Catholic Transcript Online

Joanne McLoughlin, a member of St. Stephen Parish in Hamden, poses with Archbishop Henry J. Mansell while holding the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation that he presented to her and 206 other men and women on March 7 in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. Father Robert Heffernan, pastor, said that Mrs. McLoughlin has been active at St. Stephen for more than 35 years. The medal recognizes parishioners' volunteer efforts for their faith communities. More photos are available by clicking here.  (Photo by Lenora Sumsky)

BLOOMFIELD – Countless Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Hartford volunteer their time, talent and energy to support parish communities. More than 200 such giving people were honored for their contributions and received the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation in a ceremony in March at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

One hundred sixty-three parishes, the most ever, were represented at the 10th annual event, which was designed to acknowledge, appreciate and thank volunteers for the important work they do. The cathedral was packed with recipients, families, friends and more than 100 priests.

The medals are awarded based on nominations made by parish pastors. Each pastor may nominate one individual or couple who exhibit Catholic Christian values and demonstrate long-term parish commitment and service.

Archbishop Henry J. Mansell described medal recipients as ever-

willing and dedicated volunteers who serve on parish councils, finance committees or other church groups. Some work as grounds keepers or painters to maintain parish properties. Others serve as lectors or ushers, or take care of church sacristies. They organize fund-raisers, maintain Web sites, help parish schools and enrich the fabric of parish communities throughout the Archdiocese.

While these men and women provide a wide variety of services to parishes, they all demonstrate similar characteristics; unassuming willingness to serve and long-standing commitment. As they quietly serve, they are also wonderful examples for others, the Archbishop said.

Irene Nazario, who was nominated by Father Joseph V. DiSciacca, Pastor of St. Joseph Church in Bristol, has been actively involved for more than 10 years.

Affectionately called "mom" by so many in the parish, according to Father DiSciacca, Miss Nazario, organizes, sets up, and cleans up for meetings.

"She helps lead retreats and supports spiritual formation and growth of community members. Her extensive efforts build up the community; she is a true pillar of the church," he wrote in nominating Miss Nazario.

She was delighted to receive the honor.

"I am really very happy," she said after receiving the medal. "But I think I’m very humbled, too. I do it for God. I don’t want recognition here [on earth]; I want recognition [in heaven]."

Roy and Margaret Bachinsky, who also received medals, have steadfastly served their parish, St. Michael Church in Beacon Falls, for more than 50 years. In his nomination, Father Leonard J. Kvedas added that Mr. Bachinsky has fully prepared the parish annual report for about 35 years.

"Roy has been a valuable member of our parish and financial councils; Marge has been a member of our Ladies Guild and volunteered in many ways," wrote Father Kvedas. "They have raised three children and have been an example of Catholic family and sacramental life in a quiet active way for all our parish."

Like others who were recognized during the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Bachinsky said they enjoy their volunteerism.

Of all the volunteer activities Mrs. Bachinsky has been involved in over the years, Mr. Bachinsky said, he especially likes it when she makes soup for parish gatherings.

Volunteer acts, whether small or large, combine to strengthen community, enhance vitality and sustain parish communities. The St. Joseph Medals acknowledge parish volunteers and their enduring commitment to the betterment of their parishes and the larger Catholic community.

The names of the award recipients and their parishes follow:

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Albert, St. Bartholomew, Manchester; Mr. and Mrs. Seraphine Almeida, Christ the Redeemer, Milford; Theresa Argento, St. Michael, New Haven; Dr. and Mrs. James Aseltine, Immaculate Conception, New Hartford; Ruth Atwell, St. Augustine, South Glastonbury; Roger Audet, St. Ann, Bristol; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bachinsky, St. Michael, Beacon Falls; and Ronald Balabon, Holy Rosary, Ansonia.

