About St. Michael · Hartford, Connecticut
St. Michael Catholic Parish in Hartford, Connecticut is today united with St. Justin Parish to form the combined St. Justin–St. Michael Parish, located at 230 Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford's Blue Hills / North End neighborhood. The parish worships at the historic St. Justin Church, a striking limestone landmark designed by the Hartford firm of Whiton & McMahon and dedicated by Bishop John J. Nilan on May 21, 1933. Today the merged parish is a multicultural Catholic community offering Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, with a multicultural Mass celebrated on the first Sunday of each month.
- Established
- 1900
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Reverend Mathieu Isaac
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
St. Justin–St. Michael is one of Hartford's truly multicultural Catholic parishes, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole every Sunday, with a single multicultural Mass on the first Sunday of each month that gathers all three communities together. The parish offers Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday morning, sacramental preparation for those preparing to receive the sacraments, and a range of ministries where parishioners can both grow in faith and serve others — all centered in the landmark 1933 St. Justin Church on Blue Hills Avenue.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment only, in the Church — call 860-246-6897 to schedule
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: every Thursday, 8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M., Parish Center (following the 8:00 A.M. weekday Mass)
Our Story
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Parish was created in 1900 from the northern portion of St. Anthony's Parish in Hartford to serve Irish-American Catholics in the city's North End, and the parish built St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church at 7 Clark Street in 1906. From its territory came the eventual St. Justin Parish: in 1914, Father Francis P. Nolan of St. Thomas Seminary built a residence on what had been the Thomas farm in the Blue Hills section of Hartford (that house still serves as the rectory), and on October 16, 1924, the parish of St. Justin was canonically established with Father Nolan as founding pastor. The parish raised $250,000 during the Depression — without ever conducting a building-fund drive — to build the landmark St. Justin Church at 240 Blue Hills Avenue, which Bishop John J. Nilan formally dedicated on May 21, 1933. Today the two parishes are united as St. Justin–St. Michael Parish, and the parish also highlights a published history of Black Catholics in Hartford: "From St. Benedict Center to St. Justin–St. Michael" by Myles Hubbard.
- St. Michael Parish established: 1900
- St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church built: 1906, 7 Clark Street
- St. Justin Parish canonically established: October 16, 1924
- Founding pastor: Father Francis P. Nolan
- St. Justin Church dedicated: May 21, 1933 by Bishop John J. Nilan
- Architecture: Whiton & McMahon of Hartford
- Historical source cited on the parish site: Joseph W. Duffy, Hartford's Catholic Legacy: Parishes, p. 189
A Journey of Faith — the 1933 St. Justin Church
St. Justin Church is described in the parish's own history as 'one of the most beautiful Catholic monuments in Connecticut.' Celtic symbols decorate its great bronze doors, which open onto an interior filled with artistic masterpieces meant to inspire and uplift the spirit. Thirteen different kinds of marble are used inside the church, and the smallest piece of marble anywhere in the building is an olive branch in the mouth of a white dove.
- 13 different kinds of marble inside the church
- Celtic symbols on the great bronze doors
- Designed by Whiton & McMahon, Hartford architects
About St. Justin–St. Michael Parish Today
The parish's own 'About Us' page describes St. Justin–St. Michael Church as 'a welcoming community rooted in Christ, dedicated to deepening our faith, serving others with compassion, and nurturing spiritual growth. Through worship, fellowship, and outreach, we strive to be a light of hope and love in our parish and beyond.'
Sacramental Preparation
The parish website highlights sacramental preparation as 'a beautiful journey of faith, reflection, and growth,' inviting parishioners to prepare to receive the sacraments through parish life.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Every Thursday morning the parish exposes the Blessed Sacrament for an hour of adoration in the Parish Center, from 8:30 A.M. to 9:30 A.M., following the 8:00 A.M. weekday Mass.
- Every Thursday, 8:30–9:30 A.M.
- Location: Parish Center
Ministries — Find Where You Belong
The parish encourages visitors to 'explore these ministries to find one that is a fit for you.' The Ministries page on the parish website is organized under the heading 'Find Where You Belong' / 'Get Involved,' with a variety of ministries where parishioners can grow in faith and serve others.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, an additional priest, and two deacons, according to the Archdiocese of Hartford's clergy directory.
- Reverend Mathieu Isaac — Pastor, St. Justin–St. Michael Parish
- Reverend Emmanuel I. Ihemedu
- Deacon Ramon Rosado
- Deacon Confesol Rodriguez
Contact & Location
The parish office is located at 230 Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford, CT 06112, and can be reached by phone at 860-246-6897. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Hartford.
- Address: 230 Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford, CT 06112
- Phone: 860-246-6897
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Hartford
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Francis P. Nolan1914–1933+ (founding pastor of St. Justin, which grew from St. Michael's territory)
Yale-trained civil engineer; also diocesan Director of Cemeteries; built the 1914 Nolan House (now the rectory); raised $250,000 during the Depression without a building-fund drive; planned the St. Justin Church superstructure with Whiton & McMahon.