About Holy Redeemer Parish - St. Ann · West Newbury, Massachusetts
Holy Redeemer Parish – St. Ann is a Roman Catholic parish serving the town of West Newbury, Massachusetts, as one of three worship sites in the Holy Redeemer – Immaculate Conception (HRIC) Collaborative. Its church, St. Ann, stands at 300 Main Street and offers a Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. plus the alternating-month Saturday Vigil at 4:00 p.m. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and shares pastoral leadership, faith formation, music, and outreach staff with sister churches Nativity (Merrimac) and Immaculate Conception (Newburyport) under Pastor Rev. Timothy A. Harrison.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- St. Ann (officially spelled without a final 'e', though the rose windows read 'St. Anne')
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy A. Harrison
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Ann is one of three welcoming worship sites in the HRIC Collaborative, with a comfortable Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. and a Saturday Vigil that alternates monthly with Nativity in Merrimac. The parish runs a robust K-8 Faith Formation program, sacramental preparation, and the 'Exploring Catholicism' / OCIA inquiry series for adults curious about the Catholic faith. Outreach is concrete and local: the Holy Redeemer St. Vincent de Paul Society assists neighbors in need, the Soup & Sandwich Program feeds the community, and a Prayer Shawl ministry reaches the homebound. With two senior priests in residence, two deacons, a music ministry led by an organist and cantor, and links to Immaculate Conception School, St. Ann offers the warmth of a small-town parish backed by the resources of a larger collaborative.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer Parish - St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (Newburyport), face-to-face
- By appointment — call (978) 346-8604 or (978) 462-2724
Identity & Worship Sites
Holy Redeemer Parish – St. Ann is one of three worship sites that make up the Holy Redeemer – Immaculate Conception (HRIC) Collaborative in the Archdiocese of Boston. The Collaborative was created in 2015 under the direction of Fr. Timothy Harrison and serves the Catholic population of four neighboring towns: Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury. St. Ann sits at 300 Main Street in West Newbury, alongside Nativity in Merrimac (4 Green Street) and Immaculate Conception in Newburyport (42 Green Street).
- St. Ann Church — 300 Main Street, West Newbury, MA 01985
- Nativity Church — 4 Green Street, Merrimac, MA 01860
- Immaculate Conception Church — 42 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
- Immaculate Conception School (Newburyport) and St. Mary's Cemetery (36 Storey Avenue, Newburyport) are also part of the Collaborative.
Parish History: From Mission to Collaborative
St. Ann's story stretches back to mid-19th-century West Newbury, when local Catholics first worshipped in Newburyport, then as a mission of Amesbury under Fr. Brady, and later as part of a Georgetown–Groveland–West Newbury parish under Rev. John Cummings. The first Catholic Mass in West Newbury was celebrated in the home of John Kelly on Main Street by Fr. McDonnell of the Haverhill church. By the 1860s the faithful were gathering in West Newbury's Old Town Hall with visiting priests; Fr. McClure, Cummings's successor, began the long campaign of fundraising and land purchase at Main and Church Streets.
- 1878 — Ground broken for St. Ann Church.
- 1879 (Christmas Day) — First Mass celebrated in the new church.
- May 2, 1880 — Church dedicated.
- c. 1891 — South Groveland, Groveland, and Georgetown detached from St. Ann; Merrimac and West Newbury joined under Nativity's care.
- 1945 — St. Ann raised to an independent parish and assigned its first resident pastor (parish house on Maple Street).
Becoming Holy Redeemer and the HRIC Collaborative
On September 21, 2006, Cardinal Seán P. O'Mley, OFM Cap., issued a decree merging the parishes of Nativity (Merrimac) and St. Ann (West Newbury) into a single parish named Holy Redeemer, effective October 30, 2006. Fr. Edward F. Sherry became the first pastor of the new Holy Redeemer Parish. Following Fr. Sherry's death in 2011 and the Archdiocese of Boston's 'Disciples in Mission' pastoral plan, Holy Redeemer and Immaculate Conception were joined as the HRIC Collaborative on June 2, 2015, with Fr. Timothy A. Harrison appointed pastor. The Collaborative's Pastoral Plan, submitted to the Archdiocese in 2017, identified four priorities: welcoming community, intentional discipleship, increasing all vocations, and promoting service and ministry.
- Oct. 30, 2006 — Holy Redeemer Parish established; Fr. Edward F. Sherry named first pastor.
- March 8, 2011 — Fr. Sherry dies after a brief illness.
- June 2, 2015 — HRIC Collaborative formed; Fr. Timothy A. Harrison appointed pastor.
- 2017 — Collaborative Pastoral Plan submitted to the Archdiocese of Boston.
Our Staff & Clergy
Parish life is led by Pastor Rev. Timothy A. Harrison, supported by two senior priests in residence, two deacons, a director of Lifelong Faith Formation, and a wider collaborative staff for music, facilities, administration, outreach, and the parish school.
