Local News

Home » Local

6/11/2021
Cardinal reinstates Mass obligation beginning June 19-20

BRAINTREE -- Fifteen months after dispensing Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston from the obligation to attend Mass because of the pandemic, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley is reinstating this core responsibility of the Catholic faithful, effective the weekend of June 19-20. This means that, with exceptions for those who are sick, homebound, or particularly vulnerable, Catholics must participate in the Mass on Sundays and holy days.
Read more
6/11/2021
Year of the Eucharist lecture explores modern changes to Mass

SOUTH END -- The Cathedral of the Holy Cross hosted author and theologian Father Peter Stravinskas on June 6, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, to share some information and insights regarding the celebration of the Eucharist.
Read more
6/11/2021
Quincy Night 4 Life to promote pro-life awareness, action

QUINCY -- The Night 4 Life, an occasion to prayerfully celebrate the gift of life and raise awareness of ways to build a culture of life, will take place on June 17 at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy.
Read more
6/11/2021
Archdiocese launches new academy with hybrid learning model

BRAINTREE -- Having learned from the experience of remote instruction and hybrid models during the coronavirus pandemic, the archdiocese's new Lumen Verum Academy intends to combine the best aspects of learning at home and in person.
Read more
6/11/2021
From Cardinal Seán's blog

You may recall that last week I was in Ohio for the funeral of the father of one of our Capuchin brothers, Brother Tommy Pilotta. On my way back to Boston, I stopped in New York to attend a small gathering of friends to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the priesthood of Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros.
Read more
6/9/2021
Cardinal O’Malley’s letter on reinstating Sunday Mass obligation

Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley issued the following letter June 9 on his decision to reinstate the Sunday Mass obligation for most parishioners on Father’s Day weekend, June 19-20. The local dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, Manchester, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine will also join Boston in reinstating the Sunday obligation on that weekend.
Read more
6/4/2021
South Boston prayer garden honors work of religious sisters

SOUTH BOSTON -- Religious sisters have served generations of South Boston residents in a variety of ways -- from caring for the poor to providing childcare, education, or healthcare. To honor their legacy and create a place of tranquility in an impoverished urban neighborhood, St. Monica Parish dedicated part of its grounds, the new Sisters Garden of Peace and Prayer, to the religious sisters of South Boston in a ceremony on May 22.
Read more
6/4/2021
St. John's Seminary confers lay formation degrees

BRIGHTON -- Graduates of St. John's Seminary's lay formation programs were joined by friends and families for the May 24 Mass and commencement held in the seminary chapel, at which they received their diplomas.
Read more
6/4/2021
Parishioners adjust to Mass without masks or distancing

NORTH READING -- After a year of wearing masks, social distancing, and following a long list of other protocols, many parishes are beginning to look a little more like they did before the coronavirus pandemic. Starting with Masses of the weekend of May 29-30, at the discretion of pastors, masks could be taken off and parishioners could sit close to each other and sing once again.
Read more
6/4/2021
Forming the Future: St. Monica School, Methuen, holds multicultural May crowning

METHUEN -- Every year, St. Monica School typically has two special events in May: they hold a multicultural celebration, and, like many other Catholic schools, they hold a May crowning to honor the Blessed Mother. This year, the school combined the two events, holding a May crowning that celebrated Marian devotions from different countries.
Read more
6/4/2021
Cardinal calls to action in support of the 'Hyde Amendment'

Below is a letter sent by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley to all pastors in the Archdiocese of Boston regarding the "Hyde Amendment" May 28. Dear Monsignor/Father: Allow me to ask for your assistance with a matter of the highest priority concerning the protection of unborn children. As Pope Francis has shared with us, every child is "a gift that changes the history of a family ... and this child needs to be welcomed, loved and cared for".
Read more
6/4/2021
Cardinal names new head of archdiocesan Review Board

The Archdiocese of Boston announced May 21 that retired Rear Adm. Daniel E. O'Toole of Plymouth has been appointed as chair of the Archdiocese of Boston Review Board. The current chair, Brother James Peterson, JD, JCD, will continue to serve as a member on the Review Board.
Read more
6/4/2021
From Cardinal Seán's blog

