Bishop Emeritus Daniel A. Hart, 80, who led the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich from 1995 to 2003, died Monday at the St. Joseph Living Center in Windham after a six-month-long illness.“Bishop Hart was a man of deep faith in God and commitment to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist,” said his successor, the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of Norwich. “He was a strong and courageous spiritual leader for the Catholic faithful.”
In his eight years as the spiritual leader of eastern Connecticut's Catholics, Bishop Hart took action for people of other faiths and other places. He issued an apology to local Jews for any actions by Catholics that might have enabled the Nazis' killing of European Jews and created a partnership with impoverished parishes in Haiti.
Bishop Hart retired March 11, 2003, but stayed in the diocese, residing in the cathedral rectory on Broadway.
Bishop Hart was a priest for 54 years. He studied at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Mass., was ordained a priest in 1953, became a bishop in 1976, and was appointed the fourth bishop of Norwich on Sept. 12, 1995, succeeding the Most. Rev. Daniel P. Reilly.
In a 2002 interview with The Day, Hart said it wasn't an epiphany or some divine revelation that led him to choose a life in the church. He said it was the devotion of his parents, John and Susan Marie Tierney Hart, to their faith that sparked his interest. He added that during his coming of age in Lawrence, Mass., his fascination with the Eucharist ultimately led him to the priesthood.
“I was fascinated with the ministry of the priests, particularly during Mass,” Bishop Hart said. “The changing of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. I remember watching carefully and watching for that. It was a very compelling kind of experience.”
In the early years of his priesthood, Hart chose as a motto for his personal coat of arms: “Do not be afraid,” the message that the Bible says the angels used to greet frightened shepherds when telling them of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“There are a lot of things we could be frightened about today, socially, nationally,” the bishop said in a 1996 interview. “But if we just let Jesus into our lives, we have nothing to fear.”
His predecessor, Reilly, was known for his energetic and vibrant personality. Bishop Hart was more relaxed, reserved and contemplative.
Upon his arrival in Norwich, Bishop Hart made it his priority to make rounds to the diocese's parishes. In his quiet, determined way he won many admirers.
“He was definitely a humble man and a humble priest,” said the Rev. Mark O'Donnell, pastor of St. Agnes Church in Niantic. “He lived his life through his incredible love for people, especially the sick.”
O'Donnell, who served under Bishop Hart in developing vocations to the priesthood and religious life and continuing education for the clergy, said the late bishop was an intelligent man but never used that intelligence in an arrogant way.
He also said Bishop Hart had a subtle, dry sense of humor.
“He would ask me to do something, followed by 'Please say yes,' ” O'Donnell recalled.
In 2002, Bishop Hart returned from a meeting of the nation's Catholic bishops and told a gathering of 200 local Catholics at the Norwich cathedral that he would enforce the bishops' new charter prohibiting any priest who had ever molested a child from serving in the ministry.
“I join with my brother bishops in apologizing for the hurt inflicted on all victim-survivors of sexual abuse by priests and bishops,” he said. “I am saddened by this and I ask forgiveness.”
He said he believed that the sexual misconduct policy the diocese had had since 1994 was good, but was fully committed to following the new, stricter charter.
He also said, “I am not aware today of any priest on active duty who is a danger to a child.”
That same year, a Superior Court judge dismissed claims in a lawsuit that Bishop Hart had knowingly allowed a diocesan priest to sexually abuse a teenage boy.
In an interview that year, Bishop Hart said he found himself serving a different church than the one he entered when he was ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston.
Most dramatic, he said, were the changes in the church's stance toward other religions. In 2000, he followed the late Pope John Paul II's lead on ecumenism when he went to the headquarters of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut in New London to make a remarkable apology.
“By preaching a doctrine that the Jewish people were unfaithful, hypocritical and God-killers,” he said, “I confess that we Catholics contributed to the attitudes that made the Holocaust possible.”
Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg of Temple Emanu-El in Waterford said the event left a lasting impression.
“He was extremely genuine and sincere,” said Rosenberg. “It was moving. Those of us present felt it was a historical event, at least in New London.”
Several years ago Rosenberg and Bishop Hart appeared on a local cable television show to discuss religion. Rosenberg said the bishop came across as charming and unpretentious.
“One thing I noticed is that he drove himself,” said Rosenberg. “I might have thought a bishop would have a driver or escort.”
Bishop Hart also helped extend the diocese's reach outside the country. In December 2000 he led a pilgrimage to Haiti, where he signed a covenant between the diocese and the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince. The covenant encourages exchanges among families, parishes and institutions in the two countries.
“When he was bishop, he traveled with me every year to visit Haiti and visit our projects,” said Emily Smack, executive director of Haitian Ministries for the diocese of Norwich. “He was generous to the ministry both spiritually and personally. He was instrumental in moving our ministry to the next level ... expanding our programming.”
Smack said Bishop Hart was “down to earth,” addressing people by their first names. The people of Haiti were fond of him, at one time lining the streets to greet him, she said.
“I know when words get out to the people in Haiti they will be tremendously sad about his loss,” said Smack.
Bishop Hart also helped plant the seed for the creation of the Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut headquarters and bereavement center when he took Hospice's request for land to Sts. Peter and Paul parish and Pastor Philip A. Pusateri. Under his successor, the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, the church donated six acres of land to the agency.
“He thought it was important enough,” said Pusateri. “He had a vision for the local area, and because of him a new Hospice center is about to open. This will be part of his legacy. He was a true gentleman, a fine Christian and a great bishop.”
Cote will preside at the Reception of the Body of Bishop Hart at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Cathedral of St. Patrick. A memorial Mass will be held at 7 p.m. The diocese's vicar general, Msgr. Thomas R. Bride, will deliver the homily.
The Most Rev. Henry J. Mansell, metropolitan archbishop of the Hartford Province, will celebrate the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Friday at the cathedral. Cote will deliver the homily.
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