Archdiocese of Boston: 1808-2008

The Early 19th Century: The Church Embattled

1808-1825: Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus – First Bishop of Boston

Diocese extends from southern Rhode Island to northern Maine
Membership – a few hundred French and Irish immigrants
No Catholic priests are in the Mass Bay Colony
Cathedral of Holy Cross at Franklin Street is founded as the first Catholic Church
1820 – Ursuline Nuns are summoned from Canada to Boston and open the first Catholic convent school serving 100 students

1825-1846: Benedict Fenwick, S.J. – a Jesuit priest, Second Bishop of Boston

Protestants react against growth of Irish Catholics
Fenwick founds The Pilot to answer Nativist attacks
1834 – Ursuline Convent in Charlestown is burned down
1836 – Broad Street Riot in Boston against Catholics

1846-1866: John Bernard Fitzpatrick – Third Bishop of Boston

Boston-born, Latin School graduate, friends with Brahmins
1846 – Irish Potato Famine causes a great influx of Irish into Boston
Fitzpatrick builds numerous churches to accommodate influx
1850-56 – The strongly anti-Catholic “Know-Nothing Movement” grows
1863 – Boston College is founded

The Late 19th Century: The Church in Transition

1866-1907: John Williams – Fourth Bishop, First Archbishop of Boston

Silent but active
Builds new Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End
Creates Catholic Seminary in Brighton
1884 – creates a formal parochial school system
Brings in Orders of teaching Nuns (e.g. Sisters of St. Joseph, Notre Dame de Namur, and others)
Organizes Catholic Charities to assist the needy

 
The Early 20th Century: The Church Militant

1907-1944: William Henry O’Connell – Fifth Bishop, Second Archbishop, and First Cardinal

1910 – Catholics make up more than 50% of the Boston population
Catholics enter politics: John F. Fitzgerald, Mayor and David I. Walsh, Governor
Emphasis on Catholic social, cultural, and religious heritage
No Catholics can enter Protestant churches or take part in ceremonies
Church puts an emphasis on parochial schools and Catholic colleges
1919 – Emmanuel College, the first Catholic women’s college, is founded
O’Connell becomes a powerful political figure in a state where an increasing number of public and political figures are Catholic

1945-1970: Richard Cushing – Sixth Bishop, Third Archbishop, Second Cardinal

Friendly, outgoing, exciting, unpretentious
Has an ecumenical approach to his Protestant “brethren”
Establishes strong ties with the Jewish community
Extends Catholicism to the elderly, disabled, and others
Is supportive of John XXIII and the idea of Vatican II
Has political influence through John F. Kennedy and others
A generally popular, active, and influential prelate – many regard his term as the “golden age” of the Church in Boston.

The Late 20th Century: The Church Conflicted

1970-1983: Humberto Medeiros – Seventh Bishop, Fourth Archbishop, Third Cardinal

Medeiros is the first non-Irish person since Cheverus to be Bishop of Boston
Demographic changes occur, with more African-Americans, Latinos, Asians joining the Church
Boston faces racial conflicts (e.g. the Busing Crisis and the Church)
The archdiocese faces critical financial problems
Fighting occurs over consequences of Vatican II
The archdiocese faces a time of growing confusion and instability

1984-2002: Bernard Law – Eighth Bishop, Fifth Archbishop, Fourth Cardinal

Has an international background, Spanish-speaking, Harvard graduate
Tensions ease, more congenial attitudes prevail
Law has good relations with Jewish community
Law strongly supports Catholic Doctrines regarding married priests, ordination of women, gay marriage, etc.
Law faces church closings, parish realignments, loss of priests, nuns, and seminarians
Discussions arise over the need for the laity to take over many pastoral services
2000-2002 - Revelations of sex-abuse scandals – resignation of Cardinal Law

2003-present: Sean O’Malley, O.F.M., Cap. –Appointed as Ninth Bishop, Sixth Archbishop of Boston, Fifth Cardinal

2003-2007 – same-sex marriage controversy in Massachusetts
Cardinal O’Malley authorizes payment of $85 million for victims of sexual abuse
Boston College purchases 85 acres of archdiocesan property in Brighton
Closings of churches and parochial schools continue
2008 – observances of the 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Boston, 1808-2008
Archbishop O’Malley elevated to rank of Cardinal