Father Richard C. Messina, an East Boston native who grew up in Medford, died after the lingering illness at his home in Wells, Maine on Oct. 12. He had celebrated his 78th birthday on July 16. Born in the Hub, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Gibelli) Messina and brother of Theresa Luca of Medford.

Wednesday (10/11) we had our board meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the archdiocese. We heard some very encouraging reports about all their activities. Earlier that day we had just hosted our annual Mission Education Day for Catholic school students, which is presented by one of the Pontifical Mission Societies -- The Missionary Childhood Association. I was very happy to celebrate morning Mass for them in our Bethany Chapel. We were joined at the Mass by Father Dermot Roache from the SMA Fathers and Father Jim DiPerri who was there with his student choir, which did a fabulous job singing for us at the Mass.

BOSTON -- In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a lawyer and "expert in the law," asks Jesus who his neighbor is. Jesus tells him about a man who has been beaten and stripped of his possessions and left to die lying on the side of the road. A priest walks by, looks at him, and continues on. A Levite does the same. Finally, a Samaritan, a person who would have been considered an outsider at that time, stops and aids the wounded man.