BOSTON -- The restoration of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross continues on schedule, according to Michael Kieloch, the cathedral's director of communications. The goal is to complete the project by Palm Sunday in 2019, so the building can be used during Holy Week.
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NORWOOD -- Four generations of women, some accompanied by their husbands and children, gathered at Four Points by Sheraton on Dec. 8 for the annual Women Affirming Life Mass and Breakfast. The theme for this year's Mass was "Mary in Advent: Model for All Women Affirming Life." The celebrant was Father David Pignato, director of human formation at St. John's Seminary.
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HINGHAM -- This year, the juniors at Notre Dame Academy had a new set of class options: they could take subjects offered in the two-year format of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a rigorous European curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
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BOSTON -- On Dec. 5, Christmas came a little early for students and faculty at Immaculate Conception (IC) School in Revere. These members of the IC School community were given the opportunity to attend "A Company Christmas at Pops," an evening featuring dinner at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, fun activities, a visit from Santa Claus and a raffle, all followed by a concert at Symphony Hall.
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On Friday, I went to the IBEW Hall in Dorchester for the Labor Guild's annual Cushing-Gavin Awards Dinner. We are proud of the work that has been done by the Labor Guild, which is one of the initiatives begun by Cardinal Cushing. Historically, the Church in the United States, since the time of Cardinal James Gibbons, has been very supportive of our labor unions and the right of workers to collective bargaining. In these days of apparent prosperity in our country, income inequality continues to grow. Part of this is because workers do not have a strong voice in their economic future -- this is where unions play an important role.
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BRIGHTON -- Nearly 70 members of the Boston Area Order of Malta gathered together to celebrate Advent on Dec. 1 at St. John's Seminary. The annual gathering began with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley.
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MALDEN -- Malden Catholic High School's annual Mass for the feast of St. Francis Xavier on Dec. 3 was followed by recognition of faculty anniversaries, the presentation of an award, and the announcement of a gift from one of the school's most distinguished alumni and benefactors.
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Congratulations to the following schools: -- Xaverian, Westwood; Catholic Conference Title -- Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury; Division 1/South title -- St. Mary, Lynn; Division 7/North title -- Pope John, Everett; Division 8/North title and Catholic Central Small title
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LAWRENCE -- Over 1,400 Central Catholic High School students, faculty, alumni, board members and other honored guests recently enjoyed a visit from Cardinal Seán O'Malley as he presided over a Mass at Central Catholic on Nov. 26.
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On Saturday, I went to the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Brookline to celebrate the rite of candidacy of two seminarians. We celebrated the vigil Mass of Christ the King, in which Eric Gonzalez and Fernando Vivas were admitted to candidacy.
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MALDEN -- Continuing a 10-year tradition, Cardinal Seán O'Malley presented the Cheverus Award Medal to 125 laypersons, deacons, and religious during a prayer service on Nov. 25, the feast of Christ the King, at Immaculate Conception Church in Malden.
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BRAINTREE -- As part of Discover Today's Catholic Schools Week, the Catholic Schools Office held a contest inviting students in the Boston archdiocese to express their relationship with Jesus through art or writing. Thirteen students from kindergarten through grade eight were selected as winners and honored at an award ceremony at the Pastoral Center Nov. 16.
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QUINCY -- To the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In," children from St. John the Baptist Church sang, "We give you thanks for all you do. You're like our saints, and we love you. We give you thanks for all you do" to dozens of Quincy first responders.
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MALDEN -- Construction of a new playground at Cheverus School is almost complete, thanks to the combined efforts of faculty, students, parent volunteers, and the local community. According to Cheverus principal, Tom Arria, the idea for the playground stemmed from a recent increase in enrollment in their preschool and kindergarten classes. He said five years ago there were only 17 three and four-year-olds enrolled, whereas now there are 45 three-year-olds and 72 four-year-olds.
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In the United States, one of the most beautiful national celebrations that we observe is Thanksgiving. This holiday recalls the early pilgrims who arrived in New England and, after surviving the ravages of winter with the help of the local indigenous communities, had a great celebration to give thanks to God for their freedom and the abundance of land.
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NORWOOD -- The Bishop James Augustine Healy Award Dinner, sponsored by the Black Catholic Ministries of the Archdiocese of Boston, celebrated its 25th year, Nov. 17 at Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood.
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On Saturday evening, Nov. 17, the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization of St. John's Seminary hosted its 14th annual All Souls Memorial Concert in the chapel at St. John's Seminary, where performers and attendees lovingly remembered their departed family and friends.
Read moreBRAINTREE -- Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley will present 125 Cheverus Award Medals to laypersons, deacons, and religious during a 2 p.m. daytime prayer service, Sunday, Nov. 25 at Immaculate Conception Church in Malden.
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By the end of November 2018, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of the Province of St. Louise will end their ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston. The Daughters of Charity were first missioned to Boston in 1832 to assume sponsorship of St. Aloysius Day School founded by Bishop Fenwick in Cambridge. During the 1832 cholera epidemic, sisters serving at the school cared for orphaned children and established St. Vincent's Home for Girls. Through the years, the Sisters ministered in many different works -- among them are St. Vincent's Home for Girls in Cambridge; Carney Hospital in South Boston; Temporary Home for the Destitute Catholic Children of Boston that later was known as Home for Catholic Children, then opened in 1953 in Jamaica Plain as Nazareth Child Care Center; St. Mary School in Dedham; St. John Hospital in Lowell; Catherine Laboure School of Nursing; St. Mary Asylum and St. Margaret Hospital in Dorchester; St. Mary School in Franklin; Columbus Day Nursery in South Boston; St. John of God Hospital; and St. Joseph School and Parish in Holbrook.
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On Friday, we had the 10th anniversary of the Yawkey Foundation Teacher Awards, which recognizes exemplary educators at Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester. It was wonderful to realize how many of the teachers have dedicated much of their careers to teaching at Catholic schools. For some, it is truly a lifetime commitment that has a deep sense of mission. We are so grateful that the Yawkey Foundation sponsors these recognitions because they are well deserved.
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BOSTON -- The 10th annual Social Justice Convocation held Nov. 17 at Boston College High School included keynote speakers, a panel discussion, networking breaks, and an announcement from Cardinal Seán O'Malley about the creation of a new Archdiocesan Social Justice Ministry.
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In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston partnered with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley to help distribute over 7,000 Thanksgiving meals, including turkey and the fixings, to families in need throughout Boston and the surrounding communities. Catholic Charities is the largest partner in United Way's effort to distribute meals to more than 16 local communities through their annual Thanksgiving Project.
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