THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD MAY 2019 WWW.ARCHDIOCESEOFHARTFORD.ORG ORDINATION BIBLE GUIDANCE QUASI-PARISH A neuroscientist pursues a new calling Turn to Scripture to deal with Vietnamese Catholics celebrate establishment the priesthood / PG. 6 everyday problems / PG. 10 of new quasi-parish / PG. 20 SERVING THE COUNTIES OF HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN AND LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT1 CONTENTS 4 ARCHBISHOP’S DESK 4 6 ‘Let it be done to me according to your word’ 6 ORDINATION A neuroscientist pursues a new calling the priesthood 7 VOCATIONS OFFICE Father Michael Casey discusses vocations 8 CONTINUING EDUCATION Management training 101: Priests schooled in business practices 8 10 10 BIBLE GUIDANCE Turn to Scripture to deal with everyday problems 13 GROW+GO Third Archdiocesan Synod: A process of discernment for a future family of faith 14 COVER STORY At Catholic Academy of Waterbury, STREAM is the word 14 20 20 QUASI-PARISH Vietnamese Catholics celebrate establishment of new quasi-parish 23 REFLECTION Compassion and caring can be the greatest antidote to despair, loneliness and depression 24 AWARDS Archbishop awards St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation to 129 worthy parish volunteers 26 AROUND THE 24 ARCHDIOCESE 30 APPOINTMENTS 31 OBITUARIES VISIT US AT: www.facebook.com/ ArchdioceseofHartford/ @ArchdioceseHart @ArchdioceseofHartford 2 Catholic Transcript | MAY 2019 | WWW.ARCHDIOCESEOFHARTFORD.ORG COVER PHOTO BY AARON JOSEPH MEET THE EDITOR talents to develop a stronger connection between the archdiocese and parishioners. THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD Journalistic Service in Connecticut with Karen A. Avitabile: As the editor of the Catholic Transcript, since 1829 what new features are you hoping to add TELEPHONE: 860.286.2828 or New editor of the in the coming months? 1.800.726.2391 Catholic Transcript To grow as disciples of Jesus, it is im- WEBSITE: www.catholictranscript.org portant to spend time with him each day EMAIL: [email protected] STORY BY SHELLEY WOLF in prayer. Some new columns, including Distribution: more than 174,000 PHOTO BY AARON JOSEPH learning about the lives of saints, will be a MAY 2019 testament and reminder that we can walk in eginning with the May the footsteps of people who have suffered Archbishop Leonard P. Blair PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER issue, Karen Avitabile took as we have suffered. charge as the full-time Nothing is more engaging than genuine Father James A. Shanley B EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF editor of the Catholic Transcript stories of people inspired by the teachings COMMUNICATIONS AND magazine and website. She brings of the Church and the activities of daily PUBLIC RELATIONS life. Columns and stories about marriage, significant editorial experience to Karen A. Avitabile parenting and other relevant topics can EDITOR the Archdiocese of Hartford. demonstrate how Catholicism per- Archbishop Leonard P. Blair meates all aspects of one’s life. Auxiliary Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt Avitabile served for 14 years Father Michael Casey as the editor of multiple Mary Chalupsky What do you hope readers will Mark Jahne editions of AAA Allied Aaron Joseph Group’s Journeys magazine, gain from reading the Catholic Joe Pisani Father Jeffrey V. Romans which was mailed to nearly Transcript on a regular basis? Shelley Wolf 1.5 million members. Prior Aside from the CONTRIBUTORS to that, she worked as a happenings in the CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH reporter for The Middletown archdiocese, I’d like readers JESUS AND HIS CHURCH WWW.FAITHCATHOLIC.COM Press and the Journal Inquirer, to gain a better understanding and as an editor at The Observer, of how we are all faithful Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The Middletown Press, The Berlin servants of Christ and we all Citizen and The Plainville Citizen. Most have a mission to evangelize or share our Elizabeth Martin Solsburg VICE PRESIDENT/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR recently, Avitabile was a market manager faith with others. When we allow ourselves for the American Red Cross, serving to be in a relationship with Jesus, we can Cynthia Vandecar Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. become his disciples. DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND CUSTOMER SERVICE After just a few weeks on the new job, we asked her about her career, her plans for the Jennifer Pomicter Where do you attend Mass? GRAPHIC DESIGNER publication and about her personal faith-walk. My lifelong parish is St. Thomas Church CATHOLIC TRANSCRIPT (USPS 0094-540, ISSN in Southington. I also attended junior high 1081-4353) is published monthly, except for school there, when it was