Msgr. Charles J. Bourque grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. After graduating from Brockton High School in 1954, he began his studies for the priesthood at the Cardinal O'Connell Minor Seminary in Jamaica Plain and at St. John Seminary in Brighton. He was ordained on February 2, 1962 at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norwood by the Most Rev. Jeremiah F. Minihan. He offered his first Mass on February 4 at St. Margaret Church in Brockton. Msgr. Bourque's first assignment was to St. Pius X Parish in Milton. After one year there, he joined the faculty of the Cardinal O'Connell Minor Seminary and later St. John Seminary, teaching languages. In 1979, he was appointed assistant priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. He succeeded as pastor on October 28, 1980. In April, 1998, Msgr. Bourque was one of thirty two priest honored by Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor. Parishioners honored their pastor at a reception on Sunday, June 7, 1998. Msgr. Bourque has served as pastor for the past nineteen years and is at present, serving a fourth six-year term as pastor.
