LYNN — To conclude a novena that took place in the Archdiocese of Boston from Dec. 4-12, Archbishop Richard G. Henning celebrated Mass in St. Mary’s Church with students from the school filling the pews, along with Mayor Jared C. Nicholson and Archdiocese Superintendent of Schools Eileen McLaughlin.
The novena was held in devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. Parishes throughout the Archdiocese participated in the novena, which included stops in East Boston, Haverhill, Boston, Somerville, Hingham, Brockton, and Marlborough.
“This is the first school that came to mind when we were deciding to go to a school to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe,” Archbishop Henning told students during his homily. “I’m grateful for St. Mary’s to be so alive. You give me hope and joy.”
Calling the Virgin Mary the “first and the best of the disciples” of Jesus, Archbishop Henning said she “teaches others to come to the grace of her son. Jesus gave the gift of His mother to all of us. We can be as Mary is a sign of the power of God’s love.”
Prior to the Mass, Nicholson addressed the gathering, welcoming Archbishop Henning to Lynn and offering support to him and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for their recent special message on immigration.
The mayor said the Bishops’ message was “timely, noteworthy, and admirable.”
Nicholson said the message has “special resonance here in Lynn given our large immigrant population and the important role they play in our community and our country. Unfortunately, the same ‘profiling and immigration enforcement’ that disturbed the Bishops we have seen too often inflicted on our community here in Lynn.”
The Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Daniel Zinger, pastor of St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Parish, and the two previous pastors, Rev. Brian Flynn and Msgr. Paul V. Garrity.
Archbishop Henning concluded the Mass with a custom that students have come to anticipate, the granting of a Bishop’s Day – a day off later this school year.
Amen to that.
