About Mary, Queen of Martyrs - St. Kateri Tekakwitha · Plymouth, Massachusetts
Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish is a Roman Catholic collaborative in the Archdiocese of Boston, uniting three historic Plymouth-area churches: Saint Peter Church (Plymouth Center), Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church (West Plymouth), and Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Carver). Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, the newest of the three, was established in 1982 by Cardinal Humberto Medeiros to serve the growing Catholic community of West Plymouth and was renamed in 2012 after Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. The parish's mission centers on the Eucharist, lifelong faith formation, and outreach to the sick and homebound across the South Shore. Since June 2018 the three parishes have shared clergy and resources under the Pilgrim Catholic Collaborative model, currently led by Father Joseph K. Raeke.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph K. Raeke
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish welcomes Catholics across Plymouth, Carver, and the South Shore into a community rooted in the Eucharist and centered on family. Three distinct worship sites — historic Saint Peter Church in downtown Plymouth, the modern Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church in West Plymouth, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Carver — give parishioners convenient options for weekend and daily Mass, confession, faith formation for children and adults, RCIA, and a vibrant music ministry with choirs at each church. The collaborative also reaches beyond its walls through pastoral visitors who bring Communion to seven nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, Eucharistic Ministers serving Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth, and active liturgical and service ministries for every age.
Mass times at Mary, Queen of Martyrs - St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church, West Plymouth)
- Saturday 4:15–4:45 PM (Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Carver)
- Tuesday 6:00–7:00 PM with Exposition (Saint Peter Church, Plymouth)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00–7:00 PM Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Saint Peter Church, Plymouth)
About Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish
Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish is the unified Catholic community of three historic South Shore churches — Saint Peter Church in Plymouth Center, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church in West Plymouth, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Carver — formed as the Pilgrim Catholic Collaborative in June 2018. The collaborative is part of the Archdiocese of Boston and is pastored by Father Joseph K. Raeke with Father Paul Born as Parochial Vicar.
- Three worship sites: Saint Peter (Plymouth), Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (West Plymouth), Our Lady of Lourdes (Carver)
- Archdiocese of Boston
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph K. Raeke
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Paul Born
- Collaborative office at 10 Memorial Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360
History of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish was established in 1982 by Cardinal Humberto Medeiros to serve the Catholic community of West Plymouth. The first formal discussion of a fourth parish for Plymouth began in 1965; momentum built through the 1970s under priests at St. Peter Parish, and in August 1981 the Priests' Senate met with West Plymouth residents at the United Methodist Church. Cardinal Medeiros agreed to found the parish and chose "Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha" from a list of 29 proposed names. Bishop Daniel Hart dedicated the parish at an outdoor Mass on the grounds of Sacred Heart High School on August 15, 1982, installing Father John Schatzel as first pastor and, shortly after, Deacon Edward Creutz. After years of worship in borrowed spaces, homes, and a field behind the high school, the parish moved into its permanent church. On October 21, 2012, when Pope Benedict XVI canonized Kateri Tekakwitha — the first native American saint — the parish was renamed Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. In June 2018 the parish joined with Saint Peter Parish and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to form the Pilgrim Catholic Collaborative under Father Joseph K. Raeke.
- Founded 1982 by Cardinal Humberto Medeiros
- Dedicated August 15, 1982 (Feast of the Assumption) by Bishop Daniel Hart
- First pastor: Rev. John Schatzel
- First permanent deacon: Rev. Mr. Edward Creutz (assigned September 8, 1982)
- Renamed in honor of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha after her canonization on October 21, 2012
- Joined Pilgrim Catholic Collaborative in June 2018
History of Saint Peter Parish
The cornerstone of Saint Peter's Church in Plymouth was laid on July 4, 1873, opening a new era for Catholics in southeastern Massachusetts. Before the church was built, Catholics scattered across Plymouth, Carver, Plympton, Kingston, Duxbury, Hanson, and Marshfield traveled to Sandwich for Mass or attended Mass in private homes and halls. The parish continues to serve as the central Plymouth worship site of the collaborative today.
- Cornerstone laid July 4, 1873
- Original mission area included Plymouth, Carver, Plympton, Kingston, Duxbury, Hanson, Marshfield
- Today: anchor church of the collaborative at 10 Memorial Drive, Plymouth
Faith Formation
The parish describes the family as "the base unit of human life" and affirms parents' responsibility — professed at Confirmation, renewed at Marriage, and declared at their children's Baptism — to hand on the faith. Religious education programs serve children in grades 1 through 10 and are paired with adult learning opportunities, including the parish's collaborative RCIA program.
