St Mary's Parish History

1849
Five attend Mass offered by Fr. Charles O'Reilly at the John L. Fitzpatrick home on Medway Road (now 316 Lincoln Street).

1851
Catholics are given the use of the Town Hall for Mass. Rev. M. X. Carroll offers Mass monthly at the Town Hall.

1862
Rev. Michael McCable of Woonsocket replaces Rev. Carroll.

1864
On November 8, town approves cemetery on land formerly owned by Hugh McParland.

1865
Mary Tobin, who died on July 29 at age 19, is first to be interred in cemetery. Her headstone is later taken down and her name put on the Dugan stone.

1871
A church, built in 1788, is purchased from the Congregational Society and becomes a mission station. This is our first church.

1877
On February 6, St. Mary's becomes an independent parish with Rev. James Griffin as first Pastor.

1879
Archbishop Williams confirms Franklin and Wrentham children.

1885
Rev. John L. Mulcahy becomes our second Pastor upon the death of Father Griffin.

1888
The Church is dedicated by Archbishop Williams.

1891
Rev. Martin J. Lee becomes third Pastor.

1893
A parochial school is established with two rooms in the church basement and a convent is set up on Oak Street with two more classrooms on the first floor. In September, St. Mary's Grammar School is opened with four Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in charge.

1899
A large brick building is built on the corner of Beaver Street to provide a school, gym, and assembly hall.

Around 1899
the old church (over 110 years old) is declared unsafe. Mass is now celebrated in the old Morse Opera House until a makeshift chapel can be arranged.

1900
The original church is destroyed by fire on June 26.

1902
The school closes. The parish is heavily in debt.

1903
Rev. Daniel P. Scannell becomes fourth Pastor of St. Mary’s.

1904
Bishop Brady dedicates the ground floor of the school building as a chapel on November 13.

1916
Father Scannell establishes the Knights of Columbus and serves as Chaplain.

1921
Catholic Women's Club is organized with Miss Anna T. Kelley as President.

1923
The chapel Building is destroyed by fire on May 30.
The cornerstone of the third St. Mary's Church, the present church, is blessed by Cardinal O'Connell on September 2.

1924
The first Mass is celebrated in the basement chapel on Ash Wednesday, March 5, by Fr. Scannell.
Rev. Edward Kenney is appointed fifth Pastor on December 21.

1927
On September 27, first Solemn High Mass is sung in upper church celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the parish. Fr. Kenney is the celebrant.
Assumption Parish, South Bellingham, is cut from St. Mary’s and is established as a parish by Cardinal O'Connell.

1932
Father Kenney announces plans for new rectory.

1942
Release time for one hour of religious instruction is granted by School Committee for junior high and high school pupils.

1944
The Home of the Holy Child for children from broken homes opens in the convent.

1947
St. Jude's Parish, Norfolk, is established from St. Mary's by Archbishop Cushing.

1949
Rev. James J. McManus is appointed administrator.
Cistercian Nuns come from Ireland to Mount St. Mary’s Abbey.

1950
Rev. George M. Dowd is appointed as sixth Pastor of St. Mary's.
New carpeting is installed in the church.

1951
Archbishop Cushing gives the Pontifical Blessing to Our Lady of Grace Shrine (located on the church lawn) and the newly erected crucifix (at the cemetery). Archbishop Cushing also celebrates the Solemn Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at an altar set up in front of the rectory.

1952
St. Mary’s celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
Msgr. Kenney celebrates his Golden Jubilee as a priest.

1953
Father Masciarelli forms Legion of Mary on October 27, 1953.
The six new statues on the facade of the church and the new interior statues are dedicated in December. The renovated altar is also dedicated.

1956
St. Mary's Parochial School opens. The dedication and blessing of St. Mary's School is held in September. The laying of the cornerstone of the school and the blessing of the interior of the school also take place.

1959
The parish publishes a weekly newspaper as part of St. Mary's School Development Fund.

1960
Monsignor Dowd is called home to God on May 11, 1960.
Rt. Rev. William F. Collins becomes seventh Pastor of St. Mary’s on May 24.

1962
The First Annual Parish Reunion is held.

1971
Monsignor Collins retires on May 11. Monsignor Collins is called home to God on November 29, 1978.
Rev. Albert G. Fairbanks is appointed St. Mary's eighth Pastor on May 11.
The parish council is formed.

1972
St. Mary's School closes.
Parish Club and C.Y.O. are both formed in January.
St. Mary's First Spring Festival is held.

1974
A fire damages St. Mary's School.

1975
Baptismal robes, presented at the Sacrament of Baptism, are handmade by a parishioner.

1976
Refurbishing of Church and properties is completed including new altar downstairs and plans are made for redoing main sanctuary.
The Our Lady of Hope Charismatic Prayer Group is formed in September.

1977
St. Mary's enters into its second century of service as our spiritual home. Cardinal Medeiros is the principal celebrant of the Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of St. Mary's Parish.
Junior C.Y.O. is formed in March.
at Christmas, the first group of men is commissioned as Lay Ministers of the Eucharist.

1979
Fr. R. Michael Guarino organizes the first Feast of St. Rocco in August.

1980
1000 Club, a monthly raffle to support the parish, is formed.

1981
Parish Council is re-established.

1982
Fr. Albert Fairbanks is called home to God on September 11.
Fr. Henry Boivin is appointed ninth Pastor of St. Mary’s on December 14.

1983
A new electric lift for handicapped parishioners is installed and dedicated.
Five ceiling fans are installed in the upper church.
A parish census takes place.
There are 2,300 families registered in St. Mary’s.

