Inside this issue 3 Bishop’s Scholarship Fund awards $2 million in aid 18 Chilean Celebration at Saint Charles Bridgeport Please visit us on: at www.facebook.com/ bridgeportdiocese at www.twitter.com/ dobevents, dobyouth Latest news: bridgeportdiocese.com Frank E. Metrusky, CFP® President and Financial Advisor 945 Beaver Dam Road THIS FALL Stratford, CT 06614 FALL 2015 COURSES 203.386.8977 START AUGUST 31st Securities and Advisory Services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor. Catholic Way investments and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 203-371-7830 OR, VISIT SACREDHEART.EDU/UCADMISSIONS SHU UC FCC 7-25-2015.indd 1 7/16/2015 1:49:04 PM 2 July/August 2015 SYNOD Celebration Mass A message from Bishop Caggiano For the past year we’ve been walking a synod journey as it discerned JOIN THE the challenges ahead and a plan for the future. Now we are set to affirm the work of the synod at the Celebration Mass on September 19, at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport. CELEBRATION We will come together in prayer to celebrate all we wish to accomplish and ask the Holy Spirit for the grace and strength Register NOW to to move forward. When we speak of the Celebration Mass, Attend SYNOD Closing we are talking about the closing of one Celebration Mass chapter of the diocesan synod and opening the next with the implementation and seeds we plant to bear fruit. There is a need to celebrate this in a big way. Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 11:00am There is no better way than to gather as a diocesan family of believers—people excited about being Catholic, people like you Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport who believe in the future of our Church, and want to show the world the Church is alive and well and has a path to spiritual renewal! What I really ask is simple: Are you willing to give up part of a Celebration of SYNOD 2014, and the beginning Saturday to come together with people from every part of our diocese? of a new era in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Come together to worship the Lord, give him praise and give thanks Join 9,000 faithful throughout the diocese and celebrate. for Mass, Music and Thanksgiving. “There is enough bad news in the world! This is the time for us to talk about the Good News of Jesus Christ and our Faith in the Church!”—Come and lend your heart and voice all that you are 9:00am Praise and worship before start of Mass to this great expression of faith in the Lord and the Church. I encourage you to participate in this exciting event in the life d of the diocese. Please register online now to help us plan for this most Multi Cultural Celebration joyful day: www.2014synod.org/tickets. d Debut of Diocesan Youth Choir SYN D 2 0 4 d Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT 1 Bishop of Bridgeport Procession Starts at 10:15am ON THE COVER | CONTENTS SERVING UP SMILES—New Covenant House of Hospitality vol- 4 WORLD YOUTH DAY 14 POPE FRANCIS unteers George Emmons, Linda Koe, Diocese to take large delegation Two women reflect on Papal Encyclical Inside this issue and Richard Greene are ready to serve guests at the new home of the Catholic 8 FAREWELL MSGR. VILLAMIDE 16-17 PRIESTS OBITUARIES Charities soup kitchen in Stamford. Bishop’s Scholarship Fund Msgr. Genuario; Father DeMarco 3 awards $2 million in aid Saint Peter Parish says goodbye (PHOTO BY SHARON MCKNIGHT) ABOVE THE MAST: LUCY GRANT PLAYS HARDBALL LIGHTING THE WAY— 19 FAMILY VACATION Chilean Celebration 11 18 at Saint Charles Bridgeport A boy from St. Charles Borromeo At Notre Dame High School Please visit us on: By Columnist Denise Bossert Parish in Bridgeport participates at www.facebook.com/ bridgeportdiocese THIS FALL at www.twitter.com/ dobevents, dobyouth in the recent Celebration Mass Latest news: st SIONS bridgeportdiocese.com FALL 2015 COURSES ® START AUGUST 31 7/16/2015 1:49:04 PM NEW COLLEGE OF NURSING 22 NUESTRA VOZ Frank E. Metrusky, CFP honoring Our Lady of Carmen. 12 President and Financial Advisor 945 Beaver Dam Road FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 203-371-7830 OR, VISIT SACREDHEART.EDU/UCADMIS Stratford, CT 06614 (PHOTO BY AMY MORTENSEN) Established by Sacred Heart University The Chilean community celebrates 203.386.8977 SHU UC FCC 7-25-2015.indd 1 Securities andMember Advisory FINRA/SIPC, Services offered and athrough Registered National Investment Planning Advisor. Corporation (NPC), Catholic Way investments and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. 