Lally (Francis J.) is born in Swampscott.

Francis Lally graduates from Boston College and St. John’s Seminary, is ordained a priest in 1944, and becomes the youngest monsignor in the history of the Boston Archdiocese in 1952. He serves as editor of The Pilot (1952-1972), and a board member of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (1957-1970) and several other city-wide organizations. After working for the Department of Social Development and World Peace of the U.S. Catholic Conference in Washington, he returns to Boston as rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Boston Globe subsequently writes, “There is no facet of Boston life that has not absorbed Msg. Lally’s interest.” Lally dies in Boston on September 3, 1987, and is buried in Swampscott Cemetery.