Four County Catholic December 2010 by Diocese of Norwich

Volume 22/Issue 11 December 2010

Serving the Counties of Middlesex, New London, Tolland, Windham, CT & Fishers Island, NY

Four County Catholic December 2010

Inside Our Diocese Bishop’s Column ..............................................................................................................3 Vocations Corner & Diocesan Appointments ..............................................5 Calendar of Events ......................................................................................................6 Red, White & Blue Mass................................................................................................7 Blessed Saint Andre Mass at All Hallows ......................................................8 Prison Ministry Volunteers Honored at St. Edmunds ..........................9 Liturgy Notes ................................................................................................................10 Faith & Finances............................................................................................................11 Why Catholic? ..............................................................................................................12 Hospice St. Joseph Death to Life in Haiti ......................................................13 St. Bernard School Announces Headmaster Resignation ................14 Sacred Heart University Chapel’s Stained Glass Windows ..............15 Four County Catholic Thank You....................................................................16 Our Faith Finding God ....................................................................................................................17 Archbishop Dolan Picked to Lead U.S. Bishops ........................................18 Our Youth Christmas Gifts with a Spiritual Connection..........................................20 Twenty Something ......................................................................................................21 Interview with Mount Saint John Director, Doug DeCerbo ........22 R.I.S.E.N. Volunteer Honored at Sacred Heart School ......................23 Youth Bulletin Board ..............................................................................................24 Family Page ........................................................................................................................25 Our World 2010 Busy Travel Year for Evangelizing Pope ..............................................26 John Angotti & Steve Petrunak Perform at Carnegie Hall ..............27 Pope Benedicts Trip to Spain ................................................................................28 World’s Tallest Christ the King Statue in Poland ................................30 Religious Sisters Net $220K Selling Rare Baseball Card......................31

Four County

atholic Serving the Counties of Middlesex, New London, Tolland, Windham & Fishers Island, NY

Established in 1989 and published each month except July. Publisher

Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D. Bishop of Norwich

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FREE to Annual Bishop’s Appeal contributors and upon request to registered Catholics in the Diocese of Norwich, $20 per year for all others. Individual copies are $1 each. Editorial Deadline

The editorial deadline is the third Monday of the preceding month. Articles limited to 500-word max; letters to the editor limited to 200-word max and must include name, address and phone number for verification. Email photos as .jpeg attachments and MS Word copy to comtrina@norwichdiocese.net or fax to 860.859.1253. Publication not guaranteed. The Editor reserves the right to reject, omit or edit all editorial and advertising copy. Published opinions and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this newspaper. Member of

Bishop Michael R. Cote and Bishop Emeritus Daniel P. Reilly congratulate Monsignor Henry N. Archambault, Monsignor Thomas R. Bride and Monsignor Richard L. LaRocque on their extraordinary years of service respectively as Judicial Vicar, Vicar General and Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Norwich. A dinner in their honor was held at Christ the King Church, Old Lyme, November 09, 2010. Photo by Phil Twomey

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Four County Catholic December 2010

The Most Reverend

Michael R. Cote, D.D.

Bishop of Norwich

2010 A Year in Review: Living with Purpose My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The Year-In-Review covers on the front page bring to mind the journey of faith that 2010 has been for us as Catholics. An unrelenting economic recession can over time bring doubt into everyone’s life. It can shake one’s spirit. Faith brings us the strength to overcome. In this uncertain political climate, we maintained great resolve throughout the year in supporting platforms that protect and defend: the sanctity of life, the sacred union of traditional marriage, neighbors hurt badly by continuing unemployment and healthcare worries, and all within reach who should have an opportunity to learn more about the good news of the Gospel. On every account, we proved ready, able and of a generous and loving spirit. Nowhere was the caring Christian spirit more present than in your response to the cry for help from our brothers and sisters in Haiti and Chile following devastating natural disasters. In Haiti, the situation on the ground has now worsened as the Cholera outbreak and further flooding rain have brought even more suffering unrest and loss to the heav-

ily displaced population. Your lifesaving contributions to both Countries are still being administered and are providing relief on a daily basis. In the middle of all the challenges here at home, you found it in your heart to help others so far away. There just can’t be a more magnificent demonstration of how far and fast faith’s healing presence can travel. Here in the Diocese, organizations such as Catholic Charities and St. Vincent DePaul Ministries have been serving record numbers of families in distress. Your support of the Annual Bishop’s Appeal helps keep these and other vital ministries doing God’s work on the front lines. As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, reminds us, “The logic of Christ is the logic of Charity. God is love and to worship Him means to serve our brothers and sisters with sincere and generous love.” This is the spirit that inspires good works and the spirit that is the foundation on which we stand together for life, family, social justice, peace and respect for God’s precious earth. Charity and prudent management of resources in tough times go hand in hand. In 2010, the diocese continued the collaborative process

of pastoral planning to determine been in place for more than 100 among the parishes of each deanery years. Much has changed, particuhow greater efficiency of resources larly in the way of population patand programs can be achieved. The terns, in that span of time. The work of the ad latest deaneries hoc committee to report their The logic of Christ will be instrufindings to me is the logic of mental in prehave been Charity. God is love serving a viable Willimantic and to worship Him system that can and Norwich. means to serve our accommodate Like the Putbrothers and sisters all families in nam Deanery a with sincere and the diocese who year before generous love. would like their them, the Pope Benedict XVI children to have parish commita quality tees did an inspired job at determining how Catholic education. Aware of the certain parishes can pull together tuition cost burden, we are putting more cooperatively, given the press- plans in place, including the inauing economics of our time and the gural Seton Scholarship Fundraising shift in population over generations. Dinner, this Saturday, to help a Here again, the caring Catholic greater number of families receive spirit stands out as prospering in the tuition assistance as administered by the Catholic Foundation. year 2010. At the secondary education level, Catholic education remains a high priority in the diocese. This there are steps in progress to continyear, under the leadership of Super- ually improve the quality of educaintendent John J. Shine PhD, we tion and the faith-centered culture formed an ad hoc Commission on of our schools. Recently, after years Education to conduct a situation in planning and transition, St. analysis and recommend a path for- Bernard School in Uncasville offiward to strength our school system. cially became a member of the Two elementary schools in the sys- Xaverian Brothers Sponsored tem closed this year, each having Schools. “Saints Country” just be-

came a stronger nation. This year has also been a promising year regarding vocations to the priesthood. We are seeing renewed interest in young men answering the call to serve. The numbers of priests needed to comfortably cover the demand is still not in perfect balance; but it is improving. We believe fervently that the process of hearing the call and discerning a commitment to answer is a community activity. Please join me in prayer for vocations and stay alert to identifying candidates and supporting them through their journey into the priesthood. All of these hopeful developments create a portrait of a vigorous diocese firmly rooted in the ways and the Word of Christ Our Lord. We have some hills to climb, but we are strong climbers. We see others in distress, and we don’t hesitate to share and help. We defend life at every opportunity. We live with purpose. We look out for each other. We are Catholic and blessed with a strong faith. Faith will lead the way. Sincerely yours in Christ’s love,

Bishop Michael R. Cote

Revisión del Año 2010: Viviendo con Objetivo Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas en Cristo: La Revisión del Año descrita en la primera página trae a memoria la jornada de fe que el 2010 ha sido para nosotros como Católicos. Una recesión económica implacable con el tiempo puede traer duda a nuestras vidas. Puede sacudir el espíritu. La fe nos da la fuerza para vencer. En medio de este incierto clima político, mantuvimos gran resolución en apoyar aquellas cuestiones que protegen y defienden: la santi-

dad de vida, la unión sagrada de el matrimonio tradicional, los vecinos y las familias que han sido lastimados por el constante desempleo y por preocupaciones de asistencia médica, y de aquellos que deberían tener la oportunidad de aprender más acerca de las buenas nuevas del Evangelio. En cada uno de estos puntos, demostramos estar dispuestos, capaces y con un espíritu generoso y cariñoso. En ningún otro lugar el espíritu humanitario cristiano a dicho pre-

sente como en Haití y Chile en respuesta al grito de socorro de nuestros hermanos y hermanas después de los devastadores desastres naturales. En Haití, la situación ahora se ha empeorado con la epidemia de Cólera y las inundaciones a causa de las lluvias las cuales han traído más sufrimiento y pérdida a la población. Sus contribuciones a ambos países todavía están siendo administradas y proporcionan alivio diariamente. A pesar de todos los desafíos aquí en casa, usted encontró en su corazón

el deseo de ayudar a otros que se encuentran en lugares lejanos. No existe otra mejor demostración de cuan lejos y cuan rápido la presencia de una fe restauradora puede viajar. Aquí en la Diócesis, organizaciones como la Institución Benéfica Católica y los Ministerios de Saint Vicent DePaul le han servido a un gran número de familias en necesidad. El apoyo que ustedes ofrecen a el Annual Bishop’s Appeal ayuda a estos y a otros ministerios vitales a hacer el trabajo de Dios. Como nos

lo recuerda nuestro Santo Padre, Papa Benedict XVI, “La lógica de Cristo es la lógica de la Caridad. Dios es amor y el adorarlo significa servir a nuestros hermanos y hermanas con un amor sincero y generoso.” Este es el espíritu que inspira las buenas obras y es la fundación en la cual juntos nos ponemos de pie por la vida, la familia, la justicia social, la paz y el respeto por la preciosa tierra de Dios. La caridad y el prudente manejo Revision Del Ano Cont. on page 4

Four County Catholic December 2010

Revision Del Ano Continued from page 3 de recursos en medio de tiempos difíciles van mano a mano. En el 2010, la diócesis continuó el proceso de colaboración de planificación pastoral para determinar como usar más eficazmente los recursos y programas entre las parroquias de cada vicariato. Los vicariatos que me han entregado sus reportes más recientemente fueron Willimantic y Norwich. Igual al Vicariato de Putnam el año anterior, los comités de las parroquia hicieron un buen trabajo en determinar como ciertas parroquias pueden trabajar juntas más co-

operativamente, considerando la economía de nuestro tiempo y el cambio en la población a través de las generaciones. Aquí otra vez, se destaca el espíritu Católico humanitario prosperando en el año 2010. La educación católica sigue siendo de alta prioridad en la diócesis. Este año, bajo el liderazgo del Superintendente John J. Shine, PhD, encargamos que un Comité de Educación condujera un análisis de la situación y recomendara un plan de avance para fortalecer nuestro sistema escolar. Dos escuelas

