About Our Lady of the Assumption · Lynnfield, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Assumption is one of two worship sites that together form Ave Maria Parish in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, a Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish traces its roots to 1922, when Catholics in the small town of Lynnfield worshipped at a fire-station mission that grew quickly enough to warrant its own church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 20, 1922. In 2013 it joined with nearby Saint Maria Goretti Parish and Our Lady of the Assumption School to form the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative under Cardinal Sean's 'Disciples in Mission' pastoral plan, and in 2020 the two parishes were formally merged into the single Ave Maria Parish (with Father Paul E. Ritt continuing as pastor). Today the parish offers weekend and daily Mass in English at both worship sites, a robust faith-formation program for children and adults, a PreK–8 parochial school, and a wide range of ministries from choir to St. Vincent de Paul outreach.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Assumption (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul E. Ritt
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Ave Maria Parish — and Our Lady of the Assumption Church specifically — is a vibrant suburban Catholic community where Mass and the sacraments are at the heart of parish life. Lifelong faith formation is offered for every age, from PreK through Grade 8 at OLA School and OCIA/RCIA for adults considering Catholicism, to a four-part summer Discipleship School taught by the pastor. Parishioners serve their neighbors through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, monthly dinners at My Brother's Table in Lynn, a Red Cross blood drive, the Pastoral Visitation Ministry to the elderly and homebound, a Knights of Columbus council, weekly Eucharistic Adoration and Rosary groups, and choirs and ensembles at both worship sites.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church (and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Medjugorje Eucharistic Adoration & Rosary — Every Wednesday, 6:30–8:00 PM at Saint Maria Goretti Church
- First Friday Adoration — 9:30 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church
Ave Maria Parish — Overview
Ave Maria Parish is one Roman Catholic community of faith in the Archdiocese of Boston composed of two worship sites — Our Lady of the Assumption Church (758 Salem Street) and Saint Maria Goretti Church (112 Chestnut Street) — and one parochial school, Our Lady of the Assumption School (40 Grove Street). Although the two parishes were formally merged in June 2020, both churches continue to celebrate Masses and sacraments under their original names. The parish office is at 17 Grove Street, Lynnfield, and is open Monday–Thursday 8 AM–4 PM and Friday 8 AM–12 noon.
- Two worship sites: Our Lady of the Assumption & Saint Maria Goretti
- One parochial school: Our Lady of the Assumption School (Preschool–Grade 8)
- Archdiocese of Boston
- Pastor: Rev. Paul E. Ritt
Our Parish History
Our Lady of the Assumption grew out of a 1920 mission started by Father Florence J. Halloran of Wakefield's St. Joseph Church, with Masses in a local fire station. The church was dedicated on August 20, 1922, and Father James J. Mooney became the first resident pastor in October 1937. A larger church was built in 1956, the parish school opened in 1961 under Monsignor John J. Linnehan, and a major sanctuary renovation followed in 1975. In 2013 OLA joined the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative, and in June 2020 Cardinal Seán O'Malley merged OLA and Saint Maria Goretti into Ave Maria Parish, with 'Ave Maria' chosen after more than 60 name suggestions from parishioners.
- 1920 — Lynnfield Catholic mission begins in a fire station (50 adults)
- 1922 — Our Lady of the Assumption dedicated, August 20
- 1937 — Father James J. Mooney appointed first resident pastor
- 1956 — Larger church built to replace the overcrowded original
- 1961 — OLA School opens (Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia)
- 1975 — Major sanctuary remodel, confessional & digital organ
- 1979 — OLA chosen for Archdiocesan pilot Spiritual Development program
- 2013 — Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative formed (Phase I)
- June 2020 — OLA & SMG parishes merged into Ave Maria Parish
- August 2020 — 'Ave Maria' selected as the new parish name
Faith Formation
The parish's faith-formation team includes Jamie Bossi (Elementary Faith Formation) and Robyn Yannone (Adolescent Faith Formation). Programs are designed to support lifelong formation — from elementary-aged children through adolescents — and to help parishioners grow in knowledge and relationship with God.
- Elementary Faith Formation
- Adolescent Faith Formation
- Coordinator contacts available through the parish office
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Ave Maria Parish welcomes those interested in the Catholic faith through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). The process begins with a seven-week 'Discovering Christ' series (ChristLife Ministries) open to the whole parish, then moves through the Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy, with the Easter Vigil as the usual time of reception into the Church. An adapted OCIA for children uses Liguori's 'Journey of Faith'.
- Period of Evangelization & Pre-Catechumenate (Discovering Christ)
- Catechumenate (Liguori Journey of Faith)
- Purification & Enlightenment (Lent)
- Mystagogy (Easter to Pentecost)
- Contact: Kate McGrath, Pastoral Associate — 781-598-4313 x224 / [email protected]
Discipleship School
Each summer Fr. Paul Ritt teaches a free four-part Discipleship School series on the basic tenets of Catholic faith, using the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. The four sessions focus on the Creed, the Sacraments, Christian Morality, and Prayer. Sessions meet Wednesday evenings in June, 6:30–8:00 PM, in the SMG Church Hall.
