Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As members of the Archdiocese of Hartford, we received some very good news on Monday, June 26, when it was announced that Pope Francis had appointed Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, currently the Bishop of Burlington, VT, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Hartford. As a coadjutor bishop, he will succeed Archbishop Leonard Blair once the Archbishop turns 75 years of age in April 2024.
When Bishop Coyne introduced himself to the media here in Hartford, he emphasized the need for us to be a welcoming and listening church. That is certainly how Pope Francis sees the mission of the church. Let us pray that, with the Synod of Bishops coming in the Fall, and the arrival of Coadjutor Archbishop Coyne in October, we as a local church will find much to celebrate!
On another, much less joyful note, the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate almost on a daily basis. Our Sister Parish Committee has been hard at work attempting to address critical needs for our brothers and sisters of Ste. Geneviève parish in Zorange. We have established an Advocacy Subcommittee, chaired by Joe Cirasuolo, to coordinate efforts with other parishes in the U.S. who have twinning arrangements in Haiti, as well as the bishops of the U.S. and the federal government, including Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative John Larson, to take more concrete steps to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian population by addressing the unchecked violence perpetrated by gangs.
Please read the message here regarding our Christmas in July campaign, and our ongoing efforts to bring some measure of peace and stability to the fragile nation of Haiti.
Please be sure to check out the various programs and events that are scheduled for the months of July and August for both adults and children. So, stay safe, read a good book, go for a walk on the beach, enjoy a backyard cookout, and leave the rest in God’s hands.
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.Pastor
Click to learn more about our covenant with our Sister Parish in Haiti and how you can get involved and help!