One of Boston's well-known priests and one with extensive service to the priests of the archdiocese, as well as to her parishes, Father Charles J. Higgins became a senior priest on Feb. 1, 2026.

He was born on July 12, 1949, in Milford, then one of the most eastern towns of the Springfield Diocese! He was one of two children of the late Charles and Mary Rita (Slavin) Higgins. He has one sister, Linda Lucier.

He was raised in St. Joseph Parish, attended local schools before going to the newly established Xavierian Brothers High School, Westwood. He was in the first graduating class, Class of 1967, and the first of several XBHS alumni to be ordained priests for the archdiocese. He spoke highly of his high school and especially the Xaverian Brothers faculty. "The education we received from the Xaverian Brothers touched all aspects of a person's life," he told The Pilot in a previously published interview.

He entered archdiocesan seminaries following high school, first to Jamaica Plain at Cardinal O'Connell, then to Brighton for philosophy at St. Clement Hall, and then across the field to St. John for theology.

Humberto Cardinal Medeiros ordained him to the priesthood at Holy Cross Cathedral on May 17, 1975. The cardinal named him associate at St. Ann, West Bridgewater; five years later, an associate at Sacred Heart, Quincy. After a sabbatical in late 1990, he was named parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Needham, serving until August 1993.

Bernard Cardinal Law named him the third pastor of St. Richard of Chichester Parish, Danvers.

The cardinal called him from Danvers to the central administration of the archdiocese, naming him, in June 1999, assistant to the secretary for ministerial personnel, as well as delegate of the archbishop; this later responsibility meant he was dealing with the clergy who were accused of abuse. He was named secretary for ministerial personnel in September 2001 and continued in both positions throughout the remainder of Cardinal Law's time and almost until the arrival of Archbishop Seán P. O'Malley, departing for a sabbatical in May 2003.

He was named administrator of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Boston's Allston section, serving there from December 2003 to June 2006, when Cardinal O'Malley appointed him pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Kingston. He was also vicar forane of Vicariate IV in the South Region (2010-2013).

Cardinal O'Malley moved him farther north up Route 3, first as administrator (2013-2015), and then as pastor (2015-2020) of two Weymouth parishes: St. Albert the Great and St. Francis Xavier. He continued serving as a vicar forane in the South Region, though now in Vicariate II.

From 1992 to 2003, and then again from 2019 to 2023, he was a member of the Clergy Personnel Board of the archdiocese, either as designee of the archbishop or ex-officio or elected. He also served on the Presbyteral Council (from 2009 to 2014).

In September 2020, he left parish administrative responsibilities behind, and became parochial vicar at both St. John Chrysostom and St. Theresa of Avila parishes in Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood.

Archbishop Richard G. Henning accepted his request for senior priest retirement status, and it became effective on Feb. 1, 2026.

Father Higgins is well known for his gregarious personality. Xavierian Brothers who taught him at XBHS said, even in high school, he was involved, active, and good natured. One Brother said that he had a job working in the Brothers' residence and readily entered into banter and back and forth with the Brothers easily and confidently.

Father Higgins told The Pilot in another interview that he was "privileged to meet and know many fine priests from his home parish to his parish and archdiocesan assignments."

Father Higgins will remain as a senior priest in residence at St. Theresa of Avila rectory, West Roxbury.