About Our Lady of Seven Dolors · Fair Haven, Vermont
Our Lady of Seven Dolors is a Roman Catholic parish in Fair Haven, Vermont, in the Diocese of Burlington. It is clustered with two nearby parishes — St. John the Baptist in Castleton and St. Paul's in Orwell — under one pastoral team that also covers St. Raphael's in Poultney, sharing weekday and weekend Mass schedules across the four churches. The parish traces its origin to 1869, when French-Canadian Catholic immigrants founded an earlier mission in Fair Haven (originally called St. Louis) that later gave way to the present church built in 1873. Today the parish is served by Vocationist Fathers and is known for its thrift store, community outreach, and a recently restored sanctuary featuring three new icons and a new Adoration Chapel.
- Established
- 1869 (parish mission); church built 1873
- Patron
- Our Lady of Seven Dolors (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Seven Sorrows)
- Rector
- Fr. Julian Asucan, S.D.V. (Vocationist)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Vermont
Why belong here
Our Lady of Seven Dolors is a small, tightly-knit Catholic parish with a deep 19th-century heritage — the church has stood on Washington Street since 1873 — and a quietly active parish life. Weekday and weekend Masses are offered in English, with confessions before Sunday Mass, monthly Wednesday Adoration, and a clustered schedule that makes neighboring parishes easy to visit. The parish is known for its parish thrift store, religious education program under coordinator Rosie Doran, and a recent sanctuary restoration that turned the church into a teaching tool centered on the Incarnation, the Eucharist, and the Resurrection. For anyone in the Fair Haven, Castleton, Orwell, and Poultney area looking for a faithful, welcoming Catholic home, this is a parish that combines small-parish warmth with the devotion of the Vocationist Fathers.
Mass times at Our Lady of Seven Dolors
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church, Fair Haven
- By appointment — call 802-671-8139
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM on the second Wednesday of the month
- Sunday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM on the second Sunday of the month (in the parish Adoration Chapel)
About Our Lady of Seven Dolors
Our Lady of Seven Dolors is a Roman Catholic parish in Fair Haven, Vermont, in the Diocese of Burlington. The parish shares its pastoral team with three neighboring churches — St. John the Baptist in Castleton, St. Paul's in Orwell, and St. Raphael's in Poultney — forming a four-parish cluster that rotates weekday Masses and shares coverage of weekend liturgies. The parish is currently served by Vocationist Fathers (S.D.V.).
History
The parish traces its origin to 1869, when French-Canadian Catholic immigrants in the Fair Haven area founded an early mission known as St. Louis. By 1873 the community had built the present church on Washington Street, which has served the parish ever since. In recent years Vocationist Father Antony Pittappillil led a roughly five-year, $120,000 restoration — paid for by gifts and 'Change for a Change' fundraisers — that included a new Adoration Chapel, sanctuary updates, three new icons, and a new tabernacle blessed by Bishop Christopher Coyne.
- 1869 — French-Canadian mission founded in Fair Haven under the name St. Louis
- 1873 — present church built on Washington Street
- Recent years — multi-year restoration of the sanctuary and creation of an Adoration Chapel
- New tabernacle blessed by Bishop Christopher Coyne during an April 22 visit
Architecture & Sanctuary
The 1873 church is a traditional late-19th-century Catholic house of worship that was last painted in the 1980s before its recent restoration. Recent work added crown molding in the sanctuary, stencil work on the walls, cleaned and polished pews, new carpeting and interior paint, a new tabernacle, and three new icons in the sanctuary depicting the Incarnation, Jesus as the Bread of Life, and the Resurrection — described by the pastor as a 'teaching tool' of the faith.
- Built in 1873
- New Adoration Chapel
- Three sanctuary icons: Incarnation, Bread of Life, Resurrection
- New tabernacle blessed by Bishop Christopher Coyne
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Vocationist Fathers of the Society of Divine Vocations (S.D.V.), including the pastor and parochial vicars. Lay staff coordinate religious education and parish administration.
