Rev John C. Blackall

Reverend John C. Blackall, M.Div., former pastor of St. Cecilia’s Church, Waterbury, CT. died peacefully, surrounded by his family in his home in West Hartford on Saturday, May 18, 2013. He was born on August 23, 1926 in Waterbury, Ct. and was the son of John C. Blackall, former State Senator and Insurance Commissioner for the state of Connecticut, and Mae (Kelly) Blackall. He is survived by his brother, Rev. L. Randall Blackall, D. Min. and sisters, Frances B. Blanchfield and Joan Mackas, all of West Hartford. He graduated from St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, Ct. and St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1951, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, Ct. by the Most Reverend Henry J. O’Brien, the then Bishop of Hartford. He served as Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas Church, Goshen, CT. He was then assigned to St. Thomas Church, Waterbury, Ct. where his lifelong ministry to the Catholic Hispanic community began. He studied the Spanish language in order to minister to the Catholic Hispanic community. He was then assigned to the Immaculate Conception Church, Waterbury, Ct. where he celebrated the first Spanish mass in Waterbury Ct. on September 29, 1957. In 1959, he was appointed to St. Cecilia’s Church, Waterbury, Ct. where he established a Spanish-speaking Center. He served the parishioners of this parish for over 40 years. Among his many accomplishments were sponsoring refugee families from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Viet Nam, and Cambodia, as well as being a social activists for Catholic causes. Among his many awards were the prestigious Archdiocesan Mission Society Award and the Bishop Donnelly Memorial Award for outstanding individual achievement towards Catholic Social Justice. In his retirement, he continued to serve the Catholic community through various parishes by celebrating the Liturgy of the Mass and administering the Sacraments. The family would like to extend their gratitude to friends and neighbors who provided him with their many acts of kindness. He is also survived by his nephews and nieces, Stephen Blanchfield, Barbara Blanchfield Carpenter and Randall Blanchfield all of West Hartford, Mary Lee Geary, of Mansfield, Ct. Carolyn Mackas-Thompson, Huntington Beach, of CA. and Nancy Bonomo, of Cheshire, Ct., and several grand nieces and great grand nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother in law, William Blanchfield. A wake will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Saint Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Christie A. Macaluso, Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Hartford, on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., at Saint Peter Claver Church. Burial will be in his family plot at Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made Archdiocese of Hartford Catholic Charities, 839-841 Asylum Ave., Hartford, CT 06105-2801. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com

Rev John C. Blackall

August 26, 1926 - May 18, 2013