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Mass celebrates the life of Martin Richard in soaring words, song
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Fr. Sean Connor is shown speaking to the children at the Mass during his homily. Sitting next to Fr. Sean is Jane Richard. Photo by Gregory L. Tracy/Pilot Media Group
An overflow crowd packed St. Ann Church in Neponset this morning for a celebration of the life of Martin Richard, a Dorchester boy who would have turned 9 this weekend if he had not been killed on April 15 by one of two bombs that exploded at the Boston Marathon.
Seated in the front pew were his family: Parents Bill and Denise Richard, their elder son Henry— who read the second reading at the Liturgy— and Martin's little sister, Jane, 7, who lost her left leg below the knee in the bomb attack. Jane wheeled herself around in a wheelchair — and won a standing ovation from the congregation as she pushed herself up St. Ann's center aisle alongside her friend, Fr. Sean Connor. The St. Ann's pastor con-celebrated the Mass with Bishop Robert Hennessey, Rev. John Connolly and Fr. Michael Banks, OFM Cap.
The 10:30 a.m. family-oriented Mass at the Neponset Ave. church always draws a large crowd, but this morning there were nearly as many people standing as there were seated. Ushers counted more than 640 people in attendance, according to church officials. Outside, pipers from the Boston Police Gaelic column played a mixture of Irish dirges and more upbeat, patriotic anthems. Read more
Pat McDonagh, pizza and sub master, passes away suddenly
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Patrick G. ‘Pat’ McDonagh, a lifelong Dorchester resident who became one of the neighborhood’s favorite purveyors of pizzas, calzones and sub sandwiches, died suddenly last Saturday at his Lower Mills home. McDonagh, 60, leaves behind his wife Maureen, two sons Michael and Patrick, and three sisters.
Pat McDonagh grew up in St. Peter’s parish and was a well-known and liked personality across Dorchester in his youth, where he could often be found on the neighborhoods basketball courts or playing the bugle in the St. Kevin’s Emerald Knights band. He was a graduate of St. Peter’s Grammar School, Christopher Columbus High and Boston State College, where he took a degree in criminal justice. But instead of law enforcement, Pat followed his taste buds and passion for good food into his chosen career: running restaurants. Read more
