Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley ordained Father LeBlanc and five other priests for Boston, including a Franciscan of the Primitive Observance, as well as two priests for the Diocese of Kumbakonam in India.

Although smaller in size and shorter in time than past ordinations at the cathedral, this one had more people present and took more time than the previous year's ceremony, which was postponed by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and limited by restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. For this Mass, attendees wore masks, and every other pew was taped off, but a greater number of people were allowed in the building. Although the procession did not include all the priests present, dozens came to support their new brothers.

The priests ordained were Father Fernando Ayala, Father David Campo, Father Francis Godkin, FPO, Father Robert LeBlanc, Jr., Father Leonardo Moreira, and Father Kevin Pleitez for the Archdiocese of Boston; and Father Alwin Chinnappan and Father Valanarasu Williamraj for the Diocese of Kumbakonam in India.

Six days a week on busy Washington Street in Norwood, Massachusetts, Catholic barber Elias Elsayah can be found clipping hair and changing lives.

Now a barber for eight years, Elsayah converts the hearts of many with his own miraculous conversion story. From their chair at Chris and Sam’s Barber Shop, his customers have a clear view of pictures of the Image of Divine Mercy, St. Charbel Makhlouf, and St. Pio Pietrelcina, as well as multiple images of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions this weekend includes ending many restrictions at Dorchester’s Catholic churches. St. Gregory’s pastor, Rev. Jack Ahern, shared a flyer describing the “full opening protocols” for Mass attendance that will go into effect this weekend.

Cristo Rey Boston High School, a Catholic high school exclusively serving students from under-resourced communities across Greater Boston, held its annual Academic Signing Day event May 19 at the Hyatt Regency Boston.

The event, which featured special guest Cardinal Sean O’Malley, marked the end of a critical fundraising campaign, which raised over $1 million to support students, and honored three key supporters of the school: Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, Quincy Miller of Eastern Bank, and Harold E. Ebbighausen.

Calling the scope of the COVID-19 crisis in India and Brazil “enormous,” the Archdiocese of Boston plans to hold special collection efforts in May and June to support relief efforts in those countries.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley announced Wednesday that he has authorized an emergency special collection to be taken the weekends of May 29-30 or June 5-6 in all parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston.

On Thursday, the End SIJS Backlog Coalition penned a letter to top immigration officials in the federal government outlining the problem, the need to fix it, and a number of solutions. The letter was co-signed by over 100 organizations and 150 individuals that include physicians, social workers, lawyers, youth and teachers.

Catholic organizations that co-signed the letter include: Catholic Charities of Boston, Pueblo, Southern New Mexico, of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigration Legal Assistance, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Catholic Legal Services of the Archdiocese of Miami and Catholic Migration Services.

In light of the state's lifting of most pandemic-related restrictions on May 29, the archdiocese's Pandemic Response Team has released new guidelines for Masses and other areas of parish ministry, including the end of masking and social distancing for vaccinated people.

As of May 29, people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will no longer be required to wear masks or socially distance in parishes, excluding parish offices. The archdiocese noted that pastors and parishes will not be expected to ask people whether they have been vaccinated.

The Academy of Notre Dame welcomed the Most Rev. Robert Hennessey on May 13 to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension Mass and the Feast of the Beatification of St. Julie.

St. Julie Billiart is the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who sponsor the Academy of Notre Dame.

Bishop Hennessey’s visit marked the first time a bishop had celebrated Mass at NDA in more than 25 years.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston held its annual Spring Celebration fundraiser on May 20 with a virtual program dedicated to the fight against food insecurity, a crisis that worsened significantly during the coronavirus pandemic.

Catholic Charities CEO and board chair Kevin MacKenzie recalled how last year's Spring Celebration, which was also held virtually, took place just a few months into the pandemic.

One thing I learned a long time ago that all parents have in common, they love their kids and they don’t quit. Even during a disaster.

Ray Flynn is a former mayor of Boston and U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.

The people lining up outside the hall attached to St. Leonard of Port Maurice Church on May 13 were not waiting to attend Mass or parish function. The sign outside the door revealed their purpose: this was a place where they could receive their coronavirus vaccine.

Since the end of March, NEW Health has been holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics three days a week in the hall, which is managed by the St. Joseph Society.

Residents of a local nursing home and rehabilitation center and their guests now have a special place to pray and reflect. That place received a special blessing as it began accepting visitors. Penacook Place recently celebrated the opening of its new chapel with a visit by the Most Reverend Robert Hennessey, auxiliary Catholic bishop of Boston and vicar general bishop of the Merrimack Region. He blessed the chapel, a sanctuary that was created during the challenges of the pandemic.