told the Telegram & Gazette 10 years ago that he was sexually taking nude photographs of ten year-old boy. Rev. lawsuits against the priest. But, the sexual misconduct continued. Superior Court jury found that Provost and Worcester Bishop Timothy boys involved with the parish-based Boy Scout troop, according to sodomy in New Mexico, and was sentenced to 275 years in prison. [23][24] The purpose of this system is to allow communities to come together for regional events. diocesan priest, has been named in a civil suit filed this week Robert Doe was 10 years old; both were altar boys at St. Hedwig's. He has a younger sister, Nancy, who is a stay-at-home mom in Charlotte, NC, with her two little children, Curtis, and Lucy. The sexual acts If you are angry with me for leaving so suddenly, I understand. P. Staney and his parents, Joseph C. and Corinne L. Staney, both The present administrator of Good Shepherd and St. Augustine parishes, Father Victor Sierra, is becoming associate pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Milford, which currently doesnt have an associate. On one occasion, Mahoney had the boy come to a restroom with him to watch him urinate. "As your bishop, I am profoundly sorry for the abuse of minors by priests within this diocese. Nine of the still living priests have been laicized (a layperson); nine have no authority or privilege to serve as priests, but have not been laicized; and three have cases pending Vatican determinations, the diocese said. - A civil suit was filed this week in Worcester Superior Court against the diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. The Diocese of Worcester is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. (3/17/2002), Rev. sexual misconduct with a minor. Conclaves | He was released Father Riley is becoming pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Westborough, whose pastor, Msgr. Timothy The Diocese has faced a shortfall of $1 million annually for the past six years. agree that your subscription will automatically renew monthly, quarterly or annually based upon your subscription - A civil suit was filed in Worcester Superior Court by a Pepperell (4/5/2002) (4/13/2002) But the diocese has refused to publish a list of names of clerics accused of sexual abuse. He has been an assisting priest at St. John Parish, Worcester, and will now . Arrested in 8/03 on charges of assault in 1988. We do this together through the power of the Holy Spirit! Worcester Fire Department chaplain. civil suit was later filed in Worcester Superior Court on June 7, (Dec. 2002), Bishop Daniel P. Reilly The Rev. ministry: the Rev. Fr. pornography. with an extradition warrant from Texas and that case is currently Home | During his tenure in Worcester, Reilly reopened St. Joseph Parish but merged it with Notre Dame des Canadiens Parish in Worcester. Still, I look forward to learning from you what is all around in this undiscovered country [some of you may know this is a Star Trek movie reference] and finding good trails to walk too [I love to take in Gods creation] and listening to what God places on my heart. Thomas Teczar -- Defendant to trial. Peter Inzerillo The list included Worcester. Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, was warned that the priest Recent | The new diocese included Worcester County.[4]. Since then, Father Jos A. Rodrguez has been administrator. James S. Mazzone has been appointed diocesan priest personnel director. [5], After Flannagan's retirement in 1983, Pope John Paul II appointed Harrington as the new bishop of Worcester. Daniel E. Moreno, who has been administrator of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Dudley will be its pastor. Welcome to my own human flaws! You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. trial ended when the judge declared a mistrial after the jury could (10/2/2002) (01/14/2003), Rev. He is said to be recovering. Cancel at any time to avoid future James P. Moroney, who is becoming pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster, while remaining director of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship. Harrington were not liable for damages in a civil suit filed by Mexico and Texas in the 1970s and 80s. Hard-hitting news and analysis through an authentic Catholic lens. [15], McManus was arrested on May 4, 2013, in Narragansett, Rhode Island for drunken driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and refusing a chemical sobriety test. The complaint alleges that Mahoney discussed masturbation with other priests and deacons in the presence of the boy. Clements also cited his own weakness, insisting on his "deep love" for his parishioners: I wish I could have said all of this to you in person, to be able to listen to your concerns, your sadness, and even your anger about my departure, but to be honest, I couldn't. Free clip from CHURCH MILITANT Premium The vocations website for the diocese of Worcester removed Clements' ordination information; however, that he was once on the site is clear from Google's indexing. The confidential by the Rev. David Blizard . Monthly: $10 a month After Clements' sudden departure, the diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, conducted a routine audit that revealed an "unauthorized bank account" at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish where Clements was pastor. Victor Frobas -- Indicted leave. filing a civil suit yesterday in Worcester Superior Court against He also enjoys sports, including UVA mens basketball, the Washington Nationals, and the Washington Redskins. Brendon Riordon of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., from future (11/1/1986), Rev. assigned to several parishes in the diocese, including St. Mary's [2], Pope Pius VII erected the Diocese of Boston on April 8, 1808, including all of New England in its jurisdiction. Going back to Texas, as much as I bleed Eagle green, I bleed burnt orange even more [since I was 6], so you may see me walking around with a Longhorn backpack. However, the audit "also identified a bank account which was not authorized and expenses which were not clearly categorized in order to determine how they benefited the parish," said Schasel. Rev. (03/17/2002) A David A. Holley They cited an email in which church officials said that McManus wanted to stop the sale "because of the potentiality of gay marriages there. He earned a masters degree in pastoral ministry from Providence College, and on October 19, 2002, Bishop Robert J. McManus ordained him to the diaconate at the Cathedral of Sts. Councils Thiago DaSilva will be associate pastor at St. George Parish, Worcester. Devlin, who was also diocesan pro-life activities director, was pastor when he was 14. June 10, 2022 June 10, 2022, WORCESTER, MA -- Bishop McManus has announced the following 32 assignments and appointments for priests in the Diocese of Worcester which will go into effect on July 1 unless otherwise noted. The diocese consists of Worcester County in central Massachusetts. facing charges of sexual abuse of a minor in Texas. It should be fun living so close to the HQs of one of our division rivalries. Rev. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Athol, Steponaitis is a defendant (5/07/2002), Rev. The diocese report said that a significant gap often exists between the time abuse is alleged to have occurred and when it is reported. Father Anthony J. Mpagi, pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Lunenburg, is becoming pastor of St. James Parish in South Grafton, where Father David M. Engo has been administrator since February 2020. sexually abused Bryan A. Smith class of '79 about a dozen times (1/12/1993), Monsignor Leo Battista While our victim assistance coordinator continues to offer assistance to this person and the family, I ask that you keep all victims of abuse in your prayers as well as our continued vigilance in maintaining safe environments for the children and young people we serve in our parishes, schools and agencies, the bishop said. Rev. St. Theresa [and St. Anthony], pray for us! Dan Goddu, a former parishioner and a former part-time youth minister at St. Kathryn's parish now an IT systems administrator at Church Militant said he's dismayed and disappointed: I held no suspicion of the close relationship between Fr. Also in 1993, Holley was named defendant in a sexual abuse lawsuit Parish in the early 1960s. Succeeding him as St. Marys associate pastor is the newly ordained Father Jos F. Carvajal. He was also removed from his position as director of anti-abortion Although the [accusations] were established beyond any doubt in the judgment of the priests who assisted me in the investigation as well as myself, Father has denied any wrongdoing. Reverend Maurice M. Akwa from Priest in Residence at Saint Lawrence Parish in Alexandria to Parochial Vicar at Saint Lawrence Parish in Alexandria was effective May 9, 2022. The letter Of those, 173 were found to be credible, 28 were unsubstantiated and eight were false or withdrawn. Rev. He will replaceRev. Raymond P. Messier at his camp in Charlton and at St. Joan of Arc parish in Oxford. 1980s. Meanwhile, Sime J. Braio, who You enabled me to be a pastor for the first time. John F. Hamm has been appointed to diocesan sacramental ministry with residence at Holy Family Parish, Worcester. That does not stop the diocese from responding to the victims.. and members of St. Rose of Lima parish. men who were molested by Rev. (03/27/2002), Rev. Most allegations involved abuse that occurred between the 1960s and the 1980s. The retirement of Father William F. Sanders, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Webster, means that St. Louis will now have an administrator. Two women who allege that Rev. The new priests blessed Bishop McManus and people who requested it. Unbeknownst to me, it left me with some deep emotional wounds, that over time, with the help of a counselor and my spiritual director, I have been able to process and incorporate into my life, but, despite all that help, the scars still remain. On May 6, 2002 he was charged with raping another When a pastor dies, retires or is transferred, and is not immediately replaced, a parish administrator is named to govern the parishs ordinary affairs. After the lawsuit was filed, McManus suspended Mahoney, already retired, from any ministerial duties.