About Holy Apostles Parish - Our Lady of the Lake · Halifax, Massachusetts
Holy Apostles Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Boston serving the towns of Halifax and Hanson, Massachusetts. It was formed on February 1, 2021, when Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley merged the two historic parishes of Our Lady of the Lake (Halifax) and Saint Joseph the Worker (Hanson) into a single new parish, with the name 'Holy Apostles' chosen from among parishioner suggestions. The parish operates from two church campuses — Our Lady of the Lake Church at 575 Monponsett Street in Halifax and Saint Joseph the Worker Church at 1 Maquan Street in Hanson — and is pastored by Father Michael A. Hobson, with a team of parochial vicars, deacons, and lay staff supporting daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation, music, outreach, and recovery ministry.
- Established
- 2021 (parish merger; Our Lady of the Lake Church constructed 1934)
- Patron
- Holy Apostles (the parish's namesake is the collective Apostles of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael A. Hobson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Holy Apostles Parish combines the heritage of two South Shore Catholic communities into a single, family-friendly parish offering daily and Sunday Mass, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, and a robust schedule of devotions including a weekly Sunday Rosary and a Wednesday evening Rosary and Adoration hour. The parish invests deeply in the next generation through a Family Faith Formation program partnered with CatholicBrain.com, alongside a Youth Choir for children in Grade 2 and up, plus an active Adult Choir at Saint Joseph the Worker. Outreach is concrete and visible: the St. Vincent de Paul Conference runs a food pantry out of Our Lady of the Lake Hall, and the Family Healing & Recovery Ministry offers monthly First Saturday Mass, Adoration, Rosary, a speaker, and fellowship for families affected by substance use disorder.
Mass times at Holy Apostles Parish - Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (at Saint Joseph the Worker Church, Hanson)
- Sunday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Halifax)
Adoration times
- Monday – Saturday following the 9:00 AM Daily Mass at Our Lady of the Lake
- Wednesday: after the 6:00 PM Mass until 7:00 PM at Our Lady of the Lake
- First Saturday mornings: 9:00 AM Mass followed by Adoration, Rosary, Speaker, and Collation (Family Healing & Recovery Ministry) at Our Lady of the Lake
Parish History & Merger
Holy Apostles Parish was born on February 1, 2021, when Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston formally merged two long-standing South Shore parishes — Our Lady of the Lake in Halifax and Saint Joseph the Worker in Hanson. The merger was the result of nearly a year of consultation: Father Michael A. Hobson first inquired about a merger in April 2020, wrote to Cardinal O'Malley on October 21, 2020, and appeared virtually before the Cardinal and the Presbyteral Council on November 5, 2020 with supportive letters from the Joint Pastoral Finance Council, the Collaborative Pastoral Council, Vicar Forane Fr. Robert Deehan, and Episcopal Vicar Robert Connors. The Cardinal approved the merger effective February 1, 2021. Parishioners from both communities were invited to suggest a new name, and nearly 60 suggestions were submitted. After review by the Joint Pastoral Council, Joint Pastoral Finance Council, and Collaborative Staff, three finalists were presented to Cardinal O'Malley on December 17, 2020: Holy Apostles Parish, Christ the Bread of Life Parish, and Saint Faustina Parish. On January 6, 2021 — the Feast of the Epiphany — the Cardinal chose 'Holy Apostles' as the name of the new parish, noting in the proposal that it is a unique designation that honors Mary and Joseph as Jesus' first Apostles together with the original Apostles and present-day disciples.
