HOPES – (HELP OUR PARISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS)

The 32ndAnnual HOPES Dinner
 Sunday, September 27, 2009

The 32nd Annual HOPES Dinner was held on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, CT. The evening provided the Archdiocese of Hartford with a wonderful opportunity to honor the volunteers who give so much time and talent to our Catholic schools. This year, 124 St. John Neumann Honorees from our Catholic elementary schools were recognized. The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, given annually to a person who has made an exceptional impact on a school and its Advancement program, was presented to Robert O’Keefe on behalf of Assumption School in Ansonia.


Mr. Hoyt with former Superintendents Father James Fanelli (left) and Father Zigford Kriss (right).



Guest Speaker, Monsignor Gerard Schmitz, Vicar for Priests and Rector/President of the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary.
The guest speaker for this year's HOPES Dinner was Monsignor Gerard G. Schmitz, Vicar for Priests and President/Rector of the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary. Nearly 600 people from 50 elementary schools enjoyed the festivities, including pastors, principals, honorees, school community members, family, Archdiocesan agency staffers, members of the Archdiocesan School Board, and board members of the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools. Also announced at the HOPES Dinner were the 2009 – 2010 Archdiocesan Distinguished Elementary Pastor Awards, presented to Rev. Msgr. John P. Conte of St. Margaret Parish in Madison and Rev. Lawrence Symolon of St. George Parish in Guilford.
The dinner is held in conjunction with the HOPES Collection, taken on the same weekend of September 26/27th in every parish of the Archdiocese of Hartford to benefit all elementary schools, with special support given to those city schools serving underprivileged families. HOPES Grants are then awarded through an application process, and determined according to specific criteria. The collection also supports the Archdiocesan marketing campaign on behalf of all Catholic elementary schools. The goal of the 2009 collection is $300,000.


St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award Honoree, Mr. Robert O’Keefe, his wife (to his left), and Father Robert Condron, Pastor and Mrs. Kathleen Molner, Principal from Assumption School, Ansonia.


To learn more about those recognized at the HOPES Dinner, see the links below:

 

            2009 St. John Neumann Honorees

            2009 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Honoree – Robert O’Keefe