About Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted · Waltham, Massachusetts
Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted is a Roman Catholic parish in Waltham, Massachusetts, belonging to the Archdiocese of Boston. Its name comes from its original mission to serve the many hospitals and retirement homes once clustered in North Waltham (including the Middlesex County Sanatorium, Metropolitan State Hospital, and the Fernald School), and Cardinal William Henry O'Connell chose the title in honor of the Blessed Mother as patroness of those who suffer. Today the parish gathers around the celebration of the Eucharist, runs the parish school Our Lady's Academy, offers a Sunday Religious Education program for grades 1–10, and supports a wide range of liturgical and charitable ministries. The current pastor is Rev. James M. DiPerri, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Mark Olejnik and Deacon Jim Rice.
- Established
- 1930
- Patron
- Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. James M. DiPerri
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted offers a vibrant, active, and welcoming Catholic community centered on the Eucharist, with daily Mass, Monday–Friday Eucharistic adoration, Saturday confession, and a strong devotional life. Families can enroll children in the parish school Our Lady's Academy or the Sunday Religious Education program (grades 1–10, including sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation), and adults can join the Adult Choir, Youth Schola, or Children's Choir. The parish also reaches out through the Knights of Columbus Council #14710 (with scholarships, blood drives, and Coats for Kids), various liturgical ministries, and parish groups—making it easy for newcomers to find a way to serve and belong.
Mass times at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45–3:15 pm (in the confessional just inside the main entrance of the church)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (except during funerals or other school/church services)
Welcome & Parish Identity
Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted describes itself as a faith community of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Its name comes from the original mission of the parish — to serve the many hospitals and retirement homes once clustered in North Waltham — and from Cardinal William Henry O'Connell's choice to dedicate that work to the Blessed Mother under the title Comforter of the Afflicted. Although most of those institutions have since closed, the parish continues its founding mission of bringing the Gospel to today's faithful. Parish life is centered on the celebration of the Eucharist and expressed through sacraments, religious education, music and liturgical ministries, and parish groups and outreach.
- Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Boston
- Located at 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452
- Named by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell for the Blessed Mother, patroness of the afflicted
- Original mission: minister to hospitals and homes in North Waltham
Parish History
The parish was founded in the late 1920s during the Great Depression. Father James J. Baxter, pastor of St. Mary's, bought the original lot at Trapelo Road and Bow Street on January 4, 1928, broke ground on April 2, 1929, and personally retired the roughly $43,000 construction debt. Cardinal O'Connell officially created the new parish in territory taken from St. Mary's, and Father Alfred J. MacDonald was appointed first pastor on April 22, 1930; Bishop John B. Peterson dedicated the church on June 7, 1931. By the early 1960s the parish had grown to about twelve hundred families, and on June 7, 1962, ground was broken for a new, larger church (seating about 1,100) that was completed in 1963, with Cardinal Cushing consecrating its altar to the Holy Family on September 13, 1963 and sealing within it the relics of St. Agatha and St. Victoriana.
- January 4, 1928 – lot purchased at Trapelo Road and Bow Street
- April 2, 1929 – groundbreaking
- April 22, 1930 – parish officially established; Father Alfred J. MacDonald appointed first pastor
- June 13, 1930 – first wedding in the new church
- June 7, 1931 – church dedicated by Bishop John B. Peterson
- June 7, 1962 – groundbreaking for new, larger church
- September 13, 1963 – Cardinal Cushing consecrated the new altar to the Holy Family
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. James M. DiPerri, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Mark Olejnik and Deacon Jim Rice assisting in liturgical and pastoral ministry. The lay staff includes Music Director Greg Castano, Religious Education Coordinator Elizabeth Pettine, Business Manager Tom McGovern, Finance Assistant Terry Poillucci, and Parish Office Secretary Brenda MacDougall.
- Rev. James M. DiPerri — Pastor (ext. 4)
- Rev. Mark Olejnik — Parochial Vicar (ext. 8)
- Deacon Jim Rice — Deacon
- Greg Castano — Music Director (ext. 2)
- Elizabeth Pettine — Religious Ed Coordinator (ext. 3)
- Tom McGovern — Business Manager (ext. 5)
- Terry Poillucci — Finance Assistant (ext. 6)
- Brenda MacDougall — Parish Office Secretary (ext. 2)
Anointing of the Sick
Arrangements for the Anointing / Sacrament of the Sick are made through the parish office at 781-894-3481 x2.
- Contact parish office: 781-894-3481 ext. 2
Religious Education
The Religious Education Program is centered on the Eucharist and serves youth in Grades 1–10 with classroom instruction, service projects, field trips, and sacramental preparation. Classes meet Sunday mornings 10:00–11:00 am at Our Lady's Academy. The mission is to help children become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ — learning about the Mass, Confession, the Ten Commandments, the Sacraments, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the importance of the Blessed Mother. All volunteers working with minors must attend a 'VIRTUS: Protecting God's Children' session and complete an annual CORI form.
