PARISH NAMED FOR FOUNDER

the name from among several options proposed by a committee of New Haven parishioners. “I will continue to pray for this new parish community and invite all New Haven Catholics to do the same.”

Now serving with two other pastors as the parish’s first moderator, Father Lerner said, “I feel profoundly moved, and so very excited, that our unified parish will be named for and entrusted to the patronal care of Blessed Michael McGivney.”

From a Catholic perspective, New Haven, Conn., is now officially “McGivney City,” and St. Mary’s Church is its vibrant heart. On July 1, 2023, by decree of Hartford Archbishop Leonard Blair, all the churches of New Haven were merged into a single parish that is the first in the world named for Blessed Michael McGivney, who founded the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s with a handful of laymen in 1882.

“Blessed [Michael] McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, was an exemplar of charity and steadfast devotion to Christ, still today inspiring millions of people to action for the common good, in the name of God,” said Archbishop Blair, who selected

In his decree, the archbishop stated, “the new juridic entity will have eight sacred edifices: Saints Aedan and Brendan (formerly Saint Aedan), Saint Anthony, Saint Martin de Porres, Saint Michael, Saint Francis (formerly belonging to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish), Saint Stanislaus, Saint Mary and Saint Joseph (formerly belonging to Saint Mary Parish) Churches, and the new parish will henceforth be named Blessed Michael McGivney Parish.” Administrative headquarters will be based at St. Mary’s rectory.

Father Ryan Lerner, St. Mary’s pastor since December 2021, announced the change to K of C leaders after Mass June 9 during the Organizational Meeting of State Deputies and State Chaplains Meeting. The news was then shared with New Haven parishioners during weekend Masses.

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Blessed Michael McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue, may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church.

Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify Blessed Michael McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request).

Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly highlighted the historic ties between the Knights of Columbus and St. Mary’s, which is the oldest Catholic church in New Haven and the second oldest in Connecticut. “In 1882, in the basement of St. Mary’s, Blessed Michael McGivney gathered young Catholic men seeking ways to unite in their faith and find a means of supporting their families amid a society that frowned upon Catholic immigrants,” he said. “They formed a brotherhood that would allow Knights to work together with their pastors and strengthen their families, parishes and communities. The Knights of Columbus is honored that the new citywide parish has adopted Blessed Michael McGivney’s name.”

Retrieved from: Father McGivney Guild, 2023

HIS VISION, YOUR MISSION

You can play a key role in advancing Father McGivney’s cause by joining the Guild for free and praying for his intercession and canonization. May Father McGivney intercede for you!

The Father Michael J. McGivney Guild serves as a source for information about the life, works and spirituality of Father McGivney. The Guild publishes a quarterly newsletter and offers a weekly Mass for the intentions of members.