About Holy Family · Duxbury, Massachusetts
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston located in Duxbury, Massachusetts, about 35 miles south of Boston along the Atlantic coast. The parish, founded in 1945 from earlier mission churches begun at the turn of the 20th century, currently serves more than 2,700 registered families and is the largest faith community in Duxbury. Holy Family runs over 40 ministries spanning faith formation, liturgical music, outreach (St. Vincent de Paul, My Brother's Keeper, Father Bill's, Appalachia Service Project), and pastoral care. The parish gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and Saturday confessions in the lower church and chapel spaces at 601 Tremont Street.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
- Rector
- Very Rev. Robert J. 'Fr. Bob' Deehan, VF
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston (Metropolitan)
Why belong here
Holy Family is the largest faith community in Duxbury and welcomes families, individuals, and visitors into a parish that runs more than 40 active ministries. Daily and Sunday Masses, a fully live-streamed 9:00am Sunday liturgy, Friday Eucharistic Adoration until 9:00pm with Evening Prayer and Benediction, and easy Saturday confessions make the sacraments accessible. Members grow in faith through the family-centered BRIDGE Faith Formation program, day and evening Bible studies, RCIA/OCIA, and a long-running children's liturgy of the word at the 9:00am Mass — then take that faith outward through St. Vincent de Paul, Father Bill's meals, My Brother's Keeper, the Appalachia Service Project, Respect Life, and the parish Prayer Line.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM (accessible by rear door of church)
- First Fridays 6:30–7:30 PM in the Church Reconciliation Room (rear church door)
- By appointment — contact Fr. Bob via the parish office
Adoration times
- Friday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8:15 AM Mass, ending at 9:00 PM
- Friday Evening Prayer and Benediction at 5:00 PM
- Chapel open for private prayer daily 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Parish Identity & Welcome
Holy Family Parish is described on its own site as striving to be 'a joyful, welcoming community of faith that encounters Jesus and thinks with His mind and loves with His heart.' The parish is located about 35 miles south of Boston on the Atlantic coast and is administered from offices in the lower level of the church at 601 Tremont Street, with easiest access via the Lower Parking lot on Chestnut Street. The parish welcomes new members through its Faith Formation Advisors and offers live-streamed and recorded Sunday Masses through its website and YouTube channel so that the homebound, traveling, or shut-in can stay connected.
- Mission: joyful, welcoming community of faith
- Approx. 35 miles south of Boston on the Atlantic coast
- Lower parking lot entrance on Chestnut Street
- Live-streamed 9:00 AM Sunday Mass via website and YouTube
Parish History
Holy Family traces its roots to a Catholic mission served from St. Peter's Parish in Plymouth beginning around 1902. Land on St. George Street was purchased in 1906 by Rev. John J. Buckley, but Masses continued to be celebrated in homes, hotels, Town Hall, Mattakeeset Hall and even tents until 1934, when the cornerstone of the first church was finally laid. Archbishop Richard J. Cushing designated Holy Family a separate parish of the Archdiocese of Boston on November 21, 1945, naming Rev. John M. Manion as first pastor. Major milestones include the 1954 purchase of the Point School as a parish hall, Monsignor William F. Glynn's 26-year pastorate (1981–2007), and the 1988 dedication of the present Tremont Street church by Cardinal Bernard Law. The parish has had an Associate Pastor position since 1964 and now serves more than 2,700 families.
- Mission origins c. 1902 (served from St. Peter's, Plymouth)
- First church cornerstone laid June 1934 (St. George Street, $30,000)
- Designated an independent parish November 21, 1945
- Present Tremont Street church dedicated May 8, 1988 by Cardinal Bernard Law
- First pastor: Rev. John M. Manion (1945)
- Monsignor William F. Glynn served 1981–2007
- Current pastor assigned June 2010
Clergy, Deacons, and Staff
The pastoral team is led by Very Rev. Robert J. 'Fr. Bob' Deehan, VF, a Quincy native ordained in 1983 who previously served as Director of Clergy Personnel for the Archdiocese of Boston and at parishes in West Roxbury, Somerville/Medford, Lynn, Plymouth, and Canton. He is assisted by Rev. Jim Ronan (Senior Assistant) and three Permanent Deacons: Donald R. Larose, David S. Cosgrove, and Arthur J. Keefe. Lay staff include Mary Keefe (Music Director since 2002), Mary Petrell (Liturgy & Music), Jeanne Cregan (Pastoral Associate and OCIA contact), Jackie Halpin Curran (Family Faith Formation Minister), Mary Hayes (Faith Formation), Mary Juliano Hayes (Faith Formation Administrative Assistant), Cheryl Provost (Business / Operations Manager), and Abby Cirincione (Media Communications).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Robert J. Deehan, VF
- Senior Assistant: Rev. Jim Ronan
- Deacons: Donald Larose, David Cosgrove, Arthur Keefe
- Music Director: Mary Keefe (Director since 2002)
- Pastoral Associate: Jeanne Cregan
- Family Faith Formation: Jackie Halpin Curran, Mary Hayes, Mary Juliano Hayes
- Operations: Cheryl A. Provost
- Media Communications: Abby Cirincione
- Liturgy & Music: Mary Keefe, Elizabeth Petrell
Faith Formation / Spiritual Enrichment
Holy Family's faith formation is intentionally family-based. The BRIDGE Family Faith Formation program serves returning families with children in PreK through Grade 7, with sessions on Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons, and Monday mornings — and costs scaled to family size ($275 / $425 / $500). Sacramental preparation is integrated for First Reconciliation/First Communion and Confirmation. The SEEK program launches First Graders and parents together. Adult formation includes RCIA/OCIA, a day Bible study on Thursdays (Sept.–June), the Men in Discussion Saturday morning prayer and discussion group, parish missions, retreats, and special speakers.