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primarias en el sistema cerraron este Católica. A nivel de educación secundaria, año, cada una estuvo en existencia durante más de 100 años. Ha estamos tomando algunos pasos para el continuo habido muchos cambios, los La lógica de Cristo es mejoramiento de la calidad de modelos dela lógica de la Carimográficos, du- dad. Dios es amor y el educación y la cultura centrada rante ese adorarlo significa en la fe de nuestérmino de tiempo en par- servir a nuestros her- tras escuelas. manos y hermanas Recientemente, ticular muestran con un amor sincero después de años cambios en la y generoso. en planificación populación. El Papa Benedict XVI y transición, la trabajo del escuela de San comité será instrumental en la conservación de un Bernardo en Uncasville se hizo ofisistema viable que pueda acomodar cialmente miembro de las Escuelas a todas las familias en la diócesis Patrocinadas por los Hermanos quienes desean que sus niños tengan Xaverianos. “El país de los Santos” una educación Católica de calidad. se ha convertido en una nación más Consciente de la carga del costo de fuerte. Este año también ha sido un año cuota escolar, estamos poniendo en lugar algunos proyectos, entre ellos, lleno de promesa en cuanto a la voeste sábado, la Inaugural Cena de cación al clero. Vemos un renovado Recaudación de fondos de Beca interés en hombres jóvenes que conSeton, para ayudar a un mayor testan el llamado a servir. Los número de familias a recibir asisten- números de sacerdotes necesarios cia de cuota escolar la cual será ad- para cubrir cómodamente la deministrada por la Fundación manda esta mejorando pero aun no

está perfectamente en balance. Creemos fervorosamente que el proceso de escuchar el llamado y discernir el compromiso de contestar es una actividad de la comunidad. Por favor únanse a mí en oración por las vocaciones y permanezca alerta para identificar y apoyar a los candidatos durante su jornada hacia el clero. Todos estos desarrollos llenos de esperanza muestran un paisaje de una diócesis vigorosa, firmemente arraigada en los caminos y la Palabra de Cristo Nuestro Señor. Tenemos algunas montanas que escalar, pero somos escaladores fuertes. Vemos a otros en angustia, y no vacilamos en compartir y ayudar. Defendemos la vida en cada oportunidad. Vivimos con objetivo. Cuidamos el uno del otro. Somos Católicos y estamos bendecidos de una fe fuerte. La fe mostrará el camino. Atentamente en el amor de Cristo,

Obispo Michael R. Cote Traducido por Rebecca McDougal

ST. EDMUND’S RETREAT Prayers and Pasta Friday Evenings During Advent 2010

St. Edmund’s at Enders Island

Retreats: Day’s of Recollection December 8 “The Feast of the Immaculate Conception” with Fr. Tom Hoar, SSE February 2 “Presenting our Lives to God:” with Fr. Frank Sutman, OP

Weekend Retreats

at Mystic For further information call:

860.536.0565 Or visit: www.endersisland.com

Join us as we come together at this special time to reflect and prepare for the joy of the birth of Christ. Evening prayer begins at 6pm in Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel followed by a Pasta meal in the Enders House. $10 per person, $5 for children 12 and under. Reservations requested: Please make your reservation by calling: 860-536-0565 ext. 115.

December 3-5 Women’s 11th step on the rock with Sr. Maurice (Full) December 10-12 Advent Family Weekend December 17-19 Advent Family Weekend February 11-13 Married Couples Weekend

Directed Retreats February 20-26 Silent Directed Retreat

St. Michael’s Institute of Sacred Art Join us while we explore the history, the sacred nature, and the techniques of the Sacred Arts December 2-5 Advent Praying through Calligraphy January 16-21 Old Masters Oil Painting February 13-19 Icon Writing in the Russian Style

Four County Catholic December 2010

Vocations Director

Reverend Gregory Galvin

Diocesan Appointments

Encouraging Our Future Priests This past October 30th, a typically beautiful New England fall day, I accompanied two high school students, one junior and one senior from the Diocese of Norwich on the 2nd Annual visitation day for high school students from New England to Our Lady of Providence Seminary. Last year, this event was held at St. Johns Seminary in Brighton Massachusetts. There were eleven young men in total who took advantage of a day to visit both the seminary and Providence College. The other men who attended were from the Boston, Fall River and Providence dioceses. Below is a brief reflection from Jonathan Sheffield who went from the Norwich Diocese. “When Father Galvin, the Vocations Director for the Norwich Diocese, told me that he would be taking high school students to the college seminary at Providence College, I jumped at the chance to go. Since I have been discerning the priesthood for a few years now, I am at the point in my high school years where I needed to start looking at Catholic colleges. When we arrived at the Seminary of our Lady of Providence, the medium sized brick building had a definite feel of holiness; maybe it was because so many men had turned here for the grace of God to show them the way. As we walked inside, we were greeted by the friendly priests who reside and teach there. They introduced themselves, and some of the current seminarians greeted us as we walked down the hall to the spacious dining room. After everyone arrived in the dining room, and got acquainted, we were taken to the small chapel where we prayed Morning Prayer. Soon after a brief tour of the facility, and the small but cozy dorms, we gathered again in the chapel for Mass. Following the inspirational Mass, and a striking homily, we enjoyed pizza for lunch and then proceeded to take the short fifteen minute walk to Providence College.

Because the seminary is part of Providence College, the seminarians take classes at the seminary as well as taking classes at the college. I was surprised to see how large the campus is, but even more shocked to find out that the classes are as small as twenty students per class. After learning a little about the basic classes required and visiting the only lecture hall, we walked around the rest of the beautiful campus. The chapel at Providence College amazed me, with high ceilings and exposed wooden beams. St. Dominic’s chapel is a stunning masterpiece, and it was definitely one of the most beautiful chapels I have visited. On returning to the seminary, we participated in a Holy Hour, including Benediction. During the Holy Hour, we prayed the rosary together with the seminarians. Even though I know this will not be the last college I visit, I do hope PC becomes my Alma

Mater!” This was a great opportunity for all the young men who attended that day. As you can tell from Jonathan’s reflection, they accomplished a great deal in a short visit. Most amazing to me was how quickly there seemed to be connections made between the high school men and the seminarians who as much as just a year or two ago remember making a similar visit. As we look back at 2010, I think it is good for everyone in the diocese to realize there are many young people who have a real desire to serve the church. We need to continue to pray for them, encourage them and support them in whatever way we can. Please keep both our present seminarians and future seminarians in your prayers. Saints Patrick, Anne and John Vianney, pray for us!

Holy Hour for Vocations The Holy Hour for Vocations will now be held in a different deanery and parishes each month. Bishop Cote will lead the prayers of the Holy Hour each month. The schedule is as follows: Dec. 16, 2010 Jan. 20, 2011 Feb. 17, 2011 March 24, 2011

Saint Bernard, Rockville Saints Peter & Paul, Norwich Holy Family Church, Hebron Saint Mary Church, Putnam

The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, has announced the following diocesan appointments: Reverend Martin Jones, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Andrew Parish, Colchester, to Bishop’s Delegate for Evangelization in Hispanic Ministry with residence at Saint Mary Parish, Norwich. Effective: November 1, 2010. Reverend George J. Richards, Jr., JCL, Associate Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Norwich. Effective: November 1, 2010.

Clergy Appointments The Most Reverend Michael R Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy appointments: Reverend Robert Buongirno from Pastor, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Lebanon, to Spanish Language Studies in Costa Rica. Effective: November 8, 2010. Reverend George Busto, CO, new to the Diocese, to Chaplain, Middlesex Memorial Hospital, Middletown, with residence at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Middletown. Effective: October 29, 2010. Reverend Joseph Castaldi, Canonical Pastor, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Fishers Island, while continuing as Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, New London. Effective: November 15, 2010. Reverend Raymond Introvigne, Renewal of appointment as Parochial Vicar of Saint Mary Parish, Coventry, and Co-Director of Spiritual Renewal Services. Effective: October 4, 2010. Reverend Joseph Kaipayil, to Our Lady of Grace Parish, Fishers Island, on part-time rotating basis, while continuing to serve as Parochial Vicar at Saint Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in Groton. Effective: November 15, 2010. Very Reverend Laurence LaPointe to Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Willimantic, while continuing as Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry and Dean of the Willimantic Deanery. Effective: November 8, 2010.

7-8pm 4-5pm 4-5pm 7-8pm

Reverend Nicholas Mukama Mbogo, from Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Andrew Parish, Colchester. Effective: November 1, 2010.

Men for Christ Retreat

Reverend Prodeep Chandra Nayak, to Our Lady of Grace Parish, Fishers Island, on part-time rotating basis, while continuing to serve as Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Parish in New London. Effective: November 15, 2010.

December 17th through 19th Immaculate Conception Spiritual Center 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam CT For Men seeking God’s will in their life! Open to men from high school to age 50. Includes communal and private prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass and dinner with Bishop Cote and a special focus on the priestly vocation. Flyers are available in the church or by contacting your parish priest or the vocation office of the diocese by email at vocations@norwichdiocese.net

Reverend Dennis Mercieri, from Chaplain, Middlesex Memorial Hospital with residency at Saint Patrick Church, East Hampton, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Bernard Parish, Rockville. Effective: November 1, 2010.

Reverend Wojciech Pelczarski, SDS, from Pastor, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Fishers Island, to Administrator, Saint Maurice Parish, Bolton. Effective: November 15, 2010. Reverend Benjamin V. Soosaimanickam, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Willimantic, to Administrator, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Lebanon. Effective: November 8, 2010. ~ Monsignor Robert L. Brown, Chancellor ~

Four County Catholic December 2010

Vocations Director

Reverend Gregory Galvin

Diocesan Appointments

Saint Bernard, Rockville Saints Peter & Paul, Norwich Holy Family Church, Hebron Saint Mary Church, Putnam

7-8pm 4-5pm 4-5pm 7-8pm

Reverend Nicholas Mukama Mbogo, from Parochial Vicar, Cathedral of Saint Patrick, Norwich, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Andrew Parish, Colchester. Effective: November 1, 2010.

Men for Christ Retreat

Friday, December 3, 2010 “It’s a Wonderful Life” Mercy and Xavier High School Drama Club presents the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Mercy High School Auditorium, 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown, on Friday, December 3, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $3.00, payable at the door. Please bring a canned food donation. Saturday, December 4, 2010 Christmas in New York City For $96 per person, you can provide the perfect holiday gift for the whole family. Ticket price includes deluxe motor coach transportation and third mezzanine, center aisle seats to Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular. For information and reservations call Janet Przybysz at 860-536-6638 or email przybysz@sbcglobal.net. Saturday, December 4, 2010 St. Francis of Assisi Annual Festival of Angels Hair 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at 10 Elm St. Middletown. This year featuring: Christmas Attic Treasures, Cookie and Fudge Booth, fresh plants, including poinsettias, handmade crafts, lunch!!! And VENDORS, such as Pampered Chef and Yankee Candles!! Orders will be taken for Butter Braid Breads, in time for the holidays! Sunday, December 5, 2010 Tom Kendzia in Concert Join award-winning composer and performer, Tom Kendzia, and the choirs of Westerly, RI’s Christ the King Church and East Lyme’s St. Matthias Church, for an evening of uplifting and spirited music. Tom, composer of “We Will Want No More” and “I the Lord,” has extensively toured the US, Canada and Europe. No advance purchase necessary. St. Matthias Church, 315 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT. Concert starts at 7:00pm. For more information please contact Connie Butler in the church office at 860-739-5208. Tickets: $10 for an adult, $5 for children under 12. Profits will benefit St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen, Norwich.

