Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As I write this message on the afternoon of Easter Sunday, I continue to recall the many beautiful moments I – and I hope all of you who were there – experienced during the liturgies of Holy Week.
First, I want to reiterate my gratitude for all the hours of hard work that so many members of our staff and volunteers spent in preparation for the celebration of Holy Week. I am also grateful for the many comments I received which were filled with words of thanks and admiration, especially for the homilies and the music.
Speaking of music, our choirs and instrumentalists outdid themselves this year. Under Gabriel Löfvall’s direction, our liturgies were enriched by musical selections which enveloped us in beauty and majesty befitting the solemnity of the moment. Good Friday evening’s presentation of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater was particularly moving, as was the powerful uplifting performance of An Easter Prologue at the 8:00 Mass on Easter morning, written by Joan Martin and Matthew Bridgeman. We are very privileged to have so many talented adults and children in our midst!
I have not mentioned it publicly until now, but Easter was also the first use of our new Paschal Candle stand and pedestal for our Baptismal bowl crafted by our resident artisan, Steve Balkun. The pedestal was made with two interchangeable tops – one to accommodate the glass bowl for baptisms, and another to place an urn for funerals with cremains. Steve is also in the process of finishing a display case for our Holy Oils which will be mounted on the wall near the entrance to the chapel. These new appointments were made of the same woods that Steve used to craft our Processional Cross – mahogany and walnut – and are inscribed on the front with the cross logo of our parish. These items would make appropriate memorials, so if you are interested in making such a gift to the church, please contact me for more information at [email protected].
Since the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal began at the end of February, our parish has pledged $47,460 towards our goal of $115,000. We have reached 41.27% of our goal, so we still have a ways to go. I am grateful to the 153 members of our parish who have contributed thus far, and I encourage others to contribute as you are able. I hope this update will inspire those who haven’t yet made a gift to do so. You can donate online by going to: appeal.archdioceseofhartford.org, or you can do so by mail by sending your gift to Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, P.O. Box 28, Hartford, CT 06141-0028. We are a very generous parish which supports many causes and needs. The Archbishop’s Appeal does much good for people throughout the Archdiocese of Hartford who are in need of assistance, so please consider making a gift to help others have a better life. Thanks!
One example of your generosity is your response to our request for donations to the Franciscan Relief Fund to assist the Franciscans in Ukraine during the ongoing and tragic invasion of their country by Russia. Over $8,000 has been raised either online or through the collection we took on the weekend of April 2-3. I heard recently that over $500,000 has been raised so far for the Relief Fund – a truly noble response to such an overwhelming humanitarian crisis.
Finally, despite the wacky Springtime weather we’ve been having lately, it is so wonderful to see the flowers and the trees coming into bloom. I’m looking forward to a visit to Elizabeth Park once the tulips and lilacs are at their peak. Like Easter itself, nature is a sure sign of God’s unending love affair with creation; so let’s get out there and enjoy it to the full!
Blessings on your week ahead.
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.Pastor