Award-winning Author to Speak at Annual Archbishop’s St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

Hartford, Conn. – (November 28, 2011) The Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Schools (FACS) has begun preparations for its annual Archbishop’s St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast by announcing that award-winning author, the Rev. James Martin, will serve as guest speaker at the event on Friday, March 16 at 7 a.m. at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.

According to FACS Executive Director Cynthia Basil Howard, it’s never too early to start planning the festive event, which has welcomed roughly 1000 guests for the past eleven years. This breakfast is the largest fundraising event that FACS holds each year, raising funds to provide scholarships and support for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

“Our hope is that businesses, organizations and individuals will show their support early, and purchase sponsorships that will benefit Catholic education and its students,” said Howard. “I think that a speaker such as Fr. Martin with such a distinguished background will certainly capture the attention of many community leaders, because he leads such an inspiring life.”

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, Martin worked for six years in corporate finance with General Electric before entering the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and becoming a priest. As a priest, he has touched the lives of countless people throughout the world.  He is a sought after commentator on religion and spirituality in the national and international media.  For those familiar with The Colbert Hour, Fr. Martin is a frequent guest and contributor. Stephen Colbert refers to him as “The Colbert Report Chaplain.”  He has appeared on all the major radio and television networks and in venues as diverse as NPR’s Fresh Air and Weekend Edition, PBS’s Newshour, CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, the BBC and Vatican Radio.  In addition to his years spent improving the lives of many in Jamaica and Kenya, he has worked with gang members from the inner city of Chicago and served as chaplain in a Boston prison.

These vast, worldly experiences both in the corporate and spiritual worlds have given him plenty to write about, including a best-selling memoir entitled, My Life with the Saints, a witty account about his personal relationship with the saints. For many, these holy men and women are just historical figures. For Martin, they are intimate companions.

At the breakfast, he will be sharing thoughts from his latest book, Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of Spiritual Life.

Maureen Kerrigan, FACS Board President encourages everyone to, “Start the St. Patrick’s Day weekend with laughter and inspiration as Archbishop Mansell and the FACS Trustees welcome Fr. Martin to our celebration of all that is good in our Catholic schools!”


For additional information and sponsorship details, please call 860-761-7499 or visit FACSHartford.org.