About Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Ludlow, Vermont
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish in Ludlow, Vermont, part of the Diocese of Burlington, serving worshippers in the southern Vermont ski town of Ludlow and surrounding communities. The parish takes its name from the Annunciation — the moment the Blessed Virgin Mary consented to God's will and the Incarnation began — and its principal church stands at 7 Depot Street. It also has pastoral responsibility for Holy Name of Mary Church in nearby Proctorsville, the historic mission church of the parish (currently not open after the COVID closure). Because Ludlow is a ski-resort town, the parish makes a particular point of welcoming skiers, visitors, and seasonal residents alongside its year-round parishioners. Father Thomas Mosher is the current pastor.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (Annunciation)
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Mosher
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary offers the classic round of Catholic devotions — daily Mass (including a Tuesday evening Mass convenient for working parishioners), Tuesday evening Eucharistic Adoration paired with confessions, and Saturday afternoon confessions before the vigil Mass. As a small parish in a ski town, it makes a special point of welcoming seasonal residents, second-home owners, and visitors to Okemo Mountain alongside its year-round members. The parish hall (built 1999) hosts parish functions, faith formation, and community events — and has even served as emergency shelter during Vermont's July 2023 floods, reflecting the parish's commitment to the corporal works of mercy.
Mass times at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About the Parish
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Burlington located in Ludlow, Vermont, a southern Vermont ski town near Okemo Mountain. The parish is named for the Annunciation — the moment when the Blessed Virgin Mary consented to God's will and the Incarnation of Christ began — which the parish describes as 'the turning point in Salvation History, as well as in all of human history.' Father Thomas Mosher is the current pastor, also responsible for the mission church of Holy Name of Mary in Proctorsville. Because of Ludlow's identity as a ski town, the parish makes an explicit point of welcoming skiers, visitors, and part-time residents, treating them as members of the parish community.
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Ludlow began in 1847, when the first Catholics settled in town. From 1848 Father O'Reilly, then stationed in Brattleboro, would ride in to say Mass roughly every six weeks in the home of John Keating, and later at John Reed's home on South Hill, where catechism was taught and a wedding was solemnized. The parish was formally organized in 1876: land was purchased for $500 and a church was erected at a cost of $7,000, with seating for 400–500. The first Mass was celebrated on the last Sunday of 1876 before about 300 people; Martin Meeham, the largest contributor, was assigned the first pew. The church's steeple has been struck by lightning at least twice.
Our Two Churches
The parish comprises two churches: the principal Church of the Annunciation at 7 Depot Street in Ludlow, which is fully open to the public, and the mission church of Holy Name of Mary at 832 Main Street in Proctorsville, which is not re-opening at this time after closing during COVID-19.
Church of the Annunciation, Ludlow
The 1876 church on Depot Street is the active worship site for the parish, hosting Sunday and daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and confessions.
- 7 Depot St., Ludlow, VT 05149
- Seating 400–500 (historical)
- Stained-glass window over the altar donated by Father J. C. McLaughlin
Holy Name of Mary, Proctorsville (Mission Church)
Holy Name of Mary was founded by Irish railroad workers who settled in Cavendish in the 1840s. In 1859 John Tierney deeded a parcel of land in Proctorsville to Bishop Louis DeGoesbriand for $150; in 1869 Father O'Reilly built a church there at a cost of $2,000, serving about 100 families. In 1877 the Bishop appointed Rev. J. C. McLaughlin as pastor of both Holy Name of Mary and Annunciation in Ludlow. Floor problems forced the building to close for five years; Christmas Midnight Mass was celebrated again on December 25, 1905, by Rev. F. Dwyer. In September 1946, Holy Name of Mary became a mission of St. Joseph Church in Chester for the next fifty years, and in 2001 it was reunited with Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ludlow. On November 2, 2005, Bishop Salvatore R. Matano celebrated Mass there for the 100th anniversary of the re-dedication. The church closed during COVID and is not re-opening at this time.
- 832 Main Street, Proctorsville, VT 05153
- Founded 1855/1857 (records vary) — church built 1869
- Reunited with Annunciation, Ludlow in 2001
Parish Life and Ministries
As a small parish, Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary focuses on the essentials: faithful celebration of the Mass and sacraments, formation in the faith, and outreach to its ski-town community. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin, posts Father Mosher's weekly homily on the parish website, and offers online giving. The parish hall (built 1999, connected to the church) hosts parish functions and faith-formation gatherings.
- Weekly bulletin
- Fr. Mosher's Weekly Homily
- Online Giving
- Parish hall (built 1999) used for parish functions and emergency shelter
A Ski-Town Parish — Welcoming Visitors
Because Ludlow is a ski town (home to Okemo Mountain Resort), the parish makes an explicit point of welcoming skiers, other visitors, and part-time/second-home owners alongside its year-round members. The parish website says, 'We think of you as members of our parish and are blessed to have you with us.'
- Welcome to skiers and Okemo visitors
- Seasonal and part-time residents treated as members
Outreach and Community
The parish's most striking recent act of outreach came in July 2023, when catastrophic flooding hit Vermont. Father Thomas Mosher opened the parish hall and parking lot as emergency overnight shelter for about a dozen displaced people — including letting others park campers and leave their cars — because, as he told Vermont Catholic, the property sits on higher ground. He framed it as one of the corporal works of mercy — shelter the homeless.
- July 2023: parish hall and parking lot opened as flood shelter for ~12 people
- Parish hall continues to host community and parish events
Visiting and Contact
The parish office can be reached at 802-228-3451; the church is located at 7 Depot Street, Ludlow, VT 05149. The mailing address is the same as the physical address. The parish website is the best source for the most current bulletin, Father Mosher's homily, and any schedule changes.
- Phone: 802-228-3451
- Address: 7 Depot St, Ludlow, VT 05149
- Website: https://churchoftheannunciationludlow.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edmund Gendreau (Bellows Falls)before 1876
Performed Roman Catholic services for Ludlow Catholics from Bellows Falls before the parish was organized.
- Rev. J. C. McLaughlin1876–1881
First settled pastor of Ludlow; also appointed pastor of Holy Name of Mary, Proctorsville in 1877; donor of the stained-glass window over the altar.
- Rev. Henry Lane1881–1885
Succeeded McLaughlin as pastor.
- Rev. Patrick J. Houlihan1885–
Took charge of parish encompassing Mount Holly, Springfield, and Ludlow; built the parsonage in 1893.
- Rev. Patrick Barry1928–
Organized Court Annunciation #1140 of the Catholic Daughters of America in 1929; remodeled a building next to the church into a community center.
- Rev. William Hackett1944–1969
Served as pastor until his death in 1969.
- Rev. Robert Richardsonlate 1990s–
Guided the building of the new parish hall (connected to the church) in 1999.
- Rev. Romanus Igweonu2008–2015
Administrator from Nigeria.
- Rev. Lourduraja Simeone2015–
From India; succeeded Fr. Igweonu.
- Fr. Thomas Moshercurrent
Current pastor; also pastor of mission church Holy Name of Mary, Proctorsville; opened the parish hall as a flood shelter in July 2023.