3 July/August 2015 Bishop’s Scholarship Fund $2 million in aid distributed to diocesan families BRIDGEPORT—The Bishop’s to families who did not qualify has been reserved for elementary Scholarship Fund (BSF) has for aid in the past. school students. High school stu- awarded over $2 million in schol- Students demonstrating the dents will also be able to apply arship aid to students in Catholic most need were awarded up to for scholarship aid in 2016. elementary schools throughout the 85 percent of the full tuition cost, The diocese educates more Diocese of Bridgeport, according an increase of $1,000 over past than 9,000 students in its 35 (five to Siobhan Lidington, executive awards. high schools, 29 elementary, and director of the fund. When the fund was one center for early childhood In June, more than 1,800 announced in January, Bishop excellence) Catholic schools students received notification of Frank J. Caggiano noted that in in grades Pre-K-12 throughout their scholarship amounts. The addition to inner-city families Fairfield County. funds were distributed to families who could not afford the cost of a Families can apply for schol- at all income levels throughout Catholic education, many subur- arships each year for as long as the diocese. ban families were also struggling TUITION AID—In June, more than 1,800 families of all income levels the student attends a diocesan “This fund is truly transfor- to meet the cost of tuition, partic- throughout the diocese received notification of their scholarship amounts. In elementary or high school. mational because it supports the ularly if they have more than one addition to helping financially challenged families, the fund also gives a boost The Bishop’s Scholarships decision of all families in our dio- child in diocesan schools. to families with more than one child in diocesan schools. will be funded each year through cese who want a Catholic educa- “We want these and all fami- direct donations and a new tion for their children,” Lidington lies to know that they can benefit The scholarship fund, which tribute $2 million. She said that Scholarship Fund Dinner, along said, noting that the diocese will from scholarship aid,” said the was approved by the Diocesan one hundred percent of all the with revenue from the Annual continue taking new applications bishop. He noted that the fund is Consultors in December 2014, funds raised are distributed for Catholic Appeal, the Faith in the for aid over the summer. designed to award scholarships substantially creates a new finan- scholarship aid. The Bishop’s Future Fund, and a redistribution Over $350,000 was awarded of varying amounts to as many cial model for diocesan assistance Scholarship Fund is a permanent of existing parish educational to families with more than one students as possible who other- to schools. fund designed to provide tuition contributions. child enrolled in Catholic schools wise could not attend or remain Lidington said the BSF was assistance on an annual basis (For more info or to make regardless of their income. Over enrolled in the diocesan-spon- initially capped at $1.4 million for students to attend our dioce- a donation, contact Siobhan 300 new students received aid, sored Catholic school of their for its first year, but the diocese san-sponsored schools. Lidington: 203.416.1405 or while almost $1 million was given choice because of financial need. received a gift enabling it to dis- The first year of the funding [email protected].) n Bishop Caggiano leads ‘Krakow Kickoff’ WASHINGTON D.C., attend World Youth Day 2016 Day to start their spiritual prepa- (CNA/EWTN News)—For those from the U.S., and the anticipat- ration now through prayer and pilgrims thinking about partici- ed overall attendance is 2.5 mil- service. He suggested that they pating in World Youth Day 2016 lion. The theme will be “Blessed reflect on Jesus’ Transfiguration, in Krakow, Poland, Bishop Frank Are the Merciful.” and act as if they were climbing Caggiano has a message: It will Bishop Caggiano sees World the mountain now with Peter, be worth the sacrifice. Youth Day 2016 as an invitation James and John to see Christ Serving as World Youth Day for all young people to encounter transfigured at the top. Liaison for the U.S. bishops, he Christ’s transformative mercy. He For the three apostles, the acknowledged that attending the hopes attendees “have two expe- Transfiguration of Jesus began global gathering in Poland next riences.” the “rest of their life of faith,” he summer will have a cost—not The first, he said, is “that they said. In a similar way, by making only in money, but also in time themselves will be touched some- the pilgrimage and encountering and the hardships of traveling to KRAKOW KICKOFF—Bishop Frank J. Caggiano speaking at the St. John where deep inside of them. That God’s mercy at World Youth a foreign country.