Story by Joe Pisani

I have this problem. Most of my family members and friends want to talk about politics —  I should say “argue” about politics — but I prefer to talk about God.

Don’t get me wrong. I know politics is a popular topic, especially for people who love to debate, but to my thinking, there more important things in life, namely God.

I don’t necessarily mean talking about God in a deep theological sense, the way you might in a class with Dr. Scott Hahn, but by sharing personal stories about how God has touched your life, such as those mystical occasions when it was undeniable He intervened to direct you, to protect you, and to share his love and joy.

We all have them; however, some of us don’t look closely enough to realize God is touching us. And most of us are too distracted by the inconsequential to appreciate the miracles that surround us.

Not to be rude, but I really don’t want to hear about your new car, your old car, your political views, your views on face masks, your vacation plans or how you’re going to spend your income tax refund. Although to be polite, I’ll listen.

I’m not insensitive. I’ve just reached the age when — to quote a priest I knew —  “The most important thing is to keep the most important thing as the most important thing.” And the most important thing is God.

Actor Denzel Washington gave a commencement address at Dillard University several years ago and told the young graduates the best advice I ever heard at a graduation. It was the true secret to success in life: “Put God first. Put God first in everything you do.”

Everyone has a story about what happens when we put God first. At least everyone should have a story, countless stories in fact. We just have to be aware of how God is at work in our lives because God is always at work in our lives, and not just in times of crisis.

One woman told me about how God carried her through a cancer diagnosis. When you get news like that, and we all do, you have to stay close to God.

Another told me about how God was there in her grief, when her son was killed by a drunken driver while he walking across a street in Manhattan. Another spoke of how, even in a troubled marriage, her prayers were answered at a time when most people would think God had abandoned them.

I’ve also heard stories of women who entered the religious life because Jesus spoke to them during Eucharistic Adoration. It happens more often than you’d think.

And there are stories about heavenly messengers, who guided people during a time of crisis or at a point in their lives when they thought they couldn’t go on. God was there.

Among my favorites are the accounts of people who found their way to the Church — people who may not have had any faith. Some are hesitant to talk about it, but most want to shout it from the rooftops.

I met a man recently who was raised in a family where there was no faith. He grew up in California in what he described as “a non-religious home.” No Bible. No crucifix. No discussions about God.

“It was an agnostic home, probably verging on atheistic,” he recalled. “We didn’t talk about God, and at that point, I didn’t really believe in God.”

And then, God stepped in. When the man was 10, he went on a backpacking trip with his father and brother, and they met a group of Christian hikers.

“They were praying around the campfire,” he said. “And I heard my first prayer. My brother remembers me saying, ‘Wow.’ After that prayer, I looked up at the stars and said, ‘God, if you’re real, show me.’”

God took the challenge.

The young man entered an evangelical seminary. He ended up working with lepers in Thailand and then with Mother Teresa, who directed him, and he took her direction seriously.

God led him to the Church, and he eventually converted to Catholicism.

God will reveal himself if we ask and if we want to know him better. He never refuses those requests.

So let’s keep the most important thing as the most important thing … and talk about God,  especially with people who don’t know about him.

Story by Shelley Wolf

The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford was the site of great joy as Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne ordained two new priests on June 21 for the Archdiocese of Hartford.

The new priests, Father Martin Chouinard and Father Mitchell Kendrioski, were surrounded by the love and support of family, friends, clergy and religious, all of whom shared in the joy of this special day.

More than 100 priests, deacons and seminarians attended the solemn ordination. The priests concelebrated and shared the Kiss of Peace, welcoming the two new priests as clergy.

In his homily, Archbishop Coyne told the new priests they will have a three-fold mission: teacher, priest and shepherd.

“Allow Sacred Scripture to become your book of life,” Archbishop Coyne advised. Look to Jesus as an example in all situations, he suggested. “Know what he said and did, and help others to come to know him and love him. Always allow it to be less about you, and more about him.”

In one of the most moving moments, the two candidates lay prostrate on the Cathedral floor as cantors led attendees in reciting the Litany of Supplication, praying for the saints’ intercession. Other high points included Archbishop Coyne calling forth the Holy Spirit to bless the two men, and the laying on of hands.

