Waterbury Native One Step Closer to Sainthood

Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell has just signed the documents of the investigation into a possible miracle attributed to the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Fr. Michael McGivney. The information is now being sent to the Holy See, where a team of medical experts and theologians at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints will investigate the potential miracle.

Make sure to watch Crossroads Magazine this Saturday for the full story. Crossroads airs Saturday on WTXX at 10:30 a.m., and My TV 9 at 10:35 p.m.

Guadalupe Celebration

Crossroads Magazine will be on hand for the Guadalupe Celebration tonight in New Haven. We hope to meet many of you there. Here's the information, from the Knights of Columbus:

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council will host a festive Guadalupe Celebration and procession in New Haven, Conn., featuring a rare relic of St. Juan Diego – a small piece of his miraculous tilma, nearly 500 years old. A special Mass will be offered by Archbishop Henry Mansell at 5 pm in St. Mary’s Church, with a homily by Bishop William Lori. At 6 pm, Msgr. Eduardo Chavez, the world’s foremost expert on Our Lady of Guadalupe, will speak about the apparitions. At 6:30 pm, a procession with the relic will begin from St. Mary’s Church, leading through the streets of New Haven to the K of C Museum for a fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Festivities will include a chance to individually venerate the relic, as well as Mexican food, performances, artworks and much more. All are invited. Please see kofc.org/guadalupe for more information.

Bishop of Scranton Resigns

The Diocese of Scranton posted the press conference announcing the resignation of 63 year-old Bishop Joseph Martino. The bishop says stress has caused him insomnia and crippling physical fatigue. He has lead the diocese since 2003. The Vatican announced today that Pope Benedict XVI accepted Bishop Martino's resignation. According to Canon Law, a bishop must turn in his resignation at the age of 75. Canon Law also allows a bishop to resign because of illness or if he becomes unsuited for the ministry because of "some other grave reason." Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia will now be temporary administrator of the Diocese of Scranton. During the press conference today, the Cardinal said he hopes the Holy Father will appoint a new bishop of Scranton within six months. The Cardinal has named a number of episcopal vicars to serve in the diocese. His vicar general is Monsignor Joseph Bambera, pastor of two parishes in Archbald. After brief statements from Bishop Martino and the Cardinal, the media asked a number of questions.

Remembering Pro-life, Catholic Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Pro-life groups are remembering a champion of life, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The sister of John, Robert, and Ted Kennedy and the founder of Special Olympics died Tuesday. Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser says,"No one more than Eunice Kennedy Shriver understood better the power held by the most vulnerable in our society." She continues, "She fought for those hidden in the shadows of life, while acknowledging that they teach us far more than we could ever offer them. She was consistent in her championing of every vulnerable human life.” Shriver was a former advisory committe member of the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. In 1992, Shriver and many pro-life leaders signed a full page ad in the New York Times. They protested the Democratic Party's embrace of the abortion-rights agenda. Shriver also worked for Democrats for Life of America and Feminists for Life.

The AP reports the longtime priest of Mrs. Shriver says the Special Olympics founder was a compassionate woman who attended church regularly. Father John Enzler says Shriver was striving to be in touch with God. Father says Shriver saw herself as a steward, using God’s gifts to help others. He also says that Shriver’s legacy is her recognition that everyone is important.

Year of the Priest Icon Writer from Connecticut

Have you seen this beautiful icon in holy cards at your church? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are using it for the Year of the Priest. Iconographer Marek Czarnecki of Seraphic Restorations in Meriden, Connecticut wrote this image of Christ the Great High Priest. Czarnecki explains his icon, “Here Christ is shown in Latin Rite vestments with a gold pelican over His heart, the ancient symbol of self-sacrifice. The borders contain a windig grapevine and altar prepared for the celebration of the liturgy of the Mass; in the borders are smaller icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.”

Crossroads Magazine will introduce you to this icon and the iconographer on this week's show. Catch Crossroads Magazine on WTXX on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., and on My TV 9 (WTCX) on Saturday at 10:35 p.m. (right after the 10 p.m. news).

For more about Czarnecki, check out his website here:http://www.seraphicrestorations.com/. You can order a poster of the icon from the National Federation of Priests' Councils here.

