A warm Welcome to our new Archbishop-designate, The Most Reverend Leonard Paul Blair; and much Gratitude to our current Archbishop Henry J. Mansell:

On Tuesday, October 29th our Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Toledo, Ohio Bishop Leonard Paul Blair as the fifth Archbishop of Hartford to succeed retiring Archbishop Henry Mansell. Archbishop-designate Blair was ordained a priest in 1976, serving as Toledo’s bishop since 2003.

At his introductory press conference the archbish-op-designate said he was very happy to accept this appointment from Pope Francis and he looks forward to learning all about the needs of and services by the people of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Archbishop-designate Blair noted the connection between his current diocese—and the State of Ohio—once belonging to the State of Connecticut and known as the Connecticut Western Reserve (The Western Reserve) just after the American Revolution and up until the War of 1812 or thereabouts.

At the Tuesday morning press conference the arch-bishop-designate entertained many questions about the local Church of Hartford and his role as its new Shepherd as well as questions relating to Pope Francis and the "new" direction of the Church. The archbishop-designate spoke openly about his desire to continue the works of Archbish-op Mansell in reaching out to Catholics and non-Catholics alike by helping to care for those most in need, both
physically and spiritually in need.

Our archdiocese owes a large gratitude of thanks to our current Archbishop, Henry Mansell, for all his many works to continue the long-standing tradition of the Hartford Catholic Church in caring for the poor and in promoting the life-giving values of the Catholic faith—as taught by Christ. Archbishop Mansell has led Saint Francis Hospi-tal and Medical Center to become a regional New England leader in healthcare; has brought the Knights of Malta’s Mobile Health Care clinics to Hartford, Waterbury, and soon New Haven; has increased the value and role of Cath-olic education in our State; built low-income and moderate housing in the City of Hartford and has increased from $3 million dollars annually to over $10 million annually the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal—making the Hartford Catho-lic Church the second largest provider, next to the government, of healthcare, food, education and social services in the State of Connecticut. Archbishop Mansell was installed as the 4th Archbishop of Hartford in 2003.

Saint Catherine of Siena Parish offers a very warm and prayerful Welcome to Archbishop-designate Blair—and extends a most sincere and grateful thanks to Arch-bishop Henry Mansell for his ten years of service as our Shepherd. For more information on these two men of ser-vice, please go to: archdioceseofhartford.org.