About Immaculate Conception · Lancaster, Massachusetts
Immaculate Conception Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Lancaster, Massachusetts — the oldest town in Worcester County — within the Diocese of Worcester. The church was first built in 1873 as a mission of St. John's in neighboring Clinton and was consecrated as an independent parish in 1915 with Fr. John F. Boyle as its first priest. Today the parish welcomes Roman Catholics from Lancaster and the surrounding towns, celebrating weekend Masses in English and offering weekday Masses, regular confession, and a small but active parish life centered on its 1873/1941 Colonial-style church on Main Street.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. James (Fr. Jim) Mazzone
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a welcoming small-town parish where members quickly know one another and the priests by name. Newcomers are personally invited to introduce themselves to Fr. Jim, fill out a registration form, and join a community that celebrates the Saturday Vigil and Sunday 9:00 a.m. Masses, Tuesday and Thursday daily Masses, and shares ministries from the Men's Club chicken barbecue to parish Safe Environment programs rooted in the Diocese of Worcester.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM (or by appointment, or after daily Mass)
Parish History
Immaculate Conception traces its roots to 1873, when a Roman Catholic church was constructed in the center of Lancaster as a mission of St. John's Church in Clinton. In 1915 the mission was consecrated as the parish of Immaculate Conception, with Fr. John F. Boyle named the first pastor. The original 1873 building was destroyed by fire in 1941 and rebuilt in a more modern Colonial style — without a steeple. In 1994 a 32-foot steeple salvaged from the Christmas Tree Shoppes in Olde Shrewsbury Village was donated to the parish and mounted atop the church, where it remains today.
- 1873 — Catholic mission church built in Lancaster under St. John's Clinton
- 1915 — Consecrated as Immaculate Conception Parish; Fr. John F. Boyle first pastor
- 1941 — Original building destroyed by fire; rebuilt in Colonial style without a steeple
- 1994 — 32-foot steeple from Olde Shrewsbury Village Christmas Tree Shoppes donated and installed
Lancaster: A Historic New England Town
The parish sits in Lancaster, the oldest town in Worcester County, incorporated May 18, 1653. Settled in the seventeenth century, Lancaster grew as a rural farming community and was home to such prominent historical figures as Mary Rowlandson, the Thayer family, and several officers of the American Revolutionary War. The town's deep Christian roots are visible in the nineteenth-century churches that line its center: the First Church of Christ (Unitarian, 1816), the Evangelical Congregational Church (1841), the Village Church (Seventh Day Adventist, 1856) in South Lancaster, and Immaculate Conception (1873).
- Oldest town in Worcester County (1653)
- Hometown of Mary Rowlandson and the Thayer family
- Revolutionary War officers among early residents
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Jim Mazzone, Pastor, with the assistance of Father Thiago as a parochial priest. The parish shares some clergy coverage with St. John's in Clinton, where daily Masses and Confessions not held at Immaculate Conception are offered. New parishioners are invited to introduce themselves personally to Fr. Jim after completing a new-member registration form.
- Fr. Jim Mazzone — Pastor
- Father Thiago — Parochial Associate
- New-member registration by introduction to Fr. Jim
Sacraments & Devotions
Confessions are heard before the Saturday Vigil Mass and by appointment, and the parish hosts a Monday Marian Novena (call the office to confirm). Mass intentions may be arranged by email to [email protected]; they are published both online and in the weekly bulletin. The parish also welcomes couples seeking marriage convalidation, with preparation overseen by the parish deacon.
- Sacrament of Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM, by appointment, or after daily Mass
- Monday Marian Novena — call parish office for current time
- Mass intentions via [email protected]
- Marriage convalidation preparation with the deacon and a priest
Parish Ministries & Community Life
Parish life at Immaculate Conception is anchored by a strong lay culture. The Immaculate Conception Men's Club hosts the annual chicken barbecue, a parish-wide fundraiser in which Fr. Jim and Fr. Thiago have been known to help with the cooking. Other parish life initiatives include compliance with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (with parish-level Safe Environment practices) and a trained AED response team.
- Immaculate Conception Men's Club — annual chicken barbecue fundraiser
- Safe Environment / Protection of Children and Young People program
- AED (Heart Start) emergency response team with Basic Life Support-trained parishioners
Building, Facilities & Safety
The parish church is the 1941 Colonial-style building at 809 Main Street, topped by the distinctive 32-foot steeple donated in 1994. An AED (Heart Start) unit is stored in the sacristy to the right of the door, and several parishioners trained in Basic Life Support have been oriented to the equipment as part of the parish's emergency readiness.
- AED (Heart Start) located in the sacristy, right of the door
- Trained BLS volunteer responders
- Distinctive 32-foot salvaged steeple (1994)
Bulletin & Communications
Information for the parish bulletin is due by 10:00 AM on the Wednesday before publication. The bulletin carries Mass intentions, announcements, and event details. Newcomers and visitors can sign up for parish email and text updates through the parish's Flocknote service.
- Bulletin submission deadline: Wednesday 10:00 AM
- Mass intentions published online and in the bulletin
- Flocknote email and text updates via the parish site
Visiting & Directions
Immaculate Conception Parish is located at 809 Main Street, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523. From Route 190, visitors take Exit 7 to Highway 117 east, then Route 70 into Lancaster. The parish office can be reached at (978) 365-6582 or by email at [email protected].
- 809 Main Street, Lancaster, MA 01523
- Phone: (978) 365-6582
- Email: [email protected]
- From Rte. 190, Exit 7 → Hwy. 117 E → Rte. 70
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John F. Boyle1915–
First pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish when the 1873 mission church of St. John's Clinton was consecrated as a parish in 1915.