For those who can not be present you may view the service live streamed by going to harborviewvideo.com/brasco beginning at 11:45 a.m.
Rev. Wallace E. Blackwood, age 80, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2020. He was a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston for fifty-three years. Born on November 29, 1939, he was the son of the late Wallace and Elizabeth (Gibbons) Blackwood. He was predeceased by his brother Douglas Blackwood and his sister Elizabeth Blackwood. He is survived by his sister June Coffey and her husband Bernard of Millis, his brother Paul Blackwood and his wife Jeanne of Coral Springs, Florida and his sister-in-law Cheryl Blackwood of Newton. He also leaves behind nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and dear friends whom he referred to as family.
A son of St. Bernard’s Parish, he was educated in Newton schools and was a graduate of Newton High School, Class of 1958. He graduated from Boston College in 1962 and then attended St. John Seminary. On June 7, 1967 he was ordained to the priesthood by Richard Cardinal Cushing. Between 1967 and 1971, he was a Parochial Vicar at St. Pius V, Lynn. He returned to Boston College where he completed his Masters Degree and became a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. He finished coursework for a Masters Degree in Divinity from the University of Notre Dame in 1987.
From 1971 to 1989 he worked at four different Catholic Charities locations in various roles including Community Relations and Regional Director. He returned to parish ministry as Pastor of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Parish, Waltham; Pastor of St. Ann Parish, Peabody; Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Manchester-by-the Sea and St. John Parish, Essex. From 2009 to 2013 he was assigned as Parochial Vicar to Sacred Hearts Parish, Haverhill and then St. John/St. Thomas, Swampscott.
Father Wally was a Spiritual Director for the Permanent Diaconate Program at the Archdiocese of Boston and Adjunct Spiritual Director at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. After being named a Senior Priest of the Archdiocese in 2013, he volunteered his services to Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Norfolk where he provided spiritual direction to inmates.
Traveling with family and friends, spending time at his home in Maine and hosting his family each Thanksgiving gave Father Wally great joy. Like his father he was an avid Red Sox fan and enjoyed cheering on all Boston sports teams, especially Boston College. During this pandemic he faithfully led a prayer group online despite his failing health.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady’s Comforter of the Afflicted, 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA at Noon on Friday November 20, 2020. Visitation will be held at 10:30 am in The Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial Chapels, 773 Moody Street, Waltham, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic Charities of Boston, 275 West Broadway, Boston, MA 02127 or Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center, 515 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02121.
CDC and all Covid-19 Safety Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Boston will be strictly enforced.