Inside this issue 4 Fr. Terry Walsh makes pilgrimage to Bethlehem 16 Christmas Creches at the Knights of Columbus Museum Please visit us on: at www.facebook.com/ Fairfield County Catholics at www.twitter.com/ dobevents, dobyouth Latest news: bridgeportdiocese.com Frank E. Metrusky, CFP® Bring your dream. We’ll make it possible. President Completeyourbachelor’sdegreeonyourscheduleatUniversityCollege: and Financial Advisor Day,Evening,Weekend&OnlineClasses 945 Beaver Dam Road MultipleTermstoChooseFrom Stratford, CT 06614 FairfieldorStamfordCampus 203.386.8977 Springclassesbegin Securities and Advisory Services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), January 14th. Member FINRA/SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor. Catholic Way investments and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. Fairfield: 203-371-7830 • Stamford: 203-323-4959 www.SacredHeartUC.com 2012 SHU Spring FCC 12-15.indd 1 12/3/2012 5:09:52 PM 2 December 2012 Blessed Gifts 1. Visit www.BlessedGifts.org to select gifts. 2. Dedicate a gift to a friend or loved one. 3. The Diocese will send a card to your gift recipient or you may print on your computer or send an e-card. 4. The Diocese will direct your gift to the selected ministry. Questions: 203-416-1479 www.BlessedGifts.org Simply complete the Blessed Gifts supports your faith in action envelope that is inserted in the Fairfield County Catholic through ministries across the Diocese of Bridgeport. with your gift selections. Diocese of Bridgeport, 238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06606 ON THE COVER | CONTENTS ALLY’S ANGEL CARD—This colorful nativity scene 5 CBS 60 MINUTES 23 ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL MURAL of the Guardian Angel hovering over Bethlehem was paint- Highlights St. Ann School Is Talk of the Town ed by Ally Fallon, who attends St. Thomas Aquinas School. Inside this issue Her joyful work won a nationwide contest sponsored by 6 PAX CHRISTI AWARD 25 YOUTH PAGE the Holy Childhood Association. Ally designed the picture “I Love Christmas” To Fairfield Prep Senior 4 Fr. Terry Walsh makes pilgrimage to Bethlehem as part of a class project to help poor children in mission countries throughout the world. “Angels look after you 30 BITS AND PIECES and show up when you need help,” she says. 11 CHINESE STUDENTS Christmas Listings 16 Christmas Creches at the At Trinity High School Knights of Columbus Museum (Above the mast) Angels and Christmas lights Please visit us on: abounded during the recent Remembrance Tree lighting CHRISTMAS AT THE at www.facebook.com/ 31 Fairfield County Catholics Bring your dream. We’ll make it possible. at www.twitter.com/ Completeyourbachelor’sdegreeonyourscheduleatUniversityCollege: MATT HENNESSEY dobevents, dobyouth Day,Evening,Weekend&OnlineClasses 15 MultipleTermstoChooseFrom hosted by The Cathedral Parish in Bridgeport. Latest news: FairfieldorStamfordCampus CATHEDRAL PARISH bridgeportdiocese.com ® www.SacredHeartUC.com Springclassesbegin 12/3/2012 5:09:52 PM Frank E. Metrusky, CFP Art of Delayed Gratification January 14th. President PHOTO BY AMY MORTENSEN and Financial Advisor Fairfield: 203-371-7830 • Stamford: 203-323-4959 A Photo Tour 945 Beaver Dam Road Stratford, CT 06614 203.386.8977 2012 SHU Spring FCC 12-15.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 December 2012 Local News Most vulnerable sliding through safety net BY BRIAN D. WALLACE Conderino. “These been targeted toward them.” groceries to bring home and feed are people who Conderino says that people families. “Most of them are work- A growing number of people never needed help misunderstand the nature of ing people, many immigrant day who have never sought chari- before, don’t know homelessness in Fairfield County. laborers who we haven’t seen table support are showing up in how to ask and are While many struggle with sub- before and may not see on a soup kitchens, food pantries and sometimes ashamed stance abuse and chronic mental regular basis,” says Jenkins, who counseling programs provided to come forward.” health problems, others simply explains that many come in on by Catholic Charities across the After struggling can’t find housing they can months when their hours are cut Diocese of Bridgeport. with job loss and afford. and they can’t make ends meet. The lingering effects of the health care prob- “The perception is that people “We’re doing our job if they recession and unemployment, lems, many are aren’t working, but they are. come here to save money on their the high cost of housing and the simply tapped out They just don’t make enough to food budget and that prevents ongoing state and federal budget and have nowhere sustain themselves in an apart- them from becoming homeless,” cuts have left people struggling to else to turn. ment