Father Hehir receives Cardinal Bernardin Award

Father J. Bryan Hehir, Secretary for Health and Social Services for the Archdiocese of Boston received the prestigious Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Award at the Philip J. Murnion Lecture, at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago on June 10.

Ordained in 1966, Father Hehir has worked for 45 years as priest in the archdiocese, including being a Professor of Religion and Public Life at Harvard University, and as president of the Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston. He is known locally, nationally, and internationally as a teacher on matters of social justice.

The Cardinal Bernardin Award is given annually to an individual whose work embodies the spirit of the Catholic Common Ground Initiative, promoting unity, dialogue and collaboration within the Church.

79 complete St. John's Seminary certificate program

At St. John's Seminary in Brighton, the Catechetical Certificate Program graduated its second class on June 3 with 79 students.

The certificate is one of three given by the seminary's Theological Institute for the New Evangelization (TINE). TINE serves the laity, permanent deacons, and professed religious with its "whole-person formation for their mission in Christ."

"The certificate gives students a taste of the joy of learning the faith, and the students' enthusiasm for it was so inspiring to me," said Dr. Angela Franks the Director of Theology Programs for TINE.

"You could really feel the Holy Spirit present," she added.

Father Christopher O'Connor, the president of TINE, celebrated Mass for the students and gave them their certificates. The graduating class was made up of 46 Boston areas students and 33 students from the Diocese of Portland, Maine.

Boston area students were taught in two sections, one in Brighton with Drs. David and Angela Franks, and the other in Braintree taught by Dr. Brian and Mrs. Janet Benestad.

New chapel dedicated at Mary Immaculate

The Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center (MIHCS) in Lawrence recently opened a new chapel named after the foundress of the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns).

The St. Marguerite Chapel has been created on the first floor of the center to be a quiet, prayerful, and accessible space for residents, staff and visitors. The new chapel replaces a second floor chapel that had been made smaller to allow space for the facilities' day room.

"This spring we embarked on a reconstruction project to build a beautiful chapel in a prominent first floor location and expand the second floor day room to full size, matching such rooms on our other five units," said Barbara E. Grant, MIHCS president and chief executive officer.

St. Anthony Shrine holds annual fair

St. Anthony Shrine in downtown Boston recently held its annual Feast of St. Anthony weekend on June 11-12. The weekend included a pasta dinner fundraiser and a ministry expo/Franciscan Street fair.

The Ministry Expo/Franciscan Street Fair was a springtime celebration geared for the whole family. Guests were able to have refreshments, enter raffles and partake in free Wellness Center screenings. The weekend coincides with the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua marked on the Church calendar on June 13.

All funds collected will help with the shrine's "Fill the Freezer and Stock the Shelves" campaign. St. Anthony Shrine is directed by the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province. The shrine is home to 16 ministries, one of the largest being the Franciscan Food Center. The center provides dry food, fresh produce, dairy products, frozen meats, and diapers to those in need.

Academy of Notre Dame holds annual golf tournament

The Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro recently hosted its 19th Annual Golf Tournament at Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover. Committee Co-Chairs Donna Acquaviva and Joe McNamee announced that $36,000 was raised for the school's technology programs and advancements.

The Academy of Notre Dame is a private Catholic school with a co-ed K-8 program and a college preparatory high school for young women. The school bases their educational philosophy on St. Julie Billiart.