N. WEYMOUTH -- Bishop John Dooher was welcomed with open arms Dec. 30. at St. Jerome Parish, the parish that the new bishop will make his residence as bishop of the south region of the archdiocese.

A welcome sign over the front door of the rectory read, “Welcome Bishop John Dooher To Your New Home With Us. Céad Míle Fáilte” (Irish greeting for “A hundred-thousand welcomes.”)

On Holy Family Sunday, Dec. 31, the new bishop was the main celebrant along with St. Jerome’s pastor Father Thomas Wyndham, Father Charles Connolly SJ, weekend helper, Msgr. Peter Martocchio, senior priest in residence, Father Robert Jones, SVD, on sabbatical at St. Jerome’s, and the parish’s Deacon John Steuterman.

At the Liturgy of the Word, Bishop Dooher blessed the young children going downstairs for their Liturgy of the Word and as they processed down the choir sang; “Take the Word of God with you as you go.”

In his homily, the bishop spoke of the importance of family, the importance of belonging to a family and to the family of the parish and worldwide Church. He mentioned communion; our union with Jesus and with one another as the Church and the importance of living that communion every day and making a difference in the world.

Bishop Dooher greeted all the parishioners before and after each Mass of the weekend. The bishop later described his experience of the parish as warm and welcoming.