Young Priest Featured in Paper

As a youngster, Matthew Nemchausky wanted to work in the film industry, but as you can see from the collar in his photo above, he is now Fr. Matthew. He is just one of the recently ordained priests in this country. Chicago's Southtown Star featured Father in this piece yesterday. Check it out. Let us continue to pray for many more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

WJMJ Religious Headlines

Nigerian Church Leader Asks Government to Pay for Burned Churches
Pakistani Bishop: Police Did Not Do Enough to Stop Violence
Vietnam Catholics Protest Persecution
Church Threatens to Excommunicate Over Abortion Pill
Portugal High Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban
Worcester Closed Church Sold to Pentecostals
U.S. Sisters to Complete Comprehensive Questionnaire
Annual Appeals See Boost, Despite Economy
Mark Wahlberg Marries in Catholic Church

New Study on Resisting Temptations

How confident are you in your ability to resist temptation? Loran Nordgren, senior lecturer of management and organizations at Northwestern University studied the question. His answers will be published in the journal Psychological Science, but you can find an introduction on LiveScience.com.

In the article he says, "People are not good at anticipating the power of their urges, and those who are the most confident about their self-control are the most likely to give into temptation."

For example, in one experiment people who thought they could resist smoking were twice as likely to indulge in a cigarette as those who were not sure of their abilities to resist.

The conclusion of Nordgren's work is to not put oneself in danger of succumbing to a temptation. He says, "People have less self-restraint than they think, a false belief that often leads people to expose themselves to more temptation than they can handle."

For Catholics, this study is not too earth shattering. We are taught to avoid the near occasion of sin. Now, the secular science backs up that teaching. God's grace helps us when we are in temptation. Try praying, while getting out of the situation. "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

St. Padre Pio: The Matchmaker?

St. Padre Pio the matchmaker? The holy priest who had the stigmata for 50 years led a couple to marriage. The couple, now residing in Somers, Connecticut, met back in the 1960s when visiting the friary of St. Padre Pio. They kept in touch and visited after this original meeting. Germain Bianchi wanted to marry the young woman, Ortrud, but she was not so sure. One more visit to see Padre Pio changed all that. The couple says what happened next was a miracle. During that time, the pilgrims would wait for the holy priest’s blessings in separate parlours: one for men, another for the women. Ortrud and Germain were both pulled from their respective crowd and taken to a private area. Both were surprised that the other was there too. Just then, Padre Pio walked in, placed his hands on both of their heads, and gave them a blessing. They took it as sign they were to marry.

Crossroads Magazine will have the whole story this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on WTXX, and 10:30 p.m. on My TV 9. Tune in for this inspiring story of a Connecticut couple and a modern day saint.

You can read Ortrud's description of this romance story here.

Photo Courtesy: PPPG.org (Padre Pio Prayer Groups).

2-1-1 and Food Stamps

United Way of Connecticut’s 2-1-1 is a state-wide service for those in need, in need of food, shelter, information, programs... anything, really.

Leaders in the group say the economic distress calls are increasing with one of the biggest jumps being requests for help with food. 2-1-1 can point people to WIC services in their area or even DSS services like cash assistance and food stamps.

Since last year, there have been 54 percent more calls just for food stamps, a program now called SNAP. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; it’s designed to provide additional funds for households to purchase healthy foods.

The federal stimulus package passed by the Legislature earlier this year provides for additional SNAP benefits, increasing those benefits by 13.6 percent.

Applicants no longer need to visit a DSS regional office…the entire process can be completed over the phone, through the mail or online. Everything is done with an electronics benefits transfer card, meaning the person in need would simply get an EBT card, take it to the store and use that for their grocery purchases. This makes usage easy and gives the person a lower profile than years ago when the stamp method was used.

The amount of the benefits depends on the household income and expenses; the figure remains in place for the duration of the certification period - usually a year. The benefits also carry over from month to month, so an EBT card is very similar to having an electronic bank account for the snap benefits.

Although about 127,000 families in the state are enrolled in SNAP. There are several thousand more that are eligible. 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, and anyone can call.

Priest Fashion Designer on Crossroads Magazine

As we shared with you here on the blog, New Haven native Fr. Andrew O’Connor is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York who leads the charity Goods of Conscience. It is an apparel line Cameron Diaz recently wore in Vogue Magazine. Julia Roberts will also wear some of the organization's clothing in the upcoming film Eat, Pray, Love.