- Grades 1–6 classes — Sunday 10:00–11:00 am
- Grades 7–10 Confirmation prep — Sunday 10:00–11:00 am
- Grade 2 — First Communion and First Penance preparation
- Grades 9–10 — two-year Confirmation program using the 'Chosen' series
- Grades 3–6 — Pflaum Gospel Weeklies (Good News / Venture / Visions)
- Grades 1–2 — Sadlier 'We Believe' curriculum
- Volunteer catechists, team teachers, and aides needed (reduced tuition for volunteers' children)
Confirmation Preparation
Confirmation is a two-year intensive course of study and service for Grades 9 and 10, with Confirmation prep also beginning in Grades 7 and 8 as the parish works toward the Archdiocese of Boston's norm of Confirming students in 8th grade. The program pairs classroom instruction and discussion with parish and community service, a retreat, field trips, and written assignments. Mandatory service events include the Advent Service Project, filling Holy Water bottles for Easter, and the Turkey-Rama fundraiser.
- Two-year program for Grades 9–10
- Curriculum: 'Chosen' series
- Includes classroom, service, retreat, field trip, written assignment
- Sunday morning classes at the parish school
Our Lady's Academy (Parish School)
Our Lady's Academy is the parish school, located at 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham, on the same campus as the parish and Religious Education program. The school promotes academic excellence in a state-of-the-art facility with caring teachers instilling a love for God and neighbor. School office hours are Monday–Friday 7:45 am – 2:45 pm; the school phone is 781-899-0353 and the website is ourladysacademy.org.
- Address: 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452
- Phone: 781-899-0353
- Website: ourladysacademy.org
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 7:45 am – 2:45 pm
- Hosts Sunday Religious Education classes
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music and liturgical service are an important part of parish life under Music Director Greg Castano. The parish offers multiple choirs and a wide range of liturgical roles for parishioners who wish to serve at the altar or in the sanctuary.
- Adult Choir
- Children's Choir
- Youth Schola
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Baptismal Ministry
Knights of Columbus Council #14710
Our Lady's Knights of Columbus Council #14710 hosts events throughout the year benefiting parish families and the wider community — including pasta dinners, Christmas wreath and ornament sales, blood drives, and fundraisers for intellectually disadvantaged children. Over the past five years the Council has awarded more than $12,000 in scholarships to students of Our Lady's Academy and the parish, and it runs a competitive College Scholarship Program for active parishioners entering their first year of college or technical school. The Council also donates annually to Pro-Life organizations and runs a Coats for Kids program.
- Council #14710, based at OLCA
- Open to men over age 18; contact [email protected]
- Scholarships: College, OLCA Academy, Seminarian
- Coats for Kids, Pro-Life donations, blood drives
- 2025 College Scholarship winners: Ariana Bushey (Harvard), Cody Coye (Tufts), Connor Coye (RIT), Kayla Mackenzie (SNHU)
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Children typically make First Penance in Grade 2 and receive First Communion as part of the Grade 2 curriculum; Confirmation is a two-year program in Grades 9–10. Adults interested in becoming Catholic, couples preparing for marriage, and families seeking Baptism can find helpful information on the parish website or by contacting the parish office. The Anointing / Sacrament of the Sick is arranged by calling the parish office.
- Baptism — information on parish website
- First Communion — Grade 2
- First Penance — Grade 2
- Confirmation — Grades 9–10
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment, 781-894-3481 x2
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 2:45–3:15 pm and by appointment
- Becoming Catholic — information on parish website
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email during office hours (Monday–Friday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm). The parish is located at 880 Trapelo Road in Waltham, with a separate mailing/office address at 920-R Trapelo Road. Confessions are heard in the confessional just inside the main entrance of the church. Sacramental appointments and other pastoral needs are coordinated through the parish office.
- Church/Rectory: 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452
- Mailing/Office: 920-R Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452
- Phone: 781-894-3481
- Fax: 781-894-0021
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Ed: [email protected]
- Knights of Columbus: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- School office hours: Mon–Fri 7:45 am – 2:45 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James J. Baxter1928–1930
Pastor of St. Mary's, Waltham; purchased the original Trapelo Road lot on January 4, 1928, broke ground April 2, 1929, personally funded the building debt, and was honored at the 1931 dedication as the founder of the North Waltham parish.
- Rev. Alfred J. MacDonald1930–
First pastor; appointed April 22, 1930. Remembered as genial and friendly with a fine sense of humor, yet stern on matters of religion. The first wedding in the new church was celebrated June 13, 1930.
- Rev. Waldo Hasenfus1931 (interim)
Assistant at St. Mary's who covered Sundays and Holy Days, administered the sacraments and took the parish census during the six months between the church's completion and assignment of a resident pastor.