Inside this issue 3 Fr. Rolando Arias to be ordained in Bethel 15 Diocese releases financial reports Please visit us on: ) at www.facebook.com/ Fairfield County Catholics ORTENSEN M and at bridgeportdiocese at www.twitter.com/ MY A dobevents, dobyouth BY Latest news: HOTO bridgeportdiocese.com (P Frank E. Metrusky, CFP® President and Financial Advisor 945 Beaver Dam Road Offering more than 30 graduate programs in Stratford, CT 06614 growing and in-demand fields including: Business · Communication · Education · Health Professions · Arts & Sciences 203.386.8977 Apply now and start as early as January 2014. Securities and Advisory Services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA/SIPC, and a Registered Investment Advisor. www.sacredheart.edu/graduate · [email protected] Catholic Way investments and NPC are separate and unrelated companies. 2 December 2013 Spirit of the Season 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 one 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 LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH— 6 “JESUS CHRIST IS LORD” 25 REVISITING PACEM IN TERRIS Aaron Cipriano lights the Advent Wreath while his wife, Bishop Caggiano Coat of Arms Peace on Earth Patricia Freyler and daughter, Sabryne, look on before Mass Inside this issue at St. Matthew Church in Norwalk. Fr. Sunil Pereira, IMS, 9 A DAY IN BETHLEHEM 27 THE KIDS HIT THE STREETS celebrated the Mass. The Cipriano-Freyler family joined Youth Service in New York A Local Excursion Fr. Rolando Arias 3 to be ordained in Bethel many other individuals and families who have participated ) in the wreath ceremony at St. Matthew. The wreath SPORTS: ST. JOSEPH FOOTBALL ORTENSEN NURTURING YOUTH 30 M 12 MY A BY Diocese releases is a symbol of anticipation for the coming Christ. HOTO 15 Financial Reports (P Cardinal Shehan Breakfast Joe Ryan Reports Please visit us on: ABOVE THE FOLD: Members of the St. Matthew at www.facebook.com/ Fairfield County Catholics at www.twitter.com/ Youth Choir, led here by Ali Mills, sing during an dobevents, dobyouth Offering more than 30 graduate programs in growing and in-demand fields including: Latest news: A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS DIOCESAN FINANCIALS bridgeportdiocese.com Business · Communication · Education · Health Professions · Arts & Sciences 32 Apply now and start as early as January 2014. 15-22 ® Frank E. Metrusky, CFP www.sacredheart.edu/graduate · [email protected] Advent Mass marking the beginning of the new President and Financial Advisor Bishop’s Stewardship Report Columnist Joe Pisani 945 Beaver Dam Road Stratford, CT 06614 203.386.8977 Liturgical Year. (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 2013 Local and State News Diocese releases financial statements BRIDGEPORT—The Diocese reduced expenses. include caring for a growing report is the first of a three-step of Bridgeport has released an Amounts paid number of retired priests, deter- process towards creating and Annual Stewardship Report along for settlements in mining how best to serve the implementing a long-term strategy with an accompanying financial sexual abuse cases faithful in parishes and schools “to foster a growing and vibrant commentary that outlines the fis- have decreased in a meaningful and cost effec- local Church.” Step two will cal years 2010, 2011 and 2012. over the last sev- tive way, and reaching out to require a consultative and collab- In addition to being available eral years. No Catholics who are estranged from orative process whereby leaders online, a condensed version of parish contribu- the Church. on every level can work together the Stewardship Report has been tion, Bishop’s Two additional reports will to articulate a sweeping pastoral printed in this issue of Fairfield Appeal money or be forthcoming. A summary vision for the future of the diocese. County Catholic, which goes out other fundrais- of the 2009 fiscal year will be The third and final step will be to more than 100,000 homes in ing dollars have issued separately by December development of a strategic plan by Fairfield County. been used to pay 31, because the diocesan fiscal the summer of 2014. “One of my first priorities is these settlements. year was changed in 2009 to The Stewardship Report also to provide a clear, transparent 2010, and replacing it with a Property sales have supported begin on January 1. (This neces- provides a summary of the wide and comprehensive account of defined contribution plan for these payments. sitated the issuance of an 18 range of pastoral, educational, the finances of the diocese for employees; In addition to pension liabili- month audit for the 2009 fiscal and charitable services provided the 2009-2012 fiscal years,” said • Instituting a pension shortfall ties, the primary causes for oper- year. As such, its findings cannot by the Diocese of Bridgeport. