We began the day waiting for our breakfast after a night of difficult sleeping at St. Thomas Seminary due to the extreme humidity. We actually experienced the discomfort the poor feel each and every day of their lives. At 8:30 we gathered for our morning send-off prayer and left for our appointment with Brad Davis at the WDRC radio station in Bloomfield. John Ryan, Doug Hall, Fr. Stephen, and Bob Hickson were invited to speak about our cause, and they successfully delivered our message while the rest of the team excitedly listened in the parking lot. We continued on to Hartford via the North End handing out our CCHD statistics card to those we met along the way. Lou rode up to a man to explain our mission, and the man replied, “That could be me some day!”

Once in Representative John Larson’s office, John Rossi, Larson’s Administrative Assistant, dialogued with us about the causes of poverty and what Larson was doing about it. His recommendation to us was to continue doing what we are doing and involve as many others in advocating for the poor and needy. We expected a fifteen minute conversation, but it lasted over an hour. Mr. Rossi was pleased to see us and encouraged by our mission. He was quite receptive to us having a poverty forum with legislators present, and he promised to deliver our message to Congressman Larson. We were elated leaving his office and energized by an additional legislative focus. Due to the length of our visit, we sagged to St. Martha’s in Enfield.

Prior to our arrival we jumped on our bikes a mile from the church with Eileen Carroll joining the riding crew. A recognizable pop was heard all the way in the back of our riding line that signaled the first of Lou’s three flat tires for this ride. We again witnessed the same hospitality as last year with cheers and an extensive spread of food and beverage. After filling our stomachs we presented to a small crowd of parishioners. We are hopeful someone was touched by what was said. The team had to divide into two groups to visit with Senator Lieberman in Hartford and Senator Dodd in Wethersfield. Those who went to see Lieberman teleconferenced with two staff members in Washington and three staff members in Hartford. Bob King, Fr. Stephen, Jeanette Beland, and Bob Hickson, discussed poverty issues and told them our specific concerns such as lack of affordable housing, employer healthcare, and decent wages. The staffers wanted specific stories of people’s ordeals of living in poverty. While in Wethersfield, the rest of the team was able to converse with Senator Dodd in person. They also discussed poverty issues and asked Dodd for his suggestions on what more we could do to fight poverty. He quickly recommended that if people did not respond to the humanitarian aspect of this issue, that we speak to the financial consequences if people remain blind to prevalence of poverty.

We ended our third day with an amazing pasta supper at Sacred Heart Church of Suffield coordinated by Jeanne Jeffers, one of our riding compatriots, and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Dennis Vincenzo, present pastor of Sacred Heart and past pastor of St. Bridget Church, organized an evening prayer service which brought a spiritual conclusion to an exceptional day. He generously presented the Brake the Cycle of Poverty Team with a donation to further our cause.

- Lou Terzo
Hartford, CT