About Cathedral of St. Joseph · Hartford, Connecticut
The Cathedral of St. Joseph is the mother church and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, located at 140 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, in the Asylum Hill neighborhood just outside downtown. The present building, dedicated on May 15, 1962, was designed by the New York firm of Eggers & Higgins in an International Style interpretation of Gothic, rising 281 feet on the exact site of the original cathedral destroyed by fire on New Year's Eve 1956. It functions both as the seat where the Archbishop of Hartford presides over archdiocesan liturgies and as a working parish whose members, drawn from every continent, gather around a celebrated Austin pipe organ, monumental Parisian stained glass by Jean Barillet, and the world's largest ceramic-tile mural depicting 'Christ in Glory.'
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Joseph (Patron of the Universal Church, of the Archdiocese of Hartford, and of the Cathedral)
- Rector
- Very Rev. John P. Melnick (Rector, 2022–present)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
The Cathedral of St. Joseph offers the rare combination of a downtown landmark of Catholic art and architecture — Parisian stained glass, a record-setting ceramic mural, and the largest pipe organ in Connecticut — with a genuinely diverse parish whose members are born on every continent. As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Hartford, it anchors the archdiocese's most extensive social-outreach network in the Asylum Hill neighborhood, including a major food pantry, the Malta House of Care medical clinic, and Cathedral Green affordable housing, so worship is paired with concrete service to the surrounding community. Daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Adoration, a scriptural Rosary, and a strong music and faith-formation program make it a fitting spiritual home for anyone seeking both a traditional Catholic liturgy and an active, mission-driven parish life.
Mass times at Cathedral of St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday immediately following the 9:00 AM Mass (approximately 9:45–10:30 AM)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
Welcome & Parish Identity
The Cathedral of St. Joseph describes itself as 'the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Hartford,' a place where the Archbishop presides over Masses attended by Catholics from across the archdiocese and which simultaneously serves as a regular parish for residents of the Asylum Hill neighborhood. The parish community is internationally diverse — members are born on every continent — and the cathedral emphasizes both sacred music and social outreach. Public Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, and the parish offices are all run from 140 Farmington Avenue, with easy access via a side parking lot and the 2016 Asylum Avenue elevator entrance.
- Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Hartford
- Parish and liturgical center for Asylum Hill, Hartford
- Parishioners born on every continent
- Side parking lot and Asylum Avenue accessible entrance (added 2016)
History
The cathedral's story stretches from the 1843 creation of the Diocese of Hartford through two distinct buildings and a major mid-century fire. The original Patrick C. Keely–designed cruciform Gothic cathedral was begun under Bishop Galberry in 1876, consecrated in 1892 under Bishop McMahon, and destroyed by an unsolved fire on December 31, 1956. Within a year Archbishop Henry O'Brien had chosen Eggers and Higgins to design a successor and launched a parish-wide fundraising drive; the present International-Style-Gothic cathedral was consecrated on May 15, 1962.
- Diocese of Hartford erected 1843; first three bishops resided in Providence, RI
- 1872: Cathedral parish formally established
- 1876–1892: First cathedral built (Patrick C. Keely, Gothic Revival)
- December 31, 1956: Original cathedral destroyed by fire
- 1957: Eggers & Higgins commissioned; December 1957 design chosen
- September 8, 1958: Formal groundbreaking
- Christmas Eve 1960: Lower church blessed; first Pontifical Mass at midnight
- October 3, 1961: Cornerstone laid (salvaged from the original)
- May 15, 1962: Cathedral consecrated
- 1979: Listed on the National Register as part of the Asylum Avenue District
- 2020: Hosted the beatification Mass of Father Michael J. McGivney
Architecture & Art
The cathedral is built of reinforced concrete sheathed in smooth, light-gray coursed Alabama limestone, with stonework in the bell tower cut in a pattern of voids that produces shifting light and shadow. Bronze doors weighing five and a half tons and a heroic frieze of St. Joseph mark the main Farmington Avenue entrance. Inside, Jean Barillet's stained glass and the world-record 'Christ in Glory' ceramic mural dominate the sanctuary.
- Architects: Eggers & Higgins, New York
- Style: International Style interpretation of Gothic
- Dimensions: 284 ft long, 156 ft wide, 281 ft tall
- Materials: reinforced concrete with Alabama limestone cladding
- Stainless-steel cross: 25 ft high
- Seating capacity: ~1,750 (excluding side chapels)
- Two side chapels: Blessed Sacrament (tabernacle, mural of Jesus and disciples) and Holy Family (mural, baptismal font)
- Smaller mosaic chapels with kneelers
Stained Glass & Etched Glass
Twenty-four great nave windows, each about 67 × 13½ feet and 1 inch thick, were designed by Jean Barillet of Paris and set in concrete rather than lead cames — a technique that recalls the Sainte-Chapelle. Their combined theme, 'Christ the Savior,' unfolds in eight scenes across the east and west walls, and two further windows behind the altar carry symbols of the Sacraments. The narthex wall of etched glass, by Hungarian artist János Hajnal, depicts the Kingdom of Christ on earth and in heaven.
