About Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish - St. Mary of the Assumption · Revere, Massachusetts
Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish – St. Mary of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic parish located at 670 Washington Avenue in Revere, Massachusetts, within the Archdiocese of Boston. It is one of two worship sites (alongside Our Lady of Grace Church in Chelsea/Everett) that together form the Morningstar Catholic Collaborative, which was merged in 2021 under Cardinal Seán O'Malley. The parish is served by Rev. Jean Jacques Stanley ('Fr. Stanley') Rousseau, and offers Mass in English (with a Haitian-Creole Mass celebrated at Our Lady of Grace on Sundays), along with daily Mass, Saturday confession, and Friday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Mary's.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Assumption
- Rector
- Rev. Jean Jacques Stanley Rousseau
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Assumption is the Revere home of the Morningstar Catholic Collaborative, a welcoming bilingual parish family that offers daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration on Friday mornings, and Saturday confession. Parishioners of St. Mary's are known for their energy, social interaction, and strong Faith Formation program ('Walking with Jesus' religious education), and they share staff, choirs, and ministries with their sister church Our Lady of Grace in Chelsea/Everett, including a vibrant Haitian-Creole Catholic community and a twinned relationship with St. Joseph Parish in L'Asile, Haiti.
Mass times at Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish - St. Mary of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (Saint Mary of the Assumption Church)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (Saint Mary of the Assumption Church)
About Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish – St. Mary of the Assumption
Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish – St. Mary of the Assumption is a Roman Catholic parish serving the city of Revere, Massachusetts, from its church at 670 Washington Avenue. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and since 2021 has been formally united with Our Lady of Grace Church in Chelsea/Everett to form the Morningstar Catholic Collaborative under Pastor Fr. Stanley Rousseau. The parish's name honors Mary, the Mother of God, under the title of the Assumption.
- Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Boston
- Two worship sites: St. Mary of the Assumption (Revere) and Our Lady of Grace (Chelsea/Everett)
- Part of the Morningstar Catholic Collaborative
- Website: morningstarcatholic.org
History
St. Mary of the Assumption was founded in 1947 and the present Revere church was dedicated in 1948, per the Archdiocese of Boston. For decades the parish served the Catholic community of Revere, and later began sharing pastoral leadership with neighboring Our Lady of Grace in Chelsea. In 2021, under the leadership of Fr. John Sheridan, the two parishes formally merged into a single parish — Blessed Mother of the Morning Star — with Cardinal Seán O'Malley approving the new name. Each church retained its original name and identity. Today the merged parish continues to draw on St. Mary's Faith Formation program and Our Lady of Grace's social-action and Haitian-Creole community life.
- Founded: 1947
- Church dedicated: 1948
- Morning Star Collaborative formed (pastors shared for ~10 years prior)
- 2021: Merged into Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish under Cardinal O'Malley
- Fr. Jim Barry — first shared pastor (seven years)
- Fr. John Sheridan — led the 2021 merger
- Fr. Stanley Rousseau — current pastor
Parish Staff
Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish is served by a small, shared staff who minister across both worship sites. The current pastor is Rev. Jean Jacques Stanley Rousseau (often called 'Fr. Stanley'), supported by an operations manager, a pastoral associate, a liturgy and music director, and a faith formation coordinator. According to the Boston Catholic Directory, the staff roster also includes Linda DeCristoforo as Pastoral Associate and Linda McElwaney in operations, with Paula Demetrio Peipman directing liturgy and music and Donna DeGregorio coordinating faith formation.
- Pastor: Rev. Jean Jacques Stanley Rousseau ('Fr. Stanley')
- Operations: Ms. Linda McElwaney
- Pastoral Associate: Ms. Linda DeCristofor(o)
- Liturgy and Music: Ms. Paula Demetrio Peipman
- Faith Formation: Ms. Donna DeGregorio
Religious Education – 'Walking with Jesus'
St. Mary of the Assumption has long been known for its energetic Faith Formation program for children and families. The collaborative offers Religious Education under the title 'Walking with Jesus,' preparing children for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, and supporting ongoing faith formation for all ages. Donna DeGregorio serves as Faith Formation coordinator for the collaborative.
- Walking with Jesus Religious Education program
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Faith Formation for children and families
Ministries & Community Life
The collaborative brings together ministries and parish groups from both St. Mary's and Our Lady of Grace, including lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, the Liturgy and Music ministry, a shared Pastoral Council, and a strong twinning relationship with St. Joseph Parish in L'Asile, Haiti. St. Mary's is also known for its annual Flea Market (held at the Revere church) and its history of community fundraisers that have long sustained parish life. Pastoral Associate Linda DeCristoforo coordinates faith formation and liturgy across both worship sites.
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Liturgy and Music ministry (Paula Demetrio Peipman)
- Pastoral Council (built jointly across both churches)
- Twinning with St. Joseph Parish, L'Asile, Haiti
- Annual Flea Market at St. Mary's Church
- Generations of Faith (shared with Our Lady of Grace)
Sacraments
St. Mary of the Assumption celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments in coordination with its sister church, Our Lady of Grace. The Reconciliation schedule is published on the parish website, and Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage are arranged through the parish office. Anointing of the Sick and other pastoral needs are available by request through Fr. Stanley Rousseau and the pastoral team.
- Baptism — arranged through the parish office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM and by appointment
- First Communion and Confirmation — via Walking with Jesus Religious Education
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by request
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James ('Jim') Barry
Served as shared pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption and Our Lady of Grace for seven years.
- Very Rev. John E. Sheridan, VFapproximately 2018–2021+
Became shared pastor when the Morning Star Catholic Collaborative was officially formed; led the 2021 merger of the two parishes into Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish under Cardinal Seán O'Malley.
- Rev. Jean Jacques Stanley ('Fr. Stanley') Rousseau
Current pastor of Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish, serving both St. Mary of the Assumption (Revere) and Our Lady of Grace (Chelsea/Everett).