Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, These days after the conclusion of the Easter season, coupled with the lifting of many pandemic restrictions and the unofficial start of summer could lead us to think of our time as uneventful, run-of-the-mill, and far from extraordinary. The Church even calls this time “Ordinary” (though the word “ordinary” relating in this case to “ordinal,” that is, numbered time). Of course the idea that the time between Pentecost and Advent is in any way ordinary is completely mistaken. The time after Pentecost is the season of the Church. This is the season of evangelization,…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In 2014, the Diocese of Bridgeport held a Diocesan Synod, a one-year process of reflection, discernment, and preparation for the future. Among many important initiatives to come from the Synod was a Diocesan Catechetical Task Force, charged with examining faith formation (especially for children and youth) around the Diocese. Each parish was invited to reimagine their Faith Formation programs, and we responded with a special focus on . Our experience over the past three years has shown us some of the benefits these changes have provided for our parish and students, and we recognize areas…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is now almost one full year since the public celebration of Mass in Catholic churches across Connecticut returned after a three-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. In that time, attendance at Mass has not been a source of viral spread anywhere in the state. Very simply, we have learned over this last year that attending Mass is at least as safe as any other activity, including grocery shopping, dining in restaurants, going to school or work, or exercising in a gym. I believe that this is a sign of God’s protection over…read more

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Though it may seem an unlikely connection, our celebration this Sunday of Mother’s Day bears a strong spiritual connection to the great feast of Pentecost and the whole life of the Church. Today we celebrate our mothers, the women who gave us the gift of life, the women who nurtured that gift in us, the women who by virtue of biology, spiritual relation, adoption, or personal influence have shown us the deeper meaning of our humanity. We honor our mothers and those women in our lives who have taken on a maternal role, both…read more