- Merger approved by Cardinal O'Malley; effective February 1, 2021
- Name 'Holy Apostles' announced January 6, 2021 (Feast of the Epiphany)
- Nearly 60 name suggestions submitted by parishioners
- Three finalists: Holy Apostles, Christ the Bread of Life, Saint Faustina
- Pastor throughout the merger: Rev. Michael A. Hobson
Our Lady of the Lake Church (Halifax Campus)
Our Lady of the Lake Church, at 575 Monponsett Street in Halifax, is the historic worship site of the original Our Lady of the Lake Parish. According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission's reconnaissance survey of Halifax, the church was constructed in 1934 in the Monponsett Street area and is described as 'a story-and-a-half Mission Revival church with high-quality molded concrete and tile detailing' — the most significant institutional structure built in Halifax during the 1915–1940 settlement period. CauseIQ's nonprofit filings record the parish entity as organized in 1946. Today the Halifax campus is the administrative heart of Holy Apostles Parish. It houses the parish office, the Faith Formation office, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry (in Our Lady of the Lake Hall), and the principal daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration schedule. The church is open for prayer throughout the week, with extended hours on Sundays and Wednesdays to accommodate Mass, Adoration, and the Family Healing & Recovery Ministry gatherings.
- Address: 575 Monponsett Street, Halifax, MA 02338
- Built 1934; Mission Revival style with molded concrete and tile detailing
- Parish office and Faith Formation office located here
- Site of daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Family Healing & Recovery Ministry
Saint Joseph the Worker Church (Hanson Campus)
Saint Joseph the Worker Church, at 1 Maquan Street in Hanson, is the second worship site of Holy Apostles Parish and was the historic home of the Saint Joseph the Worker Parish prior to the 2021 merger. The Hanson campus hosts the Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass and the Sunday 10:30 AM Family Mass, which is also the anchor liturgy for the parish's Family Faith Formation program. Confessions are heard in Hanson on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM, and the church is open for prayer Sunday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The SJTW Adult Choir and Youth Choir both serve the 10:30 AM Mass, and a community Rosary is prayed after that Mass each Sunday.
- Address: 1 Maquan Street, Hanson, MA 02341
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Mass: 10:30 AM (Family Mass; anchor of Faith Formation)
- Confessions: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Rosary prayed after the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass
- Church open for prayer daily, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Holy Apostles Parish Faith Formation program is a Family Faith Formation model centered on the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass at Saint Joseph the Worker Church in Hanson. Rather than relying on a traditional classroom model, the parish partners with CatholicBrain.com to provide grade-specific and Sacrament-specific online materials — including lessons, videos, and quizzes — accessible on desktops, laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, and a smartphone app, so that families can learn the faith together at home throughout the week. Every First Sunday of the month, following the 10:30 AM Mass, the parish hosts coffee and donuts for the whole community, and grade-specific volunteers are available in the Upper Hall to collect lesson assignments and answer questions. The registration fee is $50 per family, and continuing families are contacted by email. The parish emphasizes that 'the celebration of our Lord at Mass is not only the most intimate encounter with Jesus, but also the best classroom for faith formation as a parish community.'
- Family Faith Formation model, Sunday-based at the 10:30 AM Mass (SJTW)
- Online curriculum partner: CatholicBrain.com (grade- and Sacrament-specific)
- First Sunday coffee & donuts in the Upper Hall after Mass
- Registration fee: $50 per family
- Contact: Patti Keane, Volunteer Faith Formation Coordinator (ext. 112)
RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
The parish's RCIA program welcomes adults who are inquiring about the Catholic faith and seeking full initiation through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. In the parish's own words, RCIA is 'about inviting people to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ' — 'it is ALL about relationship with Jesus.' The program is directed by Paula Black, who can be reached at [email protected] or 781-592-5022. Inquiries are also welcomed through the Parish Office at 781-293-7971, and Fran Jutras (781-293-9138) is available to walk inquirants through the process.
- Director: Paula Black ([email protected], 781-592-5022)
- Inquiries: Parish Office 781-293-7971; Fran Jutras 781-293-9138
Music Ministry & Choirs
Music ministry at Holy Apostles Parish is coordinated by Paula Black, with Maura Gilmartin and Mary Renny also serving in liturgical music roles. The Saint Joseph the Worker Music Ministry 'leads and supports the assembly in the SUNG worship of our God' at the parish's liturgies. The Saint Joseph the Worker Adult Choir serves the regular schedule, while the Saint Joseph the Worker Youth Choir — composed of children in Grade Two and up — 'joyfully enhances liturgical celebrations with song, praising our God,' consciously and actively leading the assembly with a mix of traditional and contemporary music at the 10:30 AM Mass on alternate Sundays.
