Randolph, Mass. ? Parishioners at two Boston-area churches were stunned Sunday to learn their priests had been suspended as part of the Catholic Archdiocese’s efforts to root out priests accused of sexual misconduct.

“I think it comes as a shock. At first people will need time to process it,” parishioner John Dottar said as he left St. Bernadette’s Church, where the Rev. Paul Finegan was suspended. “He was always very gregarious and outgoing. From everything I saw, he was nice to everyone and very well-liked.”

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston announced Saturday it had suspended Finegan and the Rev. Daniel Graham, both 57. The decision followed public criticism that it had ignored past allegations of priest misconduct.

Bishop Walter Edyvean, the vicar general of the archdiocese, spoke to parishioners Sunday at St. Bernadette’s.

“It pains me to tell you one of these priests is the pastor you love and has served you so well,” Edyvean said. “As a priest I have never had a more difficult task.”

In Quincy, parishioners at St. Joseph’s Church heard a similar message from Bishop Richard Malone about Graham, their parish priest.

The archdiocese said it found in a review of church records that multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with minors had been made against Finegan and that one such allegation had been made against Graham.

The archdiocese’s actions followed the release of documents last month showing the church had transferred former priest John Geoghan from parish to parish despite allegations that he had sexually molested children.

Geoghan, who was defrocked in 1998, was convicted last month of indecent assault involving a child. He still faces more than 80 lawsuits and two criminal trials.

The case prompted Cardinal Bernard Law to set tougher policies on reporting allegations of sexual abuse, going farther than the Vatican by saying church officials in the archdiocese would inform law enforcement officials about any priest accused of sexual misconduct involving children. Last month, Law said that also would include past allegations.