About Holy Trinity · Lowell, Massachusetts
Holy Trinity Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Lowell, Massachusetts, and the designated mother parish for the Polish Community in the Merrimack Valley. Founded in 1904 by Polish immigrants and consecrated on August 19, 1904, it has served the Greater Lowell area for over a century, preserving Polish Catholic traditions while welcoming all ethnic groups. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston (Vicariate II, Merrimack Pastoral Region) and is recognized as a fully active, traditional Catholic community. It is best known for its Polish-language liturgy, strong devotional life, and its survival of a 2004 closure attempt through an appeal to the Vatican.
- Established
- 1904
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (Vicariate II, Merrimack Pastoral Region)
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a traditional, fully active Catholic parish with a distinct Polish Catholic heritage and a deep devotional rhythm: a daily Mass tradition, Eucharistic adoration, the Living Rosary, Marian devotions, Gorzkie Żale during Lent, and Stations of the Cross. Worshippers benefit from active Polish- and English-language choirs, a parish school (St. Stanislaus), a CCD Religious Education program for grades 1–10, a Senior Citizens Club, a Drop-in Youth Center, Knights of Columbus, and outreach through 15 Eucharistic Ministers who even visit Lowell General Hospital. It is also a parish that fought for its own survival and continues to welcome all ethnic groups.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Holy Hour of Adoration — First Wednesday of the month, 10:00 a.m., Immaculate Conception Rectory Chapel (Polish and English)
- Nocturnal Adoration — First Friday of each month, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Parish History
Holy Trinity Parish of Lowell traces its roots to about 1893, when Polish immigrants in the city gathered for Mass said in the basement of the French church of St. Joseph on Paige Street. By 1899 the community numbered around 80 Polish families, and a fundraising effort began with the help of Father John Chmielinski of South Boston. Land was purchased on High Street in 1903, construction began in spring 1904, and the church was consecrated on August 19, 1904 by Bishop Allen of Mobile, a Lowell native. Founding pastor Msgr. Stanislaus Alexander Ogonowski led the parish for half a century (1904–1955), built the first Polish parochial school in the Archdiocese of Boston (St. Stanislaus Kostka, completed 1907), welcomed the Felician Sisters from Buffalo, NY in 1910, acquired five acres for the parish cemetery in 1927, and oversaw the dedication of a Youth Center at the parish's Golden Jubilee in 1954.
- Early Masses celebrated in the basement of St. Joseph's French church on Paige Street
- Architect T. Edward Sheehan of Boston; contractor Clark of Boston
- Consecration by Bishop Allen of Mobile on August 19, 1904
- First Polish parochial school in the Archdiocese of Boston (1907)
- Felician Sisters arrived in 1910 from Buffalo, NY
- Cemetery land purchased in 1927
- Marble Passion altar erected after WWII
- Youth Center dedicated in 1954 at the Golden Jubilee
The 2004 Closure Attempt and Vatican Appeal
After the Archdiocese of Boston closed the parish school in 2004, the diocese attempted to close Holy Trinity Parish itself. The parish reluctantly appealed to the Vatican and was granted the right to remain open. Today the parish continues as a fully active, traditional Catholic parish, welcoming all ethnic groups while preserving its special place for the Polish community.
Clergy and Staff
Holy Trinity is led by Pastor Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella, with Vicar Rev. Kenneth Healey, SM assisting. Weekend and weekday Masses are also supported by Fr. Janusz, Fr. Raju, and Deacon Steve. The parish continues to be served in collaboration with Immaculate Conception Parish; liturgical music is directed by Mr. Andrzej Kol (collaborative) and other parish staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella
- Vicar: Rev. Kenneth Healey, SM
- Fr. Janusz, Fr. Raju, Deacon Steve — assisting clergy
- Rev. Stanislaw Kempa — former administrator (1997–2014), chaplain of Knights of Columbus
- Collaborative liturgy/music: Mr. Andrzej Kol
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
The parish maintains a traditional weekly schedule with a Saturday Vigil, a Sunday Polish Mass, daily noon Mass, and a rich program of devotions and adoration. Special services are offered throughout the year, including the annual Memorial Day Mass at Holy Trinity Cemetery.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday Mass — 9:00 AM (Polish), with Rosary at 8:00 AM and Marian Devotions after Mass
- Weekday Mass — Monday–Friday, 12:00 Noon at the Saints Campus Chapel
- Holy Day Mass — 6:00 PM; Vigil time to be announced
- Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help — Sundays following the Polish Mass
- Living Rosary — 27 groups of 15 parishioners each praying one decade daily
- Gorzkie Żale — Sundays during Lent following the Polish Mass
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays during Lent, 6:30 PM Mass
- Annual Memorial Day Cemetery liturgy — Rosary and Mass at 9:00 AM
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Holy Trinity has a remarkably active lay life, with more than twenty parish organizations spanning liturgy, faith formation, youth, charity, culture, and social support.
