Diocese of Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano got a peek at churches in Trumbull and Shelton as he honored married couples at St. Theresa and celebrated mass at the 50-year-old St. Margaret Mary Parish.
At the mass in Shelton Sunday morning, the Rev. John Stronkowski recalled that mass at St. Margaret Mary took place in a nearby school building until the church was ready.
He praised the volunteers who helped arrange the mass.
"St. Margaret Mary is a faith-filled community," Stronkowski said. "God reveals himself to us in small ways but brings us closer together."
"We welcome everyone as Jesus did. We shall look forward to the next 50 years with joy ... and [continue] serving the people of Christ," he added.
Caggiano said he was grateful he could attend the mass.
"It will be one of many visits," he said. "You really do have a special parish. You are a parish of great-heartedness. Let this parish be known as a parish with a great heart."
The parish has recovered from a vandalism incident in which intruders poured oil on the pews and floors and damaged statues and equipment.
Later that day, Caggiano presided over Wedding Jubilee Mass at St. Theresa Church in Trumbull. Some 200 couples, some married as long as 70 years, were honored and given certificates from the bishop.
Caggiano was recently installed as bishop at St. Theresa.
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