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The new clerics say they were inspired by the campus ministry program and the University’s Catholic chaplains
“Justice means always dealing with another person in charity, even if he or she has sinned against us,” the Rev. Robert LeBlanc preaches to the two dozen parishioners scattered in the pews at Brookline’s St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic church. Winding down their workweek in prayer on this summer Friday morning, some are contemporaries of their 30-year-old priest—two couples watch over baby strollers—while the gray hair or bent backs of others bespeak a more mature vintage.
LeBlanc (CGS’11, COM’13), clean-cut and with a quick, welcoming smile, has been ordained all of two months. He proceeds with the Mass, consecrating the bread and wine to become what Catholics believe to be the body and blood of Christ. At the end, he explains to the parishioners why a woman with a camera has been photographing him during the service: Bostonia is interviewing him for a story on the eye-catching number of alumni (at least five) who have journeyed from BU to Catholic ordination, or its brink, in the decade since 2011. Then he processes up the aisle and out the church door, chatting with his flock as they depart for their day.
One woman ribs him about the photographer: “I thought you were going into modeling.” It wouldn’t have been LeBlanc’s first radical career detour.
Continued below.
Priest Shortage? Why a Surprising Number of BU Alums Are Entering the Catholic Priesthood
“Justice means always dealing with another person in charity, even if he or she has sinned against us,” the Rev. Robert LeBlanc preaches to the two dozen parishioners scattered in the pews at Brookline’s St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic church. Winding down their workweek in prayer on this summer Friday morning, some are contemporaries of their 30-year-old priest—two couples watch over baby strollers—while the gray hair or bent backs of others bespeak a more mature vintage.
LeBlanc (CGS’11, COM’13), clean-cut and with a quick, welcoming smile, has been ordained all of two months. He proceeds with the Mass, consecrating the bread and wine to become what Catholics believe to be the body and blood of Christ. At the end, he explains to the parishioners why a woman with a camera has been photographing him during the service: Bostonia is interviewing him for a story on the eye-catching number of alumni (at least five) who have journeyed from BU to Catholic ordination, or its brink, in the decade since 2011. Then he processes up the aisle and out the church door, chatting with his flock as they depart for their day.
One woman ribs him about the photographer: “I thought you were going into modeling.” It wouldn’t have been LeBlanc’s first radical career detour.
Continued below.
Priest Shortage? Why a Surprising Number of BU Alums Are Entering the Catholic Priesthood
