Diocese of Bridgeport

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Diocese of Bridgeport

Dioecesis Bridgeportensis
Cathedral of St. Augustine
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryFairfield County, Connecticut
Ecclesiastical provinceHartford
MetropolitanHartford
DeaneriesQueen of Peace
Mystical Rose
Queen of Martyrs
Our Lady, Queen of Confessors
Seat of Wisdom
Queen Assumed into Heaven
Mother of Divine Grace
Cause of our Joy
Mary, Mother of the Church
Queen of Clergy
Statistics
Area626 sq mi (1,620 km2)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2020)
Parishes80 [1]
Schools38
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedAugust 6, 1953
CathedralCathedral of Saint Augustine
Patron saintAugustine of Hippo
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopFrank J. Caggiano
Metropolitan ArchbishopChristopher J. Coyne
Vicar GeneralRobert M. Kinnally
Judicial VicarArthur C. Mollenhauer
Map
Website
bridgeportdiocese.org

The Diocese of Bridgeport (Latin: Dioecesis Bridgeportensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church located in the southwestern part of the state of Connecticut in the United States. It is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Hartford. It includes all of Fairfield County, Connecticut. Its cathedral is St. Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport. The bishop is Frank Caggiano.

Description

The Diocese of Bridgeport is one of four dioceses in the Ecclesiastical Province of Hartford—the others are the Archdiocese of Hartford, the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Providence.

The largest church in the Diocese of Bridgeport is St. Mary's Church in Stamford, built in 1928. Sacred Heart Parish in Georgetown was the home parish for American writers Flannery O'Connor and Robert Fitzgerald from 1949 to 1952 when O'Connor was living in Ridgefield as a boarder with the Fitzgeralds. ("The working day as we set it up that fall began with early mass in Georgetown, four miles away," Fitzgerald wrote.)[2]

Demographics

As of 2023, the Diocese of Bridgeport had over 420,000 registered Catholics, 45 percent of the total county population.[3]

History

1700 to 1800


In the 17th and much of the 18th centuries, Puritan ministers in the British Province of Connecticut were vociferously anti-Catholic in their writings and preaching. They considered the Catholic Church to be a foreign political power, with Catholics only having loyalty to the Vatican.[4] Catholics were prohibited from buying land or running for public office without first publicly disowning their church.[5] This began to change with the onset of the American Revolution:

"In the summer of 1781, French Marshal Jean-Baptiste Rochambeau and his army marched through Connecticut, encamping in the Ridgebury section of Ridgefield, where the first Catholic mass [in Fairfield County] was offered. His troops were mostly Catholic and were ministered to by Reverend Fathers Robin, Gluson, Lacy, and Saint Pierre."[6]

After the American Revolution ended in 1783, attitudes towards Catholics in the United States began to change. The Connecticut General Assembly passed an act of toleration in 1784, allowing any Protestant to avoid paying taxes to support the local Congregational Church, provided that they could prove membership and regular attendance at another Protestant church.[7]

The US Constitution, ratified in 1789, guaranteed religious freedom for all religions.[8] That same year, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Baltimore to cover the entire territory of the United States, including Connecticut.[9] In 1791, the Assembly passed an act of toleration to all Christians, including Catholics. However, the act had little practical effect for Catholics as there were no parishes then in the state.

1800 to 1850

The first Catholic church in Connecticut, Holy Trinity, was dedicated in 1830 in Hartford, with James Fitton as its pastor.[10][11] Also in 1830, Fitton celebrated the first mass in Bridgeport in a private home. From 1832 to 1837, James McDermot visited Hartford from New Haven. He said mass at the Farrell residence, also on Middle Street.[12] By 1835, the rector of the New Haven church estimated there were 720 Catholics in Fairfield County, with Bridgeport home of the largest community, about 100 people.[13] McDermot was followed by James Smyth, also from New Haven.

