About Mary, Queen of Peace - St. Joseph · Medford, Massachusetts
Mary, Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Boston serving the city of Medford, Massachusetts. It is a collaborative of two historic Medford churches — St. Joseph Church (118 High Street, dedicated in 1912) and St. Francis of Assisi Church (441 Fellsway West, founded in 1921) — together with Saint Joseph School. Weekend Masses are celebrated at both churches, daily Mass is split between the two, and the parish life is anchored by robust Eucharistic Adoration, a faithful choir program, faith formation, and an active Young Adults group under pastor Fr. Hynes.
- Established
- 1912 (St. Joseph) / 1921 (St. Francis of Assisi); collaborative form later
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Peace (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Queen of Peace)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Hynes (Pastor; began assignment in Medford on June 1, 2024; preceded by a farewell for Fr. Paul)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Mary, Queen of Peace offers two welcoming worship sites in Medford, a parish school, and a notably strong Eucharistic Adoration program — Adoration is held in the St. Joseph lower church every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and a Monday-evening Adoration and prayer group meets at St. Francis. Active groups include the Legion of Mary, the Marian Movement of Priests Prayer Cenacle, the Young Adults Group, Rosary Children, weekly Zoom Rosary for Peace/Healing/Health, a liturgical choir under a music director, and faith formation for every grade. It is a parish whose stated purpose is to 'know, love and serve God,' lived out through daily and weekend Mass, deep devotional life, and outreach supported by the Grand Annual and Catholic Appeal.
Mass times at Mary, Queen of Peace - St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Joseph Church
- Saturday, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Church
- Saturday, after the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church
- Advent Sundays, 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM at St. Joseph Church (between Masses, with Fr. Hynes)
- Advent Wednesdays, 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Joseph Church
- By appointment — call the priests at 781-396-0423 to arrange another time
Adoration times
- St. Joseph Lower Church Adoration Chapel — Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM (enter through the red door off the lower church parking lot; closed when Medford schools are closed for weather)
- St. Francis of Assisi Church (upper church) — Mondays at 7:00 PM: Adoration & Marian Movement of Priests Prayer Group
About Mary, Queen of Peace Parish
Mary, Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Boston that brings together two of Medford's historic worship sites — St. Joseph Church on High Street and St. Francis of Assisi Church on Fellsway West — along with Saint Joseph School. According to the parish's own mission statement (shared on the school's site), the parish exists 'to help our community know, love and serve God in this life so that we can be happy with Him forever in the next.' The Medford Catholic Collaborative publishes its values under three headings: Joy (exuding the love of Christ, welcoming all, proclaiming the Good News), Compassion (praying for those in need, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and lonely, inviting those who feel separated from the Church), and Prayer (offering mind and heart to God, strengthening relationship with Jesus, actively participating in Sunday liturgy). Its stated vision is to be a unified community that affords individuals the opportunity to know God.
- Parish Office: 114 High Street, Medford, MA 02155
- St. Joseph Church: 118 High Street, Medford
- St. Francis of Assisi Church: 441 Fellsway West, Medford
- Saint Joseph School: on the St. Joseph campus (sjsmedford.com)
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Parish History
The parish is rooted in two early-20th-century Medford congregations. St. Joseph Church was established on June 2, 1912, and sits in downtown Medford at 118 High Street. St. Francis of Assisi Church was founded in 1921 on Fellsway West, and the parish marked its 100th anniversary in October 2021 with a special Mass celebrated by Cardinal Seán O'Malley, according to the Medford Transcript/Wicked Local. The two parishes were later joined as the Medford Catholic Collaborative under the title Mary, Queen of Peace, sharing clergy, staff, faith formation, and a combined parish office on High Street.
- June 2, 1912 — St. Joseph Parish established
- 1921 — St. Francis of Assisi Parish founded
- October 2021 — St. Francis of Assisi 100th anniversary Mass with Cardinal Seán O'Malley
- Mary, Queen of Peace — collaborative parish uniting both worship sites plus Saint Joseph School
Our Priests & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Hynes, who began his assignment at Mary, Queen of Peace on June 1, 2024, after serving as parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston on May 18, 2019 and previously worked as a software engineer. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Maxwell Chukwudiebere (also overseeing Faith Formation). The professional staff includes an Office Manager (Alisa O'Dowd), Finance & Operations Director (Karen Harrington / Laura Powers), Music Director (Pierre Regensburger; previously Shawn Mikkelson), Faith Formation Director (Doreen Breen), Faith Formation Coordinator (Nancy Albanese), and Facilities Manager (Joe Sestito). A permanent deacon is also listed on the church staff page.
- Fr. Hynes — Pastor (ext. 102)
- Fr. Maxwell Chukwudiebere — Parochial Vicar & Faith Formation (ext. 105)
- Fr. Peter Shen — Parochial Vicar (2024)
- Permanent Deacon (church staff)
- Alisa O'Dowd — Office Manager (ext. 101)
- Karen Harrington / Laura Powers — Finance & Operations (ext. 104)
- Pierre Regensburger — Music Director (ext. 118)
- Doreen Breen — Faith Formation Director (ext. 118)
- Nancy Albanese — Faith Formation Coordinator (ext. 105)
- Joe Sestito — Facilities Manager (ext. 115)
Devotions & Prayer Groups
In addition to Mass and Adoration, the parish maintains a rich schedule of devotions. The Legion of Mary meets Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 PM in the St. Joseph Lower Church Sacristy. The Adoration Prayer Schedule at St. Joseph includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet Wed–Fri at 3:00 PM, the Holy Face Devotion on Thursdays (led by Danni Toppi), the Marian Prayer Cenacle for Priests on Thursdays (Robert Fraser and Sandra Drier Turchi), the Holy Hour Life on Thursdays (Marge Kirchmeyer), and the Flame of Love Rosary on Thursdays (Julie Powers and Lynne Sullivan). Joe and Josephine Raimondi lead a Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 PM. A weekly Rosary for Peace, Healing and Health meets on Zoom every Wednesday at 7:00 PM.
