Following the Mass, the network will air a special episode of its original series Catholic Destinations with host Kevin Nelson. Join Nelson, as he takes you along for inspiring trips to interesting places of significance to our Catholic Faith from the United States to Canada to Europe. In this episode, he visits Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, where men that answer the call to the priesthood later in life go to discern, grow and prepare for the presbyterate. Some of the ordination class of 2012 attended Blessed John.
Eric Matthew Bennett
An alumnus of Rome’s Pontifical North American College and a native of Rhode Island, Father Eric Bennett is one of the eight children, three sisters and five brothers, of Dudley and Kathleen (Foley) Bennett of East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He was born on July 27, 1980.
He attended local public schools in East Greenwich before enrolling at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island. After high school, he was a student at Boston University’s Sargent College. Upon graduation from BU, he worked as a physical therapist first at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD., and then at the Eliot Nursing Home in Natick.
He completed pre-theology studies at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton before being sent to Rome. He was a deacon at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Chelsea during the summer of 2011 and prior to his return to studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Father Bennett will celebrate his First Mass at St. Patrick Parish, Natick on June 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Eric Francis Cadin
One of the five children (two sisters, two brothers) of James Cadin of Weymouth and the late Harriet (Toland) Cadin; Father Cadin, who was born on Oct. 30, 1980, is an alumnus of St. Francis Xavier School, Weymouth in his home parish. He is also a graduate of the Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury; and of Harvard College, Cambridge.
Father Cadin completed his seminary studies at St. John’s in Brighton and in addition to receiving the Master of Divinity from St. John’s he also was graduated from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry with a licence in sacred theology.
Between his college and seminary studies he spent time in Hawaii perfecting his surfing skills; on waves, not on the internet. During his deacon year, he was an intern at St. Columbkille Parish, Brighton.
Father Cadin will celebrate his First Mass at St. Mary Church, Dedham on June 24 at 5:00 p.m. Father Christopher O’Connor, Vice Rector of St. John’s Seminary will be the homilist.
Felipe Gonzalez
A son of St. Augustine Parish in Lamont, Calif. , and one of four sons and two daughters of Jose deJesus Gonzalez and Maria Noemi (Gonzalez), he was born on March 4, 1978. He attended local public schools in Lamont and was graduated from Arvin High School in Arvin, Calif.
He completed college studies at Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, Calif. He is an alumnus of Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary, Brookline; and also of St. John’s Seminary, Brighton.
Father Gonzalez has been serving as deacon at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston where he will celebrate his First Mass on June 24 at 9:30 a.m. He will also be the homilist of the Mass.
John Joseph Healey
A Boston native where he was born on April 4, 1950 to the late John and Anna (King) Healy, he is one of nine children — four sisters and four brothers. He attended local Catholic schools: elementary at St. Francis de Sales, Charlestown and secondary, Cathedral High, Boston. He is an alumnus of Boston State College (now merged with the University of Massachusetts — Boston).
He served for a number years as manager of the Brookline Housing Authority before entering Blessed John XXIII Seminary in Weston where he complete his seminary formation. During his deacon year he has served at St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Westford.
Father Healy will celebrate his First Mass at St. Lawrence Church, Brookline on June 24 at 2:00 p.m. Father Peter Quinn, the pastor at his deacon assignment will be the homilist.
Adrian Andrzej Milik
One of the three sons of Mariusz and Mariola (Kosatkiewicz) Milik, Father Milik was born on March 8, 1982. He was raised in Southern California, attending Doyle Elementary School and University City High School, both in San Diego. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California — San Diego in LaJolla, California. Prior to entering the seminary, he completed a Master’s degree at the famed Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.
An alumnus of St. John’s Seminary, Father Milik served his deacon internship at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Brookline. Father Milik will be the principal celebrant and homilist of his First Mass at St. Eulalia Church, Winchester on June 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Michael Francis Sheehan, FPO
A native of Norwood and one of the three children of Gary and Diane (Shannon) Sheehan, he was born on Jan. 29, 1981; he has one brother and one sister. He was raised in Norwood, a son of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. He attended local public schools and after graduation from Norwood High School he completed undergraduate studies at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass.
Father Sheehan is a member of an archdiocesan religious community, the Franciscan of Primitive Observance. He completed his theological studies in preparation for ordination at St. John’s Seminary. During his seminary years he served in several of the apostolates of his religious community, and as a deacon served at Boston Medical Center and Boston area parishes.
Father Sheehan will celebrate his First Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Norwood at 11:00 a.m. on June 24. Father Edward Riley of the faculty of St. John’s Seminary and one time parochial vicar at the Norwood parish will be the homilist.