Four County Catholic December 2010

Sunday, Monday & Tuesday, December 5, 6 & 7, 2010 Advent Parish Mission St. John Church, Middletown, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 860-887-0702.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Prayer, Praise, Worship & Adoration 7:30 p.m. at Spiritual Renewal Center, II Bath St. Norwich, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 860-887-0702. . Saturday, December 11, 2010 St. Mark’s 5th Annual Christmas Cookie Sale 9:00am- 1:00 pm.(or till sold out.) Plates of assorted, delicious home-baked cookies and our cookbook “Cookie Jar Favorites” will be sold. Themed baskets and a gorgeous quilt will be raffled. Proceeds to benefit the St. Mark Labyrinth and Memorial Gardens, with a portion going toward the church’s general fund. The labyrinth is available to the public for walking/meditation everyday during daylight hours. 222 McVeigh Rd, Westbrook. For further information please call 860388-9675 Sunday, December 12, 2010 Our Lady of Guadalupe! All are invited to join Bishop Cote and our Hispanic brothers and sisters in the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of

December 8, 2010 Our Lady teaches us to open up to God’s action and to look at others as he does, starting with the heart, to look upon them with mercy, love and infinite tenderness. Guadalupe at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Sunday, December 12, 2010. The Bishop will celebrate Holy Mass at 7:00pm. Fiesta following. Sunday, December 12, 2010 Prayer, Praise, Worship, Adoration & Benediction 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Church, Coventry, CT. For information call Judith Hughes, of Spiritual Renewal Services, 860-887-0702. Tuesday, December 14, 2010 Prayer, Praise, Worship & Adoration 7:30 p.m. at Spiritual Renewal Center, 11 Bath St. Norwich, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 860-887-0702.

Christmas Prayer December 25, 2010 God of endless ages, Father of all goodness, we keep vigil for the dawn of salvation and the birth of your Son. With gratitude we recall his humanity, the life he shared with the sons of men. May the power of his divinity help us answer his call to forgiveness and life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 Prayer, Praise, Worship & Adoration 7:30 p.m. at Spiritual Renewal Center, 11 Bath St. Norwich, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 860-887-0702. Sunday, December 26, 2010 Prayer, Praise, Worship, Adoration & Benediction 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Church, Coventry, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 860887-0702. Tuesday, December 28, 2010 Prayer, Praise, Worship & Adoration 7:30 p.m. at Spiritual Renewal Center, 11 Bath St. Norwich, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 860-887-0702. Friday, December 31, 2010 New Year’s Eve Prayer Party 7:00 p.m. with Eucharist at 10:00 p.m. at St. Mary Church, Coventry, CT. For information please call Judith Hughes at 887-0702. Saturday, January 15, 29, 2011 Engaged Couples Marriage Preparation Class “God’s Plan for a Joy-filled Marriage” offered by the Office of Family Life. To register for the 9 hour class please call 860-8898346 ext.283 On Saturday, January 15 & 29, 2011 At St. John’s, 22 Maple Ave., Uncasville. The cost is $50.00 per couple for class material.

Friday - Sunday, January 21-2, 2011 Planning a Wedding? Engaged Encounter Weekend One of the most important parts of your wedding planning is your marriage preparation program. Engaged Encounter is a weekendlong program and meets all the aspects of marriage preparation required by the Diocese. Engaged Encounter weekends are as follows: January, 21-23, 2011 in Framingham, MA call 508-8659087. February, 18-20, 20101 in Framingham, MA call 978-4226612. February, 25-27, 2011 at Immaculata Retreat House, Willimantic, CT call 860-536-8665. Registration is due one month prior. www.engagedencounter.org. Friday - Sunday, January 28-30, 2011 Are you silently grieving over a past abortion? RACHEL’S VINEYARD RETREAT for Healing after Abortion. If you or someone you know is grieving from a past abortion, then experience the healing love of Christ. Retreat combines discussions, spiritual exercises, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Memorial Service and Mass. Participation is confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s love and forgiveness. All inquiries are kept in the strictest of confidence. For information or to register for the upcoming RV Retreat January 28-30, 2011 in Fairfield County, CT please call: Clarissa at 203-218-0291. Rachel’s Vineyard www.rachelsvineyard.org. Saturdays, February 5, 12, 2011 Engaged Couples Marriage Preparation Class “God’s Plan for a Joy-filled Marriage” offered by the Office of Family Life. To register for the 9 hour class please call 860-8898346 ext.283. Saturday, February 5, 12, 2011, from 9:30-11:45am. At St. John’s, 22 Maple Ave., Uncasville. The cost is $50.00 per couple for class material. The next set of classes will be in March 2011.

Four County Catholic December 2010

Red, White & Blue Mass Celebrating Heroes

NORWICH – An overflow crowd attended Mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick on NoBy MIchael Gannon

vember 15 for the 19th Annual Red, White and Blue Mass, dedicated to members of the armed forces, past and present. Local residents and military veterans came largely to thank each other. The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of Norwich, called them peacekeepers who work to fulfill the prophecy of beating swords into plowshares. He offered prayers for the veterans and their families. “They have risked all for the freedoms we enjoy,” he said.

The 19th Annual Mass included The Mystic Highland Pipe Band and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Glee Club. Color guards included the Connecticut Air National Guard; the U.S. Naval Submarine School Silver Dolphins; the Groton-based U.S. Submarine Veterans; the American Legion Marching Color Guard from Preston; and the 4th District of Veterans of Foreign Wars. The homily was given by The Reverend Daniel Mode, a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy and the Roman Catholic chaplain at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London. The featured speaker was The Reverend David Nutt,

a minister in the United Church of Christ and the State Support Chaplain for the Connecticut National Guard. Mode said his and Nutt’s vocations date back to Martin of Tours, a Fourth Century saint who as a Roman legionnaire took pity on a cold beggar by cutting his military cloak in half to clothe him. That night Jesus came to Martin in a dream to say it was he whom the young soldier had helped. Mode said Martin became the patron saint of soldiers, chaplains and France, and that his cloak became a relic that French troops would bring into battle for inspiration and spiritual strength. “They wanted the soldiers to have a little piece of Christ going into battle,” Mode said, adding that chaplains serve the same purpose. Mode said he has been to 10 countries including Afghanistan, and numerous

Captain John M. Donlon, USN, (Ret.) reads the Responsorial Psalm at the 19th Annual Red, White & Blue Mass. Photo by Phil Twomey

Photos by Phil Twomey ships in the fleet during the 29 months he has spent in the Middle East. He has been under fire and has consoled the wounded, the dying and their buddies left behind. “We’re just trying to bring a little bit of Christ to the battlefield,” he said. Nutt, commenting on the high rate of suicides among some troops, said the military has found that a common thread for those soldiers has been a lack of spiritual background. He said the Pentagon has come to recognize that spiritual fitness is an important component of a soldier’s or sailor’s overall fitness and well-being. “As Christians that comes as no surprise to us,” he said. Nutt also singled out the Vietnam veterans in the packed cathedral, to whom he said his fellow Afghan-Iraq veterans owe a debt of gratitude.

We received a warm welcome because you didn’t,” he said. “Welcome home.” Dennis Baptiste of Taftville served in the Navy for 28 years. A post commander in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Baptiste said he was gratified by the size of the crowd, particularly after seeing the large crowd streaming out of the previous Mass at the cathedral. He said the annual mass is a nice thing for the diocese to do for veterans, but that it also can mean a lot more. “As a Catholic, I think it goes deeper than that,” he said. “And call it good fortune or a stroke of luck, but I know the best submarine I ever served on had a cross, a Star of David and Hindu symbol by one periscope.”

Four County Catholic December 2010

All Hallows Celebrates Blessed Saint Andre Bessette MOOSUP – St. Andre Bessette has been honored by the Catholic Church in venues as grand as The By Michael Gannon

Vatican in Rome and Olympic Stadium in Montreal since his canonization in October. And in November, members of All Hallows Church in Moosup gathered to celebrate one of the Church’s newest saints, a man who left an indelible mark though he only lived in the area for about four years. The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote D.D., Bishop of Norwich, was on hand for the Nov. 7 celebration of a man who devoted his life to the sick and poor from the time he was orphaned at age 12 until his death in 1937 at 91. “He had almost no possessions, no education and was barely able to write his name or read,” Bishop Cote said of the young Andre at the celebratory Mass. “But he never lost his faith.” Born outside of Montreal in 1845, Bessette was one of ten children. In 1863, he moved to the Moosup area, like countless numbers of his fellow French Canadians, to work in the region’s textile mills, all while retaining what Bishop Cote called “a deep spiri-

Benedict XVI on Oct. 17. “His life was driven by compassion for his brothers and sisters, and his devotion to God.” Bishop Cote said. “…He was an example of unconditional trust in the

tuality.” By 1870, at 25, he returned to Montreal and entered the Congregation of Holy Cross. Within a few short years, Brother Andre was known for his healing of the sick. Bishop Cote said he helped thousands of the sick and millions of others who sought his intercession both during his lifetime and since his death. Bessette shunned such publicity, crediting all such cures to the intercession of St. Joseph, to whom he had a

Photos by Khoi Ton/Norwich Bulletin

great devotion. He was named venerable by Pope Paul VI in 1978, and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. He was canonized by Pope

Lord.” Jules A. Bessette of Coventry attended the Nov. 7 Mass at All Hallows with

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members of his family. He never met his distant cousin, but said the family was well aware of his life and works. “My great great grandfather and his father were brothers,” Bessette said at the Mass in Moosup. “I was three when he died. But we did know a lot about him.” Bishop Cote and others praised Brother Andre as a man of great humility. Bessette, who also attended the celebration in Montreal, noted that St. Andre would have eschewed even the simple celebration at All Hallows in his honor. “I think he wouldn’t have even wanted this,” Bessette said. His son, Norman, who lives in Lebanon, said he too knew of Brother Andre’s life and works long before they were prominently known. “I also teach religious educa-

tion,” Norman Bessette said. “I tell my students about him. They think that’s pretty cool to know someone who is related to a saint. It makes it more real, not just a story.” The Rev. Damien Tomiczek SDS, pastor of All Hallows, said he felt Brother Andre’s presence immediately upon joining the parish several years ago. “I was aware of this presence, and I saw the portraits of him here in the parish,” Tomiczek said. “I asked the former pastor, who was a friend of mine, about him. Then I began digging to find out all I could about him.” Bishop Cote, in his homily on Nov. 7, quoted John Paul II in describing Brother Andre as “a humble witness to the Gospel…who turned things topsey-turvey.’ “That,” said Bishop Cote, “is what saints do, do they not?”

