About Most Precious Blood (Hyde Park) · Boston, Massachusetts
Most Precious Blood is a Roman Catholic parish in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1880 and part of the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish church, located at 25 Maple Street on what was once called Mount Neponset, was completed and dedicated in 1885 and is the 'mother church' of Hyde Park's Catholic community, having given rise to two daughter parishes — St. Anne (Readville, 1918) and St. Pius X (Milton, 1954). Today Most Precious Blood is one of three parishes forming the Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills Collaborative and is notable for its bilingual English and Haitian Creole liturgy, its landmark 1892 Carlton Michell pipe organ, and its stained-glass windows memorializing former pastors.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph M. Mazzone
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston)
Why belong here
Most Precious Blood offers a rare combination of historic sacred space and living multicultural parish life in the heart of Hyde Park. Worshippers come for the soaring 1885 sanctuary and its landmark 1892 Carlton Michell pipe organ, for weekday and Saturday morning Masses in English, and for the bilingual Sunday schedule that includes a vibrant 5:00 PM Haitian Creole Mass supported by charismatic prayer, faith formation, youth ministry, and a community radio outreach (Radio Tele Katolik Boston). A parish that has served Boston since 1880 and remains the spiritual mother church of the Blue Hills Catholic community, it pairs traditional devotion — First Friday and Third Saturday Eucharistic Adoration, long-standing Holy Name, Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul societies — with active faith formation for children, teens, and adults preparing to become Catholic.
Mass times at Most Precious Blood (Hyde Park)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call 617-364-9501
- Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass at St. Pius X (collaborative sacrament times available to MPB parishioners)
- Tuesday 9:30–10:30 AM at St. Pius X (after the 9:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM at St. Anne with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- Fridays after Stations of the Cross (Lent schedule)
Adoration times
- First Fridays, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Most Precious Blood
- Third Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Most Precious Blood
- Third Sunday of the month: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 5:00 PM Haitian Mass
Parish History
Most Precious Blood traces its roots to 1870, when the Catholics of the newly incorporated Town of Hyde Park were organized into their own parish under Rev. William J. Corcoran. After the loss of the Church of the Epiphany to fire in 1875, the parish acquired land atop Mount Neponset from the Gerry family. Rev. Richard J. Barry laid the cornerstone on July 4, 1880, and the finished church was dedicated on September 13, 1885. Its satellite schools in Readville and on Fairmount Hill later spawned St. Anne (1918) and St. Pius X (1954), earning Most Precious Blood the title of 'Mother' church for the Blue Hills Catholic community.
- Established A.D. 1880; church dedicated September 13, 1885
- Cornerstone laid Sunday, July 4, 1880 (the Sunday after the Feast of the Most Precious Blood)
- Land acquired from the Estate of Charles F. Gerry (~2–3 acres)
- 1885 construction cost recorded at roughly $85,500
Sanctuary, Organ & Architecture
The 1885 sanctuary is described in parish records as a 'substantial and magnificent temple,' richly fitted with stained-glass windows — many dedicated to former pastors — and crowned by a landmark 1892 Carlton Michell pipe organ in the west gallery. The organ, much of which was built by Hunter in London and originally installed at St. Stephen's Church in Boston's South End, was moved to Most Precious Blood in 1956 and electrified with a new console by Richard Lahaise. A 1986 plan to truncate the nave for office space was reversed after objections from organists and historic-preservation advocates; the church remains largely intact and is celebrated as both an architectural and musical treasure.
- 1892 Carlton Michell pipe organ (Hunter, London; moved 1956; electrified by Richard Lahaise)
- Stained-glass windows dedicated to former pastors
- Located on the historic 'Mount Neponset' hilltop at Maple and Oak Streets
Worship & Liturgy
Most Precious Blood celebrates Sunday Mass in two languages — English at 9:00 AM and Haitian Creole at 5:00 PM — along with weekday Masses on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM. The parish keeps a robust Eucharistic Adoration schedule, with First Friday Adoration (12:00–2:00 PM) and Third Saturday Adoration (8:00 AM–2:00 PM), as well as a monthly Haitian-community Adoration on the third Sunday of the month.
- Sunday 9:00 AM (English)
- Sunday 5:00 PM (Haitian Creole)
- Wednesday 9:00 AM
- Saturday 9:00 AM
- First Friday Adoration 12:00–2:00 PM
- Third Saturday Adoration 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
Sacraments
Sacraments at Most Precious Blood are coordinated through the Blue Hills Collaborative parish office. Faith Formation prepares children and teens for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation; adults prepare for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist through the RCIA/OCIA process. Baptisms, marriages, anointing of the sick, and funeral liturgies are arranged by contacting the office at 857-342-9500.
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
- First Communion and Reconciliation (Faith Formation)
- Confirmation (celebrated annually at MPB)
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) for adults and children
Haitian Catholic Community
The Haitian Catholic community at Most Precious Blood is one of the most vibrant expressions of parish life, anchored by a 5:00 PM Sunday Creole Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the third Sunday of the month. A full leadership council coordinates liturgy, sacraments, faith formation, youth ministry, a charismatic prayer group, a musicians' ensemble led by Maestro E. Daniel Beauplant, and a ushers' ministry. The community runs a Conference Call Prayer Line (Mondays Prayer & Adoration, Wednesdays Charismatic Prayer) and operates Radio Tele Katolik Boston, an internet-based Creole Catholic radio station.
