December 19, 2014 945 Beaver Dam Road 7:30 P.M
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Inside this issue 3 New wing announced for Queen of Clergy 13 St. Agnes, Greenwich celebrates 50th Please visit us on: at www.facebook.com/ Fairfield County Catholics and at bridgeportdiocese at www.twitter.com/ dobevents, dobyouth Latest news: bridgeportdiocese.com The Knights Frank E. Metrusky, CFP® of Columbus President and Financial Advisor Handel’s December 19, 2014 945 Beaver Dam Road 7:30 p.m. Stratford, CT 06614 Chapel of the Holy Spirit 203.386.8977 Messiah Sacred Heart University | 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT Securities and Advisory Services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), New Haven Symphony Orchestra | Jeffrey Douma, Conductor SEATING IS LIMITED. Member FINRA/SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor. and the Christ Church New Haven Choir | Nathaniel Adam, Tickets are $35 each. $25 for senior citizens. Catholic Way investments and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. Choir Director Purchase yours today at www.edgertoncenter.org. 2 December 2014 Christ our Savior is born! Dear friends in Christ, absolute liberation from any sense nal destruction of our body. It is the Resurrected Christ. Such is the gift of salvation that of self, through enlightenment not solely the transformation of our Third, Christian salvation Christ has given to the world. It Since I was a little boy, I have and the conquest of all emotions. souls. Rather, Christian salvation is is the process by which we are is no wonder that the heavenly always enjoyed singing Silent The Christian understanding the healing each of us will receive saved from what weakens us for angels sang out with great joy: Night at Christmas. Each time I of salvation is very different in Christ, encompassing body, soul the sake of obtaining something “Christ our Savior is born!” sing this venerable hymn, I am from the one presented by these and spirit. It is for this reason that far greater. Through Christ’s May our Savior born in struck by the end of the second religions. Salvation in Christ is every Sunday we reaffirm our faith death and resurrection, we are Bethlehem bless you and your verse: “Christ our Savior is born”. the transformation and healing in the resurrection of the body in saved from the slavery of sin and families this Christmas and These few words summarize of the earthly life we now live by the Creed. Eternal life in heaven, all its destructive effects, includ- throughout the New Year. n the central mystery we celebrate grace. The suffering, pain and which will be fully revealed at the ing death. Such freedom allows every Christmas, namely, the sav- hurts of this life will give way end of time, will not make us less us to be united by grace with our to a life of endless love, joy and than who we are now. Rather, it loving God in this life and to live Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano peace. This new life has already will transform us into the image of eternally in His love in heaven. Bishop of Bridgeport begun in the power of the Holy Spirit whom we receive through faith and baptism. It is constantly nourished by the power of Sacred Scripture and the sacraments that we celebrate in the Church, Buon Natale especially the Eucharist. We will undergo the full transformation of our earthly life in a personal way Crèches of when we die. All creation will also be transformed when Christ returns at the end of time to judge DECDEC 11 Italy the living and dead. When that day comes, all who are saved will share fully the resurrected life of ing birth of the Son of God into Christ. toto our world. Three characteristics mark the In our secular world, many Christian view of salvation. First, ask: How is Christ the savior of salvation is a gift that comes from the world? What is the salvation Christ. We believe that Christ FEBFEB 11 that He offers to all people? In is the only definitive savior of the world in which we live, we all creation. This is so because must be ready to answer such salvation can only come from questions, for our sakes and those God and Jesus Christ is God of our children. who became man in his birth Not all religions share the from the Virgin Mary. Christ has same view of salvation as do saved the whole world because Christians. For example, Hindus He conquered sin and death once believe that each person is and for all time through His life, trapped in an endless cycle of death and Resurrection. Since birth, death and rebirth. Salvation the Lord gives to His followers a is achieved when one is released share in His very life, countless from this cycle of reincarnations. men and women have worked as It comes only to the one who missionaries to spread the Gospel realizes that everything, including of salvation to all. In other words, oneself, is an illusion. Buddhism salvation comes to all people only goes even further and states that through Christ. No one can come Sunday Dec. 28, 12-3pm the human soul does not exist. to the Father except through Him Those who believe in the exis- (John 14: 6). 