About Most Precious Blood · Dover, Massachusetts
The Church of the Most Precious Blood is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Catholic community of Dover, Massachusetts, founded in 1960 through the efforts of a small, dedicated group of local residents. Most Catholics in Dover had previously attended Sacred Heart Church in Natick, and the parish was originally known as 'The Mission' before being named 'Most Precious Blood' at the suggestion of Cardinal Richard Cushing. Since June 2024 the parish has been led by Father Bill Robinson as part of a pastoral collaborative with neighboring Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish in Sherborn, sharing staff and programs to serve both communities. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Boston and offers weekday and Sunday Masses, sacramental preparation for children and adults, faith formation, youth ministry, Bible study, and outreach to local food pantries and to Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
- Rector
- Rev. William H. (Father Bill) Robinson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Most Precious Blood is a welcoming suburban parish that combines deep roots in Dover (since 1960) with the energy of an engaged, collaborative community. Parishioners worship in a renovated church with Sunday Masses, weekly weekday Masses (Wednesday and Friday), Eucharistic Adoration on First Thursdays and First Fridays, the Bible and Bagels Scripture gathering, and Fr. Bill's monthly Philosophy and Dessert evenings. Faith Formation supports families from grades 1 through Confirmation, and the parish extends its reach beyond the church doors to local food pantries and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.
Mass times at Most Precious Blood
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM at Saint Theresa Parish (in the reconciliation room)
- First Thursday of every month at Saint Theresa
- First Friday of every month at Most Precious Blood, immediately following 9:00 AM Mass
- Other times by appointment with Fr. Bill
Adoration times
- First Thursdays following the 9:00 AM Mass (at Saint Theresa)
- First Fridays following the 9:00 AM Mass (at Most Precious Blood)
About the Parish
Established in 1960, Most Precious Blood Parish is the home of the Catholic community in Dover, Massachusetts. In 2010 the parish entered a pastoral collaborative with Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish in neighboring Sherborn, sharing a pastor, staff, and programs; in June 2024 the collaborative welcomed Father Bill Robinson as its new pastor. The two parishes share the same website, mpb-stp.org, which serves as the collaborative's portal.
- Founded in 1960
- Collaborative with Saint Theresa of Lisieux since 2010
- Current pastor: Rev. William H. Robinson (since June 2024)
- Office hours: Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Our History
Efforts to bring a Catholic church to Dover began in the 1930s; before that, Dover's Catholics attended Sacred Heart in Natick. The community was originally known as 'The Mission' before Cardinal Richard Cushing suggested the name 'Most Precious Blood.' The church was established in 1960 at 30 Centre Street, and Father John Grimes — its seventh pastor — led a 50th anniversary renovation in 2008–09 with a 'retain and renew' vision.
- 1930s: founding efforts begin
- 1960: parish formally established at 30 Centre Street
- 2008–09: 50th anniversary celebration and church renovation
- 2010: collaborative with Saint Theresa of Lisieux begins
- June 2024: Fr. Bill Robinson installed as pastor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Most Precious Blood and Saint Theresa supports parents as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith. The program includes in-person classes with catechists, Family and Youth Masses, arts-based activities, service projects, and dedicated sacramental preparation for Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation. First and second grade classes meet October through April (Sundays at St. Theresa and Tuesdays at Most Precious Blood).
- Dynamic, interactive in-person classes with imprimatur-bearing texts
- Family and Youth Masses scheduled with the Faith Formation calendar
- Arts-based activities (music, art, crafts, drama)
- Service projects — feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, welcoming the stranger
- Annual Reconciliation opportunity for students
- Director: Graceanne Bowe — 508-318-9810 (STP) / 774-458-7604 (MPB)
Sacrament Preparation
The Dover–Sherborn Catholic Community uses a two-year sacramental prep cycle beginning in Grade 1, with Reconciliation and First Communion received in Grade 2. Confirmation uses a three-year program beginning in Grade 6, with the Archdiocese of Boston's normative age of 13 (received in Grade 8). Adults seeking Confirmation, Baptism, or joining the Catholic Church may go through RCIA.