1984
On February 2, A Holy Year Pilgrimage Mass is celebrated.
In February, the first group of women is commissioned in February as Lay Ministers of the Eucharist.
The Respect Life Committee is formed.
Eucharistic Ministers begin to bring the Eucharist to homebound parishioners.
Altar Care group begun by Fr. Fournier.

1985
Baptismal Catechesis group is formed to assist parents, the prime educators of their child’s faith, to prepare for their child’s Baptism.

1986
The Spiritual Development Committee is established.
St. Mary’s Parish Sacrificial Giving Program continues to tithe (10%).
The Caring Tree, St. Mary's Christmas outreach program, begins.

1987
RCIA Program begins in the fall.
A new addition to the rectory is constructed.

1988
Fr. Boivin ends his pastorate in August.
Fr. Edward Gillis and then Fr. Edward Gaudette serve as Administrators.
Fr. James O’Leary is appointed tenth Pastor of St. Mary’s on October 25.

1989
St. Mary's becomes part of the newly-formed West region of the Archdiocese of Boston on January 1.
The Vocation Crucifix Program of Prayer is initiated.
In September, the Parish Worship Committee meets for the first time.
St. Mary's School will be known as St. Mary's Parish Center.

1991
Fellowship Committee, originally called Welcoming Committee, is formed.
The Marthas and Marys Prayer Group is formed.
New Christmas crib figures are purchased.
The Parish Pastoral Council is formed.

1992
In October, the painting of the lower church is completed.

1993
Painting of the upper church begins after Easter.
There are over 3,100 families registered in St. Mary’s.
There are over 10,000 parishioners registered in St. Mary’s.
Almost 1600 children are enrolled in the parish Religious Education program.
A new wheelchair lift is installed and ready for use.

1994
Marian Prayer Group is formed.
St. Mary’s Youth Community Service Corps for sixth through twelfth graders is formed.
Olive Branch, our "storefront" outreach ministry, opens on Main Street.
The Teen Choir is established in September.
The first annual town-wide $relay for Life takes place.
The Ushers Group is renamed Ministers of Hospitality and is opened to both men and women.

1995
The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School is granted a license to use St. Mary’s School building for the 1995-1996 school year.
Fr. James O’Leary is transferred effective August 1.
Weekly Sunday Eucharistic "Holy Hour" and Benediction begin in July.
Rev. Thomas J. Walsh is appointed St. Mary’s eleventh Pastor effective October 20.
The Finance Committee is formed.
The Pastoral Visitor Program is expanded.
St. Mary's Prayer Wall is initiated.

1996
The Bereavement Ministry is established in February.
Ordained on June 14, 1946,Fr. Francis W. Beksha celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving on June 9 on the occasion of his 50th Jubilee.
A committee is formed regarding the feasibility of reopening the parish school.
The Health Ministry/Parish Nurse program begins.
Catholic Women’s Club celebrates its 75th Anniversary during the 1996-1997 club year.
Charter School license is extended.
New church doors are installed in July.

1997
St. Mary Ultreyas for Cursillo begins.
The Weave, a quarterly parish newsletter, goes to print in April.
A Coordinator of Health and Homebound Ministry/Parish Nurse is appointed.
The rectory roof is repaired.
The church roof is repaired.
A parish census is conducted in November.

1998
Second 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is added in lower church.
Legion of Mary celebrates its 45th Anniversary.
Mother’s Group is formed.
New hand-carved doors are installed at the entrances to the church.
The school roof is replaced.
New boiler is installed in school building.
New pews are installed in upper church. Pews include special seating for physically handicapped parishioners.
New carpeting is installed in upper church.
The 20th Festival of St. Rocco is held in August of 1998 on the school grounds.

1999
St. Mary’s 2000 Spiritual Treasures year-long program is undertaken in preparation for the Millennium.
Parish dedicates three Fridays a month for all-day Eucharistic Adoration.
The St. Monica Sodality is formed.
There are 4,092 families registered in the parish as of October 1.
There are 13,542 parishioners registered in the parish as of October 1.
There are over 2400 children registered in the Religious Education Program.
Bernard Cardinal Law visits St. Mary's in December.

2000
The Jubilee Committee is established.
Jubilee Week is held from July 15 to July 23.
Air conditioning is installed in the upper church.
The grief Support group begins.
The Alpha program begins.

2001
The Jubilee Year concludes on January 6, 2001.
A second 10:30 Mass is added in the lower church on February 4.
New carpeting is installed on the first floor and lower floor of the rectory.
New carpeting is installed in the lower church.
St. Mary's is one of 11 pilot parishes for Promise for Tomorrow, the capital and endowment campaign for the Archdiocese of Boston.
Painting of the upper church begins in November.

2002
On February 6, St. Mary's celebrates its 125th anniversary: 125 years of faith, hope, love and service.
Refurbishing of the upper church is complete.
The interior of the upper church is completely repainted and relit.
The bricks on the facade of the church undergo re-pointing in April.
Extensive repair work is done on the brick around the rose window.
The 125th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving is celebrated on June 23.
The 125th Anniversary Dinner is held on October 20 at the Myriad Ballroom in Mendon.
4,271 families are registered at St. Mary's.
14,558 parishioners are registered in St. Mary's. On February 6, the 9:00am Mass is celebrated as the closing Mass for St. Mary's Anniversary Year.

2003
On February 6, the 9:00am Mass is celebrated as the closing Mass for St. Mary's Anniversary Year.