Contact: Deborah Parritt
Blessed John XXIII National Seminary
Phone: 781-894-8536
[email protected]
Weston, MA -- Cardinal Seán O’Malley has announced that Rev. William B. Palardy has been named the Eighth Rector of Blessed John XXIII National Seminary. Located in Weston, Massachusetts. Blessed John XXIII remains the only national American Seminary for mature candidates administered by diocesan priests. In 2005, Fr. Palardy joined the Seminary community as Academic Dean. He will assume his new responsibilities as Rector on September 2, 2010.
“We are blessed that Fr. William Palardy has accepted our invitation to become the eighth rector of Blessed John XXIII National Seminary,” said Cardinal Seán. “He brings a wealth of experience and vision to the seminary. We are confident that he will carry on the outstanding accomplishments achieved under Bishop-elect Peter Uglietto.”
“For five years now I have had the privilege of serving as Academic Dean of this singular Seminary community. And so – relying on the competence and good will of the faculty and staff, the dedication and commitment of our seminarians, the generous spirit of the larger Blessed John XXIII community, and the grace of almighty God – I look forward to assuming my new role here as Rector,” said Father Palardy.
Bishop-Elect Peter J. Uglietto, the current Rector of Blessed John XXIII, will be ordained an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Boston on September 14, 2010. He will become Bishop of the North Region of this archdiocese, which includes 63 parishes and 22 schools.
“Please join me in congratulating Father William B. Palardy, who has been appointed the Eighth Rector of Blessed John XXIII. Fr. Palardy has been an asset in his role as Academic Dean, and we are confident he will continue the high standards of priestly formation here at the Seminary,” said Bishop-Elect Uglietto.
A 1981 graduate of Harvard University, he later earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees from Saint John’s Seminary. In 1992 Fr. Palardy received his Ph.D. in Early Christian Studies at the Catholic University of America. Having recently celebrated his 25th year as a priest, Fr. Palardy was ordained in 1985 and served as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish in Rockland, MA from 1985-1988.
Since 2005, he has served full time as a Professor of Patristic and Systematic Theology and Academic Dean, Blessed John XXIII National Seminary. From 1992-2005 Fr. Palardy was a full-time Faculty Member at St. John Seminary. Since 1989 he has assisted the parishes of Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman, Sacred Heart Parish in Middleboro and St. John Chrysostom Parish in West Roxbury. His professional affiliations include North American Patristics Society, East Coast Catholic Seminary Academic Deans’ Association and Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha of Massachusetts.
He has given presentations in parishes, diocesan conferences, and on Catholic TV on various topics in early Christian theology and spirituality, as well as having translated the sermons of St. Peter Chrysologus for publication in 2 volumes of the Fathers of the Church series.
About Blessed John XXIII National Seminary: Since its inception in 1964, almost 600 Blessed John XXIII alumni have served in more than 130 dioceses and 20 religious orders. These accomplished seminarians have already contributed to their communities through a secular profession. The diversity of life experiences shared by these mature candidates enriches both the Seminary community and their future ministries in the Church. For more information about Blessed John XXIII National Seminary please visit our website at www.blessedjohnxxiii.edu.
About the Archdiocese of Boston: The Diocese of Boston was founded on April 8, 1808 and was elevated to Archdiocese in 1875. Currently serving the needs of nearly 2 million Catholics, the Archdiocese of Boston is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community consisting of 291 parishes, across 144 communities, educating approximately 46,000 students in its Catholic schools and 156,000 in religious education classes each year, ministering to the needs of 200,000 individuals through its pastoral and social service outreach and in support of a health care ministry that meets the needs of some 1 million patients each year. Mass is celebrated in nearly twenty different languages each week. For more information, please visit www.BostonCatholic.org.