Canterbury Welcomes Archbishop Christopher Coyne to Celebrate Mass

Since the School first opened in 1915, Canterbury has enjoyed the honor of a visit from every Bishop and Archbishop of Hartford. On May 3, The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne joined the ranks of his predecessors.

After a tour of campus with Associate Head of School for Student Life Peter LaVigne  P ’14, ’16, ’17, ’20, ’23, His Excellency greeted members of the community as they filed into the Chapel of Our Lady for Mass. Once everyone had gathered together, Caroline Blatti offered welcoming remarks highlighting Canterbury’s Catholic heritage and its long-standing relationship with the archdiocese. 

“More than a century ago, this School was founded on a bold idea: to create a place where young people would be prepared for the best colleges and universities, while also being formed in their faith,” she said. “Canterbury became one of the first independent Catholic secondary schools in the country. A place where faith and learning would stand side by side, each strengthening the other, and its relationship with the Archdiocese of Hartford has remained a defining part of our identity. Your presence today, Archbishop Coyne, is a continuation of that enduring connection, and we are deeply grateful that you have joined us.”

His Excellency—assisted by Sacristans Cody Hew ’26, Clare O’Meara ’26, Calista Bickers ’26, Virginia Guevara Figueroa ’26, Serena Bacetti ’26, and Miguel Garcia ’26, as well as the School’s chaplain, Rev. Brendan Horan, S.J.—celebrated Mass with the Canterbury community. During the homily, he offered a moving personal story from his own teenage years about the tragic death of his brother, noting that even in times of darkness, we can rely on God’s presence to comfort and guide us through.

We are grateful to Archbishop Coyne for his visit and look forward to continuing Canterbury’s strong relationship with the archdiocese for many years to come.