NORTH READING -- The Church in the United States has observed October as Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October as Respect Life Sunday, since 1972. The Boston Archdiocese sponsors a Respect Life Mass each year.
Read moreCardinal Seán P. O'Malley released the following statement Oct. 11: This past August, I assembled a committee of men and women with the highest integrity and expertise to conduct a review at St. John's Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston. This review is in response to postings on the Archdiocesan Facebook page by two former seminarians stating that during their time at the seminary, they witnessed and experienced activities that are directly contrary to the moral standards and requirements of formation for the Catholic priesthood. Within days of these Facebook postings, the committee was appointed, announced publicly and preparations begun to review the culture of the St John Seminary regarding the personal standards expected and required of candidates for the priesthood, including any seminary issues of sexual harassment or other forms of intimidation or discrimination. I also committed to make available whatever resources the committee felt necessary to undertake this review.
Read moreThe archdiocese announced Oct. 10 that the members of the search committee for the next Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Boston had been named by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley. The current Superintendent, Kathy Mears, announced in July that she will leave her position in June 2019 to return to Indiana to be closer to her family.
Read more
CANTON -- How many ways can one student represent her school -- its students, programs, and culture? Eighth grader Jacqueline "Jackie" Wells has found a wide variety of ways to embody her school's culture, both metaphorically and literally.
Read more
SALEM -- Locals are all too aware that their city is considered the witchcraft capital of the world, and that October is its busiest and most lucrative season for tourism. What better time and place to hold a symposium on witchcraft, exorcisms, and the demonic?
Read more
Saturday afternoon, I went to Sacred Heart in Lynn for the celebration of their 125th anniversary. Father Brian Flynn is the pastor there, and the parish is part of the Lynn Catholic Collaborative with St. Mary's. In fact, they used the occasion of the Mass to distribute their Local Pastoral Plan for the collaborative.
Read moreBRAINTREE -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley announced in an Oct. 11 statement that he has engaged an outside law firm to conduct the inquiry into conduct and culture at St. John's Seminary as well as expand the scope of the inquiry to include all three seminaries sponsored by the Archdiocese of Boston.
Read more
WEST ROXBURY -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley ordained eight men from six parishes to the order of deacon in a ceremony at Holy Name Parish on Sept. 29, the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels.
Read more
BRAINTREE -- The organist sits down at his instrument. He's still as he waits for his cue, but when he gets it, he comes alive. The keys press down, the pedals pump, and the pipes bellow and hum and sing as the organist plays his song.
Read more
LAWRENCE -- After weeks of being limited to serving bagged meals to Lawrence's hungry residents, Cor Unum Meal Center has successfully converted to propane gas, enabling it to resume providing hot meals and dining services for the first time since the Sept. 13 explosions.
Read more
WESTON -- Over 350 friends and benefactors of Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary's came out Sept. 26 to show their support for the seminary at its 37th annual Lawn Party, held on the grounds of the seminary.
Read more
BOSTON -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley joined the parish of St. Leonard of Port Maurice in the North End for a Mass on Sept. 30 to mark the beginning of Italian Heritage Month in Massachusetts. The event was sponsored by the St. Joseph Society, which was founded by Sicilian immigrants in 1925 to promote devotion to St. Joseph, the patron saint of their hometown of Riesi, Sicily.
Read more
This week I was very pleased to take part in the V National Encuentro, which was held in Grapevine, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This, as I have mentioned, was a national gathering of Hispanic leaders from around the United States to discuss their vision and hopes for the future of Hispanic ministry in the United States.
Read more
BRAINTREE -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley will ordain eight men to the Order of Permanent Deacon at Holy Name Parish in West Roxbury on Sept. 29. Four years ago these men began their classes and their formation that will culminate in their ordination this weekend. The four-year program includes classes in theology, pastoral care, Church history and a practicum as a chaplain in local hospitals. The Permanent Diaconate Formation Program also requires two retreats a year, one with wives and one together as a class and monthly meetings on Saturday's for special speakers and topics not covered in the curriculum. The program now offers candidates the option to complete their Master's Degree in Theology after ordination with a few additional courses at The Theological Institute for New Evangelization.
Read more
BOSTON -- St. Leonard of Port Maurice Parish honored St. Pio of Pietrelcina by holding a procession with his relic and a solemn Mass on his Sept. 23 feast day. Devotion to Padre Pio has grown at St. Leonard's thanks to the efforts of two sisters, Ann D'Amore Sirignano and Natalina D'Amore Tizzano. Their families raised funds to bring a bronze statue of Padre Pio to the parish's peace garden in the early 2000s. Each June, a small statue of the saint is carried in a procession through the North End. In 2016 the heart of Padre Pio was taken throughout the United States for people to venerate, and many came to St. Leonard's when it was there.
Read more
BOSTON -- The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston's Board of Trustees announced Sept. 20 that Deborah Kincade Rambo's is planning to retire after 40 years of service to the agency's clients, including the last eight years as its president and chief executive officer.
Read more
Emmanuel College marked the opening of its 99th academic year Sept. 11, with the celebration of its Academic Convocation. Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author Bill Cummings, well known in the greater Boston community and beyond for his success in business and real estate and his commitment to philanthropy, delivered the keynote address.
Read more
WINCHESTER -- The community of St. Mary Church held a meeting Sept. 20 to discuss matters concerning the parish's finances and personnel that had been made public by a Boston Globe report a few days earlier.
Read more
This week has been an occasion to celebrate many important anniversaries in our local Catholic community. The first of these was on Friday (9/14), when I went to the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester for a Mass to commemorate their 175th anniversary... It was wonderful to be present to celebrate this important milestone of New England's oldest Catholic college.
Read more
BOSTON -- A record 1,700 people attended the 10th annual Celebration of the Priesthood dinner to raise funds for the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust and show their gratitude and support for the archdiocese's 590 priests.
Read more
LAWRENCE -- Volunteers at St. Patrick Church's Cor Unum Meal Center were serving dinner when multiple natural gas explosions and fires broke out in homes across Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover on Sept. 13.
Read more
SOUTH BOSTON -- St. Augustine Chapel and Cemetery began its year-long bicentennial celebration on the weekend of Sept. 14-16 with tours, special Masses, and a civic ceremony. The chapel and cemetery opened for tours during the morning and early afternoon of the three days. Other events took place each afternoon. On Sept. 14, these activities included evening prayer and eucharistic adoration with auxiliary Bishop John Dooher.
Read more
The Massachusetts State Council Knights of Columbus recently held its Installation of State Officers at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Canton with a Mass celebrated by the Knights of Columbus state chaplain and Boston auxiliary Bishop Robert Hennessey.
Read moreCAMBRIDGE -- Sancta Maria Nursing Facility announced Sept. 17 that it has negotiated a comprehensive operational contract with Advocate Healthcare Management that will enable Sancta Maria to remain open.
Read more
As I mentioned in my preface to last week's blog, this week and last, I have been in Rome for meetings related to the work of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and the C9 Council of Cardinals.
Read more