- Altar Servers (grades 3–12)
- Eucharistic Ministers (15 commissioned; hospital outreach at Lowell General)
- Holy Name Society — second-Sunday corporate Mass and breakfast
- Our Lady of Czestochowa Sodality — young women's sodality with May and October Masses
- Lectors, Liturgy Committee, Ushers
- Adult English Choir, Polish Choir, Children's Choir
- Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee
- Polish Cultural Committee
- Parent Teacher Organization
- Senior Citizens Club (60+, Wednesdays at noon)
- Knights of Columbus — St. Maximilian Kolbe Council
- Living Rosary
- Alcoholics Anonymous, Bible Study, Coffee Social, Polish Classes, Bingo
Faith Formation and School
Religious education and the parish school are pillars of parish life. The parish operates St. Stanislaus School (historically the first Polish parochial school in the Archdiocese of Boston) and a CCD program for public-school students in grades 1–10. The school is supported by a Parent Teacher Organization and a School Advisory Board open to parents, parishioners, and alumni.
- St. Stanislaus School (parish school, advisory board open to alumni)
- Religious Education / CCD Program — Tuesdays 6:00–7:15 PM, grades 1–10, in St. Stanislaus School
- Confirmation preparation — minimum two consecutive years of religious education
- Parent Teacher Organization — meets first Monday of each month in the Parish Hall
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Holy Trinity has a long-standing commitment to its young people, from its 1954 Youth Center to a contemporary Drop-in Center and parish-led youth ministry overseen by Mrs. Shirley Janeiro. Polish-language classes are also offered for children and adults.
- Drop-In Center — open three Friday evenings per month, 7:00–10:00 PM, for grades 7–10 (ping pong, pool, air hockey, basketball, TV)
- Polish Classes — children 5:30 PM, adults 7:00 PM, Fridays in the school
- Confirmation classes — required for teens preparing for the sacrament
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church. Confirmation is administered by the Bishop at Holy Trinity each spring, with teen candidates required to complete at least two consecutive years of religious education classes and adult candidates prepared alongside the teens. Information about marriage, baptism, First Communion and Anointing of the Sick is available through the parish Sacraments page.
- Confirmation — Bishop celebrates each spring; teens need 2+ years of religious education; adult Confirmation with teens
- Marriage preparation available through the parish
- Baptism, First Communion, Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Parish Cemetery and Memorial Day Tradition
Five acres of cemetery land were purchased in 1927 across from St. Patrick's Cemetery for parish burials. The parish maintains an annual Memorial Day liturgy at the cemetery — Rosary and Mass at 9:00 AM, weather permitting — and the parish bulletin each year asks families to keep the cemetery clean. Inside the church, a marble Passion altar erected after WWII is the site of the Memorial Day Mass, with the remains of parishioners who died in wartime resting at its base.
- Cemetery acquired in 1927 (across from St. Patrick's Cemetery)
- Annual Memorial Day Rosary and Mass at 9:00 AM
- Marble Passion altar with remains of war-dead parishioners at its base
Polish Heritage and Cultural Life
As the designated mother parish for the Polish Community of the Merrimack Valley, Holy Trinity works to preserve Polish Catholic heritage while serving the wider Greater Lowell community. The parish actively participates in civic cultural events.
- Polish Mass and Polish choir each Sunday
- Polish Cultural Committee — promotes Polish heritage in Lowell
- Participation in Lowell's Folk Festival and the Multi-Cultural Mass on Ascension Thursday
- Polish-language library and resources available during Sunday social after the 10:30 Mass
- Polish Classes for children and adults
Outreach and Charity
Holy Trinity's outreach reaches beyond the parish walls. Two of the 15 commissioned Eucharistic Ministers serve with Sister Eileen, the hospital chaplain at Lowell General Hospital, as pastoral visitors. The Knights of Columbus support the Massachusetts State Charity Fund's Tootsie-Roll drive for retarded and handicapped children of all faiths. The parish bulletin also promotes the Archdiocese of Boston's annual second collection for seminarian formation.
- Eucharistic Minister hospital visitation at Lowell General Hospital
- Knights of Columbus Tootsie-Roll drive for children with disabilities
- Annual second collection supporting Archdiocese of Boston seminarian formation
Getting Involved
Beyond Mass attendance, parishioners can join one of more than twenty ministries — from liturgical roles like Altar Server, Lector, or Choir member to devotional groups like the Living Rosary, parish service organizations like the Holy Name Society and Senior Citizens Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Polish Cultural Committee, or social activities like Bingo, Coffee Social, and Bible Study.
- Liturgical roles — Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Choir, Ushers
- Devotional — Living Rosary, Holy Name Society, Our Lady of Czestochowa Sodality
- Service — Knights of Columbus, Senior Citizens Club, Polish Cultural Committee
- Faith formation — CCD catechists, Youth Ministry, Polish Classes
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Stanislaus Alexander Ogonowski1904–1955
Founding pastor; commissioned by Archbishop Williams to organize the parish and built the original church and St. Stanislaus Kostka School.
- Rev. Edward Naguszewski1955–1976
Succeeded Msgr. Ogonowski.
- Rev. Msgr. John Abucewicz1976–1995
- Rev. Jon C. Martin1995–1997
- Rev. Stanislaw Kempa1997–2014
Made administrator in 1997; oversaw the parish through the 2004 attempted closure; chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
- Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella2014–present
Current pastor; leads the parish in collaboration with Immaculate Conception.