In 1842, St. James the Apostle Church, an Irish parish, was dedicated by Bishop Benedict Fenwick of Boston in Bridgeport. The town then had a population of about 250 Catholics. The pastor was also responsible for ministering to the small Catholic communities in Derby and Norwalk. Catholics in Stamford, Greenwich and other towns were served by the pastor at St. James and by Jesuit priests based at Fordham College in New York City.[13]

In 1843, Pope Gregory XVI split the Diocese of Hartford off from the Diocese of Boston. The new diocese consisted of all of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The Bridgeport area would remain part of the Diocese of Hartford for the next 110 years.[14]

In 1844, Michael Lynch became the first resident priest in Bridgeport. His responsibilities included missions in Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury, Wolcottville, and Norfolk. St. John's Parish was erected in Stamford in 1847[15]. With the influx of Irish immigrants in Danbury to work in the hat industry there, the diocese erected St. Peter's Parish in 1848.[16]

1850 to 1900

The first Catholic church in Stamford, St. John's, was dedicated in 1851.[5] Thomas Synnott, pastor of St. James Parish, established St. Mary's Parish for Irish immigrants in East Bridgeport in 1854. The first Catholic church in Greenwich, St. Paul, was opened in 1860, serving Irish immigrants in the area.[17]

Synnott opened St. Augustine Parish for the Irish in Bridgeport in 1869. St. Mary's Parish in Greenwich, the first in that town, was founded in 1874.[18] Another Irish parish, Sacred Heart, was organized in Bridgeport in 1883; until the church was ready for services, the parishioners hed mass was held at the opera house. St. Michael's "Chapel of Ease" (run by Sacred Heart Parish) was constructed in Bridgeport in 1895; the Sisters of Mercy operated a school in the rear portion of the chapel. The diocese established several ethnic parishes in Bridgeport during this period:

  • St. Joseph's (German, 1895)[19]
  • St. Anthony of Padua (French, 1894)
  • St. Stephen of Hungary (Hungarian, 1897) [20]

1900 to 1960

Cardinal Sheehan (2014)

The diocese in 1901 dedicated St. John Nepomucene in Bridgeport, making it the first Slovak church in New England. [21]In 1905, the Sisters of Charity opened St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport. Today it is St. Vincent's Medical Center.[22]

Pope Pius XII erected the Diocese of Bridgeport on August 6, 1953, removing its territory from the Diocese of Hartford.[23] The pope named Auxiliary Bishop Lawrence Shehan of Baltimore as the first bishop of Bridgeport.[24]

During his tenure in Bridgeport, Shehan established 18 new parishes, built 24 new churches, and founded three high schools.[25] He also formed a Catholic Youth Organization, promoted vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and began parish ministry for the increasing number of Hispanic, Portuguese, and Brazilian immigrants.[25]

1960 to 1970

In 1960, Shehan convoked the first synod of Bridgeport to complete the initial organization of the diocese and to establish a uniform code of practice and discipline for the clergy.[25] Shehan was named archbishop of Baltimore by Pope John XXIII in 1961.[24]

John XXIII named Auxiliary Bishop Walter Curtis of the Archdiocese of Newark as the next bishop of Bridgeport in 1961.[26] In 1962, St. Joseph High School in Trumbull and Immaculate High School in Danbury were founded.[27][28]

Curtis spent most of his administration implementing the reforms of the Second Vatican Council of the early 1960s.[29]In 1963, Curtis opened Sacred Heart College in Fairfield to serve students of all religions, races and ethnic backgrounds. Today it is Sacred Heart University[30]. In 1964, the diocese opened Notre Dame Girls' High School in Bridgeport and Notre Dame Boys' High School in Fairfield.[31]

1970 to 2000

Cardinal Egan (2009)

During the 1970s, Curtis oversaw the renovation of St. Augustine Cathedral and its re-dedication in 1979.[32] He established two nursing homes: Pope John Paul II Health Care Center in Danbury and St. Camillus Health Care Center in Stamford[32] Kolbe Cathedral High School was founded in Bridgeport in 1976. During this period, the Catholic population in the diocese increased from 286,000 to 300,000.[32] Curtis also founded the Fairfield Foundation, a nondenominational group that helps people in need in the county.[32] Curtis retired as bishop of Bridgeport in 1988.

Pope John Paul II named Auxiliary Bishop Edward Egan of the Archdiocese of New York as the next bishop of Bridgeport in 1988.[33] During his tenure, Egan oversaw the reorganization of Catholic schools. He also raised $45 million for diocesan schools through a fundraising campaign, "Faith in the Future." The diocesan Catholic Charities under his tenure, became the largest private social service agency in the county. To support the 12 Hispanic parishes in the diocese, he brought Spanish-speaking priests to Bridgeport from Colombia. Egan also established a home for retired priests and a school for children with special needs.

