Archbishop Leonard P. Blair Appoints Valerie Mara as Interim Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Archdiocese of Hartford
Website Editor • February 4, 2021
Archbishop Leonard P. Blair Appoints Valerie Mara as Interim Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Archdiocese of Hartford
Hartford, Conn.—Archbishop Leonard P. Blair is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Valerie Mara as Interim Superintendent of the Archdiocese’s Catholic schools. Mrs. Mara currently serves as Adjunct to the Vicar for Education, Research, and Policy. This welcome announcement coincides with the kickoff of Catholic Schools Week, which takes place February 1 through the 5th, as a time to celebrate and proclaim the academic excellence, faith-lived experiences of our students in the modern world, and the strong, safe and nurturing communities that our Catholic schools provide.
“Mrs. Valerie Mara is an administrator, teacher, and community builder who brings a wealth of academic training and hands-on experience from both the classroom and principals’ office,” says Archbishop Blair. “We are pleased to have her lead our schools, especially in these difficult times for all academic settings as COVID-19 offers many struggles.”
Mrs. Mara is the author of the current curriculum utilized by the Archdiocese of Hartford as well as by many other U.S. Catholic Dioceses and internationally. “Her vision for Catholic schools, combined with her leadership experience, translates into the necessary intellect and skills to navigate our elementary and high schools in these turbulent times: from the pandemic to the changing student landscape—she provides the calm in the storm with the necessary skills to communicate the many benefits of a parochial education: one based on academic excellence, faith, and personal accountability to the common good to our teachers, students and parents,” said Father Michael Whyte, Vicar for the Archdiocese’s Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis.
The Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis of the Archdiocese of Hartford invites, supports and accompanies parish and Catholic school leaders in their efforts to inspire educational excellence and transformative lifelong faith formation.
The Connecticut Catholic Foundation has announced that the 2025 CT Catholic Foundation Golf Classic has been postponed and will now take place on Monday, June 1, 2026 , at the historic Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford, Connecticut, under the sponsorship of Catholic Charities . While we had eagerly anticipated welcoming supporters this fall, the new date allows us to provide an even more exceptional outing at one of New England’s premier golf venues. A Premier Donald Ross Course The outing will be hosted at Wampanoag Country Club , a Donald Ross–designed course originally built in 1924 and fully renovated in 2023 to restore Ross’s original vision. Recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top Donald Ross renovations in the country, the course features: A classic 18-hole championship design with six tee options to accommodate all skill levels Championship length of 7,011 yards, with forward tees at 4,823 yards Fast, true Bent Grass greens, reshaped bunkers, and strategically placed hazards New short-game facility, practice range, and putting greens Looking Ahead By the time of our outing, golfers will also enjoy Wampanoag’s brand-new clubhouse , offering stunning course views, an expansive patio, and enhanced hospitality amenities. The Golf Classic offers “not only a chance to play a top Donald Ross course but also a way for us to unite in support of Catholic Charities' mission," said Jamie Kalamarides , Chairman of the Connecticut Catholic Foundation. “Postponing to June 2026 lets us create an even better event that combines championship golf with fellowship and purpose.” Save the date: Monday, June 1, 2026 Location: Wampanoag Country Club – West Hartford, CT For more information, please contact development@ccaoh.org .
Executive Director Karen Gross recently visited WDRC-FM's "The Talk of Connecticut" studios to share how the Connecticut Catholic Foundation helps generous individuals, families, and organizations raise the quality of life in the Archdiocese of Hartford and beyond through philanthropy.
Foundation has awarded more than $23 million since 2016 Next application deadline is Oct. 1, 2025
Check out the latest issue of the Catholic Transcript
The Hartford Business Journal , a leading source of business news in Connecticut focusing on the Greater Hartford region, recently featured the Connecticut Catholic Foundation in a special edition. The article discussed how CCF aligns donors’ giving strategies with their faith and works to build legacies in the Archdiocese of Hartford and beyond for years to come.
A night of music and spirituality
