Holy Family (Dorchester)

Welcome to Holy Family Parish

Holy Family Parish describes itself as 'a Roman Catholic Parish of the Archdiocese of Boston (Massachusetts), an urban, multi-ethnic, socially, culturally, and educationally diverse faith community.' Deeply committed to Jesus Christ, the parish seeks to be 'a unified community of faith, worship, and service,' and works to recognize and use the gifts and talents of all parishioners — young and old — to nourish others. It is reached at 24 Hartford Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, and shares its life with neighboring St. Peter and St. Patrick parishes in the Dorchester Catholic collaborative.

History of the Parish

Holy Family Parish was formed in 1995 by the merger of two older Dorchester parishes, St. Paul's and St. Kevin's, under the Archdiocese of Boston's parish realignment. The parish worships in the stone church originally built 1921–1923 as St. Paul's, designed by Charles Maginnis (of Maginnis and Walsh) in Gothic Revival style. The Dorchester Atheneum notes that the earlier St. Paul's had begun in 1896 as a mission of St. Peter's Parish, becoming independent on New Year's Day 1908 under Rev. Joseph G. Anderson — later Auxiliary Bishop of Boston. The cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1923; the interior was completed by Maginnis and Walsh between roughly 1928 and 1936, with original furnishings carved by Angelo Lualdi. Today the building serves as Holy Family's home at 24 Hartford Street, on a hilltop site between Robin Hood and Lingard Streets.

• 1896 — St. Paul's founded as a mission of St. Peter's Parish under Father Ronan
• 1908 — St. Paul's becomes an independent parish, first pastor Rev. Joseph G. Anderson
• 1921–1923 — Current stone church exterior built by Maginnis and Walsh
• 1923 — Cornerstone laid
• c. 1928–1936 — Interior completed, furnishings carved by Angelo Lualdi
• 1995 — Holy Family Parish formed by merger of St. Paul's and St. Kevin's

Architecture & Building

The church is a powerful, hilltop Roman Catholic building in Gothic Revival style (sometimes called 'Gothic Renaissance'), designed by Maginnis and Walsh of Boston. The SAH Archipedia describes the virtually undecorated cut stone exterior as emphasizing 'the boldness of the simple geometric morphology of the building,' while the five-bay nave with clerestory is treated as a sculptural space. Stained glass runs from subtle pastel shades in the larger nave windows to small, narrative scenes in jewel-like blues, reds, and greens in the nave and chancel; the processional effect culminates visually in the altar and retable. The 1921–1923 exterior shell and finished basement preceded the interior completion of roughly 1928–1936.

• Architect: Maginnis and Walsh, Boston
• Style: Gothic Revival / Gothic Renaissance
• Exterior construction: 1921–1923
• Interior completion: c. 1928–1936
• Cut-stone exterior; five-bay nave with clerestory
• Original furnishings carved by Angelo Lualdi

Clergy & Staff

Holy Family is served by clergy and staff shared across the Dorchester Catholic Tri-Parishes. Rev. John A. Currie is pastor of the collaborative; he is supported by two Capuchin vicars, Fr. Antonio Fidalgo de Barros, OFM Cap, and Fr. Claudino Teixeira Vieira, OFM Cap, and by Deacon Edin Velasquez. Business operations are managed by Richard Gribaudo (Business Manager), with Melissa DaSilva as Administrative Assistant at the rectory. Aida Rivera coordinates Religious Education for Holy Family; Tony Martínez and Migdali Rivera direct its music ministry.

• Rev. John A. Currie — Pastor
• Rev. Antonio Fidalgo de Barros, OFM Cap — Vicar
• Rev. Claudino Teixeira Vieira, OFM Cap — Vicar
• Deacon Edin Velasquez
• Richard Gribaudo — Business Manager
• Melissa DaSilva — Administrative Assistant
• Aida Rivera — Religious Education (Holy Family)
• Tony Martínez — Music Director (Holy Family)
• Migdali Rivera — Music Director (Holy Family)

Sacraments

Faith formation and sacramental preparation are coordinated through the Tri-Parishes. For baptism of children under 7, parents should contact the Hispanic Pastoral Team (Helen Suarez) at least one month in advance. Couples wishing to marry must contact the parish at least six months ahead; those whose unions are not yet sacramental are welcomed as well. Adults preparing for Baptism or Confirmation enter through the English-language RCIA program by calling the rectory; Reconciliation is available any time by appointment.

• Baptism (children under 7) — contact Helen Suarez one month in advance
• Marriage — contact the parish 6+ months ahead
• RCIA (English) — call 617-445-7645
• Confirmation (adult) — through RCIA
• Reconciliation — by appointment, 617-445-7645
• Sacramental Preparation — call 617-445-7645

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation at Holy Family are coordinated by Aida Rivera. The program runs in collaboration with the other two Tri-Parishes (St. Peter's and St. Patrick's), and is supported by the Hispanic Pastoral Team — Helen Suarez (St. Patrick), Aida García (Holy Family), and Danny Guerríos — who also serve as the primary points of contact for sacramental inquiries in Spanish. Registration for faith formation and sacramental preparation is handled through the rectory at 617-445-7645.

• Religious Education: Aida Rivera
• Hispanic Pastoral Team: Helen Suarez, Aida García, Danny Guerríos
• Sacramental Preparation & Faith Formation inquiries: 617-445-7645

Parish Life & Community Outreach

Holy Family and the wider Tri-Parishes put a heavy emphasis on accompaniment, with ministries to the sick and homebound coordinated by Flora Martínez, Orlando Martínez, Manuel Peña, and Máxima Peña. Father John Currie is publicly engaged with neighborhood organizations — most notably the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester, where he grew up — and has spoken of the parish as 'an instrument of healing, reconciliation, and unity' in a community he has served for many years. The parish also publishes a regular bilingual bulletin with announcements and second-collection schedules.

• Visits to the sick and homebound (bilingual)
• Presentation of newborn (Presentación de niño recién nacido)
• Pastoral counseling and accompaniment
• Engagement with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester
• Bilingual (English / Spanish) tri-parish bulletin

The Dorchester Catholic Tri-Parishes

Holy Family is one of three parishes in the Dorchester Catholic collaborative: St. Patrick (10 Magazine Street), St. Peter (311 Bowdoin Street), and Holy Family (24 Hartford Street). Together they share a pastor (Rev. John A. Currie), Capuchin vicars, a business office at 278 Bowdoin Street, and a joint bulletin. The collaborative publishes a single combined Mass schedule across English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Cape Verdean Creole communities, reflecting the multi-ethnic character of Dorchester.

• St. Patrick Parish — 10 Magazine Street, 400 Dudley Street
• St. Peter Parish — 311 Bowdoin Street / 278 Bowdoin Street
• Holy Family Parish — 24 Hartford Street
• Tri-Parish Business Office — 278 Bowdoin Street, 617-265-1132