Norwood Police Department
Our Chaplain
Rev. Edward Riley edward.riley@verizon.net
Father Edward Riley of St. Catherine's
accepted the invitation of the Norwood Police Department to be its new Chaplain in October
of 2001. He is the third oldest
of John and Ann Riley’s eight children (four boys and four girls). Father Ed grew up
in Wellesley, attending the catholic parochial school and public high school before
attending Boston College. He then worked six years with Arthur Andersen & Co. in
Boston. After leaving business, he spent four years working as a full-time
volunteer: one year with the Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Brighton, and three
years with the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) in Kentucky. 
Father
Ed heard his call to the priesthood while living and working with CAP founder Fr. Ralph
Beiting and numerous other great volunteers. St. Catherine’s is Father
Ed’s first assignment after six years of study at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton
and his ordination on May 27, 2000 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston. He very
much enjoys his assignment in Norwood, and looks forward to ‘riding the beat’
with Norwood's finest: the men and women of the Norwood Police Department.
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
A message from Fr. Ed
Dear Friends,
Who'd believe two world championship teams in almost as many months?
(Okay, three months!) Victory is sweet, and 'team work' is in! Fan or not, you
have to agree, it's great to cheer for something good! For many of us the winter
blues are closing in, and the winter wonderland is fast loosing its appeal
(though I'm looking forward to a few vacation days up north)!
Maybe timing is everything, but in the Christian tradition the 'desert' is where
we're at - driving away more than memories of a harsh winter, letting go of the
'old self' and starting anew! Though Christians call it Lent most other faith
traditions have a similar practice of seeking true freedom of our errant (that's
politically correct for 'sinful') ways! It is very difficult and rather humbling
to say 'I'm
sorry' to anyone, especially those closest to us. Yet, are they not the sweetest
words you can hear?
Man or woman, we yearn for reconciliation with God, family and those around us.
Try taking a moment to list those you know you need to reconcile with, and put
it on paper - and then ask for the courage & humility to say it! Spouse, parent,
child, neighbor, co-worker or friend: we all need to be on the same side of the
field if we're going to win this victory! If 'team work' can win championship
status, so much more is the joy for those things that really matter!
Always, it's my privilege to be in your service, and you remain in my daily
prayers,
God bless, Fr. Riley
Rev. Robert P. Reed rreed@bostoncatholic.com
Father Bob Reed was the Chaplain of the Norwood Police Department from 1990 until
2001. Despite leaving St. Catherine of Sienna parish, Fr. Reed continued to serve as
the Chaplain for the N.P.D. despite his assignments taking him far from the Norwood area.
A life-long resident of Swampscott, Father Reed was educated at
St. John’s Parish School and St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers. He
studied for the priesthood at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and completed graduate
studies at the Pontifical North American College in Vatican City State. After having been
ordained a Catholic priest in 1985, Father Reed served in parishes in Quincy and Malden
before happily serving at St. Catherine's Parish in Norwood. Currently, Father Reed
is the Director of Radio Programming for the Archdiocese of Boston (www.bostoncatholic.com) and is the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman (www.holyghostparish.com).
We're well protected!
Congratulations to Norwood's own Father Paul Clifford
(of the hockey family) who has been named the new Chaplain of the Massachusetts Police
Association. Fr. Clifford's current assignment is the Parochial Vicar of
Dracut's St. Therese's parish. By taking on the M.P.A. he has added some 19,000 members to
his flock.
In May of 2004, Father Clifford had the singular distinction of delivering the benediction at the annual candle light vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial in Washington, DC.
Rev. Bruce Petersen of the Trinity Community Church provided the invocation for the dedication of the Norwood Police Association Memorial on October 22, 1995
Fr. Bill Wolkovich of St. George's Church, another strong supporter of the police, visits the Norwood Police Association Memorial at Highland Cemetery. Sadly, 2004 saw his retirement, the closing of St George's, and the passing of Fr. Bill after a courageous battle. He is missed. He will be remembered as a strong supporter of the police everywhere, and Norwood's in particular.
The Blue Mass
Many times over the years the parish of St. Catherine of Sienna hosted a "Blue Mass" in honor of the Norwood Police Department's current members and in memory of those departed. The next photo was taken as the officers marched into the church for the Blue Mass of 1967. Readily identifiable are (left to right) Off. Tom Michienzi, Off. J. P. Flaherty, Off. Fred Quattruci, Off. Ted Travers, Off. Joe Giampa, Off. Dom Fruci, Off. Nick Destito.
Leaders of town government and Norwood Clergy (who display Chaplain badges) are flanked by Officers Joseph Coyne, Dom Fruci, Dick Joseph, and Tom Michienzi on the left and Officer Robert Lawrie, Chief Jim Murphy, Sergeant Arthur Groh and Sergeant Nick Connolly on the right.
Around 1970, retired members join the leadership of the department as they prepare to lead the department across the street to St. Catherine's for the annual Blue Mass.