Inside this issue 3 Bishop ordains Father Guy Dormévil 16-20 Vals and Sals Annual graduation round-up Ballpark or dog park. Whatever your destination, our new orthopaedic institute will get you there. Learn more at CTOrthoInstitute.org 2 June 2021 Around the Diocese Remembering those who served A season of new beginnings! BRIDGEPORT—Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) volunteers by Elizabeth Clyons place flags on the graves of veterans in preparation for Memorial Day at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 1056 Daniels Farm Road in C4Y auditions continue! Trumbull. BRIDGEPORT—Incoming 8th through 12th graders Many people throughout the diocese paid a visit to one of the 14 diocesan cemeteries to offer a prayer and remember those who recently auditioned for a spot in the diocesan youth choir, have died, particularly all those who served the country. C4Y. “It was wonderful to hear the singing talents of these stu- dents at auditions. They’re going to make this upcoming year of music truly spectacular,” said Emily Lomnitzer, coordina- tor of C4Y. Make-up sessions will run throughout the summer. Sign up for a slot at the C4Y webpage (www.bridgeportdiocese.org/ c4ysings/youth-choir-catholic-diocese). There are many spots still available! The final choir roster will be sent out by the end of June and rehearsals are planned to begin in August. Please email Emily.Lomnitzer@diobpt for more information or for questions. (Follow the Instagram page for updates: @C4YSings.) Holy Spirit Fraternity meets, welcomes new members FAIRFIELD—The Holy Spirit Fraternity in Fairfield met in person for the first time in 14 months on May 15, with the fra- ternal joy of the Rite of Admission for John Otis, parishioner at St. Aloysius in New Canaan and Pat Torpie, parishioner at St. St. Rose 8th-grade: ‘this class will always be a family’ Anthony of NEWTOWN—This Sunday, June 6, St. Rose School held its graduation ceremony at St. Rose Padua in Church for the 8th grade class of 2021. Wearing caps and gowns (boys in blue, girls in white), the Fairfield. graduating class processed in two-by-two to the front pews of the church followed by teachers from The grades K-8, Mr. Gjoka, fraternity Sister Thaddeus and for- met virtu- mer principals Mrs. Mary ally from Maloney (now president of March Immaculate High School) 2020 to and Sister Colleen Smith. April 2021. Mass was celebrated by John and Msgr. Robert Weiss fol- Pat waited lowed by the bestowal of patiently diplomas, highest average for the awards and scholarships. Rite of Two students spoke about Admission to be in person as was in keeping with the guidelines their years at St. Rose of the national Secular Franciscan Fraternity. School and their hopes for Holy Spirit Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order, meets the this class going forward. third Saturday of the month at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 149 They said that no mat- South Pine Creek Road in Fairfield. Secular Franciscans are a ter when they came to community of Catholic men and women in the world who seek to St. Rose, many started in pattern their lives after Christ in the Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. preschool but many joined l-r: Pat Torpie, John Otis, Marilyn Mitchell, OFS, Minister in subsequent years including a group in 8th grade this year, the class is and always will be a fami- and Amy Nepomuceno, OFS, formation director. ly. After the ceremony graduates gathered on the steps of the church to do the traditional cap toss. ON THE COVER | CONTENTS A young graduate of St. 4 DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 12 WE STAND WITH CHRIST Thomas pre-school in Fairfield Get to know the office St. George Church receives grant Inside this issue was among the hundreds of ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL TRUMBULL CATHOLIC YOUTH DAY diocesan elementary and high 5 14 Bishop ordains 3 Father Guy Dormevil school students who enjoyed Closing in on $8.1 million goal Teens encouraged to ‘find your fire’ commencement ceremonies in Vals and Sals 16-20 8 AMBASSADOR FORMATION INITIATIVE 15 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Annual graduation round-up recent weeks. It was a school Bishop celebrates Mass for Ambassadors Dr. Cheeseman thanks teachers year like no other—and a or Ballpark strong finish! 