1 State Street, New Haven tence of a soul are doomed to Second, Christ’s offer of salva- kofcmuseum.org suffer. Salvation for the Buddhist tion transforms the entire person. Free admission & parking is the realization of nirvana, or Salvation does not mean the eter- Christmastime Family Day ON THE COVER | CONTENTS MIGUEL LOCK, his sister Therese, NEOPOLITAN CHRISTMAS (left) and Elizabeth Vas were among 7 SAFE ENVIRONMENTS 20 At Knights Museum in New Haven the carolers at last week’s Christmas 2015 handbook published Inside this issue Extravaganza for children with special needs and their families. The carolers 8 SYNOD 2014 23 REMEMBERING DEACON REVERÓN New wing announced Wrestling with challenges First Hispanic deacon 3 for Queen of Clergy were from St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish Youth Choir in Brookfield. The Extravaganza was made extra special OH WHAT A NIGHT 25 PASSING ON KINDNESS 10 St. Agnes, Greenwich 13 celebrates 50th with the help of Convivio teens. Kolbe Cathedral students Merton celebrates 40th Please visit us on: The Knights of Columbus ABOVE THE MAST: Even the at www.facebook.com/ Fairfield County Catholics and at bridgeportdiocese December 19, 2014 at www.twitter.com/ 7:30 p.m. dobevents, dobyouth youngest guests enjoyed the Mass and Chapel of the Holy Spirit Latest news: Sacred Heart University | 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT bridgeportdiocese.com Handel’s SEATING IS LIMITED. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE DIOCESE ® Tickets are $35 each. $25 for senior citizens. CAPP COMMUNION BREAKFAST 30 Purchase yours today at www.edgertoncenter.org. 12 Frank E. Metrusky, CFP the Christmas activities that followed. President Messiah and Financial Advisor New Haven Symphony Orchestra | Jeffrey Douma, Conductor and the Christ Church New Haven Choir | Nathaniel Adam, 945 Beaver Dam Road Choir Director Calendar of events and activities Honors an “angel” Stratford, CT 06614 203.386.8977 Photos by Amy Mortensen 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 2014 Local News Groundbreaking for Queen of Clergy BY BRIAN D. WALLACE general of the diocese, welcomed By 2015, there will be the guests and said the expansion 80 priests in the Diocese of A large group of retired will serve priests for many years Bridgeport over the age of 75. priests, donors and invited guests to come. “It does a lot for priests’ “Many of the men continue to gathered on November 21 at the morale to know that we’re appre- serve in parishes and enrich the Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen of ciated at this time in our lives,” sacramental life of the diocese,” Clergy Retired Priests’ Residence Msgr. Scheyd said, noting that McLean said. in Stamford for a groundbreaking 12 priests will be waiting to move Construction of the first 10 ceremony. After several years of into the new wing when it is fin- suites will be completed and planning, a $3.5 million expan- ished in late 2015. ready for occupancy by the fall sion of the priests’ residence is Msgr. Scheyd said that plans of 2015. The remaining six units finally underway. for the residence began in 1998 will be built as the funds become Bishop Frank J. Caggiano when he and Bishop (now available. Each retired priest will described the groundbreaking as Cardinal) Edward M. Egan toured have a sitting room, bedroom, an “exciting and historic moment” other facilities. Prior to that time, NOVEMBER GROUNDBREAKING—(l-r) Msgr. William J. Scheyd, vicar bath and small kitchenette. All for the diocese. He thanked the retired priests, along with Bishop general of the Diocese of Bridgeport; Bishop Frank J. Caggiano; John Burns, residents will have access to a staff for their dedicated service Walter W. Curtis, lived in a wing Jr., of New Canaan, donor; Msgr. Peter J. Cullen, pastor of St. Michael Parish chapel, community room, library, to the resident priests, and he of the former St. Joseph Medical in Greenwich and Barbara Burns at the groundbreaking ceremony for the exercise room and dining area. thanked the donors for making the new wing of retirement suites at the Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen of Clergy Center in Stamford. The inde- Retired Priests Residence in Stamford. The age of priest retirement expansion a possibility. pendent living facility opened its in the Diocese of Bridgeport is Directly addressing the many doors on January 28, 2000.