CAPTION: Fr. Daniel J. Mahoney stands in front of a painting of Richard Cardinal Cushing at the St. Francis de Sales Rectory. Cardinal Cushing assigned Fr. Mahoney to St. Francis de Sales Parish on Jan. 16, 1968.

Sunday Mass rings in “Jubilee 150: Rejoice and Be Glad!” in observation of St. Francis de Sales Parish hitting the century and one-half mark. The 18-month-long program will culminate with a Remembrance Mass on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, honoring all parishioners, friends, benefactors and visitors who have come to the church since its inception. In honor of this milestone, Fr. Daniel J. Mahoney sat down with the Patriot-Bridge to reflect on the history of the parish, as well as the more than 40 years he has spent as pastor to Charlestown so far.

Building the church “On Top of Bunker Hill”
St. Francis de Sales Parish was established on Sept. 11, 1859, by the third bishop of Boston, Bishop John Bernard Fitzpatrick. The parish separated from St. Mary Parish, and Rev. George Hamilton was appointed its first pastor.
St. Francis de Sales Church was designed by Patrick Charles Keely, a native of Tipperary who began his career as an apprentice architect in Limerick, Ireland, and went to become the most prolific church architect in the U.S. Despite Keely’s achievements, which include the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End and approximately 700 other churches, he died penniless in 1896, having donated all his money to Boston’s Catholic Home for Homeless Children (now Nazareth House) and other charities for the poor.
Nearly as soon as construction got underway on St. Francis de Sales Church (which was eventually dedicated on June 17, 1862), vandals began tearing it down, stone by stone. The destruction continued until the Commonwealth’s governor resorted to calling in the National Guard to watch over the church from sunset to sunrise. Regarding the opposition that early St. Francis de Sales parishioners faced, Fr. Mahoney likened their plight to that of immigrants today.
Despite the early resistance, St. Francis de Sales Church was completed in approximately 18 months by hand and using a pulley system. Modeled after St. Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick, Ireland, the church’s unique features include the steeple, which sits in the middle of the building, and the ornate, colorful stained-glass windows that were crafted in Munich, Germany. The Rood Crucifix, suspended from the nave of the church, was given to the parish by Saint Pius X.
When the American Society of Architectural Engineers held its national convention in Boston in 1982, the program featured a seminar on Keely’s influence and a tour of St. Francis de Sales Church as a prime example of his architecture.
“This church is the best example of the Irish influence in Keely’s work,” Fr. Mahoney said.

Fr. Mahoney joins the parish
On Jan. 16, 1968, Fr. Mahoney was assigned to St. Francis de Sales Parish by Richard Cardinal Cushing. Ten years after coming to the parish, Fr. Mahoney was appointed the eighth pastor in St. Francis de Sales history by Cardinal Medeiros on June 2, 1978.
“You usually stay here until you go to Heaven,” Fr. Mahoney said of the tradition of longstanding pastors at the church.
St. Francis de Sales Church was a special place for Fr. Mahoney long before he delivered his first sermon there. As a boy, he used to visit Charlestown with his family on Bunker Hill Day and stand outside the church to watch the parade. But the church has an even more personal significance for Fr. Mahoney, since it was the first place where his father attended Mass in the U.S. after emigrating from Ireland in 1912. When his father died at age 94 in 1986, St. Francis de Sales church was the site of the Funeral Mass.
“The Cardinal said you brought your father home to go home to God,” Fr. Mahoney recalled.
Fr. Mahoney was named chief chaplain of the Boston Fire Department in 1991, after serving as a division chaplain since Oct. 1, 1964. In 1982, he helped firefighters recover the five Torah scrolls of Temple Tifereth Israel in Everett while the synagogue was ablaze. Fr. Mahoney helped bridge the gap between the two faiths again circa 1999, when he held a Jewish-Catholic interfaith service at Sr. Francis de Sales Church that successfully quelled tension between the two groups surrounding the controversial naming of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge.
“The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee consider St. Francis de Sales Parish the Jewish-Catholic connection,” Fr. Mahoney said.

The faith of Charlestown
For Fr. Mahoney, the devotion of the community isn’t limited to religious services. Instead, it’s a spirit that can be felt throughout Charlestown.
“It’s the faith of all the people of Charlestown, not just St. Francis de Sales Parish,” Fr. Mahoney said in describing what makes the community so unique.
Fr. Mahoney said this faith is evident in community events like the Michael P. Quinn Dinner Dance, an annual scholarship fundraiser held in honor of a Charlestown-born Marine who was killed in combat in Vietnam in 1969, and the work of the Bunker Hill Associates, which raises money for neighborhood youth programs.
“In spite of the change in society and culture, the people of Charlestown have always extended themselves to others,” Fr. Mahoney said. “We’re all moved by God and we’re all brothers and sisters to each other, regardless of faith, creed or language.”
As Fr. Mahoney often says: “We’re all in this together.”

