About Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish - Our Lady of Lourdes · Carver, Massachusetts
Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish is a Roman Catholic collaborative parish in the Archdiocese of Boston that unites three worship sites: Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 130 Main Street in Carver, Massachusetts, Saint Peter Church in Plymouth, and Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Plymouth. The Carver church serves as one of the three weekend and weekday Mass locations, with the Pastor, Rev. Joseph K. Raeke, and Parochial Vicar, Rev. Paul Born, serving all three faith communities together since June 2018. The collaborative's vision statement reads: 'Our parish is a welcoming community of prayer, growing in our love of God. We desire to share that love with all we meet in our daily encounters. We invite all who wish to join in celebrating the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and in seeking a vibrant relationship with Jesus through prayer, scripture, and the Sacraments.'
- Established
- 1903 (mission founded); 1950 (independent parish)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes (feast day February 11)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph K. Raeke
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish welcomes visitors and parishioners into a faith community that gathers at three beautiful worship sites across Carver and Plymouth. Weekly life is anchored in daily and weekend Masses, Reconciliation several days a week across all three churches, Adoration, a thriving Faith Formation program, a five-year-running Diaper Pantry serving neighbors in need, a 12-step scripture-based recovery group, Knights of Columbus involvement, and the 'All Are Welcome' ministry that hosts a Mass and luncheon each season. The parish's stated vision — to grow in love of God and share that love with everyone encountered — is lived out in real, practical ways, from social-justice outreach to fellowship gatherings.
Mass times at Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish - Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM (Our Lady of Lourdes)
- Or by appointment — call the parish office at 508-866-4000
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (First Friday of the month, at Our Lady of Lourdes)
About Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish
Mary Queen of Martyrs Parish is the Archdiocese of Boston collaborative that brings together three historic Catholic worship sites — Our Lady of Lourdes in Carver, Saint Peter in Plymouth, and Saint Kateri Tekakwitha in Plymouth — under one pastor, Rev. Joseph K. Raeke, and Parochial Vicar Rev. Paul Born. Formed on June 1, 2018, the collaborative shares staff, ministries, and a common vision: 'a welcoming community of prayer, growing in our love of God.' The parish office is headquartered at Saint Peter Church (10 Memorial Drive, Plymouth), and all three churches share a single bulletin and website at maryqueenofmartyrs.org.
- Three worship sites unified under one pastoral team
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph K. Raeke
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul Born
- Three deacons: James Greer, Richard Cussen, Dan O'Toole
Our Lady of Lourdes (Carver) — Parish History
Our Lady of Lourdes began in 1903 when Fr. George de Butler founded the Catholic mission on three acres of Route 44 land near Cooper's Pond donated by Madame Rondell of Boston. The cornerstone was laid May 24, 1913, and the mission was served successively from St. Peter's Plymouth, St. Joseph's Kingston, and again St. Peter's. It became an independent parish on January 22, 1950, under Archbishop Richard J. Cushing, with Rev. Charles E. Riley as first resident pastor and a new Cape Cod-style rectory rising that same year. Growth under later pastors led Rev. Edward Gallagher to purchase the Carver Square property in June 1992; the parish moved from the original wooden church into a former strip-mall/drugstore unit and was welcomed as the 'All Are Welcome' community under Fr. Anthony Medairos and then Fr. Joseph Raeke.
- 1903: Mission founded by Fr. George de Butler
- May 24, 1913: Cornerstone laid, first Mass offered
- Jan 22, 1950: Became independent parish (first in Carver)
- June 1992: Carver Square property purchased for $1.625M
- Feb 3, 2019: Cardinal O'Malley blessed renovated worship space
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Under the collaborative, Faith Formation is coordinated by Patsy Gillespie ([email protected], ext. 206). The program was restructured in the late 1990s so that each student's family takes primary responsibility for teaching the Catholic faith using grade-level books, with families meeting monthly to share experiences and children gathering with teachers for related activities. The Carver OLOL site features a Religious Education Center with six classrooms and a conference room, made possible by a generous gift from former pastor Rev. Edward Gallagher.
- Director: Patsy Gillespie (ext. 206)
- Family-centered home teaching model
- OLOL Religious Ed Center with 6 classrooms + conference room
- Coordinated across all three collaborative sites
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes is directed by Stacy Dawson (OLOL Music Director), with Crystal Payne serving as musician for Saint Peter and Saint Kateri ([email protected]) and Linda LaRocco as Music Director for Saint Peter's. Together the directors coordinate choirs and musicians across the three worship sites, supporting the collaborative's weekend and holy-day liturgies.