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Prison Ministry Volunteers Honored at St. Edmunds MYSTIC - Volunteering in the state’s prisons can be a grueling and often unrecognized calling. By Michael Gannon

The Diocese of Norwich recently paid tribute to seven people who have answered the call through its Prison Ministries program. John Santa of Southport was honored with the Father Ed Barry Award for his work on behalf of prisoners both personally and through the Order of Malta, a Catholic men’s service organization. Six others received their certificates for complete training for the Gift of Grace Program, which trains volunteers to work with the Diocesean Prison Ministries. The honorees included Sr. Jerilyn Hunihan, ASJC; Margaret (Meg) and Timothy Lewis; Deborah Morgan; Carol Ann Tate and Andrea Venini-Strafach. The group was honored by the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote. D.D., Bishop of Norwich, on October 24 at a Mass celebrated at Our Lady of The Assumption Chapel on Enders Island. Charitable attention to those in prison, explained Sheree Antoch, Director of the Prison Ministries program, is called for by Christ in scripture. “It’s Matthew (Chapter) 25 visit the sick and imprisoned,” Antoch said. “And it isn’t a request,” said Santa. Antoch said Father Barry was a long-time champion of the prison ministry. Santa said he first became interested several years ago while visiting a friend in prison, and has worked closely with his friend on related projects since the man’s release. One project of the Knights of Malta has been distributing more than 6,500 “prison Bibles” throughout the Correction system. “They’re regular Bibles with about 20 additional pages - information on studying the Bible, things they can get for free in prison, things they might be able to use when the get out of prison,” he said. He said the order also has an

active Prodigal Program, which pairs up qualified, recently released porisoners with willing employers. Volunteer Judy Tate said she was drawn to the program by an

odd coincidence. “I never watch television,” she said. “And then one night I was flipping the dial and saw a program on prisons. I began looking for programs on prisons, and it

Carol Ann Tate is presented the Gift of Grace, Prison Ministry Training Program Certificate by Bishop Cote assisted by Sheree Antoch, Director of Prison Ministries. Photo by Michael Gannon

was terrible to see some of the conditions. I feel especially bad for the women in jail. I thought maybe I could help.” The Lewises said the decision was one of continuing an already established path. “We work in the schools as a teacher and a counselor,” Margaret Lewis said. “We have a group home for children.” “It was a natural step,” Timothy Lewis said. Both realize it may be an unpopular cause, But they also said many of the inmates are victims themsleves. “It’s not an easy thing to do,” she said. “But everyone has a seed inside of them,”, Timothy Lewis said. “If you help them find it, maybe it can grow.” During his homily, Bishop Cote recalled the Gospel reading from Luke with the parable of the pharasee and tax collectir praying in the temple; the religious leader trumpeting his own

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acts of devotion and charity, and the tax collector simply asking God’s mercy for a sinner. “People forget that only God may judge,” he said. Cote spoke of his own experience in 2000, when, as a relatively young bishop, Pope John Paul II asked every bishop to celebrate the Mass in a prison during the year. He said it still serves as a reminder of his duties to minister to the incarcerated. Following the Mass, the Bishop also said any contempt for the program, or even the worst of the prisoners it serves, is misplaced..He cited the story of Calvary. “Jesus was hanging between two criminals, one of whom knew he had led an unjust life,” Bishop Cote said. “Jesus forgave him...God’s mercy is more vast than we can imagine. Just because someone is in prison, it doesn’t mean they have been forgotten by God. Or that we should forget them.”

Four County Catholic December 2010

Feasts Celebrated in December The final week of the month of December is rich in very noteworthy feasts. Topping the By Sister Elissa Rinere, CP, JCD Office of Worship

list, of course, is Christmas, the day and season during which we celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation. Unfortunately, the Incarnation, the manifestation of God in human nature, the core of our faith and the key to our own redemption, is usually buried under the noise of the consumerism. However, every year we are given another chance to make things right, and give the true meaning of Christmas its proper place in our homes and families. The week following Christmas provides a veritable parade of feasts

designed to bring us back to our roots as Christians. On December 26 the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Stephen, a deacon, whose martyrdom is described in Acts of the Apostles 7:2-53.

Stephen is a reminder that the early days of the Church, in the decades following the death and resurrection of Jesus, were filled with strife and persecution for those who believed. December 27 is the feast of Saint John, the Evangelist. History can document only a few points about

this apostle; that he was prominent in the early Church, and that he lived a very long life of almost 100 years. It is widely held that in the final decades of his life, Saint John lived in the city of Ephesus. The writings of Saint Jerome, who lived in the second century, recount a story that when Saint John was quite elderly and frail and unable to preach, he was often carried to gatherings of Christians just to be with them. On these occasions, John’s only words were “My little children, love one another.” When asked to explain the words, Saint Jerome wrote, John responded “This is the word of the Lord, and if you do this, you do enough.” Perhaps we can spend some time during the Christmas rush to consider that for Saint John the entire message of the Gospel came down to these words, “Love

one another.” If we do that, we do enough. December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents; those infants written about in the Gospel of Matthew 2: 16-18. These are the children of Bethlehem who, according to the account, were murdered by order of King Herod, as his reaction to the news of the birth of the Messiah brought to him by the Magi. The feast dates back, historians tell us, to the fifth century. Finally, on December 29, we move to the end of the first millennium of the Church and celebrate the feast of Saint Thomas Becket (1118 - 1170). Thomas rose through the ranks of government to become Chancellor of England under King Henry II. He wielded much power through the country, both on behalf of the King and in his own name. As things were done at that time, in May 1162 King Henry named Thomas to the pow-

erful post of Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas, only in minor orders, was ordained a priest and then a bishop. Once ordained, Thomas took his role of Shepherd very seriously. His devotion to the Church put him into direct conflict with the King. Things got so bad, that Thomas tried to resign as archbishop, but the pope at the time refused to accept the resignation. Finally, in a scene made famous by writer T.S. Eliot, Henry wished aloud for someone to rid him of Thomas. Four knights loyal to Henry took him at his word. They murdered Thomas in the Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. As one historian wrote, Thomas hadn’t always lived like a saint, but he died like one. Maybe on his feast we could take a few minutes to think about what costs are involved for us when we choose loyalty to God over loyalty to what is popular.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Opportunities for Giving Are All Around Us Editor’s Note: A timely message reflecting back on a year of such compassion and charity. This article is from the March 2010 Issue of the Four County Catholic.

Some of us might not think we are capable of making a gift, but all of us have something By MaryLou Gannotti

Director of Planned Giving

special to share. As Catholics, we are often asked to help those most in need, whether they be our neighbors next door or those from distant lands. Planned giving provides an array of choices for the donor. Some may wish to make an estate gift in their will, or share some of their good fortune through a charitable gift annuity. Perhaps you hope to endow a scholarship or support children in need. Your resources coupled with your wishes can make this happen. My late grandmother, Gina DiBiasio, or as we called her “Nonna,” taught me the meaning of giving. While she was a woman of modest means, my Nonna had a strong faith in God, a reverence for the Catholic Church, and a deep sense of compassion. A small, slightly round woman with an Italian accent, Nonna was known for her cheery sense of humor and her cooking, among other things. She fed any creature she possibly could, throwing stale bread to the birds in her yard and giving orange m a r m a l a d e sandwiches to a group of poor children who knocked at her back door daily. When I was small I never quite understood why

Nonna continually entertained this rag tag group of kids, but my inquiries didn’t seem to phase her. It eventually dawned on me that my Nonna was helping to take care of God’s children in need. Food was one of the cornerstones of my grandmother’s charitable acts. Of course, it was my immediate family who benefited the most from her savvy in the kitchen. My father, of Irish stock, often said he found the best cook in town and married her daughter. I must admit there were dishes of Nonna’s that I refused to eat, but I suspect I was not the only 10year old to dismiss squid, fried zucchini flowers, and other such delicacies. I often tell my husband and children how we would gather at my Nonna’s every Sunday afternoon for macaroni and meatballs, a tradition after Mass. What is so amazing to me about my late grandmother was her abundant ability to give to others. While my mother often referred to her in a teasing manner as a “food pusher,” my grandmother was truly among the most charitable people I have ever met. Granted, she did push food on anyone and everyone she came into contact with. “Mangia,” she would insist, rarely taking no for an answer. Her unending sharing of food and her abundance of love were some of her a m a z i n g qualities. While Nonna was certainly vocal about many things, she was modest about her charity. She gave what she could give, which were not great sums, but gifts within her means that did indeed make a difference over the course of her lifetime. Upon her passing, my mother was instructed to take my Nonna’s winter coats to the local thrift shop. My mother found out my grandmother had filled the pockets of the coats with as many dollar bills as she possibly could. This was Nonna’s way of continuing to give to the poor after she passed. While she could

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door, she could make sure that a mother who needed a coat would

have a few dollars to buy a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk for her family. For Nonna, charity began at home and extended to anyone in need. She knew what she could give, and how she would go about doing that, even after her passing. My grandmother described herself as “rich in flesh.” Her small gifts made a huge difference in the lives of many. Your generosity can also make a differ-

ence. There are a great many resources available for those of you who would like to make a gift to your parish, local parochial school, or one of the many ministries supported by the Diocese of Norwich. Through your charitable bequest, you can share your blessings. To find out more about your planned giving options, please contact me in the Office of Development at 860- 886-1928, or e-mail marylou.gannotti@norwichdiocese.net. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing our stories.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Encouraging a Prayerful Advent For the past six weeks, the small faith-sharing groups in those parishes participating in Why By Sister Verónica Méndez, R.C.D.

Catholic?/¿Por qué ser católico? have been meeting to deepen and chal-

lenge their faith life, all around the theme of prayer. They have explored and reflected on important topics such as What is Prayer?, Prayer in the Old Testament, Jesus and Mary Teach us to Pray, Forms of Prayer and The Sources and Way

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of Prayer. Now, as Advent begins, many groups will be taking a break, waiting until the beginning of Lent until they gather again to do Part Two of the faith-sharing book. However, some groups like to continue meeting. We strongly suggest groups use PRAYERTIME: Faith-Sharing Reflections for the Sunday Gospels-Cycle A, available from RENEW International, for these gatherings. The content for the faith sharing will be the readings for the Sundays of Advent, which will help participants to take part in, and enjoy, the beautiful season of Advent. Groups could also go back to Session 3, Jesus and Mary Teach us to Pray, and consider what in this session helps you to better understand Advent and the important

role that Mary plays in our faith. Even if your small groups do not continue to meet, you can continue the spirit of Why Catholic? by using

the Why Catholic? RENEWing Family Faith bulletins. These in-between times are an excellent opportunity for delving into these

