About Guardian Angels · Colchester, Connecticut
Guardian Angels Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, formed on July 1, 2021 through the canonical merger of St. Andrew Parish in Colchester and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Lebanon. The parish operates two worship sites — St. Andrew Church at 128 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, and St. Francis of Assisi Church at 67 West Town Street, Lebanon — that together serve Catholic families across the rural communities of Colchester, Lebanon, and surrounding towns in New London County. The parish is led by Fr. Mark Masnicki (Pastor), Fr. George Busto (Parochial Vicar), and Deacon Ronald Krystofik (who also directs Faith Formation). Guardian Angels offers a full schedule of daily and Sunday Masses in English, regular confession times, a Faith Formation program for grades 1–7, a Knights of Columbus council, Boy Scout Troop #13, and the usual sacramental ministries of baptism, matrimony, and the anointing of the sick.
- Established
- 2021
- Patron
- The Guardian Angels (the parish takes its name from the Catholic belief in angels assigned by God to protect and guide each person; St. Andrew is the patron of the Colchester campus, and St. Francis of Assisi of the Lebanon campus).
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Masnicki
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich (Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut)
Why belong here
Guardian Angels Parish welcomes Catholic families and seekers in Colchester, Lebanon, and the surrounding New London County towns into a single, easy-to-find Catholic home. The parish offers four Sunday Masses at St. Andrew (Colchester) and two at St. Francis of Assisi (Lebanon), plus daily Mass and a Saturday Vigil, with confession every Saturday at both campuses. A Faith Formation program serves students in grades 1–7 under the direction of Deacon Ron Krystofik, a Knights of Columbus council (Council 6107) and Boy Scout Troop #13 give families ways to serve and build community, and the clergy are available for baptism, marriage preparation, anointing of the sick, and registration by simply calling the parish office.
Mass times at Guardian Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Andrew, Colchester — Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- St. Francis of Assisi, Lebanon — Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered at scheduled times each week (per the parish's Mass Finder / CatholicClocks listings); consult the current bulletin for the week's specific times.
About Guardian Angels Parish
Guardian Angels Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Norwich that was canonically erected on July 1, 2021 through the union of two historic parishes: St. Andrew in Colchester and St. Francis of Assisi in Lebanon. The parish operates two worship sites — St. Andrew Church at 128 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, and St. Francis of Assisi Church at 67 West Town Street, Lebanon — under a single pastor, parochial vicar, and deacon. Together the parish serves Catholic families across Colchester, Lebanon, and the surrounding towns of New London County.
- Formed July 1, 2021 (Diocese of Norwich)
- Principal campus: St. Andrew Church, 128 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT 06415
- Secondary campus: St. Francis of Assisi Church, 67 West Town Street, Lebanon, CT 06249
- Parish Office Phone: 860-537-2355
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by a small, dedicated team. Fr. Mark Masnicki serves as Pastor, Fr. George Busto as Parochial Vicar, and Deacon Ronald (Ron) Krystofik as deacon and Director of Faith Formation. Deacon Ron can be reached at the Faith Formation Office (860-537-5415), by email at [email protected], or by mobile (860-608-2919) for service-hour opportunities.
- Rev. Mark Masnicki — Pastor
- Rev. George Busto — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Ronald (Ron) Krystofik — Deacon / Director of Faith Formation
Parish History
Guardian Angels Parish itself is young, but the two communities it unites are old. The St. Andrew story begins in 1854 in the Irish Catholic settlement in Dublin, Colchester; the parish became independent in 1860 and its present church was dedicated in 1967. The St. Francis of Assisi story reaches back to a Revolutionary-War Mass in 1780 on the Lebanon Green, an Irish-immigrant mission in the 1860s, a 1943 mission church, and the present Lebanon church dedicated in 1980. On July 1, 2021 the Diocese of Norwich joined them as the new canonical Parish of the Guardian Angels.
- 1854 — Land purchased on Exeter Road (now Windham Avenue), Colchester, for the first St. Andrew.
