About Holly Clark · Middleborough, Massachusetts
St. Isidore Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston serving the three south-eastern Massachusetts towns of Lakeville, Middleborough, and Rochester. It was formally established on January 1, 2021, by Cardinal Seán O'Malley, through the merger of two earlier parishes — Sts. Martha and Mary (Lakeville) and Sacred Heart (Middleborough–Rochester) — that had already been working together since June 2013 as the Cranberry Catholic Collaborative. The parish retains three historic worship sites: Sts. Martha and Mary Church in Lakeville, Sacred Heart Church in Middleborough, and St. Rose of Lima Church in Rochester. Its patron, St. Isidore the Farmer, was chosen to honor the cranberry bogs, farms and ponds that shape the local landscape in what is known as 'Cranberry Country.'
- Established
- 2021
- Patron
- St. Isidore the Farmer (patron saint of farmers, chosen to honor the cranberry bogs and farms of the region)
- Rector
- Rev. Jude Thaddeus Osunkwo (Fr. J.T.)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Isidore Parish welcomes Catholics of all ages into a rural south-eastern Massachusetts faith community where three historic churches (Sts. Martha and Mary in Lakeville, Sacred Heart in Middleborough, and St. Rose of Lima in Rochester) share one pastor, one staff and one set of ministries — so wherever you live in the cranberry-bog region, a Mass and a familiar face are minutes away. The parish is deeply committed to evangelization, sacramental preparation (First Communion and Confirmation), and reaching beyond its walls through a food pantry, two thrift shops, Respect Life and homebound ministries, the Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. A 2014 Boston Pilot profile described the community as feeling 'the energy of the Holy Spirit' — and that sense of joyful, pioneering collaboration is what still defines life at St. Isidore.
Mass times at Holly Clark
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Year of Hope Eucharistic Adoration Service — Sunday June 29, 3:00 PM at Sts. Martha and Mary Church, Lakeville (a 90-minute service with meditative music, Exposition, Benediction and the Litany of Hope; Fr. Paul Soper of the Archdiocese of Boston presides).
Parish History
The Catholic roots of St. Isidore Parish go back to 1755, when displaced Acadian settlers brought the faith to Middleborough. From that small beginning — first worshipped in the hall over the general store of Colonel Peter H. Pierce — the community grew and in 1881 Archbishop John Joseph Williams blessed the cornerstone of what became Sacred Heart Church. Sacred Heart became a separate parish in 1885. In June 2013, the three parishes of Sts. Martha and Mary (Lakeville), Sacred Heart (Middleborough–Rochester) and St. Rose of Lima (Rochester) joined together as the Cranberry Catholic Collaborative (CCC), a Phase I collaborative of the Boston Archdiocese's Disciples in Mission pastoral plan. After seven years of shared ministry under Fr. John Sheridan, Fr. Paul Aveni, Fr. Mark Derrane and Deacons George Gabriel and Charles Bower, Cardinal Seán O'Malley decreed on November 30, 2020 that Sts. Martha and Mary and Sacred Heart merge into a single new parish. The merged parish was canonically erected at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2021, and named for St. Isidore the Farmer — patron saint of farmers — in honor of the cranberry bogs and family farms of the region.
- 1755 — Acadian settlers bring Catholic worship to Middleborough
- 1881 — Archbishop John Joseph Williams blesses the cornerstone of Sacred Heart Church
- 1885 — Sacred Heart is established as a separate parish
- June 4, 2013 — Cranberry Catholic Collaborative is inaugurated under Fr. John Sheridan
- November 30, 2020 — Cardinal O'Malley signs the decree of merger
- January 1, 2021 — St. Isidore Parish is canonically erected
- January 3, 2021 — First Mass of the new parish, celebrated at Sts. Martha and Mary Church on the Solemnity of the Epiphany and live-streamed
Why 'St. Isidore'?
The Archdiocese chose St. Isidore the Farmer as patron because the parish sits in the heart of Massachusetts cranberry country. In a 2025 Year-of-Hope announcement, the parish noted the choice flows directly from the community's identity as a rural area of bogs, lakes, ponds and family farms.
- Patron: St. Isidore the Farmer
- Feast day: March 15
- Patronage invoked because of the cranberry bogs and farms of Lakeville, Middleborough and Rochester
Worship Sites (Churches)
St. Isidore Parish retains the three historic church names the communities had used for generations, so parishioners and visitors can still attend Mass at the building they know.
- Sts. Martha and Mary Church — Bedford St. (Route 18), Lakeville (air-conditioned, wheelchair-accessible, with elevator to the lower church)
- Sacred Heart Church — 340 Centre Street, Middleborough (the 1881 wooden church blessed by Archbishop Williams; also home to the parish office and the Food Pantry at 53 Oak St.)