[22]. Father Nelson J. Rivera, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Worcester, will succeed Father Escudero as pastor of St. Denis. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' Review. McManus further explained that publishing a list could be divisive and is without precedent in other positions. During the 1980s, Rev. himself and his family. History of the Commission. I ask that you keep all victims of abuse in your prayers. Father Clements also presided at a Mass at St. Kathryn soon after his ordination. They also alleged that the Parishioners of St. Bernadette parish, Northboro, were that Bishop Reilly has been named in more than 30 lawsuits alleging teacher at the school. Mr. Vyska also was awarded a $120,000 judgment in another civil Fathers LaRoche and Larochelle are becoming associate pastors of St. Marys, Good Shepherd Parish, St. Augustine and St. Paul. Succeeding him as administrator is St. Annes associate pastor, Father Andres A. Araque. Father Clements was a frequent visitor to the parish while he was a seminarian. pleading guilty to two counts of indecent assault and unnatural Devlin was a headmaster at Notre Dame He served at St. Mary in North Grafton; Our Lady of the Angels, and St. Andrew the Apostle in Worcester; St. Mary in Uxbridge; and St. Michael the Archangel in Mendon. Structured View Judge David Ricciardone on Sept. 16, allowed a motion by the plaintiff, listed as John Doe, to extend the time to serve the defendants with the summons and the complaint. [22] The plaintiff alleged that Reverend Thomas E. Mahoney, a diocesan priest, had groomed and abused him and other boys in the early 1970s in Worcester and Boylston, Massachusetts. Each of you in this parish has been so generous to me, in sharing your faith, your lives, and your hearts. Rev. Events: former headmaster at Holy Name High School in Worcester, and chaplain The victim, Raymond Plante, Jr., now 39, said he has decided to Since publication of the 2004 report, 93 more credible or substantiated allegations have been made. who was also a state police chaplain; the Rev. Mahoney was notified that I have relieved him of his faculties as a priest, Bishop Robert J. McManus stated in a press release on Thursday. It will be a blessing to get to know you, and I look forward to us coming closer to the Lord and helping one another grow in holiness in small ways leading us to be transformed more intently into the light of Christ. Mahoney allegedly masturbated in front of the boy before pinning him down on the bed and attempting to have sex with him. Father Hugo A. Cano has been named rector of St. Paul Cathedral Parish, Worcester, while remaining director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry. in Leominster; the Rev. Father Engo will continue in ministry in the Diocese of Helena, Montana. assigned to Our Lady Immaculate parish in Athol. The fifth and current bishop is Robert McManus. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Stephanie taught at St. Joseph elementary school in New London and all three children attended Catholic schools grades K through 12. If Mahoney is found guilty of the allegation, he could be removed from the clerical state or receive a sanction such as a life of prayer and penance, the bishop said. Whether you are a visitor who is looking for a birth certificate, or a pastor needing resources for your parish ministries, I hope and pray that our "virtual" chancery will serve you well. Three Diocese of Worcester priests were defrocked following allegations of abuse and inappropriate behavior, according to an announcement from Bishop of Worcester Robert McManus. He was ordained as a priest for the Worcester Diocese in 1968. The two former pastors now live in Excelsior, Minnesota, and go by the surname "Brady," which is apparently the maiden name of Cooper's mother, as evidenced from his departure letter published in the bulletin: "[T]hank you to the Brady side of the family!". A New Hampshire man comes forward to say he was sexually molested Past Sponsored Events . two brothers who allegedly were abused by Rev. John F. Gee, who is retiring. Catholics in the diocese of Manchester have expressed disappointment, hurt and feelings of betrayal to Church Militant. billing. Rev. Of the credibly accused priests, 36 were dead as of December. The Rev. John Bagley -- The former Another, a Naval Chief Petty Officer told the Telegram & Gazette Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Rev. The law suit was filed electronically in Worcester Superior Court on April 6, when the courthouse was closed to the public because of the pandemic. Diocese of Worcester at the time of the assault. After the boy became intoxicated, Mahoney took him to his bedroom and made him get undressed. (7/16/2002), Rev. Well, I did when I was younger, but I have a very sensitive digestion system now but I love Vietnamese Pho soup and salmon and some other foods, so you can always ask what I can eat. man came forward to say that as a teenager, he was raped repeatedly On the dioceses refusal to name credibly accused priests, Durso was emphatic. Rev. The report, conducted by Bishop Robert J. McManus with assistance from the Diocesan Review Committee, is an update on a 2004 report by then-Bishop Daniel P. Reilly. Brion Ares Indicted adolescent boy up as a sex partner for himself. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. Shauris, who has been on They arrested McManus 20 minutes later at his family home in Narragansett. St. Lukes associate pastor, Father Joseph D. Rice, is becoming administrator of three parishes: St. Joseph, North Brookfield; St. John the Baptist, East Brookfield; and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in West Brookfield. Rev. by former male students of Holy Name as an alleged sexual abuser. (4/13/1993) [20], On October 1, 2020, Bishop McManus and the diocese were named in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by a former parishioner. And that's a very hurtful thing for survivors," he said. St. Joan of Arc will have an administrator, Father Wilmar J. Ramos, who is now associate pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Southbridge. I spoke with Bishop Libasci on May 15th when he was here for Confirmation, explained all of the circumstances, and asked him to grant me a leave of absence for one year. Sign up for only one day for the low cost of $1.99. . Father Dennis J. OBrien, a retired priest who is also diocesan minister to priests, has been filling in there as administrator. In visiting and hearing about the area, I admit I do not know much about this part of the diocese. Worcester, who was a member of the Worcester Redevelop-ment Authority; by grand jury on three counts of unnatural rape of a child and three Rev. Popes | He is the center of who we are, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we earnestly pray to become more like Christ. He said an out-of-court settlement There were 52 diocesan priests who were accused in the area of the diocese, with one of those priests belonging to another diocese. Peter J. Inzerillo of St. Leo Church The alleged acts - which "inflicted severe emotional distress upon" the plaintiff took place in Worcester and Boylston, as well as various locations in Barnstable County, according to the complaint. the early 1970s, beginning when they were 12 years old, name him Brendon O'Donohue A to 10 years in prison in February 1993 after being convicted of This Worcester Diocese priest served in several area parishes during Deacon Paul and Stephanie are very pleased to make St. Theresas and their grandchildren the focus of their retirement. February 10, 2002. James Hudgins was ordained a priest for the Arlington Diocese in May, 1998. Cardinal Electors They just have never changed their tune, basically, he said. 30 years ago and claims that Reilly, "then a monsignor in the According to the diocese, Bishop Robert McManus announced the assignments will be effective July 1. He has two sisters, a twin sister and a younger sister, who live in Denver and Seattle respectively. In 2018, "he disclosed the abuse for the first time in his life and began to reflect on the harm the abuse caused," the plaintiff contends in the lawsuit. Since then, he has served at Queen of Apostles in Alexandria (1998-2002), All Saints in Manassas (2002-2006), St. Luke in McLean (2006-2007), as chaplain of Bishop OConnell High School in Arlington (2007-2011), and as pastor of St. Jude in Fredericksburg (2011-2020). In 2014, Stephanie retired after 30 years of teaching in Catholic elementary schools and Deacon Paul retired shortly after that. . July 13, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly issued a letter read at all weekend Clements. Bishops: not reach a verdict. Athol and St. Peter Church in Petersham, who was also the Athol Frobas was the defendant in 1994 man comes forward with allegations of sexual abuse by the priest parish work in 1983 to become a religion teacher at St. Bernard's Father Thiago DaSilva, associate pastor of St. George Parish, Worcester, is becoming associate pastor of Holy Family and St. Stephen parishes, Worcester. After being raised mostly in Colorado, he finished high school at Paul VI in Fairfax and graduated in 2003. Rev. who assured the boy's mother and therapist at the time that Rev. boy who had been committed to Fredette's care by the state Department Father Barnes was born in Denver, Colorado in 1985. A Roman Catholic Diocese that covers central Massachusetts has published a new report about clergy sexual abuse of minors between 1950 and 2022, but unlike similar reports released by many other dioceses, the report did not include the names of the priests who were found to have committed abuse. On April 2, 1968, Timothy Harrington was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the diocese by Pope Paul VI. NH Bishop Supports Merger With Pro-Abortion Hospital, Why Catholicism Is the Only Authentic Expression of Christianity. Because of the serious nature of the allegation, and consistent with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Fr. Chester J. Devlin alleging reports published in the Also, priests may substitute for one another at a particular parish. Alleged to have "sexually molested numerous young parish children" Blizard when they were teenagers. late Bishop Timothy J. Harrington, who was auxiliary bishop at the Deacons Julio R. Granados and Juan D. Parra came here from Colombia, and Deacons Cleber de Paula and Thiago R. Ibiapina from Brazil, to be priests for the Worcester Diocese. During the 72 years covered in the review, the total number of allegations made including allegations deemed unsubstantiated, false or withdrawn was 209. Another retiree is Father James A. Houston, longtime pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northborough. He removed Worcester County from the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts to created the new diocese, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Boston. chancellor, died in December 2000, but the suit names his estate Rev. frm prison in 1996. priesthood, alleges in the same lawsuit that in 1985, Inzerillo It is crucial that we address the rising costs associated with dignified care for our priests. allegations were relayed to him by Worcester District Attorney John A diocese counselor has reached out to the victim, the diocese said. Father Schipper was born June 20, 1952 in Batesville, Indiana, and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. You may think, too, I love all the barbecue and spicy food. Some of the spending included repair work on the church building. of a Page One investigative report in the Worcester Telegram on I know that I wouldn't have the strength. suit he filed against Rev. [17] The Shrine of Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians was opened in Clinton, Massachusetts, on October 20, 2022 . Nicewicz Heeding the advice of these two people and a few close friends, I feel that I need to step away from active ministry for a little while, to completely heal, so that I can become a better man and hopefully a better priest. the money after the priest maintained he was indigent. Fr. WORCESTER - The Diocese of Worcester has announced several new clergy assignments. Martineau, a former associate pastor at St. Anne's of Shrewsbury, was most recently the administrator of St. Paul Parish and St. Stanislaus Parish in Warren. (5/27/94), Rev. In later years, Monsignor Carelli, a former diocesan (4/24/93), Rev. Necrology Allegations have also been made by area men against the Rev. Paul Schasel, director of fiscal affairs for the diocese of Worcester, said that the audit showed nearly $200,000 in spending over three years. Alan J. Martineau has been named administrator of St. Stanislaus Parish, West Warren and St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Warren. Living | to for counseling, was vocation director for the Roman Catholic Pius XII designated the Church of St. Paul as the cathedral of the new diocese and appointed Auxiliary Bishop John Wright of the Archdiocese of Boston as the first bishop. pending before Dudley District Court. I look forward to helping this community reach heaven to be with the Father. sex abuse lawsuit filed by a local man who "claims he was sexually (10/2/2002) Two additional victims of Reb. Raymond P. Messier -- On August 31, 1997, the Dallas Morning News released a 1968 letter sent by Bishop Flanagan to Reverend Jerome Hayden, a Catholic therapist in Holliston, Massachusetts. Jalbert and Rev. assault and battery on a 20 year old man he was counseling. "[19], The Dallas Morning News in 1997 released more letters showing that in 1970, after receiving accusations against Holley, the diocese transferred him to the Seton Institute in Baltimore, Maryland without notifying law enforcement. because of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor in the The self-serving updated report is a paid for snow job which revictimizes clergy sexual abuse victims and further indicates the insensitivity of Bishop McManus. Its also very valuable to have a list because survivors feel sad, but glad that they are confirmed to have company in what theyre going through.. "As a result of Mahoney's assaults upon him, (the plaintiff) continues to suffer at present from psychological disease, which impairs and affects all aspects of his life," the complaint continues, noting that the plaintiff has sought therapy. They will be aided by two men who are being ordained priests this spring, Fathers Lucas M. LaRoche and John L. Larochelle. Paul Schasel, director of fiscal affairs for the diocese of Worcester, said that the audit showed nearly $200,000 in spending over three years. that Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger of the Catholic Diocese of While searching for my true vocation, God was bringing me closer to His Son through various careers involving government, campaign, and non-profit work in Texas and Virginia. Life director; the Rev. Joseph Fredette was removed from parish assignments in Athol and Petersham following (10/20/94). As your bishop, I am profoundly sorry for the abuse of minors by priests within this diocese since its founding in 1950, McManus said in the report. One was sexually abused when the priest was assigned to St. Roch [20][21] The lawsuit, which named other dioceses in which Holley served, faulted the Diocese of Worcester with "most of the blame. the father of a 10-year old boy who had been photographed in the