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beautiful resources and absorbing their richness with your family. Finally, small communities are called each week within the sessions to consider “Living the Good News” in their daily lives—at home, at work, in their parish, or community. Advent is an ideal time to look back at some of the suggested prayer-themed actions incorporated in the book as ways of preparing for the incarnation of Christ in our lives today. One especially relevant possibility is committing to praying the Magnificat daily found in Luke 1:46-55. This prayer of the expectant Mary praises God’s goodness with gratitude for the many blessings given to us. Other appropriate ideas include praying the rosary, keeping a prayer journal, taking a walk in nature and offering prayers of praise to God for the gift of creation, and attending Advent-themed spiritual events in your parish. Prayer is an ideal way to stay centered during this otherwise hectic time of year. Sister Verónica Méndez, R.C.D., a Sister of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine, serves on RENEW International’s Why Catholic?/¿Por qué ser católico? Team and has been working with the Diocese of Norwich in both English and Spanish. RENEW International is a canonically-recognized ministry organization based in Plainfield, New Jersey in the Archdiocese of Newark that fosters spiritual renewal in the Catholic tradition. RENEW International can be found online at www.renewintl.org.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Hospice St. Joseph Death to Life in Haiti Hospice St. Joseph has been serving the Christ Roi neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, since 1989 when it was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Tipton, Indiana and the Diocese of Lafayette. In 2002, Hospice St. Joseph became a ministry of the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut. Its mission is committed to working hand in hand with our Haitian sisters and brother in pursuit of a better life by providing heath care, education and hospitality services. Hospice St. Joseph is incorporated as an I.R.S. 501c3 non-profit organization under the auspices of the Diocese of Norwich with a national board of directors composed of both volunteer laity and clergy. To receive a newsletter or to donate, contact: Hospice St. Joseph, Diocese of Norwich, 199 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360. By Rosemary Edwards, MD, MPH

“Bonjou, my name is Gladys. I’m a health agent from Hospice St. Joseph. Do you know about Hospice? May I tell you about our health services . . .? “These words, accompanied by a warm smile are repeated many times each day by Gladys and Hospice St. Joseph’s three other health agents. One particular day in early September, I accompanied them on their journey into the post-earthquake encampments in the Christ Roi neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Heavy rains from the night before turned the narrow paths – sometimes less than 18 inches between homes – into thick, grey mud. At first glance, the sites, sounds and smells of the camp were overwhelming. As a physician and public health professional, I translated the scene into a potential breeding ground for deadly infectious diseases and environmental hazards. Children ran around barefoot dodging open fires. A two-year-old boy with a high fever slept in the dirt with only a tattered sheet between his naked body and the ground. I could find no toilets. I swatted at hundreds of flies and mosquitoes. Yet despite the teeming chaos, there was a routine in the camp.

Each home –wood, faded tarp and tin – was numbered. The French and Haitian police patrolled the camp – as a precaution I was told. Most people had electricity for at least one light. Some had radios and listened to music or the news. Hospice St. Joseph health agents, several of whom live in the community, were trained by United Nations health professionals. They know each encounter is a chance to see, listen, understand and to reach out beyond the rubble to where people live and offer hope and help. Gladys and her co-workers didn’t miss an opportunity to teach about hygiene, sanitation and nutrition. Clearing the Rubble During my walk back to Hospice St. Joseph, I saw several work groups organized by international non-profit government organizations (NGOs). Men and women with hard hats and work gloves were working to clear rubble from the streets by hand and with shovels and wheelbarrows. It is an overwhelming task throughout the parts of Haiti that were damaged by the January 12th earthquake. The Hospice St. Joseph building was destroyed and the rubble was cleared by residents of the neighborhood. Life-giving services have continued under tents and wooden shelters. A representative from Catholic Relief Serv-

ices (CRS) showed me several of the little shelters. Because of Hospice St. Joseph’s long-standing commitment to the community, CRS asked to partner with Hospice to provide the shelters. They are designed to last for the next several years and consist of two rooms, with reinforced plywood walls, cement floors and tin roofs. When the building for the medical clinic, classrooms and hospitality center is constructed, the wooden shelters can be taken by their residents to cleared land. Primary Care Clinic The primary care clinic was bustling with activity. Immediately following the earthquake, Hospice St. Joseph constructed a temporary facility for visiting medical teams to deliver the quality and compassionate emergency care that patients receive. With generous donations from individuals and organizations, the temporary structure was reinforced into a fully operational clinic. The pharmacy was well stocked and, as of August, limited laboratory services are being ordered again. For those unable to walk to the clinic, especially the elderly, amputees or mothers caring for children at home, Hospice St. Joseph has organized two mobile clinics. Healthcare services were set up at two different locations in partnerHospice St. Joseph

Continued on page 14

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Hospice St. Joseph Continued from page 13

St. Bernard School announces headmaster’s resignation Montville, CT - William McKenna, the St. Bernard School headmaster who directed the school’s integration into a nationwide Catholic education network earlier this year, will step down in June. Brother Lawrence Harvey, chairman of the St. Bernard Board of Advisors, said McKenna was an administrator who advocated “faith in action,” and will be remembered for his role in helping the school broaden its academic and religious bases, including the school’s campus ministry program. McKenna became headmaster in 2006, bring-

ing a wealth of experience in Catholic education and Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools, a network of 13 institutions serving more than 13,000 students around the country. In October, St. Bernard became the newest school to join the system. “Everything that he did here made a smooth transition to the Xaverian sponsorship,” said St. Bernard Assistant Principal Jim Venditto. Harvey said officials will conduct a nationwide search for McKenna’s successor, and hope to have a hire made by the spring, with a start date in July.

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ship with area churches. Additional mobile clinics are planned in the months ahead. Hospice St. Joseph has organized various initiatives to identify individuals at risk for post-traumatic stress. Psychiatrists and counselors were onsite within weeks after the earthquake and have continued to be available on a regular basis. Through conversation, prayer and art therapy, children and adults are gently encouraged to share and process the grief and fear that persist after the tragedy. Since the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in October, Hospice St. Joseph has provided critical services thanks to the many donors in the Diocese of Norwich, Diocese of Lafayette and throughout the U.S. A Gift of Water Clean water can mean the difference between life and death as the people of Haiti struggle to recover from the devastation of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. In early October, in advance of the recent cholera epidemic, a miracle came to the people of Christ Roi

served by Hospice St. Joseph. Purified drinking water became a reality. According to the proverb, “God helps those who help themselves,” Dave Jarrett, a Hospice St. Joseph board member, read about Sunspring Water Purification System. The Sunspring system is a portable, self-contained water purification system that can provide purified drinking water, up to 5,000 gallons a day. He contacted the company in June and asked them to consider Hospice St. Joseph as a possible site. They visited the location and deemed it an excellent distribution site. What is most exciting about this partnership is that the system was installed at no cost to Hospice St. Joseph. It is a donation valued at over $30,000 from GE Foundation, through innovative Water Technologies (IWT), the Clinton Foundation and DINEPA (Haitian Government’s Water Authority). Jack and Carmen Barker, owners of IWT and the creators of the Sunspring system have made this remarkable gift possible.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

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with the emphasis shifting as the sun circles the building. Sacred Heart University’s Chapel, which was dedicated on September 27, 2009, now features a dazzling assembly of stained glass windows. They were designed by the same artist whose dramatic mosaic dominates the main sanctuary, Father Marko I. Rupnik, S.J. Like the rest of the artwork that distinguishes the 550-seat Chapel complex, these windows are full of subtleties and surprises. First, perhaps, is the color scheme. Avoiding the rich reds and blues that characterize much of the stained glass found in American and European churches, Father Rupnik chose a more delicate palate: golden yellow

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Since the Chapel’s dedication, there have been windows in place, of course, and these will remain in position. Each new window has been fitted into the niche available, and a small pocket of air will remain between the two. The stained glass windows are sealed on both sides with glass. On the inside of the Chapel, the seal is clear glass. On the outside, the seal is opaque. Thus, when the sun hits it, there will be no harmful build-up of heat. In fact, a narrow horizontal opening exists at the top and bottom of each window so that air can circulate. The windows were installed in eight days by a team of five Italian artisans from the Giuliani Studios in Rome. When asked to pick a favorite, they diplomatically insist there was none. Upon completion, they were on the road again where they would perform their artistic magic in Spain.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Thanks to your support, the Four County Catholic has been there in 2010 for the 21st consecutive year to chronicle the news local and far that defines our role as active Catholics.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Putting Christ Back in Christmas There was a time when Santa, pulling up the rear at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, By Mary Tunison

heralded the beginning of the Christmas season. It was like a rite of passage. From then on, you’d see stores brightly decorated with wreaths, lights, trees and all kinds of holiday ornamentation. But each year, it seems, Christmas comes earlier and earlier. This year, Christmas items were out even before Halloween. Before you know it, there will be Christmas in July! Many people have cut back on spending, which has left retailers scrambling. In addition to extending store hours - Black Friday deals hit the scene long before Thanksgiving. The gift buying frenzy begins and attention is focused on what to buy Aunt Jean or Uncle George, the kids, the dog and the list goes on. We turn our thoughts to Christmas parties, decorating, card writing and holiday baking projects. We go in search of that perfect gift for each loved one; waiting in long lines, braving mall traffic congestion and spending hours online ordering “material stuff ” that will soon be forgotten. While some of the festivities can be fun and build family bonds and memories for a lifetime, much of it is overdone. Before we get swept up in the hustle and bustle of another Christmas season this year, let us not be clouded or misdirected by the secular concepts that often obscure and detract from the real meaning of Christmas and its incomprehensible yet glorious mystery – that the God of the universe came to walk among us, sharing in our humanity. . . “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 What an incredibly awesome and humble God -- to come as an innocent and vulnerable baby! In a chapter entitled “The God in the Cave,” G.K. Chesterton ponders the significance of Christmas.

“It might be suggested …,” he writes, “that nothing had happened in that fold or crack in the great grey hills [outside the city of Bethlehem] except that the whole universe had been turned inside out.” He also offers some insight into how we might regain a sense of this awesome truth in one of his most famous non-fiction works, The Everlasting Man, when he invites readers to make an “imaginative effort to see the whole thing from the outside,” as if seeing it for the first time. Rekindling the essence of Christmas presents challenges. Breaking from the time honored tradition of “gift giving and gift receiving” is almost incomprehensible. What would people think?! Just the thought of how we would be viewed if we dispensed with this practice in lieu of focusing more deeply on what the season truly represents, is enough to keep us from venturing beyond the boundaries of any new and refreshing ways to celebrate Christmas. It’s almost a kind of bondage. Want to break free? What if... just this one time... this one glorious time, we decided to simplify or substitute the usual gift giving ritual for a more meaningful one – an experience that would not only be in alignment with the true spirit of Christmas but also show the secular world what we truly value.

