“There’s Something Greater Here!”
Nearly 400 people participated in the 48th Annual HOPES Dinner last night at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. HOPES is an acronym for Help Our Parish Educators & Students. This dinner is an opportunity for the Office of Catholic Schools to honor various administrators and volunteers who make Catholic education special in the Archdiocese of Hartford.
Archbishop Christopher Coyne, Maddie Smith – Director of Mission and Engagement, and Superintendent Valerie Mara led the evening.
Father Anthony Smith, Pastor of Holy Disciples Catholic School in Watertown and Oakville, was honored as the 2025 Distinguished Elementary School Pastor.
Colleen DiSanto, Principal of St. Thomas & St. Timothy School, West Hartford, was honored as the 2025 Distinguished Catholic School Administrator.
Lisa Roman was honored with the 2025 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Volunteer of the Year Award.
And fifty-three volunteers from twenty-seven schools were honored with the 2025 Saint John Neumann Award.
Father Marcin Pluciennik, the 2024 Distinguished Elementary School Pastor, concluded the evening with benediction.
📷 Aaron Joseph
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