“Jubilee 150: Rejoice and Be Glad!” kicks off with the Opening Mass at St. Francis de Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill St., on Sunday, April 27 at 11 a.m. The Jubilee Mass will be celebrated with Bishop Robert F. Hennessey, Fr. Mahoney, Con-Celebrating Priests and Rabbi Samuel Chiel, formerly of Temple Emanuel in Newton. A reception immediately follows at the Bishop Lawton Hall.

Veteran Charlestown comic Tony V. has a busy schedule ahead of him over the next few months, but that’s the price he pays for rarely turning down a request to perform for a good cause.
A native of Somerville, Tony V. (whose last name is Viveiros) launched his standup career in the early ‘80s at the Comedy Connection and other Boston-area comedy clubs. Since that time he has made notable television appearances on “Seinfeld,” “The Single Guy” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and in the movies “State and Main” and “Celtic Pride.” Today, Tony V. regularly appears on “Brotherhood,” a Showtime cable series that that chronicles the lives of two siblings in Providence, R.I. - one a politician, the other a mobster.
On Sunday, May 4, Tony V. will be among the performers at the “Ding Ho Reunion: A Benefit for Comedian Bob Lazarus” at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. The lineup also includes Lazarus (who was diagnosed with leukemia last year), Steven Wright, Barry Crimmins, Lenny Clarke and Charlestown’s own Steve Sweeney, among others. Tickets are $50 for orchestra seats and $40 for balcony seats in advance. To order tickets, visit www.interweave.us/tix/dingho.htm.
In the early ‘80s, Tony V., Lazarus ant the other aforementioned comedians performed regularly at the Ding Ho, a Chinese restaurant in Cambridge’s Inman Square. “It’s where we all cut our teeth,” Tony V. said. The comedy showcases that took place there were the brainchild of Crimmins, a native of upstate New York whom Tony V. described as “the foremost left-wing political pundit on the planet.”
Next up, on Tuesday, May 6, Tony V. will perform at a comedy fundraiser for fellow comedian Kevin Knox at Kowloon restaurant on Route 1 North in Saugus, alongside other venerable Boston humorists Clarke, Jimmy Dunn, Gary Gulman and Sweeney. Tickets are $40 and include a buffet. For ticket information, call Kowloon at 781- 233-0077.
Tony V. described North Shore native Knox as “a larger-than-life character… who would be the first one to appear at a fundraiser for anyone else.” Knox has been battling cancer for the last four years and is presently undergoing holistic treatment in Florida.
On Friday, June 6, Tony V. will perform at the annual fundraiser for the Charlestown Working Theater, along with fellow comedians Clarke and Don Gavin. Tickets are $100 and include a reception catered by Charlestown restaurants Figs and Olives. For more information, call the CWT at 617-242-3285.
“[Attending the fundraiser] is a great way to contribute to the theater with no strings attached,’ Tony V. said. “That way, they can spend the money how they want.”
As for the theatre, Tony V. said, “It’s a nice space to see comedy. I wish we could perform there more often.”
Finally, Tony V. will perform again at the Bunker Hill Associates annual Bunker Hill Day Breakfast on Sunday, June 15, which benefits local youth programs. (Check future editions of the Patriot-Bridge for more information about this event).
While Tony V. said performing at so many fundraisers forces him to write new material, he admits that his schedule can become taxing after awhile.
“If I do any more benefits, I’m going to have to do one for myself,” he joked.

