About Blessed Sacrament · Walpole, Massachusetts
Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic parish in Walpole, Massachusetts, part of the Archdiocese of Boston and currently paired with neighboring St. Mary Parish to form the Walpole Catholic Collaborative. The parish traces its roots to 1874, when Catholics in Walpole first built what was then called St. Francis Church; the present neo-gothic church was dedicated on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, and renamed Blessed Sacrament in honor of Pope St. Pius X. Today the parish gathers a multi-generational community at its 10 Diamond Street church, its Adoration Chapel, its PreK–8 Catholic school on East Street, and St. Francis Cemetery in South Walpole.
- Established
- 1874 (St. Francis Church); rebuilt and renamed 1913 (Blessed Sacrament Church)
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament (the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist); named in honor of Pope St. Pius X
- Rector
- Rev. Jean Pierre Aubin (Pastor of the Walpole Catholic Collaborative)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament offers a deep liturgical life — five Sunday Masses (including a Saturday Vigil), daily Mass, multiple weekly confession times, and an Adoration Chapel open nearly every day — all on one campus in the heart of Walpole. Families can send their children to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, a PreK–8 community where 100% of students receive a faith-based education, average class size is 13.5, and 98% of parents volunteer. The parish also runs a Confirmation program now beginning in 7th grade under Cardinal O'Malley's archdiocesan initiative, plus year-round opportunities to serve as a lector, Eucharistic minister, homebound minister, or member of the Knights of Columbus.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM (or 3:50 PM) at Blessed Sacrament Church
- First Wednesday of the month 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Blessed Sacrament Church (use the Chapel door at the East Street entrance)
- Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 5:15 AM (before) and 6:15 AM (after) the 5:45 AM daily Mass at St. Mary Church
- After the 9:00 AM Monday and Wednesday daily Masses at St. Mary, and after the 9:00 AM Saturday daily Mass at Blessed Sacrament
- By approaching the priest before or after any Mass
Adoration times
- Monday 7:00 AM – 11:59 PM (Blessed Sacrament Chapel; extended overnight hours)
- Tuesday 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
- Wednesday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
- Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament Chapel)
- Friday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament Chapel; extended on First Fridays)
- Sign up for a weekly Holy Hour at [email protected]
History of Blessed Sacrament Parish
Blessed Sacrament's roots go back to 1874, when the first Catholic church in Walpole — a small frame building called St. Francis Church — was constructed to serve a growing Catholic population. The first Mass was said there in 1882. By the early 1900s, the parish had outgrown the original building, and in 1911 pastor Father Daniel Riley commissioned architect Matthew Sullivan to design a new, much larger church, bringing in German woodcarver Johannes Kirchmayer for the interior furnishings.
- 1872 – Father Gouesse, serving both Foxborough and Walpole, helps establish the Catholic church in Walpole
- 1874 – Construction begins on St. Francis Church, the first Catholic church in Walpole
- 1882 – First Mass celebrated in the original St. Francis Church
- 1911 – Father Daniel Riley commissions the present neo-gothic church; Sullivan and Kirchmayer are engaged
- 1913 – The new church opens on Easter Sunday, March 23, and is renamed Blessed Sacrament in honor of Pope St. Pius X
- 2013 – 100th anniversary of the present church celebrated with free public tours
- 2024 – Parish office begins forming a committee for a 150th anniversary book
Architecture and Sacred Art
The church is a neo-gothic design by Matthew Sullivan, who was Boston City Architect from 1895 to 1901 and trained in the office of Edmund M. Wheelwright. Sullivan's signature pointed arches, larger-than-life façades and entryways, and grand scale are evident throughout. The interior was completed by the renowned German woodcarver Johannes Kirchmayer, whose front doors, main altar, and Stations of the Cross remain in place — preserved in large part under former pastor Father Tim Kelleher's focus on stewardship of the building. A relief of Holy Communion above the main doors and a stained-glass window of Pope St. Pius X behind the altar both honor the parish's patron. Twenty-eight stained-glass windows along the nave depict the twelve Apostles (minus Judas) and various saints.