After the ceremony, the two newly ordained priests posed for photos with Archbishop Coyne and their families.

“I’m very proud of him,” said Michele Kendrioski, Father Kendrioski’s mother. “As a mother, I know in my heart that he has the right vocation.”

Florence Keszycki, Father Kendrioski’s grandmother, was also in attendance. “It was a wonderful experience,” she said of the ordination ceremony. “He is so happy. And if he’s happy, I’m happy.”

“I just feel the joy welling up in me,” said Elaine Chouinard, Father Chouinard’s mother. “Praying to the saints, while they were giving their lives to God, was so meaningful.”

As part of a long-standing tradition, and a source of great pride for parishes that produce vocations to the priesthood, the day after the ordination the new priests offered their first Masses at their home parishes, where they were brought up in the faith.

Father Chouinard celebrated his first Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Naugatuck. Father Kendrioski celebrated his first Mass at St. Thérèse Church, part of St. John Bosco Parish in Branford.

As for their future assignments, Father Chouinard has been assigned to serve as parochial vicar for St. Thomas and St. Timothy Parish in West Hartford. Father Kendrioski will be serving as parochial vicar for Blessed Michael McGivney Parish in New Haven.

 

Story by Joe Pisani

When Margaret Hamilton and parishioners from Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Parish in Woodbridge and Bethany went into New Haven with fresh produce from their community garden, they were met by a group of excited people at Amistad Catholic Worker.

Hamilton, who is the chair of the Faith, Hope & Charity Committee, says, “I’m not a gardener. I’m just impressed that things grow in the ground so when we bring them produce, I’m happy that they get so excited about what they plan to do with it.”

The committee, which has been active for more than 25 years, oversees programs that “help all those who need help,” she adds.

“The purpose of the committee is to be the charitable arm of the parish,” says Father Glen Dmytryszyn, pastor. “We take to heart Our Lord’s teaching in the Gospel, where he says that we should extend his heart and hands to those who are in need. We do that through charitable works and through our witness and prayer.”

Hamilton said that the initiatives the committee supports are:

*Midnight Run, where parishioners prepare 200 lunches a month that are distributed to the homeless. Since the fall of 2022, some 5,000 lunches have been made.  

*Good Samaritan Bags, which contain basic necessities, such as socks, water and toothbrushes, are given to homeless people. 

*The parish Community Garden, where the members grow vegetables in 13 raised beds, which last year harvested more than 700 pounds of produce distributed to different organizations twice a week during the summer. 

*Food drives, which benefit five groups, are held on a regular basis. 

*The annual Christmas Angel Tree program which collects toys and gifts for children and families, who might not otherwise receive any.

*Support for St. Gianna Pregnancy Resource Center in New Haven which benefits newborns, babies, single mothers and families.

*Semiannual fundraising breakfasts to raise money to support the various ministries.

“This is the impulse of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to do good in his name, not in our name,” Father Dmytryszyn says. “Ultimately, that’s what the Faith, Hope and Charity Committee seeks to do: to inspire faith, give hope and increase charity.”

Hamilton, who has been involved with the committee for 15 years, says there are some 25 people who participate, in addition to others who oversee the different ministries. The entire parish provides support and resources, particularly in initiatives like the Midnight Run, where parishioners stock up on food items for distribution, and the Angel Tree, which collects Christmas gifts each year.

“I like to serve,” Hamilton says. “Since I’ve been involved, I’ve gotten very close to some of the people we work with, and no matter what we do, they’re always grateful.”

Father Dmytryszyn praised the parish for its generosity and said the work of the committee is fundamental to the Church’s mission. 

“It allows us to witness to the words and actions of Christ,” he says. “As a Catholic faith community, responding to what the Lord asks us to do is pivotal. It’s never an option to extend the love of Christ. The parish is more than just a fellowship of our common faith; it’s an active participant in the faith, proclaiming Jesus Christ instilling that faith in everyone and giving hope to everyone, and sharing the charity of Christ with everyone.”

For more information about the activities of the Faith, Hope & Charity Committee of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Woodbridge and Bethany, contact the rectory at 203.387.7119.  

Story by Joe Pisani

The Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference achieved “successes we were happy about” during the 2025 Connecticut Legislative Session, according to Deacon David Reynolds, the Conference’s associate director for public policy. 

