THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD DECEMBER 2020 archdioceseofhartford.org/catholictranscript A Day to Remember FATHER MCGIVNEY BEATIFIED! SERVING THE COUNTIES OF HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN AND LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT ADVERTISEMENT DECEMBER 2020 CONTENTS FEATURED ARTICLES 8 Beatification DURING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, Beatified! Father Michael Joseph McGivney recog- HELP OTHERS BY DONATING TO THE nized as ‘Blessed’ and moves closer to sainthood. OLGA KURBATOVA/GETTY IMAGES KURBATOVA/GETTY OLGA 11 A Day to Remember Beatification Mass was a joyful occasion for those ARCHBISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL. in attendance. There is still time to give! 12 Reflection Archbishops reflect on McGivney beatification. As we come close to the goal of $10,000,000, 14 Restoration and Preservation there is still time to make your end of year New Haven’s first Roman Catholic Church, which contribution to the 2020 Archbishop’s houses the remains of Father McGivney, reopens Annual Appeal. No gift is too small! after renovation. 21 The Christmas Parish Due to COVID-19, the Archbishop’s Annual JOSEPH AARON BY PHOTO 8 Church of the Nativity and outdoor crèche shine Appeal has been providing more support light on the Christ child year-round. than ever for our neighbors in need. Your contribution will go a long way in helping 24 Strengthening Families to ease the burdens of many families and Adoption Services places children, reunites adoptees. individuals affected by the pandemic. Please join us in this vital mission to serve ARCHBISHOP’S DESK thousands in Christ’s name. 6 Peace: A Gift and Responsibility For all of the 33,030 donors across Hartford, “The heart of Christmas is to be found in the procla- Litchfield and New Haven counties who mation by angels of “peace on earth.” That peace can have already made your 2020 gift — THANK JOSEPH AARON BY PHOTO 14 JOSEPH AARON BY PHOTO 21 be ours only if we are willing to kneel in adoration THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD before the God who made us — the God who made YOU SO VERY MUCH! IMAGES ATLETIÄ/GETTY ZVONIMIR DECEMBER 2020 archdioceseofhartford.org/catholictranscript himself small, humble and vulnerable even to death SPECIAL HOLIDAY COLLECTION on a cross — and so prepare a way for his saving Need to catch up on your church For additional questions, please call 800.781.2550. To donate online, please visit: https://archdioceseofhartford.org/appeal/ or use your smartphone to scan the QR code below. presence among us.” 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/ contributions? Or would you like to appeal/. NO APPEAL FUNDS ARE EVER USED FOR LEGAL FEES, SETTLEMENTS OR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. make a special Christmas contribution? A Day to Remember FATHER MCGIVNEY BEATIFIED! Look for an envelope in the center of SERVING THE COUNTIES OF HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN AND LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENTS the magazine and mail it in. ON THE COVER: 100% of your gift will be allocated to archdiocesan agencies and local charities that rely on your support. Shortly after Cardi- 4 EDITOR’S DESK nal Joseph W. Tobin read Pope Francis’ 18 BIBLE GUIDANCE Name Total gift: $ VISIT US AT: letter beatifying 25 VOCATIONS OFFICE Select one: Check Credit card Father Michael J. Address ArchdioceseofHartford.org/CatholicTranscript 26 GOING PLACES SCAN HERE McGivney, little Card #: facebook.com/ArchdioceseofHartford/ 29 SAINTS CORNER TO MAKE A GIFT Michael Schachle City/State/Zip @ArchdioceseHart brings him a relic 30 AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE/ BY SMARTPHONE Charge this amount: $ @ArchdioceseofHartford of a cross. APPOINTMENTS/MARK YOUR CALENDAR Please do not mail cash. Parish/Parish City COVER PHOTO BY DAN KWON/ CVV2 code: Card type: Make checks payable and mail to: youtube.com/archdioceseofhartfordct SPIRIT JUICE STUDIOS 31 OBITUARIES Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, Signature: Exp. date: / P.O.2 Box 28, Hartford, CT 06141 3 EDITOR’S DESK ADVERTISEMENT THE HARTFORD BISHOPS’ FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES It Doesn’t Have to be a Covid Christmas The Catholic Transcript is the official EMERGENCY GRANT DISBURSEMENTS In late October, I spent a day shopping with my sister at Westfarms magazine of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Shopping Mall. It was the first time stepping into a mall since it reopened which includes Hartford, New Haven and Thirty-one parishes, schools and Litchfield counties. The magazine, published in late May after COVID-19 forced malls to shut down in March. in Connecticut since 1829, is distributed free ministries have received grants from While shopping in the clothing department of Macy’s, I saw some glit- of charge through the generosity of donors The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation tery tops and smart dressy slacks that I envisioned wearing for Christmas to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. for emergency and operational get-togethers and dinners