Also, Bruce Barrett Sr., St. Thomas, Thomaston; Philip Bejnerowicz, St. Francis, New Haven; Theresa Bibeault, Corpus Christi, Wethersfield; Mr. and Mrs. John Bohan, St. Aedan, New Haven; Sandra Bondhus, St. Ann, Avon; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bonfiglio, St. Joseph, Meriden; Terry Bouchard, St. Thomas, Southington; Paul Bowman, St. Bridget, Cheshire; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Brennan, St. Anthony of Padua, Litchfield.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brickett, St. Jude, Derby; Mr. and Mrs. David Byrne, St. Stanislaus, New Haven; Elizabeth Cafasso, St. Adalbert, Enfield; Carmelo Cardero, St. Peter, Hartford; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Carrier, St. Francis of Assisi, New Britain; William Carrington, St. Francis of Assisi, South Windsor; Dorothy Ciemiecki, Holy Cross, New Britain; Arlene Clement, St. Maria Goretti, Wolcott; and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Coda, St. Gabriel, Milford.

Also, Anne Collins, St. Peter Claver, West Hartford; Jose Cotto, St. Michael, Hartford; William D'Adamo, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hamden; Robert Daly, St. Mary, Milford; Pame Daniel, St. Justin, Hartford; June DeBaise, Most Holy Trinity, Wallingford; Ernest DeFrancesco, St. Ann, Hamden; Maria Delgado, St. Augustine, Hartford; Eleanor DePaola, St. Aloysius, Plantsville; and Daniel DiGalbo, St. Timothy, West Hartford.

Also, William Dobbs, Sacred Heart, East Berlin; John Dobrzanski; St. Joseph, New Britain; Janice Donahue, Our Lady of Grace, Bantam; Judy Dube, St. Elizabeth, Branford; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dunleavy, Resurrection, Wallingford; Lorena Dutelle, St. Anne-Immaculate Conception, Hartford; Irene Egan, St. James, Rocky Hill; Francis Embardo,St. Lucy, Waterbury; Douglas Eschrich, St. Therese, Branford; and Raul Espinal, Our Lady of Sorrows, Hartford.

Also, Ralph Esposito, St. Bernadette, New Haven; Mary Flynn, St. Thomas the Apostle, West Hartford; Thomas Fogarty, St. Francis Xavier, New Milford; Colin Fox, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Harwinton; Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Freda, St. Mark the Evangelist, West Hartford; Eleanor Gatti, St. Joseph, Canaan; Tracey Genua, St. Francis Xavier, Waterbury; Mr. Joseph Ghering, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem; and Mr. Ralph Gianelli, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waterbury.

Also, Roch Girard, St. Christopher, East Hartford; Mr. and Mrs. James Gleason, St. Francis of Assisi, Torrington; Mr. and Mrs. Czeslaw Glodek, St. Michael, Derby; Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Gonzalez, Sacred Heart, Hartford; Dr. Carol Grant, Mary Our Queen, Plantsville; Anthony Greco, St. Therese, North Haven; Mr. John Greiner St. Augustine, North Branford; Francine Gryniuk, St. Mary, Torrington; and Anne Hale St. Isaac Jogues, East Hartford.

Also, Beverly Harris, St. Robert Bellarmine, Windsor Locks; Bertha Hellendrung, Epiphany, Cheshire; Louise Hoban, SS. Peter and Paul, Waterbury; Janet Holden, St. Mary, Simsbury; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hopkins, St. Catherine of Siena, West Simsbury; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Horn, Sacred Heart, Suffield; and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Iava, Our Lady of Loreto, Waterbury.

Also, Helen Jachimowski, St. John the Evangelist, New Britain; Stanley Jachimowski, Good Shepherd, Seymour; Edward Janik, St. Paul, Kensington; Alfredo Jara, St. Rose, East Hartford; Joan Johnson, St. Margaret, Madison; Barbara Judycki, St. Helena, West Hartford; Edmund Kadziewicz, St. Stanislaus, Waterbury; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kaylor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Washington Depot; and Mary Anna Keough, St. Mary, Meriden.

