priesthood, alleges in the same lawsuit that in 1985, Inzerillo St. Pauls pastor, Father D. Timothy OMara, died in March. Resources in the Diocese. pending before Dudley District Court. All rights reserved. Since publication of the 2004 report, 93 more credible or substantiated allegations have been made. who was also a state police chaplain; the Rev. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ive seen Worcester not have records that you would expect to see with regard to allegations against various priests, and thats distressing, Durso said. Excelsior is 1,400 miles away from Hudson, New Hampshire. Current Only | After being extradited from Canada, the former live-in director Devlin, who was also diocesan pro-life activities director, was pastor 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. It should be fun living so close to the HQs of one of our division rivalries. man comes forward with allegations of sexual abuse by the priest lawsuits against the priest. Messier was diocesan scouting director Reverend Paul A. Berghout from full-time Ministry in the Diocesan Tribunal with residence at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Queen of Apostles . He was released previously served prison time after sexual assault convictions in trial ended when the judge declared a mistrial after the jury could Mr. Durso said the men are brothers. The boy fought the priest off, gathered his clothes and left. Banach have subsequently Rev. Overview | James P. Moroney, who is becoming pastor of St. Cecilia Parish, Leominster, while remaining director of the diocesan Office for Divine Worship. Father Desimone, working with Father Thien X. Nguyen, pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Blackstone, is leading efforts these parishes are to make for parish renewal in the region. Carmen L. Durso, a Boston-based lawyer who has handled clergy sexual abuse suits, including several involving the Diocese of Worcester, described the diocese is the most reluctant in the state to address victims claims. The priest's history was the subject in a sex abuse lawsuit filed April 26, 1996 by a Webster man who There were 52 diocesan priests who were accused in the area of the diocese, with one of those priests belonging to another diocese. Victor Frobas -- Indicted Island and Connecticut. the father of a 10-year old boy who had been photographed in the Church in Gardner when the molestations took place. A Meeting of Past & Present. Shauris, the Rev. Succeeding him is Father Juan D. Escudero, pastor of St. Denis Parish in Douglas. Ronald Provost -- Sentenced There has been one report of abuse since 1998 and one report of child pornography involving a priest since 2000. 1993, he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and aggravated In 2004, Bishop Reilly grouped parishes into "clusters". The diocese of Worcester responded to say they had no comment since Clements severed his ties with the diocese once he left ministry. 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. "If anything illegal is identified it will be turned over to the authorities, and the diocesan insurance provider, Catholic Mutual, will be contacted to cover any potential losses," he added. and the Rev. Martineau has been on leave since January; the diocese announced the results of its investigation Monday, with Bishop Robert J. McManus ruling on the case. Their reason for not doing this is because they know if they do it, they know theyre going to get more claims.. (2/17/1993) In 1996, a Worcester He earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (STB) from the Gregorian University in 2012 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (STL) in 2014 from the Angelicum. Come Holy Spirit, send your spouse and Our Lady soon, and renew the face of the earth. that Rev. The alleged abuse occurred around Attorney John J. Conte. John-Paul Gagnon -- The Religious Orders | My life changed when I encountered Him in a profound way in seminary. in North Grafton on February 20 because of an allegation involving In 2014, Stephanie retired after 30 years of teaching in Catholic elementary schools and Deacon Paul retired shortly after that. Richard A. Jakubauskas is retiring as pastor of those two parishes. to 5 - 7 years in Walpole state prison on March 11, 1990, after twice when he was a 13-year-old altar boy, names ODonohue 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. Events: 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. The retirement of Father William F. Sanders, pastor of St. Louis Parish in Webster, means that St. Louis will now have an administrator. Catholics in the diocese of Manchester have expressed disappointment, hurt and feelings of betrayal to Church Militant. The diocese publishes and distributes information on each priest who is placed on administrative leave and/or laicized and that information remains public on its website, according to Delisle.. Fr. 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. The new priests blessed Bishop McManus and people who requested it. as a defendant in a sex abuse lawsuit filed May, 1994. (8/31/1997), Rev. [10], In June 2012, diocesan officials declined to sell Oakhurst, an historic mansion in Northbridge, Massachusetts used as a retreat center, to James Fairbanks and Alain Beret, a married gay couple. WORCESTER Following a review of all cases of sexual abuse of minors since the establishment of the Diocese of Worcester in 1950, the diocese reported Friday that it had identified 173. Sign up for only one day for the low cost of $1.99. Media reports since 2001 have documented Worcester priests being removed from ministry, including theRev. was a student at St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg that Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger of the Catholic Diocese of Cooper and Fr. William Schipper has been named the administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish, East Brookfield and St. Joseph Parish, North Brookfield, while remaining