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Get together as a family and/or with friends and decide to do something that will make a difference – perhaps for years to come. December

25th is Jesus’ birthday. Give Him a gift for a change – one that will touch a person’s heart, lift someone’s spirit, mend a hurt or fill an emptiness that has long been

void. Here are some ideas to get you started: Take the money you would have spent on additional or more expensive gifts and buy food and other items for a gift basket for a family in need or donate it to St. Vincent de Paul or other charitable organization. If there is someone in your neighborhood or church community whom you know is alone or homebound, call or visit them and then offer to take them to an upcoming event at church. Is there an estranged relative or friend with whom you or your family has stopped communicating? Perhaps it’s time to reconcile. Volunteer at a local shelter, soup kitchen or church charitable event. Organize a ministry at

church to help the unemployed members of your church. If there is someone at school who is being bullied or mistreated, befriend them and make them feel special. And finally, tell your parents, wife, husband, and kids that you love them. There is no greater gift one can receive then knowing they are loved. If you decide to try something new this year, please share it with me. I would love to feature your responses in a future column. May you all have a blessed Christmas! Mary Tunison works for Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Hartford, and is a freelance writer, photographer, artist, and graphic designer. She can be contacted at mjtunison@comcast.net

Four County Catholic December 2010

Archbishop Dolan is Surprise Pick to Lead U.S. Bishops BALTIMORE — For the first time since the 1960s, the U.S. bishops at the USCCB Fall GenCompiled from news services

AP Photo/Steve Ruark

eral Assembly, have not elected a vice-president in standing for the presidency of their conference, electing Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York by a vote of 128-111. The 60 year-old New York prelate will hold office for a three-year term, along with his freshly-elected Vice-President, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, who won in another third-ballot runoff, 147-91, over Archbishop Charles Chaput OFM Cap. of Denver. Bishop Gerald Kicanas is the conference’s former vice president. He held the position 2007 – 2010. Archbishop Dolan is viewed as a defender of church orthodoxy in a style favored by many theological conservatives. Michael Sean Winters of the

National Catholic Reporter, calls Dolan a respected and trusted “straight-shooter” saying, “Archbishop Dolan’s victory shows the bishops’ desire to have a forceful personality at the head of the Conference. This was an endorsement of Cardinal George’s willingness to take highly visible positions and a commitment to maintaining that vigorous style of leadership. Yes, the “common ground” approach has been supplanted as an organizing principle by a desire for a clear Catholic identity. Archbishop Dolan is not a right-wing culture warrior. He is smart, gregarious, something of a lion in the mold of Cardinal O’Connor, unafraid to state the Church’s teachings clearly and unapologetically. But, there is never an “in your face attitude.” In his final address as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago criticized those who define the church’s

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usefulness by whether it provides “foot soldiers for a political commitment, whether of the left or the right.” In his talk opening the fall general assembly, the cardinal devoted much of his time to reviewing the debate over health care reform earlier this year and the “wound to the church’s unity” caused by differences over the final legislation. The first day of the meeting included the introduction of items to be voted on, including an agreement on the mutual recognition of baptism from the Reformed-Catholic dialogue, guidelines for the provision of sustenance to retired bishops, and some proposed revisions to regulations regarding USCCB statements and publications. The bishops heard reports on donations by U.S. Catholics for reconstruction in Haiti; preparations for World Youth Day in Spain in August 2011; the need for the bishops to embrace social media to effectively evangelize the “digital continent”; and the work of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for the Defense of Marriage, which has been upgraded to a subcommittee of the marriage and family life committee. They also heard a plea from Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services for more chaplains to serve the needs of the military.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

“Speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

Please Donate to the 2010 Catholic Charities Annual Fund Campaign Dear Friends in Christ: As people of faith, we have a strong tradition of helping those who are less fortunate. Our Church responds to the needs of individuals and families through Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities has been able to help thousands of individuals each year and give them hope for a brighter future. However, as the diocese faces economically challenging times, the need for help is increasing while ﬁnancial resources are decreasing. That is why I am asking for your support of The 2010 Catholic Charities Annual Fund Campaign (formerly known as the Annual Christ Child Fund.) Your contribution to the Campaign will provide solace and hope for the thousands of our neighbors in need. Every gift is needed and every gift is sincerely welcomed and appreciated. Gratefully yours in Christ, Most Reverend Michael R. Cote Bishop of Norwich

he mission of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Norwich is to participate in the saving mission of Christ by providing compassionate, high-quality social services, counseling, education, research and advocacy, with special attention to the poor and disadvantaged. Catholic Charities has had a presence in the area since 1921, making it one of the region’s oldest social service agencies. The agency goal is to assist families and individuals in meeting their basic human needs, as well as supporting, strengthening and empowering them to attain their highest level of self-suﬃciency through education and enrichment programs. The following statistical analysis provides an overview of the people helped and the services provided, thus far, in 2010 by Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Norwich at our locations in Norwich, New London, Portland and Willimantic:

• Over 3,800 adults and children have been served with our Emergency Food, Clothing, Shelter, Rent and Utility Assistance Programs. • Our Case Management services have provided help to 298 individuals to develop comprehensive plans to use resources for success in greater self-suﬃciency including obtaining employment. • Our Adoption Services assisted 15 families with requested adoption services and 21 searches for birth relatives were processed. • Our Behavioral Health Services

Program assisted 797 individuals with over 7,000 hours of direct service. Clinical services were provided to people of all ages and situations to address issues including depression, anxiety, domestic violence, sexual abuse, grief, behavioral problems as well as adult and adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment to abusers and family members. These psychiatric, group, family and individual services included therapeutic interventions designed to meet a variety of family needs to improve the well-being of family members, reducing risks of crisis, abuse and neglect, with the goals of keeping

families together. • In our Pregnancy Services, 117 women and their families were assisted with services which included education about parenting, community referrals and ongoing counseling and support.

to teach adolescent to deal responsibly with issues of sexuality with the goal of preventing teenage pregnancies.

• The Housing Program has provided HUD counseling and CHFA classes to 1080 participants. • Over 700 individuals participated in Oﬃce of Family Life activities which included Marriage Preparation facilitator training, Marriage Support Programs, post-abortion counseling, and Abstinence Education designed

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Christmas Gifts with a Spiritual Connection It’s a most wonderful, yet most stressful time of year with shopping galore. To assist in choosing some gifts that will promote your children’s spiritual growth, here are some great ideas of new products in the market By Karen Whiting

Decorations and Advent Helps Check out myfaithviews.com that sells wonderful and easy-touse window posters. As a mother of five, I’m all about easy. These plastic posters come with reusable corner stickers and allow the natural light in a room to pass through to light them up. These make a great fundraiser for a church. To add to the fun of the Nativity sets for little ones, Fisher Price® has added a Lil’ Drummer Boy Set that makes the sounds of the drums and animals. Illuminated Ink (illuminatedink.com) sells an advent candle

kit to make candles (rolling wax sheets) and a prayer sheet. Abbey Press (abbeytrade.com) offers a magnetic advent activity set. Check out mini-advent calendar cards to send friends and little ones who are far away at www.thefind.com and Believer bands nativity set to wear and share about the birth of Jesus. Add new music, with the album Eventide Lullaby, to your home with peaceful

Celtic music and original songs from a family of musicians (seasonmusic.net).

Little Ones Circle Press released a series of board books, called Celebrate, with black and white photos by award winning author and photographer Heidi Bratton to rejoice over animals, family, and feelings. WeeBelievers.com sells plush mass kits with a parenting booklet to teach little ones about the faith. Catholicbookpublishing.com has some new novelty board books about Jesus and prayer. Some sparkle and some rattle, including the new Christmas Joy rattle book. Young children can enjoy the latest craze of a stuffed that’ also

pillow with eco-friendly Zoobie® Pets that also have a zipped pouch with a super blanket inside. Each one comes with a Bible verse. The little lamb is very soft and cuddly. Older children and teens Check christiannewday.com for the Fisher Price® and Zoobie® toys as well as many Christian CDs, Veggie Tale activity books, and other items that will grab the interest of older kids. I’ll mention a few of my favorite from that web site. Findit, made from recycled plastic bits and small items encased in a cylinder, provides hours of searching. A single verse printed on the bottom is a reminder that when we seek God we will find Him. Believer Bands and Veggie Tale

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Bands are shaped elastic bands that have been a big rage, this year but now available as groups related to Bible stories and themes. A new game, Oh, Really, lets players explore how much they know about the opinions of one another. Five cards with topical words are placed out and a guesser must figure out how the chooser will rank the words. For stockings, buy a great super soaring paper airplane kit with life lessons and scientific facts at www.drdino.com/ kids/airplane. At the top of the new DVD series for families is Friends and Heroes® (friendsandheroes.com) that brings historical facts and Biblical truths alive through animation with the choice of ten languages for viewing. Lessons focus on cooperation, self-control, and sharing. Each DVD contains two, or three, animated adventure with characters Macky and Portia. Each story is combined with one to three real Bible adventures. The animated stories are in 2-D animation while the Bible adventures are created with computer-generated graphics that give a 3-D effect. Each DVD contains two complete adventures and four Bible real adventures. To accompany the DVDs kids can go to friendsandheroes.tv and play online games plus print a variety of puzzles, posters, and coloring pages. It’s one of the best DVD series I’ve seen in both artwork, entertainment, and accuracy.

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Finding a Job, Keeping the Faith Editor’s Note: Originally appeared in May 2010. Relevent message for this Year-In-Review.

It is a curious thing to receive bad news from a chipper person. There’s a point at which the facts By Christina Capecchi

Four County Catholic Contributor

crack the cheery façade, and no degree of optimism or exclamation points can keep it from crumbling. The other day, for example, a twenty-something couple emailed an update on their job search. “We’re now applying to jobs na-

tionally,” the wife wrote. “So wherever you are, we’re open to relocating for full-time positions!” The jovial upside – “We might just move to your town!” – didn’t mask the unwritten downside – “that’s how badly we need work any work, anywhere.” What a job market, that a highly educated, hard-working twosome must cast their net from sea to shining sea, that all the other factors influencing where they’d like to live are now being trumped by the promise of a paycheck. Imagine them Googling towns they’ve never heard of, looking for a flicker of familiarity, a hint of connection, something

to grab onto. As 2010 has marched on, the number of Americans who have been unemployed for at least half a year has steadily climbed, now reaching 6.5 million. They’ve faced fierce competition, job seekers outnumbering job openings five to one. Technically, that means you have better odds of getting into Northwestern University, where the average freshman’s ACT score exceeds 30. Then again, it’s no longer clear a prestigious education will pay off. A good friend of mine who earned her master’s at Northwestern has moved back in with her parents and has been temping for more than a year – which, she confided over discounted mojitos – means she’s been slowly going insane. This is a woman who’s been networking and volunteering up the wazoo, praying to St. Joseph with every submitted result. I know what it’s like to feel butterflies when you click send. As a freelance writer, I cast a steady stream of pitches and bids into the cyber abyss, which feels vast and soundless.

It may be the special lot of the recessionary twenty something to keep putting herself out there, to have much to prove and to begin each day at what feels like square one. So we blog and tweet and reach out, sending out mass emails that are white flags, pleas wrapped in pleasantries. You don’t have to dig deep to pick up on the urgency behind the courtesy – when “thank you for your consideration” means “pretty please with sugar on top” and “at your convenience” slides into “at your earliest convenience,” a pinched kind of polite panic.

When your life’s achievements, polished and bulleted, don’t merit so much as a “got it, thanks,” it’s easy to feel very, very small. The Holy Father has a message for that particular instance. He urged young adults gathered in Rome last month to draw strength from this truth: “My life has been willed by God since eternity. I am loved, I am necessary.

God has a plan for me in the totality of history: He has a plan specifically for me.” It is a dramatic paradigm shift for the job seeker, rightfully concerned about cell-phone and carinsurance bills that can’t quite be shelved to eternity. But it is a mantra to keep you plugging away: “I am loved, I am necessary.” And it is pretty amazing

that God’s plan for you, though it doesn’t match your timeline, stands to be noticed in “the totality of history.” So take a deep breath and the long view. The master’s plan is unfolding right now. Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, Minn. She can be reached at www.ReadChristina.com

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Mount Saint John

Interview with Director, Doug DeCerbo Editor’s Note: Originally established in 1907 as an orphanage for boys, Mount Saint John is today a residential treatment facility helping boys and young men between the ages of 13 and 18, and their family members, who are in tough and at-risk situations.

