2020 initiated many new unusual things in our lives: of course, the Coronavirus itself, and then everything we do day-in and day-out has been impacted by this virus, from the way we celebrate holidays, graduations, birthdays, the celebration of Mass and Sacraments to other normal, everyday family and work activities including dining out, going to the gym and even grocery shopping. Nothing is the same.

Perhaps one of the biggest and more devastating impacts of the pandemic, save for the sickness and death, has been the isolation it has caused to many. As a social animal, the human person needs to be connected and to interact with others, which is negatively affected by social distancing and mask wearing.

Faith calls us to a higher good, to remain connected beyond the physical realm and to be one with others spiritually. In 2020 Saint Catherine of Siena parishioners connected to others by stepping up to the plate by way of:

• Offering both in-person and live-streamed Masses, prayer services, and Faith Formation programs to meet people where they felt comfortable;
• Providing more food to those in need through improved and added ministries to reach out to those struggling: Pantry Partners, Feed the Hungry, Street Sandwich Ministry, Manny’s Meals and St. Elizabeth House;
• Youth Ministry programs offering new avenues to stay connected and to reach out to our elderly parishioners who are more isolated by Covid restrictions then others—and delivering treats quarterly to our seniors and connecting to them through cards; encouraging parish families to bake ap-ple pies and other treats for the homeless and food shelters, actually tripling our normal number of Thanksgiving pies and Monkey Breads at Thanksgiving;
• Retooling our annual Breakfast with Santa to an outdoor extravaganza so as to accompany more people and allow Santa to meet more children outdoors; and,
• Providing our people with opportunities to recognize their many blessings they already possess in order to become a blessing to others.

Adversity often brings a greater perspective from which to view the world and our role in it.
Fr. Terry Kristofak, at Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, has a great philosophy on life: “Change is inevitable, growth is the option.”

The people of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish have accepted Fr. Terry’s philosophy—they saw the inevitable change the Coronavirus placed upon us and they adapted—for the better—and became the light of hope to help heal the isolation and loss wrought by this pandemic. Not only in the ways noted above, but also in the personal outreach that has and will touch in positive and helpful ways the lives of so many, making the isolation and its subsequent hardships less damaging by connecting humanity together in the midst of need.

Because of the Christian generosity of so many, our parish raised more than $161,750.00 for the Advent Giving Tree program! Benefiting the Knights of Malta House of Care by providing them with $63,330.00 and $98,420.00* to the Neighbors in Need fund.

Thanks to you, families in need will have food, heating and electricity and other essential needs, and our parish will provide $63,330.00 to the Knights of Malta to avail those who have no opportunity for needed healthcare and treatments to receive the opportunity to see a doctor, nurse and other medical specialists and to receive treatment, and be given hope. You have become the antidote to the isolation and loss caused of this pandemic. Thank you!!!

*includes a one-time gift to develop additional programs to feed the hungry and provide
assistance to those in need via Confirmation and Youth ministry outreach.