St. Anthony Shrine, “The Church on Arch Street”, 100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110
Phone 617-542-6440 • Fax 617-542-4225 • www. stanthonyshrine.org
PRESS RELEASE
Boston's Pieta Ministry Retreat for Grieving Parents a Success
Diane Monaghan
"Inspiring!" “Emotional, but peaceful." These were words most often used by participants to describe
St. Anthony Shrine's Pieta Ministry Retreat, held November 5-7 at the Boston Friary.
The retreat, part of the Shrine's Pieta Ministry for grieving parents whose children have died, focused on
providing a warm, loving, safe place for parents to find comfort, rest, and peace through the help of
other parents and the Friars on Arch Street. This retreat was designed specifically for parents who have
not previously come to a Pieta Ministry Retreat at the Shrine.
David Convertino, assisted by John Maganzini, led the retreat. John Maganzini developed all of the
prayer services. The Arch Street Band's director, Jennifer Honan Galea and Mark Emory provided the
music.
Twenty-one parents came to the Friary from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. They
stayed at the Langham Hotel.
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The retreat opened on Friday night with dinner in the Friary. On Saturday it began with a very moving
prayer service that included parents lighting individual candles on which were the names and pictures of
their children. Candles remained lit in the Friary Chapel throughout the weekend; parents were able to
come and go as they wished for reflection, comfort, and prayer.
The retreat continued throughout the day on Saturday with small and large group sessions and prayer
services. David Convertino spoke about feelings and how, in the telling of the story, healing begins.
Later in the day parents wrote letters, which they later placed in the tabernacle of the newly renovated
Friary Chapel. At the afternoon Communal Penance Service, Richard McFeely gave a poignant
presentation on healing
After dinner in the Friary, the Evening Prayer Service included an extremely moving Sacrament of the
Anointing. As the parents stood in a semi circle in the Friary Chapel, more than 15 friars moved among
them administering the sacrament. . The service ended with all of the friars and parents turning to the
statue of the Blessed Mother holding the Christ Child and singing the Salve Regina in memory of the
deceased children. After the prayer service, parents and friars had coffee and dessert in the Friary
Recreational Room.
The retreat continued on Sunday with a 10am Eucharist, brunch with the Friars, an evaluation of the
program, and a touching departure ceremony in which participants were given their candles, a Bible, and
a "Songs of Hope and Resurrection" CD by the Arch Street Band. The retreat ended with all of the
Friars giving the parents the Franciscan blessing.
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"It was another very powerful and very successful retreat," said John Maganzini. “I am very happy to
be a part of this team,” said Richard McFeely.
Participants agreed. Their comments on the retreat include the following...
“Thank you for developing this ministry for those of us who are going through the process of
healing, coping, and just living after the loss of a child.”
“The feelings of compassion, caring, love, and spirituality during the weekend was not only
helpful, but comforting.”
“The therapeutic effect of being surrounded by hearts as raw as your own in such an embracing
situation is amazing! Thank you! Thank you!
Currently, this ministry at St. Anthony Shrine offers two retreats: Retreat I in November for parents
who have not attended this retreat in the past and Retreat II in March for those who have. In addition,
the Shrine offers a monthly Mass and Coffee Social for grieving parents and other programs.
For more information on this ministry, see its new website: www.pietaministry.org or call David
Convertino at 617-542-6440 or email him at [email protected].
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