St. Thomas Ju- February and August, by the Roman Catholic Travel editing seems interesting to most Archdiocese of Hartford, 134 Farmington Ave., nior High School. It is a wonderful feeling Hartford, CT 06105. Periodicals postage paid at of us. What was it like to be the editor of Hartford, CT and at additional mailing offices. belonging and contributing to a parish Journeys magazine? POSTMASTER: Send address changes to with people who share my faith and values. Catholic Transcript, 467 Bloomfield Ave., It could be grueling, as travel often is, but Bloomfield, CT 06002-2999. I have also been a member of the school was also very rewarding. There are so many ADVERTISING POLICY STATEMENT: Catholic Tran- destinations, fascinating historic places and board, served as president of the Ladies script does not endorse the services and goods Guild and organized the 150th anniversary advertised in its pages. Acceptance of advertisers unique moments representing America’s and advertising copy is subject to the editor’s banquet for my church. approval, and Catholic Transcript reserves the right diverse architecture and culture that have to reject or edit any advertising copy. No alcoholic been preserved forever. It has been a plea- beverages, political advertising or materials con- trary to the teachings of the Catholic Church or sure to explore so many of them and to the policies of the Archdiocese of Hartford will be You’ve been a lifelong Catholic. What do you accepted. Advertising will not be accepted from cross them off my bucket list, too. entities that — in the judgment of the editor — most appreciate about your Catholic faith? have as their primary focus products, services or We are taught from an early age that we positions that are contrary to the official teaching of the Catholic Church or the policies of the arch- How is your new position going so far? are sinners; but we are forgiven for our sins diocese. Neither the publication nor publisher shall be liable for damages if an advertisement fails to It is refreshing to work with a group of by God. It is comforting to know that God be published or for any error in an advertisement. people, both lay and clergy, striving to will never desert us, but, instead, walks by Distributed free of charge to nearly 175,000 house- embrace stewardship. Everyone uses their our side every day. holds in Connecticut through the generosity of donors to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. 3 ARCHBISHOP’S DESK ‘LET IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD’ uring this month of May dedicated to the and mission plan for us. We have Blessed Virgin Mary, I would like to reflect a no way to know from day to day what life will bring. Just as Mary, bit on her “yes” to God at the Annunciation, D on the day of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to her with the could not possibly have known message that she was to conceive and bear a son. what lay in store for her. Yet in Mary’s “yes” is the most important and decisive faith she said “yes,” and we have answer ever uttered by one of God’s creatures for as to do the same. long as time shall last. Without her womanly “yes,” And when we realize that, then we begin to understand what there could be no conception and birth of the eternal true holiness is. Holiness has Word, no fulfillment of God’s plan for our redemption. been defined as that attribute of a person who allows himself or You and I are caught up in the our lips. You can imagine how herself to be perfected by God, “yes” that Mary gave. Not only short-lived a human marriage who cooperates with God, who do we reap the benefits of her would be if the “I do” were only a says “yes” to God. And when we answer, but we, too, have to say matter of words. Our “yes” to God do that, we fulfill the purpose for “yes.” Scripture tells us that the and to his plan must be a total gift which we were created; namely, whole human race was created to as in marriage, a total gift of self the perfection of charity be married to God. The distinction like Mary’s body, soul and love of God and neighbor between male and female, and spirit. First, we accept the love of beginning on earth and fulfilled in ARCHBISHOP LEONARD P. their union in marriage, is Christ the bridegroom, and then heaven. BLAIR as St. Paul says in his Letter to we reciprocate with our own gift of May each of us find in Mary the is the 13th the Ephesians a sacrament self to him. inspiration and strength we need bishop of the of Christ’s love for his bride, But what does our “yes” entail? to commit ourselves entirely to Archdiocese the Church. Obviously, we say “yes” to the gift God’s hands in this way. of Hartford In his apostolic letter Mulieris of life, “yes” to God in Christ, “yes” Dignitatem, Pope St. John Paul II to our Catholic faith, to what the says that the spousal love of God Church believes and teaches.