- Reconciliation & First Communion: 2-year prep, received in Grade 2
- Confirmation: 3-year program (Grades 6–8), spring reception
- Older children needing First Sacraments: contact Graceanne Bowe
- Adult Confirmation & RCIA: contact the parish office
- Confirmation Coordinator: Zach Morris — [email protected], (508) 318-9809
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry at the collaborative supports young people beyond the classroom, especially those preparing for Confirmation and beyond.
- Youth Minister: Zach Morris
- Coordination with Confirmation Program
- Contact: [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
Lay liturgical ministers are trained by the pastor and staff to assist at Mass and behind the scenes, helping the parish run smoothly each weekend. Roles include Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, and Altar Servers, alongside greeters and offertory collectors. Anyone interested in serving should speak to Fr. Bill.
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Greeters / Ushers
- Offertory and preparation volunteers
- Director of Music / Liturgy: Anne Tripp Miller
Adult Faith Enrichment
Outside of Mass, the parish hosts ongoing adult faith formation through two popular gatherings. Bible and Bagels meets on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Fridays of each month in the lower church hall at Most Precious Blood, with 20+ parishioners sharing scripture, food, and fellowship. Fr. Bill also leads a monthly evening called 'Philosophy and Dessert,' exploring the life, times, and ideas of great thinkers (e.g., Tertullian) and how their ideas shaped Christianity.
- Bible and Bagels — 2nd/3rd/4th Fridays, MPB lower church hall; email Fr. Bill to join the list
- Philosophy and Dessert — monthly evening with Fr. Bill
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Outreach & Charity
Most Precious Blood extends its mission beyond the church doors through ongoing relationships with area food pantries and with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. Baskets for non-perishable food, personal care items, and paper goods are kept at the back of the church and outside the office entrance, and parishioners deliver them on a revolving schedule.
- A Place to Turn (Natick) — collection and delivery
- St. Bridget's Food Pantry (Framingham) — collection and delivery
- Boston Healthcare for the Homeless — Family Team Clinic; monthly collections
- Volunteer coordinators: Joe Meany (food pantries); Carol Coakley & Dianne Polizzi (BHH)
- Office Hours: Wed & Fri 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM (donation drop-off)
Sacraments at a Glance
For Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Sacramental Emergencies, parishioners are asked to contact the parish office (508-785-0305 for MPB or 508-653-6253 for STP). The Archdiocese of Boston sets the normative age for Confirmation at 13 (8th grade).
- Baptism — monthly at each parish
- Marriage — one-year preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish for visit or sacrament
- Sacramental Emergencies — call parish office
- RCIA — adults seeking to join the Church
Our Staff
The collaborative is led by Father Bill Robinson and supported by a diverse pastoral and administrative team. Two deacons serve the communities — Deacon Dan Nelson at Most Precious Blood and Deacon Tim Donohue at Saint Theresa — alongside staff for music, faith formation, youth ministry, business, facilities, and advancement.
- Pastor: Rev. William H. Robinson
- Deacon (MPB): Deacon Dan Nelson
- Deacon (STP): Deacon Tim Donohue
- Office Manager: Joyce Gillis
- Administrative Assistant: Dianna Manning
- Business Manager: Mike Alessandro
- Facilities Manager: Brian Linton
- Pastoral Associate: Roseann Furbush
- Director of Music: Anne Tripp Miller
- Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry: Graceanne Bowe
- Youth Minister: Zach Morris
- Advancement Officer: Annemarie Thompson
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Most Precious Blood at 30 Centre Street, P.O. Box 812, Dover, MA 02030, by phone at 508-785-0305, or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is open Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The collaborative's joint website is http://www.mpb-stp.org.
- Address: 30 Centre Street, P.O. Box 812, Dover, MA 02030
- Phone: 508-785-0305
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.mpb-stp.org
- Office Hours: Wed & Fri 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Collaborative partner: Saint Theresa of Lisieux, Sherborn — 508-653-6253
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John GrimesJuly 2001 – June 2024
Seventh pastor of Most Precious Blood; led the 2008–09 50th anniversary celebration and major church renovation; in 2010 also became pastor of Saint Theresa of Lisieux, founding the Dover–Sherborn collaborative.