News - December 2012 RSS Feed

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect from noon today to 7 a.m. EST Sunday. The storm will bring a large swath of 3 to 6 inches of snowfall to southern New England, with an area of 7 to 9 inches across portions of Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts.

Braintree, MA – Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has conferred the Title of Prelate of Honor on the Very Reverend Arthur M. Coyle, V. E.

Cardinal Sean's Christmas message (recorded for Vatican Radio) "On a starry night on a hillside outside of Bethlehem, choirs of angels shared the Good News of Jesus’ birth with shepherds tending their flocks.  This was the first time that the message of God having come into the world in the person of Jesus was shared with anyone.  Luke’s Gospel tells us that the shepherds went in haste and found Mary, Joseph and the infant.  The shepherds then shared the news of that discovery with the people of the surrounding area, all of who were amazed to learn that the promise of the Messiah had been fulfilled, and went forth giving praise and glory to God.

Braintree, MA (December 22, 2012) – Today, Pope Benedict XVI announced the appointment of Rev. Robert W. Oliver, S.T.D., J.C.D. as Promoter of Justice for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the central offices of the Holy See which is located in Vatican City State in Rome.  Fr. Oliver currently serves as Assistant to the Moderator of the Curia for Canonical Affairs and is a Visiting Professor of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C..  

December 24, 2012 (Christmas Eve) 11:30 AM Cardinal Seán to visit Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA.

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday.   In a very special way we are offering this Mass in solidarity with those families who lost loved ones in the massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that claimed 28 lives.  The 20 children killed were first graders.  The whole country has been shaken by this tragic event.  Each year during Christmas season we commemorate the slaughter of the innocents described in the Gospel of St. Matthew that recounts how King Herod ordered that the children of Bethlehem be slain in an attempt to eliminate any future rival for his throne.  The story harkens back to a similar event in the Old Testament where the Pharaoh has ordered the execution of all the male Hebrew babies.

The CatholicTV Network dedicated a special program to praying for and honoring the victims and families, the teachers and children of the recent and terrible tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut on December 18, 2012. Join Father Reed, Jay Fadden, Kevin Nelson and the entire CatholicTV family for this prayerful tribute: http://youtu.be/uXH7_BFLSrE

One Flame Lights the Way... Join your friends and neighbors for a Candlelight Vigil for victims in the Newtown, CT shooting Monday, December 17th

Cardinal Seán To Offer Mass and will Speak on Newtown, CT Tragedy during Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.  The Cardinal will speak on the tragedy during his Homily and also be available for a brief media availability after the Mass near the Cathedral ChapelThis was a previously planned Mass

Cardinal Seán’s statement: "As I returned from Rome this afternoon I learned of the tragic events that unfolded in Newtown, Connecticut today.  There are no words that can adequately express what the children and families at Sandy Hook Elementary School experienced and the shock and grief that have befallen the Newtown community and our nation. As people of faith we denounce and abhor violence of any kind. 

Seán Cardinal O’Malley, OFM, Cap., Archbishop of Boston Very Rev. Kevin J. O’Leary, VF, Rector Christmas Eve – Monday 24 December