Archbishop to Bless Naugatuck Catholic School Next Week

The Rev. Archbishop Henry J. Mansell is scheduled to come to Naugatuck next week for a blessing of the recently merged St. Francis-St. Hedwig School.

The archbishop will be the principal celebrant at a 10 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Church on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Following the Mass, Mansell will bless the school during a ceremony in the gym, said Principal John Salotto. At 11 a.m. there will be a reception, Salotto said.

The archdiocese St. Francis School, in downtown Naugatuck, with St. Hedwig School, in the Union City section of the borough, following several studies and meetings with the public earlier this year.

The two Catholic schools have reportedly seen and have been hampered by financial deficits. School and Church officials hope the merger will allow the schools to stay afloat in the coming years.

The new hyphenated school is located in the St. Francis building, at 294 Church St.

Since the merger, St. Hedwig School has been virtually out of use for the past few months. Maria Zone, spokesman for the archdioces, told Patch in a recent interview there still has been no word on what the Church plans on doing with the building.