Father John J Unni

Father John Unni grew up in North Reading, Massachusetts. Before entering the seminary, Father John taught English at Christopher Columbus High School in Boston’s North End and ran his own landscaping business. He attended St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, where he earned a master of divinity degree and was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston in June 1992. For the past 20 years, he has been the pastor of Saint Cecilia Parish, where he has focused his ministry on education, health, and spiritual growth—especially for those who are marginalized and impoverished. When he is not presiding at Mass, Father John keeps busy serving on the board of directors for Saint Cecilia House, a residence for seniors of limited income in the Fenway, and Health Equity International/St. Boniface Hospital and Build Health International, organizations dedicated to providing essential health services to the people of southern Haiti, especially the most vulnerable. Father John is also Chief Chaplain of the Boston Fire Department and Chaplain for Berklee College of Music.

 

Father John has celebrated Mass for the Catholic Memorial community several times over the years: Ash Wednesday in 2022, Catholic Schools Week in February 2023, and most recently, All Saints' Day and Grandparents' Day in November 2023. The CM community is honored to have Father John in the rotation, bringing his sermons and light to the students.