You are cordially invited to Bells of Hope at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. Bells of Hope is one of Connecticut’s statewide National Adoption Month initiatives.
Bells of Hope offers a weekend where faith communities can partner with the Child Welfare System by raising your community’s voices in prayer for all the Connecticut children waiting for permanent homes.
Too many foster children in our country wait far too long for permanent families. In fact, nationally, there are over 107,000 children in the foster care system awaiting a family. Some of these children will never be adopted and will “age out”.
Of those who age out, approximately 50 percent of them eventually experience homelessness or become incarcerated. Most will never finish high school and many of the girls will end up becoming single mothers, repeating the cycle of poverty, abuse and addiction that brought them into care.
Together with Monsignor McCarthy and the Cathedral at St. Joseph’s Parish Community, we unite to call attention to the children waiting for a permanent home. You and your congregations are welcome to share in this community-wide, public event.
Joining us for this awareness service will be:
- The Reverend Monsignor John J. McCarthy, Officiating the service
- Ken Mysogland, Director of Office of Foster Care and Adoption
- Gary Doyens will give a testimonial about his experience as a foster/adoptive child (Gary is the husband of Jocelyn Maminta, News Channel 8 Reporter)
- Rebecca Iannantuoni, Adoptive Parent will lead our name ceremony
Our Heart Gallery, featuring photographs of our waiting children, will be on display. Social Workers from the Adoption Resource Exchange will be available after the service to answer questions about Adoption in CT.
To view the partial list of children in need of permanent homes please visit the Connecticut “Adopt Us Kids” webpage at this link.
When: Sunday, November 4, 2012
Time: Candlelight Vigil and Service, 1:30 p.m.
Place: 140 Farmington Avenue, Hartford
Ample parking available.
RSVP’s are not required and all are welcome to attend.
For more information, please call Jacqueline Ford at 203-641-5710 or email jacqueline.ford@ct.gov