"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake."
--2 Corinthians 4:5 --
--2 Corinthians 4:5 --
Clergy
The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, S.T.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Hartford
Archbishop Leonard Blair, like all Catholic bishops, is a successor of the Apostles, and he is also the local ordinary in that he oversees the Archdiocese of Hartford, a collection of parishes, within the Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven Counties. The priests of the Archdiocese, mostly serving in parishes, are his co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord. The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair is an Archbishop because he oversees a very large diocese known as an Archdiocese and he is also a Metropolitan because he is the Archbishop of a "metropolis" a principal city or "see"--an ecclesiastical province--which is comprised of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Providence. The ensign of that jurisdiction is the pallium (a white wool circular band worn around the neck) which he received from Pope Francis on Sunday, June 29, 2014--the Feast of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul.
Born in Detroit, Michigan on April 12, 1949, he was named the Seventh Bishop of Toledo on October 7, 2003, and installed in the Diocese of Toledo on December 4, 2003. On October 29, 2013, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Blair the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Archbishop Blair was ordained to the priesthood in June of 1976 following studies at Sacred Heart Seminary College, Detroit; the North American College, Rome; and the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Archbishop Blair holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History from Sacred Heart Seminary College; a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University; a Licentiate in Theology (S.T.L.) with a specialization in Patristics and the History of Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University; and a Doctorate in Theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome. Archbishop Blair has served as Pastor of St. Paul Parish, Grosse Point Farms, since July of 1997. Prior to that, he served for three years as Secretary to Cardinal Edmund Szoka and as a staff member of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, Vatican City State.
Born in Detroit, Michigan on April 12, 1949, he was named the Seventh Bishop of Toledo on October 7, 2003, and installed in the Diocese of Toledo on December 4, 2003. On October 29, 2013, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Blair the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Archbishop Blair was ordained to the priesthood in June of 1976 following studies at Sacred Heart Seminary College, Detroit; the North American College, Rome; and the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Archbishop Blair holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History from Sacred Heart Seminary College; a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University; a Licentiate in Theology (S.T.L.) with a specialization in Patristics and the History of Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University; and a Doctorate in Theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome. Archbishop Blair has served as Pastor of St. Paul Parish, Grosse Point Farms, since July of 1997. Prior to that, he served for three years as Secretary to Cardinal Edmund Szoka and as a staff member of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, Vatican City State.
Father Thomas J. Walsh
Pastor
Rev. Thomas J. Walsh was born in New Haven to a devout, Irish Catholic Family, with several relatives who were priests and nuns.
His parents are Connie and Connie (Doody) Walsh. They have six children, two of whom are priests.
After growing up in Montowese and graduating from High School in 1980, Father was accepted into St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Connecticut, where he majored in philosophy and received a Bachelor of Arts degree 1984.
In 1984, he was sent to Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he studied theology and received a Master of Divinity degree in 1987. Father was ordained a deacon there in 1987, and was ordained to the priesthood a year later in St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hartford, CT.
Father served as an assistant Pastor at St. Anthony's Church in Prospect until 1994, when he was transferred to St. Ann Church in New Britain, CT.
Father was Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in East Hartford from 1998 to 2003, and Pastor of St. Mary and St. Ann Churches in New Britain from 2003 to 2011, when he was transferred to Most Holy Trinity Church in Wallingford.
On June 29th, 2017, Father Walsh became the ninth pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Hartford's South End.
Father José R. Linares Pagan
Parochial Vicar
Father Jose Linares was born on June 20, 1957 in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico to Mr. Jose Ramon Linares Lugo (RIP), and Mrs. Providencia Pagan Suarez. He was baptized, made his First Communion and Confirmed at the Church of San Isidro Labrador, where his parents received the sacrament of matrimony. He has four siblings; Maria Elena, Heriberto, Melvin and Jose Antonio as well as some nephews and nieces whom he baptized.
He went to Elementary school, Middle school, and High school in his home town, Sabana Grande. He graduated from the Vocacional de Comercio y Tecnico de Oficina. He participated in the Youth Movement of Catholic Action, and spiritual retreats. He was a Catechist for children and young people.
