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. He is also the Administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Korean Catholic Parish. He has been a member of the Hartford Bishops Foundation from its inception, is presently its Secretary, and sits on the HBF Vibrant Parish Subcommittee. He is the Chair of the Campaign Advisory Committee for the Forward with Faith Campaign, and sits on the Pastors Advisory Council for the Archbishops Annual Appeal. He is presently the Dean of Deanery #3, which places him on the Presbyteral Council as well as the Personnel Board.

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.