About Our Lady of Mercy [Maronite] · Worcester, Massachusetts
Our Lady of Mercy is a Maronite Catholic parish serving the Lebanese-Maronite faithful of Worcester, Massachusetts. The community traces its roots to Maronite immigrants who arrived in Worcester in 1893 and first worshipped in Roman Catholic churches for about thirty years before founding their own parish in 1923. Today the parish belongs to the Maronite Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn and is pastored by Father Peter Frangie, a married Maronite priest who was assigned to the parish on August 1, 2024. The community gathers for the Divine Liturgy in English and Arabic, accompanied by regular Eucharistic Adoration, confession, devotions, and a vibrant fellowship life.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mercy
- Rector
- Father Peter Frangie
- Diocese
- Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mercy is a small but warm Maronite Catholic community where English and Arabic both have a place at the table of the Lord. The parish offers daily and weekly Divine Liturgy, regular Eucharistic Adoration, confession before every weekend liturgy, the First Saturday Devotion, and a full slate of ministries — from MYO youth and MYA young adults to a Women's Organization, a re-launching Divine Blessings prayer-shawl ministry, lectors, choir, altar servers, ushers, and church decorating. Visitors and parishioners alike are invited to grow spiritually through the seven Holy Mysteries, deepen fellowship at the coffee hour, and take part in seasonal social events — all under the pastoral care of Father Peter Frangie and his wife Marise.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mercy [Maronite]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Friday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM
History of Our Lady of Mercy
Maronite families from the northern mountains of Lebanon began settling in Worcester around 1893, founding groceries, restaurants, and small businesses while attending Roman Catholic parishes such as St. Ann's, St. John's, and Notre Dame. A formal parish was established in 1923 when community leaders — led by Joseph John George and guided by visiting Bishop Shukrallah Khoury — purchased a Gothic-style former Swedish Lutheran church built in 1884 at 72 Mulberry Street for $7,500. After nearly a century in that building, the parish moved to its present home at 341 June Street and continues a new chapter under Fr. Peter Frangie.
- First Maronites arrive in Worcester: c. 1893
- First Maronite Rite Mass in Worcester: c. 1906 at St. Ann's Church, celebrated by Msgr. Joseph Yazbeck
- Founding pastor: Fr. Paul Rizk (1922–1924)
- Parish dedicated: June 29, 1923 by Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary of Springfield
- Second pastor: Fr. George Sabehlani (1924–1937)
- Temporary administrator: Fr. Jeremiah T. Reardon (1937–1947)
- Third pastor: Fr. (later Msgr.) Joseph Saidi (1947–)
- Silver Jubilee celebrated: June 29, 1948
Meet Our Priest — Fr. Peter Frangie
Father Peter Frangie was assigned on August 1, 2024 as the new Parish Administrator of Our Lady of Mercy. He arrived with his wife, Marise, after serving the previous three years at St. Anthony's Maronite Catholic Church in Glen Allen, Virginia. Born and raised in Lebanon, Fr. Peter first came to New York to study Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Manhattan College, and later worked as a college professor and high school math teacher before the Lord called him to serve as a deacon and then as a married Maronite priest. He was the second married man to be ordained to the priesthood in the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn — on July 17, 2021, by Bishop Gregory Mansour. He and Marise have settled into the renovated rectory and are focused on rebuilding the parish community socially and spiritually.
Schedule of Services
Our Lady of Mercy celebrates the Maronite Divine Liturgy (which they describe as divided into three parts: the preparation of the faithful and the offering, the offering of bread and wine, and Holy Communion). Daily Divine Liturgy is offered Tuesday through Friday at 9:00 AM in the Chapel (enter via the back door through the parking lot), and on Saturday evenings at 4:00 PM and Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM in the Main Church. Confessions are heard Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM and Sunday 8:30–9:30 AM, plus by appointment.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM (Main Church)
- Saturday Divine Liturgy: 4:00 PM (Main Church)
- Weekday Divine Liturgy: Tue–Fri 9:00 AM (Chapel)
- Most Mondays: 9:00 AM (call to confirm)
- Confessions: Sat 2:30–3:30 PM, Sun 8:30–9:30 AM, or by appointment
First Saturday Devotion
On the first Saturday of every month, the parish gathers for a traditional devotional hour beginning with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Holy Rosary, and concluding with the Divine Liturgy.
