Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The first half of this weekend’s Gospel reading from the beginning of the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John is often read at funeral Masses because it is very hope-filled and consoling for families of the deceased. During the Last Supper, Jesus spoke at length with his closest friends, the apostles. He began by saying: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Jesus then reassures Thomas: “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
With all the fear and uncertainty in our world and nation today, these words of Jesus ought to help us find strength and comfort. Without our faith, life today would indeed be so much emptier and directionless.
This past week, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, made a pilgrimage to Rome and met with Pope Leo XIV. During their meeting, Archbishop Sarah also joined the Pope at a service of Daytime Prayer in the Chapel of Urban VIII. The Pope presided at the Office, and the Pope and the Archbishop said the blessing together.
In an address she made to the Pope, Archbishop Sarah said: “Your Holiness, we are united in prayer because we pray to the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Your Holiness, dear brother in Christ, in all this, we are sustained by hope – a hope grounded in Christ himself, who calls us forward, even when the way is not yet fully clear. May we continue to walk together in that hope, trusting that the one who has begun this good work among us will bring it to completion.”
I, too, pray that our hope in Christ will help all Christians find the way forward as we radiate his light in our troubled world.
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.
Join us, your parish community, and We Are One, by sharing your blessings with the less fortunate.
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We hope you can help us meet our parish goal of $115,000. If you would like to make a gift, please mail in your pledge card. You may also visit the Archdiocesan website at www.archdioceseofhartford.org or call the Appeal Office at (800) 781-2550. Keep in mind that an early pledge will allow you to best use the monthly payment plan.
All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found at https:// archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/. No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.