September 23, 2024

St. Thomas More Society to honor five at annual Red Mass Oct. 6

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – The St. Thomas More Society of Western Massachusetts will sponsor its 23^nd Annual Red Mass on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Springfield. The celebrants will be Msgr. Christopher Connelly, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield and Father Gary Dailey, the rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral.

The Red Mass is a historical tradition within the Catholic Church invoking the blessing and guidance of the Holy Spirit upon the courts, dating back to the 13^th century when it officially opened the term of the court for most European countries. 

This important tradition was introduced in the U.S. in 1928 in the Church of St. Andrew, located in New York City. The Red Mass is currently celebrated in dioceses throughout the United States to invoke God’s blessing upon the members of the bench, bar, legislature, law enforcement, governmental agencies, and all protectors and administrators of the law. 

The St. Thomas More Society is made up of Catholic lawyers, paralegals, judges, clerks, law enforcement agents, and those committed to the administration of justice throughout Western Massachusetts. The director of the society is Springfield Attorney Michael G. McDonough, a partner at the law firm of Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, P.C. 

Each year, the society honors members of the legal community who have distinguished themselves by acts of public service and commitment to the law. The honor is not limited only to Catholics. Any person who has demonstrated a commitment to their respective faith and the administration of justice in the community is eligible to receive the award. 

“Our goal is to identify and honor members of the legal community who are committed to ethics, the justice system, their faith, and their community,” McDonough said. 

The five 2024 Red Mass honorees are Deborah A. Burzdak, Cheryl C. Clapprood, James F. Gregory, Rosemary A.  Saccomani, and Robert E. Schultz. A brief biography of each is provided here:

 Deborah A. Burzdak was born and raised in Springfield and graduated from the former Notre Dame High School. She continued her education at Westfield State College earning a degree in education. She also earned a master’s degree in criminal justice at American International College. Prior to earning her undergraduate degree, Deborah was involved in a work-study program with the Federal Probation Office preparing reports regarding clients on parole or probation. Upon completing her undergraduate studies at Westfield, she took a position in the Springfield Public Schools teaching in inner-city schools while concurrently pursuing her graduate studies. She served as a “Big Sister” for teenagers through the Juvenile Court Probation Department. Deborah also served as a Special Education coordinator for the Hampden and Hampshire Houses of Correction preparing inmates to complete the requirements for a GED. She then worked as a Placement Specialist/Job Developer teaching interview skills for employment to ex-offenders while simultaneously working with employers placing these clients in jobs. Burzdak had a 26-year career with the Mass. Parole Board. She was quickly promoted to Parole Supervisor, covering the four western counties, and she served in that role until her retirement in 2011. Upon her retirement, Burzdak was asked to continue serving as a member of a committee of parole personnel working to develop questions for the Civil Service exams for various positions within the State Parole Board agency, all the while caring for her mother until her passing in 2016. A parishioner at St. Mary Parish in Hampden along with her husband and fellow honoree, Robert E. Schultz, Burzdak has generously given of her time as a volunteer doing several tasks at the parish as needed. 

Cheryl C. Clapprood was raised in Springfield and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Westfield State College (now University), and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration at Western New England College. Clapprood served in the U.S. Air Force, both in active and reserve status until being honorably discharged. Clapprood began her career in law enforcement in April 1979 when she was accepted as a cadet in the Springfield Police Department. Over the years, she rose through the ranks to sergeant in 1987, lieutenant 11 years later, captain in 2010, and deputy chief in July 2017. On Feb. 21, 2019, Mayor Domenic Sarno, as the appointing authority, named Deputy Chief Clapprood as the Acting Police Commissioner of the Springfield Police Department. On September 20, 2019, the appointment was made permanent. She retired from her position after 45 years of service in the department. Over the course of her years of sworn service, Superintendent Clapprood has worked as an undercover narcotics officer, a special victims’ unit supervisor, a street supervisor and a watch commander, among other roles. She also found the time to serve on the adjunct faculty staff at Western New England University teaching classes in law enforcement. Clapprood had a significant role in creating and organizing the Springfield Police Youth Athletic Association in 1994, coaching numerous teams, and initiating the Stephen O’Brien Memorial Learn to Skate program in 1996, which continues to this day each winter. Clapprood is a parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield.

