BETHEL—A celebratory day of hard work, perseverance and gratitude culminated in the Installation Mass of Father Leonel Medeiros as the first pastor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Aparecida Parish, the first parish in the world dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida outside of Brazil where she is the patron saint of the country. “Father Leonel, we are here because of all your hard work and your leadership and your fatherly love, and I especially am praying that you will have many, many happy years of ministry as the pastor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Aparecida Parish,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said. Bishop Caggiano welcomed the congregation to witness and Celebrate the Rite of Installation of a Pastor and led Father Medeiros 
in the renewal of the priestly promises Father Medeiros made on the day of his ordination in the presence of his congregation. Father Medeiros summoned parish leaders to the altar and thanked them publicly and individually as he shook each of their hands in appreciation of all their hard work and support in helping to establish the new parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport. 
Upon the bishop’s invitation, for Father Medeiros’ first official act as pastor of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Aparecida Parish, Father Medeiros led the congregation in the recitation of the Profession of Faith in Portuguese. Then, both Father Medeiros and Bishop Caggiano signed the Rite of Installation documents. Following the Prayers of the Faithful, the congregation presented Father Medeiros with a glass plaque of appreciation for his “love, guidance, trust and altruism” to commemorate the occasion. It has been a long faithful and faith-filled journey for the Brazilian community to establish the first parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport in more than three decades. 
For more than 12 years, the Brazilian community has worked together to realize this historic moment. In January 2020, Our Lady of Aparecida Brazilian Catholic Community was established as a Quasi-Parish by the bishop under St. Peter Parish on Main Street in Danbury. The Brazilian community headquartered pastoral activities at the Brazilian Catholic Community Center on Liberty Street, which was later known as Our Lady of Aparecida Community Center. The following year, the building on Vail Road was purchased, renovated and reopened to serve the community in July of 2023. The building was formally dedicated as a church with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Caggiano on October 12, 2023. 
The Mass to erect the parish was held on January 6, 2024. The Mass of Installation, which was live-streamed, was later followed by the parish’s first annual gala of Our Lady of Aparecida at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. “I would like to thank everyone who has made this dream become a reality,” Father Medeiros said at the beginning of the gala. “Thank you for always giving your best for our Church, for Jesus and his mom.” Father Medeiros encouraged those gathered to make Jesus Christ the center of their lives and to spend time with friends and family building relationships that matter, especially a relationship with Jesus. The gala was in honor of Bishop Caggiano and a show of gratitude for all his help to establish the parish. He was presented with a handmade Italian icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who is known for miracles and answers to prayers, to commemorate the occasion. 
“Thank you for this great honor and this great gift for recognizing me tonight,” Bishop Caggiano said. “Thank you for your perseverance, generosity, dedication and the unity that you show for the commitment to Our Lady of Aparecida.” The joy, excitement and dazzlingly beautiful and colorful gowns at the gala did not outshine the gratitude of this momentous occasion. “It’s a spiritual success. It means that the Holy Spirit is moving the people and people are going to Church,” said Maria Valente, a parishioner of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Danbury, who came to support the accomplishment of the Brazilian community. “The best days of the Church are ahead of us,” Bishop Caggiano said. “Your accomplishment gives hope and encouragement to 75 other parishes in this diocese.”