Watertown Surprised, Sees Potential for Change After Pope's Resignation

Pope Benedict's announced Monday that he will step down at the end of the month.

Learning that the Pope will resign at the end of February surprised some in Watertown and for others brought hope for that the Catholic Church may embrace more modern stance under his successor.  Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday morning that he would resign — making him the first pope in nearly 600 years to step down from what is considered a lifelong post.  The news caught Watertown's John Madden off guard. "I was quite suprised as I have never known it to happen," Madden said. "I also think it must of taken a great deal of thought and prayer for him to come to this decision." Paul Fahey grew up attending St. Patrick's Church in Watertown and was an altar boy and a reader, but he left the Roman Catholic Church about 10 years ago because…

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Former Sacred Heart Parishioner Named Auxiliary Boston Bishop

Msgr. Robert P. Deeley who grew up in Belmont named by Pope Benedict XVI.

Msgr. Robert Deeley, who grew up in Belmont and attended mass and school at Watertown's Sacred Heart Parish, was named today, Nov. 9, by Pope Benedict XVI as an Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, according to BostonCatholic.com, the website of the Archdiocese of Boston.  “I am humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me by appointing me to the episcopacy," said Deeley at a press conference today in Boston. "Cardinal Seán kindly provided me the opportunity last year to return home to Boston and be of service to the Archdiocese," he said. Seán Cardinal O’Malley will ordain Bishop-elect Deeley to the episcopacy on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Born in Cambridge, Deeley grew up in Belmont as the fourth of five …

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Triple Slaying in Cambridge Touched Watertown's Sacred Heart Parish

The family touched by the slayings attended Sacred Heart Church in East Watertown. Police say a disagreement over a grandmother's care led to the killings.