2015 Past Events

2015 PAST EVENTS

St. Emery’s Ladies Quilting and Sewing
Annual Cookie Walk and Holiday Fair Fundraiser
Father Guido G. Montanaro’s Retirement Luncheon
St. Emery’s Annual Ziti and Meatball Luncheon
Lace Exhibit from Hungary
St. Emery’s first ever Church Concert
Annual Guest Artist Day

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St. Emery Ladies – The Art of Quilting
December 12 and 13, 2015 

St. Emery’s ladies show off their quilting and sewing skills to make raffle prizes and craft items for the St. Emery’s 2015 Cookie Walk and Fair. The Cookie Walk will be on Saturday, December 12, 1:00 – 6:00 PM and on Sunday, December 13, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Outreach).

Quilting is very much alive today and dates back to colonial times in America.

Parishioners Kathy Sherwood, Helen Norton, Carol Gladstone, Mary Ann Corcoran, Maureen Chuga, Peggy Haborak, and Laureen Pekar have donated their time.

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St. Emery’s Cookie Walk and Holiday Fair 2015
December 12 and 13, 2015

The annual Cookie Walk and Holiday Fair fundraiser was held on Saturday and Sunday in the Church hall. This year it featured a raffle of quilts, pillows and other items crafted by several parishioners.

The Cookie Walk and Fair is an enjoyable annual affair where parishioners and friends choose from a large quantity and variety of  cookies for the holidays.

There were over 1000 cookies baked by 24 volunteer parishioners and friends.

The event also featured a large quantity of home cooked Hungarian stuffed cabbages. The first batch of stuffed cabbages sold out prior to the affair so more were cooked to meet the demand.  Vendors offered items for the Christmas holidays.

Following are photographs from the affair.  All fundraiser proceeds go to St. Emery’s Parish.  It was a successful two days.

Over a thousand cookies by many volunteer bakers.

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Some of the many volunteers who spent several weekends and days preparing for this affair.

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Nearly 500 home cooked stuffed cabbages delivered.  A sold out item.

We would like to thank Barbara Chuga, Mary Ann Corcoran and Marie Kassay from the Social Committee who coordinated and chaired the Cookie Walk and Fair event and all the parishioners and friends who participated.

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Father Guido G. Montanaro Retirement Luncheon
October 11, 2015

St. Emery’s Parish sponsored a wonderful retirement luncheon for Father Montanaro on Sunday, October 11 at the Blue Goose Restaurant in Stratford, Connecticut. Father retired after 46  years of devoted service as a priest and pastor during his time in the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Honoring Father Montanaro

Attending the luncheon to honor Father Guido was Father Norman Gilbert, Father Milan Dimic and Deacon Rudy Trankovich.

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Father Montanaro became St. Emery’s Parish Administrator in 2011 upon the departure of Friar Louis Pintye, which then ended the Order of the Franciscans at St. Emery’s. Since that time, St. Emery’s Parish came under the guidance of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Father Milan Dimic became the new pastor of St. Emery’s on October 1, 2015.

Father Montanaro was ordained on May 17, 1969, by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of Bridgeport.

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Luncheon – Parishioners and Friends

There was a large selection of menu entree items. Social Committee members Barbara Chuga, Mary Ann Corcoran and Marie Kassay planned the enjoyable luncheon.

Please enjoy the following photographs of St. Emery parishioners and friends taken during the luncheon.

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Closing Ceremonies

 

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One of Father Montanaro’s enjoyments is collecting models of antique cars.

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Father Montanaro Announced his
Retirement September 25, 2015

My Dear Friends,

When a priest approaches age 75, he must prepare for retirement. Retirement does not mean inactivity. With the shortage of priests, I am sure I will be very active. Retirement is mandated by Church law, however, we as retired priests shall continue to serve wherever there is a need.

I have complied with Church law and have submitted my letter to Bishop Caggiano. What is the purpose of this letter?  It is a request to the Bishop for retirement and also to relinquish my administrative positions (as pastor of Holy Family Parish and as administrator of St. Emery Parish).

Back in the summer of 2002, I was called in by Bishop Lori and asked to assume the pastorate of Holy Family Parish.  I will have been pastor at Holy Family for 13 years this September.  In 2011, when the last Franciscan priest was transferred from St. Emery Parish, I was again asked by Bishop Lori to assume another leadership role as administrator of St. Emery Parish.

I have been richly blessed throughout my 46 years of priesthood.  The Lord has granted me the grace of the hour to rise to the occasion of many challenges.  He never fails so we must keep trusting in him.  Please keep me in your prayers during this time of transition.  My retirement will be effective at the end of October, 2015.  I thank all of you for who you are and all you have been for me.  The Lord has sustained me through all the challenges, and you have sustained me through your love and friendship. Without the Lord’s help and your spiritual support, I could have done nothing.  I am truly blessed and deeply grateful.ours

Sincerely in the Lord,

Fr. Montanaro

Social Committee – A Thank you

A special thank you to the Parish Social Committee for their elegant effort.