- Legion of Mary — Wed 6:30 PM at St. Joseph (Jody Ferraro)
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — Wed–Fri 3:00 PM at St. Joseph
- Holy Face Devotion — Thu 10:30 AM (Danni Toppi)
- Marian Prayer Cenacle for Priests — Thu 1:00 PM (Robert Fraser & Sandra Drier Turchi)
- Holy Hour Life — Thu 2:00 PM (Marge Kirchmeyer)
- Flame of Love Rosary — Thu 5:00 PM (Julie Powers & Lynne Sullivan)
- Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet — Thu & Fri 7:30 PM (Joe & Josephine Raimondi)
- Weekly Zoom Rosary for Peace/Healing/Health — Wed 7:00 PM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish Faith Formation program ('Walking with Jesus') provides Catholic religious education for parish children. Leadership has included Faith Formation Director Doreen Breen and Faith Formation Coordinator Nancy Albanese (x105), and since late 2025 Fr. Maxwell Chukwudiebere (Parochial Vicar) has overseen Faith Formation. Families register through the parish office at 781-396-0423.
- Faith Formation Director — Doreen Breen
- Faith Formation Coordinator — Nancy Albanese (x105), [email protected]
- Pastoral oversight — Fr. Maxwell Chukwudiebere
- Rosary Children — monthly children's rosary & craft gathering led by Nadia
Music & Liturgy
Music is led by Music Director Pierre Regensburger (with previous director Shawn Mikkelson). The parish choir sings regularly at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church and welcomes new members. Liturgical services are broadcast via the parish's livestream (visible on the official website), and the parish has produced special coverage of major feasts including Easter and Christmas.
- Music Director — Pierre Regensburger (ext. 118)
- Parish Choir sings at 11:30 AM Sunday Mass at St. Francis
- Sunday Mass livestreamed on parish website/YouTube
Sacraments
Mary, Queen of Peace prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated on the 1st Sunday of the month at St. Francis of Assisi and on the 3rd Sunday at St. Joseph; parents and godparents attend a baptismal instruction the last Sunday of the month after the 11:30 AM Mass at St. Francis. Confession is heard Saturday afternoons at both churches and after the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Francis (with additional Advent opportunities). First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism — 1st Sun at St. Francis, 3rd Sun at St. Joseph
- Baptismal instruction — last Sun after 11:30 AM Mass at St. Francis
- Reconciliation — Sat 3:00–3:45 PM at both churches; by appointment
- Eucharist — see Mass Times
- Confirmation & First Communion — through Faith Formation
- Marriage — call parish office to begin preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement
Parish School
Saint Joseph School (sjsmedford.com) is the parish school of the Mary, Queen of Peace community. According to the school's parish page, Saint Joseph Parish, together with its sister parish of Saint Francis of Assisi, forms the Mary, Queen of Peace Parish. The school's phone is 781-396-3636, reached by dialing ext. 0 from the parish line 781-396-0423.
- Saint Joseph School — sjsmedford.com
- Located on the St. Joseph campus, 118 High Street, Medford
- Phone: 781-396-3636 (ext. 0)
Outreach, Giving & Parish Events
Mary, Queen of Peace participates annually in the Archdiocese of Boston's Catholic Appeal and conducts its own Grand Annual Appeal (recent goal $60,000; 2024 raised ~$42,235, with $4,400 rebate returned to the parish after exceeding goal). Capital Projects currently focus on safety/security and maintenance at both church buildings, including a planned kitchenette in the St. Francis Lower Church Hall and roof work at St. Joseph Rectory. The parish also hosts community events such as the Christmas Stroll (November), Run Medford team MQOP/SJS, a Sunday Funday Cornhole Tournament, monthly Parish Dinners, and an annual Young Adult All-Night Adoration & Breakfast.
- Catholic Appeal — Archdiocese of Boston annual campaign
- Grand Annual Appeal — parish operating fund ($60,000 goal)
- Capital Projects Fund — roof at St. Joseph Rectory, kitchenette at St. Francis Lower Church Hall, safety/security upgrades
- Christmas Stroll — annual vendor/crafter fair ([email protected])
- Online Giving via mqopmedford.org and Venmo (@mqopmedford)
- Hosts & Wine / Sanctuary Candle Memorials — $25 donation (call x101)
Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talent through Adoration commitments, the music ministry, the choir, the Legion of Mary, the Marian Movement of Priests Prayer Group, the Young Adults Group, faith formation catechesis, the Christmas Stroll committee, the Run Medford team, and the Easter Bread-of-Life sock drive. The parish publishes weekly bulletins through the Boston Pilot portal and keeps its website (mqopmedford.org) updated with Mass intentions, staff contacts and event announcements.
- Commit an hour to Eucharistic Adoration ([email protected])
- Join the parish choir (Music Director Pierre Regensburger, x118)
- Young Adults Group — [email protected]
- Run Medford team MQOP/SJS — register via runmedford.com
- Online volunteer / interest forms on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Pauluntil ~2024
Honored with a farewell gift upon departure from Mary, Queen of Peace
- Fr. Hynesfrom June 1, 2024
Current pastor; previously parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood, ordained May 18, 2019; raised in Windham, NH