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, who assessment in 2011, with plans ating deficits from ongoing activi- be easily compared to the audit “We have much to be proud was installed as Fifth Bishop of to continue the assessment ties are the level of uncollectible results of subsequent years that of in the diocese, with many good Bridgeport on September 19. “It each year until the liability is amounts of reimbursable revenue cover a 12-month period.) After works being ministered in our represents as clear a picture as fully discharged; intended to cover employee the release of the 2009 fiscal year schools, our parishes, the social possible of the present state of our • Close monitoring of the pen- benefits and insurance program reports, a third report will be service ministries of Catholic diocese.” sion fund’s asset allocation expenses, primarily from inner- issued for the Faith in the Future Charities, our communication Over the last few years, the and investment strategy by city schools and parishes, and Fund for the 2009-2012 fiscal efforts with the faithful, and our diocese has taken a number of the Diocesan Finance Council increasing cost of healthcare and years. It is hoped that this final many diocesan pastoral services. steps to strengthen its financial Investment Committee; benefits. report will be available soon after This report will help us build position. Among these steps are: • Ongoing review and reorgani- The report summary said that the start of the new year. on this good work and create a • Freezing the Lay Pension Plan zation of diocesan operations some of the biggest challenges the Bishop Caggiano said the issu- vision for the future,” the bishop for all participants as of July to generate efficiencies and diocese will face going forward ance of the financial stewardship said. n Fr. Arias to be ordained at St. Mary, Bethel BY PAT HENNESSY children. His father, Pastor Arias, him in a different direction. A Seminary and spent a year there ordination as a transitional dea- is deceased. His mother, Maria Colombian priest who was serv- perfecting his fluency in English. con in June he has been serving Bishop Frank J. Caggiano Galvis de Arias, is a member of ing in the Diocese of Bridgeport He enrolled in Mount St. Mary’s at St. Mary’s. will ordain Fr. Rolando Arias San Vicente de Paul Parish in the “It’s been a blessing for me Galvis as a priest for the Diocese city of Armenia. having Fr. Cory as my pastor. of Bridgeport on December 14 at He attended local grammar I’ve learned so much from him,” the 12:30 pm Mass in St. Mary and high schools in Armenia, he says. “The St. Mary’s commu- Church in Bethel. Fr. Arias is the Colombia. Deeply devout, he nity has welcomed me, and the first priest the bishop will ordain volunteered for mission trips with staff has been great.” for this diocese; five more men his parish even while working in Over the past months, his are looking forward to priestly Bogotá, Colombia’s capitol city. service as a deacon has led him ordination this coming spring. Those experiences led him to to officiate at Baptisms, visit the Because Fr. Arias is the only consider a vocation to the priest- sick in hospitals, and get to know priest being ordained at this time, hood or religious life. “Out in the parishioners more deeply. “I’ve the Sacrament of Ordination is countryside, people appreciated had the opportunity to preach, being celebrated in St. Mary’s, his so much that we would spend and I’ve discovered that I like home parish. Holy Week or Christmas with that a lot,” he says. “I’m going to “Fr. Arias brings many them. It helped me realize that I continue to focus on that in the extraordinary abilities, including wanted to serve them more com- future.” his intelligence and lively sense of pletely,” he says. He sees it as a special blessing humor, to his priestly ministry,” As he began to explore that that his ordination will take place says Fr. Robert Kinnally, director calling, he made contact with on the feast of St. John of the of vocations for the Diocese of members of the Carmelite order Cross, one of the great Carmelite Bridgeport and rector of St.