- Four-part summer series
- Free and open to all
- Text: USCCB Catholic Catechism for Adults
- Contact: Kate McGrath, [email protected]
Our Lady of the Assumption School
Our Lady of the Assumption School is a Catholic Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8 parish school founded in 1961 by Monsignor John J. Linnehan and originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. The school has grown steadily — adding Kindergarten in 1972, a Preschool program in 2001 with the St. Francis Center, and dedicated art and music rooms in 2009 — and today educates roughly 360 students with a student-teacher ratio of about 10:1 to 16:1 depending on source. The motto, drawn from St. Jerome, is 'Good, better, best. Never let it rest, 'til your good is better and your better is best.'
- Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8
- Founded 1961 by Monsignor John J. Linnehan
- Original staffing by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
- St. Francis Center (2001) houses the preschool
- Principal: Cindy Donovan
- Address: 40 Grove Street, Lynnfield, MA 01940
- Phone: (781) 599-4422
- Website: ola.school
Music & Liturgical Ministry
Liturgical music at Ave Maria Parish is led by Gina Kolenda, Director of Liturgical Music. Parish ensembles include the Holy Spirit Ensemble (rehearsals on Zoom Thursday evenings; warms up before Mass at SMG) and the Heavenly Praise ensemble (rehearsals before the Thursday evening Mass at OLA).
- Director of Liturgical Music: Gina Kolenda
- Holy Spirit Ensemble
- Heavenly Praise ensemble
Outreach & Social Ministry
Outreach is a central part of parish identity. The St. Vincent de Paul Society (confidential help line 781-513-6695) assists neighbors with heat, food, clothing and rent/mortgage; coordinates annual baby showers for Catholic Charities Lynn, sock drives, and coat and food drives supporting the Lynn Shelter Association, Haven from Hunger and My Brother's Table. Parishioners regularly serve at My Brother's Table in Lynn (contact Deacon Tom O'Shea). The Knights of Columbus Council meets Tuesday evenings at OLA Hall, and the parish hosts periodic Red Cross Blood Drives in the SMG Hall.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (help line 781-513-6695)
- Knights of Columbus
- My Brother's Table (Lynn)
- Red Cross Blood Drives
- Catholic in Recovery (Lazarus Center for Healing Shrine)
Pastoral Visitation Ministry
The Pastoral Visitation Ministry brings the Eucharist, performs Anointing of the Sick, and simply checks in on parishioners who are elderly, sick, or homebound. Coordinated through Kate McGrath, Pastoral Associate ([email protected] / 781-598-4313 x224).
- Visits to elderly, sick, and homebound parishioners
- Eucharistic ministry
- Anointing of the Sick
- Coordinator: Kate McGrath
Parish Staff & Clergy
Ave Maria Parish is served by Pastor Rev. Paul E. Ritt, Parochial Vicar Rev. Peter Pham, Priest in Residence Rev. Benjamin O. Madu, and Permanent Deacon Thomas O'Shea, along with a lay staff led by Pastoral Associate Kate McGrath. Communications, music, faith formation, and finance are staffed by named directors and coordinators listed below.
- Rev. Paul E. Ritt — Pastor (also Archdiocesan Co-Director of Ongoing Formation)
- Rev. Peter Pham — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Benjamin O. Madu — Priest in Residence
- Deacon Thomas O'Shea — Permanent Deacon
- Kate McGrath — Pastoral Associate
- Audrey Sullivan — Finance & HR Manager
- Gina Kolenda — Director of Liturgical Music
- Marie Lagman — Director of Media Ministry
- Jamie Bossi — Elementary Faith Formation Coordinator
- Robyn Yannone — Adolescent Faith Formation Coordinator
- Janine Sano — Administrative Assistant
Getting Involved
Beyond weekend Mass, Ave Maria parishioners are encouraged to deepen their faith and serve the community through liturgical, social, and outreach ministries. The parish bulletin (sign up at avemarialynnfield.org/bulletins for email delivery) is the main weekly hub for schedules, events, and ministry contacts.
- Liturgical ministries (choir, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Faith formation volunteers (children and adult)
- OCIA sponsor/team
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Knights of Columbus
- Pastoral Visitation Ministry
- Parish Pastoral Council & Finance Committee
Visit Us
Worship sites and the parish office are all in Lynnfield. The main parish office is at 17 Grove Street (M–Th 8 AM–4 PM; F 8 AM–12 noon). Our Lady of the Assumption Church is at 758 Salem Street, and Our Lady of the Assumption School is at 40 Grove Street. The parish invites all — 'no matter your present status in the Catholic Church… you belong to Christ and belong to us.'
- Parish Office: 17 Grove Street, Lynnfield, MA 01940 — (781) 598-4313
- Our Lady of the Assumption Church: 758 Salem Street, Lynnfield
- Saint Maria Goretti Church: 112 Chestnut Street, Lynnfield
- OLA School: 40 Grove Street, Lynnfield
- Website: avemarialynnfield.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James J. Mooney1937–
First resident pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption after it ceased being a mission of St. Joseph's, Wakefield.
- Monsignor John J. Linnehan
Pastor during the 1956 building program; opened Our Lady of the Assumption School in 1961, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.
- Rev. Paul E. Ritt2013–present
First pastor of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative (2013); became pastor of the merged Ave Maria Parish in 2020; also serves as Co-Director of Ongoing Formation for the Archdiocese of Boston.