September 22, 2014 - Boston's Largest Catholic Dinner to have Record Attendance

Braintree, MA (September 22, 2014) – On September 24, 2014, the Archdiocese of Boston will host the sixth annual dinner in Celebration of the Priesthood at the Seaport World Trade Center. This year’s dinner—consistently one of the most well-attended dinner fundraisers in the city of Boston— is expected to be the largest to date, with over 1,650 anticipated guests demonstrating renewed commitment to Boston’s priests and the future of our Church.

 
The proceeds of this event directly benefit the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust, which care for the health and well-being of the 628 active and senior priests of the Archdiocese of Boston. Independent from other Archdiocesan entities, the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of men and women who are leaders in the local business community and members of the clergy. 

 
Cardinal Seán O’Malley said, “We are blessed by the generous contributions of all those who express their care for our senior priests through support of the annual Celebration of the Priesthood dinner. Generations of Catholics, as well as many people in the wider community, have found inspiration, comfort and healing through the ministry of our priests. We give thanks to God for their having responded to the call to serve Christ and the people of God.” 

 
This past year, the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust team launched a holistic wellness program under the direction of Cardinal Seán. Since that time, more than 200 clergy attended seminars that addressed the particular challenges affecting priests’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This comprehensive program is at the forefront of similar efforts being commissioned across the country, and has promising potential for replication as other U.S. dioceses seek to increase the quality of life for their priests. The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust staff continues to identify new ways to ensure that our priests achieve optimal health as they live out their priestly vocation. 

 
This year’s dinner will highlight the ministry of three Boston priests whose devout service illustrates the call for priests to serve God’s people in the footsteps of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Our priests have been there for us and our families, fulfilling the sacramental and spiritual needs of all entrusted to their care. The stories and experiences shared by these priests will provide a glimpse into the daily ministry of all priests who grow in new ways each day as they serve the unique needs of their “flock.” 

 
John Allen Jr., associate editor of the Boston Globe and preeminent journalist on all matters pertaining to the Catholic Church, is the keynote speaker. The 2014 dinner co-chairs are CEO of HP Hood and chairman of the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust, John A. Kaneb, and his wife, Ginny. 

 
On the Kanebs’ commitment to Boston’s priests and their leadership of this year’s dinner, Cardinal Seán said, “It is a tremendous gift and an honor to have two such highly-respected and deeply-committed individuals driving the success of this year’s Celebration of the Priesthood. John and Ginny’s dedication to serving Boston’s priests is self-evident in their unfailing generosity of spirit and significant contributions to the work of the Clergy Health and Retirement Trust. I am deeply grateful for their leadership, which makes a tremendous difference in our ability to care for the physical, emotional, mental, and intellectual needs of Boston’s priests, especially as they age.” 

 
Tickets for the event can be purchased for $375 each. Photos from the event will be posted and available to download at www.bostoncatholicphotos.com on Monday, September 29. For further information, please visit www.clergyfunds.org/celebration.