About Gate of Heaven (South Boston) · Boston, Massachusetts
Gate of Heaven Parish is a Catholic parish in South Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1863 as an offshoot of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish during the Civil War years. Today it is administered collaboratively with the neighboring St. Brigid of Kildare Parish and Saint Augustine Chapel Community, sharing one parish office at 841 East Broadway. The parish serves the City Point neighborhood of South Boston from its historic French Gothic church at 615 East 4th Street, with South Boston Catholic Academy as its parish school.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- Our Lady, Gate of Heaven (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Gate of Heaven welcomes Catholics seeking an authentic, multigenerational parish in the heart of South Boston's City Point neighborhood. The parish offers the full sacramental life — daily and Sunday Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation on Saturdays, Mondays and Sundays, and preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Active ministries include CYO Basketball, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Religious Education and Bible Study, the parish choir, and the SBCA 1000 Club, alongside the parish school, South Boston Catholic Academy, where the motto 'Faith, Family, and Academic Excellence' shapes daily life.
Mass times at Gate of Heaven (South Boston)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30–3:50 PM at Gate of Heaven Church
- Sunday: 5:30–5:50 PM at St. Brigid Church (September through June)
- Monday: 5:00–7:00 PM at St. Brigid Church (with Eucharistic Adoration)
Adoration times
- Monday: 5:00–7:00 PM at St. Brigid Church (paired with Confession)
History of Gate of Heaven Parish
Gate of Heaven Parish was established in 1863 as an offshoot of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish during the Civil War years, under Father Patrick F. Lyndon. The cornerstone of the first church was laid May 1, 1862, and the church was dedicated March 19, 1863. Father James F. Sullivan became the first pastor on Jan. 11, 1865. In 1879, Father Michael F. Higgins erected a convent at I and East Fifth Streets for the Sisters of St. Joseph, who that September opened St. Agnes School with 375 girls. The current church building — a French Gothic landmark — was erected under Father Robert J. Johnson (1890–1916): the lower church opened in June 1900 and the upper church was dedicated May 12, 1912 by Cardinal O'Connell. The present school building was constructed in 1922 under Father George A. Lyons. Archbishop Seán P. O'Malley celebrated the 140th anniversary of the parish and 125th anniversary of the school on Nov. 6, 2004.
Two Parishes, One Mission (with St. Brigid & St. Augustine Chapel)
St. Brigid Parish was carved out of Gate of Heaven in 1908 to better serve the City Point neighborhood. Nearly a century later, in 2002, the two parishes began collaborating under a single administration while preserving each parish's identity. Today the Gate of Heaven & St. Brigid Parish Office at 841 East Broadway coordinates ministries, sacramental preparation, and joint programs, and the parishes also serve the Saint Augustine Chapel Community (181 Dorchester St). According to the parish site, 'Our joint efforts have allowed the parishes to offer a variety of programs, services, and resources to the community.'
- Gate of Heaven Church — 615 E 4th St, South Boston, MA 02127
- St. Brigid of Kildare Church — 845 E Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
- Saint Augustine Chapel — 181 Dorchester St, South Boston, MA 02127
- Parish Office — 841 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
Pastor and Clergy
Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF, is pastor of the parishes. A native of Boston raised in Milton and Dorchester, he attended St. Anselm College, entered St. Anselm Abbey as a Benedictine monk, transferred to St. John's Seminary in 1984, and was ordained in June 1987 for the Archdiocese of Boston. He became pastor of St. Brigid Parish in early 2000 and of Gate of Heaven in 2002, and he serves as Vicar Forane for the Central Region. He was previously a chaplain for the Medford Fire Department, the Boston Fire Department, and the Medford Police Department.
- Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF — Pastor
- Rev. Peter J. Schirripa — Parochial Vicar
- Msgr. Liam Bergin — Priest Assistant in Residence; Professor of the Practice of Sacramental Theology at Boston College
- Deacon Tommy O'Donnell, SJ
- Rev. John Nichols — Visiting Priest
- Rev. Michael Steele — Visiting Priest
Parish Staff & Office
Parish operations are coordinated by Parish Secretary Mrs. Karin Cannata, who took over in 2017 after Trish Strumm's retirement and handles baptisms, funerals, and Mass bookings. She is supported by Parish Office Assistants Ms. Elaine Connolly, Mrs. Diane Gaeta, and Mrs. Cheryl Pascarelli. Music Director Mr. Ryan Lynch leads the parish's liturgical music, with sacristans Paul Christian, Nancy Conroy, and Jean Frost.
