About Holy Name · Fall River, Massachusetts
The Church of the Holy Name is a Roman Catholic parish in the Highlands neighborhood of Fall River, Massachusetts, belonging to the Diocese of Fall River. Founded in 1923 and now celebrating its centennial, Holy Name is best known for its striking white, colonial-style church on Hanover Street — once described by Bishop James E. Cassidy as 'undoubtedly the largest and most beautiful colonial church in America if not in all the world.' The parish is home to Holy Name School (Pre-K through 8), a permanent adoration chapel, and a long lineage of clergy who have shepherded the community from a tent on Stanley Street to a thriving parish of Word, Sacrament, and service.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- The Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Riley J. Williams
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fall River (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Holy Name is a Eucharistic family of faith in the heart of the Highlands, where parishioners are nourished by Word and Sacrament and invited to imitate Christ by assisting others in their spiritual and material needs. The parish offers daily and Sunday Masses, a perpetual-style Adoration chapel (Our Lady of Grace), an active OCIA/RCIA process, a thriving Pre-K–8 school, a parish school of faith formation, a Mental Health Ministry, and opportunities to serve through CYO athletics, the Women's Guild, music ministry, and parish volunteer life — all under the leadership of pastors who have shepherded the community across more than a century.
Mass times at Holy Name
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
- Saturday 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- First Friday of the Month 5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. (following the 5:15 p.m. Mass)
- First Friday of the Month 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (following the 7:00 a.m. Mass)
Adoration times
- Our Lady of Grace Adoration Chapel: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (accessible via wheelchair ramp entrance on the right side of the church toward the back)
Parish History
Holy Name Parish was canonically established on June 10, 1923, in the Highlands of Fall River, when its first parishioners gathered for Mass in a tent on Stanley Street. Drawn largely from Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's Parishes, the new community was shepherded by founding pastor Fr. George B. McNamee, who named it for the Holy Name of Jesus, and attorney Thomas F. Higgins, the former Fall River mayor (1911–1913) who secured the parish land for the Bishop of Fall River from Hannah, Frank, and Grace Wordell for the sum of $1. The first Read Street church was built the same year. Within a decade the parish had outgrown it, and the unexpected 1934 death of textile-mill executive Seth A. Borden opened the way to acquire his showpiece Hanover Street estate — complete with greenhouse, white poinsettias, and exotic-animal zoo. The current church, designed by Maginnis and Walsh in a striking white colonial style, was dedicated on June 15, 1941, under Fr. James Coyle. The parish marked its centennial in 2023 under the leadership of Fr. Riley Williams, continuing the centenarian motto: 'Succeed and prosper.'
- Founded June 10, 1923 — first Mass in a tent on Stanley Street
- Founding pastor: Fr. George B. McNamee (d. 1938)
- Land for parish: conveyed March 7, 1923, by the Wordell family for $1
- Current church dedicated June 15, 1941, designed by Maginnis and Walsh
- Centennial celebrated 2023 under Fr. Riley Williams
The Church Building
The current Holy Name church was dedicated in 1941 and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful colonial-style Catholic churches in the country. Its white clapboard exterior, wooden frame, and front steeple evoke the meetinghouses of early New England, while the interior accommodates a vibrant Catholic liturgy and houses the Our Lady of Grace Adoration Chapel on its right side. Bishop James E. Cassidy, who was intimately involved in the design, did not hesitate to call it 'undoubtedly the largest and most beautiful colonial church in America if not in all the world.'
- Architects: Maginnis and Walsh
- Dedicated June 15, 1941
- White colonial design with front steeple and wooden frame
- Our Lady of Grace Adoration Chapel on right side
- Wheelchair-ramp access at rear-right of church
Liturgical Schedule & Sacraments
Holy Name offers a robust schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, with regular opportunities for Reconciliation and perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel. The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and welcomes both lifelong Catholics and those entering the Church through OCIA.
- Weekend Masses: Saturday 4 p.m. Vigil; Sunday 8:30, 10:30, and 5:00 p.m.