James F. Gregory, Esq. was raised in Chicopee where his family had deep roots. After graduating from Cathedral High School, Gregory continued with his undergraduate studies at Tufts University. He completed his law studies at Western New England College, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1978. While a law student, Gregory participated in an internship in elder law at the Holyoke office of Western Massachusetts Legal Services, a predecessor of Community Legal Aid. Attorney Gregory began his legal career as a prosecutor in Hampden County. Following in the footsteps of his late father, Attorney Francis Gregory, he opened his own office for the general practice of law in 1980 in the center of Chicopee across from the City Hall. Attorney Gregory has served clients who otherwise could not afford the services of a private practitioner. More specifically, his commitments to pro bono work have included serving as a Hampden County bar advocate and as a volunteer member of Senior Partners for Justice which provides representation to indigent persons. He was deservingly recognized for his pro bono work by the Hampden County Bar Association. Attorney Gregory has been active in community organizations including the Sixteen Acres Civic Association where he serves as a board member and as legal counsel, as well as the Luso Federal Credit Union. In addition, he serves as the secretary of the Chicopee Bar Association. In addition, Attorney Gregory is a 40-year retreatant at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, Conn.

Rosemary A. Saccomani is the elected Register of Probate for Hampden County. She was raised in Agawam and began a career in public service at the Springfield District Court Probation Department. Next, she worked at the Massachusetts Parole Board helping those whose lives were impacted by alcohol or drug dependence or addiction. Saccomani next served as Head Administrative Clerk in the Registry of Probate and Family Court, Hampden Division. In recognition of her proficiency, she was appointed in 2001 as a Deputy Assistant Register of Probate. In 2021, Rosemary was elected as Register of Probate. In this role, she serves as a magistrate and as a family court mediator. She has also served the next generation by teaching at Westfield State University. Her commitment to education spurred her to develop relationships for the probate and family court with agencies such as the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Dept. of Children and Families, Jewish Family Services, and the former Providence Behavioral Hospital. She has also served a term as a board member of the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Western Massachusetts and volunteer work for both the West Springfield Council of the Knights of Columbus and the Unico Club to assist those organizations with their charitable works.  While her  two sons were students at St. Stanislaus School in Chicopee, she served first as a member and later as president of the school’s PTO. Saccomani is a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Springfield.

 Robert E. Schultz was born and raised in Westfield where he graduated from Westfield Vocational High. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Upon his honorable discharge, Schultz initially worked at various jobs locally, and then in 1966 he began a career in law enforcement as a reserve officer in the Westfield Police Department. In 1970, Schultz joined the force. In 1977, he was promoted to detective in the department. During this period in his career, he earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice at Holyoke Community College. In 1986, Detective Schultz was transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration local office in Springfield as a task force agent where he worked under cover for 12 years. In 1998, Schultz took a position with the U.S. Marshal’s Service serving at the Federal Court House in Springfield as a Court Security Officer. In 2011, at age 72, he was promoted to supervisor of the officers at that facility. Here, his principal responsibility was the protection of the federal judges along with the other federal employees who staff governmental offices within that facility. In 2013, at age 74, he retired. Since departing government service, Schultz has been a tireless volunteer, along with his wife and fellow honoree, Deborah A. Burzdak, at St. Mary Parish in Hampden. Together, they undertook the ambitious task of repainting the upstairs rooms and the kitchen of the parish rectory and office facility.

All are welcome to attend the Red Mass, particularly all persons involved in the administration of law and justice in the Western Massachusetts community. A brunch will follow at 11:30 am at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. Brunch tickets are $60 and may be purchased by contacting Rhonda Zuccalo by email at rjz@efclaw.com.