Dear Parishioners and Friends,
This weekend, Fr. Bill and Fr. Mike will make their way to St. Louis, MO for the Provincial Chapter of the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province. They will be joining about 300 other friars for a week of meetings during which new provincial leadership will be elected. Please keep them in your prayers for a successful outcome. Fr. John and I will hold down the fort, so to speak, while they are away. So, please keep us in your prayers as well!
On Tuesday, June 30th, Fr. Mike and I made our way over to Hartford’s Municipal Building to attend a meeting with Mayor Arunan Arulampalam in what he referred to as “the inaugural meeting of our Clergy Caucus.” As he stated in his letter of invitation to us, “Reflecting on the challenges our city has navigated this past year, I am continually reminded of the vital role our faith leaders play in uniting our community and providing strength during difficult times. . . This initiative aims to establish a consistent forum for collaboration and open dialogue between faith leaders and the City of Hartford.”
Together with the mayor; his Chief of Staff, James Woulfe, and his Executive Assistant, Mckayla Morrison; nine representatives of various Christian churches in Hartford spent the better part of an hour sharing our thoughts regarding one of the mayor’s top priorities: violence prevention. Emphasis was made on finding creative ways to address the need of the city’s youth population. Future meetings will address other quality-of-life issues, especially affordable housing.
Fr. Mike and I were the only Catholic representatives at the meeting, and I felt honored to know that our parish of St. Patrick-St. Anthony is held in such high regard by Mayor Arunan. He faces formidable challenges and yet goes about it in a spirit of humility and faith that I found particularly moving. I look forward to future meetings as we work together for the betterment of our city.
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor
It is important that when you give to any charitable organization, you are confident that the funds received are being used wisely. Be assured that your gift to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal sup-ports the ministries and programs indicated in the 2026 Appeal literature! Organizations such as St. Anthony’s Bread for the Poor right here in our own parish received funding from the Appeal’s Vicariate Outreach Program that makes a difference in the lives of our local neighbors.
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