Mount Saint John Executive Director, Doug DeCerbo speaking with students (from left) Bryan G. and Ja’Quan S. in one of the organization’s newly renovated classrooms, made possible by a grant from the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Norwich. AP Photo/Steve Ruark

Four County Catholic Executive Editor, Michael Strammiello, visited Mount Saint John, in Deep River CT, recently and spoke with the organization’s Executive Director, Doug DeCerbo. Here are portions of their conversation. FCC: What services does Mount Saint John provide? DD: Mount Saint John provides a safe nurturing therapeutic environment in which residential, educational, life-skill, vocational and clinical services are provided. All our services are highly individualized to address the needs of each young man. Academics utilize a curriculum compatible with

NOV. 19 – FEB. 13

May the miracle of the season brighten your heart and home this Christmas. As we count our blessings at this special time of year, we count you among them. With sincere thanks and best wishes to you and your loved ones at Christmastime.

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the school system where each student is from. For example, our school credit recovery program is an on-line “virtual learning” tool that allows a young man to earn credits toward his high-school diploma. Clinical services include trauma informed individual and group therapy, substance abuse treatment and family engagement. FCC: What are some of the reasons youth come to Mount Saint John and how do they get referred to you? DD: Our young men come to Mount Saint John after having failed in their home, school and/or community. Incidents of crime, violence, sexual or substance abuse, and poor academic performance are sometimes compounded by behavioral issues, poor choice of peers and difficulty in social settings. Referrals come from School systems, the Department of Children and Families and the Court system. FCC: How has Mount Saint John reacted to the challenges of the economic downturn? DD: The strategy of Mount Saint John’s leadership in this challenging time has been to cut staffing and streamline administrative functions, while maintaining quality programs and diversifying services and funding streams. Pay reductions, initiated in February, remain in affect for all staff. In October the directorial team agreed to temporary furloughs as we re-shape our services. FCC: The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Norwich recently awarded Mount Saint John a grant to help renovate classrooms. How’s that project going and do you still need additional money to complete the renovations? DD: The renovation project is going extremely well. Three classrooms have been completed, yet more importantly our young men are doing the renovation work. This experience gives them hands

on training and marketable skills that will get them jobs in the community in addition to a sense of accomplishment. This year’s fundraising focus is to raise the final $10,000 needed to complete the renovation of all 15 classrooms. FCC: Can you give a specific example of a boy whose life was turned around because of Mount Saint John? DD: We had a young man recently who I will call ‘Gerry’. He worked extremely hard and was able to receive his High School diploma this past June. ‘Gerry’ took the time before he left Mount Saint John to write to us saying: “I started to pray for a new life and received many blessings at Mount Saint John. The staff was like a new family and the students were like brothers. I clicked with them. I have been at Mount Saint John for one year and I am a changed person. I have forgotten how it feels to be angry for no reason and act with violence. All of the steps and problems I had to go through at Mount Saint John have shown me that there are a lot of people in the world worse off than me and I have come to believe that God is my Savior and can protect me from evil. I realized that gangs cause harm to families and friends. Throughout my time at Mount Saint John I have gotten baptized and remain close to God. I go to AA meetings in the community and out of town. I have built a trust with Mount Saint John staff that allows me to go to these meetings by myself and that enables me to go out with friends from those meetings and have dinners and talks. Mount Saint John changed my life and is saving others children’s lives as I speak.” - Gerry, age 18 FCC: How can our reader learn more about Mount Saint John? DD: The best way is to visit our new website at www.mtstjohn.org.

Four County Catholic December 2010

R.I.S.E.N. Volunteer Honored at Sacred Heart School Sacred Heart School in Groton remembered a very special person for her tireless contributions to By Ann Griffin

our school on September 10, 2010. During a school Mass, Father Dariusz Dudzik thanked Mrs. Jane O’Friel for her ten years of volunteerism in working as part of the team building the inclusive education program currently known as the R.I.S.E.N. Learning Resource Center. After the Mass, Father blessed the room, and a reception was given in Mrs. O’Friel’s honor. A plaque dedicating the room to Mrs. Jane O’Friel hangs near the door. The R.I.S.E.N. Learning Resource Center has been known by a few different names through its ten years of development and implementation in the Diocese of Norwich. It was the brainchild of a few parents, who wanted their special needs children to be educated, along with their siblings, in the Catholic school setting. Through the years, the program has been funded thanks to the hard work of these parents, it has brought an inclusive nature of acceptance to the school. “Our goal is to build a full service learning resource center which meets the needs of students from each end of the educational spectrum at Sacred Heart School,” says Sacred Heart School principal, Dr. Soraya Betancourt-Calle. With the acknowledgement that

children’s learning styles are diverse, the aim is to provide a variety of approaches to teaching and learning in the classrooms and in the R.I.S.E.N. Learning Resource Center. Our R.I.S.E.N. staff work

together with our classroom teachers to develop strategies that better serve the needs of individual students. The additional personnel, together with the technical and traditional teaching methods and resources found in Sacred Heart School through the R.I.S.E.N. Learning Resource Center, makes the task of differentiating instruction for students with special learning needs, from learning disabilities through the exceptional learner, much more possible. Although Jane’s son, Mark, has graduated, the O’Friel family will continue to leave its legacy to Sacred Heart School. A legacy that many children will benefit from for years to come.

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Mercy students walk in the rain during their annual walkathon fundraising event. Photo submitted by Jennifer Kensel

Mercy High Students Walk for their School! Mercy High School held its annual student walkathon on Friday, November 5th. Inclement weather kept the students off the streets, but they were in high spirits as they walked their own Mercy campus and enjoyed a pizza lunch. The Walkathon is a long-standing tradition at Mercy High School and a major student fundraiser. Students obtain pledges which are counted as part of their class goal and classes compete for the chance to walk first. Advisor Groups also raise money through food sales and raffles. This year, students raised more than $70,000 – exceeding goal by 15% and earning them a day off. The sophomore class collected the highest percentage of money toward their quota, winning the chance to walk first. They were followed by the freshwomen, juniors and seniors. The top three students who brought in the most pledge money were: Emily Fritsch, Rachel Dziatko and Samantha Salafia. Mrs. Lynn Curello’s advisor group collected 181% of quota, and Mrs. Lynn Nauman’s advisory group’s bagel sales raised $750, making their fundraising project the most successful in the school. The Mercy High School community thanks everyone for their support of this year’s Walkathon!

Four County Catholic December 2010

Mercy Senior Receives DAR Good Citizen Award

Sr. Mary McCarthy, Principal of Mercy High School, congratulates Sophia Panaccione on her DAR Good Citizen Award. Photo submitted by Jennifer Kensel

Sophia Panaccione, a senior at Mercy High School, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Good Citizen Award from the Wadsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Sophia was selected for the award through a combination of faculty nominations and senior class vote. Students who receive the award are considered to demonstrate outstanding leadership, dependability, service and patriotism. Only one student per year can be selected as a school’s DAR Good Citizen. As a DAR Good Citizen recipient, Sophia is now eligible to enter the DAR Good Citizen scholarship contest and receive state and national awards. At Mercy, Sophia is a member of the Senior Class Executive Board, National Honor Society, and the Mercy Ambassadors Recruitment Team. She is a homeroom representative, and also devotes time to several extracurricular groups, including Random Acts of Kindness, Helping Hands Helping Paws and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD.) She is a four year member of the Softball Team, serving as varsity co-captain in her junior and senior years. Sophia has also served as a teaching assistant at St. John’s School in Old Saybrook, Altar Serving Captain at St. John Church in Old Saybrook, and an assistant at the Read to Grow program in New Haven. In announcing Sophia’s selection as the school’s DAR Good Citizen, Sr. Mary A. McCarthy, Principal of Mercy High School, stated: “We are so proud of Sophia and congratulate her on this honor. She is an outstanding student, leader and athlete and serves as a role model for both her peers and our underclasswomen.” Sophia is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Panaccione of Old Saybrook.

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Lucy, Tarcisius, Maximilian Kolbe, Padre Pio, Rose of Lima, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha and Mother Seton were among other Saints portrayed at St. Mary Star of the Sea’s annual Harvest Supper in New London on the Feast of All Saints. Students at St. Mary’s School have been playing “Name That Saint” and working at identifying holy men and women of the Church. They were invited to dress up as them, either historically or as they might appear in the 21st century. Photo by Shannon Lougee The Middle Schoolers at St. Mary Star of the Sea School in New London were guests of the CURE BioBus in October. Under the guidance of Science Teacher, Mrs. Merrijo Logan, the 6th Grade future scientists participate in one of the several activities that were available to them in an up-to-date laboratory setting that featured individual lab stations with projected real-time demonstrations. Photo submitted by Anne Tortora

Four County Catholic December 2010

by Karen H Whiting

Did you know?

Twelve Days of Christmas Match

December 1-7 Cookie Cutter Week. Make cookies and talk about how the shapes represent Christmas sumbols related to Jesus.

This Christmas song was written for Catholics to recall the main beliefs of the faith. Here’s a mix and match to see if you know how the words relate to the truth

Fill Your Calendar With Advent Blessings Advent began November 28th. Advent a great time to focus on Christ and being thankful that he came to save us. Fill a calendar with memories of each day. Use a blank calendar page or print off a four-week blank calendar. Use an advent wreath with candles as part of the celebration. For each Sunday, draw or write the week’s theme: week 1 is the prophecy candle for hope, week 2 is the Bethlehem candle for love; week 3 is the shepherd candle for joy; week 4 is the angel candle for peace. Each day write in a good deed someone did that day and consider the deeds gifts for Jesus. Daily, read or watch a Christmas story, write what was chosen, and write how it made people feel. Think of activities to reflect the theme, such as sending cards to bring hope during the prophet week, or passing out candy canes as shepherd staffs during the shepherd week. Sing carols that reflect the theme, such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing for the forth week. Take photos of family members engaged in the activities and you’ll have all the makings for a festive page you can add to a scrapbook after Christmas.

1.) Partridge on a pair tree

A.) Main beliefs in the apostle’s creed

2.) Turtle doves

B.) Number of testaments in the Bible

3.) French Hens

C.) The beatitudes

4.) Calling Birds

D.) A reminder of the birth of Jesus

December 19 Remember to light the advent wreath! It’s the third Sunday of advent (pink candle) so rejoice that Christmas is getting close!

5.) Golden rings

E.) Number of commandments

6.) Geese a Laying

F.) Creation

7.) Swans a swimming

G.) Fruits of the Holy Spirit

8.) Maids a Milking

H.) The trinity or faith, hope, and love

December 21 National Candy Cane Day. The candy cane is shaped like a shepherd’s staff, and upside down it forms a J for Jesus. Pass out candy canes to neighbors. Read about the shepherds on the first Christmas in Luke 2:15-20.

