Thanksgiving Interfaith Service
Monday, November 24, 2025
7:00 p.m.
As our world faces so many challenges to peace, the Holy Family community invites our friends of all religious and cultural backgrounds to come together to pray and worship in a spirit of unity, gratitude, and love. A host of religious leaders will be present to give witness to the diversity and friendship that we espouse as people of faith. The service will be held in the main chapel and will include scripture, music, and reflections by guest speakers, State Senator Dr. Saud Anwar, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Rabbi Debra Cantor, Alex Kuzma, and Liza Peters. Following the service, we will gather for refreshments in the main dining room.
Free-will offering
Featured Speakers
Dr. Saud Anwar, M.D.
Dr. Saud Anwar, M.D. is a pulmonary and critical care physician and State Senator representing Connecticut’s 3rd District. Elected to the Senate in 2019, he previously served as Mayor of South Windsor and now co-chairs the Public Health Committee. Dr. Anwar earned a Master’s in Public Health from Yale University and is known for his leadership on health care, equity, and environmental issues. He lives in South Windsor with his wife, Dr. Yusra Anis-Anwar, and their two sons.
Arunan Arulampalam
Arunan Arulampalam is the Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. Elected in 2023, he brings a background in law, public service, and community development to his role. Before becoming mayor, he served as CEO of the Hartford Land Bank and as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Arulampalam is committed to revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding homeownership, and creating opportunity for all who call the city home. He lives in Hartford with his wife and their five children. Mayor Arulampalam’s wife, Liza, is the Senior Minister of the First Church of Christ (Center Church) in Hartford.
Rabbi Debra Cantor
Rabbi Debra Cantor serves as the spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Tikvoh‑Sholom in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Ordained in 1988 as part of the first class of women at Jewish Theological Seminary, she holds a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University (cum laude). Her work spans adult Jewish education, leadership development, interfaith collaboration, and synagogue innovation. Rabbi Cantor lives in the Hartford area with her husband, James Beede, and has two adult children.
Alex Kuzma
Alex Kuzma is Chief Development Officer for the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation in the U.S., supporting the university in Lviv, Ukraine. Born in Hartford to Ukrainian‑refugee parents, he holds degrees from Yale University and Northeastern University School of Law. In addition to his professional work, Kuzma is the founder and director of the Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble, a choir dedicated to preserving and sharing Ukrainian liturgical, folk, and patriotic music. He is deeply committed to advancing Ukraine’s education, culture, and global presence.
Liza Peters
Liza Peters is the director of youth and young adult ministry at Holy Family. Prior to joining the retreat team in 2011, she served as director of religious education at a parish outside Dayton, OH, and worked and lived in community at the St. Peter Claver Catholic Worker House in South Bend, IN. She holds a B.A. in psychology and a Master of Divinity from the University of Notre Dame.