- Director of Music: Paula Black
- Musicians: Maura Gilmartin, Mary Renny (organist)
- Saint Joseph the Worker Adult Choir
- Saint Joseph the Worker Youth Choir (Grade 2 and up; alternate Sundays at 10:30 AM)
St. Vincent de Paul Society & Food Pantry
The St. Vincent de Paul Conference of Holy Apostles Parish serves individuals and families experiencing temporary financial hardship through home visits by 'Vincentians,' who discern how best to serve each household. Conference members meet monthly to support one another's spiritual growth and to coordinate their work. Through parishioner donations, the Conference also operates a Food Pantry located at 575 Monponsett Street (Our Lady of the Lake Hall), open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. A dedicated St. Vincent de Paul Emergency Assistance Line (774-683-0074) takes voicemail messages 24/7, with return calls placed shortly thereafter. Contacts: Andy Key (781-293-3621) and Marilyn Shaw (617-688-5079).
- Food Pantry: OLOL Hall, 575 Monponsett Street, Halifax
- Food Pantry hours: 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 9:00–10:30 AM
- Emergency Assistance Line: 774-683-0074
- Contacts: Andy Key (781-293-3621), Marilyn Shaw (617-688-5079)
Family Healing & Recovery Ministry
The Family Healing & Recovery Ministry is a distinctive outreach of Holy Apostles Parish that serves families affected by substance use disorder and opioid addiction. The ministry gathers on First Saturday mornings at Our Lady of the Lake Church, beginning with the 9:00 AM Mass, followed by Adoration, the Rosary, a guest Speaker, and a shared Collation — creating a regular rhythm of prayer, witness, and community support for those on the journey of recovery and for their loved ones.
- Focus: families affected by substance use disorder / opioid addiction
- When: First Saturday mornings
- Where: Our Lady of the Lake Church, Halifax
- Format: 9:00 AM Mass → Adoration → Rosary → Speaker → Collation
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Apostles Parish is pastored by Father Michael A. Hobson and is served by a team that includes a parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, and a robust lay staff in administration, operations, finance, music, and faith formation. Together they support two worship campuses, a daily Mass and Adoration schedule, faith formation, RCIA, music ministry, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and the Family Healing & Recovery Ministry.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael A. Hobson
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joseph Kwadwo O. Boafo
- Deacons: Deacon Marc Gervais; Deacon James C. Theriault
- Parish Administrative Manager: Cheryl Hunnewell
- OLOL Facilities Manager: Steve (Stephen) Strug
- Finance Manager: Peg Schneider
- Director of Music: Paula Black
- Volunteer Faith Formation Coordinator: Patti Keane
- Faith Formation Registration Coordinator: Andrea Cipolla
Contact, Office Hours & Practical Information
The parish office is open Sunday 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, and Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM; the office is closed Tuesday and Thursday. The main phone line is 781-293-7971 (with extensions for individual staff, such as Faith Formation at ext. 110 and Patti Keane at ext. 112). Email is welcomed at [email protected]. The parish website, holyapostlescatholic.org, is the central source for the bulletin, Mass schedule, faith formation documents, and ministry contact information.
- Parish Office: 575 Monponsett Street, Halifax, MA 02338
- Phone: 781-293-7971
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Sun 9:00 AM–12 Noon; Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat 10:00 AM–2:00 PM; closed Tue/Thu
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael A. Hobson2021–present (founding pastor of Holy Apostles Parish; previously pastor of the Our Lady of the Lake / Saint Joseph the Worker collaborative)
Led the merger process, appeared before Cardinal O'Malley and the Presbyteral Council on November 5, 2020, and announced the new name on January 6, 2021.