Boston's Father Dan Finn Honored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York for his work with Immigrants

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Congrats to Boston's Father Dan Finn, recipient of the 2022 Great Immigrants Award from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The prestigious award is bestowed on the Fourth of July each year, to celebrate the exemplary contributions of immigrants to American life. Father Dan was one of 34 naturalized citizens whose contributions and actions have enriched and strengthened our society and our democracy.

A native of County Cork, Finn moved with his family to Massachusetts as a teenager. He was ordained a priest in 1972, and became a US citizen in 1973.

Along with Sister Veronica Dobson, Father Dan co-founded the Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston in 1987, when young Irish were emigrating due to a faltering economy. During the first 25 years, the Centre operated at St. Mark’s Parish in Dorchester and St. Columbkille in Brighton, then moved to Quincy for two years. In 2012 the Centre moved to St. Brendan’s Parish in Dorchester, and currently has its offices in Adams Village in Dorchester.

On the occasion of IPC Boston’s 30th anniversary in 2017, Father Finn called the Centre “the first of its kind to be established in the United States. In the past 30 years, we have seen our mission expand in many ways, primarily serving the Irish and Irish American communities. As a grassroots, multi service organization, we continue to provide a comprehensive range of services, programs and supports to immigrants, which are needed as much now as ever.”

Thanks to leadership of Finn, Dobson and IPC staff, the Centre’s community and outreach services have expanded, including such initiatives such as a youth summer program, faith-sharing groups, a food pantry, and English and citizenship classes.

In 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services honored Finn with an Outstanding Americans by Choice award.

The Irish Pastoral Centre is currently location at 540 Gallivan Blvd, Dorchester, MA 02124.

  



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