October 25, 2020 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends in Christ:

As I announced back in May, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has approved a miracle attributed to a parish priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford! One of our own, on this coming Saturday, the eve of All Saints Day, will officially be declared BLESSED! Father Michael J. McGivney, a Waterbury native, will be Blessed Michael J. McGivney and we pray one day Saint!

The last couple of years have seen a bit of a boom in American saint making. Before the beatification of Blessed Stanley Rother in September 2017, no American-born man had yet risen to the distinction of Blessed in the Roman Catholic Church. But when Father McGivney is beatified, he will become the fourth American-born male Blessed.

So who was Father Michael J. McGivney? And why is he important to the Church today, more than a hundred years after his death? I’m glad you asked!