- Stacy Dawson — OLOL Music Director
- Crystal Payne — St. Peter / St. Kateri musician
- Linda LaRocco — St. Peter's Music Director
Social Justice, Outreach & the Diaper Pantry
The Mary Queen of Martyrs Diaper Pantry is celebrating five years of service to neighbors in need; in the past year it distributed about 23,270 diapers, with an average of 60 diapers per client visit. Diapers and monetary donations can be dropped off at any of the three church entrances before or after Mass, at church offices during open hours, online via maryqueenofmartyrs.org/donations-for-diaper-pantry, or in the dedicated 'Diaper Pantry' envelopes in the offering basket. The pantry is open the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 9:30 – 11:00 AM at St. Kateri Church. St. Vincent de Paul (St. Peter's conference) and the Knights of Columbus round out the parish's charitable outreach.
- Diaper Pantry: 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 9:30–11:00 AM at St. Kateri
- Contact: Jeanne 508-591-3510 / [email protected]
- St. Vincent de Paul (St. Peter's conference)
- Knights of Columbus
Fellowship, Recovery & Family Life
The 'All Are Welcome' Ministry hosts a quarterly (or seasonal) Mass with luncheon fellowship — parishioners are invited to celebrate the Eucharist with Fr. Joe Raeke and share food and friendship afterward, including the recent May 3, 2026 luncheon at Our Lady of Lourdes. The collaborative also runs a 12-step program rooted in the upcoming Sunday Scriptures, meeting Wednesdays 6:30–7:30 PM at St. Kateri Church with Deacon Jim Greer. Family Life ministry complements these gatherings.
- 'All Are Welcome' Mass + luncheon ministry
- 12-step scripture-based recovery — Wed 6:30–7:30 PM, St. Kateri (Deacon Jim Greer, 617-645-7915)
- Family Life ministry
Sacraments
Baptism preparation is coordinated by Kathy Bom Conselho ([email protected], ext. 402). The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered at OLOL on Saturdays 4:15–4:45 PM, with additional times at the Plymouth churches. Weddings, Anointing of the Sick, and other pastoral needs are arranged by appointment through the collaborative parish office at 508-746-0663.
- Baptism: Kathy Bom Conselho, ext. 402
- Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15–4:45 PM (OLOL) and additional times across the collaborative
- Marriage, Anointing & other sacraments: by appointment
Parish Staff & Offices
The collaborative staff is led by Pastor Rev. Joseph K. Raeke and Parochial Vicar Rev. Paul Born, with three permanent deacons supporting sacramental life and outreach. Parish operations are managed by Parish Administrator Kathy Benton (ext. 401) and Business Manager Linda Cedrone (ext. 202). Faith Formation is led by Patsy Gillespie, Baptism preparation by Kathy Bom Conselho, communications by Debbie Elliot, the newsletter by Terri Greer, and cemetery operations by Rick Leopardi. Music is led by Stacy Dawson (OLOL), Linda LaRocco (St. Peter's), and Crystal Payne (St. Peter / St. Kateri). Bob Houston oversees maintenance and the St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. Peter's.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph K. Raeke (ext. 503)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul Born (ext. 311)
- Deacons: James Greer (ext. 301), Richard Cussen (ext. 304), Dan O'Toole (ext. 313)
- Parish Administrator: Kathy Benton (ext. 401)
- Business Manager: Linda Cedrone (ext. 202)
- Faith Formation: Patsy Gillespie (ext. 206)
- Baptisms: Kathy Bom Conselho (ext. 402)
- Cemetery Administrator: Rick Leopardi (ext. 404)
- OLOL Music Director: Stacy Dawson
- Communications: Debbie Elliot ([email protected])
- Newsletter: Terri Greer ([email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George de Butler1903–1913
Founded the Catholic mission of Our Lady of Lourdes; laid cornerstone May 24, 1913.
- Rev. Edmund Moran1949
Assigned by Archbishop Cushing to remodel the church; oversaw the transition to parish status.
- Rev. Charles E. Riley1950
First resident pastor of the independent parish; oversaw construction of the Cape Cod-style rectory.
- Rev. James M. Gibbons
Pastored during early parish growth.
- Rev. Gerard J. McGann
Pastored during continued growth that strained the original facility.
- Rev. Edward L. Gallagher
Purchased the Carver Square property in June 1992 for $1.625M and led the move into the new building; later made a generous gift funding the hospitality room and Religious Ed Center.
- Rev. Anthony J. Medairos1997–2018
Continued mortgage-reduction efforts; later transferred to St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood as Parochial Vicar.
- Rev. Joseph K. Raeke2018–present
Pastor since June 1, 2018 collaborative formation; led 2018–2019 renovation of the Carver worship space.
- Rev. Paul Born
Current Parochial Vicar of the collaborative.