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Bridgeport Diocese Mourns Passing Of Cardinal Edward Egan

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- The Diocese of Bridgeport is "shocked and saddened" by the passing of Cardinal Edward Egan, who died Thursday at the age of 82.

Cardinal Edward Egan

Cardinal Edward Egan

Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport

Egan served as bishop of Bridgeport from 1988 to 2000, leading Fairfield County's 410,000 Roman Catholics. In 2000, he was appointed to be the Archbishop of New York, serving until his retirement in 2009. Pope John Paul II elevated to him to cardinal on Feb. 21, 2001. 

"He will be remembered fondly and with great esteem by the people of the Diocese of Bridgeport," the Bridgeport Diocese said in a statement. "On his occasional visits back to Fairfield County, he was always greeted with great affection and appreciation by those grateful for his leadership. Even after being elevated to cardinal, he continued to reach out to the diocese, to affirm the ministry of its priests and help in any way possible to serve the people."

The diocese highlighted many of Egan's accomplishments during his time as bishop, including the founding of the St. John Fisher Pre-Seminary Residence in Trumbull, which opened in 1989 just six months after he became bishop. They also praised his work reorganizing diocesan finances and endowments through the $40 million Faith in the Future campaign and his regionalization of parish schools in Fairfield County.

"By creating a system of school regions, by which the local parish schools would be supported and funded by all the region's parishes, Bishop Egan saved and improved the Catholic school system in Fairfield County," the diocese said.

He also established St. Catherine Academy, the only private school in Connecticut for children with special needs.

Egan also reorganized and expanded Catholic Charities, established housing in the county for AIDS patients, increased the number of facilities for the elderly with the Bishop Curtis Home, opened the Malta House for the assistance and support of pregnant mothers, and established the Inner-City Foundation for Charity and Education.

"Those who were close to him remember a man of great loyalty, friendship, and affection, who treated everyone with utmost respect and courtesy." the diocese said in the statement. "A man of great talent and considerable gifts, he lived with personal simplicity and saw himself first and foremost as a priest."

The current leader of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Bishop Frank Caggiano, is in Rome on a visit to the Vatican. The diocese said that his personal tribute will be released as soon as it is available.

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