Circle of Charity Newsletter MARCH 2009 2/23/09 4:01 PM Page 1

NOW MORE THAN EVER

YOUR GIFT IS VITAL!
Did you know the Annual
Bishop’s Appeal…
• Provides over one million meals this year through
Catholic Charities
• Educates more than 34,000 children and adults in M A RC H 2 0 0 9
religious education programs
• Educates over 10,000 students in Catholic schools
Extending the Reach of the Living Our Faith Appeal
• Offers funds to support the Cathedral Cluster Schools
in Bridgeport, enabling inner-city children to receive Catholic Charities in Norwalk partners with Panera Bread to help young families in need
a quality education
carefully wrapped and transported to Room To Grow.
• Supports 28 men in formation for the priesthood and Each Thursday morning, now known as “bread day” at
17 men in the permanent diaconate formation program Room to Grow, the food is used for snacks for the children
and is distributed to families struggling to make ends meet.
Ruth and Karla, two volunteer moms, prepare the breads
Please visit www.bridgeportdiocese.com to make for the children and then determine what is left over. Nancy
your donation and learn more about the identifies families with children in the program who are in
2009 Living Our Faith Annual Bishop’s Appeal. critical need of food then Ruth and Karla individually bag the
food so every family is provided for.
Nancy learned about the program through another
Room To Grow is a School Readiness Program, Catholic Charities colleague, Michelle
accredited by the National Association for the Education of Conderino. Michelle is the director of
Young Children, operated by Catholic Charities in Norwalk. Homeless Services in the Greater
Program Director Nancy Owens is used to stretching every Danbury area. “I was so fortunate to
dollar and finding creative ways to serve the 83 children and find this program and we are all so
their families above and beyond education. appreciative of Panera,” says Nancy.
Enter Panera Bread in Norwalk and their Operation “Operation Dough-Nation defrays our
Dough-Nation Program that food costs and allows us to support our
packages unsold bakery families. This means we can leverage
products at the end of each dollars that we need to run the center.”
day for donation to local Nancy admits that it is sometimes
food banks and charities. difficult, after working a full day
Each Wednesday just operating a preschool, to get in the
before 9 p.m., Nancy and her car and make that late night trip.
husband make the drive to But the knowledge that those
the Norwalk Panera Bread few hours of extra effort will
and pick up a donation of feed so many of her families is
day-end breads, bagels and all she needs.
pastries. Depending on the Room To Grow is just
day there could be one large one of the programs of
box of food or there could be Catholic Charities and this
as many as 8-10 large partnership is just one of the
plastic lined bags filled with ways that Living Our Faith
boxes of food. Everything is Appeal dollars are expanded.
238 Jewett Avenue • Bridgeport, Connecticut 06606-2892 • 203-416-1479 • e-mail: aba@diobpt.org
PERMIT NO 248
A N N UA L B I S H O P ’S A P P E A L If you would like to receive the Living
STAMFORD, CT
DONATIONS TO THE 2009 APPEAL can be made securely online at Our Faith newsletter and other diocesan
PAID
US POSTAGE
2 0 0 9 L I V I N G O U R FA I T H www.bridgeportdiocese.com, click on Bishop’s Appeal, then Donate Now updates by e-mail, please send your name,
Online to make a gift using a credit card. For more information on the e-mail address and phone number, and
NONPROFIT DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT
Appeal, please inquire at your parish, or call the Development Office: place “Newsletter” in the subject line.
416-1479 Send to: aba@diobpt.org. We will add
your name to our list. Thank you.
Circle of Charity Newsletter MARCH 2009 2/23/09 4:01 PM Page 3

Support to the 2009 The 2009 Living Our Faith 2009 Living Our Faith Annual Bishop’s Appeal Kick-off Receptions
Annual Bishop’s Annual Bishop’s Appeal is launched!
Appeal supports Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown
seminarians The 2009 Living Our Faith Annual Bishop’s Appeal Msgr. Robert Weiss hosted parishioners on Thursday, January 8, 2009.

Andy Vill is a launched in early January with receptions throughout Fairfield

second year County. Bishop Lori greeted guests throughout the region and
seminarian at
Saint John Fisher presented the mission and goals of this year’s Appeal. The 2009
and his calling to Living Our Faith video was shown highlighting how the Appeal
the priesthood is a
compelling is making a difference in the lives of people throughout Fairfield
account of events. County as a result of the generous support of parishioners.
Here is his story. Raymond and Louise Spagnuolo, with Fr. Amal
“As I share the mission and vision of this year’s Appeal, Raj Chellakan, a visiting priest from India.
“I can remem-
ber the exact day I it is a privilege to meet with parishioners, hear their concerns,
felt called to the and answer their questions,” says Bishop Lori.
priesthood. I had
not been thinking about being a priest
prior to that morning, although I had
been trying to work my faith into my We are most appreciative to the following pastors who
daily schedule. That morning, I had a
thought that God wanted me to be a hosted the regional receptions:
priest.
I prayed to Him and remember Fr. Victor Martin, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Fairfield
Elsie Palmieri and Fr. Michael
saying, “God, if you are serious about Dogali
Msgr. Robert Weiss, Saint Rose of Lima, Newtown
this, give me some sort of sign.”
Later that evening, Father Paul Mrs. And Mrs. Yerger Morehdad
Msgr. Frank Wissel, Saint Mary Parish, Greenwich
Murphy gave the homily at the 5PM
Sunday Mass and he talked about his life Msgr. Nicholas Grieco, St. Francis of Assisi, Weston Suzanne McEmber, Fr. John Inserra, Alan McEmber,
before becoming a priest and his decision
to follow God’s will for his life.
Saint Mary Parish, Greenwich Fr. Milan Dimic, and Steven Moore

I prayed to God for another sign just Msgr. Frank Wissel greeted and entertained
to be sure. Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Weston guests on Friday, January 9, 2009.
The next day I had a Boy Scout Msgr. Nicholas Grieco welcomed guests as part at the 2009 kick-off receptions on
meeting in Milford, CT and had to leave Tuesday, January 13, 2009. Wanda Borges, Msgr. Edward Surwilo
from UCONN in Stamford. I usually
would have taken the Merritt Parkway,
but decided to travel by way of I-95.
As I was driving through Stratford
I saw a large red billboard, which read, Deacon Rudolf and Jean Trankowitz
“Do you know what you want to be?
Have you asked me?” - God.
There was my answer. I noticed that
there was a website listed on the
billboard, www.HearTheCall.org. On the
website, I noticed the Spiritual Director,
Father Nick, who I had met six months
earlier at a retreat. I called Fr. Nick and
Geza and Esther Ziegler with Bishop Lori
began my journey to the priesthood.

Through gifts to the 2009 Appeal, the
Diocese is able to promote the priesthood
and offer a sound priestly formation to serve
parishioners. There are currently 28 men in
formation and six new priests will be
ordained in the spring.
Msgr. Nicholas Grieco, Carmen and John Bartholomew,
and Ralph Lazzaro
“I believe real charity happens when you
yourself have to scrimp at home and then
you turn around and give to someone who
is in a worse situation.” Jan and Bob Dilenschneider, Chair-couple of the 2009 Appeal, with
– Jan Dilenschneider former Chair-couple Cissie and Robert Ix.