- BRIDGE Family Faith Formation (PreK–Grade 7)
- SEEK program for First Graders
- First Reconciliation / First Communion family preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- RCIA / OCIA for adults
- Daytime Bible Study (Thursdays)
- Men in Discussion (Saturdays 6:50–8:10 / 7:30–8:30 AM)
Christian Service and Outreach
Holy Family runs an unusually broad outreach for a suburban parish, coordinating more than a dozen service ministries. St. Vincent de Paul offers confidential emergency financial assistance; My Brother's Keeper (coordinated by Deacon Don Larose) collects donated furniture for the needy; Father Bill's Place in Quincy receives a monthly meal prepared by parishioners; the Appalachia Service Project sends adult and teen teams south for a week of home repair each summer; and the parish actively supports the Duxbury Interfaith Council (DIC) food basket program, TLC backpack drive, and camp-scholarship fund. Pastoral care extends to homebound parishioners (home visits and Communion), patients at Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth, residents at Bay Path Nursing Home and the Village at Duxbury, and a Prison Ministry outreach. Auto Angels and Driven to Aid provide rides to Mass and medical appointments.
- St. Vincent de Paul (781-361-3595)
- My Brother's Keeper (furniture)
- Father Bill's Place monthly meal
- Appalachia Service Project (summer home repair)
- Duxbury Interfaith Council (food baskets, TLC backpacks, camp scholarships)
- Respect Life (Roses for Life, Walk for Life Boston, March for Life DC)
- Eucharist to Homebound / Hospitals / Nursing Homes
- Prayer Line (781-934-5055 ext. 133)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry (first Tuesday)
- Stephen Ministry, iTHIRST, Prison Ministry
Liturgical and Music Ministries
Music Director Mary Keefe (a Boston University music-education graduate who has been a choir director since 1980 and parish director since 2002) leads the parish music program. The Adult Choir sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, and a Youth Musicians program provides small choirs for special Masses. Additional liturgical roles include Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including home/hospital/nursing home visits), servers, ushers, and a sacristan team. The chapel hosts Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Fridays beginning at 9:00 AM and continuing until 9:00 PM, with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 5:00 PM.
- Adult Choir (10:30 AM Mass)
- Youth Musicians
- Lectors and Communion Ministers
- Chapel Exposition: Fridays 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Evening Prayer & Benediction: Fridays 5:00 PM
Sacraments
Holy Family's sacraments page organizes the seven Catholic sacraments clearly. Baptism is celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 12:30 PM, with preparatory sessions for parents. First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation are prepared through family-centered Faith Formation programs. Reconciliation is offered Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM and First Fridays 6:30–7:30 PM, or by appointment with Fr. Bob. The Anointing of the Sick is available for those facing serious illness, surgery, or end of life. Marriage requires at least six months of preparation and an initial meeting with a priest or deacon before dates are confirmed.
- Baptism (2nd & 4th Sundays, 12:30 PM)
- First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Reconciliation (Sat 4:00–4:45 PM; First Fri 6:30–7:30 PM)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony (6-month preparation)
Visiting & Contact Information
The parish office is in the lower level of the church at 601 Tremont Street, Duxbury, MA 02332, and is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, with reduced summer hours (Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM; closed Fridays). The easiest in-person access is from the lower parking lot off Chestnut Street. Mass cards may be requested by leaving a note in the lower parking lot drop box. The parish phone line is 781-934-5055.
- Address: 601 Tremont Street, Duxbury, MA 02332
- Phone: 781-934-5055
- Office Hours (regular): Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Summer Hours (July–August): Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, Fri closed
- Mass card drop box: lower parking lot
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John M. Manion1945–1949
First pastor; named by Archbishop Cushing when Holy Family was designated a separate parish; oversaw growth from 50 to 121 families.
- Rev. William P. Conley1949–1955
Second pastor; purchased the Point School from the town as the parish hall (1954) and named it in Father Manion's honor.
- Rev. Timothy H. Howard1955–1963
Third pastor.
- Rev. John Cosgrove1964 onwards
Fourth pastor; urged Cardinal Cushing to authorize the creation of the Associate Pastor position, which continues at Holy Family today.
- Monsignor William F. Glynn1981–2007
Longest-serving pastor; oversaw growth to over 2,000 families and the construction/dedication of the present Tremont Street church (1988).
- Very Rev. Bryan K. Parrish2007–2010
Served briefly between Msgr. Glynn's retirement and Fr. Deehan's assignment.
- Rev. Robert J. Deehan2010–present
Current pastor; ordained 1983; previously Director of Clergy Personnel for the Archdiocese of Boston.