You maybe wondering, "Why in the world is a priest a fashion designer?" We will bring you the answer this Saturday on Crossroads Magazine. That's at 10:30 a.m. on WTXX, and 10:30 p.m. on My TV 9 in Connecticut. Just a little hint at the answer: Father truly believes his charity work is a perfect opportunity to live Catholic social teaching. He is also reaching out to many people searching for faith answers.

For more information on Goods of Conscience, check out their website here.

An Ongoing Saga: FIC, Courant, and DCF

If you read today's Hartford Courant, then you may have seen this letter to the editor from The Family Institute of Connecticut's Executive Director Peter Wolfgang. In the letter, Wolfgang defends the Institute's request that the state's Department of Children and Families take down links that promoted "the revisionist view that the Bible and religion approve of homosexual activity and attack those churches that disagree."

This letter is part of on ongoing saga between the FIC, The Courant, and DCF. As we reported on WJMJ Religious News on July 15, the Connecticut Department of Children has taken down web links that promoted a pro-gay interpretation of the Bible. DCF removed the links after being threatened with a lawsuit from the Family Institute of Connecticut and the American Center for Law and Justice. The links were to various websites saying the Bible takes a positive view of gay actions. The Family Institute’s Peter Wolfgang says DCF was violating the First Amendment because DCF was using public funds to try to change religious views of children. DCF has agreed to take the site down until the issues are addressed. They say they will remove information that promotes a particular religious viewpoint.

However, Wolfgang says the Courant has distorted the story. On July 17, he posted his first blog post reacting to the paper's coverage. You can read that reaction here, along with links to the article he questions. He also blogged again today, acknowledging the Courant's correction of the original piece, while still wondering about the original piece, asking, "Who lied to the Courant about the content of our complaint?"

Catholic Teachers in CT Accept a Wage Freeze

Demonstrating their commitment to the students they teach and the schools they serve, the teachers in the four high schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford have overwhelmingly voted to freeze their salaries for the next school year, 2009 – 2010.

Their vote means that teachers at East Catholic High School in Manchester, Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, and Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury will not have their salaries increased at all in the next school year. Also taking a wage freeze are all administrators and staff at the four schools.


The schools sent out a statement saying: "The salary freeze reflects our concern, commitment and partnership with our students and their families during these uncertain economic times. Together, we remain committed to every student who desires a quality Catholic education.”

Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Dale R. Hoyt, expressed the appreciation of the Archdiocese for the Association’s vote for a salary freeze, saying, “We are extremely grateful that the high school administrators, faculty and staff have chosen to share in the necessary sacrifices required by the current economy. I am equally proud of these fine people who have placed the fiscal health of their schools and the needs of the students and parents above their own. They are tremendous examples of the commitment our faculty and staff have to our schools, and we are blessed to have them in our schools.”

Crossroads reporter Stephanie Valickis examined the reasons behind the wage freeze and its results. Click here for the full story.

American Exorcist Speaks

Every day he battles evil spirits. Now an American exorcist is telling his story. Religion News Service introduces its readers to Fr. Gary Thomas, the official exorcist for the Diocese of San Jose. In March, Fr. Thomas wrote bishops and seminary rectors, urging them to train more exorcists. He included copies of the book The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio. This work chronicles Fr. Thomas' three year journey from parish priest to “spiritual detective.” If you would rather wait to see the story on the big screen, RNS reports New Line Cinema has bought the rights to The Rite.

Swine Flu Spreads

More than 150 students at St. Francis Catholic School are exhibiting symptoms of swine flu. The school in Queens, New York has been temporarily shut down, and workers are sanitizing the area. Public schools in the region will remain open. Eight of nine students at St. Francis tested positive for the potentially deadly virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About a dozen students recently had returned from Mexico, where the virus has killed dozens and sickened more than a thousand.

Health officials say the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States has jumped to 64. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Tuesday that the new count includes "a number of hospitalizations" but they did not say how many. CDC officials had said there had been just one person hospitalized.

There are 17 new cases in New York City, four more in Texas and three additional cases in California. That brings the total confirmed cases to 45 in New York City, 10 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. Officials have now labelled swine flu a level 4 pandemic.

Homeland Security Head, Janet Napolitano issues a warning for those travelling to Mexico.

We’ll continue to keep you updated as more details come in.

