Volume 25, Number 2    September 2003

Working Parish Snapshot (With Liturgy and Justice for All)

Name: Our Lady Help of Christians

Location: North side of Newton, Mass., a suburb of Boston

History: Founded in 1878 and celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, the parish was founded to serve the ever-growing, mostly Irish immigrants in the late 19th century. It flourished for many years but experienced hard times in the 1980s with community change, the departure of parishioners and a loss of spiritual vitality. During the past 10 years, under the leadership of the pastor, Fr. Walter Cuenin, the place has undergone a resurrection.

Membership: approximately 12,500 parishioners, mostly white, with a substantial Italian-American presence and a sprinkling of African Americans and Latinos. More than a third of the members come from outside the area, some driving 20 or 30 miles for mass. A very diverse community, about half are working class, some are quite wealthy, many are singles, divorced or gays; there are seniors as well as young families with children.

Masses: 4 p.m. on Saturday, 8 and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. The liturgy is done with great care and high congregational participation; the hymns used are popular and sing-able and the homilies by Cuenin stress social justice and openness. Great attention is given to celebration of the Triduum, the three days before Easter Sunday. The parish motto this year is "Open Wide the Doors."

Activities and Outreach: The parish has every conceivable ministry serving all ages and interest groups. There is an active parish council and a faith and justice committee. Our Lady sponsors a small high school, Trinity Catholic, and a Catholic Charities shelter for single mothers and their children in transition. Ecumenical and interfaith relations are stressed. One Sunday Fr. Cuenin (call him Walter) used the homily time to lead the entire Sunday congregation in a show of support out of the church and down the street to a nearby synagogue, which had been defaced by graffiti. A major parish event is a yearly, three-day, Italian-inspired festival, which concludes with a parade of the Virgin's statue through the streets of Newton.

Challenge: The parish has many members affected by the priest abuse problem, since a neighboring parish (now closed) was long the home of one of the worst predators. Support groups have been active, and a committee of Our Lady parishioners became one of the seed groups for Voice of the Faithful.

Secret of Success: Almost everyone says it's Walter Cuenin, described variously as "compelling," "inspiring," "charismatic," and "liturgically skillful." Parishioners also acknowledge the contribution of the five pastoral associates who are rated as skillful and competent as the pastor.

Quote: "It's just a welcoming place. It's open to African Americans, the divorced, the handicapped, gays, non-Catholics, everyone. And that message is clear every Sunday. No one is turned away, no one is questioned about their credentials." Terry McKiernan, longtime parishioner.

Contact: www.ourladys.com
617 527-7560

 

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