About North American Martyrs · Auburn, Massachusetts
North American Martyrs Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Auburn, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. It is dedicated to the eight Jesuit missionary-martyrs who came from France to preach the Gospel to the Native peoples of Canada and upstate New York. The parish was founded in 1952 by Bishop John J. Wright, first celebrated Mass in its original building (now the parish hall) in 1954, and moved into its present church on April 14, 1963. Today it serves roughly 820 registered families with daily and weekend Masses, religious education, and a number of lay ministries including Kateri's Kitchen and a Cancer Support Rosary Group.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- The North American Martyrs (the eight Jesuit missionary-martyrs: Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, Charles Garnier, Antoine Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Noël Chabanel, René Goupil, and Jean de La Lande)
- Rector
- Rev. Frederick D. Fraini, III
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
North American Martyrs is a mid-sized Worcester County parish of about 820 families that combines a traditional, accessible Mass schedule (daily 7 AM Masses, Saturday Vigil, and two Sunday Masses) with practical, hand-on ministries for every age. Children and teens can be enrolled in a parish religious education program that begins in Grade 1, adults can pray with a Cancer Support Rosary Group (offered both in person and on Zoom), and the parish runs a community outreach meal program called Kateri's Kitchen. Lay involvement is welcomed in many roles — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers — and the parish makes joining easy through an online registration form.
Mass times at North American Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Friday: 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM (First Friday of every month)
Our History
North American Martyrs was erected on October 8, 1952 by Bishop John J. Wright of the Diocese of Worcester, with Father Thomas J. O'Rourke appointed founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated in the newly built (now) parish hall on April 11, 1954, and the present church was dedicated with its first Mass on April 14, 1963. The parish is dedicated to the eight North American Martyrs — French Jesuit missionaries who preached the Gospel to the Native peoples of New France — because the property sits on the site of a former Native American village. The history page also explains the symbolism of the parish address: 8 Wyoma Drive, where the number 8 commemorates the eight martyrs and the Immaculate Conception, and "Wyoma" was a Native word for the outstanding girl of a tribe, later given to Mary.
- Founded October 8, 1952 by Bishop John J. Wright
- First pastor: Rev. Thomas J. O'Rourke
- First Mass in original building: April 11, 1954 (now the parish hall)
- First Mass in present church: April 14, 1963
- About 820 registered families
Patron Saints and Statuary
Two statues on the parish grounds reflect the parish's missionary-Native American heritage. Near the outside stairway to the church stands Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, an Algonquin born about a decade after the deaths of Isaac Jogues and his companions — called "the first fruit of the martyrs' blood" — canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. Inside the church, just to the left as you enter, is a statue of Saint Isaac Jogues, the most famous of the eight North American Martyrs.
- Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (outside, by the stairway)
- Saint Isaac Jogues (inside, left of the entrance)
- Eight Jesuit North American Martyrs as collective patrons
Our Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, Rev. Frederick D. Fraini, III, with parish-office and faith-formation staff supporting day-to-day operations, faith formation, and Safe Environment compliance.
- Pastor: Rev. Frederick D. Fraini, III (508-798-8779)
- Religious Education Director & Safe Environment Coordinator: Lisa Burkitt, M.Ed, MA ([email protected])
- Parish Office staff: Patricia Goodrich
- Maintenance: Church (per parish staff page)
Sacraments
The parish website treats sacramental life as central to its mission: "Our mission as a parish is to experience God's love in the teaching and practice of sacramental life." Baptisms are scheduled for the first and third Sundays of the month following the 10:30 AM Mass and require registration in the parish, with a Godparent Testimony Form signed and sealed by the godparent's parish priest or deacon at least one week before the date. Fr. Fraini personally meets with families to plan Funeral Masses, and a sample Funeral Mass outline is published on the website. Anointing of the Sick is available by request through Fr. Fraini.
- Baptism: 1st and 3rd Sundays after 10:30 AM Mass; registration required
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment through Fr. Fraini
- Funeral Mass: arranged through the parish office; Fr. Fraini meets with families
- Marriage: arranged through the parish office
Religious Education
Religious education begins in Grade 1 and runs through Grade 11, with classes meeting on Sundays at two different times depending on grade level. The program is directed by Lisa Burkitt, M.Ed, MA. Annual registration is completed online through the parish website, with tiered fees ($80 for Grades 1 & 3; $105 for Grades 2 & 11) and a family cap of $215–$230. A late fee of $10 per student applies after July 1.
- Grades 1–6: Sundays 9:30–10:15 AM
- Grades 7–11: Sundays 5:00–6:30 PM
- Director: Lisa Burkitt ([email protected])
- Annual registration online; Safe Environment training required for volunteers
Parish Ministries
Lay ministries are at the heart of parish life at North American Martyrs. Liturgical roles — altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers — support the Mass schedule, while outreach ministries meet real community needs: Kateri's Kitchen is a parish meal program, and the Cancer Support Rosary Group is a weekly gathering for those living with cancer, offered in person and on Zoom. The parish also maintains a Welcome ministry and an active Safe Environment program that requires one-time training for any volunteer working with children.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Kateri's Kitchen
- Cancer Support Rosary Group (Carlene Sherbourne, 774-696-4812, [email protected])
- Welcome / New Parishioner Registration
- Safe Environment training (required for volunteers with children)
Annual Devotions and Special Observances
Each October the parish celebrates its patron saints with a novena to the North American Martyrs, opening around October 9 and concluding on October 19 (the feast day) with a closing Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Worcester — most recently Bishop Robert J. McManus. Evening Masses during the novena feature guest preachers from local parishes and the Jesuits (the order of the original missionaries). During Lent, Fr. Fraini leads Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 6:30 PM (Good Friday at 3:00 PM) and has hosted a three-part catechetical series, "Tuesdays with Fr. Fred."
- Annual Novena to the North American Martyrs (Oct 9–19)
- Closing Mass with the Bishop of Worcester
- Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent (6:30 PM; Good Friday at 3:00 PM)
- "Tuesdays with Fr. Fred" — Lenten catechetical series
- Blessing of throats on the feast of St. Blaise
Joining the Parish
New parishioners are warmly welcomed through an online registration form on the parish website. The parish notes that registration is required before having a child baptized, and religious-education families must also be registered members.
- Online registration form via namartyrsauburn.org
- Registration required for Baptism and Religious Education enrollment
Visit, Contact, and Directions
The Parish Office is located in the Church Hall and is open Monday–Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Visitors coming from I-290 west take Exit 9 (Auburn Street), turn left onto Auburn Street, left onto Southbridge Street, and right onto Hampton Street; the church parking lot is about 0.4 miles up Hampton on the right, between two houses. The main phone line is 508-798-8779.
- Parish Office in the Church Hall
- Office hours: Mon–Wed and Fri, 9:00 AM–2:30 PM
- Phone: 508-798-8779
- Directions from I-290 West, Exit 9
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas J. O'Rourke1952–
Founding pastor, appointed by Bishop John J. Wright when the parish was erected on October 8, 1952.