2000 to present

Bishop Caggiano (2008)

After John Paul II named Egan as archbishop of New York, the pope in 2001 appointed Auxiliary Bishop William E. Lori from the Archdiocese of Washington as the new bishop of Bridgeport.[33][34] While serving in Bridgeport, Lori refused to release the names of diocesan priests who were being sued for sexual abuse of minors. The US Supreme Court ruled against Lori in 2009 and the diocese was forced to release the names.[35] In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI elevated St. John's Church in Stamford, constructed in 1875, to the Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist.[5] Benedict XVI named Lori as archbishop of Baltimore in 2012.[34]

Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Brooklyn was appointed bishop of Bridgeport by Benedict XVI in 2012.[36] One of Caggiano's first actions as bishop was to publicly announce the financial deficit incurred before his installation. He mandated that pastors serve six-year renewable periods at parishes and required that they submit their resignations when they turned 75.[37]

In 2014, Caggiano convoked the 4th Synod of the Diocese of Bridgeport, the first in 32 years (themed "Building Bridges to the Future Together").[38] In interview that year with America Magazine, Caggiano said that one of his first priorities as bishop was reaching out to the high percentage of Catholics in the diocese who no longer attend mass.[39] One of the major concerns of the synod was the decline in mass attendance and sacramental reception, along with the need to bolster Catholic schools due to declining enrollment.[40]

In 2018, Caggiano announced the revision of the liturgical norms and regulations in the diocese over the next four-year period, stemming from discussions in the diocesan synod. Caggiano said that these newer regulations would "allow us to pray effectively and reverently as a Church" and would be the newest norms implemented since 1983.[41] As of 2026, Caggiano is the bishop of Bridgeport.

Reports of sex abuse

In 1993, 23 lawsuits were filed against the Diocese of Bridgeport, alleging sexual abuse by priests. The diocese settled all 23 claims in 2001.[42] Five priests were suspended from the ministry.[42]

Kieran Ahearn, pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Bethel, was arrested in 1993 on charges of indecent assault on a minor during a ski trip to the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts.[43] Ahearn was acquitted of sexual abuse, but convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.[44] He was sentenced to two years of probation.[45]

In 2001, John J. Castaldo, pastor of St. Maurice Parish in Stamford, was charged in White Plains, New York, with the attempted dissemination of indecent material to a minor. He was accused of sending sexually explicit messages to a police investigator posing as a 14-year-old boy.[46] He pleaded guilty and received one weekend in jail and five years of probation.

The priest Paul Gotta was arrested in 2013 and charged with sexually abusing a teenage boy. He forced the boy to strip naked and performed sexual acts on him. The sexual abuse charges were dropped. The diocese removed Gotta from ministry in 2013. In 2017, Gotta was convicted of having another teenage boy purchase thousands of rounds of handgun ammunition and giving that boy explosives. Gotta was sentenced to nine months in prison.[47]

In May 2014, Bishop Caggiano removed John Stronkowski from his post as pastor at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church in Shelton, citing absenteeism.[48] He was not re-assigned to another post. In June 2016, citing credible accusations of sexual abuse, Caggiano suspended Stronkowski from ministry.[49]In November 2014, the diocese revealed a list of 14 clergy with credible accusations of sexual abuse of children.[50]

In 2018, the diocese released a report of financial settlements with abuse victims. The majority of the cost of settlements (approximately 92%) was provided through the sale of diocesan property, insurance recoveries and other co-defendants.[51] The diocese paid approximately $52.5 million to settle 156 abuse cases dating back to 1953.[52] In March 2019, ten additional names were later added to the original 2014 list.[52]

