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Fr.
Walter Cuenin – Still Applauded
A year after his forced resignation from Our Lady
Help of Christians, Newton, MA, Fr. Cuenin continues
to draw regard and respect from all with whom he works.
VOTF Steve Sheehan covered one such moment and reports
below.
 Reverend Walter H. Cuenin, the new Chaplain at Brandeis
University, was presented with the Mayor’s Medallion
Award on May 25 at Boston College. The award was presented
by the Honorable David B. Cohen, Mayor of Newton, MA,
at the 32nd annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.
Mayor Cohen praised Fr. Cuenin for community service
over the past several years that demonstrated an inclusiveness
which went far beyond religious, cultural, ethnic and
social boundaries. and cited two events that epitomize
Cuenin’s efforts to effect social justice while
he was pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC)
Church in Newton. Both instances reflect Cuenin’s
gift for reaching out beyond his parish, his religious
affiliation and his community to serve a greater good.
In one instance, when a Hebrew Shul had been defaced
with anti-Semitic slogans, Cuenin led a march of his
parishioners from OLHC to the Shul in a demonstration
of solidarity.
After the terrible massacre at Columbine High School,
Cuenin held a unity service at OLHC which was videotaped
and a copy sent to the authorities at Columbine to
show the empathy of his parish for the survivors of
that awful tragedy.
Fr. Cuenin, throughout his priesthood, has demonstrated
the qualities that we admire in our priests of integrity,
including openness, inclusiveness and honesty.
(photo credit: Steve Sheehan)
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