- Designer: Jean Barillet, Paris
- Technique: glass embedded in concrete (not lead cames)
- Nave theme: 'Christ the Savior' across 24 windows
- Altar windows: symbols of the Sacraments
- Narthex etched-glass wall: 'Kingdom of Christ on Earth and in Heaven' by János Hajnal
Pipe Organs
The cathedral is home to two instruments by Hartford's Austin Organ Company. The rear-gallery organ is the largest in Connecticut: four manuals, six divisions, 81 stops, 95 registers, 114 ranks, and 6,878 pipes. A smaller three-manual organ of 1,195 pipes (three divisions, 17 stops, 22 registers, 19 ranks) serves the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The organ has been used for many concerts.
- Austin Organ Company, Hartford
- Rear-gallery organ: 4 manuals, 6 divisions, 81 stops, 114 ranks, 6,878 pipes — largest in Connecticut
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel organ: 3 manuals, 3 divisions, 17 stops, 1,195 pipes
Bells & Carillon
The tower houses twelve carillon bells cast in Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands, by Petit & Fritsen. They range in weight from 225 pounds to 3,850 pounds and were consecrated by Archbishop O'Brien on February 10, 1961. The grille work surrounding them is of the same Alabama limestone used on the exterior.
- Foundry: Petit & Fritsen, Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands
- 12 bells, 225 – 3,850 lbs
- Consecrated February 10, 1961
Mass, Sacraments & Devotions
The cathedral's daily Mass schedule, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday Reconciliation, and scriptural Rosary give it the rhythm of a traditional urban parish. The faithful can receive the Eucharist daily, adore the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday mornings, and bring first Saturdays to a close with a Holy Hour of Exposition.
- Daily Mass Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM and 12:10 PM
- Saturday Mass: 9:00 AM
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
- Holy Day Masses: 7:30 AM and 12:10 PM
- Sunday Mass livestreamed via the parish website
Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage & Anointing
The parish prepares the faithful for the sacraments of initiation and the sacraments of healing and vocation through its Faith Formation office. The baptismal font is located in the Holy Family side chapel; couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish at least six months in advance.
- Baptism: arranged through the parish office
- Confirmation: through Faith Formation
- Marriage: contact at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: on request
Parish Life & Ministries
Cathedral of St. Joseph runs the kind of parish life one expects of a mother church: a large and diverse congregation, a strong sacred-music program, faith formation for children and adults, a Knights of Columbus council, and a Parish Council representing the laity. Its social outreach arm, however, is unusually large and is described by the archbishop as one of the most extensive service networks in the archdiocese.
- Parish Council (President: James Gentile)
- Parish Trustees: Pattilynn Conard and Mark Socha
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Gioia Zack
- Music Ministry Director: Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez
- Music Office Manager: Marianne Moline
- Director of Parish Life: Kelsey Meczywor
- Lay Ministry: Judith A. Stonger
- Parish Sacristan: Peter Turczanik
- Knights of Columbus Council — Grand Knight Michael McGarry
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry is led by Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez, with Marianne Moline serving as office manager. The program draws on the cathedral's Austin pipe organ — the largest in Connecticut — to support the sung liturgy at daily and Sunday Mass, holy days, weddings, funerals, ordinations, and an active schedule of sacred concerts.
- Director: Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez
- Office Manager: Marianne Moline
- Repertoire built around the 6,878-pipe Austin organ
- Used for ordinations, diocesan liturgies, and concerts
Faith Formation
Faith Formation for children and adults is coordinated by Gioia Zack through the parish office. The program prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and offers ongoing catechesis in line with Archdiocese of Hartford guidelines.
- Coordinator: Gioia Zack
- Sacramental preparation: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation
- Adult faith formation and RCIA referrals through the parish office
Knights of Columbus
The Cathedral of St. Joseph Council of the Knights of Columbus is a direct legacy of the parish's most famous beatification: Father Michael J. McGivney, the order's founder, was ordained in the archdiocese and his beatification Mass was celebrated at the cathedral on October 31, 2020. The local council supports parish life through service, fellowship, and fundraising.
- Grand Knight: Michael McGarry
- Cathedral-of-the-founder council of the Knights of Columbus
Outreach & Social Services
The cathedral's Asylum Hill campus hosts one of the most extensive Catholic social-services clusters in Connecticut. Through the Connecticut Catholic Foundation, the Archdiocese has renovated adjacent buildings into a community center housing the Malta House of Care free medical clinic and an expanded Cathedral Food Pantry, while the former parish school has been redeveloped as affordable housing under the name Cathedral Green.
