Rev. John P. Melnick and Archbishop Mansell pause for a photo at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury, following the Mass of celebration for the Basilica, August 10th.

With his appointment by the Archbishop as Pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Enfield, effective August 11th, Father Melnick will transition to a pastoral role, one which he looks forward to with eagerness as a change from one way of serving the Church to another. "My heart has always been that of a parish priest," he said. The Archdiocese thanks him for his faithful, unstinting and exemplary service in the Chancery, and wishes him blessings in his new assignment. Reverend Jeffrey Romans has been appointed to replace Father Melnick as Assistant Chancellor and Secretary to the Archbishop.

Immaculate Conception Church, Waterbury, now Basilica
WATERBURY, CT (08-10-2008) - Within a regal celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, principal celebrant, asked Reverend John J. Bevins, Pastor, to read a Vatican decree conferring the title of Minor Basilica on Immaculate Conception Church in Waterbury. With this naming, the Waterbury church becomes the first basilica in the state of Connecticut. In his homily, Archbishop Mansell pointed out the classic features of the church's architecture, noting that, "Bishop John Niland and those who built this church in 1928 must have had a vision that this magnificent church might be declared a basilica."

The Archbishop blessed two symbols present in a basilica, an umbrellino (red and gold umbrella) and a tintinabulum (procession bell), both of which were used traditionally in papal processions. At the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Mansell praised the outstanding music rendered by the choir, "most fitting for a basilica." More>

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