Religion

A procession in Roslindale

adamg — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:58:21 +0000

Church march.

Dave Atkins watched members of St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church hold its Great and Holy Friday Procession of the Holy Sepulcher tonight from the church to Fallon Field.

Why is this Crumbs cupcake place different from all other Crumbs cupcake places?

adamg — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:09:39 +0000

Observant Jews who might be jonesing for some serious cupcake action after Passover will have to avoid the new Crumbs on Federal Street - it's the only Crumbs that isn't kosher.

Artist explains decision to go with a nautilus design for the front of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul

adamg — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:29:47 +0000

Donald Lipski jumps into the discussion about his pediment design for the Episcopal church on Tremont Street.

Tremont Street cathedral to get new look

adamg — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:55:08 +0000

Capt. Nemo would appreciate this rendering.

To cap off major renovations, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul is getting a new design for its long vacant pediment: A nautilus shell, which will be lit at night.

The design, by Philadelphia artist Donald Lipski, is scheduled for completion by Oct. 7 - the 100th anniversary of the church's dedication as a cathedral (it opened as a church in 1818). A panel at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design selected Lipski's design:

The Diocese hoped to identify an artist capable of expressing the mission of the church and its contemporary role as a welcoming institution for all without relying on traditional iconography. "Lipski's beautiful and visionary proposal is utterly consistent with St. Paul's longstanding ministry to invite people into the mystery of Christ and echoes Jesus' invitation to followers to 'come and see,' " said The Very Reverend John P. Streit, Jr., Dean.

At night.

Judge: Government can't hire Catholic charity to aid sex slaves because it prohibits referrals for abortions, contraception

adamg — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:49:33 +0000

A federal judge in Boston yesterday ruled a federal contract with a Catholic charity to administer a program to aid people brought here as prostitutes violates the First Amendment because the charity ordered subcontractors not to refer victims for abortions or birth control.

Church files bankruptcy to stave off foreclosure

adamg — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:00:08 +0000

The Charles Street AME Church filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last night as a way to keep OneUnited Bank from holding a foreclosure auction on the church steps tomorrow.

In the filing, church pastor (and School Committee chairman) Gregory Groover accused the bank of aggressively going after the church - refusing to even talk to some benefactors who pledged to buy the loan in 2010 - because of its own financial problems. He recounted what happened after Steve Pagliuca and others made their offer:

The Bank reacted very unexpectedly. They did not even try to negotiate. Rather, within two hours of the end of the phone call, they sent me a one-page letter stating that they would not entertain any offers of less than full payment, and demanding that the Church immediately affirm that it would promptly pay the loan in full or else the Bank would immediately sue to collect. The Church did not have any such funds to pay the loan in full.

Hundreds rally to save Roxbury church

adamg — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:52:38 +0000

The Globe reports on a protest last night to save the Charles Street AME church from foreclosure.

Hey, Jewish singles: May the Schwartz be with you

adamg — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:30:50 +0000

Specifically, Rabbi Mayshe Schwartz, the matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch of JBoston.com, which instead of a series of algorithms, uses Schwartz's matchmaking skills to match up compatible people of the book. As the Washington Post quotes him:

We believe in Jews meeting Jews and having more Jews.

Despite mostly being run by people associated with the Orthodox Chabad, the J sites feature a splash page with two people who, I should be forgiven for saying so, could pass as goyische.

JP monk discusses the ultimate punk rocker: Jesus Christ

adamg — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:14:11 +0000

The Jamaica Plain Gazette reports:

Sammons, who often traverses the neighborhood dressed in his brown cloth habit tied with a cord, writes about the religious life in a blog called “A Minor Friar” (friarminor.blogspot.com). His posts range from scholarly commentary on Catholic theology to the perils of walking across the Arborway.

Mixed in are plentiful references to the likes of horror-punkers the Misfits and diabolical thrashers Slayer. The music may seem surprising—and certainly is to some of Sammons' peers. But the metal and punk subcultures brought Sammons a key realization: "the given thing, the given taste, is not what you really want."

Bus driver tells street preacher to stick to the street and stay off his bus

adamg — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:45:05 +0000

Video of confrontation between the driver of a 101 bus out of Sullivan and the preacher who refused to shut up.

Jamaica Plain: Shofar, sho good

adamg — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:48:43 +0000

A Jewish tradition holds you should blow a shofar every day of the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. David Levy provides a Boston interpretation by doing it all over Boston, here in Jamaica Plain (more from the Shofar across Boston tour).

Tower at new Old South not as old as rest of new Old South

adamg — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:20:21 +0000

Old South tower reconstruction, 1937.

By 1932, the tower at what was then called New Old South Church in Copley Square was leaning so much the church had to tear it down for fear it would topple over. Construction began in 1937 on a replica replacement that, so far, has not become a leaning tower of Boston atop the original 1875 church.

Leslie Jones photographed both the demolition of the old tower and the construction of the new one - here in a shot from the Lenox Hotel. More photos, in the BPL's Boston churches collection.

Posted under this Creative Commons license.

Old salt at Fishermen's Feast

adamg — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:25:52 +0000

OK, maybe he's really a stockbroker or teacher or something, but this guy photographed by Jeff Tamagini this past weekend at the Fishermen's Feast in the North End sure looked like he could jump into a dorry and haul some traps up.

Of course, what would a feast be without food? Photographynatalia also attended the feast:

The annual blessing of the fishing waters at Christopher Columbus Park

adamg — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:03:48 +0000

NorthendWaterfront.com provides the video of the start of the Fisherman's Feast. Although there aren't any fishing boats there anymore, there used to be.

Roslindale priest put on leave as archdiocese investigates sexual-abuse allegation

adamg — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:49:41 +0000

The Archdiocese of Boston said today it has put Rev. John M. Mendicoa of Sacred Heart Parish on leave after receiving an allegation of sexual abuse of a child in the 1980s:

The Archdiocese immediately notified law enforcement of the allegation and has initiated a preliminary investigation into the complaint. Fr. Mendicoa will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the preliminary investigation. The decision to place Fr. Mendicoa on administrative leave represents the Archdiocese's commitment to the safety of all parties and does not represent a determination of Fr. Mendicoa's guilt or innocence as it pertains to this allegation. The Archdiocese will work to resolve this case as expeditiously as possible and in a manner that is fair to all parties.