Inside this issue 4 Father James Bates Ordained in Danbury 25-40 Annual ‘Vals and Sals’ High School Roundup FIND THE CARE YOU NEED WHEN AND HOW YOU NEED IT. planMYcare.com 2 June 2018 Feast of Corpus Christi Readying our hearts to receive the Lord BY BISHOP FRANK J. CAGGIANO On June 2, I had the privilege to participate in two Eucharistic processions to commemorate the Feast of Corpus Christi. The first was held at St. John Church in Darien, following the 11:30 am Mass. The other was a procession for the deanery of Norwalk, Darien and New Canaan that originated at St. Matthew Church and extended over two miles to Norwalk Community College. This procession was attended by over 400 people. Both processions were a beauti- ful public testimony of our Catholic faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The historic origin of the allowed many believers to look Corpus Christi procession gives upon the Eucharistic Lord and to us a spiritual lesson to reflect enjoy a spiritual communion with upon in our own age and time. him by glimpsing his presence In earlier ages, many Christians, and adoring him. acutely aware of their personal It seems to me that the spiritual sinfulness, did not come forward practice of our earlier forebears of grave sin in our lives and have seeking new life in him. For to to receive Holy Communion. reminds us that we, too, must not yet approached the Sacrament invite so great a Guest “under our In fact, tradition holds that never take for granted the great gift of Reconciliation and Penance. roof,” we must be ready in mind St. Francis received Holy of the Eucharist. When we come Just as we couple our hands and spirit to welcome him. Communion just a few times forward to receive, we must do so to receive the Eucharist, creating (This reflection original- in his life, so unworthy did he consciously and with a contrite a throne of honor for the Lord, ly appeared on Bishop Frank consider himself to be to receive heart for our sinfulness. We must so too let us always ready our Caggiano’s Facebook page. Follow so great a gift. The result was the never receive the Sacred Body and hearts and spirits to receive the the bishop for daily reflections and rise of an annual procession that Blood of the Lord if we are aware Lord’s Real Presence in our lives, weekly videos.) n ON THE COVER | CONTENTS YOUNG PEOPLE HELP 6 THE JOY OF GIVING THROUGH THE ACA CELEBRATING UNIVERSAL CHURCH LEAD the Eucharistic pro- 16 Msgr. Bronkiewicz and Father Reggie Norman Pentecost Mass at the Cathedral Inside this issue cession through the streets of Norwalk to celebrate the 9 A PILGRIMAGE IS NOT A VACATION 20 ONE RIVER, MANY STREAMS 4 Father James Bates Real Presence of Christ Ordained in Danbury Pat Hennessy in the Holy Land Columnist Thomas Hicks in the Eucharist. Bishop Caggiano joined the Annual ‘Vals and 14 FATHER COUTURE PRIESTHOOD JOURNEY 33 NEW WETLAND BOARDWALK 25-40 Sals’ High School Roundup procession and one at St. John Parish in Darien Magnificat Breakfast Talk At St. Joseph High School on the Feast of Corpus FIND THE CARE YOU NEED LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 6/20/18 4:41 PM Christi. (Photo 15 38 BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS WHEN AND HOW YOU NEED IT. planMYcare.com by Amy Mortensen) Deacon Brad Smythe’s Conversion Bishop honors top scholars and athletes june issue 2018.indd 1 3 June 2018 Latest News $5.5 Million gift to Foundations in Education BY JOE PISANI and we are excited about what technology will not only improve the future holds for our schools academic performance among A lifetime ago, when Tom and our students.” students but also increase their McInerney was a sophomore at Tom McInerney, who is chair self-confidence and give them St. Augustine High School in of Foundations in Education and lifetime learning skills. Brooklyn, his world history teach- CEO and co-founder of Bluff Tom McInerney, who is a er, Mr. Hitti, took him aside for Point Associates, a private equity product of lifelong Catholic the kind of talk teenagers would firm based in Westport, recently education, attended Holy Cross rather avoid. attended the introductory session Elementary School and St. Mr. Hitti didn’t mince his for the initiative. Augustine’s High School in words. He told Tom that he was “It’s relatively easy to write Brooklyn, followed by Cathedral “way underperforming” and had out a check,” he said. “What College, a junior seminary, and to do something about it ... fast. they’re doing is the hard work. later St. John’s University, where “He really made an impression They’re going to have to learn he received a degree in English on me,” Tom recalled, “And I new things. Some will be fright- literature and served on the board often think back to that conversa- PERSONALIZD LEARNING INITIATIVE—Tom McInerney of Westport