MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT
Mass celebrating Cardinal Sean's 25th Anniversary as a Bishop. Joining the Cardinal for the celebration of the Eucharist, there will be over twenty Archbishops and Bishops from throughout New England, over three hundred priests, and the Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Boston who are studying at St. John’s Seminary, Blessed John XXIII Seminary, and the Redemptoris Mater House of Formation. Fr. Robert McCreary, OFM Cap., who was one of Cardinal Sean’s professors in Seminary, has been invited to preach at this Mass. Fr. McCreary is a retreat master and currently serves at Borromeo Seminary as Capuchin Formation Director. His Eminence, Methodios, Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, will be attending and will bring greetings and best wishes to Cardinal Seán on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Church.
WHEN
Thursday, September 24, 2009
TIME
1:00PM
WHERE
St. Teresa of Avila Church, 2078 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA
(The media should set up at the back of the Church, underneath the choir loft.)
INFO
In a message to the priests of the Archdiocese, Very Rev. Richard Erikson, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, noted that "as Cardinal Seán celebrates his Silver Jubilee as a Bishop, and as the Universal Church calls us all to celebrate the gift of the Priesthood during this special Year for Priests, we are grateful to God who has called us to serve Him and His Church in the priesthood."
At the end of the Mass, Bishop Robert Hennessey, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston in the Central Region, will be presenting a gift to the Cardinal on behalf of all the Priests and Bishops of the Archdiocese of Boston. The gift is a custom designed, hand crafted pastoral staff (crozier). In the “crook” of the staff is the ancient image of the shepherd, carrying the sheep on his shoulders. At the base of the crook is an image of St. Francis, the spiritual father of the Cardinal’s Capuchin order. Around the node of the staff are the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), the Annunciation of our Lady, and the Cardinal’s coat-of-arms as Archbishop of Boston, with his motto, “"QUODCUMQUE DIXERIT FACITE," which is taken from Saint John's Gospel, Chapter 2, verse 5 and comes from the Blessed Virgin's statement at the wedding feast at Cana, "Do whatever He tells you."
Later, on Thursday evening (September 24th), a unique choral performance by Gloria Dei Cantores will take place at 8:00 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. This concert of sacred music from the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches is being performed in honor of the Cardinal’s 25th Anniversary as a Bishop. Please visit http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=15400 to read about the concert announcement and to listen to a sample of two hymns we anticipate the Choir performing the evening of September 24th.