Immaculate Conception

About Immaculate Conception Parish

Immaculate Conception Parish serves Catholic families in East Weymouth, Massachusetts, and has been part of the Catholic Weymouth Collaborative with Saint Jerome Parish since 2013. The parish shares one pastor and a single staff team with Saint Jerome, while each church keeps its own schedule, building, and parish identity. The community gathers at a distinctive round church on Broad Street, with weekend Masses on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning and daily Masses on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

History of Immaculate Conception

Catholic life in Weymouth began as a mission in 1845, with Masses celebrated in South and East Weymouth by priests from West Quincy, Randolph, and Abington. The community was formally established as a separate parish on July 16, 1868, with Rev. John Hannigan as the first pastor. The original Immaculate Conception church was built beginning in 1872, and Archbishop Williams dedicated the completed building on the Feast of Christ the King, November 23, 1879, at a cost of $25,000 with seating for 700. In 1882 the town was divided into two parishes, and Immaculate Conception received its first resident pastor, Rev. Jeremiah E. Millerick. The parish adapted through fires, building changes, and demographic shifts over more than a century and a half, and in 2013 entered a formal collaborative with Saint Jerome Parish under the Archdiocese of Boston's Disciples in Mission plan.

• 1845 — First recorded Masses in Weymouth as a mission of St. Mary's, West Quincy
• 1868 (July 16) — Weymouth established as a separate parish
• 1872 — Land purchased for the original Immaculate Conception church
• 1879 (Nov 23) — Archbishop Williams dedicates the completed church
• 1882 — Town divided into two parishes; Rev. Jeremiah E. Millerick becomes first resident pastor
• 2013 — Catholic Weymouth Collaborative formed with Saint Jerome Parish

Clergy and Staff

The Catholic Weymouth Collaborative is led by a single pastor who serves both Immaculate Conception and Saint Jerome parishes, supported by priests in residence, three deacons, and a full lay staff for faith formation, music, finance, youth ministry, and parish communications.

• Rev. Huy H. Nguyen — Pastor
• Rev. William P. Joy — In Residence
• Deacon Timothy J. Maher
• Deacon Paul G. Costello
• Senior Deacon Francis Corbett
• Daryle Wilson — Office Manager
• Monika Brodsky — Music Ministry / Liturgy
• Christine Coulsey — Finance
• Fabiola Espinoza — Faith Formation
• Luke Luciani — Youth Ministry
• Mary Ellen Cassani — Adult Formation / Spiritual Direction
• Rich Fazzi — Communications / Programs
• Mike Pollard — Saint Jerome Maintenance

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The parish's Faith Formation office coordinates religious education for children, a two-year First Holy Communion track, a two-year Confirmation program, and the OCIA process for adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their sacraments. Faith Formation is offered for children in grades 3 through 6, with First Communion preparation beginning in first grade.

• Youth Faith Formation (grades 3–6)
• First Holy Communion — two-year process beginning in 1st grade
• Confirmation — two-year preparation program
• OCIA / Becoming Catholic — for unbaptized adults and Christians entering full communion

Youth Ministry

The Catholic Weymouth youth ministry, called 'The Wey Up,' brings teens together for faith, fellowship, and service. The group runs service projects such as the annual 'Giving Wey' food drive, which in recent years set a 700-pound canned-good goal for the Weymouth Food Pantry. Youth-led donation boxes are placed at the main entrances of both churches during the drive.

• The Wey Up — Catholic Weymouth youth ministry group
• The Giving Wey — annual food drive for the Weymouth Food Pantry
• Summer youth camps — over 250 children served in 2024
• Youth Ministry led by Luke Luciani

Music and Liturgy

Music Ministry for the collaborative is directed by Monika Brodsky. The parish's weekly bulletin regularly lists Music Ministry as part of the core staff supporting worship across both Immaculate Conception and Saint Jerome. The pastor also livestreams the Sunday 7:30 AM Mass from Saint Jerome on Facebook during weather emergencies.

• Music Ministry led by Monika Brodsky
• Sunday Mass livestream on Facebook during weather emergencies

Adult Formation and Spiritual Direction

Mary Ellen Cassani coordinates Adult Formation and offers Spiritual Direction for adults in the collaborative. Programs have included scripture study series such as a deep dive into the Book of Exodus, and the 'Young at Heart' social gathering for adult parishioners and South Shore community members, held Tuesday afternoons in Saint Paula Hall in partnership with the Irish Pastoral Center.

• Adult Formation Team led by Mary Ellen Cassani
• Spiritual Direction available
• Young at Heart — Tuesday afternoon social gathering in Saint Paula Hall
• Bible and scripture study series (e.g., Exodus)

Outreach and Charity

Outreach to neighbors in need is a visible part of parish life. The most prominent activity is support for the Weymouth Food Pantry, including the annual SOUPer Bowl canned-soup competition between Weymouth and Franklin, and the youth-led Giving Wey food drive. The parish also runs an annual Grand Annual Collection to fund church maintenance, parking lots, and insurance.

• Weymouth Food Pantry — ongoing donations and Giving Wey food drive
• SOUPer Bowl canned-soup competition vs. Franklin Food Pantry
• Grand Annual Collection — funds church maintenance, parking lots, insurance
• Don Bosco Trade Foundation — supported by Fr. Huy Nguyen and parish community

Parish Life and Devotions

Beyond Mass and the sacraments, Immaculate Conception fosters Marian devotion and community gatherings. A new wall mural of the Blessed Mother at Immaculate Conception is the site of the annual Rosary for World Peace following the 9:00 AM Mass in October, echoing Our Lady of Fatima's call to pray the Rosary daily for peace. The parish also publishes weekly bulletins with Mass intentions, offertory totals, and Collaborative news.

• Rosary for World Peace beside the new Blessed Mother wall mural
• Weekly Sunday bulletin with Mass intentions and offertory figures
• Thanksgiving dinner for ministry volunteers hosted by the pastor
• Collaborative Parish Council and Finance Council