2022 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal: People of All Ages Return for Beer Tasting

By Shelley Wolf

PLANTSVILLE – After taking one year off due to the pandemic, the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal Beer Tasting and Cocktail Reception made a comeback on Feb. 11, drawing more than 250 young adults and Catholics of all ages to the Aqua Turf Club, where they sampled a variety of brews and wines crafted by local breweries.

The event gave attendees from throughout the Archdiocese of Hartford a chance to socialize and learn more about the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal through brief remarks from the archbishop and others, who introduced this year’s appeal theme, “Stronger Together.”

“I’m very moved by being able to be with you this evening in as much as this is really the first kind of event like this that we’ve had in the archdiocese in a very long time,” said Archbishop Leonard P. Blair. “I’m so pleased to think that we can come together like this again as a family of faith. I hope we have crossed a bridge here to a healthier situation for our country and for the world.”

Reporting on the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal over the past year, he added, “Last year we were successful with 33,400 donors raising over $9 million for a successful appeal. With COVID, this was a matter of some concern and doubt that we’d be able to do all the good things we do. But you, the Catholic people of the archdiocese, have come through.”

As for the AAA donors, many are typically older Catholics, the archbishop noted. “But I see a number of young people here today for which I’m very grateful,” he said. He singled out the FOCUS campus missionaries in the room, saying he was encouraged by meeting 300 of their members from throughout the Northeast at their recent SEEK22 conference, held at Central Connecticut State University at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Britain, which gave him hope for the future of the Church.

Though in-person Mass attendance is still down due to the omicron variant, Archbishop Blair said he is encouraged by how many people are tuning into the Mass through live streaming and other electronic means. “They are still with us. They are still part of this family of faith,” he said. “They’re not only still willing to contribute to the annual appeal, as you have done, but also to participate in the liturgy.”

Still, the priests of the archdiocese long to bring their faith communities back together in person. “This is a huge challenge for our Church, that sense of being a family of faith on Sunday and coming together again,” the archbishop said. “I hope that you will pray that as the pandemic eases, more and more people will come to church on Sunday.”

Father Jeffrey Romans, priest-director of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, who served as master of ceremonies for the evening, also thanked the crowd for their financial support.

“It is only through the generosity of donors to the appeal that we are able to fund so many archdiocesan ministries, many of which provide life’s necessities to those in dire need: a warm meal, a bag of groceries, a safe place to sleep, or a place to turn for guidance and support,” Father Romans said. “It is a direct result of your kindness, compassion and charity that we have been able to provide help to those in need around us.”

Another presenter, Valerie Mara, the Superintendent for Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Hartford, said the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal provides support to Catholic schools in the form of vital scholarships to children. The schools themselves offer a superior, nurturing environment. “For a child to learn, they have to know that they’re seen, that they’re heard, and that they’re valued,” Mara said.

Catholic schools also differ from other schools by teaching children to worship together through daily prayer and weekly Mass. The result is well educated, confident, faith-filled children and teens. “The world needs our kids, who will bring Christ into it,” she stressed.

The evening’s other invited speakers included Father Michael Whyte, vicar for the Center for Catholic Education and Formation, and Jered Bruzas, director of operations for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, which also receives AAA funds.

Throughout the evening Archbishop Blair mingled with the attendees, casually conversing with the guests. This year, people of all ages were in attendance, including young adults who are new to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, older adults who routinely give to the appeal, and those representing nonprofit agencies and ministries that benefit from AAA funds.

“We’ve been supporting the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal for years,” said Alex Soucy, executive director of Crossroads 4 Christ young adult group, who was in attendance with his wife, Jessica. “We’re happy to make more of an impact and to meet other people throughout the archdiocese. And the beer is appreciated. If I can taste beer, I’m a happy camper.”

In addition to being a donor, Soucy is a recipient. Crossroads 4 Christ has received AAA support for its work helping young adults grow in their faith through seven chapters in Connecticut. “As executive director,” Soucy said, “I’m so grateful to the AAA, which has given us funds through the Vicariate Outreach Program for the third year in a row.”

Bruzas, director of operations for the St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, said he was on hand to speak to the crowd on behalf of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal since his nonprofit agency benefits from the appeal. St. Vincent DePaul Mission runs a homeless shelter, soup kitchen and thrift store for those struggling with poverty or a low income in the Waterbury area.

“The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is the Catholic Church at its best,” Bruzas said. “It’s good to give back. The appeal helps us quite a bit. We’re happy to help out and lend our voices to how the appeal makes an impact on people’s lives.”

Edwin Rodriguez, director of development and public relations for St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, said of their collective work, “It’s good going to sleep at night knowing you helped somebody you don’t even know.”

Emily Santopietro, a young adult and a parishioner from St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Thomaston, was at the Beer Tasting with her husband, Tom, for the second time. Both are servant leaders in Crossroads 4 Christ’s Waterbury chapter.

“We look for any opportunity to deepen our faith. We came in 2020 and decided to come again,” Santopietro said, noting she was surprised by all she learned about the appeal from the evening’s presentations. “I’m not super familiar with the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. Every year we donate, but I wasn’t aware of all it goes to until I heard the talks.”

Erik Lindblad, a young adult from West Hartford, said this was his first AAA Beer Tasting. Raised as a Presbyterian, he said he feels drawn to Jesus and to Mary, and is contemplating converting to Catholicism.

“I’m not even Catholic, but I’m on my way. I’m trying to get around to Catholic events,” Lindblad notes. “I’ve been going to Crossroads 4 Christ meetings in New Britain, and I’ve been to a Latin Mass in Waterbury. I’ve been going to Mass at St. Francis of Assisi and have talked to Father Casey. The mainstream narrative is that the Catholic Church is dying, but when I meet these young people, it makes me more excited to join the Catholic Church.”

This year’s participating businesses at the AAA Beer Tasting included: 5 Churches Brewing of New Britain, Litchfield Distillery, Hog River Brewing Company of Hartford, East Rock Brewing Company of New Haven, The Wine Cellar of Wallingford, and Sam Adams. Bantam Country Liquors also brought samples from Black Hog Brewing Company in Oxford and Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford.

During the evening event, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres were served along with food at a carving station, a salad station, a pasta station and a dessert table. Attendees, who had to be age 21 or older, were asked to preregister.

There was no entrance fee for the event. However, volunteers accepted voluntary donations to the appeal and handed out take-home literature for perusal and possible future donations.