Our Lady of the Assumption Parish to Welcome New Pastor

Woodbridge, CT - In a letter read at Masses on Sunday, it was shared with the congregation of Our Lady of the Assumption that Father Gene Gianelli will be retiring as of Jan 29, 2019 due to his current health.

Father Gene was recently named "Mosignor" at the request of Archbishop Leonard P. Blair. There will be a celebration of the conferral of these papal honors at a prayer service on Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Thomas Chapel at the Pastoral Center in Bloomfield.

In his letter Father Gene announced that the Very Reverend Christopher M. Ford, currently the rector at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, will be the new pastor of Assumption parish. Fr. Ford's bio is posted on the Basilica's website.

Father Ford was born in Hartford, CT and grew up in Needham, MA. During college, his father retired and his parents moved to Madison, CT where they lived the next 30 years. Father Ford attended Syracuse University where he received a degree in Public Policy: Urban Affairs from the Maxwell School of Public Administration.

Having discerned a vocation to the priesthood, Father enrolled in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop John Whealon on August 29, 1987. After serving four years in St. Francis of Assisi in Naugatuck he was appointed by Archbishop Whealon to graduate studies in Rome. In 1993, he received a license in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Upon returning home he has served in various parishes and in the Metropolitan Tribunal as both judge and defender of the bond.

His previous pastorates include St. Justin in Hartford and St, Mary in Branford. On July 1, 2015, Archbishop Blair appointed Fr. Ford rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Episcopal Vicar for the Waterbury Vicariate.

His last appointment was published in the January/February 2017 issue of the Catholic Transcript.

Very Reverend Christopher M. Ford: to Administrator of St. Lucy Parish, Waterbury, in addition to duties as Rector, Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Waterbury, Administrator of the Shrine of St. Anne for Mothers Parish, Waterbury, and Episcopal Vicar for the Waterbury Vicariate, effective November 23, 2016.

OLOA Director of Music Keith Smolinski will meet with Father Ford in the coming weeks to discuss the music ministry and his vision for the parish. "I know during times of transition that things can be quite uncertain. I know that change can always be difficult," Dr. Smolinski wrote to members of the adult choir in an email. "However, please remember that you are one of the greatest parts of Father Gene's legacy," the choir director assured them.