About Corpus Christi Parish · East Sandwich, Massachusetts
Corpus Christi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Fall River located at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road in East Sandwich, Massachusetts. Its website describes it as 'the oldest parish on Cape Cod,' tracing its roots to 1830 when the first Catholic church on Cape Cod — then called St. Peter's — was dedicated in Sandwich. Today the parish is served by Father Jack Schrader, Pastor, along with Father Andrew Johnson (In Residence), two permanent deacons, and a lay staff. Parish life centers on the Eucharist, with daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in its Adoration Chapel, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA), Faith Formation and Confirmation preparation, the Fidelis and Fraternus youth discipleship ministries, a Music Ministry, and an active St. Vincent de Paul Conference that runs Mary's Pantry food ministry, Mary's Closet thrift store, and a transportation-to-Mass service.
- Established
- 1830
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (The Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Jack Schrader
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
Parishioners at Corpus Christi find a community that takes its name seriously: the parish gathers around the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and supports that encounter with one of the most robust devotional schedules on Cape Cod — daily Mass seven days a week and a 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Practical Catholic formation runs deep, with Faith Formation and Confirmation preparation for children, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults, Fidelis for girls and Fraternus for boys in grades 6–12, plus a Music Ministry and weekday devotionals. Outreach is just as active: the parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference runs Mary's Pantry (a free food pantry), Mary's Closet thrift store, a help line for neighbors in need, and even a transportation-to-Mass ministry — making it a true anchor of Catholic life on the Cape.
Mass times at Corpus Christi Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (perpetual adoration)
Welcome and Parish Identity
The parish's home page (signed by 'Father Jack Schrader, Pastor') introduces Corpus Christi as a Roman Catholic parish in East Sandwich that worships at 'the oldest parish on Cape Cod.' The name is meant literally — Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ — and the welcome letter frames the parish's life around encountering Jesus in the Eucharist and becoming, in turn, 'the mystical body of Christ in the world.' The parish describes itself as firmly rooted in the Word of God and the Apostolic Tradition, 'open to all seeking true life,' and committed to handing on the light of faith through the Sacraments, prayer and community.
- Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Fall River
- Address: 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537
- Phone: 508-888-0209
- Web: corpuschristiparish.org
History: From St. Peter's (1830) to Corpus Christi Today
The parish grew out of a small Catholic community that gathered in Sandwich in the late 1820s around the glass industry. Their 1827–28 petition to Bishop Benedict J. Fenwick of Boston led to the appointment of Father William Tyler, who lived with parishioner John Doyle and said Mass in Doyle's parlor. By 1830, with about 70 families, they built the first Catholic church on Cape Cod — St. Peter's — dedicated by Bishop Fenwick on September 19, 1830. St. Peter's was replaced by a brick church in 1854 under Father William Moran and damaged by storms in 1857 and 1898 (the Portland Gale). The cornerstone of the new Corpus Christi Church on Jarves Street was laid in August 1900, the cross was raised on Good Friday 1901, and Bishop Thomas Harkins of Providence dedicated the completed church on July 7, 1901 — three years before the Diocese of Fall River was established. A 1998 special service farewelled the Jarvis Street church after 93 years; the parish had already moved worship to its Meeting House Road parish center in 1994, and planning began under Father Marvel H. Bouchard for a much larger church on the East Sandwich campus.
- First Catholic church on Cape Cod: St. Peter's, dedicated September 19, 1830 by Bishop Fenwick
- Original 1830 building still stands nearby and is used as a gift shop
- St. Peter's Cemetery (1865) is the first Catholic cemetery on Cape Cod
- Cornerstone of Corpus Christi laid August 1900; dedicated July 7, 1901 by Bishop Thomas Harkins (then Providence Diocese)
- Second oldest parish in the Diocese of Fall River (after St. Lawrence Martyr / St. Mary's, New Bedford, 1821)
- Pastoral succession at key moments: Fr. William Tyler (1827/28), Rev. Peter Connolly (1830), Fr. William Moran (1854 rebuilding), Rev. Marvel H. Bouchard (1994–planning of new church)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Jack Schrader, Pastor, with Father Andrew Johnson in residence. Two permanent deacons — Rev. Deacon George Hults and Rev. Deacon Lenny Guyette — assist with parish life. Lay staff include Lori Whelan (Business Manager), Diane Kelly (Parish Secretary), Cynthia Verrill (Director of Faith Formation), and Jennifer Cho (Director of Sacred Music). The Parish Office can be reached at 508-888-0209.
