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 Daniel J. McLearen
Rector

Fr. McLearen is a native of Virginia and worked as an engineer in the oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico for Schlumberger Offshore Services for seven years before leaving the work force to begin his studies for the priesthood.  His education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Virginia and his degree in Ocean Engineering from Florida Atlantic University. In the fall of 1986, he began his seminary training at St. Mary’s Seminary and University where he received a Baccalaureatum in Sacra Theologia and a Masters of Divinity in 1991. He was ordained to the Priesthood on January 25, 1992 here at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, and following several assignments throughout the Archdiocese of Hartford as Parochial Vicar and Pastor, he became the Rector of St. Joseph Cathedral on February 24, 2020.

Reverend Michael J. Dolan
In-residence

Fr. Michael J. Dolan is the President of Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, CT, and the Interreligious Affairs Director for the Archdiocese of Hartford. A graduate of Francis T. Maloney High School in Meriden and Assumption College, now University, in Worcester, MA, Michael Dolan began his career as a lab technician before becoming a teacher at St. John the Evangelist in Watertown, then St. Augustine School in Hartford. In 1991, Fr. Dolan entered St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA, graduating in 1995 with a Master of Divinity. While serving in area parishes, Fr. Dolan continued his studies at the Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, Hartford Seminary, and New York University. His pastoral duties brought him to St. Vincent de Paul Church in East Haven where he completed his diaconal internship under the supervision of Msgr. Gary Simeone. He served at St. George Church in Guilford where, as parochial vicar, he directed young adult ministry in the shoreline parish. In 1997, Fr. Dolan became the parochial vicar and priest director of the parish school at St. Mary Church in Newington. Over the years Fr. Dolan also served as Director of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese, overseeing chaplains at Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut’s Waterbury campus, Post University, University of New Haven, Naugatuck and Capital Community Colleges, Albertus Magnus College, and Yale University. Fr. Dolan spent 10 years as chaplain at the University of Hartford where he initiated Interfaith Dialogue with students and staff. He concurrently served as chaplain at Trinity College where he conducted marriage preparation for the many weddings that occurred in the campus chapel in addition to his graduate study in the history program. Fr. Dolan has also served as vocation director and vicar for seminarians; administrator at Sacred Heart Church in Suffield and St. Augustine Church in Hartford; pastor at St. Junipero Serra Parish in South Windsor and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Hamden; chaplain at East Catholic High School, Connecticut State Police, and The Hundred Club of Connecticut; and a board member at East Catholic High School, Notre Dame High School, and The Connecticut Coalition for Interfaith Understanding.