Who We Are

Cathedral and Parish

As the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hartford, this beautiful church is the place where the local Archbishop presides over services attended by Catholics from throughout the Archdiocese. The Cathedral is also a parish in its own right, serving Catholics living in the Asylum Hill section of Hartford and in surrounding areas.
We are blessed with a beautiful environment for worship, one which features a superb four manual Austin pipe organ, exquisite stained glass windows crafted in Paris, and a ceramic tile mural behind the altar that is the largest of its kind in the world. Even more importantly, the Cathedral parish, which includes parishioners born on every continent in the world, is a vital one offering many activities, a place where sacred music and social outreach play significant roles.

Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair
Archbishop of Hartford

Archbishop Blair was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 26, 1976, following studies at Sacred Heart Seminary College, Detroit; the North American College, Rome; and the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Archbishop Blair holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History from Sacred Heart Seminary College; a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University; a Licentiate in Theology (S.T.L.) with a specialization in Patristics and the History of Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University; and a Doctorate in Theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome.

Very Reverend John P. Melnick
Rector

Father John Melnick was raised in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, CT. He attended St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, and Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity from St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. Father Melnick was ordained to the priesthood on April 29, 2000 by Archbishop Daniel Cronin. Father has served at parishes in Avon, Guilford, Glastonbury, Hartford, Enfield and most recently was pastor of Saint Damien of Molokai Parish in Windsor, CT. He also served as priest secretary to Archbishop Henry Mansell, as well as assistant chancellor for the Archdiocese of Hartford. Father Melnick became Rector of St. Joseph Cathedral on October 19, 2022.

Rev. George S. Mukuka, J.C.L., Ph.D
Judicial Vicar, Vice Chancellor and
part-time Parochial Vicar
in Residence

Fr. George Mukuka, is the Judicial Vicar and Assistant Chancellor for the Archdiocese of Hartford. He completed his JCL at Catholic University of America in Washington DC., in 2014. Fr. Mukuka has also worked as Parochial Vicar, Administrator and Pastor of several parishes in the Archdiocese of Hartford since his ordination in 2011.

Rev. Michael  A. Ruminski
Director of the Office of Divine Worship
In Residence

Fr. Michael Ruminski, from Watertown, CT, was ordained in 2014 for the Archdiocese of Hartford. He graduated from The University of Hartford’s Hartt School in 2008 with a Bachelor’s in Organ Performance and Sacred Music (B.Mus.). While at the Hartt School, he was also the Director of Music for Saint Justin Parish in Hartford. Entering seminary in 2008, he studied philosophy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA and theology at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He graduated with a Baccalaureatum in Sacra Theologia (S.T.B) and a Masters in Divinity (M.Div) in 2014. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. He has had assignments as parochial vicar in Windsor and at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. He was pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Harwinton/New Hartford. Currently, he is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Bloomfield and Director of the Office of Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Hartford.