- Fr. Jack Schrader — Pastor
- Fr. Andrew Johnson — Priest in Residence
- Rev. Deacon George Hults — Permanent Deacon
- Rev. Deacon Lenny Guyette — Permanent Deacon
- Lori Whelan — Business Manager
- Diane Kelly — Parish Secretary
- Cynthia Verrill — Director of Faith Formation
- Jennifer Cho — Director of Sacred Music
Faith Formation, OCIA, and Sacramental Preparation
Cynthia Verrill directs the parish's Faith Formation and Confirmation Preparation programs for children and teens. Adults who have not been baptized or who need to complete their sacraments are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA). The parish also subscribes to Formed, providing parishioners with online Catholic movies, study programs, audio and e-books.
- Faith Formation & Confirmation Preparation (children and teens)
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA)
- Formed — online Catholic content platform
- Marriage preparation, including the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend hosted at the parish (April 24–26)
Fidelis and Fraternus — Youth Discipleship
Launched together in 2012, Fidelis (the sisterhood) and Fraternus (the brotherhood) are the parish's signature ministries for youth in grades 6 through 12. Fidelis invites women of all ages to walk alongside girls, while Fraternus does the same for boys — gathering weekly during the school year for faith, virtue, fellowship and fun, with annual retreats and service opportunities. The Corpus Christi Fidelis chapter meets on Thursday evenings during the school year from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Both ministries are supported by the parish's annual Light the Way Gala.
- Fidelis — girls, grades 6–12; Thursdays 6:30–8:30 PM in the school year; contact Susan Ramsay
- Fraternus — boys, grades 6–12
- Both launched in 2012
- Light the Way Gala — annual parish fundraiser for Fidelis & Fraternus
Music Ministry and Weekday Devotionals
Liturgical music is led by Jennifer Cho, Director of Sacred Music. The parish also supports Weekday Devotionals and a robust Lenten schedule — including Stations of the Cross each Friday evening of Lent at 7:00 PM (3:00 PM on Good Friday) and a 'Life Everlasting' Lenten series on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. A Lenten fish fry is also part of parish life during the season.
- Music Ministry led by Jennifer Cho
- Stations of the Cross: Fridays in Lent, 7:00 PM (3:00 PM on Good Friday)
- Lenten 'Life Everlasting' series — Monday evenings 7:00–8:30 PM
- Lenten Fish Fry
St. Vincent de Paul Society — Outreach to Neighbors in Need
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference is one of the most visible ministries on Cape Cod. Its members serve as 'men and women of Corpus Christi Parish, united by faith and a shared commitment to serving others,' providing home visits and direct payments to vendors for housing, utilities, insurance, vehicle repairs, and medical expenses; Christmas gifts for clients' children; and summer camp opportunities. The Conference runs three major external ministries: Mary's Pantry food pantry, Mary's Closet thrift store, and a Transportation Ministry that gives rides to Mass.
- Help line: 508-833-1555 (call back within ~24 hours); email [email protected]
- Mary's Pantry — free food pantry, Thursdays & Saturdays 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 330 Quaker Meetinghouse Road
- Mary's Closet — thrift store (clothing, housewares, jewelry), Tue–Sat 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 330 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, 508-888-6637
- Transportation Ministry — rides to Mass, 508-888-0209
- Christmas gifts for children of clients; summer camp experiences
- Partnerships with regional agencies (e.g., SNAP / Dept. of Transitional Assistance)
Sacraments, Devotions and Seasonal Services
Beyond the regular weekly schedule, the parish offers seasonal and sacramental services throughout the year. A dedicated Christmas Mass schedule is published (Christmas Eve 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and Midnight; Christmas Day 7:30, 9:00, and 10:45 AM). Full Holy Week and Lenten schedules are posted each year on the website. First Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, and Marriage preparation are coordinated through the Parish Office.
- Christmas Eve: 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, Midnight
- Christmas Day: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM
- Annual Lenten and Holy Week schedules posted online
- Parish Livestream of Mass
- Marriage Encounter Weekend hosted at the parish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Tyler1827/28 – c.1830
First pastor; lived with parishioner John Doyle and said Mass in Doyle's parlor.
- Rev. Peter Connollyc.1830
Listed in SouthCoastToday coverage as the first pastor responsible for a wide area of the Cape at the 1830 dedication.
- Fr. William Moranmid-19th century
Former missionary to Native Americans in Maine; led construction of the 1854 brick St. Peter's Church on James Street.
- Rev. Marvel H. Bouchardas of 1998 (pastor 4 years by 1998)
Pastor at the time Corpus Christi began planning its new East Sandwich church complex.