After obtaining his Bachelor degree in Business Administration, worked in the Treasury Department Office and in the School of Law in the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce campus.
Father Linares started his Priesthood studies at the Regina Cleri Seminary in Ponce, where he obtained an associate's degree in Philosophy with the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce campus. In 1982 completed his Master's degree in Divinity from the Regional San Vicente de Paul Seminary in Boyton Beach, FL.
He was ordained Deacon in 1985 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Candelaria by Bishop Ulises A. Casiano Vargas, Bishop of the Diocese of Mayaguez. Father Linares was ordained priest on June 5, 1986 by Bishop Ulises A. Casiano at the San Isidro Labrador Parish. The next day he celebrated his First Mass.
Fr. Linares was assigned Parish Vicar at the Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monserrat in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, he was also assigned to the Diocesan Curia as Administrator of the Chancery. In 1988 he was appointed Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Rosario, San German, PR, and also Spiritual Director of the students at the CROEM School in Mayaguez, PR. In 1991 traveled to Bogota, Colombia, S.A. to study at the Instituto Teologico-Pastoral (ITEPAL) of the (CELAM) Episcopado Latinoamericano, there he was assigned Vicar of the Basilica del Señor Caido de Monserrat .
Upon returning to Puerto Rico in 1992, he was assigned Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Candelaria of las Lajas. The same year he was hired as Professor of Theology and Philosophy in the Catholic Pontifical University of PR., Mayaguez. Later in 1996, he was appointed Vicar Cooperator of the San Miguel Arcangel Parish in Cabo, Rojo; there he helped as a Diocesan Spiritual Director of the San Juan XXIII movement retreats.
In 2017 he moved to Connecticut, the Archdiocese of Hartford assigned him Vicar of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Meriden, CT.
Fr. Linares is currently Vicar of Saint Augustine Church.
He went to Elementary school, Middle school, and High school in his home town, Sabana Grande. He graduated from the Vocacional de Comercio y Tecnico de Oficina. He participated in the Youth Movement of Catholic Action, and spiritual retreats. He was a Catechist for children and young people.
After obtaining his Bachelor degree in Business Administration, worked in the Treasury Department Office and in the School of Law in the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce campus.
Father Linares started his Priesthood studies at the Regina Cleri Seminary in Ponce, where he obtained an associate's degree in Philosophy with the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce campus. In 1982 completed his Master's degree in Divinity from the Regional San Vicente de Paul Seminary in Boyton Beach, FL.
He was ordained Deacon in 1985 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Candelaria by Bishop Ulises A. Casiano Vargas, Bishop of the Diocese of Mayaguez. Father Linares was ordained priest on June 5, 1986 by Bishop Ulises A. Casiano at the San Isidro Labrador Parish. The next day he celebrated his First Mass.
Fr. Linares was assigned Parish Vicar at the Basilica-Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monserrat in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, he was also assigned to the Diocesan Curia as Administrator of the Chancery. In 1988 he was appointed Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Rosario, San German, PR, and also Spiritual Director of the students at the CROEM School in Mayaguez, PR. In 1991 traveled to Bogota, Colombia, S.A. to study at the Instituto Teologico-Pastoral (ITEPAL) of the (CELAM) Episcopado Latinoamericano, there he was assigned Vicar of the Basilica del Señor Caido de Monserrat .
Upon returning to Puerto Rico in 1992, he was assigned Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Candelaria of las Lajas. The same year he was hired as Professor of Theology and Philosophy in the Catholic Pontifical University of PR., Mayaguez. Later in 1996, he was appointed Vicar Cooperator of the San Miguel Arcangel Parish in Cabo, Rojo; there he helped as a Diocesan Spiritual Director of the San Juan XXIII movement retreats.
In 2017 he moved to Connecticut, the Archdiocese of Hartford assigned him Vicar of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Meriden, CT.
Fr. Linares is currently Vicar of Saint Augustine Church.
