About Annunciation Parish, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church · Gardner, Massachusetts
Annunciation Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Gardner, Massachusetts, formed in 2015 by the merger of four Gardner parishes — Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (the French-Canadian parish founded in 1884), Holy Spirit (the Polish parish), Sacred Heart (the Irish parish), and St. Joseph's — into a single parish operating two worship sites: Holy Rosary Church at 135 Nichols Street and Holy Spirit Church at 50 Lovewell Street. It belongs to the Diocese of Worcester and is pastored by Rev. Stephen Lundrigan with Parochial Vicar Rev. Miguel Pagan. The parish runs Holy Family Academy (PreK–Grade 8), a Faith Formation / Religious Education program, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, Youth Ministry, and a Music Ministry, and offers Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (patron of the Nichols Street church); Annunciation of the Lord (patron of the merged parish)
- Rector
- Fr. Victor Sierra
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
Annunciation Parish welcomes newcomers into a community that consciously preserves the devotional heritage of Gardner's Polish, French-Canadian and Irish Catholic immigrants. It offers the full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass in English (including an Extraordinary Form / Latin Mass) and a Sunday Mass in Spanish — together with year-round Eucharistic Adoration, a robust Faith Formation program for children and adults, an active Youth Ministry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for those in need, a Respect Life committee, and Holy Family Academy, a PreK–Grade 8 Catholic school on the Nichols Street campus. Whether you are registering a family, returning to the faith, or exploring Catholicism through RCIA, there is a clear path to get involved.
Mass times at Annunciation Parish, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM at Holy Spirit (Reconciliation Room)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Holy Rosary
- First Friday 7:00 PM – 7:25 PM during Eucharistic Adoration at Holy Spirit
- By appointment — call the priests at the Rectory Office to schedule a private Confession
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM in the Parish Center Adoration Chapel
Parish History
Annunciation Parish traces its roots to November 1884, when the Rev. Isaie Solis founded a French-Canadian Catholic parish in Gardner. The first Masses were held in a skating rink on Nichols Street; the original chapel, school and rectory were built in 1885 and dedicated in 1886. After a fire in 1889, Rev. Alfred Langevin rebuilt and added the rectory, then in 1895 began the imposing Romanesque church that still stands. Holy Spirit was founded in 1908 by the Polish community; Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's served Gardner's Irish and other Catholic families. In 2014 the two parish schools merged into Holy Family Academy, and in 2015 Bishop Robert J. McManus reconfigured all four parishes into a single Annunciation Parish operating Holy Rosary and Holy Spirit churches.
- 1884 — Rev. Isaie Solis founds the French-Canadian parish; first Masses in a Nichols Street skating rink.
- 1886 — Original chapel (church / school / rectory, 500 seats) completed.
- 1889 — Fire damages the building during tower enlargement.
- 1895 — Rev. Alfred Langevin begins the present Romanesque church.
- 1901 — Rev. Jules Graton becomes pastor.
- 1903 — Ten Sisters of the Presentation of Mary from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec take over the school; 500+ pupils enrolled.
- October 3, 1915 — Holy Rosary Church dedicated at a cost of $80,000; Bishop Thomas D. Beaven blesses the bells.
- 1908 — Holy Spirit Church built by Gardner's Polish community.
- 2014 — Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary schools merge into Holy Family Academy (PreK–Grade 8).
- 2015 — Bishop McManus merges the four parishes into Annunciation Parish; Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's close.
- 2018 — Sacred Heart Church sold; proceeds strengthen Annunciation Parish.
Worship Sites
Annunciation Parish maintains two active worship sites in Gardner, the legacy of the 2015 merger. The rectory and main parish offices are at Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street; the second site, Holy Spirit Church, sits at 50 Lovewell Street. The parish bulletin and website direct visitors to the appropriate site for each Mass, with most English daily Masses at Holy Rosary and the Saturday Vigil, Sunday 8:30 AM and Tuesday/Thursday daily Masses at Holy Spirit.
- Holy Rosary Church — 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440 (Parish Rectory & Offices)
- Holy Spirit Church — 50 Lovewell Street, Gardner, MA 01440
- Parish Center (offices, Religious Education, chapel for First Saturday Mass and daily weekday Masses)
- Parish Center Adoration Chapel (Wednesday all-day Adoration)
Clergy & Parish Staff
Annunciation Parish is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and two deacons, supported by a parish office staff and a Music Ministry team. The pastor and parochial vicar can be reached directly at the Rectory Office at 978-632-0253.
