Robert Francis Hennessey

Biography

Robert Hennessey was born in South Boston, Massachusetts, to John and Eileen (née Cahill) Hennessey. The second of five children, he has two brothers, John and Daniel, and two sisters, Deborah and Barbara. Studying at St. John's Seminary, Hennessey was ordained to the diaconate in 1977 and to the priesthood by Humberto Cardinal Medeiros on May 20, 1978.

He then did pastoral work in Hanson, Plymouth, and Needham before briefly pursuing his graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame. Hennessey later traveled to Bolivia, where he performed missionary work for eight years with the Society of St. James the Apostle. Following his return to the United States, he was pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Church in East Boston (1994-2006) and chaplain at Logan International Airport (1995-1998).

Auxiliary Bishop of Boston

On October 12, 2006, Hennessey was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and Titular Bishop of Tigias. He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 12 from Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap, with Bishops John Boles and Emilio Allué, SDB, serving as co-consecrators

Hennessey also holds the post of Episcopal Vicar for the Central Pastoral Region of the archdiocese. His episcopal motto is "Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum" (Luke 1:46-55), meaning, "My soul doth magnify the Lord."

Episcopal succession