BishopAccountability.org
	Priest, Church Start Fresh By Priscilla Yeon Westwood Press June 8, 2006 http://www2.townonline.com/westwood/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=511914 Christopher Coyne has spent two decades as a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston learning that there is nothing quite so constant as change. The 47-year-old Rev. Coyne, who moved to town on May 22, is the new pastor of St. Margaret Mary Church, which lost its leader in March when the Rev. Paul Coughlin resigned after admitting to financial misconduct. Coyne is happy to be here. "My welcome to the parish has been wonderful. I couldn't have asked for better people and the staff is great," said Coyne. Coincidentally, Coyne in his most recent posting replaced a priest who resigned amid financial controversy as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton. But even this was not his first high-pressure post. From January 2002 to September 2005, the Woburn native served as the archdiocesan spokesman during the child sex abuse scandal, when he was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 3 1/2 years. His resume includes more prosaic postings. He spent a dozen years as a full-time faculty member of St. John's Seminary in Brighton. He teaches two courses per semester there during the week now. He knows the area well, as he has celebrated weekend Masses in Medfield and Holliston for 12 years. In the days before he became a priest, Coyne attended the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he majored in music and business. He then worked as a bartender in Waltham while teaching religion in his parish. Coyne says the situations at the Newton and Westwood churches are not as similar as they might appear. "There was some concern that I could be walking in a similar situation (in Westwood), but in many ways the situation is dissimilar," said Coyne, who asked the archdiocese to transfer him from Newton after an "uncomfortable" six-month experience replacing the Rev. Walter Cuenin, "an incredibly charismatic and popular" priest who served in Newton for 12 years. But, Coyne said, the situation in Westwood is nowhere near as volatile. To Ken Foscaldo, chairman of the Finance Council of St. Margaret Mary Church, the situation in Westwood is "very different" from Newton. In that parish, the Finance Council "gave permission to what (Cuenin) did," said Foscaldo. "The finance committee (at St. Margaret Mary) was not even aware of what was going on," said Foscaldo on the situation in Westwood. Foscaldo said he was "ecstatic" with Coyne's appointment here. "I think God has a way of doing a very positive thing after what the parish has been through," said Foscaldo. "Father Chris is very talented and we recognize we're fortunate to have somebody with the gifts that he brings to our parish." Coyne said he has met with the parish's Finance Council to "bring to a closure matters with Father Paul." "The situation in Westwood is something that needs to be addressed," said Coyne. "We hope to get something very soon to the parishioners." He said he was reluctant to accept the job that gave him his first brush with controversy, as a spokesman for the archdiocese. "I was asked three times to take the position of a spokesperson before I accepted it," said Coyne. "I knew it was going to be an awful job. No one in their right mind would want to be connected with abuse of children, be it with the clergy or anyone else." He said for the past four to five years, his role in a chaotic environment taught him how to deal "with situations and events that were completely beyond my control." While working as a spokesperson, he said he kept his faith and his commitment to such a challenging job thanks to his family and friends. "I was never to spin or say anything that was not true and I was never to say anything to intentionally hurt anyone or families of abused victims," said Coyne. "In a way I was trying to be helpful and honest while making every effort I could to not hurt people." He said he feels good about being in a parish now. "I was very glad to move into full-time ministry as a pastor," he said. Growing up with three older brothers and three younger sisters, Coyne said he had "a very positive experience with the Catholic Church." Members of his family were active churchgoers, and he said he was interested in becoming a priest when he was leaving high school. "But my priest (in his hometown of Woburn) said to go to college and have some fun and then decide," he recalled. "After I entered the seminary, I found my relationship with God and the Catholic Church even stronger and I decided to seek ordination," said Coyne. He said he plans to stay in town for the long term. "I'm enthusiastic to be here," he said. Priscilla Yeon can be reached at 781-433-8355 or pyeon@cnc.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.