FATHER ED DOUGHTY INSTALLED AS PASTOR
Randolph Parish Embraces New Pastor
Sunday, October 12, 2003
by Richard Ruel
Father Ed Doughty, warmly regarded by all of us here at St. Jerome, was installed as Pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Randolph in a concelebrated Mass headed by Archbishop Sean Patrick O'Malley, the new Archbishop of Boston. After being proclaimed pastor by the Archbishop, Father Ed received a rousing standing ovation from the congregation. The Archbishop, showing a wonderful sense of humor, quipped, "Does that mean you don't want him?"
St. Jerome was well represented in a standing-room-only crowd, more typical of Christmas Eve or Easter morning. Father Thomas Wyndham, our pastor, and Msgr. Peter Martocchio, were among the concelebrants. Father Ed acted like the proud pastor of a congregation that enthusiastically embraced him as their new leader. Several St. Jerome Parishioners were impressed with the church and its parishioners and commented on the excellent performance of the choir and musicians, describing them as "a few people who made a lot of very nice singing and music".
Although it was Father Ed's day, it was also the first opportunity for the people of Randolph and Weymouth to meet the new Archbishop firsthand. Archbishop O'Malley came as advertised---down to earth, approachable, humble, etc. Prior to mass, we spotted him entering the church through a side door with his chauffeur/secretary. He was dressed in his no frills Franciscan brown cassock, and he was the one holding the door open for his chauffeur in a driving rainstorm. During his homily, he came across as an exceptionally learned and insightful man with a wealth of experience as a priest. He spoke about the young man in Mark's Gospel who declined to follow Christ because he did not want to part with his material goods. He reminded us that we live in a remarkably materialistic world with values that are not only opposed to but also hostile to the message of Christ. His homily was punctuated with his sharp wit and humor. The consensus from those in attendance was that our new Archbishop can preach with the best of them.
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As we gathered in the church hall for a buffet lunch after Mass, comments from the St. Jerome contingent suggested that we were all very grateful to have been part of this very special celebration. We were all very happy for Father Ed and his congregation. And after all that we have been through as an Archdiocese for the past two years, Archbishop O'Malley represented a powerful, healing ray of hope, and that the best is yet to come from his leadership.
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