“Legislation dealing with abortion, transgender rights and immigration reflected the conflict between existing state law and the recently revised federal laws and regulations,” he says. “The good news is the Conference’s efforts to stop harmful legislation in the areas of abortion and gender-affirming care were successful, and we are satisfied.”

Here is a summary of some proposals and bills the Conference was involved in during the Connecticut Legislative Session that concluded on June 4. The Conference represents bishops in Connecticut. 

House Bill 7213, Elimination of Abortion Regulations: The Conference was involved in stopping the attempt to remove existing regulations that currently prohibit abortion in the third trimester. 

If approved, it also would have ended medical providers’ right to refusal to participate in an abortion and removed a state requirement “to provide emergency medical treatment for an infant born alive following a failed attempt at an abortion,” the deacon says. 

Senate Bill 7, Religious Freedom for Catholic Hospitals: If approved, this bill could have prevented Catholic hospitals from ensuring their medical staff adhere to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, promulgated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. These directives define how a Catholic hospital must conduct itself in areas including abortion, gender-affirming care and assisted suicide.

“The Conference was involved in amending the bill to remove language that threatened religious directives that the Catholic hospitals operate under,” Deacon Reynolds says. 

The Conference opposed Senate Joint Resolution 35, Abortion/Gender Identity Constitutional Amendment, that could have led to a constitutional amendment to eliminate the possibility of any limits on abortion and “made transgenderism a protected class under the State Constitution,” the deacon says, “thereby overriding protections that religious institutions currently have regarding gender and sexual ideology.”

House Bill 7212, Social Justice/Trust Act: Connecticut’s Trust Act limits the ways in which local and state law enforcement may interact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The Conference supported the bill, which would make modifications to the Trust Act.

House Bill 7012, Education/Antisemitism: The Conference supported a bill to create a group to study the rise of antisemitism in public schools. “The growing antisemitism in our state is a threat to people of all faiths,” Deacon Reynolds says. “And our children must be taught how truly harmful such actions and viewpoints are to a free society.”

House Bill 6894 Social Justice/Housing: The Conference supported this bill to establish an Interagency Council on Homelessness. “This interagency council will try to come up with long-range plans to deal with homelessness and make sure the different state agencies work together,” Deacon Reynolds says.

The Conference opposed House Bill 6804 that would have taxed private schools providing housing for their teachers. This bill would have impacted very few Catholic schools in the state. 

Although it was approved, the Conference opposed House Bill 7014 which would have created a process to handle complaints about inappropriate materials available in public school libraries. 

“This was an effort to actually minimize parental input on objectionable material,” Deacon Reynolds says. “We will be monitoring this very closely in the future.”

To stay informed of issues the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference is involved in, visit ctcatholic.org or call 860.524.7882.

Story by Karen A. Avitabile

Students from St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby took part in a first-time, hands-on “Around the World” project to learn more about different countries.

Each grade chose a country and learned about its geography, history, holidays, traditions, food, fashion, landmarks, language, sports, music, religion and so much more. 

“Everybody did something different,” says Toni Ann LaMattina, principal of St. Mary-St. Michael School. “I gave them free rein.”

Some of the featured countries included Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan and Poland.

“This was an opportunity for the students to show off their work,” LaMattina says. “We never had a themed activity. This was a new thing.”

To showcase their country, each classroom wrote reports, decorated bulletin boards, created flags and gave presentations during an evening open house. A few multicultural dishes were prepared for guests to enjoy.

“In my first year as principal, it was so amazing to see the students show off their hard work that they completed in class,” LaMattina says. “They were smiling from ear to ear, showing their parents and they were so welcoming to the new families that came in for a tour of our school.”

The eighth grade class focused on Italy. One student studied a particular city in the country. “I learned a lot about the history of Basilicata, Italy,” says student Shenaye. “It is very historical. I feel history builds our future.”

Guatemala was the class project selected by sixth graders. The students focused on the significance of the country, its geography, renowned landmarks and the country’s flag. 

The three-panel, vertical flag is adorned by blue stripes on the left and right sides, which represent the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The white stripe in the center represents peace and highlights the coat of arms shield of Guatemala, adopted after the 1871 Liberal Revolution.

Zarah says she enjoyed writing about Guatemala’s flag. “I learned about the stripes,” she says. 