Young newcomers to Charlestown might find it difficult to meet people, but the Boston Redevelopment Authority is hoping to change that.
In 2004, the BRA launched ONEin3, an economic initiative that sought to keep the one-third of Boston’s population that is between the ages of 20 and 34 living in the city. Boston, like many other major U.S. cities at that time, was seeing that age group shrink due to a decrease in the birth rate between 1970 and 1980, among other reasons, said ONEin3 Manager Devin Cole. The effort began with the formation of 19 focus groups citywide, and since then, more localized splinter groups have sprung up in several Boston neighborhoods, including Charlestown.
ONEin3 Charlestown had its official launch with the March 27 Neighborhood Night at Sorelle City Square. Drawing about 30 people, Cole said the meeting was a relative success, especially considering Charlestown has the smallest percentage of people in the targeted age group of any Boston neighborhood, according to the 2000 census study that was the impetus for the ONEin3 program.
“Many had just moved to the neighborhood and were having trouble meeting other people,” Cole said. “People were really interested in meeting others from their neighborhood.”
As for overall mission of ONEin3, Cole said: “It’s an organization that helps people orient themselves into the neighborhood and the city, as well as a volunteer-driven organization that provides resources and connections, both professionally and socially.”
Besides helping newcomers get acclimated to the neighborhood, ONEin3 Charlestown will be undertaking community service projects, including a cleanup of Doherty Park this Saturday. The group also hopes to partner with the Charlestown Mothers Association and other neighborhood organizations to focus on other civic-minded work, Cole said.
Cole points out, however, that the success of Charlestown ONEin3 depends on the involvement of people from the neighborhood who will ultimately determine what course the group takes in the future.
‘We’re looking for more members,” Cole said. “We want to create a network of young people in the neighborhood.”
Charlestown ONEin3 invites Charlestown residents, ages 20 to 34, to the Boston Shines event at Doherty Park at Bunker Hill and St. Martin streets on Saturday, April 26, at 9 a.m.
For more information on theONEin3 program, email Charlestownonein3@gmail.com or visit www.ONEin3Boston.org on the Web. The organization also has a page on facebook.com; to access their site, search under “ONEin3 Boston” on the main page.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION: Attendees have fun with the trucks.

PHOTO 2 CAPTION: Connor, Daniel, Oliver, Aedan and Dylan in front of an Aggregate Industries paver.

PHOTO 3 CAPTION: Adrienne and Chad Groff with their boys, Dylan and Connor.

PHOTO 4 CAPTION: Children enjoying the barbeque, courtesy of Lafarge North America.



Charlestown’s first Touch-a-Truck Day was a huge success, complete with beautiful weather and a fantastic turn out.
Approximately 2,000 people came to climb on all kinds of trucks, honk horns, push buttons, talk to the equipment operators, eat and have fun. Hundreds of families went home with great memories and big smiles.
The Charlestown Mothers Association would like to thank everyone who participated in the event: Aggregate Industries, Lafarge North America, Teamsters Union Local 25, the Boston Fire Department’s Engine 50 and Ladder 9, the Boston Police Department, Boston Sand and Gravel, the City of Boston’s Department of Public Works, Bono Trucking, Inc., Capitol Waste, City View Trolleys, D and R Paving, FG Adams, Independent Concrete Pumping, JRM, the MBTA and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The CMA also thanks Bunker Hill Community College, Bunker Hill Community College Police Department, Sylvia Holt and Fame Food Service and Dave’s Septic for the space, the security, the barbeque and the facilities.
And more huge thanks to Shawn McLaughlin, president of Risk Transfer Insurance Alliance; the Charlestown Patriot-Bridge; John Doherty of Zume’s Coffee Shop and Doherty’s Flowers; Karen Burns, Doug McDonald; Tony Hollien; and all of the CMA volunteers.
Without the generosity of these organizations and individuals, this event would not have been possible.

The Charlestown Preservation Society has announced the latest rounds of recipients for its mini-grant program, including the Charlestown Business Climate Committee, the Friends of Charlestown Dog Parks, Gardens for Charlestown and the Harvard-Kent Leadership & Scholarship Partnership.
Through the program, award grants of up to $250 are given to support organizations and activities “that further the CPS mission of preserving Charlestown’s architectural heritage and quality of life,” according to a statement from the organization. All applicants must be Charlestown-based non-profits, and grants aren’t awarded automatically to past recipients. The CPS board of trustees reviews each request and then determines the award recipients.
The Charlestown Business Climate Committee, an organization dedicated to creating a vibrant retail district for neighborhood residents and visitors, will use the grant money to pay for the insurance coverage required to hold its second annual Charlestown Open Market, scheduled for Saturday, June 14.
The Friends of Charlestown of Parks, with a mission of creating dedicated spaces for dogs in Charlestown and alleviating dog use of other parks and open spaces in town, will use the donation to purchase a bench for the dog run at the Schrafft Center. The Friends are partnering with the Flatley Company on the dog-run project.
Gardens for Charlestown, which is committed to “reclaiming, maintaining and improving green space for the enjoyment and education of Charlestown residents,” will use the award to buy new plantings as a part of a continuing effort to improve its Main Street border garden.
The Harvard-Kent Leadership & Scholarship Partnership has a mission of helping the Harvard-Kent Elementary School aspire to a college education through scholarships. The program also sponsors field trips for students throughout Greater Boston. It will use the award money to underwrite field trips and the program's May 8 awards ceremony.
To be considered for the next round of mini-grants at the CPS June board meeting, applications must be submitted by June 2. The CPS will notify applicants of its decision following that month’s board meeting.
Grant applications are available at www.charlestownpreservation.org. For more information, call the CPS at 617-241-7500 or email president@charlestownprservation.org.
The organization reserves the right to reject any application following a discussion and vote by the board.