- Religious education for children grades 1–10
- Adult faith formation opportunities
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- Adult Confirmation offered in collaboration with the South Region of the Archdiocese
OCIA / RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Mary, Queen of Martyrs walks with adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — a process of education, faith sharing, and rites marked by prayer, study, and discussion. Participants may take as much time as they need before receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
- Collaborative program with neighboring parishes: St. Kateri Tekakwitha (West Plymouth), St. Bonaventure (Manomet), St. Mary (North Plymouth), St. Peter (Plymouth Center), St. Joseph (Kingston), and Our Lady of Lourdes (Carver)
- Participants gather for instruction together and worship at their home parish on Sundays
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries at Mary, Queen of Martyrs invite parishioners of all ages to serve the Mass and the wider community. The Liturgy Committee meets roughly monthly to plan seasonal celebrations for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Ordinary Time.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls in 4th grade who have received First Holy Communion)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (during the 9:30 AM Mass at Saint Peter's throughout the school year)
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion (weekend and daily Masses; BID-Plymouth hospital ministry)
- Funeral Sacristans
- Greeters and Ushers
- Lectors (adults and confirmed high-school youth; rotating schedule)
- Liturgy Committee
- Pastoral Visitors to the Sick and Homebound (serving seven nursing homes and assisted-living facilities)
Music Ministry
Each collaborative church has its own music ministry supporting active congregational participation in the liturgy. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha's Saturday 4:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM Masses feature a cantor and pianist, with instrumentalists (bass, drums, and historically violin, viola, woodwinds, and brass) sharing their talents at the 10:00 AM Mass. The Saint Peter Adult Choir sings at the 9:30 AM Mass and at special events, rehearsing Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM. The Our Lady of Lourdes Adult Choir sings at the 10:00 AM Mass and rehearses at 9:00 AM Sunday mornings.
- Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Music Ministry — contact Jim DeFrancesco
- Saint Peter Adult Choir — contact Chrystal Payne or Linda LaRocco
- Our Lady of Lourdes Adult Choir — contact Stacy Dawson
- All choirs welcome new members; no special training required
Service & Pastoral Outreach
Beyond the liturgy, the parish extends Christ's presence through pastoral care for the sick, homebound, and those in local hospitals, and through volunteer-driven service ministries.
- Pastoral Visitors bring the Eucharist to seven nursing homes and assisted-living facilities and to homebound parishioners
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth
- Wedding Coordinators
- Sunday Hospitality
- Stewardship Committee
- Special Events Committee
- Knights of Columbus
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is coordinated centrally; First Communion, Confirmation, and ongoing formation flow from Faith Formation; Reconciliation is offered weekly across the three churches; Matrimony is supported by Wedding Coordinators; Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum are brought to the sick and homebound by Pastoral Visitors; and Funeral Liturgies are supported by Funeral Sacristans.
- Baptism — coordinator: Kathy Bom Conselho ([email protected])
- First Holy Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — through Faith Formation; Adult Confirmation offered regionally
- Reconciliation — see confession times
- Matrimony — coordinated with Wedding Coordinators ministry
- Anointing of the Sick — through Pastoral Visitors
- Holy Orders & Vocations — supported parish-wide
- Funeral Liturgy — supported by Funeral Sacristans
Parish Staff & Contact
The collaborative is staffed by a pastor, parochial vicar, three deacons, and a team of parish-office and ministry leaders. The collaborative office is at Saint Peter Church, 10 Memorial Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360, with offices at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (126 South Meadow Road, West Plymouth) and Our Lady of Lourdes (130 Main Street, Carver).
- Pastor — Rev. Joseph K. Raeke (ext. 503)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Paul Born (ext. 311; [email protected])
- Deacon James Greer (ext. 301)
- Deacon Richard Cussen (ext. 304)
- Deacon Dan O'Toole (ext. 313)
- Parish Administrator — Kathy Benton (ext. 401)
- Business Manager — Linda Cedrone (ext. 202)
- Cemetery Administrator — Rick Leopardi (ext. 404)
- Faith Formation — Patsy Gillespie (ext. 206)
- Baptism Coordinator — Kathy Bom Conselho (ext. 402)
- Saint Peter's Music Director — Linda LaRocco (ext. 309)
- Our Lady of Lourdes Music Director — Stacy Dawson
- Saint Peter / Saint Kateri musician — Crystal Payne
- Media / Communications — Debbie Elliot
- Newsletter Editor — Terri Greer (ext. 303)
- Saint Peter's Maintenance — Bob Houston
- Main phone: 508-746-0663
Getting Involved
Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish welcomes volunteers across liturgical, service, formation, and hospitality ministries. A volunteer form linked from each ministry page is the easiest way to express interest.
- Volunteer form available on every ministry page of maryqueenofmartyrs.org
- Opportunities for children, teens, adults, and families
- Music, lecturing, Eucharistic ministry, hospitality, faith formation, outreach
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Schatzel1982 (installed August 15, 1982)
First pastor; oversaw the founding, initial growth, and development of parish facilities and community.
- Rev. Joseph K. Raeke2018–present
Pastor of the Pilgrim Catholic Collaborative (Mary, Queen of Martyrs Parish); led recent sanctuary and facility renovations.
- Rev. Michael Rora2018
Appointed Parochial Vicar of the collaborative when it formed in June 2018.