In October 2019, former Connecticut Superior Court Judge Robert Holzberg released the results of his investigation, commissioned by Caggiano, into the diocese's handling of accusations of sexual abuse by its priests. Holzberg found that Bishops Shehan, Curtis, and Egan consistently failed to fulfill their responsibilities.[53] Holzberg described Egan as taking a "dismissive, uncaring, and at times threatening attitude toward survivors"; he characterized Egan's behavior as "profoundly unsympathetic, inadequate, and inflammatory".[53][54] Holzberg's report accused 71 priests of sexually abusing 300 children since 1953.[53][55] However, the report praised the reforms made by Bishops Lori and Caggiano to combat sex abuse; Holzberg compared their tenures to that of their three predecessors as "a tale of two cities."[55]

In 2020, Jaime Marin-Cordona, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Danbury, was arrested and charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, three counts of risk of injury to child and three counts of illegal sexual contact.[56][57] In 2022, Marin-Cordona was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to one year in state prison.[58]

Bishops

Bishops of Bridgeport

  1. Lawrence Shehan (1953–1961), appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Baltimore and subsequently succeeded to that see, created cardinal in 1965
  2. Walter William Curtis (1961–1988)
  3. Edward Egan (1988–2000), appointed Archbishop of New York and created cardinal in 2001
  4. William E. Lori (2001–2012), appointed Archbishop of Baltimore
  5. Frank J. Caggiano (2013–present)

Education

As of 2026, the Diocese of Bridgeport has five high schools and 26 elementary schools. Two of the high schools and four of the elementary schools are independently-operated. The total enrollment in all the schools is approximately 9,000 students.[59]

High Schools

Social services

Elderly

The Diocese of Bridgeport sponsors nursing homes in Danbury, Stamford, and Trumbull It also operates eight Bishop Curtis Homes for the elderly in Bethel, Danbury, Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, and Bridgeport.

Catholic Charities

"Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, with 25 program offices throughout the county, provides the largest private network of social services in southwestern Connecticut," according to the diocese.[3]

