The Archbishop's Desk Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair Of human solidarity and forgiveness As I write this column in July, plans are already under way for our Archdiocese’s annual “Blue Mass,” to be celebrated at St. Joseph Cathedral on September 11, the very day of the 15th anniversary of 9/11. The Connecticut State Police, the [...]
The Archbishop’s Desk Hearing and heeding God’s voice The American poet Robert Frost once said that his life’s challenge was to join his vocation with his avocation. In one of his iconic poems, he says that the two are as inseparable as the two eyes of the body: “… As my two eyes make [...]
The Archbishop's Desk Harbingers of hope and healing Almost six months into the Jubilee Year of Mercy, we have to ask ourselves how we can possibly fulfill Christ’s command to “be merciful even as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). Mercy’s possibilities are not exhausted by forgiving those who have “trespassed” against us, essential as [...]
The Archbishop's Desk Stewards for tomorrow This month, I am happy to share with you the following homily, which I delivered at a service in the Cathedral of St. Joseph on Sunday, April 17, for the conferral of the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation on 188 distinguished parishioners from throughout the Archdiocese, nominated by their [...]
The Archbishop's Desk Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair In announcing the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis wrote that “a Jubilee also entails the granting of indulgences. … The mercy of God … becomes indulgence on the part of the Father who through … his Church reaches the pardoned sinner and frees him from every residue [...]
Archbishop's Desk It’s already February going on Lent, but I need to express my very belated appreciation to all of you who sent me greetings for Christmas and the New Year. Although it’s not possible to acknowledge them all in writing, I read them all and I am grateful for each and every one. Your [...]
Archbishop's Desk From Paris to Mumbai to London; from Colorado Springs to San Bernardino, we have witnessed murderous rampages motivated by terrorism and/or mental derangement. The result is a horrific toll in lives, personal loss and grief, and lasting wounds to the souls of nations and peoples. No matter what our religious or political beliefs, [...]
Archbishop Blair's Column The Catholic Transcript – December Issue, 2015 ‘Spotlight’ As a bishop who experienced firsthand the unfolding of the sexual abuse crisis in the church soon after my episcopal ordination in 1999, the new movie “Spotlight” represents a reliving of just how devastating sexual abuse and its aftermath can be to victims and [...]
Next month, on Dec. 8, a special event will take place in Rome that has great significance for the whole church. Pope Francis will inaugurate a “Jubilee Year of Mercy” by opening the traditional Holy Year door of St. Peter’s Basilica. In the words of the pope, it is the opening of a “Door of [...]
September 22, 2015. 4:55 p.m. Archbishop Blair, five minutes to 5 in the afternoon (4:55 p.m.), Tuesday, September 22nd in Arlington, VA After having a very smooth and good flight from Hartford to Washington Regan, I am now at the hotel that the Bishops are staying at in Arlington, Virginia, not far from Reagan Airport. [...]