DANBURY—An historic and jubilant Mass officially celebrated the establishment of a Brazilian quasi-parish at St. Peter Church in Danbury. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano presided over the Mass last month and signed decrees formally establishing Our Lady of Aparecida as a quasi-parish within the parish of St. Peter—the third oldest parish in the Diocese of Bridgeport. This historic declaration marks the first time Our Lady of Aparecida, a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is recognized with this distinction. 
“I’m here, first and foremost, to thank you and to recognize your great presence in our diocese,” Bishop Caggiano said. “I have come to recognize the Brazilian community as a parish within a parish.” “Your community will be formally dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida. The official name in our diocese,” adding that Father Leonel Medeiros, episcopal vicar for Brazilians, who has shepherded the community on this journey, will be pastor of the new quasi-parish. 
A quasi-parish is created for the faithful that worship regularly at a parish and it recognizes the language or nationality of the Christian faithful in the area. The vibrant Brazilian community has grown in Danbury, worshipping at St. Peter on Sundays with a Brazilian Mass tailored to the community and culture. 
Our Lady of Aparecida is widely venerated by Brazilian Brazilian Quasi-Parish established in Danbury Catholics, who consider her as the principal patroness of Brazil. Historical accounts state that the statue was originally found by three fishermen who miraculously caught many fish after invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary. A statue of Our Lady of Aparecida with a dark blue robe of richly embroidered cloth emblazoned with the flags of Brazil, adorned the altar during the Mass. The bi-lingual Mass was punctuated by a lively music ministry. Exuberant gestures enhanced the meaning behind the heartfelt words and filled the church with joyous faces and voices raised in song. Bishop Caggiano expressed his sincere understanding and support for the desire of the Brazilian community to celebrate their Catholicism while also recognizing and celebrating their culture. “There is a temptation to leave behind culture but who you are and where you come from is a great gift,” Bishop Caggiano said. “You are Brazilian, you are Catholic and you are here in the United States.” 
About 100 youths sat in the front of the church, having walked a few blocks from the nearby Brazilian Catholic Community Center on Liberty Street. Family, friends and the supportive St. Peter community also attended the Mass. Prior to the Mass, commemorating the historic event, Bishop Caggiano spoke directly to the youth, “Keep faithful. Be courageous. Don’t be afraid to be what your God wants you to be,” adding that young people represent the future of the Church and there is more work to be done. “It means a lot to me,” said 17-year-old Victoria Lobo, echoing the sentiment of her 17-yearold friend, Giovanna Mastelari. “It’s like a sense of community,” Mastelari said. “We’re grateful we are being seen by everyone else so we can open our church.” Both Bishop Caggiano and Father Leonel thanked St. Peter’s pastor Father Gregg D. Mecca for his guidance and support of the Brazilian community’s endeavors. Father Leonel said he was most grateful for everyone and their service to the church “I am grateful to the parish of St. Peter’s for without them hosting us it would be very difficult for us to establish ourselves as a community,” he said. 
The Brazilian community celebrates a weekly Mass in Portuguese at the church on Sundays. “It is a night to remember,” Father Leonel said. “We pass on to many generations to come what it is to believe and profess our faith in Jesus Christ.” Bishop Caggiano encouraged the group to expand as necessary to meet the needs of the Brazilian community. 
He congratulated them for their desire and perseverance to do God’s work in the community by not only being recognized by the diocese but continuing the spiritual work that The bishop’s closing remarks were met with a standing ovation from the congregation as they joined Father Leonel who led the ecstatic congregation in a chant of “Viva Nossa Aparecida!” (Live Our Aparecida!) to which everyone enthusiastically responded “Viva!” n is necessary. “Bring home everyone who has left us, who are worshipping at other churches. It is time for them to come home to worship with us.” “You have my love, my affection and my support to continue to grow in faith, hope and love.”