Last Thursday, I was happy to participate in Catholic Charities' annual Spring Celebration. Unlike other years, when we were able to gather at the John F. Kennedy Library, the Spring Celebration was held online this year and was very much focused on Catholic Charities' robust response to the crisis of food insecurity in our community.
Read more
5/28/2021
Official

Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., has announced the first priestly assignments of the priests ordained at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Cross on May 22, 2021. Ordained for the Archdiocese of Boston
Read more
5/28/2021
Cardinal ordains eight new priests

BOSTON -- When Father Robert LeBlanc, Jr. first came to St. John's Seminary, he felt "so much peace and joy" about his vocation. "That peace and joy is just one hundredfold today," he said on May 22 after being ordained a priest during a Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Read more
5/28/2021
Following state, archdiocese lifts most pandemic restrictions

BRAINTREE -- In light of the state's lifting of most pandemic-related restrictions on May 29, the archdiocese's Pandemic Response Team has released new guidelines for Masses and other areas of parish ministry, including the end of masking and social distancing for vaccinated people.
Read more
5/28/2021
Catholic Charities virtual gala highlights food insecurity

BOSTON -- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston held its annual Spring Celebration fundraiser on May 20 with a virtual program dedicated to the fight against food insecurity, a crisis that worsened significantly during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read more
5/28/2021
Ordination Class of 2021: Father Francis Godkin, FPO

BOSTON -- For Father Francis Godkin, FPO, the idea of being "an instrument of God's peace," as the Prayer of St. Francis says, has always been important -- though his understanding of what that means has changed over time.
Read more
5/28/2021
Continuing the missionary reach of St. John Seminary

With the May 22 ordination of eight priests at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, the clergy of the archdiocese added six new priests to its rolls. There were also two priests ordained by Cardinal O'Malley in that ceremony who both are sons of the Diocese of Kumbakonam in India. The Indian diocese is located in the southeastern area of the subcontinent in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Read more
5/28/2021
Archdiocese's newest priests meet some of the oldest

Read more
5/28/2021
From Cardinal Seán's blog

Last Saturday morning, we were happy to celebrate the First Communions for our children from the Cathedral Parish. Msgr. O'Leary, of course, joined me for the celebration. It is always a delight to see the youngsters proclaim the readings and petitions, and we are so grateful to the catechists who prepared these children during the pandemic.
Read more
5/21/2021
North End church hosts vaccine clinic

NORTH END -- The people lining up outside the hall attached to St. Leonard of Port Maurice Church on May 13 were not waiting to attend Mass or parish function. The sign outside the door revealed their purpose: this was a place where they could receive their coronavirus vaccine.
Read more
5/21/2021
Vocations Office launches online discernment series

BRAINTREE -- There are plenty of ways to learn about different vocations. People interested in the priesthood or religious life, or even the general idea of what it means to have a calling from God, can learn from any number of books, witness talks, and other resources. But "Scivias," a new video series written and produced by Father Michael Zimmerman, aims to provide something unique.
Read more
5/21/2021
Forming the Future: Cambridge Matignon School embraces experiential learning

CAMBRIDGE -- Experience may be the best teacher at the Cambridge Matignon School, where students employ problem-based learning and have opportunities for independent research and internships, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.
Read more
5/21/2021
Parishes to hold special collection for pandemic response in India, Brazil

BRAINTREE -- Given the "immense suffering and loss of life" in India and Brazil, caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the archdiocese is asking parishes to take up an "Emergency COVID special collection" to support Church relief efforts in those two countries. The archdiocese has suggested holding the collection during Masses of May 29-30 or June 5-6.
Read more
5/21/2021
From Cardinal Seán's blog

On Sunday, I was happy to join Ascension Parish in Sudbury for their Mother's Day morning Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church. The readings of the day centered on love, so it was a beautiful theme for Mother's Day.
Read more
5/20/2021
Archdiocese to ease COVID restrictions

The Archdiocese of Boston issued new guidelines for parishes May 20, following Gov. Charlie Baker's announcement that all pandemic restrictions in Massachusetts will be lifted as of May 29. Following is the text of the guidelines as released by the archdiocese:
Read more