- Fr. Julian Asucan, S.D.V. — Pastor
- Fr. Romanus Igweonu, S.D.V. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Michael Onyekwere, S.D.V. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Deniskingsley Nwagwu, S.D.V. — Parochial Vicar
- Rosie Doran — Religious Education Coordinator
- Ann Carr — Parish Secretary
Mass & Service Schedule
The parish publishes its schedule on its official Vermont Catholic site. At Our Lady of Seven Dolors itself, Mass is celebrated in English on Sunday morning, Monday and Wednesday evenings, and Saturday morning. Confessions are heard before Sunday Mass, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered monthly. The parish office can also arrange confession by appointment.
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 AM (English)
- Monday Mass — 5:00 PM (English)
- Wednesday Mass — 5:00 PM (English)
- Saturday Mass — 8:00 AM (English)
- Confession — Sunday 7:00–7:45 AM, and by appointment (802-671-8139)
- Adoration — second Wednesday at 5:30 PM; second Sunday 4:00–5:00 PM
Clustered Parishes & Nearby Masses
Our Lady of Seven Dolors shares pastoral ministry with three nearby parishes, and the website lists their Mass times so visitors can find a weekday Mass close to home any day of the week.
- St. John the Baptist, Castleton — Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Tuesday 12:00 PM; Thursday 12:00 PM
- St. Paul's, Orwell — Sunday 11:15 AM
- St. Raphael's, Poultney — Monday–Friday 8:00 AM
- Confession — Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM at St. John the Baptist, Castleton; Sunday 10:30–11:00 AM at St. Paul, Orwell
- Adoration — fourth Sunday 12:00–1:00 PM at St. Paul, Orwell; third Saturday 5:00–6:00 PM at St. John the Baptist, Castleton
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the liturgy, Our Lady of Seven Dolors is known for its parish thrift store — described by the pastor as a ministry — and the creative community events built around it, including a 'Thrifty Fashions' fashion show that drew more than 100 people to the former St. Mary School across the street. The parish also runs a religious education program for children and a 'Change for a Change' coin collection that has helped fund building improvements.
- Parish Thrift Store (open Thursday–Saturday during much of the year)
- "Thrifty Fashions" fashion show fundraiser
- "Change for a Change" parish fundraising
- Religious Education / Faith Formation
- Adoration Chapel ministry
Sacraments
The parish regularly offers the Mass, the sacrament of Reconciliation (both on a scheduled basis and by appointment), and Eucharistic Adoration. Information about Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacraments is available through the parish office.
- Sunday and weekday Mass
- Reconciliation — Sunday 7:00 AM and by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration — monthly
- Religious Education for children
- Contact parish office for Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
Visit & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the parish. The church is located at 10 Washington Street in Fair Haven; the mailing address for the parish office is 45 North Road, Castleton, VT 05735. The parish can be reached by phone and through its official Vermont Catholic website.
- Physical Address: 10 Washington Street, Fair Haven, VT 05743
- Mailing Address: Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church Office, 45 North Road, Castleton, VT 05735
- Phone: (802) 265-3135; confession/appointment line: (802) 671-8139
- Website: https://ourladysevendolors.vermontcatholic.org/
- Directions: Route 4 to exit 2, south on Route 22A about one mile, church on the right
Diocese & Patronal Context
Our Lady of Seven Dolors is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, which covers the state of Vermont. The parish takes its name from the Seven Sorrows (Dolors) of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a traditional Marian title whose feast day is September 15. The parish's French-Canadian origins in 1869 reflect the wave of Catholic immigration that built many small Vermont parishes in the 19th century.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
- Patron: Our Lady of Seven Dolors (Seven Sorrows of Mary)
- Feast Day: September 15
- Founding community: French-Canadian Catholic immigrants
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Anthony Pittappillil, S.D.V.
Vocationist pastor who led the multi-year restoration and renovation of the 1873 church (new Adoration Chapel, sanctuary work, three icons, new tabernacle blessed by Bishop Coyne). Also oversaw the parish thrift store and 'Thrifty Fashions' community fashion show.