- Architect: Matthew Sullivan (1868–1948), former Boston City Architect
- Woodcarver: Johannes Kirchmayer (German, renowned ecclesiastical sculptor)
- Style: Neo-gothic with pointed arches and grand entryways
- Original commission: Father Daniel Riley, circa 1911
Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
Established in 1966, Blessed Sacrament School is a PreK–8 Catholic school on East Street, committed to academic excellence and the formation of the whole child. The school describes itself as a welcoming Catholic community where faith, service, and leadership are central. The school office is open 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM.
- Address: 808 East Street, Walpole, MA 02081
- Phone: 508-668-2336 · Fax: 508-668-7944
- Grades: PreSchool through 8
- Principal: Ms. Marilena Martucci; Assistant Principal: Mr. Brian Cote
- Average class size: 13.5
- 100% of students receive faith-based education
- 85% of students participate in a club or sport
- 48 full-time faculty and staff
- 1,000 community service hours performed each year
- 98% of parents volunteer; 84% of 8th graders at or above grade level in reading
Faith Formation and Confirmation
The Walpole Catholic Collaborative runs a faith-formation program for grades 1–10, with family-style sessions, retreats, and service opportunities. Following Cardinal Seán O'Malley's directive, the Confirmation program is being shifted from high-school age down to 8th grade. During the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 transition years, eligible 8th–10th graders will receive the sacrament, with 7th graders entering a one-year preparatory program leading to Confirmation in 8th grade.
- Faith Formation Coordinators: Cait & Paul Dufault (Grades 1–3); AnneMarie Dion, Director (Grades 4–10)
- Confirmation Program Coordinator (grades 8–10 transition)
- Grade 7 curriculum: 'Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed' (Ascension Press) or 'Project Nazareth' home-school option
- Monthly Sunday-evening in-person sessions at the St. Mary campus
- Fall retreats, service projects, and a Summer Mission Trip
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Adult and youth parishioners can serve in a wide range of ministries — liturgical, pastoral, and outreach — across the Walpole Catholic Collaborative. Many liturgical roles (Lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist) and ministry with the homebound require completion of the Virtus: Protecting God's Children training.
- Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Liturgical Ministers, Funeral Ministry
- Homebound Ministers (Eucharistic visits)
- Baptismal Ministry and Knitting Ministry
- Adoration Chapel Adorers
- Blessing Bags for the Homebound (Christmas and Easter)
- Flower arranging, gardening, and outdoor Mass volunteers
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic book stand in the church vestibule
Clergy and Staff
Blessed Sacrament is led by a Collaborative pastoral team of priests and deacons, supported by an office and school staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Jean Pierre Aubin
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Heniston (Heni) Washington
- Weekend Priests: Rev. Robert Gaudreau, Rev. Michael Steele
- Deacons: Rey Spadoni, Alan Doty, Jim Hyatt, Richard Raab
- Office Administrator: Pat Chitvanni
- Collaborative Office Manager: Kerry Pitman
- Facilities Manager: Bryan Joachim
- Finance Office Bookkeeper: Monette Espinosa
- Faith Formation: Cait & Paul Dufault (Gr. 1–3); AnneMarie Dion, Director (Gr. 4–10)
- School: Marilena Martucci, Principal; Brian Cote, Assistant Principal
- Director of Finance & Operations: Peter Gallitano
St. Francis Cemetery
St. Francis Cemetery, located on Washington Street in South Walpole, is the parish's Catholic cemetery and a continuing ministry of the parish.
- Location: Washington Street, South Walpole, MA
- Named for the original St. Francis Church that preceded Blessed Sacrament
Visiting and Contact
The parish office at 10 Diamond Street is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The school office at 808 East Street is open 7:45 AM – 3:00 PM. Visitors attending the Wednesday evening confessions should use the Chapel door at the East Street entrance.
- Parish Office: 10 Diamond Street, Walpole, MA 02081 · 508-668-4700
- School Office: 808 East Street, Walpole, MA 02081 · 508-668-2336
- Parish Office hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Website: https://walpolecatholic.net/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gouesse1872 (established the church in Walpole)
Served both Foxborough and Walpole and helped organize the original Catholic parish
- Father Daniel Rileycirca 1911
Commissioned the present neo-gothic church, hired architect Matthew Sullivan and woodcarver Johannes Kirchmayer