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Karin Cannata
- Music Director: Mr. Ryan Lynch
- Sacristans: Paul Christian, Nancy Conroy, Jean Frost
- Office Assistants: Elaine Connolly, Diane Gaeta, Cheryl Pascarelli
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares parishioners for each of the major sacraments. Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults all have dedicated preparation tracks. Daily Mass, weekend Masses, and the regular confession schedule support the broader sacramental life of the parish.
- Baptismal Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- First Communion via Religious Education
- Anointing of the Sick and funerals coordinated through the parish office
Parish Ministries & Programs
Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid together offer a wide-ranging set of ministries to parishioners of all ages, from children through adults. Programs include faith formation (Religious Education, Bible Study, RCIA), youth athletics (CYO Basketball), outreach (St. Vincent de Paul Society), liturgical music (parish choir), and parish fundraising/community life (SBCA 1000 Club).
- Religious Education
- Bible Study
- RCIA
- Confirmation Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
- CYO Basketball
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Parish Choir
- SBCA 1000 Club
- Baptismal Preparation
South Boston Catholic Academy (Parish School)
The parish's school, South Boston Catholic Academy, provides a Catholic education from preschool through grade 6. The school motto, 'Faith, Family, and Academic Excellence,' is lived daily in classrooms and through extracurriculars, and the school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It continues the legacy of St. Agnes School, which the Sisters of St. Joseph opened in September 1879.
- Preschool through Grade 6
- Principal: Dr. Helenann Civian
- Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- Motto: 'Faith, Family, and Academic Excellence'
- School phone: 617-268-2326
- Website: sbcatholicacademy.org
Contact & Visiting
The parish can be reached by phone at 617-268-2122 or 617-268-3344, by email at [email protected], or in person at the parish office at 841 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The parish offers live streams of Masses at both Gate of Heaven Church and St. Brigid Church via its website.
- Parish office phone: 617-268-2122 / 617-268-3344
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:30 AM–3:00 PM
- Live stream: linked on the parish website homepage
Anniversary Books & Parish History
The parish website hosts anniversary publications documenting the long history of Gate of Heaven, St. Brigid, and St. Augustine Chapel — including the Gate of Heaven 125th and 150th Anniversary books and the St. Brigid 100th Anniversary and St. Augustine 200th Anniversary publications. These are linked from the parish's history page.
- Gate of Heaven 125th Anniversary
- Gate of Heaven 150th Anniversary
- St. Brigid 100th Anniversary
- St. Augustine 200th Anniversary
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick F. Lyndonduring Civil War years (to ~1865)
Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul; oversaw founding of Gate of Heaven as an offshoot parish; laid cornerstone of first church May 1, 1862.
- Father James F. Sullivan1865–
First pastor of Gate of Heaven Parish; took charge Jan. 11, 1865.
- Father Michael F. Higgins1873–1886
Erected convent at I and East Fifth Streets; Sisters of St. Joseph opened St. Agnes School in September 1879.
- Father Robert J. Johnson1890–1916
Built the present Gate of Heaven Church; lower church opened June 1900, upper church dedicated May 12, 1912 by Cardinal O'Connell.
- Father George A. Lyons1916–1932
Built the present school building in 1922.
- Father Gilbert Phinn1983–1994
Noted at the 140th anniversary Mass in 2004.
- Father Alexander Keenan1994–2002
Pastor immediately preceding Father Casey's appointment as administrator.
- Father A. Paul Whiteearlier pastorate noted 2004
Recognized at 2004 anniversary Mass for many years of CYO work with Gate of Heaven Grammar School students; residing at Marian Manor in 2004.
- Father Robert Casey2002–present
Appointed administrator in 2002 (while remaining pastor of St. Brigid); still pastor in 2026.