- Oct. 25, 1860 — St. Andrew becomes an independent parish under Rev. Patrick Creighton.
- Dec. 7, 1865 — First St. Andrew Church dedicated.
- Aug. 26, 1962 — New St. Andrew Parish Center dedicated.
- May 21, 1967 — Present St. Andrew Church on Norwich Avenue dedicated.
- Winter 1780 — Revolutionary-War Mass on the Lebanon Green for French troops of the Duc de Lauzun.
- 1860s — Irish millworkers found St. Mary's Mission, Lebanon's first Catholic church.
- Aug. 22, 1943 — St. Francis of Assisi Mission Church opens on the Lebanon Green.
- May 18, 1980 — Present St. Francis of Assisi Church on West Town Street dedicated.
- July 1, 2021 — St. Andrew and St. Francis of Assisi dissolved and united as Guardian Angels Parish.
St. Andrew Church (Colchester Campus)
St. Andrew is the principal campus of Guardian Angels Parish. The current church on Norwich Avenue, dedicated in 1967, is the main Sunday and weekday Mass site, and houses the Parish Office, Faith Formation Office, and parish mailing address.
- Address: 128 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT 06415
- Phone: 860-537-2355 | Fax: 860-537-2356
- Sunday Masses: 8:00, 9:30 (Live Stream), 11:00 AM; 5:00 PM on 2nd and 3rd Sundays
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Weekday Masses: Tue 7:00 PM; Wed, Thu, Fri 8:00 AM
- Confession: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
St. Francis of Assisi Church (Lebanon Campus)
St. Francis of Assisi is the parish's second worship site on the historic Lebanon Green, with its own rectory and weekend Mass schedule. The parish website notes that today St. Francis of Assisi 'serves four-hundred families, with three weekend Masses, where all people are welcome to come together to celebrate Mass and renew their faith.'
- Address: 67 West Town Street, Lebanon, CT 06249
- Rectory Phone: 860-642-6711
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 and 10:30 AM
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM
- Weekday Masses: Wednesday 9:15 AM; Friday 9:15 AM
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM
Faith Formation (Religious Education)
The Guardian Angel Office of Faith Formation offers religious education for students in grades 1 through 7, with grade-specific program information published on the parish website along with a 2025–26 Code of Conduct / Handbook. The Office is directed by Deacon Ron Krystofik and serves families from both the Colchester and Lebanon campuses.
- Director: Deacon Ron Krystofik
- Office Phone: 860-537-5415
- Email: [email protected]
- Mobile (service-hour opportunities): 860-608-2919
- Mailing Address: 128 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT 06415
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM–11:00 AM, or by appointment
- Programs for Grades 1–5 and Grades 6–7
Parish Ministries & Community
Beyond the sacraments and Mass schedule, Guardian Angels Parish supports a small but active network of ministries, service organizations, and devotional programs. Knights of Columbus Council 6107 is based at St. Andrew and offers a rosary to each new member, and Boy Scout Troop #13 is sponsored by the parish. The parish also lists a range of liturgical and service ministries on its website.
- Knights of Columbus Council 6107 (St. Andrew / Colchester)
- Boy Scout Troop #13
- Faith Formation (grades 1–7)
- Liturgical ministries (lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, etc.)
- Devotional life: Perpetual Help Novena (Friday after 9:15 AM Mass at St. Francis of Assisi); Rosary at scheduled weekday times.
Contact, Visit & Connect
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM, and can help with registration, sacramental inquiries, and information about any parish ministry. The parish also maintains a Facebook page under the legacy 'St. Andrew Colchester' name for announcements and livestream links.
- Parish Office: 128 Norwich Ave., Colchester, CT 06415 — 860-537-2355
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
- St. Francis of Assisi Rectory: 67 West Town St., Lebanon, CT 06249 — 860-642-6711
- Facebook: facebook.com/standrewcolchester
- Website: guardianangelsct.org (live-streamed Sunday 9:30 AM Mass from St. Andrew)