EFC Sponsors the 25th Annual Red Mass and Brunch, Honoring Four Local Leaders in Law, Faith, and Public Service

On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the St. Thomas More Society of Western Massachusetts will celebrate its Twenty-Fifth Annual Red Mass and Brunch, honoring four members of our community who have devoted themselves to the law, to justice, and to service of others. Our law firm is proud to serve as a Brunch Sponsor of this milestone anniversary.

The Red Mass will begin at 10:00 AM at Saint Michael’s Cathedral, 260 State Street, Springfield, Mass. All are welcome to attend, particularly those involved in the administration of law and justice throughout the four western counties of Massachusetts. A brunch honoring this year’s four recipients will follow at 11:30 AM at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, Mass. Brunch tickets are $60 and may be reserved by contacting Cloe A. Cummings at cac@efclaw.com by October 30, 2026.

A Tradition Dating to the Thirteenth Century

The Red Mass takes its name from the red vestments traditionally worn by its celebrants, a color that symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit. The tradition dates back to the Thirteenth Century, when it was celebrated to formally open the term of court in countries across Europe. It was first introduced in the United States in 1928, at the Church of St. Andrew in New York City, and it is now celebrated in dioceses across the country each year to invoke God’s blessing upon members of the bench, bar, legislature, law enforcement, and all those who administer justice.

Western Massachusetts is in good company. In Washington, D.C., the Archdiocese of Washington and the John Carroll Society host a Red Mass each fall at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, traditionally celebrated the day before the U.S. Supreme Court opens its new term. In New Orleans, the Archdiocese and the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association celebrated their 74th annual Red Mass this year at St. Louis Cathedral, a tradition unbroken since 1953 except for a single year when Hurricane Katrina forced the event to Baton Rouge. Our own Society’s 25th anniversary this year places Western Massachusetts’s observance of this centuries-old tradition in that same lineage.

Honoring Four Distinguished Leaders

Each year, the St. Thomas More Society honors members of the legal community who have distinguished themselves through public service and a demonstrated commitment to the law. The honor is not limited to Catholics; any person who has shown a commitment to their own faith and to the administration of justice in our community is eligible to receive it. This year’s four honorees reflect the breadth of that mission.

Elizabeth Dineen, Esq., Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts

Elizabeth G. Dineen has served as CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts since 2016, leading a team of 150 employees who assist survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and homelessness. She previously served Hampden County for 27 years as an Assistant District Attorney, including as Chief of the Public Protection Unit, and later chaired the Criminal Justice Department at Bay Path University. Her many honors include BusinessWest’s Women of Impact award, the Governor’s Award for Service to the Commonwealth, and the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Access to Justice Prosecutor of the Year Award, of which she was the first female recipient.

Laura S. Gentile, Esq., Hampden County Clerk of Courts

Laura Santaniello Gentile earned her Juris Doctor from Western New England College in 1991 and began her career practicing alongside her father and brother before joining the Hampden County Superior Court Clerk’s Office in 1996. She was elected Hampden County Clerk of Courts in 2012 and continues to serve in that role today. Gentile has served on the boards of Saint Michael’s Academy and Dress for Success, volunteered with the Magic Bullet Foundation, and participated in the Springfield Public Schools read-aloud program for 15 years.

Corrine P. Ryan, Esq., Managing Attorney of Community Legal Aid

A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Georgetown University Law Center, Corrine Ryan joined Community Legal Aid in 2013, inspired by her Jesuit education to pursue public interest law. As Managing Attorney, she now oversees CLA’s Hampden County operations, where more than 40 attorneys, paralegals, and support staff provide free civil legal assistance to people facing homelessness, domestic violence, and threats to their safety, education, and access to essential benefits. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Hampden County Bar Association and is the immediate past Board Chair of Square One.

Monsignor Christopher Connelly, Co-Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield

Ordained to the priesthood in 1993, Monsignor Christopher D. Connelly has served the Diocese of Springfield in numerous roles over more than 33 years of ministry, including vice-chancellor, co-chancellor, rector of Saint Michael’s Cathedral, and vicar general. For many years while serving at Saint Michael’s Cathedral, he also provided valued assistance to the St. Thomas More Society by hosting and coordinating its annual events, helping the Society continue its mission of bringing together members of the legal community in service to faith, justice, and the common good.

A Joy to Celebrate These Leaders

As a firm rooted in this community, Egan, Flanagan and Cohen is proud to support the St. Thomas More Society’s mission and to stand behind the Red Mass and Brunch as it marks twenty-five years of honoring those who serve our legal community with integrity and faith.

How to Attend

All are welcome to attend the Red Mass, which will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Saint Michael’s Cathedral, 260 State Street, Springfield, Mass. A brunch honoring this year’s honorees will follow at 11:30 AM at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. The Society requests a $60 donation for brunch tickets, which may be reserved by contacting Cloe A. Cummings at cac@efclaw.com. Please reply by October 30, 2026.