loved ones packed the gymnasium at the school to honor the graduates, who wore plain black robes over collared shirts and ties. Many also wore various colored tassels and medals around their necks, signifying academic achievement.

During the ceremony, the school recognized students with awards in areas such as religion, mathematics, campus ministry and several world languages.

Valedictorian Nicholas J. Indorf of Wallingford, who will double major in molecular biophysics and biochemistry and music performance at Yale, said that despite the stress and struggles, the students’ time at Xavier has made them what they are. “As challenging as those four years were, I believe what we learned here has not only prepared us for what

lies ahead, but has given us confidence in our ability to contend with what’s around us,� Indorf said. “Xavier [has] left its mark on us.�

The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, gave the graduates their diplomas on stage Sunday. Bishop Cote also encouraged students to strive to live out their faith going forward, saying, “A good life is answering God.� “Faith is important,� he said. “It’s

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my hope that your time here at Xavier has taught you the value of faith. If you are to be well-rounded and focused, you must continue to develop the inner freedom and a spirit of service, which can only re-

sult from your ongoing spiritual formation.�

Headmaster Brian Davis echoed Bishop Cote’s remarks and told students that their four years spent at Xavier were simply practice for life

to come.

Davis told them to “have faith in God...and have faith in yourself as you continue to grow into the man that God created you to be.� “While our work with you at Xavier is done, your work is not. You have so much yet to do,�

Davis said. “You and I like to know things quickly, completely and right now, but there are important things ahead of you that you just don’t know yet. Life will continue to reveal its secrets to you a little bit at a time.�

26

Four County Catholic June 2015

Appointment of Ms. Abby L. Demars, Principal of SMSJ School We are delighted to inform our parish communities that Ms. Abby L. Demars has accepted the appointment as principal of St. Mary – St. Joseph School beginning July 1, 2015. Ms. Demars received her B.S. degree from the University of Connecticut in Molecular and Cell Biology in December 2000 and her M.A. in Teaching from Sacred Heart University in 2013. Ms. Demars has been a research assistant at the University of Connecticut, a teaching assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratories at Woods Hole, a staff scientist and program coordinator for the Connecticut Biobus and from June 2004 through February 2010 she was associated with the DNA EpiCenter, Inc. in New London and served five years as its executive director. Ms. Demars has received numerous scholarships and awards in addition to Phi Beta Kappa recognition in 2001. Ms. Demars is a resident of Norwich and an active parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Patrick Parish.

Submitted by The Very Reverend Laurence LaPointe and the Reverend Roger J. Lamoureux, O.M.I.

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From left to right: 8th Grade students at Sacred Heart School, Groton, Jonathan Foster, Robert Ventura, Nicole Lawton and Teacher, Mrs. Sheryl McCarthy.

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EVELYN S. KENNEDY

to attract interested volunteers to enhance teaching practical Mathematics. Evelyn Kennedy, owner of Sewtique in Groton responded and the result was a successful quilted pillow project in 2014. The program was again employed this school year.

One might ask what a pillow project has to do with math?

Everything! The class of eight students was lead to combine their math knowledge of linear equations, angles, geometry and use of tools such as the straight edge and protractor with sewing skills.

These skills, new to most, include everything from threading a needle to making templates, pattern design, knowledge of textiles and

hand stitching.

Using a 14” square paper block and appropriate math implements, each designed a quilted pillow top using notions, supplies and fabric donated by Sewtique. The paper templates of squares, diamonds or triangles came to life as they were

cut out of fabric each selected and applied to the pillow top. Some students had never used a needle and were skeptical about “sewing”, but each progressed nicely and learned or

improved their skill with each stitch.

Mrs. McCarthy energetically and most enthusiastically emphasized that the special project provided student skills beyond the classroom. All students found the project interesting and a challenge with Math as the core function.

She firmly believes that experiences such as the quilt project enables students to obtain new skills adaptable to high school and beyond.

Two from Sewtique have participated in this journey—Susan Landon of Groton and Damaris Rivera of New London. Also giving assistance were Griswold resident Angela Howard and Thena Cranfill of Gales Ferry.

The completed pillows will be displayed for viewing by Sacred Heart students, staff and administrators. It is anticipated this practical Math adventure will continue for the third time around, next fall.

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Four County Catholic June 2015

St. Mary – St. Joseph School 35 Valley Street – Willimantic, CT 06226 860-423-8479 • www.smsjschool.org

A Magnet School for Values

Science Collaboration Mercy High and Albertus Magnus College Mercy High School students, members of the Class of 2017 and 2018, attended a two day workshop at Albertus Magnus College to perform PCR on some of their own DNA. PCR, Polymerase Chain Reaction, is a technique for amplifying the DNA that is present in a sample. It is used for genetic testing and forensics work. Ms. Gianna Iannucci of the Mercy Science Faculty has organized this college collaboration with Dr. Mark Barreuther, biochemist at Albertus Magnus College, for the past several years for a select group of underclasswomen who excel and have an interest in this field of study.

Photo L to R: Jessica Abel, daughter of Howard and Brenda Abel of Guilford; Autumn Anderson, daughter of Anthony and Rosemarie Anderson of Hamden; Nicole Cizauskas, daughter of Daniel and Dawn Cizauskas of Middletown and Rachael Finch, daughter of Robert and Patricia Finch of East Haddam.

Submitted by Marie Kalita-Leary, Director of Communications and Public Relations.

• • • • • • •

PreK—3 year olds (3 half days) PreK – 4 year olds full or half days Full day Kindergarten – Gr.8 Before and after school care Weekly Art, P.E., Music, Library, Technology Classes Student to Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Challenging academic program

Trust your child to a Catholic School where faith, knowledge and life meet.

Come visit us!

SAVE THE DATE!

6th Annual

SETON SCHOLARSHIP DINNER WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 1, 2015 AT 4:00 PM Honoring: BROTHER LAWRENCE HARVEY, CFX, SISTER MARY A. MCCARTHY, RSM AND MRS. KATHLEEN R. CLANCY THE RIVERHOUSE AT GOODSPEED STATION 55 BRIDGE ROAD • HADDAM, CT 06438 For sponsorships, advertising and tickets, please contact Kathy Gaito at 860-886-1928 x15 or kgaito@norwichdiocese.net

An Education You Can Believe In.

Inspiring Achievement. Celebrating Community.

Embracing Service. Living Faith.

Supported financially and spiritually by 10 parishes in the Middletown Deanery.

Currently the only regional Pre-K to 8th grade school in the Norwich Diocese.

St. John Paul II Regional Catholic School 87 South Main Street / Middletown, CT 06457 Telephone: 860-347-2978 / www.jpii.org

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Four County Catholic June 2015

◆ Renowned college preparatory boarding school for young men who have not yet realized their potential. ◆ Located in scenic southeastern Connecticut

Our Lady of Sorrow, Essex On Sunday, May 3rd 2015, Father Arul Rajan Peter and the parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows Church welcomed The Most Reverend Bishop Michael R. Cote to confer the sacrament of Confirmation.

Submitted by Caitlin Riley.

Rejoice in Hope St. Michael’s Institute of Sacred Art

Silent Directed Retreat

June 21­25, 2015 Mosaics With Vonn Hartung

July 26­August 1, 2015 With Sister Eugenia Brady, SJC and Dr. Phyllis Zagano

June 28­July 5, 2015

Woodcarving

Day of Recollection

Guided Retreats

July 15, 2015 With Mother Olga, Daughters of Mary of Nazareth

With Vonn Hartung God invites us in the midst of the noise and distractions we face every day to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him.

July 5­11, 2015

Scripture by the Sea

Set some time aside for Him, book your retreat today!

With Sister Eugenia Brady, SJC

(860) 536­0565 www.endersisland.com

The Joy of the Gospel

July 11­17, 2015 With Deacon Steven DeMartino

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Photographed (left to right): Rita McDougald-Campbell, Chair of the Governor’s Scholars Committee and House Principal, Trumbull High School, Abhishek Gupta ‘16 and Donna Schilke, President of the Connecticut Association of Schools and Principal, Smith Middle School in Glastonbury.

Xavier Student Abhishek Gupta ‘16 Named 2015 Governor’s Scholar Abhishek Gupta ‘16 was selected as one of thirty of Connecticut’s top juniors designated as a Governor’s Scholar. Sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS), the purpose of the program is to recognize academically talented high school students in schools throughout the state, and present thirty students for special recognition to the Governor of Connecticut. All students recognized for this prestigious award were honored at the Nineteenth Annual Governor’s Scholars Luncheon which was held at the Aqua Turf in Southington on May 21.

Each honoree received a plaque designating him/her a Connecticut 2015 Governor’s Scholar as well as a letter of congratulations from Governor Malloy. Twentynine of Connecticut’s colleges and universities also support this program by making gratis college level courses available to the thirty scholars. The University of Connecticut will award an Academic Excellence Scholarship (currently valued at $5,000 a year

for eight semesters of undergraduate work) to all Governor’s Scholars who are enrolled for the fall 2016 entering class.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court All Saints #1435 from Somersville, CT are pleased to announce the state level winners of the annual national education contest with the theme: “Be a Good Neighbor” or “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself ”. Madison Gebo, Grade 4, Somers Elementary School, placed third in art while Jasmine Yard, 8th grade student at St. Martha’s school in Enfield, CT placed first in poetry. Jasmine’s poem has also been entered into national competition.

The contest was open to all “Faith Formation” students in the parish. Pictured from left to right are: Jasmine Yard, Mary Ann Julian (education chirperson} and Madison Gebo.

