About Holy Family · Rockland, Massachusetts
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Rockland, Massachusetts, part of the Archdiocese of Boston. Founded in 1882, the parish serves a bilingual community, celebrating Mass in both English and Brazilian Portuguese every weekend and once during the week. Located at 403 Union Street, Holy Family offers a full sacramental life, a religious education program, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a 50-acre parish cemetery on Market Street. The parish describes itself as strong and vibrant, working to meet the changing needs of its people in a town where Catholics today make up more than 60% of the population.
- Established
- 1882
- Patron
- The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Walter A. Carreiro
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Holy Family is a bilingual, century-old Catholic community that openly welcomes both longtime English-speaking families and the growing Brazilian population of the South Shore. With daily Mass, weekend Masses in English and Portuguese, weekday Eucharistic Adoration in Mary's Chapel, a busy Religious Education program, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Spiritual Book Club and Bible Study, and a 50-acre parish cemetery, the parish offers a complete sacramental and devotional life in one campus at 403 Union Street. It is the kind of parish where, in the words of one long-time member, 'the people have themselves become like family.'
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM in Mary's Chapel (Lower Church)
- Saturday 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM (per parish bulletin / Discover Mass listing)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM in Mary's Chapel
- Saturday 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM in Mary's Chapel
- Mary's Chapel is open during these hours for personal prayer and adoration
Parish History
Holy Family traces its origins to a 1872 decision to establish a Catholic parish in East Abington (later Rockland). The first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1882, and the church was dedicated by Archbishop John Williams on May 30, 1886. Over more than 140 years the parish has served waves of immigrants — Irish, Italian, Polish, and more recently Brazilian — and today Catholics make up over 60% of Rockland's roughly 18,000 residents. A school opened in 1941, expanded in the 1960s, and finally closed in June 2018; the parish has since reinvested in faith formation, the Brazilian Ministry, and a strong devotional life. The parish summarizes its mission in a written Prayer for Parish Renewal asking the Lord to 'rekindle in our hearts a new spirit of faith, of prayer and of reconciliation.'
- Parish founded 1882; first Mass Christmas Day 1882
- Church dedicated May 30, 1886 by Archbishop John Williams
- Holy Family School opened 1941, closed June 2018
- Brazilian Ministry added in recent decades
Clergy and Staff
Holy Family is currently led by Pastor Rev. Walter A. Carreiro, who succeeded former pastor Rev. James F. Hickey (whose final Mass at the parish was celebrated on May 26, 2024). He is assisted by two Parochial Vicars: Rev. James J. O'Driscoll and Rev. Guy Christopher Snyder, PIME, who specifically shepherds the Brazilian Ministry. Mr. Robert Kirby serves as Director of Music, Ms. Aira Lagunzad as Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Amy Doane as Business Manager, and parish secretaries Mrs. Kathleen Small, Mrs. Mary Corrieri, and Brenda Callahan round out the staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Walter A. Carreiro
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. James J. O'Driscoll
- Parochial Vicar (Brazilian Ministry): Rev. Guy Christopher Snyder, PIME
- Director of Music: Mr. Robert Kirby
- Director of Religious Education: Ms. Aira Lagunzad
- Religious Education Assistant: Mr. Bob Fullam
- Business Manager: Mrs. Amy Doane
- Parish Secretaries: Mrs. Kathleen Small, Mrs. Mary Corrieri, Ms. Brenda Callahan
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish Religious Education program is directed by Ms. Aira Lagunzad with assistant Mr. Bob Fullam, and can be reached at 781-871-1244 or [email protected]. Classes are organized by grade level (K through Confirmation age), with separate sessions for younger and older students and First Communion preparation. The program concludes its academic year with First Holy Communion rehearsals and celebrations in May, and continues year-round for sacramental preparation.
- Grades K-3 and Grades 4-7 classes held throughout the school year
- First Communion preparation each spring
- Office located on the parish campus
Brazilian Community / Comunidade Brasileira
Holy Family has a thriving Brazilian Catholic community, served in their own language by PIME missionary priest Rev. Guy Christopher Snyder. A Saturday evening Mass at 6:00 PM, a Sunday evening Mass at 7:00 PM, and a Wednesday evening Mass at 7:00 PM are all celebrated in Portuguese. The community maintains its own choir directed for over twelve years by Lorena Araujo, who also founded the children's choir; she received the Archdiocese of Boston's Cheverus Award in 2024 for her service. Portuguese-speaking parishioners can reach the community at 781-871-5754 or [email protected].
