Our Lady of The Assumption Parish

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish

A Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Worcester serving the people of Millbury, Massachusetts from its historic church at 10 Waters Street. The parish is one of the two Millbury congregations that, on September 1, were merged into the new Saint Brigid and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, with Assumption Church continuing as an active place of worship alongside the Assumption School campus.

History of the Parish

Assumption traces its roots to the French-Canadian families who came to work in Millbury's mills and wanted their own priest. Father Joseph A. Charland celebrated the first French-Canadian Mass in the Millbury town hall on April 20, 1884, and the parish was formally established that year. Under Father Charland the people built their first church, completed in October 1886 and blessed in November. The first church, a Victorian Gothic frame structure with a side tower, was destroyed by fire in 1914; while the parish worshipped at St. Brigid's, a larger replacement — the present two-story, gable-end nave with clerestory and side aisles — was completed in 1916.

• 1833 — Father James Fitton celebrates Mass in Millbury for the first time.
• 1845 — Father Matthew Gibson begins regular Mass in the Millbury town hall.
• October 1, 1851 — Father Zepherin Lévesque appointed pastor; St. Brigid's Church dedicated the next day.
• April 20, 1884 — Father Joseph A. Charland celebrates the first French-Canadian Mass; Assumption established as a parish.
• 1884–1886 — First church built and blessed.
• January 1907 — Father Louis E. Barry appointed; in 1912 he buys land for a future parish school.
• January 15, 1915 — Father Joseph Octave Comtois appointed; leads rebuilding after the 1914 fire.
• 1914 — Original Assumption Church burns.
• 1916 — Present Assumption Church completed.
• September 1 (recent) — St. Brigid and Our Lady of the Assumption parishes officially merged into Saint Brigid and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a permanent deacon, a religious sister, and a team of lay staff who direct faith formation, music, youth ministry, community life, facilities, and administration.

• Rev. Daniel R. Mulcahy, Jr. — Pastor
• Rev. Mr. Ronald B. Buron, K.H.S. — Permanent Deacon; Facilities Manager; Safe Environment Coordinator
• Sister Jeanne Richard, S.A.S.V. — Pastoral Care Ministry Emerita
• Eloise Colasanto-Saia — Secretary
• Ronald Marlborough — Buildings and Grounds / Maintenance Director
• Gregory Bernard — Adolescent & Young Adult Faith Formation; Youth Ministry; Communications
• Deborah Riedle Blicharz — Children's Faith Formation; Community Life and Outreach
• Claudette Belair — Music Director

Sacramental Life

The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments, with a particular emphasis on Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation.

• Baptism — celebrated monthly; parents attend a preparation session; arranged through the parish office.
• Penance and Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM at St. Brigid Church or anytime upon request.
• Marriage — call the parish office at least one year in advance.
• Anointing of the Sick and Communion Calls — call the office when a parishioner is homebound, hospitalized, or in a nursing home or hospice; Holy Communion is brought to shut-ins on request.

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

The parish offers lifelong faith formation for children, adolescents, and adults. Children's Faith Formation is led by Deborah Riedle Blicharz, while Gregory Bernard directs adolescent and young adult faith formation, youth ministry, and parish communications. Classes take place on the Assumption Parish campus.

Music Ministry

The Music Ministry, directed by Claudette Belair, maintains its own website and serves both Assumption and St. Brigid parishes. It welcomes parishioners, choir members, visitors, and those selecting music for special occasions, and invites everyone to participate actively in the liturgical music of both parishes.

Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul operates a dedicated outreach line (774-276-8915) for parishioners and neighbors in need, embodying the Society's traditional ministry of home visits, emergency assistance, and friendship to the poor.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Ministry is coordinated by Sister Jeanne Richard, S.A.S.V., as Pastoral Care Ministry Emerita. The ministry supports parishioners who are homebound, hospitalized, or in nursing homes or hospice, arranging Anointing of the Sick and bringing Holy Communion to the sick and shut-ins upon request.

Assumption School

Assumption School, located at 17 Grove Street on the parish campus, is a PreK–8 Catholic elementary school with a long association with the parish. Land for the school was purchased by Father Louis E. Barry in 1912, and the school continues today under Principal Julie Olson. Families interested in enrollment may call the school office at 508-865-5404.

• Address: 17 Grove Street, Millbury, MA 01527
• Phone: 508-865-5404
• Principal: Julie Olson
• Grades: PreK through 8

Parish Office, Rectory & Contact

The combined parish of Saint Brigid and Our Lady of the Assumption operates from the historic St. Brigid campus while keeping Assumption Church active for worship. Office hours and contact information are published in the weekly parish bulletin.

• Our Lady of the Assumption Church — 10 Waters Street, Millbury, MA 01527
• Parish Office (mailing address) — 59 Main Street, Millbury, MA 01527 — 508-865-6624 — Fax 508-865-3101
• Office hours — Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–3:00 PM
• Rectory — 12 Waters Street, Millbury, MA 01527 — 508-865-2657
• St. Brigid Church — 59 Main Street, Millbury, MA 01527
• Assumption School — 17 Grove Street, Millbury, MA 01527 — 508-865-5404
• St. Vincent de Paul Outreach — 774-276-8915

Welcome at Assumption

The parish bulletin extends an open invitation: regardless of experience, marital status, personal history, background, or sexual orientation, all are invited, accepted, and respected at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to register with the parish using the downloadable registration form available on the parish website.