Fourth graders chose Germany for their country. Matias wrote about the history of the Berlin Wall. “I chose the Berlin Wall because back then, Germany was divided and East Germany built it to stop the people crossing the border,” he wrote in an essay. “Today, you can still go there. Now it’s possible to pass the city with no worries.”

For Delia, she says learning some German words was a lot of fun. She adds she was surprised that hamburgers and pretzels are popular foods among German residents.

Around the World culminated with an evening open house. Parents, guests and new families to the school were invited to see the work by the students. 

“The event was a great success,” LaMattina says. “We had many school families along with a handful of new families. I received much positive feedback from this event, and I plan to continue with it each year and change up the theme.”

The day after the open house, the principal recalls students asking her if they can do the project again next year “which showed that it was all worth it.” 

The teachers enjoyed Around the World too, LaMattina says. “Not only did the students enjoy this project, but the teachers did as well.”

Story by Joe Pisani

In the last class of the semester, one of my students gave an impassioned speech about the dangers of artificial intelligence. I wish Pope Leo XIV could have heard it, because two days later the newly elected pontiff offered his own sobering account of why we must be cautious of where AI is taking us. 

“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” Leo XIV, said in his first address to the College of Cardinals.

The challenges it presents are more insidious than those society confronted during the Industrial Revolution, when Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical “Rerum Novarum” about workers’ rights and capitalism.

Like most of us, my student was astonished at AI’s ability to solve his problems at his customer service job. He got an immediate response to a customer’s question about how many bags of cement would fit into a truck he rented. 

It was a pedestrian question, but that simple encounter demonstrated the temptation AI has for us. We’re intoxicated by its potential, when we should be wary of its threat.

Enter Pope Leo, who has said AI will be a fundamental concern of his papacy.

Deep fakes in porn and politics, misinformation, intellectual property infringement, not to mention Mark Zuckerberg’s prophetic vision that in the future we’ll be blessed with AI friends to allay the loneliness. 

Pope Francis also issued a warning about AI’s ability to “create partially or completely false narratives believed and broadcast as if they were true.” And in January, the Vatican published a document about the limitations of AI and the ethical issues surrounding its development and use.

Artificial intelligence reminds me of that famous “Twilight Zone” episode about the benevolent 9-foot-tall aliens called Kanamits, who came to Earth to solve all our problems, bring peace, prosperity and technological progress with the goal “To Serve Man,” which was the title of their manifesto. Humanity would eat, drink and be merry … until someone translated “To Serve Man” and discovered it was actually a cook book.

I have friends who are taking a “let’s wait and see” attitude, and find ChatGPT useful in drafting letters of recommendation and other documents, even though someday that helpful program will probably have their jobs. 

Writers are already in the crosshairs, with an estimated 30 percent of jobs disappearing, and some media companies are using AI to produce stories about real estate and sports. Non-profits are even relying on AI to create press releases.

When it comes to being expendable, journalists are at the top of the list, along with software engineers, cashiers, factory workers and many others. 

AI has also led to rampant cheating in colleges and high schools. Last year, I asked a class to critique a TED Talk by a famous defense attorney, and I was surprised and proud when I read their submissions. 

“These are pretty good,” I thought, “I’m getting through to them.” 

But the joke was on me. After reading a few assignments, I began to detect the same phrases, the same adjectives, the same observations and it occurred to me that ChatGPT was the actual author. 

Now, when I give them writing assignments, I utter the same plea: “I want your original work. I prefer your flawed human intelligence to artificial intelligence. Don’t go over to the dark side.” It’s often to no avail because the temptation is too great, and the deception is too easy to pull off. For a time, I was running the work through an AI detector, but it added hours to the grading process.

Another professor I know at a respected Jesuit University is so distraught that he requires his students to do their writing assignments in class. It’s a less-than-perfect solution because it takes away from time that could be spent more productively in discussion and debate.

In another class, I asked the students about their career aspirations and got responses that included finance, health care, design, journalism and education. 

I sighed and gave them the bad news, which probably never occurred to them. This toy they love tinkering with will probably be responsible for their jobs disappearing. Who’s going to need a graphic designer in five years? 

