The Connecticut – North East Area gathered at Holy Apostles College & Seminary to organize 2025 ministries, celebrate the Lenten Liturgy, and enjoy a delicious lunch together. The Area Chair introduced Bishop Peter, ChD to graciously open the meeting with prayer. He and Father Joe, ChD blessed the Bishop’s 90th birthday gifts and member recognition items. The Area Chair presented the Bishop with several items including the Order’s Missal, a Mass card from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and religious items representative of his priesthood. Bishop Peter promptly emailed his beautiful thank you, enumerating how touched he was by each thoughtful gift, displayed already in his room.
The Area Chair thanked Knight Joe L, former Area Treasurer, with a St. Joseph Terror of Demons neck medallion for his many years of Area support. Father Joe celebrated Friday Mass for his recognition at his St. Joseph Church (New Haven), “the week of St. Joseph”. Joe and his wife expect to move back permanently to Maine homeland this spring to be with their families. Our Area loss, but Boston Area’s gain! Area Hospitaller Bob thanked Area Chair RJF and Area Membership Chair Gina for their dedication to the Order with their ten year anniversary pins and certificates.
The Area focused on the Association’s 3S’s to create a framework to plan 2025 Liturgies and ministries. Father Joe, ChD reminded new members about the requirements of essential Spirituality of the Order, Association, and Area events. In particular, he offered support to attend in annual retreats and pilgrimages, as well as participating in weekly Rosaries and Evening Prayers. The Area premier event, the 11th Lourdes in a Day, is scheduled for September 13th. The Area will support another lecture series on Zoom on the Sacraments in Defense of the Faith by professors of the Holy Apostles College & Seminary. Project leaders presented their activities focused on six core ministries to build mutual service teams. Members signed up for each team in support of meals/pantries, Ex. SVdPP and Cornerstone Foundation, pro-life activities and center as well as palliative care, diocese anti-human trafficking strategy, and prison ministry and Pen Pals. Youth activities for several Auxiliaries and Associates are in progress at annual pilgrimages and Malta Camp USA.
The Mass was celebrated in the campus Chapel. Dame Jenn was the reader and Father Declan of the college proclaimed the Gospel for the Third Saturday of Lent. Father Joe offered the Lenten homily and reflected on the halfway point of Lent, the next Thursday, known in French as Mi-Carême. Knight Paul Z served the Mass and read The Universal Prayer followed by the Administration of the Anointing of the Sick for a member’s upcoming medical procedure.
We thanked the Holy Apostles leadership and the Area officers who arranged a great Lenten day together with many new members from across the state. A special appreciation was expressed to the college cafeteria workers for their diligent service and a delicious light lunch.
