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Photo courtesy of St. John's Episcopal Church, Westwood. Pictured is Rev. V. Michael Bousquet, a West Newton resident and the new rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Westwood.
Thanks to St. John's Episcopal Church, Westwood for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
The Reverend V. Michael Bousquet has been called to be the new rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Westwood, following an 18-month-long national search. Rev. Bousquet is the ninth rector in the church's history. Along with husband David Lee and their two young sons, he resides in West Newton.
Rev. Bousquet was drawn to St. John’s Westwood because of its mission as a service-oriented community that values children and families. The reverend most recently served as the associate rector at the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Waban. There, he was director of Christian education and formation and was responsible for the church Sunday school and the confirmation and pre-confirmation programs. Rev. Bousquet was also responsible for cultivating spiritual growth among adult parishioners. Recently, in the summer of 2022, he coordinated and led a 10-day formation experience across England for his parish’s pre-confirmands and their parents.
With an interest in social justice, Rev. Bousquet has led a week-long service project to partner with the people of Rosebud, a Lakota reservation in South Dakota. He has helped to host an opioid abuse conference and community resource fair on Cape Cod. During the 2021 pandemic, he led an online group in a race awareness program.
Having ministered in the greater-Boston area for over fifteen years, Rev. Bousquet's experience includes serving as the associate rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Barnstable and as neurosciences and neuro-oncology interfaith staff chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). He also spent a one-year residency at MGH as the inpatient psychiatric chaplain.
Rev. Bousquet is an accomplished preacher and liturgist and has taught several forums on spirituality and church history. He brings skills as an engaging and passionate minister, a background in online and digital media communications, fundraising and stewardship, and pastoral care.
Prior to ministry, he worked in communications, non-profit development, and fundraising for several organizations, including the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge and Historic New England in Boston.
A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Divinity School, Rev. Bousquet is also a professional tenor and enjoys fencing and rowing.