out. When I showed my clothing discovery Telephone: 860.286.2828 needs in response to COVID-19. KAREN AVITABILE to my sister, she looked puzzled and said, “Where are you going to Website: www.archdioceseofhartford.org/ Within weeks after the onset of is the editor of the wear that to this year? There aren’t going to be any Christmas parties.” catholictranscript COVID-19, The Hartford Bishops’ Foun- Email: [email protected] Catholic Transcript. Her response stopped me dead in my tracks. I suddenly realized my Distribution: More than 174,000 dation mobilized its personnel and lead- thoughts of Christmas shopping, holiday parties and dinners, caroling Mailing changes: Email old and new ership to provide direct online assistance in church, seeing a holiday play and going door to door to spread Christmas cheer were address changes to [email protected]. to more than 100 parishes to help restore festivities of the past, at least for this year. Even dinners and events with immediate family are DECEMBER 2020 their offertory collections. The Foundation being scaled back or canceled altogether. then established an Emergency Response These unhappy thoughts were further exacerbated when I looked around and observed new Archbishop Leonard P. Blair PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Fund that raised and distributed approx- COVID “procedures” that had been adopted in the mall — people wearing masks were spaced imately $500,000 to provide immediate apart and waiting in a line to enter stores; chairs and couches in common areas intended for Father Matthew Gworek support to parishes, schools and social PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE SCHOOL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS a brief respite were in short supply; store merchandise was sparse; and several stores had AND PUBLIC RELATIONS service ministries in need. Fifth graders at St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hartford. closed. How depressing. Karen A. Avitabile But despite the momentary sadness I felt, my thoughts started turning to all the things we EDITOR CAN do to rejoice in God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child. And I only Below are the latest testimonials from some of the Foundation’s grant recipients: Shelley Wolf had to look in this edition of the Transcript for ideas. STAFF WRITER Christmas is a joyous time of spiritual reflection, and there is no better place to visit than our “This grant means the world to us at Malta House of Care. Thanks to this very generous award Aaron Joseph very own Bethlehem. During December, people will drive to PHOTOGRAPHER from The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation, we will now be able to offer free COVID-19 testing to Y Bethlehem, Conn., to have their Christmas cards stamped with H P hundreds more patients over the coming months – which in turn will allow our medical team to A Jenny Pomicter R G a Christmas cachet rubber stamp, a tradition at the post office GRAPHIC DESIGNER O diagnose patients more quickly and accurately. This funding is literally life-saving, and we could T O H P since 1938. IS R not be more grateful.” I Y B Auxiliary Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt ED Then, drive around bucolic Bethlehem. Stop to see the Nativity ID — Brian J. Sheehan, interim chair of the Board of Directors, Malta House of Care, Inc. OV Archbishop Leonard P. Blair PR on the town green and the rustic Church of the Nativity with a PHOTO Father Michael Casey lighted star on top that symbolizes the birth of Christ in Bethle- Jack Sheedy CONTRIBUTORS “Most significantly, our school was able to expand digital access to all students so learning can take hem. Learn more about this special church and the Bethlehem place in a socially-distanced environment with limited sharing of devices by students and teachers. Medical workers treat Post Office beginning on page 20. CATHOLIC TRANSCRIPT (USPS 0094- Another critical investment we made was in mobile polycarbonate screens that allow for daily small patients at Malta House of Care’s mobile health Another activity to celebrate Christmas is viewing Christ- 540, ISSN 1081-4353) is published monthly, group and differentiated instruction in each classroom. We are so grateful to The Hartford Bishops’ mas light displays at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La except for February and August, by the clinic in Hartford. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, Foundation for this grant that directly supports the education of students this school year while also Salette in Attleboro, Mass., about a two-hour drive from 134 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06105. providing fiscal relief for our school.” — Colleen DiSanto, principal, St. Thomas the Apostle School, West Hartford Hartford. This year, the theme for La Salette’s 67th annual Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and at additional mailing offices. celebration of lights is “Light from Afar,” to celebrate the “The Hartford Bishops’ Foundation’s support will provide vital relief for the ministries of our parish that rely on offertory contri- one who is “the light of the world.” (Jn 8:12) See page 26.