Spirituality for Today – Apirl 2008 – Volume 12, Issue 9

The Authors

Rev. Mark Connolly

Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts Rev. Mark Connolly started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area in 1970. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country.
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The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., former Bishop of Bridgeport

The Most Reverend William Edward Lori, S.T.D., was installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, on March 19, 2001.

A native of Louisville, KY, Bishop Lori, 53, obtained a Bachelor's Degree from the Seminary of Saint Pius X in Erlanger, KY, in 1973, and a Master's Degree from Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, in 1977. In 1982, Bishop Lori received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Lori was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington by William Cardinal Baum on May 14, 1977, in Saint Matthew Cathedral in Washington. His first assignment was as Associate Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Landover, MD, a position he held for five years. Thereafter, Bishop Lori held a number of official chancery positions in the Archdiocese, including Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia, and Secretary to His Eminence, James Cardinal Hickey.

In 1995, Bishop Lori was ordained to the episcopate as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington and Titular Bishop of Bulla, an ancient suffragan see in modern-day Tunisia.

Bishop Lori is Chairman of the Board of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

Since 2001, Bishop Lori has been a member of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and the Committee on Doctrine of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In 2002, President George W. Bush invited Bishop Lori to join the President's Committee on Mental Retardation.

In 2002, in recognition of his role as an emerging leader on the Church's response to the sexual misconduct crisis, Bishop Lori was appointed to the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. He was instrumental in drafting the landmark Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. As one of four U.S. bishops on a special Mixed Commission, Bishop Lori journeyed to the Vatican to revise the "Essential Norms" of the Charter, which has now become particular law for the Catholic Church in the United States to ensure that no one who works for the Catholic Church will ever pose a threat of any kind to any person, young or old.

In April 2005, Bishop Lori was elected Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.

Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci

Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci was ordained for the Diocese of Bridgeport in 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity from St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in California.
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Msgr. Frank C. Wissel, Doctor of Ministry (1938 - 2014)

Msgr. Wissel was founding director of the St. Maximilian Kolbe Houle of Studies for boys in Bridgeport and was Pastor at St. Mary Church in Greenwich, Connecticut for 17 years. Msgr. Frank C. Wissel passed away on June 19, 2014 at the age of 76, 1 week after retiring as Pastor at St. Mary Church.

Yolanda Cohen, Poet Laureate

Yolanda Cohen was born in 1931 at Fayetteville, West Virginia. Yolanda's writings include poetry, music and song lyrics, religious works of music and text for three Passion Plays, Radio and Television commercials and scripts, speech writing, numerous magazine and newspaper articles, children stories and plays. She is published in numerous books and Anthologies. She is married to James Cohen (known as Jimmy by his fans) and has six children.

Rev. Richard Scheiner, C.P.

Rev. Richard Scheiner, C.P., is a Passionist priest. He holds degrees in both psychology and theology. He has been on the staff of St. Vincent's Psychiatric Hospital in Harrison, New York, serving as counselor and chaplain since 1970. He is a writer and once edited a magazine for the Passionist community. At the present time, he assists on weekends at St. Agnes Parish in Greenwich, Connecticut.