By Emily Clark TRUMBULL—When Ramona Trevino became pregnant at age 16, she never considered abortion. Instead, she chose life, married her 19-year-old boyfriend, and gave birth to a baby girl. The marriage, however, turned abusive and ended in divorce. Hoping to prevent young women from facing the same situation she did, Trevino began working at a Texas Planned Parenthood clinic, a job that weighed heavily on her for the three years she was employed. “I was a very broken woman and needed healing,” Trevino told a group gathered at St. Theresa Church in Trumbull. “I never considered myself pro ..read more

By Ann Yanetti NORWALK—What does women’s spirituality look like as we navigate a culture of materialism, consumerism, and individualism? That was the question Sister Sally Norcross, CND, sought to answer at an event that drew over 80 women at St. Matthew Parish, hosted by the Catholic Daughters. “There are many different kinds of spirituality,” said Sister Sally. “Some encourage people to search for the sacred, others find God in nature, and others in mindful living in the present moment. Gerard Manley Hopkins, an English poet and Jesuit priest, spoke about an incarnational spirituality built ..read more

By Dr. Patrick Donovan Thirty years ago this month, the people of Rwanda experienced a tragedy my western American mind could not fathom. Over the course of 90 days or so, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutus, were killed by armed Hutu militias. Neighbors killed neighbors. Family members turned on other members of their family. Even ministers, gathering their flock into the Church, betrayed the faithful and saved themselves. By the time it was over, nearly one million people were dead. Most of the world, including the U.S., just watched. Because justice w ..read more

April 8, 2024 My Dear Pastoral Leaders: It is with gratitude for the many people who were involved in the drafting of the attached pastoral instruction that I am pleased to present it to you as valuable guidance in your pastoral ministry ..read more

WE HAVE A GREAT NIGHT PLANNED FOR YOU! This year’s Gala will be a fun-filled evening and a wonderful opportunity to come together. Family and friends celebrate Catholic Education!   FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: What should I wear? The dress for the evening is cocktail attire. What to expect?The cocktail hour begins at 6:00 pm, followed by a student performance, a delicious dinner, engaging student program, and recognition of our honorees, Michael Shea and M&T Bank. We will have an exciting live auction and an opportunity to “Raise Your Paddle” in support of future Leaders of Tomo ..read more

TRUMBULL—St. Catherine of Siena Parish celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday in a unique and special way this year: with a visit of the major reliquary of St. André Bessette. At all five weekend Masses, the reliquary containing a piece of St. André’s heart, together with rock from beneath St. Joseph’s Oratory and a medallion with the image of the saint, was exposed for veneration.  After each Mass, Father Joseph Marcello, Deacon Patrick Toole, and Father Jomon Kalladanthiyil, CSC, who accompanied the relic from Canada, imparted blessings with the Oil of St. Joseph, a sacramental from St. Joseph ..read more

By Emily Clark When Bella Augusztin was a child, she enjoyed playing “dress up” with her older sisters and pretending to compete with them as they “worked” at their own fashionable boutiques. That sense of competition and drive for success only grew as Bella, now a senior at Notre Dame in Fairfield, became an honors student and a highly ranked soccer player while in high school. And today, she is most grateful for an award that will allow her to continue pursuing these passions in college and beyond. Each year, the University of Connecticut grants between 15 to 20 Nutmeg Scholarships to excep ..read more

By Emily Clark MONROE—On the afternoon of Divine Mercy Sunday, a day to remember the gifts of mercy and love given through Christ’s death and resurrection, the diocese celebrated the ordination of one of its own to the transitional diaconate. Jozef Ukaj, a seminarian originally from Kosovo who has been studying at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, took a final step toward his ordination to the priesthood before a gathering of family, friends, and fellow clergy at St. Jude Parish in Monroe on April 7. As midday sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, the choir, accompanied by the ..read more

FAIRFIELD- At a Prayer Service held at St. Catherine Academy, Sister Cheryl Driscoll, RSM, led students and staff in a reflection in honor of Holy Week, a time of deep significance in our Catholic faith. The service followed the narrative of Jesus at the at the Last Supper. She explained that, “Holy Thursday was the night Jesus gathered his friends like we are gathered here today.” Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and then told his friends to go out and do the same, exemplifying servitude, humility and love. “Jesus was us to show others love and compassion like He does,” Sister Cheryl ..read more

Editor’s note: The following is a story of Encounter and Accompaniment from “CM” shared by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano in his weekly “The One” newsletter. To subscribe to this newsletter, click here. About ten years ago, some of us felt called to pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy on Fridays. We started out slowly, but the little group has been faithful. We have grown together in our love for Jesus and His mother, as well as our fondness for each other. We have experienced many answered prayers and shared the blessings we have faced with each other. Through the years, four of our members have pass ..read more