and pay for everything else. says Jenkins, who notes that stay afloat while there are fewer “We are find- You can’t find a one bedroom NCH serves almost 750 meals a resources available to help them. ing a lot of people apartment in Danbury for under day between its breakfast, lunch “Many people have gone under who timed out of $900.” and dinner offerings and its after- in the past year,” says Catholic unemployment and In Bridgeport, Merton Center school program for local children. Charities Vice President Sandy have burnt out all Director Mark Grasso says that Cole says the recent $63 mil- Cole. “When times got tough, other resources” he and the staff have seen a dou- lion budget cuts in mental health many of them went to their credit Conderino says. “In bling of the number of people services announced by the cards and then borrowed from the past, they would visiting the food pantry in the Malloy administration will lead friends and family to get by. Along have been caught HOMELESS OUTREACH— “These are people who past year. “That’s been kind of to a $57,000 decrease in Catholic the way, they’ve lost their jobs, by our prevention never needed help before,” says Michelle Conderino, a shocker for us. Now we have Charities programs that directly homes and emotional stability.” programs before of the newly poor and homeless served by the over 500 people coming in for serve the homeless and those Michelle Conderino, director becoming homeless. Homeless Outreach Team and Morning Glory feeding bags of food. We’re just seeing a suffering from chronic mental of the Morning Glory feeding The services just program. In the photo above Conderino, who serves lot more people who simply can’t illness. She says the cutback in program and Homeless Outreach aren’t there anymore as director of the programs, makes oatmeal for guests make ends meet, and the bad mental health services will be Team in Danbury, says that she to keep them from at Dorothy Day House in Danbury. “The services economy has finally hit them,” more expensive in the long run, just aren’t there anymore to keep them from falling has seen a 15% increase in the falling through the through the cracks.” he says. because many people suffering number of adults coming to the cracks.” At New Covenant House of from chronic illness who have Morning Glory breakfast program Many of the Hospitality in Stamford, Director functioned well with the proper at Dorothy Day House this year. newly homeless are likely to be very little, Conderino says. “They Brian Jenkins reports that his medication are no longer receiv- “We were kind of surprised over 50 years old and to have never thought they would be in food pantry has experienced an ing benefits and will ultimately because we thought most people worked their entire lives. Now, the position to need services, and increase of about 75 new people end up in emergency rooms and were over the hurdle,” says when they need help, there is the state’s services haven’t really a month coming in for bags for ➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 “Blessed Gifts” for Christmas and all occasions BRIDGEPORT— Blessed ning meal for retired priests at the She made her first Blessed Gift Gifts launched a Gift of Giving Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen of when the program was launched Campaign for Christmas that Clergy Residence in Stamford. last Christmas and was very enables donors to send cards to “The response has been enthu- pleased by the response, so this friends and loved ones while mak- siastic,” Rittman says, “because year she looked forward to the ing gifts to support vital ministries people are looking for a way to new giving opportunities. and programs of the diocese. make a meaningful and memo- “Christmas changes a lot as “You can make a gift in honor rable gift that reflects the values we get older and it’s nice to place of or in memory of someone, or and faith of those who are hon- the emphasis on giving rather simply let someone know you’re ored by it.” than receiving—especially when thinking of them and supporting Patricia Thomas, a parishioner we have so much,” says Thomas, good works in their name,” says at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish who is vice president of the Pam Rittman, who is coordinat- in Fairfield, recently purchased Ladies Guild, which made and ing the effort for the diocesan a Blessed Gift in honor of her sold Advent center pieces this development office. father by purchasing grocery year to support parish programs. Rittman said that some of the bags to serve hungry families “This is a great way to help those most popular gifts cards this year who visit New Covenant House in need by supporting ministries are those that enable the diocese of Hospitality food pantry in that reach out to them,” she says.