- Rev. Timothy Harrison — Pastor
- Rev. George Morin — Senior Priest in Residence
- Rev. Charles Stanley — Senior Priest in Residence
- Deacon John J. Moranski — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Paul Dow — Senior Deacon
- Aaron Giard — Director, Lifelong Faith Formation
- Melinda Burrell — Administrative Assistant, Lifelong Faith Formation
- Jennifer Acorn — HR Organist
- Kathy Peavey — HR Cantor
- Paula Quann — Youth Choir
- Dennis LaMalfa — Business Manager
- Joan Sullivan — Principal, Immaculate Conception School
- Joseph Viel — St. Mary's Cemetery
- Karen Leff — Coordinator of Media Outreach
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The Lifelong Faith Formation office (Director Aaron Giard) coordinates religious education for children and adults across the Collaborative. Beginning two years ago, Confirmation in the Archdiocese moved from 10th/11th grade to 8th grade, and the Collaborative's preparation program is now a 6–7 month journey with about 10 sessions beginning in September. Older teens and high-schoolers not yet confirmed are accommodated in separate classes, and 8th graders without recent faith formation are typically placed with 7th graders for foundation work before Confirmation prep.
- 2025–2026 K–8 Faith Formation with parish-specific schedules for Holy Redeemer and Immaculate Conception
- Confirmation preparation now in 8th grade (10 sessions, every other week)
- All volunteers must complete a CORI form before assisting with children
Adult Faith Formation — OCIA & 'Exploring Catholicism'
The Collaborative welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). The initial set of 13 'Exploring Catholicism' sessions meets on Sunday mornings after the 9:00 a.m. Mass at Immaculate Conception (10:15–11:15 a.m.) in the IC Parish Hall, Room 305. Sessions are open to drop-ins and parishioners who simply want to be formed more deeply in the faith, and the team can accommodate weeknight schedules if needed.
- OCIA Director: Aaron Giard — [email protected] / (978) 462-2724 x405
- Exploring Catholicism — Sundays 10:15–11:15 a.m., IC Parish Hall, Rm 305
- Parishioners invited to serve on the OCIA team as hospitality, teachers, mentors, or prayer partners
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgy and music at Holy Redeemer (HR) sites are coordinated by organist Jennifer Acorn, cantor Kathy Peavey, and youth choir director Paula Quann. Immaculate Conception maintains a parallel team under Music Ministry Director Donna Postle, with Tim Richard as organist and Steve Swochack as music coordinator. Liturgical ministry volunteers (lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, etc.) serve across all three worship sites.
- HR Organist — Jennifer Acorn
- HR Cantor — Kathy Peavey
- HR Youth Choir — Paula Quann
- IC Music Ministry Director — Donna Postle
- IC Organist — Tim Richard
- IC Music Coordinator — Steve Swochack
Community Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a central pillar of the Collaborative's 2017 Pastoral Plan. The two St. Vincent de Paul conferences (one for Holy Redeemer, one for Immaculate Conception) serve neighbors in need with direct aid, supported by pew envelopes and poor boxes at both St. Ann and Nativity. The Soup & Sandwich Program, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Pelican Intervention Fund, IC Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, and parish activities committees round out the network of service opportunities.
- HR St. Vincent de Paul Society — contact 978-346-8604 x8; donations to 'HR Saint Vincent de Paul', 4 Green St., Merrimac, MA 01860
- IC St. Vincent de Paul Society
- IC Knights of Columbus
- Boy Scouts
- The Pelican Intervention Fund
- HRIC Soup & Sandwich Program
- HRIC Prayer Shawl Ministry
- IC Harvest Fair Committee
- HR Activities Committee & Faith, Fun, & Fellowship Committee
Immaculate Conception School
Immaculate Conception School, the parish school of the Collaborative, operates under Principal Joan Sullivan. While located in Newburyport rather than West Newbury, it is listed among the Collaborative's ministries on the staff page and serves the broader Catholic community that includes Holy Redeemer families.
- Immaculate Conception School — Principal Joan Sullivan
St. Mary's Cemetery
St. Mary's Cemetery at 36 Storey Avenue, Newburyport, is part of the Collaborative and is overseen by Joseph Viel. It serves the burial needs of Catholic families across the four-town region.
- St. Mary's Cemetery — 36 Storey Avenue, Newburyport
Volunteer & Get Involved
The Collaborative publishes a digital Ministry Directory that catalogues every volunteer opportunity across the three worship sites. Parishioners are encouraged to serve in Liturgical Ministries, Faith Formation, the Parish Pastoral Council, parish committees, and outreach programs.
- Liturgical Ministries
- Faith Formation Volunteers
- Parish Pastoral Council
- HR Activities Committee
- HRIC Soup & Sandwich Program
- HRIC Prayer Shawl
- IC Harvest Fair Committee
- Faith, Fun, & Fellowship Committee
- IC St. Vincent de Paul Society
- HR St. Vincent de Paul Society
Contact, Office & Location
The Collaborative maintains two main office locations — the IC Pastoral Center in Newburyport and a parish office in Merrimac — with St. Ann reachable via the Merrimac/Newburyport line. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Saturday Vigil Mass is live-streamed on the website and the Collaborative's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
- Parish Office (IC): 42 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950 — (978) 462-2724
- Nativity Office: 4 Green Street, Merrimac, MA 01860 — (978) 346-8604
- St. Ann Church: 300 Main Street, West Newbury, MA 01985 — (978) 346-8604
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- General email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward F. Sherry2006–2011
First pastor of the merged Holy Redeemer Parish (Nativity, Merrimac + St. Ann, West Newbury); appointed by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley effective Oct. 30, 2006; died March 8, 2011.
- Rev. Timothy A. Harrison2015–present
Appointed pastor of the new Holy Redeemer – Immaculate Conception (HRIC) Collaborative on June 2, 2015, as part of the Archdiocese of Boston's 'Disciples in Mission' pastoral plan.