- Three weekly Masses in Brazilian Portuguese
- Brazilian community choir and children's choir
- Portuguese-language faith formation and parish communications
- Phone line: 781-871-5754
Music and Liturgy
The parish music ministry is led by Director of Music Mr. Robert Kirby and supports both English and Portuguese liturgical celebrations. The Brazilian community choir, founded by Lorena Araujo, sings at the Saturday and Sunday evening Portuguese Masses and at funerals, while an English-language choir serves the other liturgies. The parish has also produced online video devotions, including a Divine Mercy Holy Hour recorded with former pastor Father Hickey.
- English-language choir
- Brazilian community choir (Lorena Araujo, director since ~2013)
- Children's choir (Brazilian)
- Livestream Mass on the parish website
Devotions and Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, Holy Family offers a daily Morning Prayer Group that meets at 8:15 AM Monday through Saturday in the Main Church to pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet before the 9:00 AM Mass. After the 7:30 AM Sunday Mass, the Divine Mercy Chaplet is also prayed for World Peace. Father O'Driscoll leads an ongoing Bible Study (meeting Thursday evenings in the rectory conference room, with online offerings on Facebook), and a weekday online Spiritual Book Club currently working through the Catechism of the Catholic Church's section on the Sacraments.
- Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet: 8:15 AM Mon–Sat
- Divine Mercy Chaplet after 7:30 AM Sunday Mass
- Bible Study with Fr. O'Driscoll (Thursday 6:30 PM, plus Tuesdays on Facebook)
- Spiritual Book Club (weekdays online)
Outreach and St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul operates a Holy Family Conference on the parish campus, headquartered out of the parish's Union Street site. Parishioners in need of assistance can call 781-792-0168 and follow taped directions. The conference is formally part of the Archdiocese of Boston's SVdP structure and was granted IRS tax-exempt status in March 2013. In addition, the parish supports the sick and homebound through Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites, both arranged by calling the rectory.
- St. Vincent de Paul Holy Family Conference
- Helpline: 781-792-0168
- Anointing of the Sick by request
- Last Rites for the Dying by request
Sacraments
Holy Family celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms are arranged by contacting the rectory at 781-878-0160. Couples wishing to marry should schedule an interview with one of the priests at least six months in advance. The sacrament of Reconciliation is regularly offered Saturday afternoons in Mary's Chapel. The Anointing of the Sick is available especially before hospitalization, and Last Rites can be requested at any time for the dying by calling the rectory.
- Baptism: register through the rectory
- Marriage: priest interview at least six months ahead
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM, Mary's Chapel
- Anointing of the Sick: call the rectory, especially before hospital
- Last Rites: call the rectory
Parish Campus, Cemetery, and Facilities
Holy Family's main 'campus' sits at 403 Union Street and includes the main church, the rectory, the Religious Education office, the St. Joseph Center, and the local headquarters of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. There is substantial parking with designated handicapped spaces, and both the upper and lower churches are handicapped-accessible. Off Market Street, Holy Family Cemetery comprises nearly 50 acres of land and is one of the parish's distinctive properties, along with the chapel spaces used for adoration and confession.
- Main campus at 403 Union Street
- Holy Family Cemetery (about 50 acres) off Market Street
- St. Joseph Center on campus
- Handicapped-accessible upper and lower churches
Getting Involved
The parish encourages involvement through its ministries, choirs, faith formation program, Bible study groups, the Morning Prayer Group, and the St. Vincent de Paul conference. The parish website highlights 'Get Involved — Ministries and Outreach Opportunities' as a primary navigation item for anyone wanting to volunteer or serve.
- Volunteer through the St. Vincent de Paul conference
- Join a choir or the music ministry
- Help with Religious Education
- Participate in daily prayer groups and Bible study
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James F. Hickey
Pastor who oversaw the closure of Holy Family School in June 2018 after nearly 80 years; his final Mass at the parish was celebrated on May 26, 2024.
- Rev. Walter A. Carreiro2024–present
Current pastor; presided over the parish's 2026 liturgical life and nominated a parishioner for the Cheverus Award.