- Cathedral Community Center, 136 Farmington Avenue (opened September 2022)
- Malta House of Care Clinic (first brick-and-mortar site)
- Cathedral Food Pantry
- Cathedral Green (former cathedral school, now affordable housing)
- Hoffman Hall (lower level, under renovation for ministries and community meetings)
Cathedral Food Pantry
The parish food pantry, run by cathedral parishioners and supplied largely by Connecticut Foodshare, has grown into one of the busiest emergency-food providers in the Asylum Hill area. Archbishop Blair reported in 2022 that the pantry served over 11,000 people in the first eight months of the year — more than in all of 2021 — and now offers blood pressure screenings, nutrition counseling, personal-hygiene items, clothing, housewares, and delivery to the homebound.
- Coordinator: Renee Santos
- 41 tons of food received from Connecticut Foodshare over the years
- Expanded hours and wrap-around services after 2022
- Delivery to homebound clients
Malta House of Care Clinic
The Order of Malta's Malta House of Care has offered free primary health care to uninsured and underinsured adults in Hartford and East Hartford since 2006, primarily through a mobile van. On September 20, 2022, Archbishop Leonard P. Blair blessed a new, stationary $6.8 million clinic on the second floor of the Cathedral Community Center — the order's first brick-and-mortar site — enabling the program to serve roughly 2½ times more patients. Since 2006 the program has logged more than 71,000 patient visits; many patients speak Spanish or Portuguese, and translators are on staff.
- Run under the Order of Malta
- Executive Director: Vicki Veltri
- Stationary clinic opened September 2022 in the Cathedral Community Center
- Vaccinations, exams, medications, lab testing, radiology, referrals, health coaching
- Spanish and Portuguese translators on staff; ~30 languages represented among patients
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The cathedral is led by the Rector, who is appointed by and serves under the Archbishop of Hartford. The parish is also served by two permanent deacons, an Administrative Assistant, the Director of Parish Life, the Music Ministry team, and the Faith Formation Coordinator. The Archbishop, currently Most Rev. Christopher J. Coyne, presides over archdiocesan liturgies celebrated in the cathedral.
- Archbishop of Hartford: Most Rev. Christopher J. Coyne
- Rector: Very Rev. John P. Melnick (2022–present)
- Deacon Norris Taylor — Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish
- Deacon Daniel Valente — Cathedral of St. Joseph (Archdiocesan Director of the Permanent Diaconate)
- Administrative Assistant: Amelia Rivera
- Director of Parish Life: Kelsey Meczywor
- Music Director: Dr. Ezequiel Menéndez
Cathedral Square & 'Forward With Faith' Master Plan
Under the Archdiocese of Hartford's 'Forward With Faith' capital campaign and the stewardship of the Connecticut Catholic Foundation, the cathedral's Farmington Avenue property is being reshaped into a campus that combines worship, gardens, social services, education, and affordable housing. Completed phases include the 2016 Asylum Avenue entrance, the 2018 exterior limestone cleaning and repair, the 2022 Cathedral Community Center, the Mother's Garden and Donor Pavilion, the restoration of the steeple, bells, and tower, and the conversion of the former school into Cathedral Green affordable housing. Planned phases include a Cathedral Square pedestrian mall, public gardens, and the renovation of the lower level of the cathedral and Hoffman Hall into educational and community meeting space with a dining area and a mausoleum.
- Capital campaign: 'Forward With Faith'
- Connecticut Catholic Foundation (CCF) coordinating since 2016
- Completed: Asylum Avenue entrance, exterior restoration, Cathedral Community Center, Mother's Garden
- Cathedral Green affordable housing (former school)
- Planned: Cathedral Square pedestrian mall, lower-level classrooms, dining area, mausoleum
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph B. Reid1872–1874
First rector; previously secretary to Bishop McFarland.
- Rev. E.M. Hickey1873–1874
Assisted Fr. Reid; came from the Diocese of Newark, later joined the Diocese of Wheeling, WV.
- Rev. Michael F. Kelly1874–1878
- Rev. William A. Harty1878–1882
First term; served the cathedral a second time, 1886–1894.
- Rev. Philip J. McCabe1882–1885
- Rev. William A. Harty1886–1894
Returned for a second term spanning the 1892 consecration.
- Rev. Walter J. Shanley1894–1905
- Rev. Thomas S. Duggan, D.D., V.G.1905–1945
Longest tenure to that point.
- Rev. William H. Flynn1945–1946
- Rev. William J. Collins, V.G.1946–1959
Reconstructed the cathedral after the 1956 fire.
- Rev. John S. Kennedy1959–1971
First rector of the new (1962) cathedral building.
- Rev. Denis P. Ferrigno1971–1986
- Rev. Charles B. Johnson1986–1990
- Rev. John J. Bevins1990–1991
Administrator.
- Rev. Christie A. Macaluso1991–1997
- Rev. Daniel J. Plocharczyk1997–2003
- Rev. Robert D. Bergin2003–2005
- Msgr. John J. McCarthy2005–2015
- Rev. James A. Shanley2015–2018
- Rev. Thomas M. Ginty2018–2019
- Rev. Kevin G. Donovan2019–2020
- Very Rev. Daniel J. McLearen2020–2022
- Very Rev. John P. Melnick2022–present
Current rector.
