Bishop Mark O'Connell has been appointed as Vicar General and head of the Curia by the Boston Archdiocese.
The bishop is a former resident of Woburn and has strong connections to the West area, having served at St. Barbara's Church and frequently returning to visit.
In Succession
Cardinal Sean O'Malley announced that Bishop O'Connell will be in line to potentially become Cardinal of the Archdiocese once Cardinal O'Malley reaches the age of retirement in 18 months.
In a report by the Daily Times Chronicle, it was stated that he will be taking over for Bishop Peter Uglietto, who held the position for nine years before retiring.
Bishop O'Connell has recently been serving as the pastor of St. Theresa of Lisieux in North Reading and the Bishop for the Woburn Catholic Collaborative.
This includes St. Barbara Church, St. Anthony of Pedula in North Woburn, and sections of Burlington and Lexington.
Friends, neighbors, and parishioners of St. Barbara Church have congratulated Bishop O'Connell. They also invited him to a retreat on January 11th at 7 p.m. in Saint Florence Parish in Wakefield.
Other Appointments
The Cardinal has also announced the appointment of two new regional episcopal vicars for the Boston Archdiocese, effective February 1st.
According to the Boston Pilot, these vicars will assist Cardinal O'Malley in the governance and oversight of the clergy, parishes, schools, and apostolates within their designated regions.
They will be members of Cardinal O'Malley's cabinet, the Presbyteral Council, and the Board of Consultors. And they will also be responsible for celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation.
Father Brian J. McHugh, who currently holds the position as the regional episcopal vicar in the Central Region, will be transferred to the North Region and will hold the same position.
Meanwhile, Father Jonathan M. Gaspar will take over Father McHugh's previous position as interim regional episcopal vicar in the Central Region.
Father McHugh has been serving in various parishes within the Boston Archdiocese since his ordination in 1988.
He served as a parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier from 1988 to 1993, at Sacred Heart in Weymouth from 1993 to 1999, and at St. Bridget in Abington from 1999 to 2000.
He was appointed as the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in East Boston by Cardinal Bernard Law from 2000 to 2003.
He later served as pastor of St. Catherine of Genoa from 2003, St. Ann in Somerville from 2007, and St. Joseph in Somerville from 2012.
In addition to his roles as pastor of three Somerville parishes, he also served as administrator of two other Somerville parishes: St. Benedict in 2012 and St. Clement in 2013.
On the other hand, after his ordination in 2004, Father Gaspar began his service as a parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception in Marlborough.
In 2008, he was appointed as the secretary and master of ceremonies to the archbishop, where he often accompanied Cardinal O'Malley in his duties within the archdiocese and beyond.
He also served as the Office of Divine Worship director for 9 out of the 10 years he was in this role.
In June 2018, he was appointed as the pastor of the Brookline parish. He was also the Office of Divine Worship's consultant.
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