9 ST. MATTHEW, NORWALK 25 HARTFORD HEALTH & ST. VINCENT’S dog park. Whatever your destination, our new orthopaedic institute HOTOS BY HRISTINA ODRIGUES News from our local hospitals will get you there. Father Jeff Couture installed as pastor P C R Learn more at CTOrthoInstitute.org 3 June 2021 Diocesan News Bishop ordains Deacon Dormévil to the priesthood BY JOE PISANI and Guylendy Bernadette tected his wife and children “by Dormévil, 26, of Marietta, not simply providing food and BRIDGEPORT—Bishop Frank Ga., and a grandson, Marcus shelter but by the example of your J. Caggiano ordained Deacon Alexander Dormévil of Norwalk. Christian life to give the spiritual Guy Dormévil to the priesthood Father Dormévil was given a food of fidelity, perseverance, on Saturday, the Memorial of the sustained ovation by the congre- love and mercy. You discovered Immaculate Heart of Mary, urging gation as he was brought before the power and beauty of being a the widowed father of two adult the bishop as a candidate for father, and now in this last year to children “to become through grace ordination. He prostrated himself become a grandfather.” a father of a larger family so there while the Litany of Saints was Bishop Caggiano said that God will be thousands who will have the privilege to call you ‘Father’ for you will be their spiritual father.” “In the years ahead, you will have the occasion to defend them THE NEWLY ORDAINED FATHER DORMÉVIL extends one of his by teaching them the truth, by first-blessings as a priest. Father Dormévil will become priest moderator at preaching it fearlessly, which I Our Lady of Perpetual Help Quasi-parish in Stamford and be assigned to know you will do, for you will serve at the Church of St. Joseph and St. Ladislaus in Norwalk. preach what you truly believe in your heart of hearts,” Bishop the glory of Jesus Christ.” the Haitian Community, Father Caggiano said. “You will defend Then, the bishop announced Jean Ridley Julien, former chaplain God’s people, your new family, that Father Dormévil will become of Haitian/American Center, and your larger family, in a time when priest moderator at Our Lady of Father Brian Kiely, rector of Pope there is so much that threatens Perpetual Help Quasi-parish in St. John XXIII National Seminary. them, and you will protect them Stamford and be assigned to serve Father Dormévil left Haiti in as you will continue to protect at the Church of St. Joseph and 1988 when he had to leave his your natural family by giving sung. Then, he knelt before the planted a second seed in Dormévil St. Ladislaus in Norwalk. job as an immigration inspector them entree into the mystery of bishop who laid his hands on him, as a young man, recalling that After the Mass, as Bishop to take refuge in the U.S. He has God’s grace, by leading them in followed by dozens of priests who people recognized his spiritual Caggiano processed out of the worked as a Burger King clerk prayer and by feeding them the also imposed their hands, invok- qualities and would jokingly refer Cathedral, he received vigorous and manager, a certified nursing body, blood, soul and divinity of ing the Holy Spirit. to him as “Father Guy.” applause from the Haitian community. assistant, a grocery store produce Jesus Christ—the food that brings After the prayer of ordination, “Guy, you do not need me to Father Dormévil described the clerk, and then as a produce man- us entree unto eternal life.” he was vested with a stole and tell you how many lives you have path that led him to the priest- ager for 19 years. He attended St. Augustine Cathedral was chasuble, which were presented by touched already, how many lives hood, through St. John Fisher college part-time and received a filled with joyful members of the his son and daughter. The bishop you have already blessed, how Seminary and then Pope St. John certificate of English as a Second Haitian community who turned anointed his hands as a prepara- many people have been inspired XXIII National Seminary in Language and an associate’s out for the ordination. tion for the sacred duties he will by your fidelity and witness, and Weston, Mass. degree in business administration. “I can’t even express the pro- perform. Then, the bishop handed how much your family loves “I have been a devoted and very He also earned non-degree credits found gratitude I have toward him a chalice and paten, which you,” the bishop said. “And now active layman since my childhood,” at University of Connecticut and God who called me, an unworthy signified the central importance of the Lord will ask you to put your he said. “I always nourished the Sacred Heart University. servant, to such a holy mission, celebrating the Eucharist. hand to the plow and in this very desire of becoming a permanent On August 3, 2016, Bishop through my sharing of the priest- In his homily, Bishop Caggiano troubled and challenging world, deacon even though many people Caggiano approved his application hood of Christ, and I pray that he reflected on the meaning of “father” lead God’s people as one of his kept saying I should be a priest. to enter St.