- Coordinator: Jean R. Chancy
- Liturgy: Marie Lourde Bertrand & Gerdie Hilaire
- Sacraments: Claire-Rose Paul & Veronica Gomez
- Faith Formation: Veronica Gomez & Immacula David
- Youth Ministry: Marlene Edouard & Jeanne Bastien
- Charismatic Prayer Group: Nicole Millien & Jean R. Chancy
- Musicians: Maestro E. Daniel Beauplant
- Ushers: Reginaldo Petit-Frere, Marie Fils-Aime, Angie Lubin
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation for children and teens is led by Anna Williams Cote, Director of Ministries. Registration for the 2026–2027 academic year opened July 1, 2026. Youth Ministry is staffed by Alyssa Sarkis and Matthew O'Neil, with separate Haitian-community youth ministry leaders Marlene Edouard and Jeanne Bastien. The parish also runs a Becoming Catholic (RCIA/OCIA) process for adults and older children.
- Faith Formation Director: Anna Williams Cote ([email protected])
- Youth Ministry: Alyssa Sarkis, Matthew O'Neil
- Haitian Youth Ministry: Marlene Edouard, Jeanne Bastien
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) for adults and children
Music Ministry
Music at Most Precious Blood is led by Director of Liturgy and Music David G. Jenkins and colleague Sean Hurley, drawing on the parish's landmark 1892 Carlton Michell pipe organ. The Haitian community's musicians, led by Maestro E. Daniel Beauplant, support the Creole liturgy and special community events such as the annual Musician Appreciation Dinner.
- Liturgy and Music: David G. Jenkins, Sean Hurley
- Haitian Musicians' Group: Maestro E. Daniel Beauplant
Parish Organizations & Outreach
Most Precious Blood has long-standing chapters of traditional Catholic lay societies — the Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society — alongside newer Haitian-community groups. The collaborative also coordinates broader parish programming under banners of Volunteer, Spiritual Events, Social Events, and Social Justice.
- Holy Name Society (long-standing)
- Knights of Columbus (local chapter)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (long-standing chapter)
- Volunteer, Spiritual Events, Social Events, Social Justice programming
The Blue Hills Collaborative
Most Precious Blood is part of the Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills Collaborative, a Disciples in Mission Phase II initiative of the Archdiocese of Boston that brings together three parishes: Most Precious Blood (Hyde Park), St. Anne (Readville), and St. Pius X (Milton). The collaborative shares a pastor, administrative staff, faith formation programs, and sacramental preparation across the three parish communities.
- Member parishes: Most Precious Blood, St. Anne (Readville), St. Pius X (Milton)
- Collaborative Center / mailing address: 20 Como Road, Hyde Park (Readville), MA 02136
- Main phone: (857) 342-9500; fax (617) 361-8021
- Pastoral Plan: 'We exist to inspire current and future parishioners to further develop their own relationship with Christ, experience the joy in fully participating in a multi-cultural Catholic-Christian community, and to model Christ in our broader community.'
Staff & Contact
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Joseph M. Mazzone, with Vicar Rev. Charles Madi-Okin. Administrative and ministry staff include Kathi Flynn (Administrative), Tony Domenici (Operations), John Morton (Media Communications), Anna Williams Cote (Pastoral Associate and Director of Ministries/Faith Formation), David G. Jenkins and Sean Hurley (Liturgy and Music), and Alyssa Sarkis and Matthew O'Neil (Youth Ministry).
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph M. Mazzone
- Vicar: Rev. Charles Madi-Okin
- Administrative Staff: Ms. Kathi Flynn
- Operations: Mr. Tony Domenici
- Media Communications: Mr. John Morton
- Pastoral Associate: Ms. Anna Williams Cote
- Liturgy and Music: Mr. David G. Jenkins, Mr. Sean Hurley
- Faith Formation: Ms. Anna Cote
- Youth Ministry: Ms. Alyssa Sarkis, Mr. Matthew O'Neil
Visiting & Practical Information
Most Precious Blood's sanctuary is located at 25 Maple Street in Hyde Park, at the top of the historic Mount Neponset hill. The collaborative office, at 20 Como Road in Readville, is open Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. The parish is reachable by MBTA commuter rail (Hyde Park station) and has on-site parking, though space can be limited during major events. Visitors are encouraged to attend a Sunday liturgy or First Friday/Third Saturday Adoration to experience the building and its landmark organ.
- Church: 25 Maple Street, Hyde Park, MA 02136
- Collaborative Office: 20 Como Road, Hyde Park (Readville), MA 02136
- Main Phone: (857) 342-9500
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. Corcoran1870–1877
First pastor of the Hyde Park parish; built the Church of the Epiphany which burned January 2, 1875; not at Most Precious Blood itself.
- Rev. J. H. Conlon1877–1880
Predecessor area pastor before the parish was re-established at the Maple Street site.
- Rev. Richard J. Barry1880–1888
Founder of Most Precious Blood; purchased the Gerry estate land, laid the cornerstone July 4, 1880, and saw the church completed and dedicated September 13, 1885.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. James J. Chittick1888–1919
Long-serving second pastor; honored in the renaming of a parish-area road to Chittick Road in 1930.
- Rev. James F. Stanton1919–1923
- Rev. Henry T. Grady1923–1929
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edward F. Crowley1929–1953
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edmund A. Moran1953–1966
- Most Rev. Lawrence J. Riley1966–1990
Long-tenured pastor during a period of post–Vatican II change.
- Rev. James D. Lyons1990–1996
- Rev. Peter P. Nolan, C.S.Sp.1997–2014
Member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans); led the parish during its transition toward the Blue Hills Collaborative.
- Rev. Ronald D. Coyne2014–2019
Oversaw the formal establishment of the Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills Collaborative (Disciples in Mission Phase II) and the controversial 2018 proposal regarding the sanctuary's future.
- Rev. Joseph M. Mazzone2020–present
Current pastor; leads Most Precious Blood together with St. Anne (Readville) and St. Pius X (Milton) as part of the Blue Hills Collaborative.