CHESTNUT HILL -- As at other parishes throughout the archdiocese, those preparing to enter the Church at Easter gathered at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill to participate in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion on Feb. 21, the first Sunday of Lent.
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DORCHESTER -- Cristo Rey schools have long been known for their innovative approach to make a Catholic school education affordable to low-income students. But beginning this month, Cristo Rey Boston High School is taking that commitment a step further -- by granting full-tuition scholarships to all current and incoming students.
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BRAINTREE -- The annual Catholic Appeal usually involves distributing envelopes for parishioners to take home, fill out, and bring back to church with donations. But in the time of the coronavirus, when the ministries and organizations that benefit from the appeal most need support, the collection will look different -- with more digital communication and less direct contact.
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BOSTON -- Researchers can now search hundreds of thousands of records containing detailed information about people buried in eastern Massachusetts Catholic cemeteries through a new online database, thanks to a partnership between American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society, the Archdiocese of Boston's Archive Department, and Catholic Cemetery Association (CCA).
Read moreLAWRENCE -- A four-alarm fire blazed in the rectory of Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church in the evening of Feb. 22 but was contained and prevented from reaching the attached church building.
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Last Friday, we had one of our regular meetings of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference. As always, it was an opportunity to speak about legislation and other public-policy items of interest to the Church in the Commonwealth.
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SOUTH END -- As in churches throughout the archdiocese, Ash Wednesday services at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross looked different from previous years due to protocols necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.
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BRAINTREE -- Last year, the faithful of the archdiocese had to observe Holy Week at home due to the suspension of Masses and all other parish events following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, Masses and other events and activities will be permitted, albeit not with the same grandeur as usual.
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BROOKLINE -- St. Mary of the Assumption Parish hosted a virtual seminar on Feb. 9 about the twofold issue of spiritual wellbeing and mental wellbeing, providing advice, encouragement, and practical strategies for prayer and self-care.
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This past weekend, we concluded our observance of Catholic Schools Week. We were glad that many of our schools were able to participate in different activities for Catholic Schools Week. This has been a unique year in so many respects, and we are all proud of what our Catholic schools have been able to accomplish despite all the challenges of the pandemic. We are grateful to our superintendent of schools, Tom Carroll, who has worked so hard to equip our schools and the Catholic Schools Office to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
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BRAINTREE -- Responding to an Associated Press report criticizing the Church's use of government aid during the coronavirus pandemic, the archdiocese offered clarification on how and why its affiliates used such funds.
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BOSTON -- The Planning Office for Urban Affairs marked its 50th anniversary in 2020, a time when the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic made clear the vital need for safe, stable, affordable housing.
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WORCESTER -- The College of the Holy Cross has named Vincent D. Rougeau its 33rd president, the first lay and first Black president in the history of the college. Rougeau is currently the Dean of the Boston College Law School. He was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees on Feb. 9 and was to be officially introduced to the Holy Cross community via a livestream on Thursday, Feb. 11.
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Friday was the day that we marked the 48th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade with the virtual March for Life, which was preceded by the Vigil Mass for Life the evening before at the National Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
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BOSTON -- The Cathedral of the Holy Cross hosted two televised events coinciding with the virtual March for Life on Jan. 29: a Holy Hour for Life, held in coordination with other dioceses across the country, and a Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life.
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BOSTON -- The dozens of people who marched at Boston Common on Jan. 29 to voice their opposition to abortion came prepared to face two different kinds of extreme climates: bitter temperatures and the increasingly pro-abortion political landscape.
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BRAINTREE -- The Massachusetts Catholic Conference is urging the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker to "find common ground" on sweeping climate policy legislation to ensure "a healthy future for all Massachusetts residents."
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BRAINTREE -- The archdiocese's Family Life Ministry is holding a series of online seminars and activities in honor of National Marriage Week, an opportunity to celebrate, reflect on, and strengthen marriage and family life.
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On Sunday, I went to South Boston to celebrate the dedication of St. Monica's Community Hall to Ed and Jean Shiflett. Unfortunately, Ed was in the hospital and was unable to be there, but we unveiled the plaque with Jean and the pastor, Father Peter DeFazio. I gave them rosaries from the Holy Father.
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