ened, others will be energized of trustees for 13 years, five as tion, which I still remember after meets diocesan teachers at a recent meeting to introduce a new “Personalized by it, but they have to do the chairman. He also attended New 60 years.” Learning Initiative.” Almost 100 faculty and staff from six schools came heavy lifting because they’re the York University Stern School of It was one event that changed together to launch the pilot program. They gave McInerney a standing ovation people in the front lines when it Business and received an hon- the course of a teenage boy’s for his generosity and commitment to the program, which introduces the latest comes to providing good Catholic orary doctorate of commercial life. One event he remembered technology to the learning process. education—the principals and science from St. John’s. through his senior executive teachers who are in the classroom “I am absolutely convinced positions in the business world. Personalized Learning Initiative inform minds in truth and trans- every day. I cannot exaggerate that the years I spent in elemen- And one event among others that (see article on page 27) that form the lives of young people so the importance of what they do. tary school and high school and, inspired him to become a lifelong will be launched this fall with that they will live as missionary What I do is helpful, but it is only to a slightly less extent college supporter of Catholic education. pilot programs at six schools, disciples of our Lord,” Bishop giving them ammunition to fight because I was going at night, Tom and his wife Paula and eventually rolled out at all Caggiano said. the wars.” were very formative,” he said. recently gave a $5.5 million gift to Catholic elementary schools over Dr. Steven Cheeseman, The Personalized Learning “You learned about right and Foundations in Education, which the next three years. Superintendent of Catholic Initiative will provide an updated wrong and about your religion Bishop Frank J. Caggiano says “These programs will serve Schools, said, “This is an his- technology infrastructure, new and the tenets of the Catholic will “transform the paradigm of as the foundational cornerstone toric moment for the Catholic hardware and student devices and faith. As part of that process, you Catholic education in the Diocese for the transformation of our schools of the diocese. We are programs to support the tradition- also learned about integrity and of Bridgeport.” schools and support our mission reimagining what the Catholic al Catholic school educational morality, and the importance The gift will finance a as we seek to form hearts in faith, school classroom can look like experience, Cheeseman said. The ➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 Bishop meets Pope at CAPP-USA Conference VATICAN CITY—“New ended with a brief address by the with the group by successive Holy Policies and Life-Styles in the Pope and an opportunity to brief- Fathers. Especially poignant was Digital Age” was the theme at the ly meet with him,” said Bishop His Holiness’ personally greeting Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Caggiano, who noted there were each of the over 500 people in (CAPP) Foundation’s 25th over 500 people in attendance attendance. Anniversary conference, held at and the Pope met with every sin- The conference was highlight- the Vatican on May 24-26. gle person individually. ed with two addresses on “A Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, “In my brief remarks to the Common Christian Agenda for assistant ecclesiastical counselor Pope, I expressed how great a the Common Good,” the first by to CAPP in the United States blessing it was to finally meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary joined 30 CAPP-USA members him and promised him contin- of State of the Holy See, and and guests to attend the confer- ued prayers each day. At first he another by His All Holiness ence. smiled, then he laughed and very Bartholomew I, Archbishop of While in Rome, the bishop gently said ‘thank you.’ It was a Constantinople and Ecumenical also met the Holy Father, Pope simple, humble response that the Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Francis. world has come to deeply value Church. “It was a great grace to have in the Pope. It was a real moment Reflecting on these talks Pope met our Holy Father Francis last of grace to be able to encounter Francis observed, “Indeed this month! Let us continue to pray such simplicity and humility in the threat families are facing from to tell members, “Your own con- is an activity where ecumen- fervently for the Pope and his midst of so much pomp and cir- uncertain job opportunities and tribution is a privileged expres- ical cooperation is of special ministry in the Church,” Bishop cumstance.