Also, Mabel Kerrigan, St. Mary, Branford; Jakob Koch, St. Peter, New Britain; Stanley Kopacz, SS. Cyril & Methodius, Hartford; Mr. and Mrs. John Kozloski, St. Thomas the Apostle, Oxford; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kray, St. Paul, Glastonbury; Andrew Lach, Sacred Heart, Torrington; Mr. and Mrs. Roland LaChance, Holy Spirit, Newington; Mary Jane Landino, Blessed Sacrament, Hamden; Helen Laone, St. Mary, Union City; and Mr. and Mrs. Normand LeBrun, St. Mary, Newington.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. John Letizia, St. Gregory the Great, Bristol; Martin Lilienthal, St. Stanislaus, Meriden; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Locher, Sacred Heart, Southbury; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Mach, Immaculate Conception, Southington; Edwin Mackiewicz Jr., Holy Angels, South Meriden; Elizabeth Maloney,St. Joan of Arc, Hamden; Frances Marchitto, Holy Infant, Orange; and Sophie Marshall, SS. Peter and Paul, Wallingford.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Martin, St. Peter, Torrington; Catherine Mazalas, Sacred Heart, Wethersfield; Ann McCue, St. Brigid, West Hartford; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond McGivney, Holy Family, Enfield; Adrienne McLean, St. Mary, East Hartford; Joanne McLoughlin, St. Stephen, Hamden; Nelly Mejia, St. Margaret, Waterbury; Frank Mentone Jr., St. Anthony, New Haven; Carolyn Miller, St. Philip, East Windsor; and William Miller, Sacred Heart, Bloomfield.

Also, Debra Montini, St. Mary, Derby; Robert Mosey, St. Thomas, Goshen; Pauline Mower, St. John the Baptist, New Haven; Mr. and Mrs. Pasquale Muro, Our Lady of Pompeii, East Haven; Mr. and Mrs. Francis Murphy, St. Joseph, Poquonock; Irene Nazario, St. Joseph, Bristol; Jo-Anne Neely, St. Ann, Milford; Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Neibel, St. John the Evangelist, Watertown; and Andre Normandin, Shrine of St. Anne, Waterbury.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. Russell O'Connor Jr., Immaculate Conception, Norfolk; William Odoy, St. Joseph, Ansonia: Carol O'Neill, St. James, Manchester; Nancy O'Toole, Our Lady of Mercy, Plainville; Anita Pagogna, Our Lady of Victory, West Haven; Maureen Pellegrini, St. Bernard, Enfield; Mr. and Mrs. James Pelletier, St. Leo the Great, Waterbury; Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Petruzzi, St. Patrick, Farmington; Shirley Pfister, St. Patrick, Collinsville; and Helen Phillips, St. Vincent Ferrer, Naugatuck.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pinney, St. Bernard, Tariffville; Mr. Henry Plouffe, St. Louis, West Haven; Richard Poplawski, Our Lady of Fatima, Yalesville; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Proulx, St. John of the Cross, Middlebury; Michael Quattro, Our Lady of Lourdes, Waterbury; David Rapuano Jr., St. Brendan, New Haven; Lucille Reardon, Blessed Sacrament, East Hartford; Michael Rice, St. Patrick Mission, Roxbury; and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rogalis, St. Augustine, Seymour.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Romans, St. Matthew, Forestville; Dr. and Mrs. Derrol Rudnick, St. Dominic, Southington; Vincente Ruiz, St. George, Guilford; Inocencia Saavedra, St. Mary, New Britain; Donna Sahlberg, Our Lady of Peace, East Hartford; Catherine Salka, St. Andrew, New Britain; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Secola, Ascension, Hamden; Barbara Simpson, St. Jerome, New Britain; Theresa Stefanczyk, Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury; and Marilyn Stratton, St. Mary, Windsor Locks.

Also, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sullivan, St. Frances Cabrini, North Haven; Ernest Teixeira, St. Catherine, Broad Brook; Barbara Tierney, Assumption, Manchester; Frank Torre, St. John Vianney, West Haven; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Twachtman, St. Dunstan, Glastonbury; Anna Vaccarino, Assumption, Woodbridge; Hazel Vail, Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford; and Ana Vazquez, Sacred Heart, New Haven.

Also, Olga Vazquez, Sacred Heart-Sagrado Corazon, Waterbury; Gloria Vitale, St. Clare, East Haven; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Wasielewski, Sacred Heart, New Britain; Edward White, St. Francis, Naugatuck; Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Wysocki, St. Elizabeth Seton, Rocky Hill; John Yudas, St. Anthony, Ansonia; Mildred Zinser, St. Thomas Becket, Cheshire; Kathleen Zocco, St. Rita, Hamden; and Jan Zywno, St. Helwig, Union City.