Following a national search and sele ction process involving members of the wider diocese and experts in contemporary art and sculpture, Philadelphia artist Donald Lipski has been chosen to complete the pediment of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul--empty and unfinished since the original builders ran out of funds 190 years ago.

"We hoped for a proposal that would be beautiful, contemporary and bold but also harmonious with the classical design of our Greek Revival building, something that would be attractive and welcoming to visitors and that would make Episcopalians in eastern Massachusetts proud of their cathedral church," Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE and the Very Rev. John P. Streit Jr., Dean, said in a March 25 announcement.  

Read more.  Hear WBUR's "Radio Boston" feature here.

The bishops of the Diocese of Massachusetts

Bishop Gene Robinson

invite Episcopalians from across New England to march with them in B oston's Pride Day Parade on Saturday, June 9 in honor of Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire as he prepares to retire.

A reception and program will follow the parade, from 2 to 5 p.m., at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont Street) in Boston, and will include music, tributes, food and fellowship.  The event is being hosted by the cathedral church as it celebrates its 100th year as "a house of prayer for all people."

"We in the Diocese of Massachusetts have such profound respect for Gene, who by his courage and faithfulness has done so much to make our church a healthier place," Shaw said.  "We want to show Gene our gratitude for the sacrifices he's made, and we want to do it in a way that makes a strong public witness that the Episcopal Church in New England truly does welcome everyone."

Ken Brooks (calorieken@gmail.com) of St. John's Church in Jamaica Plain is coordinating the Episcopal Church parade delegation.  Check June 9 under "Events" at www.diomass.org, where parade logistics will be posted as they become available.  

 

Webcast participants will be Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori; Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies; the Rev. Gregory Straub, Executive Officer and Secretary of the General Convention; and Bishop Catherine Waynick of the Diocese of Indianapolis.  Viewers can e-mail questions to publicaffairs@episcopalchurch.org. 

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Saslav)

Bishop and clergy visit Nat'l Guard:  What started as a conversation between three diocesan clergy members abou t ways to support military service members and their families led to a March 8 visit with Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE to the Massachusetts National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in Milford. 

The visit gave the group a chance learn more about National Guard programs for service members and to discuss a range of topics:  issues faced by military families during deployment; what the military is doing to promote diversity and to prevent sexual assualt and suicide; and the need for more military chaplains.  "We need chaplains from mainline denominations," the Rev. (Lt. Col.) Paul Minor, Co-Rector of All Saints' Church in Belmont and full-time support chaplain for the Massachusetts National Guard, said.  He organized the visit with the Rev. David Sullivan, a deacon and Vietnam veteran who coordinates military outreach in the diocese, and the Very Rev. Jep Streit, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul. 

"The thing that I've learned and is heartening to me is how much the Guard cares about its people," Shaw said.  Pictured above (from left) are Col. Francis Magurn, the Rev. David Sullivan, the Very Rev. Jep Streit, Bishop Shaw, Brig. Gen. Gary Keefe, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Paul Minor, and Chaplain (Capt.) Jeremy Pickens. 

Easter Baptism at Old North Church in Boston was a feature photo in the Boston Globe, and the "mad dash for eggs" at St. Paul's Church in Newton Highlands made the Newton Tab. 

The Norwood Transcript and Bulletin featured on April 6 the stations of the cross paintings on display at Grace Church.

The Medford Transcript reported on the removal of Robert M. Durkee from the priesthood following sexual misconduct allegations, as did the Boston Globe in an April 3 story.

This March 25 story in the MetroWest Daily News tells about efforts at St. Andrew's Church in Framingham to assist immigrants with the citizenship process.

The Cape Cod Times featured the nautical heritage of St. Peter's-on-the-Canal in Buzzards Bay on March 3.

Episcopalians had a hand in the opening of the new library at the Blackstone Elementary School in Boston's South End, covered in this March 2 boston.com post.

Youth support programs in Framingham will get a boost from Episcopal City Mission's Burgess Urban Fund grant to Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope, the Framingham Tab reported on Feb. 24.

The "Ashes to Go" effort at St. Peter's Church in Beverly on Good Friday was featured in the Boston Globe on Feb. 23.

A "much-needed facelift" at Grace Church in Medford was featured in the Feb. 16 Medford Transcript.

The Brookline Tab reported on Jan. 29 on new solar panels being installed at St. Paul's Church in Brookline.