June 2, 2023 
June 2, 2023
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am very grateful to those of you who have already made a contribution to this year’s Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, His Sacrifice, and ours! Thus far nearly 25,000 individuals and families have pledged more than $7,315,000. Nonetheless, in these challenging times we still have a way to go to meet our targeted goal of ten million dollars.
Ten million dollars is a significant amount of money, but so is the need, not only for the benefit of the pastoral life and ministries of our Archdiocese, but also for all the many charitable organizations that rely on the generosity of you, our Catholic people, acting corporately to assist them in their work. The Appeal is crucial for the life of our local church in helping fund seminarian education, for example, and many other spiritual, charitable and educational ministries, but also for the life of the community at large.
Over the years our Vicariate Outreach Program has distributed over $20 million in grants to local charitable organizations thanks to the generosity of the Catholic people to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. Last year grants totaling nearly $900,000 were made to over 135 community organizations in Litchfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. These include local organizations like the Cathedral of St. Joseph Food Pantry, South Park Inn – Homeless Shelter, ImmaCare, Catholic Worker House, Connecticut Foodshare, and Birthright of Hartford, all of which, in different ways, provide your neighbors with material, spiritual and social help.
It is my hope that in 2023 we can return to our previous higher giving level to the Vicariate Outreach Program, but that will depend on your generosity and mine as we ponder a “sacrificial gift” that shows our trust in the Lord who provides for all our needs. The theme His Sacrifice, and ours! says it all.
This weekend is “Commitment Weekend” throughout the Archdiocese. If you have not already made your gift or pledge please do so today. Please be as generous as your means and circumstances permit.
Thank you for your consideration and please be assured of my prayers and best wishes for you and your loved ones.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair
Archbishop of Hartford
