About Our Lady of The Angels · Hanover, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Angels Parish is a Roman Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Boston, headquartered at the former St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Church at 392 Hanover Street, Hanover, Massachusetts. It was formed through a series of mergers that brought together the historic parishes of St. Mary of the Sacred Heart in Hanover, St. Helen, Mother of the Emperor Constantine in Norwell, and St. Thecla's in Pembroke, and was given its present name on October 2, 2022 (the Feast of the Guardian Angels) by decree of Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley. Pastor Father Christopher J. Hickey, Parochial Vicar Father Joseph S. McCarthy, three deacons, and a collaborative lay staff shepherd a family that worships in English, celebrates a Life Teen Mass for youth, offers Eucharistic Adoration, and reaches out through ministries like Mercy Sews, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Comfort Food, and a parish food pantry.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher J. Hickey
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Angels welcomes parishioners into a Catholic family that literally unites three South Shore communities — Hanover, Norwell, and Pembroke — under one pastor, one staff, and a mission of "radical hospitality." Worshippers can choose from four Sunday Masses (including a 9:30 AM Family Mass and a 6:00 PM Life Teen Mass), a daily Mass schedule, weekly Saturday confession, and a period of Eucharistic Adoration. The parish also offers a complete Faith Formation program for children with special needs, a Youth Ministry, plus concrete ways to serve neighbors through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Comfort Food deliveries, parish food pantries, Mercy Sews, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and Holy Communion visits to the sick and homebound.
Mass times at Our Lady of The Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, per CatholicClocks schedule)
About Our Lady of the Angels Parish
Our Lady of the Angels Parish is the Catholic faith community created by the merger of three historic South Shore parishes — St. Mary of the Sacred Heart in Hanover, St. Helen, Mother of the Emperor Constantine in Norwell, and St. Thecla's in Pembroke — under the pastoral leadership of Father Christopher J. Hickey. On October 2, 2022, the Feast of the Guardian Angels, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley formally decreed the parish's new name. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and is united by the mission of "moving forward in faith in the spirit of radical hospitality."
- Pastor: Rev. Christopher J. Hickey
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joseph S. McCarthy
- Deacons: John P. Murray, James Thompson, Richard W. Ashburn
- Liturgy & Music Director: Ms. Lennie Peterson
- Faith Formation: Ms. Maura Dowling and Ms. Karen Gill
- Youth Ministry: Mr. Timothy Habeeb
History: From Three Parishes to One Family
The parish's roots stretch back to St. Mary of the Sacred Heart, recognized as a Catholic religious and educational organization since March 1946. In 2014, St. Mary's formally entered the Archdiocese of Boston's Phase Two Pastoral Planning and joined with St. Helen, Mother of the Emperor Constantine in Norwell to form the Holy Mothers Collaborative under Father Hickey. On July 1, 2021, St. Thecla's in Pembroke joined the family, creating one parish with three worship sites. On October 2, 2022, Cardinal O'Malley renamed the merged parish Our Lady of the Angels.
- 1946 — St. Mary of the Sacred Heart first recognized organizationally.
- June 4, 2014 — Holy Mothers Collaborative formed between St. Mary's (Hanover) and St. Helen's (Norwell).
- July 1, 2021 — St. Thecla's (Pembroke) joins; parish now has three worship sites.
- October 2, 2022 — Renamed Our Lady of the Angels by Cardinal O'Malley.
- January 1, 2023 — St. Helen's Church deconsecrated and slated for sale.
- Winter 2022–2023 — All parish Masses consolidated at St. Mary's Church in Hanover.
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Faith Formation office at Our Lady of the Angels supports catechesis for parish children, staffed by Maura Dowling and Karen Gill, who can be reached at (781) 826-2351 or [email protected]. The parish also runs a dedicated Special Needs Religious Education track, with staff trained to help children of all ages grow closer to God through adapted faith formation.
- Religious Education Office: (781) 826-2351
- Email: [email protected]
- Contacts: Maura Dowling and Karen Gill
- Special Needs Religious Education program available
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry at Our Lady of the Angels is led by Mr. Timothy Habeeb and is anchored by the Sunday evening 6:00 PM Life Teen Mass. The ministry invites teens to participate more fully in the life of the parish through fellowship, formation, and service.
- Youth Ministry Director: Timothy Habeeb
- Sunday 6:00 PM Life Teen Mass for teens and families
Outreach Ministries
Outreach is central to parish life, with ministries organized around mercy, hospitality, and the corporal works of mercy. From a global sewing ministry to neighbors delivering meals, the parish invites parishioners to put faith into action both near and far.
- Mercy Sews — handmade dresses, Polar Fleece baby blankets, and boys' tee-shirts for children in the world's poorest countries (started during Pope Francis's Jubilee Year of Mercy).
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — direct assistance to neighbors in need; contact: Don Buckley, (781) 826-4303.
- Comfort Food Ministry — coordinates meal deliveries for parishioners recovering from illness or hospitalization; contact: Chris Ashburn, (781) 826-4324.
- Holy Communion for the Sick and Homebound — visits to homes, nursing homes, and assisted living in Hanover, Norwell, and Pembroke; coordinated by Deacon John Murray.
- Food Pantry Support — parish food drives benefit the Hanover, Norwell, and Pembroke food pantries.
- Respect Life Group — promotes a Culture of Life through prayer, education, and advocacy.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — meets first Tuesday of each month, September–June, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM in the lower level of the church; contact: Susan Haigh, (781) 361-0079.
- Baptismal Blanket Ministry — each baptized baby receives a handmade blanket (about 25–30 per month).
Liturgy and Music
Liturgy and music at Our Lady of the Angels are coordinated by Ms. Lennie Peterson. The parish celebrates the full range of liturgical seasons and devotions in English, with music supporting the parish's weekend and weekday Masses, the Family Mass, and the Life Teen Mass.
- Liturgy and Music Director: Lennie Peterson
Contact, Location, and Practical Information
The parish office and principal worship site (St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Church) is located at 392 Hanover Street (Route 139) in Hanover, Massachusetts, with on-site parking. Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone during business hours and contact the Religious Education office directly for Faith Formation matters.
- Parish Office / Rectory: 392 Hanover Street, Hanover, MA 02339
- Parish Phone: (781) 826-4303
- Religious Education Office: (781) 826-2351; [email protected]
- Website: https://ourladyshanover.com
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Boston
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Christopher J. Hickey2014–present
Has led the parish through Holy Mothers Collaborative (2014), the merger with St. Thecla's (2021), and the renaming to Our Lady of the Angels (2022).