References

  1. , "Diocese of Bridgeport" page from the Catholic-Hierarchy.org database, accessed June 10, 2018.
  2. Fitzgerald, Robert, "Introduction," p. xiv, "Everything That Rises Must Converge," (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: New York), nineteenth printing, 1978
  3. Shanabrough, Erik (2015-02-19). "Diocese of Bridgeport". Diocese of Bridgeport. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  4. DiGiovanni, the Rev. (now Monsignor) Stephen M., The Catholic Church in Fairfield County: 1666–1961, 1987, William Mulvey Inc., New Canaan, Introduction: Catholic Roots in Fairfield County, page xxiv, hereafter DiGiovanni
  5. "Parish History". The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  6. Lori, Bishop William E., "Happy Birthday, General Rochambeau!" article (part of Lori's regular column) Fairfield County Catholic, July 15, 2006, accessed July 27, 2006
  7. DiGiovanni, the Rev. (now Monsignor) Stephen M., The Catholic Church in Fairfield County: 1666–1961, 1987, William Mulvey Inc., New Canaan, Introduction: Catholic Roots in Fairfield County, page xxiv, hereafter DiGiovanni
  8. "U.S. Constitution - First Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". constitution.congress.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
  9. "Welcome to the Archdiocese of Baltimore". Archdiocese of Baltimore. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  10. "Connecticut's First Roman Catholic Church". CTHumanities Project. 2023-05-04. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  11. "James Fitton". Catholic Answers. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  12. O'Donnell, James H. (December 15, 1900). "History of the diocese of Hartford". Boston : D.H. Hurd Co. p. 303 – via Internet Archive.
  13. DiGiovanni, p. xxviii
  14. DiGiovanni, pp. xxvii–xxviii
  15. "Parish History". The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  16. "St. Peter History PART 1". St. Peter. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  17. "History of St Paul Parish". St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  18. "About Our Parish". St. Mary's Church. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  19. "Parish History". St. Joseph St. Ladislaus Parish. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  20. "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Hungarian Catholics in America". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  21. "75 Years to be Noted by Bridgeport Parish". Catholic News Archive. September 23, 1966. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  22. "Our History | St. Vincent's Medical Center | Bridgeport, CT | St. Vincent's Medical Center". stvincents.org. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  23. Racial Justice Among Top Goals of Cardinal-Designate; Archbishop Shehan Called Well-Read, Energetic, Priestly, Scholarly, Tactful, Toledo Blade, January 25, 1965. Page 22.
  24. "Lawrence Joseph Cardinal Shehan [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  25. "The Bishops of Bridgeport". Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  26. "Bishop Walter William Curtis [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  27. "Our History - St. Joseph High School". www.sjcadets.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  28. "A Legacy of Excellence - Immaculate High School". www.immaculatehs.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  29. "The Bishops of Bridgeport". Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport.
  30. "History". Sacred Heart University. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  31. "Student & Parent Handbook 2025 – 2026" (PDF). Notre Dame Prep of Sacred Heart University. 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  32. Barron, James (October 23, 1997). "Walter W. Curtis, 84, Bishop Of Bridgeport for 27 Years". New York Times.
  33. "Edward Michael Cardinal Egan [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  34. "Archbishop William Edward Lori [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  35. DeGeorge, Vincent. "Can Baltimore's archbishop bring accountability to West Virginia's Catholic Church?", The Baltimore Sun, December 5, 2018
  36. "Bishop Frank Joseph Caggiano [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  37. Brian Roewe (May 27, 2014). "New Bridgeport bishop reaches out through simplicity, dialogue". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  38. "Our Bishop: The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano", The Cathedral Parish
  39. Salai, Sean (2014-07-27). "Church Reform from Below: An Interview with Bishop Frank Caggiano". America Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  40. Brian Roewe (September 11, 2014). "Ahead of diocesan synod, Bridgeport bishop returns his residence to seminary". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  41. "Bishop Announces Revision Of Liturgical Norms". Diocese of Bridgeport. October 17, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  42. "Diocese of Bridgeport". August 10, 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011.
  43. "Priest Pleads Not Guilty New England News in Brief, Boston Globe, January 22, 1993". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  44. "Priest Gets Acquitted of Molestation Charge, Hartford Courant, March 8, 1994". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  45. "Conn. Priest Avoids Jail in Encounter with Boy, 16, Associated Press, carried in Boston Globe, March 10, 1994". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  46. "Priest Faces Charge In Internet Sex Case". The New York Times. 2001-05-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  47. Perkins, Julia (2019-03-31). "Connecticut priest accused of sexual assault also helped teen build pipe bomb". Connecticut Post. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  48. "Statement of Bishop Caggiano, June 25, 2016" (PDF).
  49. "John Strongkowski" (PDF). Diocese of Bridgeport. June 25, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  50. Shanabrough, Erik. "List Of Credibly Accused Diocesan Priests & Accused Religious Order Priests Who Served In The Diocese Of Bridgeport". Diocese of Bridgeport.
  51. "Financial Report, Diocese of Bridgeport" (PDF).
  52. "Bridgeport Diocese Shares Names of Accused Priests and Financial Data of Settlements on Church Sex Abuse Claims".
  53. Altimari, Dave; Blanco, Amanda (October 1, 2019). "Bridgeport Diocese report on sex abuse among priests blames former Archbishop Edward Egan; nearly 300 individuals allegedly abused by 71 priests since 1953". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  54. "Edward Egan becomes the ninth archbishop of New York in 2000". nydailynews.com.
  55. White, Christopher (1 October 2019). "Bridgeport abuse report blasts Egan for 'clear message of unconcern'". Crux. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  56. Baker, Kendra (January 31, 2020). "Former Danbury priest accused of sexual abuse released on bond". NewsTimes.
  57. Baker, Kendra (March 23, 2020). "Danbury clergy sexual abuse case continued to April". NewsTimes.
  58. McKiernan, Terry (2022-10-27). "Former priest sentenced to one year in jail in Danbury molestation case - BishopAccountability.org". Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  59. "Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools | Bridgeport, CT | Catholic School Education". Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools. 2025-10-03. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  60. "Cardinal Kung Academy". Cardinal Kung Academy. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  61. "Fairfield College Preparatory School | Fairfield, CT | Jesuit College Preparatory School". www.fairfieldprep.org. 2026-06-26. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  62. "Immaculate High School | Catholic High School in Danbury CT". www.immaculatehs.org. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  63. "Kolbe Cathedral – Your Bridge to Success". Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  64. "Home". notredame.org. Retrieved 2026-06-27.
  65. "Home - St. Joseph High School". www.sjcadets.org. Retrieved 2026-06-27.

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