Tuesday was Read Across America Day, a day when many schools ask a special "guest reader" to join them to read a book to their students. This year, I was happy to serve as the guest reader for St. Mary's School in Brookline.

They chose a beautiful book, though one that I was not acquainted with, "The Selfish Giant" by Oscar Wilde. It has a nice spiritual lesson to it, and the children seemed to enjoy it very much. After the reading of the book, I had a time of questions and answers with the youngsters.

It was a wonderful event, and I was very happy to have the opportunity to visit -- at least virtually -- one of our Catholic schools, which are doing such an extraordinary job during this time of the pandemic.

Saying goodbye to Sister Nieves

Sister Nieves, who has been the superior of the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master and who has been working for so many years here in Boston, has been reassigned to Fresno, California, where the sisters have a liturgical center as well as a convent for retired sisters. So, to say goodbye, we invited her to the cathedral on Tuesday for Mass and lunch. She was accompanied by Sister Angela.

Sister Nieves has been so supportive of the clergy of the archdiocese and has been a wonderful presence at the Pastoral Center and at the Sisters' West Street Liturgical Center. Though we know her new assignment will bring her a little closer to her family in Mexicali, Mexico, we will all miss her very much and hope that she will be able to come back for a visit now and again.

Virtual meeting

This week, we had a virtual meeting with the audit committee that has conducted a study of the archdiocese's compliance with the U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It was very encouraging to hear that their audit confirmed that our parishes, schools, and agencies are taking their responsibility for safeguarding very seriously. This is important because we have to ensure that trainings, screenings, and CORI checks are being done to fulfill our commitment to make all of our parishes and schools safe places.

Funeral Mass of Father Vincent Doolan

On Wednesday morning, I went to St. Mary's in Randolph to celebrate the funeral Mass of Father Vincent Doolan, who died rather suddenly last week.

His two brothers, his sister, and many of his nephews and nieces were with us, along with a number of priests. One of his classmates, Father Joe Raeke, gave a very beautiful reflection on how Father Vinnie had lived the Beatitudes in his life as a priest. It was very moving.

It was a beautiful funeral with so many of his family members and priest friends there to bid him farewell.

Virtual evening of reflection

Later that day, I participated in a virtual evening of reflection with the different campus ministry groups in the Cleveland Archdiocese. One of the priests involved in campus ministry there is a Capuchin from my home parish in Lakewood, and he asked if I would give them a talk on evangelization and Catholic education, followed by a time of dialogue.

It was their first time holding such a gathering, but something very similar to the virtual gatherings we've been holding here that are organized by Father Eric Cadin and Father Michael Zimmerman of our Vocations Office.