Thanksgiving Interfaith Service
Monday, November 23, 2026
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, Rabbi Donna Berman, State Representative Maryam Khan, Rev. David Figliuzzi, Alex Kuzma, Dr. Michael Norko, and Senator Derek Slap. Following the service, we will gather for refreshments in the main dining room.
Free-will offering
Featured Speakers
Rabbi Donna Berman, Ph.D.
Rabbi Donna Berman, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Charter Oak Cultural Center, an organization that presents professional multicultural arts performances and exhibits that are made accessible to the Hartford inner-city community for free or at a very low cost. Donna is known as one of the region’s most moving speakers and visionary leaders. She holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Social Ethics from Drew University.
Maryam Khan
Maryam Khan is a CT State Representative. She earned a B.S. in child psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2013 and an M.S. in special education from Central Connecticut State University. Her career experience includes working as a special education teacher with Hartford Public Schools and Albert I. Prince Technical High School. Khan served as the vice president of the Windsor Board of Education.
Rev. David Figliuzzi
Rev. David Figliuzzi is Pastor of Rocky Hill Congregational Church. Ministry is a second career for David. Feeling the call to ministry, David stepped out of his corporate career in 2019 to pursue ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. He brings to ministry his experience from roles such as Global Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Corporate Foundation Director. He has served in various settings, including a leadership role in the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ.
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.
Michael Norko, M.D., M.A.R.
Michael Norko, M.D., M.A.R., is a retreat team member at Holy Family and an emeritus professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, specializing in the intersections of psychiatry and the law. His other area of interest is the intersection of psychiatry and religion/spirituality, on which he has published multiple articles in professional journals. He holds a master’s degree in religion from Yale Divinity School and has taught a course on psychiatry, religion, and spirituality at Yale.
Derek Slap
State Senator Derek Slap was elected on February 26, 2019, to represent the 98,000 residents of the 5th State Senate District. He is Vice President of Advancement at The Village for Families and Children, one of the largest providers of mental health services in Connecticut. Derek has been a lecturer in political science at Yale University and an adjunct communications professor at Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut State, Southern Connecticut State and Eastern Connecticut State universities. In 2017 he won an “ARC Angel Award” from ARC for his advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.