9.) Ladies Dancing

I.) Number of faithful apostles

10.) Lords a Leaping

J.) Number of books of Moses (Pentatuch)

11.) Pipers Piping

K.) Gifts of the Holy Spirit

December 26 National thank-you note day. Thank God and people for gifts. Read about nine lepers who forgot to thank God in Luke 17:11-19.

December 2010 Answer Key 1-D. Jesus lay in a manger, nestled in a bed or nest of straw. 2-B. There two testaments, closely united, to bring peace and love, symbolized by doves. 3. H. Jesus said he wanted to gather people, like a hen gathers her chicks. The French hens thus symbolize the three persons in God. Some also say it is a symbol of the three greatest values of Faith Hope and Love. 4-L. The gospels are like calling birds, calling to people to turn and believe in Jesus. (There are four: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). 5-J. Penta means 5. The first five books of the Bible are called the Pentatuch. They show how God made and loves man and had a plan to send Jesus to save all people. 6-F. There are 6 days of creation when life was given birth, or laid as geese lay eggs that bring new life. 7-K. The 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, listed in Isaiah 11:2 name the gifts that the Holy Spirit gave Jesus. 8-C. The 8 beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:3-10) are blessings. In the Old Testament a blessing was pictured as a land flowing with milk. 9-G. The ladies dancing are the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The dancing is to show the fruits are being used well. 10-E. The 10 lords a leaping are symbols for10 commandments. They are pictured as men leaping up to following God’s laws. 11-I. The 11 pipers piping are for the 11 faithful apostles bringing news and joy to the world. 12A. The 12 drummers drumming are the 12 points of doctrine named in the Apostle’s creed

December 8 St Francis of Assisi first set up a nativity scene on this day. Talk about your nativity sets and what the figures mean.

December 28 Holy Innocents Day. Pray for unborn children to be saved.

12.) Drummers Drumming L.) Number of Gospels

Four County Catholic December 2010

Bishop Cote visiting with Pope Benedict in Rome on one of two occasions to meet with the Holy Father this year.

2010 Busy Travel Year for Evangelizing Pope Pope Benedict XVI, concerned about Europe’s increasing secularization, kept a very busy travel Provided by CNA/EWTN News

schedule to Europe this year. His 2010 travels included Malta - marking the 1,950th anniversary of when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on the Island; Cyprus - continuing his efforts to reach out to the Orthodox

Church; Portugal - a papal pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine of Fatima; and Scotland, Britain and Spain – all major opportunities to remind Europeans that their continent risks falling into an abyss of secularism and relativism unless they return to their Christian roots. “The pope knows this issue well from his long experience as a teacher and as an acute observer

of historic and cultural moments,” reported ANSA news. “It’s evident that he sees a need to bring forward again the message of Jesus Christ so that people today can reinvigorate their faith.” Benedict has made reinvigorating the faith in Europe a priority of his papacy, The pontiff ’s major regional events also included an historic meeting of bishops on the Middle

East, and a large Rome conference in honor of the Year for Priests. A vigorous Pope Benedict turned 83 this year, celebrating five years as supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church. Looking ahead to the New Year, the Vatican has just recently announced that Benedict XVI will visit the cities of Venice and Aquileia, May 7-8. This will be the first papal visit to Venice in 25

years. Also, Croatia’s Cardinal Josip Bozanić has announced that Benedict XVI will make a trip to Croatia in 2011. This will be his first time to the Country as Pope. World Youth Day in Madrid next summer will also be on the Pontiff ’s schedule, as his ambitious travel schedule and tireless evangelizing mission continue into the New Year.

Four County Catholic December 2010

John Angotti Teams Up with Dove Award Nominee Steve Petrunak at Carnegie Hall Bringing together more than 350 voices from around the U.S., John Angotti and Steve Petrunak have By Eileen Dluzynski

joined together to produce a historic Catholic choral event featuring Angotti’s inspirational music, which is sung in Catholic churches across the world. Dove award nominee, Steve Petrunak made his debut as Artistic Director of the “Voices in the Hall” series at Carnegie Hall in 2007. He invited award-winning Catholic artist John Angotti for this next

event to be held January 14, 2011 at 8:00 pm. Choirs from around the country have been invited to participate in the concert with Angotti and his band, and will perform at the historic Isaac Stern Auditorium /Ronald O. Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. John Angotti has been touring the United States as a full-time music missionary for more than five years. His contemporary pop and soulful rock blend of inspirational music has reached thousands around the globe. Angotti has recorded eight albums to date and

has won numerous awards from the United Catholic Music and Video Association. His performances have included concerts at World Youth Day Sydney Australia, the U.S. Papal visit, and national conventions. For more information about attending the concert, contact Eileen Dluzynski, Classic Choir Tours, 800-727-1999; extension 174. For media inquiries, contact Lisa Bagladi, Public Relations Manager, WLP at 847.233.2749 or email BagladiL@jspaluch.com

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Four County Catholic December 2010

Benedict XVI Calls Spain, All Of Europe, To Deeper Faith BARCELONA, SPAIN - Pope Benedict called Spain to a deeper faith during his farewell address at Provided by CNA/EWTN News

Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s airport. As the Pope concluded his Nov. 6- 7 visit, he expressed gratitude to all who assisted in making the papal trip a success. He explained that he traveled to Spain in order to strengthen Catholics in a faith that has taken such deep root â&#x20AC;&#x153;that it has constantly shaped the spirit, customs, art and character of its peoples.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The preservation of this rich spiritual patrimony demonstrates the love of your country for its history and culture, yet it is also a privileged way of transmitting to younger generations those fundamental values so necessary for

building up a common future of harmony and solidarity.â&#x20AC;? Recalling the Way of St. James, the name given to a group of pilgrimage routes which run across Europe, leading to Santiago de Compostela, the Pope noted that these paths â&#x20AC;&#x153;differed greatly, each marked by its own languageâ&#x20AC;Śbut the faith was the same.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a common language, the Gospel of Christ,â&#x20AC;? he continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond national differences,â&#x20AC;? the pilgrims â&#x20AC;&#x153;knew that they were members of one great family to which the other pilgrims and people along the way also belonged.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;May this faith find new vigor on this continent and become a source of inspiration. May it give rise to an attitude of solidarity towards all, especially towards those communities and nations in greater

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need.â&#x20AC;? Then addressing the crowds in the regional dialect of Catalan, the Pope said that during his day in Barcelona, he was able to participate in â&#x20AC;&#x153;two symbols of fruitfulness of the faith which â&#x20AC;Ś through charity and the mystery of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beauty, contributes to the creation of a society more worthy of man.â&#x20AC;? On Nov. 7, the Pope consecrated the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) and visited Nen Deu, a facility that cares for children in need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Truly, beauty, holiness and the love of God enable people to live with hope in this world.â&#x20AC;? After his visit to Nen Deu, the Pope met with Prime Minister of Spain JosĂŠ Luis RodrĂguez Zapatero, who passed a law dramatically liberalizing the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abortion laws last June. Concluding his address, the Pope placed Spain â&#x20AC;&#x153;under the maternal protection of Mary Most Holy,â&#x20AC;? asking the Blessed Mother to â&#x20AC;&#x153;obtain from Almighty God abundant heavenly gifts, that you may live as one family, guided by the light of faith. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I bless you in the name of the Lord. With his help, we will meet again next year in Madrid, to celebrate World Youth Day. Adios!â&#x20AC;?

Pope Benedict consecrates Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sagrada Familia Basilica. AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza

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Four County Catholic December 2010

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People follow a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on the large live screen, at center, at the La Monumental bullring in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. The Pope is in the city of Barcelona to consecrate La Sagrada Familia church. AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza

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Four County Catholic December 2010

World’s Tallest Christ the King Statue in Poland Soaring 36 metres towards the heavens, the Christ of Swiebodzin in Poland wears a crown of gold

and as of this weekend dethroned Brazil’s landmark Jesus of Rio de Janeiro as the world’s tallest statue

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of Christ. “It is the work of my life. My first vocation was to become a priest. My second was to build the statue,” local Roman Catholic priest Sylwester Zawadzki, who launched the project five years ago, said. Fr Zawadzki watched anxiously as workers mounted the final pieces of the Christ figure, arms stretched wide and the massive head, using an enormous crane which was brought in especially for the extra-hefty load. The white robed figure located 50 kilometres from the Polish¬German border and visible from the A2 highway linking Warsaw and Berlin, weighs in at an estimated 440 tons. A group of faithful huddled in the rain applauded and chanted “Thank you, thank you” towards Fr Zawadzki as the head was mounted in place. Then facing the figure, they prayed and sang religious hymns. “I didn’t especially mean to build the world’s tallest Christ. I just wanted it to measure 33 metres like the 33 years that Christ was alive,” Fr Zawadzki said, adding the three-metrehigh golden

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crown brings the total height to 36 meters, three metres higher than the Jesus of Rio. It rests on a mound of earth 16 metres high and its arms stretch 24 metres wide. Like the robed Christ figures in Concordia, Bolivia, and in Rio de Janeiro, the statue of Swiebodzin is entirely white but it is the golden crown

AP Photos Czarek Sokolowski that distinguishes the Polish Jesus. “This will symbolise Swieb¬odzin. Our priest has made a second Czestochowa,” rejoiced resident Izabela Sawicz, 32, referring to the famous shrine of the Black Madonna in the southern Polish city, the most impor-

tant destination for religious pilgrimages in this devoutly Catholic country. “This is a very good investment. This will promote the town and attract tourists,” says Edmund Miara, a local government official, while stressing no public money was spent on the statue.

Four County Catholic December 2010

Religious Sisters Net $220k Selling Rare Baseball Card BALTIMORE, MD., November 7 (CNA) - The missions of the School Sisters of Notre Dame will receive a big financial boost from the sale of an unusual itemthe most prized baseball card in the world. Honus Wagner, it appears, didn’t want his image used to promote tobacco. That’s the story of how a 1909 American Tobacco Company baseball card, featuring the Pittsburgh shortstop, became the most valuable trading card in history. The cards were withdrawn, and only around 50 exist. Recently, though, Wagner’s card was put to a nobler purpose: an order of sisters raised $220,000 by auctioning one. Heritage Auction Galleries, which handled the online sale, recounted that one of the Baltimore-based School Sisters of Notre Dame had received the card from her brother. Although the card was not in perfect condition, he said, its value “should increase exponentially

throughout the (21st) century.” The auction agency clearly agreed, rhapsodically announcing that the winning bidder would be “planting his flag

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the auction. The sisters will receive around 80 percent of the final $260,000 bid. Wagner, known as the “Flying Dutchman,” was one of the five original inductees into baseball’s Hall of Fame and compiled a .328 batting average during his career. Some of his contemporaries regarded him as one of the greatest players of all time. His card’s value, however, derives mostly from its sheer rarity. A card in mint condition from the same early 1900s batch went for $2.8 million in 2007 - the highest price ever paid for a baseball card. Far from its original purpose of promoting Sweet Caporal Ciga-

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Four County Catholic December 2010