Barbara Chuga – Co-Chairman
Mary Ann Corcoran – Co-Chairmen
Marie Kassey – Committee Treasurer

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St. Emery’s Ziti and Meatball Luncheon 
September 13, 2015

St. Emery’s held their annual Ziti and Meatball Luncheon on September 13 in the Church hall.

The luncheon featured a sit-down meal with appetizers, main entrée, desert and a selection of beverages including wine, soda and coffee.

There were door prizes and a raffle and an annual event that was truly enjoyed by everyone.

Please Please enjoy the following photography from the luncheon (click to enlarge photos).

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We would like to thank the St. Emery Social Committee and all the volunteers that helped to make this another wonderful affair.

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St. Emery’s Hungarian Lace Exhibit
June 13 and 14, 2015

St. Emery’s Parish had the opportunity to host a lace exhibit by Mrs. Erzs é bet Szigethy, a lace folk artist, from H ö vej, of Hungary.  She is renown for her intricate lace weaving talents.  She took time to demonstrate her artistry to the enjoyment of everyone visiting this unique exhibit.

The large number of exquisite handwork items displayed were loaned Hungarian museum pieces.

It was a pleasure having Mrs. Szigethy with us at St. Emery’s and we wished her well on her return to Hungary.

A special thank you to Karolina Szabo for contacting St. Emery’s so that we could present this exhibit.

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Mrs. Erzs é bet Szigethy, lace folk artist, from H ö vej, of Hungary.

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St. Emery’s Fundraising Concert
Sunday, June 14, 2015
3:00 PM 

The Parishes first ever Concert was held on June 14, 2015 in St. Emery’s historic Church and featured Soprano Rose Kovach and St. Emery’s Choir.

The Fundraising Concert, under the direction of our Music Director, Anthony Procaccini, was outstanding, according to many comments heard afterward.  A  wonderful and successful overall event.

The Concert

Father Guido Montanaro offered opening remarks followed by Anthony Proccinini who introduced  the program and singers.

The concert began with Tony playing solo on our 100-year-old Wurlitzer pipe organ.

Very talented Soprano Rose Kovach provided us with nine selections and remarkably in 6 languages, including Hungarian, from operas and sacred music.

The Saint Emery Festival Choir concluded the program with energetic spirituals plus “Ave Maria” by Ce’sar Franck.

The talented choir consists of volunteer parishioners and frequent local “friends” who help out.

The choir members as noted (above) ‘Choir Singers’.

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Joel Pacheco was accompanist.

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The Reception

Post-concert refreshments were provided by the Social Committee and numerous volunteers. The reception included selections of punch, wine, beverages and a wonderful selection of hor’devours.

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This concert is the start of a series of concerts at St. Emery’s.  For those who have not visited St. Emery’s, it is a designated Historic Place in the State of Connecticut with wonderful art and architecture and perhaps one of the most beautiful parish Churches in the state.  The Church interior domed-shaped architecture has concert quality acoustics that are praised by professionals and truly a pleasure to experience.

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St. Emery’s Annual Guest Artist Day
Sunday, May 31, 2015
9:00 AM Mass

St. Emery’s hosted their Annual Guest Artist Day, Sunday, May 31, 2015 during the 9:00 AM mass.  Baritone Frank Mastrone was the Guest Artist (see flyer).

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The event was arranged and led by Music Director Anthony Procaccini.  The Parish Choir also performed during mass.

Following the mass, St. Emery’s Social Committee provided free ‘coffee and —‘ reception in the Church hall.

This was a wonderful annual event to thank the St. Emery dedicated choir members for their efforts during the past year. The performance by baritone Frank Mastrone was exceptional. Following are photographs taken during the event.

Our St. Emery Choir.

Choir members from left to right are Marie Warren, Sandra McCarthy, Veronica Dicso, Barbara Fencil, Claudette Apple, Rose Kovach, Louise Miller, Robert Rouse, Phyllis Simon, Frank Zilinyi, Frank Mastrone (Guest Artist) and Anthony Procaccini, Music Program Director.

 

 

 

 

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Following St. Emery’s extensive restoration in 2000, artistic handwoven tapestries from St. Stephen of Hungary Church in Bridgeport were discovered in storage a few years later by Father Pintye.

The tapestries were meticulously handcrafted to commemorate St. Elizabeth’s Altar Society (1917-1937) and to present the Monstrance, which displays the consecrated Eucharistic host. The letters IHS are the monogram of Jesus Christ.

(Click on tapestries and Crucifix to enlarge)

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This Crucifix located on the wall between the two tapestries was refurbished and remounted during the 2000 restoration..