News - September 2011 RSS Feed

On November 19, 2011, Cardinal Sean O’Malley will present the Bishop James Augustine Healy award to Judge Antoinette Leoney, an associate justice Of the Massachusetts District Circuit Court, who is a parishioner of St. Katharine Drexel Church in Dorchester. Judge Leoney is an inspiring example of a strong woman of faith who is very well regarded by her colleagues and fellow parishioners because of her integrity and dedicated pursuit of fairness and justice. She is an encouraging and compassionate presence to parishioners. The Bishop James Augustine Healy Award is given in honor of the legacy of the first recognized black bishop in the United States. This award is presented to an individual who has exemplified strong, effective leadership and service within the Black Catholic community.

BRIGHTON, MA (Sept. 28, 2011) — A new, Catholic college-preparatory high school will open its doors in Brighton in September 2012, advancing the traditions and strengths of Mount Saint Joseph Academy of Brighton and Trinity Catholic High School of Newton.

On September 22, 2011, the Archdiocese will host the third annual dinner in Celebration of the Priesthood at the Seaport World Trade Center. The proceeds of this event will directly benefit the Clergy Funds, which supports the health, financial and retirement benefits of the nearly 700 active and senior priests in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near, Isaiah urges us this morning. We gather here as seekers. Our life of faith is a quest. St. Paul tells us today: “conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the Gospel of Christ.”

Today, the issue of expanded gambling within the Commonwealth has once again come to the forefront of the public arena. We, the four bishops of the four dioceses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, again feel compelled to oppose the expansion of gambling in Massachusetts.

“On behalf of the Archdiocese of Boston I wish to congratulate Bishop Peter Libasci of Rockville Centre, New York, upon his being named today by Pope Benedict XVI as Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester, NH. We welcome Bishop Libasci to New England and look forward to working with him in the years ahead as he leads the Catholic faithful of New Hampshire. Bishop Libasci has demonstrated a sincere love and devotion for the Church throughout his years of parish and diocesan ministry, and we pray that his ministry will continue to be fruitful and bring many blessings to his new responsibilities as the shepherd of the Diocese of Manchester. We also offer our gratitude to Bishop John McCormack as he prepares to retire from active ministry, and we ask God’s blessings on him in his continued ministry in the Church.”

As we prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001, like many of you, I can’t help but recall how I first received the news.

From: Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, Office of Migration and Refugee Policy, Office of the Secretary of Communications To: Pastors, Diocesan Pro-Life Directors, Diocesan Social Development Directors, Diocesan Communications Directors, State Catholic Conference Directors

Attorney General Martha Coakley has today certified Initiative Petition No. 11-12, a petition in support of the so-called “Massachusetts Death with Dignity Act.” Should the petition supporters garner enough signatures of registered voters, and without legislative action, it will be placed on the Fall 2012 ballot. This Initiative Petition is a first step in Massachusetts toward legalizing physician-assisted suicide, effectively authorizing the killing of human beings prior to their natural death. The Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts stand firm in the belief that a compassionate society should work to prevent suicide, which is always a terrible tragedy, no matter what form it may take.

Memorial Mass for 1stLt. Timothy Steele of Duxbury On Sunday, September 4, 2011, a Memorial Mass will be held for 1stLt. Timothy Steele of Duxbury, who died in Kandahar, Afghanistan on August 23, 2011. The Mass will be held at 3pm at Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont Street, Duxbury, MA.