Artie Boyle Shares His Inspiring Healing Journey

Faith, healing, and miracles—these were three themes about which Artie Boyle P’03, GP’22,’25,’29 spoke in his powerful address to the school community during the All School Read Assembly on Monday, September 16. As Artie recounts in his book, “Six Months to Live,” he shared the story of his grim cancer diagnosis in 1999 and his pilgrimage to Medjugorje the following year, from which he returned cancer free.

Artie and his wife, Judy, have 13 children, including St. Sebastian’s alumnus and former NHL star Brian Boyle ’03, and 27 grandchildren, including three Arrows, Christian ’22, Jacob ’25, and Daniel ’29 Pichay. Jacob, captain of this year’s soccer and basketball teams, introduced his grandfather, who he referred to as a “beacon of joy” who has “passed down his unbelievable faith to his children and grandchildren and has set a beautiful example of living for others and God for his substantial family to follow.”  

During his address, Artie recalled the remarkable and inexplicable series of events that led up to his pilgrimage to Medjugorje with his friend, Rob Griffin, and his brother-in-law, Kevin Gill. He described in rich detail what the three men experienced together in this tiny village—from going to confession for the first time in 20-30 years to praying at the top of a mountain in the pouring rain—and the people they met along the way who made a profound and lasting impact on their spiritual transformation. When they came home, just days before Artie was meant to have major surgery to remove his right lung, his cancer was gone.

Filled with gratitude, Artie has since travelled to Medjugorje 20 times and inspired people around the world with his story. As his grandson noted, Artie’s faith journey has influenced his own family in powerful ways. “The Blessed Mother did things with our children that we never ever could have done, and we're eternally grateful to Our Lady for taking our children under her mantle and to do the things she's done with them.”

In his closing remarks, Head of School Brendan Sullivan noted, "I have known Artie for nearly 25 years, going back to when his son, Brian, was a freshman at St. Sebastian's. His story is such a testament to the power of the ‘three Fs’: Friends, Family, and especially Faith. It is such an honor to have him back on campus today, and to share his powerful Witness with our community."

The All School Read Assembly ended fittingly with a prayer delivered by Artie’s son, Fr. Christopher Boyle, who was inspired by Artie’s deep faith and his own experiences at Medjugorje to join the priesthood.

Thank you, Artie, for sharing your incredible story with us and reminding our school community about the power of prayer and what’s most important.