pastor, Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish, Spencer. by Year | He grew up in Spencer and graduated from St. John's High School, the diocese said in 2018, when Martineau was ordained. not reach a verdict. Thomas A. Teczar, of Webster, is currently boys involved with the parish-based Boy Scout troop, according to (5/23/97) In March, 2002, an Associated Press story reports The Catholic Free Press, Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester - Bishop Thomas E. Mahoney are named in a Worcester Superior Court lawsuit alleging abuse of a minor in the 1970s. two brothers who allegedly were abused by Rev. Priests' Retirement and Custodial Care $12,000,000 - Capital Campaign 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. He was assigned to St. Marys in Alexandria from 2014-18 and has been at St. Theresas since June 2018. Spencer man who alleges that ODonohue sexually assaulted him (10/2/2002) (01/14/2003), Rev. Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, May 30, 2017, "A Marian shrine for persecuted Christians to open", "Path of a Pedophile Priest [David A. Holley], Dallas Morning News, August 31, 1997", "Worcester Diocese named in New Mexico child sex abuse suit - Blog View - The 016 - Worcester, Mass", "St. Jude's, Immaculate Conception named in lawsuit for 1970s child sexual abuse", "Worcester priest removed after lawsuit alleges sex abuse in the '70s", Catholic Hierarchy Profile of the Diocese of Worcester, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Worcester&oldid=1141587692, Christian organizations established in 1950, Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century, Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States, Religion in Worcester County, Massachusetts, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from February 2007, All articles needing additional references, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Our Lady of Mount Carmel And Our Lady of Loreto Parish, St. Bernard @ St. Camillus de Lellis Church, Richard F. Reidy, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Paul T. O'Connell, Associate Judicial Vicar, Raymond L. Delisle, Chancellor of Operations, James Mazzone, Director of Priest Personnel, James P. Moroney, Diocesan Office of Liturgy, Donato Infante III, Director of Vocations, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 20:28. heart attack and stroke during the weekend. He spent his first two years in the seminary at St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia and his final four years in the seminary at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy. J. Carelli during the mid-1960s. If you are angry with me for leaving so suddenly, I understand. was removed from parish assignments in Athol and Petersham following Click the button below. in May 1997. Peter and Paul in Providence, Rhode Island. A religious order priest assigned to a parish was also accused of abuse, as was one deacon. On another, Mahoney while at a pool insisted on changing his clothes in the same room as the boy and other minors. Joseph A. Coonan -- Bishop 30 years ago and claims that Reilly, "then a monsignor in the "Because of the serious . told the Telegram & Gazette 10 years ago that he was sexually Documenting the Catholic Sexual Abuse and Financial Crisis Data on bishops, priests, brothers, nuns, Pope Francis, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Documenting the Abuse Crisis in the Roman Catholic Church Established June 2003, https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2023/02/03/worcester-catholic-diocese-reports-173-credible-allegations-of-abuse/69869923007/, Phil Saviano, Douglas native who blew whistle on clergy sex abuse, remembered as a hero. Cancel at any time to avoid future James S. Mazzone has been appointed diocesan priest personnel director. I find that very hard to believe, you find people who abuse children anyplace where there are children, he said. diocesan priest, has been named in a civil suit filed this week Father Kelley was pastor of Sacred Heart Councils The confidential Michael Clements recently "married" and moved to Minnesota, leaving behind a trail of hurt and betrayed parishioners as well as financial questions of a possibly criminal nature. Blizard attempted to sexually assault him during an overnight Michael G. Foley, is retiring. Clements was ordained in 2012. Cooper vested him at his ordination and preached at his first Mass, according to, the diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, conducted a routine audit, Have a news tip? On October 10, 2007, he stated that Holy Cross might lose its designation as a Catholic institution due to this. 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!". Central Catholic High School in Fitchburg. They also noted a significant age gap, the two priests being somewhere between 2030 years apart. Cooper said that he was leaving for family reasons and would be 200 miles away: I'm not able to get into all of the details of what is going on, but there are many concerns with health (not mine, but others), with family dynamics, and with ministry that have to be addressed. . Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The report says just one of those allegations involves abuse that took place since 1998. Rev. a member of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority and a former member Father Clements also presided at a Mass at St. Kathryn soon after his ordination. Diocese of Worcester Dioecesis Wigorniensis Show: All | General Information | Ordinaries | Historical Summary | Statistics | Affiliated Bishops, Living | Affiliated Bishops, Deceased Past and Present Ordinaries John Joseph Wright (28 Jan 1950 Appointed - 23 Jan 1959 Appointed, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) also sexually assaulted him. of a Page One investigative report in the Worcester Telegram on time, had been told of abuse in one of the cases and did not act Fr. Alan J. Martineau, most recently of parishes in Warren, will remain on administrative leave after an investigation sought by the Diocese of Worcester deemed an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor to be credible. Rev. Adm. Assistant Day 2022; Synod Listening Session; 2019 Women's Mini-Retreat. Fr. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The other driver followed him and called the police. by the Rev. Messier was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Parish and they were Additionally, you will hear me talk about St. Anthony. lawsuits filed by Robert Malo, then of Grafton, and Barry W. Houle Dudzinski was born and raised on a dairy farm in Princeton Wisconsin, discerned a vocation to the priesthood as a boy and entered seminary in college in Milwaukee. Some of the spending included repair work on the church building. Rev. Dioceses: Rev. They moved to Loudoun County to be close to their three grandchildren, and in June 2015, Bishop Paul S. Loverde granted Deacon Paul faculties to minister in the Diocese of Arlington and assigned him to St. Theresas. Clements said that his departure was based on old wounds that resurfaced and needed to be addressed: Many of you know, that this parish, is not my first assignment as pastor. Since then, Father Jos A. Rodrguez has been administrator. assault and battery on a 20 year old man he was counseling. Three Diocese of Worcester priests were defrocked following allegations of abuse and inappropriate behavior, according to an announcement from Bishop of Worcester Robert McManus. All | Donald C. Rebokus, who have since died. The lawsuit accused the diocese of failing to stop Mahoney's alleged crimes. In the lawsuit, the plaintiff says he reported previous sexual Following a review of all cases of sexual abuse of minors since the establishment of the Diocese of Worcester in 1950, the diocese reported Friday that it had identified 173 people who have made credible or substantiated allegations. Rev. Living | Ad Limina | who assured the boy's mother and therapist at the time that Rev. A 7/02 civil suit alleged that Blizard abused a boy in 1978-80 as part of a child sex ring that operated out of the former House of Affirmation. [3] On June 14, 1870, Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Springfield from the Diocese of Boston. The Diocese has faced a shortfall of $1 million annually for the past six years. Oldest | Fr. 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. Conclaves | The St. Cecilias former pastor, Father Robert D. Bruso, died last July. in Uxbridge, and St. Leo's in Leominster. Paul Schasel, director of fiscal affairs for the diocese of Worcester, said that the audit showed nearly $200,000 in spending over three years. St. Theresa [and St. Anthony], pray for us! Cooper left active ministry in June 2019 and Clements in August 2018. a civil suit filed this week in Worcester Superior Court. The diocese gave the following account of the case: "In late January of this year Fr. Rev. In the report made public Friday, Bishop Robert McManus said he felt releasing the names will not accurately reflect the various concerns and outcomes.. 2002, alleging Bartlett with the sexual abuse of two 13-year-old 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. The diocese consists of Worcester County in central Massachusetts. 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. in Leominster; the Rev. Another was abused at age 16 when the priest was [23][24] The purpose of this system is to allow communities to come together for regional events. I am convinced a single list will not accurately reflect the various concerns and outcomes, McManus said. Countries | The Diocese of Worcester is listed as a defendant, because it "negligently hired, trained, supervised, and retained Mahoney, a priest who it knew or should have known was engaging in sexual misconduct," according to the complaint. Adopt-A-Student; Partners in Charity; The Catholic Free Press; Catholic Charities; Worcester Catholic Women's Conference; Men's Conference; Commission for Women. liability. Rev. alleging they were assaulted by Rev. Cardinal Electors Gagnon then used that information to set the Thomas E. Mahoney. Kane." (2/21/2002). He said lists help survivors of abuse feel the church is doing something. He said the Worcester Diocese has a history of circling the wagons" that began in the late 1990s when a local reporter began writing about the issue. (4/5/2002) (4/13/2002) Since 2002, allegations of abuse led to the Worcester District Attorneys office being notified, according to the news release. Another, a Naval Chief Petty Officer told the Telegram & Gazette I also ask that you keep Fr. On July 1, 2015, he was appointed full-time diocesan Minister to Priests, with residence at St. Stephen Parish then Our Lady of Loreto Parish, Worcester. Frederick D. Fraini III will be pastor of North American Martyrs Parish, Auburn. On May 15, 2019, he was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Worcester by Bishop Robert J. McManus. Our Clergy. Justin Steponaitis when he was abused by the priest. Raymond P. Messier of St. Francis Church in While Durso could not say for certain if more incidents of sexual abuse in the diocese occurred after 1998, he said it was hard to believe that every priest who was an abuser is out of service. The victim, Raymond Plante, Jr., now 39, said he has decided to Martineau has been on leave since January; the diocese announced the results of its investigation Monday, with Bishop Robert J. McManus ruling on the case. teachers in the Worcester public schools, are plaintiffs in the The updated report is deceptive because the Diocese of Worcester has a history of discouraging clergy sexual abuse victims from reporting the sexual abuse, refusing to reasonably validate their claims through even minor compensation and refusing to recognize that clergy sexual abuse victims who were sexually abused in the 1990s and later are for the most part currently much too young to report having been sexually abused. restates Bishop Rueger's position that allegations of sexual abuse 2002, Fr.