- Rev. Miguel Pagan — Parochial Vicar (ext. 130)
- Rev. Mr. Stanley Baczewski — Retired Deacon (978-855-9805)
- Rev. Mr. Arthur Giard — Deacon
- Mr. William Lawton — Business Manager (ext. 113)
- Mrs. Joanne Kay — Parish Secretary (ext. 110)
- Mrs. Deb McGonigal — Administrative Assistant (ext. 111)
- Mrs. Maura Sweeney — Director of Religious Education (ext. 117)
- Mr. Don Robinson — Director of Buildings & Grounds (ext. 109)
- Mr. Eric Cormier — Building Maintenance
- Music Ministry: Mr. Paul Cormier (978-602-6166), Mrs. Paulette Fowler (978-660-0215), Ms. Sharon Sawtell (978-632-7216)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation office, directed by Mrs. Maura Sweeney, offers year-round programs for every stage of the Catholic journey. Religious Education Classes are offered for children and teens; the RCIA process welcomes adults and children exploring becoming Catholic; and a range of adult faith formation opportunities (including seasonal 'Winter Adult Faith Formation' sessions) is offered throughout the year.
- Religious Education Classes for children and teens
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- RCIA adapted for children
- Adult faith formation sessions (winter and seasonal offerings)
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Maura Sweeney — ext. 117
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry at Annunciation Parish reaches out to the teens of Gardner with regular programming, and is led by Mr. Paul Hartin and Ms. Jackie Nicholson. Families interested in youth activities can contact the office at [email protected].
- Co-leaders: Mr. Paul Hartin and Ms. Jackie Nicholson
- Email: [email protected]
- Reach via the parish Rectory: 978-632-0253
Music Ministry
Music at Mass and special liturgies is coordinated by a three-person Music Ministry team serving both worship sites, supporting the choir and congregational singing at English, Spanish and Latin Masses.
- Mr. Paul Cormier — 978-602-6166
- Mrs. Paulette Fowler — 978-660-0215
- Ms. Sharon Sawtell — 978-632-7216
Liturgical Ministries
All baptized Catholics share in the priesthood of Christ and may serve the parish through several liturgical roles. The website describes the formation and ongoing life of Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in detail, including their ministry to the sick and homebound, and lists Altar Servers and the Music Ministry as additional baptismal callings.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at Mass (training required).
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist with distribution and bring Communion to the sick and homebound.
- Ministry to the Sick and Homebound — Communion visits arranged through the Rectory.
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at Mass.
- Contact: Fr. Luke or Mrs. Deb McGonigal, 978-632-0253, ext. 130 or 110, for training or to rejoin the ministry.
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul & Respect Life
Parish outreach centers on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (ext. 143), which serves neighbors in material need, and the Respect Life Ministry, which promotes Catholic teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. The Respect Life committee welcomes volunteers through its coordinator.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — phone ext. 143 via the parish office
- Respect Life Committee — Coordinator Janet Brown, 978-489-4196
- Activities: education on life issues, support of allied organizations, parish awareness
Holy Family Academy (Catholic School)
Holy Family Academy is the parish's Catholic school for preschool through Grade 8, formed in 2014 by the merger of the former Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary parish schools. The school operates on the Nichols Street campus, next to Holy Rosary Church, and is administered by a principal and staff reachable through the school office.
- Principal: Mrs. Colette Goguen (ext. 219)
- Director of Enrollment: Angela Aros (ext. 250)
- School phone: 978-632-8656
- Campus: Nichols Street, Gardner (Holy Rosary School building)
Becoming Catholic & Joining the Parish
The parish contact page invites visitors to register as parishioners, sign up for parish Flocknote group messaging, schedule a visit from a priest, enroll children in Religious Education or Holy Family Academy, request a sacrament, set up online giving, or volunteer in one of several ministries. RCIA is offered for adults and children seeking to become Catholic.
- Register as a parishioner (online form on the Contact page)
- Sign up for Flocknote group messaging
- RCIA for adults and children
- Schedule a visit from a priest or a Mass intention
- Volunteer opportunities: Respect Life, Ministry to the Sick and Homebound, Catechist, other
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Isaie Solis1884–1886
Founder of the French-Canadian parish; built the original chapel, school and rectory combination building on Nichols Street.
- Rev. C.E. Brunault1886–
Succeeded Solis; opened the parochial school in the church basement taught by lay teachers in French and English.
- Rev. Alfred Langevin1890s–
Rebuilt after the 1889 fire, added the present rectory, and began the Romanesque church in 1895 with Masses first celebrated in the basement.
- Rev. Jules Graton1901–
Revived the parochial school on a permanent basis; dedicated the completed Holy Rosary Church on October 3, 1915.