It is with combined sadness and gratitude for a beautiful life of ministry that we let you know that Msgr. Joseph Lind, beloved longtime pastor of St. Paul Parish, went home to God yesterday. What a remarkable gift he has been to us and to the Church – how many lives he has blessed with his presence and faith!
Obituary and Services
Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Lind who served the Archdiocese of Boston for 61 years, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2026. He was born in Newton, MA in 1927, the son of Frank P. Lind and Winnifred (Joyce) Lind, and grew up in St. John the Evangelist Parish, where he celebrated his first Mass after being ordained to the priesthood.
Msgr. Lind was one of four children and was predeceased by sister Mary Devlin and brothers Frank Lind and Richard Lind. He leaves his nieces Elizabeth “Lisa” Devlin, Amy Corbett, Paula Bitner, Anne Marcks, Elizabeth “Betsy” Mellors and Mary Murphy and his nephew Robert Lind.
Msgr. Lind graduated from Boston College in 1950. He was engaged in residential building and real estate in the Wellesley area from 1950-1960. During these years, he was a member of the Wellesley Advisory Board, Wellesley Town Meeting and a reserve officer in the Massachusetts National Guard.
In 1960, Msgr. Lind entered St. John’s Seminary, Brighton and was ordained to the priesthood in 1965. After a brief period of parish service, he was appointed to the faculty of St. John’s Seminary. He also served as a Trustee of the Seminary from 1969 to 2004.
Msgr. Lind returned to parish life in 1989 as pastor of St. Paul Parish in his home community of Wellesley. He served and cherished these years and the parishioners until his retirement in 2002. He was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul in 1998 and became a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jersualem.
During his 13 years as pastor at Saint Paul Church, many projects were implemented and accomplished under his leadership. In an article in the Wellesley Townsman on the occasional of the 50th anniversary of his priesthood, Msgr. Lind noted, “I took part in the plans for the construction of the office suites of the rectory and the addition to the church, which enabled the church to accommodate 50 percent more people.” Due to his design and construction background, he was able to accomplish the church’s renovation while preserving the integrity of the original design.
Msgr. Lind continued to serve the parish and later the Collaborative for many years as a retired priest in residence and weekend celebrant until 2021, when he moved to the retirement home for senior priests of the Archdiocese, Regina Cleri.
Visitation will be at St. Paul Church on Tuesday, July 21, from 5:00-8:00 PM.
The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at St Paul Church on Wednesday, July 22, at 11:00 AM.
Interment in St. Mary Cemetery, Needham
Instead of flowers, the family of Msgr. Lind asks for celebration of “Fr. Joe’s” legacy through contributions to the retirement home for senior priests of the Archdiocese of Boston at Clergy Trust/Regina Cleri, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184 or St. Paul Church 502 Washington Street Wellesley, MA 02482.