Connecticut
Connecticut Diocese Debuts ‘Maria,’ an AI Fundraising Personality ‘Rooted in the Church’s Mission’
The Diocese of Bridgeport rolled out the new tool to a select number of donors ahead of a larger release.
The Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, will be supplementing its fundraising activities with an AI tool meant in part to solicit donations from local Catholics in what the diocese is billing as the “worldʼs first virtual engagement officer.”
The diocese announced the rollout of “Maria” this month. It describes the tool as a means of “thoughtfully exploring how new technologies can support more attentive listening, more consistent communication, and more personal engagement with those we serve.”
Bishop Frank Caggiano says on the programʼs website that the digital tool will “help us discern how technology may support deeper connection and accompaniment.”
“Maria will help us learn how digital tools can deepen our listening and foster more personal responses, while always keeping human relationships at the heart of the Church’s mission,” he said.
Ethical safeguards, ‘huge potential’
On the April 15 edition of his weekly podcast, Let Me Be Frank, Bishop Caggiano jokingly described himself as “technologically a Neanderthal,” but he expressed excitement that the tool could be used “not just to raise money but to evangelize.”
Speaking on the podcast to diocesan chancellor Deacon Patrick Toole, who spent years as an executive with the technology giant IBM, Bishop Caggiano asked if an AI agent can “ever get to the point where it could resist human control.”
Toole acknowledged that such a scenario was “possible,” though he noted that AI companies institute “huge safeguards” to ensure that AI personalities are trained properly.
The deacon said that the diocesan chancery has been holding discussions about “how to use artificial intelligence for the good of the mission” and that diocesan fundraising “seemed like a good opportunity to try it in an area where we donʼt have the resources.”
“My primary motivation was that weʼre doing so many really exciting things and itʼs hard to get the message out,” he said.
Emily Groccia, a vice president at the tech company Givzey, which helped design Maria, said on the podcast that the program was rolled out to 1,000 donors in late March.
She said part of the toolʼs programming will be to “graduate” donors to actual human workers under some circumstances, such as when someone wants to significantly upgrade a donation, or if they raise intimate personal questions better addressed by a fellow human being.
“We are very cautious on allowing our [AI] to engage in lines of conversation that are outside of those traditional fundraising conversations,” she said.
The bishop said that AI fundraising represents “huge potential” for the nearly 200 dioceses in the United States. But he stressed the need for “guidelines” to ensure that AI agents do not take the place of human beings.
“Just off the top of my head, if someone reveals a death, I would not want the assistant to respond at all,” he said. “I want a human person to respond. … Because again, as a Church, weʼre a unique reality.”
Diocesan spokeswoman Marie Oates shared with EWTN News several examples of Mariaʼs interactions with local Catholics. In one, a parishioner expresses interest in volunteering with immigrants, for which Maria was able to provide information on local Catholic Charities immigration services.
In another, a mother asks Maria for opportunities to get involved in diocesan programs with “other moms like me.” Maria offers to connect the mother to parish programs with mothers’ groups and family ministries.
Oates said both interactions “highlight our goal for the program,” which she said focuses on “using AI [not] as a way to replace human relationships but as a tool to help us connect more personally.”
“[We want to use] AI to bridge the gaps in our ability as a Church to communicate directly with everyone, with the goal of fostering more personal and human connection and interaction, so that we as humans can better accompany each other,” she said.
On the bishopʼs podcast, meanwhile, Toole said that Catholics “have the opportunity to bear great fruit” with AI technology “as long as we align it to the One and make sure we stay true to that with Christ at the center.”
Bishop Caggiano described AI innovation as representing “an epochal shift in human life” comparable to the development of the printing press.
“Thereʼs no one on Earth alive — even these great architects of [AI] — who really know where all of this will go,” he said. “We need to answer the question, where should it go?”
HARTFORD, CT — A popular culinary destination in Connecticut’s capital city says it will be the place to be to watch the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Parkville Market in Hartford will kick off its “Summer of Soccer” celebration June 11 with a watch party for the Mexico-South Africa match, launching a series of soccer-themed events planned throughout the summer.
The Hartford food hall will broadcast matches both inside the venue and on its outdoor patio.
Organizers said opening-day activities will include face painting, custom T-shirt making, giveaways and a 360-degree photo booth.
Parkville Market’s 22 food vendors, which feature cuisines from around the world, are expected to be a central part of the experience as visitors gather to watch international soccer matches.
In addition to match broadcasts, visitors can use the venue’s new mini soccer pitch outside.
Organizers encouraged guests to bring their own soccer balls and play during events.
“Soccer is the world’s game, and Parkville Market is where the world comes together,” said Carlos Mouta, owner and CEO of Parkville Market. “And let’s go Portugal!”
Special event activations are planned for June 11, June 27 and the tournament final on July 19, according to organizers.
Located at 1400 Park St. in Hartford, Parkville Market is Connecticut’s first and largest food hall. The venue includes 22 restaurants, three bars, private event spaces and outdoor dining areas.
In a post on X, New Haven Police Department said officers were out with a shooting victim in the area of Orchard and Charles streets at 6:43 p.m.
Police said the victim’s injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
New Haven police Officer Christian Bruckhart said the scene was still active as of 6:45 p.m.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
-
Vermont1 minute ago
VT Lottery Powerball, Gimme 5 results for June 8, 2026
-
Virginia8 minutes agoVirginia Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Night results for June 8, 2026
-
Washington11 minutes agoImpaired Washington driver dies after striking utility pole off Oregon highway, police say
-
Wisconsin16 minutes agoWisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 8, 2026
-
West Virginia23 minutes agoJustices argue debt enforcement efforts are hurting The Greenbrier – WV MetroNews
-
Wyoming26 minutes agoElection Q&A: Neil Jeske for Wyoming House District 59
-
Crypto31 minutes agoTop 100 Bitcoin Treasuries Now Hold 1.26M BTC
-
Finance38 minutes agoRockford’s finance and personnel committee rejects lone bid for a program meal service