In articulating his vision, Pope Leo XIV rightly identified artificial intelligence as one of the most critical issues of our time, a technological development that could threaten the future of humanity while it promises to save it. Sounds like the Kanamits to me.

 

Story by Shelley Wolf

Parishes within the archdiocese are always looking for better ways to engage parishioners. To meet parishioners’ information needs and grab their attention, two parishes recently overhauled their Sunday bulletins with fresh new designs, more graphics and photos, and enhanced content.

Blessed Michael McGivney Parish, which serves all Catholics in New Haven, unveiled its newly redesigned 20-page, four-color bulletin, printed by LPi, during Lent.

The front page includes a large parish logo with the letters “NH” and a golden cross. The interior, which sports colorful graphics and new fonts throughout, also provides information in three languages – English, Polish and Spanish – to reflect the languages spoken in its communities.

“New Haven is also unique in that we have many visitors from week to week, and many new parishioners who are moving to the city. And providing them with information in the bulletin is the fastest and easiest way to reach them,” the parish wrote in its bulletin survey results, published earlier this year.

Before rethinking the bulletin, the New Haven parish conducted a print and online survey to gauge its readers’ wants and needs. Survey respondents said the bulletin was “even more important” as a resource for parish information than the parish website, emails and social media.

Survey results also showed that 58% of respondents read only the printed version, 33% read both the printed and digital versions, and 10% read only the online version.

The top five types of information parishioners wanted included a weekly calendar of events, a list of ministries and descriptions, adult faith formation content, a list of staff and contact info, and a “get to know each other” section.

Now the newly redesigned bulletin opens with a list of clergy members and the names and addresses of its eight churches, followed by pages with contact information and Mass times.

To more broadly publicize activities, subsequent pages combine information from all of its worship sites, neatly organizing items under the subheadings of “Parish News & Upcoming Events,” “Parish Ministries,” “Parish Outreach,” “Parish Prayer, Study & Devotion,” “Faith Formation” and “Other Events.”

Likewise, St. Francis Parish in New Britain revamped its Sunday bulletin starting in January, taking an even more visual approach. The parish switched to publishing a longer 16-page, four-color bulletin every two weeks. The publication is now more photo-driven and is printed on glossy paper by LPi.

Each issue opens with a full-page of religious art or a local photo on the cover and the St. Francis Catholic logo, a white crucifix in a blue circle. The second page includes a table of contents for easy use, Mass schedule, church locations and mission statement.

In the later pages, parish leaders are identified with photos and contact information. The parish office location is demystified under a large heading, “Where to find our parish office.”

Also included are a reflection, upcoming parish events designed like ads, fun photos of past parish activities, QR codes that take readers to videos on the website, a table of ongoing ministry meetings, a checklist of items needed for the parish pantry, and puzzles for children.

The parish produced its first “A Year in Pictures” in January too, illustrating the major activities of the past year in a colorful, month-by-month photo layout.

To view the latest bulletin at Blessed Michael McGivney Parish, visit newhavencatholic.org/weekly-bulletin. To see the latest bulletin at St. Francis Parish, visit stfranciscatholic.org/bulletin.html.

The Monastery of Our Lady of Grace establishes the Aquinas Guild.

Story by Karen A. Avitabile

Earlier this year, on the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas, and at the close of the triple jubilee marking his canonization, birth and death, the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, a Dominican community of cloistered contemplative nuns, established the Aquinas Guild with St. Thomas as its patron.

“St. Thomas is our brother in the Dominican Order,” says Sister Maria of the Angels, O.P., prioress of the Monastery in North Guilford. The nuns follow the Rule of St. Augustine but that is given further specifics in the Dominican Constitutions. These refer to St. Thomas Aquinas as “our best master,” she says. 

“The Constitutions also tell us that the nuns should nourish their faith especially on the mystical teaching of our Fathers, as well as of other theologians and authors, in particular those of the order,” Sister Maria adds. “In the study of St. Thomas, let them find their best master, whose doctrine the Church always commends and the order has received as patrimony.”

Known for his love of sacred truth, St. Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Dominican friar and priest, is also the Church’s foremost scholastic thinker and one of the most influential theologians in the Western tradition. 

“The Guild was formed as a way of organizing our friends, new and old, and by offering them the opportunity to share in some of the aspects of our contemplative life, such as liturgical prayer and devotion to learning,” Sister Maria says. 