- Weekday Masses: Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m.; Wednesday also 5:15 p.m.; Saturday and Holy Days 8:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: Sat 8:30–9:00 a.m. and 3:15–3:45 p.m.; First Friday 5:45–6:15 p.m. and 7:30–8:00 a.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Grace Chapel
- Anointing of the Sick available by calling the Parish Office
- Marriage preparation begins at least 8 months in advance
- OCIA for unbaptized, non-Catholics, and Catholics seeking Communion/Confirmation
Holy Name School
Holy Name School opened its doors in September 1960 under the leadership of Msgr. William H. Harrington, originally staffed by the Holy Union Sisters. Today it serves students in Pre-K through Grade 8 from the greater Fall River community, with a curriculum grounded in diocesan and state learning standards, weekly celebration of Mass, religious studies, and service opportunities. The school is led by Principal Megan dos Santos, with Fr. Riley J. Williams serving as Director.
- Established 1960
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- School Colors: Navy blue and yellow
- Address: 850 Pearce Street, Fall River, MA 02720
- Principal: Megan dos Santos; Director: Fr. Riley J. Williams
- Daily hot lunch, before- and after-school care, and financial aid available
- Middle school offerings include Spanish I, Algebra I Honors, and coding
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish Faith Formation program supports parish families in passing on the Catholic faith to their children. All families must first be registered members of Holy Name Parish before enrolling their children. For adults seeking Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation, the parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) — the contemporary name for the RCIA process — beginning each fall and culminating at the Easter Vigil.
- Faith Formation for parish children — contact Diane Baron at the rectory
- OCIA for unbaptized adults, non-Catholics entering the Church, and Catholics seeking First Communion or Confirmation
- OCIA begins in the fall; continues through Lent; Sacraments received at the Easter Vigil
Mental Health Ministry
Holy Name's Mental Health Ministry is one of the parish's most distinctive outreach efforts, inspired by the image of Jesus walking with His disciples on the Road to Emmaus. The team offers practical support, spiritual companionship, and education to parishioners and families affected by mental-health challenges — but never functions in a professional clinical capacity. All members are trained in Mental Health First Aid.
- Practical Support — referrals to local community resources
- Spiritual Companionship — nonjudgmental listening and prayer
- Education — parish-wide mental-health awareness sessions
- All ministers trained in Mental Health First Aid
- Referrals to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline when appropriate
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Name is served by a pastor, a parochial vicar who also serves as hospital chaplain, and a permanent deacon, supported by a small lay staff in faith formation, music, and parish administration.
- Fr. Riley J. Williams — Pastor (arrived 2021)
- Fr. James M. Fitzpatrick — Parochial Vicar & Hospital Chaplain
- Deacon Christopher Paul — Permanent Deacon
- Diane Baron — Parish Secretary
- Dorothy Mahoney-Pacheco — Director of Faith Formation
- Erik Thompson — Director of Music
- Megan dos Santos — Principal, Holy Name School
Volunteers & Safe Environment
The parish community is built on the gifts and talents of its members, in the spirit of St. Paul's teaching that each of us has a unique contribution to make to the Body of Christ. All parish employees and volunteers must complete the Diocese of Fall River's Safe Environment protocol — the 'Essential Three' — including a CORI background check, Safe Environment training (renewed every six years), and a signed Code of Conduct.
- Many opportunities for parish involvement — check the parish bulletin
- Diocesan Safe Environment 'Essential Three' required of all volunteers and employees
- Safe Environment training must be renewed every six years
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George B. McNamee1923–1938
Founding pastor; chose the parish name out of devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus; died unexpectedly in 1938 before the new church was completed.
- Fr. James Coyle1938–1955
Brought the new (current) Hanover Street church to completion; led its dedication on June 15, 1941.
- Msgr. William H. Harrington1955–1967
Secured the Holy Union Sisters to staff the new parish school, which opened September 1960.
- Msgr. Daniel Shalloo1967–1988
Presided over growth of CYO basketball, Women's Guild, youth group, and greater lay involvement.
- Fr. Francis Mahoney1988–2005
Led the parish through the 1990s; oversaw 1998 dedication of parish center/school addition.
- Fr. George Harrison2005–2010
Enhanced the spiritual life of the parish, created the Adoration chapel, and stabilized finances.
- Fr. Jay Maddock2010–2021
Continued the renewal work begun by Fr. Harrison.
- Fr. Riley J. Williams2021–present
Current pastor; leading the parish through its centennial.