- 2:00 PM — Eucharistic Exposition
- 3:00 PM — Divine Mercy Chaplet
- 3:10 PM — Holy Rosary
- 4:00 PM — Divine Liturgy
The Seven Holy Mysteries
In keeping with Maronite (and broader Eastern Catholic) tradition, Our Lady of Mercy uses the term 'Holy Mysteries' rather than 'sacraments' to describe the sacred rites by which the Church perpetuates the saving action of Christ. The mysteries are grouped into three Mysteries of Initiation (Baptism, Chrismation/Confirmation, and the Eucharist), two Mysteries of Healing (Penance/Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick), and two Mysteries of Vocation or Community (Crowning/Marriage and Holy Orders). Through these mysteries, the faithful enter sacred time and space and partake of holy things.
- Baptism & Chrismation — contact priest at least 3 months in advance
- Matrimony / Crowning — contact priest at least 1 year in advance
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Organizations & Councils
Our Lady of Mercy offers a wide range of ministries and councils — many of which are being revitalized under the current pastor. The parish encourages every member to share their unique gifts and talents, and families of all ages can find a place to serve through eparchial organizations like MYO and MYA, parish councils, and volunteer committees that care for the church building, the liturgy, and the fellowship of the community.
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Maronite Youth Organization (MYO) — grades 7 through 12
- Maronite Young Adults (MYA) — college freshman through age 39
- Women's Organization — ages 25 and up
- Hospitality & Outreach Committee
- Maintenance Committee
- Social Events Committee
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful exercise several ministries inside the Divine Liturgy, from proclaiming the Word to leading the music of the parish. Lectors are trained periodically to read in both English and Arabic, and the adult choir enriches the liturgy from the first Sunday of September through the last Sunday of June.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God in English and Arabic
- Choir (adult singers) — September through June; auditions not required
- Altar Servers — boys ages 8–17
- Ushers (Ministry of Hospitality) — head ushers plus youth at special liturgies
Fellowship & Service Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish runs ministries that build community and reach out in tangible ways. The Hospitality & Outreach Committee coordinates the weekly coffee hour and welcomes newcomers; the Church Decorating Committee beautifies the church for feasts and seasons; and Divine Blessings combines prayer and handcrafting to create prayer shawls for those in need of comfort.
- Hospitality & Outreach Committee (coffee hour and welcome ministry)
- Church Decorating Committee
- Divine Blessings — knitting/crocheting prayer shawls; restarting 2025
- Social Events Committee
Daily Readings & Resources
The parish posts links to the Maronite daily readings in both English and Arabic on its schedule page, and a WhatsApp group is available so members can receive audio recordings of the readings in Arabic and English each day.
- Daily Gospel and Epistle Readings in English
- Daily Gospel and Epistle Readings in Arabic
- WhatsApp group for daily audio readings (Arabic and English)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, or in person at the rectory. Fr. Peter and Marise Frangie invite newcomers — whether long-time Worcester residents or recent arrivals — to come experience the joy of belonging to the Our Lady of Mercy community.
- Address: 341 June Street, Worcester, MA 01602
- Phone: +1 (508) 752-4287
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ourladyofmercymaronite.org/
Diocese & Eparchy
Our Lady of Mercy belongs to the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn, headed by Bishop Gregory Mansour. The eparchy serves Maronite Catholics across the United States, and Worcester's parish sits within the territorial boundary of the (Roman Catholic) Diocese of Worcester in Massachusetts. The parish was also designated a Jubilee Church during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016.
- Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn
- Geographically within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
- Jubilee Church: Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul Rizk1922–1924
First pastor; founded the parish and oversaw purchase and remodeling of the Gothic-style former Swedish Lutheran church at 72 Mulberry Street.
- Rev. George Sabehlani1924–1937
Second pastor; came from New Bedford; purchased the rectory next door to the church; died suddenly at age 65 after celebrating Mass on February 21, 1937.
- Rev. Jeremiah T. Reardon1937–1947
Roman Catholic priest and pastor of St. Joseph in Leicester, appointed by Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary as temporary administrator; oversaw the burning of the church mortgage.
- Rev. Joseph Saidi (later Monsignor)1947–
Third pastor, sent from Zgharta, North Lebanon by Maronite Patriarch Anthony Peter Arida; celebrated the parish's Silver Jubilee in 1948 and oversaw installation of new stained-glass windows depicting Maronite saints.