About Our Lady of Lourdes · Worcester, Massachusetts
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. Located at 1290 Grafton Street on the city's east side near the Millbury line, the parish grew out of a 1928 mission church built by Father John Casey of St. Philip Parish in Grafton to serve Catholics in East Millbury. It was elevated to parish status on January 20, 1949. The parish is currently served by Father Brian P. O'Toole and offers daily and Sunday Mass, a Saturday vigil, religious education for grades K–10, a Knights of Columbus council, and a Confirmation program. The present church building at 1290 Grafton Street was dedicated on September 15, 1963, designed so that 'the overall design of the structure symbolizes a person praying and its simple beauty raises our minds and hearts very easily to God.'
- Established
- 1928 (as a mission of St. Philip Parish, Grafton); 1949 (elevated to parish status on January 20, 1949)
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Father Brian P. O'Toole
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a neighborhood parish in Worcester's east side that takes seriously its call to be 'disciples of Jesus Christ… reaching out with love into the neighborhoods to welcome, serve, support and engage the community in Jesus.' Parishioners grow together through daily and Sunday Mass, a Confirmation program for grades 9–10 with monthly community projects, a Religious Education program starting in grade K, and active lay ministries including the Knights of Columbus Pope John XXIII #5481 Council, lectors, eucharistic ministers, greeters, and music ministry. With daily Mass offered Monday through Friday and a Saturday vigil, plus a rich tradition rooted in 1928, it is a welcoming community for families, retired parishioners, and visitors alike.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Parish History
Our Lady of Lourdes began in 1928 as a mission church of St. Philip Parish in Grafton, built by Father John Casey to serve Catholics in East Millbury and part of Worcester. The original 250-seat church stood at the corner of Grafton and Ackerman roads; Father Casey preached in French and English, taught catechism, and administered the sacraments. The mission was elevated to parish status on January 20, 1949, with Father William F. Ahern as the founding pastor. A new, larger church was dedicated on September 15, 1963, at the present 1290 Grafton Street address in Worcester. The original East Millbury church burned down in 1966. In May 2024, the parish marked its 75th anniversary with Bishop McManus presiding at a Pentecost vigil Mass.
- 1928 – Mission church completed in East Millbury by Father John Casey
- 1949 – Elevated to a parish on January 20; Father William F. Ahern becomes first pastor
- 1963 – Present 500-seat church at 1290 Grafton St. dedicated September 15
- 1966 – Original East Millbury church destroyed by fire
- 2024 – 75th anniversary celebrated at Pentecost vigil Mass
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
Our Lady of Lourdes is currently served by Father Brian P. O'Toole as pastor. Father James B. O'Shea, a former pastor, remains connected to the parish community. Father Francis J. Roach serves as a retired priest in residence. Father Joseph J. Jurgelonis, a retired diocesan priest and 'son of the parish,' was present for the 75th anniversary dinner. Father Alfredo R. Porras, whose family belongs to the parish, also assists. Deacon John 'Jack' Franchi, who grew up in the parish and was an altar boy in the original East Millbury church, continues to assist when not serving as campus deacon at Anna Maria College.
- Pastor: Father Brian P. O'Toole
- Former Pastor: Father James B. O'Shea
- Retired Priest in Residence: Father Francis J. Roach
- Retired Diocesan Priest (parish son): Father Joseph J. Jurgelonis
- Assisting Priest: Father Alfredo R. Porras
- Deacon: John 'Jack' Franchi
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Our Lady of Lourdes runs a parish-based Religious Education program for children who do not attend Catholic school. Classes begin September 21 and meet Sundays from 8:45 AM to 9:55 AM, followed by the 10:00 AM Mass (attendance at Mass is mandatory). The Confirmation program is a two-year curriculum for Grades 9 and 10, with students participating in monthly Community Projects and receiving the sacrament in their second year. Registration opens after the 10:00 AM Mass on August 17, with fees of $30 per child, $15 per additional sibling, and a $60 sacramental fee for First Communion or Confirmation. Students are also invited to serve as altar servers, greeters, or collection helpers.
- Religious Education: Grades K–8, Sundays 8:45–9:55 AM
- Confirmation: two-year program, Grades 9 & 10, with monthly community projects
- Registration: opens August 17 after 10:00 AM Mass
- Fees: $30/child, $15 sibling, $60 sacramental fee
Knights of Columbus
Our Lady of Lourdes is home to the Pope John XXIII Council #5481 of the Knights of Columbus, the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. The council meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the sacristy. Membership is open to all practicing Catholic men over the age of 18. Grand Knight Nicholas Marrier can be reached at 774-230-1414 for information about joining or council activities.
- Council: Pope John XXIII #5481
- Meets: Second Wednesday of each month, 6:00 PM in the sacristy
- Grand Knight: Nicholas Marrier (774-230-1414)
Parish Ministries and Service
The parish offers a range of lay ministries that support its liturgical and community life, including altar servers (open to students in 4th grade and older), greeters at the church doors, lectors who proclaim the scripture readings, eucharistic ministers who distribute Holy Communion, gift bearer families who bring forward the gifts at Mass, and a music ministry with choir and cantors. A Liturgy Committee oversees the quality of worship, while an Art & Environment Committee prepares the church for the seasons of the liturgical year (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time).
- Altar Servers
- Greeters
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Gift Bearer Families
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Liturgy Committee
- Art & Environment Committee
75th Anniversary Celebration
In May 2024, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish celebrated its 75th anniversary together with the universal Church's birthday at Pentecost. Bishop Robert J. McManus presided over the vigil Mass and challenged listeners to pray for a new Pentecost and invite others back to Mass. He compared the parish's 'glory days' in the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s — when veterans returning from World War II started large families, parishes built schools, and 80 percent of Catholics attended Sunday Mass — with today's roughly 20 percent Mass attendance and a poll in which only one in three Catholics professed belief in the Real Presence. An anniversary dinner followed in the church hall. Father O'Toole reminded the gathering that 'the Holy Spirit is with them and they are the Church; it's not just the building, the pastor.'
- Anniversary Mass: Pentecost Vigil, May 2024
- Presider: Bishop Robert J. McManus
- Attending clergy: Father Brian P. O'Toole (pastor), Father James B. O'Shea (former pastor), Father Francis J. Roach (retired in residence), Father Joseph J. Jurgelonis (parish son), Father Alfredo R. Porras
- Deacon assisting: John 'Jack' Franchi
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William F. Ahern1949 – c. 1963
First pastor; previously associate/temporary administrator of St. Stephen Parish, Worcester; oversaw building of rectory, debt clearance, and construction of the present 1290 Grafton St. church dedicated Sept. 15, 1963.
- Father James B. O'Shea
Former pastor; attended the parish's 75th anniversary Mass in May 2024.