Several people have been reaching out to the Monastery in various ways, she adds. A group of volunteers runs the Monastery Gift Shop and others have offered their help with yard work, wood stacking and growing some vegetables for the poor.

“One of the options that I am personally and particularly excited about is having some garden space (outside the enclosure) that would serve as a sort of community garden where people can grow vegetables for the poor,” Sister Maria says. 

Since the Guild was initiated, more than 100 people have registered. Members of the Guild who live in the area will be invited to participate in events to share in various aspects of Monastery life. 

One of those events, “Evenings with a Friar,” will take place on May 27, when Father Dominic M. Verner, O.P., who will address the topic, “Glory and Honor in the Christian Life.” The evening will begin at 7 p.m. in St. Catherine Center, on the Monastery property. A crucifix reliquary that has relics of several saints, including St. Thomas Aquinas, will be on display. 

Another event will take place on the following evening, May 28, at 4:40 p.m., when the nuns invite all their friends to the celebration of Solemn First Vespers of the Ascension. Their chaplain, Father Brian Mulcahy, O.P., will preside and give a homily. Solemn vespers offer a beautiful way to enter more deeply into the mysteries of the faith, in this case the mystery of the Ascension. 

“Through the Guild we show our gratitude for their friendship and ongoing solicitude, which enables us to live a hidden life in the midst of the Church for the salvation of souls,” Sister Maria says. “Members of the Guild will share in the spiritual fruits of our life through the Holy Mass and by our prayer and penance.”

To enroll as a member of the Aquinas Guild, to register for the evening with Father Dominic M. Verner or to see the schedule of future Guild events, fill out the form online by visiting dominicannuns.org/aquinas-guild. 

Story by Shelley Wolf

If you’ve been telling yourself you really should pray the rosary more often, now is the perfect time to start building the habit. The Archdiocese of Hartford’s Office of Vocations is asking Catholics of all ages to commit to praying the rosary for an increase in vocations.

Father Anthony Federico, director of Vocations and director of Seminarians, is asking Catholics to pray 100,000 rosaries as part of a “Rosary 100K” challenge that is kicking off this May, during the Month of Mary.

“I read a quote from Our Lady to St. Dominic. She said something to the effect that if you promote the rosary, ‘I will unleash a torrent of vocations.’ And so, we are taking her at her word,” Father Federico says.

“Together, the archdiocese is going to pray 100,000 rosaries for new vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious and consecrated life, holy Catholic marriage and family, and the generous single life – for all the vocations of the Church,” he explains.

And everyone is invited. “We are sending the invitation to join the campaign to every parish, every school, every high school, every college, and every apostolate and institution in the archdiocese,” he reports.

How will Father Federico be able to keep track of all these prayers, you may ask. Kevin Healy, an archdiocesan seminarian, is creating a web landing page where the archdiocese can keep track of the many pledges that come in. Go to the website hartfordpriest.com, where you can sign up and make a pledge indicating how many rosaries you plan to pray. 

Kickoff day is Sun., May 11, which is both Mother’s Day and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. “What better way to start?” Father Federico asks.

The sizable goal might seem daunting, but the campaign is already off to a good start. The 20 seminarians of the archdiocese have pledged 100 rosaries each, for a total of 2,000 rosaries, and others made early pledges for a total of 14,000 rosaries before the campaign even launched.

People may choose to pray outdoors in good weather or indoors at church or at home. “I think it would be great if families could pray the rosary together,” the priest says.

Leaders or individuals may choose to announce their intention before each rosary, but Father Federico says not to get hung up on that. “God can do the math,” he says in jest. It’s primarily about “the spirit of praying the rosary and asking the Blessed Mother to intercede for us,” he explains.

“The rosary is at the heart of the Christian life, and I believe it will be the unified collective commitment of the archdiocese that will be the cause of such great fruit. We already saw this when the archdiocese came together and began praying for priestly vocations, how our numbers exploded after that,” he reminds everyone.

“So, I think there’s something in our combined effort,” he says, “that really brings out the Lord’s generosity.”

To submit a pledge, visit hartfordpriest.com/rosary-100k, email vocation@aohct.org, or call the Office of Vocations at 860.761.7456.