WJMJ News Headlines

Swine Flu Infects Catholic School

The strain of swine flu believed to have killed 86 people in Mexico has infected at least eight students at a large Roman Catholic high school in Queens, New York.

About a dozen students of St. Francis Preparatory School brought the virus from Cancun where they had gone for Spring Break. Their cases are considered to be mild. The Acting Director for the Center for Disease Control, Dr. Richard Besser, says the outbreak may be here to stay.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave a statement Sunday stating that many New York victims are recovering, but that the family members of the infected have been showing signs of the flu symptoms, suggesting that it may be spreading from person to person.

Other News Headlines:
Muslim Schools Cash in on Good Catholic Name
New York’s Archbishop Goes Public
Prince Charles Meets Pope
Vatican and Israel Step Up Negotiations

SB 899 Passes - Voter Reaction

SB 899, the same-sex marriage codification bill, has passed through both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but not without a strong amendment protecting religious freedom. The amendment allows church organizations to opt out of the requirements of the law, meaning priests will not have to wed gay couples, nor will organizations such as the Knights of Columbus have to rent their halls for that purpose. Archbishop Henry Mansell personally thanked Catholics across Connecticut, saying that constituent phone calls and emails to representatives resulted in the amendment. He spoke on WJMJ.






Governor Jodi Rell says she will sign the bill when it reaches her desk. It then goes into effect in October of 2010. Crossroads Magazine asked voters, senators and lobbyists what they thought of the law, and what it means for residents. Click here to hear the full story.

WJMJ News Headlines

Massachusetts Deacon Healed by Newman


A miracle in Massachusetts means Cardinal John Henry Newman is one step closer to sainthood. London’s Daily Telegraph reports Vatican consulters have approved a miraculous healing of a 69-year-old Marshfield, Massachusetts Catholic Deacon who was suffering from a severe disorder of the spine. The disease caused him to be “bent double.” After praying to Cardinal Newman, the deacon was healed. Pope Benedict XVI can now name Newman a Blessed. There is no word on when or where that will take place. Newman was an Anglican scholar who converted to Catholicism in the 19th century.

Other Headlines:

· Rhode Island Bishop on Gay Marriage
· NYC Archbishop Dolan on Gay Marriage
· NYC Archbishop Prays at Ground Zero
· Cardinal Rigali on Pregnant Women Legislation
· Women “Ordained” Bishops
· Pope Encyclical in June
· “Hand of God” on E-Bay

S.B. 899 Passes with Amendment to Protect Religious Freedom

Senate Bill 899, the codification of same-sex marriage in the state of Connecticut, passed through the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday, after a 10-hour marathon of debate and compromise.

Democratic Senator Edith Prague spoke to us about what this bill really does for our radio newscast on WJMJ Radio.

The Bill as passed will allow same sex couples who are currently in a civil union to be automatically married as of October of 2010.

Lawmakers endorsed an amendment that allows religious organizations to opt out of the law's requirements, meaning that a group such as the Knights of Columbus would not be required to rent out its function halls for same-sex wedding receptions. Nor would a Catholic priest be obligated to preside over such a union.

The Hartford Courant published the full story on yesterday's vote.

One key problem opponents of this bill are still fighting against is the possibility of homosexuality being taught in schools. Supporters of the bill say this is not an issue, as there is no language in the bill specifically relating to teaching the lifestyle within school curricula.

Crossroads Magazine will have the entire story - including what voters think about the passage and the amendment - later this week.

Live Mass at St. Francis of Assisi in Naugatuck

The Office of Radio and Television offers a daily televised Mass on TXX at 10 a.m. Once a month, we're honored to take our television crew on the road to highlight a parish in Connecticut, and televise their Mass, live on location.

This month, we'll be at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Naugatuck, on Sunday, April 26.

There are 2,400 families that make up the St. Francis parish, which is the oldest Catholic Church in Naugatuck. It's located prominently in the center of town.

The origins of the parish date back to the late 1840s when Waterbury and Derby priests started celebrating Mass in private homes and in the Naugatuck Hotel. It soon moved to Water Street. This first small wooden church, named St. Anne, received mission status and was dedicated in 1860. Six years later, St. Anne mission was elevated to parish status, changing its name to St. Francis of Assisi. It later moved to Church Street, where it remains today.

If you'd like to attend, the parish is located at 318 Church Street. The Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 26.