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25 Squire Street New London, CT For information call 860-442-1720 sjsscty@ct.metrocast.net www.sjsnl.com

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Four County Catholic June 2015

by Karen H Whiting

Banners and Flags Last fall our country celebrated the 200th anniversary of our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. It praises our flag. Banners symbolizing a nation or citizenship are not new. The word banner is used eighteen times in the Bible. Another word in the Bible for a flag is a standard. Moses built an altar and called it “My Lord’s my banner.”

The Israelites had a flag for each of the tribes. In our country each state has a flag. Flags inspire people to be patriotic and to have pride in their country.

June 14th is Flag Day in America. We celebrate by wearing red, white, and blue and flying the flag. It’s not just a simple design. People took time to consider the colors and design. The stars represent the fifty states, the stripes remind us of the history of our nation and the thirteen original colonies who fought for our freedom. The colors are also in the great seal of our Country. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress in 1777, reported to Congress: “...White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice.”

Did You Know?

June 4 Feast of Corpus Christi (the body of Christ). Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 and chat about preparing your heart for communion.

June 14 Family History Day and a great time to share stories about your family. Remember too that you are part of God’s family. Stained glass windows often depict the stories from the Bible about the history of God and his people.

June 20 American Eagle Day: the eagle is the central image in the Great Seal of the United States and used on American coins. In the Bible, an eagle reminds us that God will renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31).

June 29 Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These two great leaders of the church followed Jesus and worked heart to spread God’s love. Talk about how you spread God’s love and how you share your faith.

Celebrate Father’s Day Make promise coupons for your dad. Cut out a shape Dad likes (hamburger, baseball bat, golf club, boat) and write promises on the cutouts. Or simply cut rectangles and write the promises on each coupon.

Promise ideas: A snack

A joke

A back rub

An extra chore

Take a walk

Sing a song

Wash his car

Make breakfast

Hugs and kisses

Play a game

Play catch

Dad’s TV choice

Quiet time (1 hour)

Photo

Listen quietly

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Four County Catholic June 2015

Castro: Pope Francis So Impressive I Might Return to Church Vatican City - Cuban President Raul Castro paid a call Sunday on Pope Francis at the Vatican to

By Frances D’Emilio The Associated Press

thank him for working for CubanU.S. detente — and said he was so impressed by the pontiff he is considering a return to the Catholic Church’s fold.

“Bienvenido (welcome)!” Francis said in his native Spanish, welcoming Castro to his studio near the Vatican public audience hall.

The Cuban president, bowing his head, gripped Francis’ hand with both of his, and the two men began private talks. The meeting lasted nearly an hour, as the Argentine-born Francis and Castro spoke in Spanish.

Francis will visit Cuba in September en route to the United States.

After leaving the Vatican, Castro, the brother of Fidel, the revolutionary leader who brought the Communists to power in Cuba, gushed with praise for Francis.

The pontiff “is a Jesuit, and I, in some way, am too,” Castro said at a news conference. “I always studied at Jesuit schools.”

“When the pope goes to Cuba in September, I promise to go to all his Masses, and with satisfaction,” Castro said at a news conference at the office of Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, whom he met with after the Vatican talks.

“I read all the speeches of the pope, his commentaries, and if the pope continues this way, I will go back to praying and go back to the church, and I’m not joking,” he said.

It was a startling assertion for the leader of a Communist country, whose crackdown on dissidents in the past had drawn sharp Vatican criticism.

“I am from the Cuban Communist Party, that doesn’t allow (religious) believers, but now we are allowing it, it’s an important step,” Castro said.

Speaking about Francis, Castro said he has been “very impressed by his wisdom, his modesty, and all his virtues that we know he has.”

Castro had already publicly

thanked Francis for helping to bring Havana and Washington closer together after decades of U.S. government policy of strict isolation of the Communist-ruled Caribbean island. On Sunday, he

stepped up his praise on Francis’ push for the two nations to put enmity aside and work for reconciliation for the benefit of Americans and Cubans.

As he took his leave from the

Va t i c a n , Castro told journalists, “I thanked the pope for what he did.”

Va t i c a n spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the president also “laid out to the pope the sentiments of the Cuban people in the wait and preparation for his upcoming visit to the island in September.”

Francis gave Castro a medal depicting St. Martin of Tours, known for caring for the destitute.

“With his mantle he covers the poor,” Francis told Castro, saying

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more efforts on behalf of the poor are needed.

Fidel Castro met with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1996. That encounter helped pave the way for John Paul’s 1998 pilgrimage to Cuba, the first visit by a pontiff to the island. John Paul was also eager for Cuba to grant more visas for foreign priests to bolster the dwindling corps of clergy on the island.

The Vatican’s general policy of opposing economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool carries appeal for Cuban leaders and people, after decades under a U.S. economic embargo. With the Vatican keen on protecting the interests of its Catholic followers under Cuban Communist rule, Pope Benedict XVI also visited the island.

Castro told reporters that “we are trying to carry forward improvements of our political, social and cultural system. But it’s very difficult to do it without causing shocks, without leaving some in the street.”

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Four County Catholic June 2015

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