- St. Rose of Lima Church — Rochester (home of the year-round 'Church Mouse' thrift shop)
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by its pastor, Fr. Jude Thaddeus Osunkwo ('Fr. J.T.'), who has served as Administrator of the collaborative since February 2020 and was named first pastor of St. Isidore Parish effective January 1, 2021. Fr. J.T. was ordained on July 28, 1990. The long-tenured pastoral staff is rounded out by Holly Clark, who has served the Middleborough/Rochester/Lakeville Catholic community as Pastoral Assistant, Pastoral Associate and Director of Ministries since September 2005. Music directors Stacy Dawson, Henry Rondelli and Jack Roussell collaborate across the three sites.
- Pastor: Fr. Jude Thaddeus 'J.T.' Osunkwo (ordained July 28, 1990)
- Pastoral Associate & Director of Ministries: Holly Clark
- Music directors: Stacy Dawson, Henry Rondelli, Jack Roussell
- Past principals of the collaborative: Fr. Paul Aveni (predecessor pastor), Fr. John Sheridan (first CCC pastor, 2013), Fr. Mark Derrane (parochial vicar), Deacons George Gabriel and Charles Bower (permanent deacons)
Parish Ministries
The parish describes itself as 'blessed with a great many ministries and volunteers,' spanning liturgical, devotional, outreach and community-building work. All new ministries must be approved by the Pastor, and every volunteer must complete a CORI background screening, sign a Code of Conduct, and complete VIRTUS child-safety training before serving.
- Liturgical: Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers & Greeters, Music Ministry, Offertory Counters, Flower & Environment Committees
- Devotional: Rosary Makers' Apostolate, Prayer Warriors
- Outreach: Respect Life Ministry, Homebound Visiting, Nursing-home ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society & Food Pantry (53 Oak St., Middleborough), Sacred Heart Thrift Shop (Mid-May–Columbus Day), 'Church Mouse' Thrift Shop (Rochester, Saturdays 9 AM–1 PM)
- Community: Knights of Columbus, Women's Discussion Group (4th Thursday monthly), Boy Scouts
Outreach & Charity: St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry & Thrift Shops
Two of the most visible ministries at St. Isidore are the parish-run food pantry and the two thrift shops. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates the food pantry in the basement of the Sacred Heart Parish Hall (53 Oak St., Middleborough) and co-administers the Feed the Hungry program, distributing food, clothing and emergency assistance to neighbors in need. The Sacred Heart Thrift Shop accepts gently used clothing, appliances, books and toys from mid-May through Columbus Day, and at season's end donates remaining goods to the St. Vincent de Paul Store and the Taunton State Thrift Shop. The 'Church Mouse' at St. Rose of Lima in Rochester operates year-round on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, specializing in vintage and gently used items.
- St. Vincent de Paul voicemail: 508-947-1717
- Sacred Heart Food Pantry: 53 Oak St., Middleborough (basement of parish hall)
- Sacred Heart Thrift Shop: open mid-May through Columbus Day
- 'Church Mouse' Thrift Shop: St. Rose of Lima, Rochester; Saturdays 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs sacramental-preparation tracks for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Registration typically opens in early July, with deadlines in mid-September (the 2025 cycle ended September 16). Families are directed to the parish website for information and online registration links. The parish also offers a teen-focused 5:00 PM Sunday Mass at Sts. Martha & Mary Church.
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Teen-focused Sunday evening Mass at Sts. Martha & Mary
- Confirmation and First Communion rosaries are donated by the Rosary Makers' Apostolate
Safe Environment
St. Isidore Parish maintains a Safe Environment program in line with Archdiocese of Boston requirements. All parish volunteers — regardless of the ministry — must complete a CORI (criminal-offense record) background check, sign a Volunteer Code of Conduct, and complete VIRTUS child-safety training. The downloadable CORI form and Code of Conduct are listed on the parish Safe Environment page; questions can be directed to Holly Clark, Pastoral Associate / Director of Ministries at 508-947-0444.
- CORI background screening (annual)
- Volunteer Code of Conduct
- VIRTUS child-safety training
Getting Involved
The parish invites anyone who feels called to 'hear God's voice prodding you to volunteer or offer your gifts and talents to the Lord' to contact the parish office (508-947-0444) about joining a ministry. Some ministries are collaborative-wide; others are church-specific. New ministries must be approved by the Pastor or his designee before launch.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Paul Aveniuntil 2013
Pastor of the predecessor parishes immediately before the collaborative was formed; prepared the parishes for the move into the Cranberry Catholic Collaborative.
- Fr. John Sheridan2013 – c. 2020
First pastor of the Cranberry Catholic Collaborative (inaugurated June 4, 2013); led the weekend-Mass rotation among the three worship sites.
- Fr. Jude Thaddeus Osunkwo ('Fr. J.T.')Administrator Feb 2020; Pastor from Jan 1, 2021 – present
Ordained July 28, 1990 (34th anniversary celebrated in 2024); first pastor of the merged St. Isidore Parish effective January 1, 2021.