October 6, 2025

Seven legal professionals honored at 24th annual Red Mass

REGIONAL
By Sharon Roulier

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne celebrated the 24^th Annual Red Mass Sunday, Oct. 5 at St. Michael’s Cathedral.

The annual Mass was sponsored locally by the St. Thomas More Society, which presents the St. Thomas More Medal to local, legal professionals who are nominated and chosen because of their outstanding acts of public service and commitment to justice.

The tradition of the Red Mass was begun by Pope Innocent IV in 1243 for the Ecclesial Judicial Court asking the invocation of the Holy Spirit as a source of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude and strength for the coming term of the court. The color red signifies the Holy Spirit and martyrdom. St. Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers.

Among the honorees was Springfield Attorney Peter B. Barrett, who with his partner, Pat Markey, serves as a trial lawyer specializing in insurance defense, insurance coverage and commercial litigation.

Barrett said he was surprised and honored to receive the award, noting the positive influence St. Thomas More has on many members of the legal profession.

“St. Thomas more was all about integrity,” said Barrett, in an interview with Catholic Communications. “In fact, he died because of what he believed in. He refused to recognize the King of England, King Henry VIII, as the head of the church.”

Barret said his Catholic faith has influenced him as an attorney.

“I think being Catholic and being a follower of Christ is to recognize we are here to serve. And I think as a lawyer, if we take that mindset to serve, it can only help us,” he said. “And to put our clients and the importance of their needs before ours. That’s what service is. That’s what Jesus Christ did.”

Barrett graduated from Classical High School in 1983. He went to the University of Hartford on a wrestling scholarship, graduating in 1988 and attended the Thurgood Marshal School of Law at Texas Southern University, graduating in 1993.

Barrett married his high school sweetheart, Karen Elizabeth Capone, in 1996. The couple has six children and reside in Longmeadow where they are active members of St. Mary Parish. Barrett teaches faith formation and is one of the coordinators of St. Mary’s CYO basketball program.

Along with Barrett, the other 6 honorees were: Michael Serduck, Linda Melconian, Francis B. Marinaro, Maurice M. Cahillane, John W. Graziano, and Msgr. Daniel P. Liston.

Attorney Michael Serduck is a graduate of Amherst Regional High School (1975), the University of Massachusetts in Amherst (1978) and Western New England College, School of Law (1981). He is the first person in his family to earn a college degree. He has been practicing law in Massachusetts since 1981. Currently his practice involves domestic relations, estate planning, probate, probate litigation and condominium law. He is a member of St. Brigid Parish in Amherst where he serves as the chair of the finance council committee and member of the 100^th anniversary committee. He is a 40-year plus member of the Knights of Columbus Amherst Council 1619, and past Grand Knight.

Attorney Linda Melconian was the first woman Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. As Senate Chairwoman of Insurance Committee, she was responsible for all major health insurance laws enacted in Massachusetts and created a legislative Science and Technology Committee. She was recognized as Majority Leader Emerita for her passion, hard work and negotiation skills.

She is a cum laude graduate of Mt. Holyoke College. She earned a master’s degree from the School of Public and International Affairs at George Washington University and a law degree from George Mason University. She and her husband, Andrew Scibelli, reside in Springfield and are members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.

Francis Marinaro, of Pittsfield, graduated from St. Anselm College in 1979 with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. He earned a master’s degree in education from Antioch University. He served as Register of Probate in Berkshire Probate and Family Court from 1997-2021. He also worked for the Department of Children and Families as a supervisor from 1982-1996. He was a Ward 5 representative for Pittsfield City Council from 1991-1997. 

Marinaro was the varsity soccer coach at the former St. Joseph’s High School in Pittsfield from 1981-2004. He and his wife Marianne have four adult children and seven grandchildren with another one the way. They belong to St. Ann Parish in Lenox.

Attorney Maurice M. Cahillane was raised in Springfield where he attended local schools including Cathedral High School, now an integral part of Pope Francis Preparatory School. Cahillane graduated from the University of Notre Dame and completed his law studies at Georgetown University Law Center, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1979 and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in that same year. He is currently a partner in the Springfield firm of Egan, Flanagan & Cohen.

Cahillane’s experience has included serving the City of Springfield as its City Solicitor where he handled a wide range of municipal issues. Currently, he serves as Assistant City Solicitor specializing in labor relations.

He and his wife, Claire, are parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield and have three children and four grandchildren. Cahillane serves his parish church as a member of its Finance Commission.

Attorney John Graziano is a partner at Hunter, Graziano & DiSantis, PC, in Lee, where he has practiced law since 1993. He is a 1991 graduate of Albany Law School where he was a member of the Law Review. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and New York. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, business law, estate planning, probate, and select litigation matters.

Graziano is the immediate past president of the Berkshire County Bar Association and currently serves as a member of the MA Joint Bar Committee reviewing and making recommendations on judicial candidates for Governor Healy’s office.

He served as real estate counsel for the Marians at Eden Hill and the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge. Graziano and his wife, Michele, are members of St. Mary Parish in Lee and have two children.

Monsignor Daniel Liston grew up in Lenox Dale, graduating from Lenox Memorial High School. Msgr. Liston earned a bachelor of arts degree from Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. before attending St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. He attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., earning his licentiate in canon law. Msgr. Liston was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Springfield in 1985.

He served as parochial vicar at Holy Name Parish in Springfield and the former Holy Family Parish, in Holyoke. He served as pastor at the former St. Louis de France Parish in West Springfield, the former Blessed Sacrament Parish in Northampton and most recently at St. Patrick Parish in Springfield. He served as assistant chancellor, vice chancellor, chancellor and vicar for canonical affairs, 1989 – 2021; instructor and judge, Diocesan Tribunal Office, 1989 – present; and member of various commissions and committees, canon law instructor in the diaconate.

A brunch followed at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow.