About Our Lady of the Cape · Brewster, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Cape is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish in Brewster, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, served since its founding by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.). It belongs to the Diocese of Fall River and worships in two locations: the main church at 468 Stony Brook Road and the seasonal Immaculate Conception Chapel at 2580 Main Street (Route 6A) in East Brewster. Through worship, faith formation, music, charity and parish ministries, the community seeks to 'invite, evangelize and serve all people, making Christ known by sharing His reconciling love' — the missionary motto of the La Salettes put into local practice.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Cape (Notre-Dame-du-Cap)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Everton, M.S.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Cape is a welcoming, two-campus parish on Cape Cod that still lives the missionary spirit of the La Salettes who founded it — reconciling, hospitable, family-oriented. Whether you live year-round in Brewster, Dennis and Pleasant Lake or are summering on the Cape, you can plug into real, named ministries: a Thursday-morning Faith-Sharing Group, a weekly Bible study (currently working through Exodus), a parish Rosary-making circle, First Friday Adoration, a strong K-10 Religious Education program, a two-year Confirmation process, a Youth Ministry, the parish Thrift Shop, and a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference that operates a 24/7 help line for neighbors in need. With daily Mass Monday through Friday, multiple Sunday Masses in summer and winter, Saturday confession, Eucharistic Adoration and a 2004-expanded sanctuary anchored by a striking stained-glass window of Christ the Rock, this is a parish built for prayer, formation and outreach in equal measure.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Cape
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 – 3:45 PM (Church)
- During Lent and Advent: Saturday 3:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday: after 11:00 AM Mass until 7:00 PM
- During Lent and Advent: Wednesday after 8:00 AM Mass
Parish Identity and Mission
Our Lady of the Cape describes itself as 'a welcoming Catholic community served by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette.' Its stated mission is to 'invite, evangelize and serve all people, making Christ known by sharing His reconciling love' — language that deliberately echoes the La Salette charism of reconciliation. Two physical locations form the parish: the main church on Stony Brook Road (468 Stony Brook Road) and the seasonal Immaculate Conception Chapel on Route 6A in East Brewster (2580 Main Street).
- Two worship sites: Our Lady of the Cape Church (Stony Brook Road) and Immaculate Conception Chapel (Rt. 6A, seasonal)
- Serving Brewster, portions of Dennis and Pleasant Lake
- Staffed by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.)
- Member parish of the Diocese of Fall River
- Four parish symbols — fish (Christ), LaSalette cross (reconciliation), scallop shell (baptism), pineapple (hospitality) — placed on every door in 2004
Parish History
Catholic worship in Brewster began in 1907, when Fr. George McGuire received permission to build a church on Route 6A; it was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in August 1908, then enlarged over the decades (bell tower 1912, east wing 1931, vestry 1962, west addition completed 1975) and made a mission of St. Joan of Arc in Orleans in 1947. On April 19, 1961, Fr. Joseph A. Nolin, M.S. was named administrator of a new parish; ground was broken December 8, 1961, the parish was renamed Our Lady of the Cape, the first Mass was held in the new building July 12, 1962, the church opened December 14, 1962, and Bishop Connolly dedicated it July 14, 1963. The parish center was built in 1989, and a major expansion in 2004 grew the church by about fifty percent under Fr. Bernard Baris.
- 1907: Fr. George McGuire receives permission to build a church in Brewster
- 1908: Immaculate Conception dedicated on Route 6A
- 1944: La Salettes purchase the Nickerson Estate (today's Ocean Edge) for a seminary
- 1947: Immaculate Conception becomes a mission of St. Joan of Arc (Orleans)
- 1961: Fr. Joseph A. Nolin, M.S. named administrator of new parish
- 1962: First Mass in the new church (July 12); church opens at Midnight Mass (December 14)
- 1963: Solemn Blessing and Dedication by Bishop Connolly (July 14)
- 1965–66: Rectory built and dedicated
- 1989: Parish Center built, dedicated by Bishop Daniel Cronin (October 29)
- 2004: Major expansion under Fr. Bernard Baris (church grows from 14,605 to 21,853 sq ft)
Our Church Building and Architecture
The main church on Stony Brook Road is a mid-20th-century structure dramatically enlarged in 1989 (parish center) and again in 2004 (a roughly fifty-percent expansion of the sanctuary). Its most striking artwork is the large stained-glass window, based on Psalm 31 and built around the figure of Christ the Rock, with the rosa rugosa of the Cape dunes in the foreground and a piece of pure crystal representing Mary as Morning Star. The historic Immaculate Conception Chapel on Route 6A, dating to 1908, preserves a century of Cape Cod Catholic life and is now used seasonally.
- Stained-glass window: 'The Lord is my rock' — Psalm 31
- Rosa rugosa and Morning Star crystal in the window honor the Cape Cod and Marian identity
- 1989 Parish Center dedicated by Bishop Daniel Cronin
- 2004 expansion under Fr. Bernard Baris (~50% larger, 21,853 sq ft)
- Historic 1908 Immaculate Conception Chapel on Route 6A — seasonal
Religious Education and Sacraments
The Religious Education Program supports parents as the primary educators of their children, with weekly in-person classes for Preschool through Grade 8 held at 9:00–9:50 AM in the Parish Center so families can attend the 10:00 AM Mass together. First Reconciliation and First Communion are celebrated in the second grade (children must have completed Grade 1 first); older children seeking sacraments are accommodated. Confirmation is a two-year process beginning in Grade 9 and culminating when candidates are confirmed in Grade 10.
- Preschool–Grade 8 Religious Education, Sundays 9:00–9:50 AM at the Parish Center
- First Reconciliation — Grade 2
- First Communion — Grade 2 (next date listed: May 3, 2026)
- Confirmation I (Grade 9) and Confirmation II (Grade 10)
- Sacramental preparation for older children also offered
- 2026-2027 Faith Formation Calendar available for Grades K-10
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Cape is an ongoing ministry offering faith-sharing, Bible study, speaker series and retreats. Recent and current offerings include a four-session Bible study on the Book of Exodus (historical context, textual interpretation and lectio divina), the long-running Thursday-morning Faith-Sharing Group that prays and discusses the upcoming Sunday readings, and seasonal programming and retreats.
- Bible Study (currently working through Exodus) — Wednesdays 3:00 PM
- Faith-Sharing Group — Thursdays 8:45–10:00 AM
- Retreats and speaker series offered throughout the year
- Director of Faith Formation: Diane Rinkacs — [email protected], ext. 14
Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry at Our Lady of the Cape spans Preschool through High School, preparing students for their sacraments through the Religious Education Program and offering age-appropriate spiritual programming for older teens. Adults are served through the Bible study, retreats and seasonal programming in Adult Faith Formation.
- Youth Religious Education: Preschool through High School
- Sacramental preparation for youth through Religious Education program
- Adult programming: Bible studies, retreats, seasonal offerings
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Liturgical ministries and music carry the worship life of the parish. Kyle Davis serves as Director of Music and can be reached at [email protected] or ext. 29. The parish encourages participation in liturgical roles (greeters, lectors, extraordinary ministers, choir) and connects interested parishioners with each ministry leader through the parish office.
- Director of Music: Kyle Davis — [email protected], (508) 385-3252 ext. 29
- Contact the parish office at ext. 10 to be directed to a ministry leader
- Music ministry under the Liturgical Ministries umbrella
Service to Others — Outreach and Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of the parish and a direct expression of its La Salette missionary identity. The parish operates a long-running Thrift Shop (508-896-5377) and an active St. Vincent de Paul Society conference with its own Help/Hot Line at (508) 385-7582 for neighbors facing emergencies or financial hardship.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Hot Line (508) 385-7582
- Parish Thrift Shop — (508) 896-5377
- Service to Others and Community Building ministry categories
Parish Staff and Contact
The current pastor is Rev. Joseph Everton, M.S. (Fr. Joe), and he is assisted by Associate Pastor Rev. John Dolan, M.S. The parish is supported by a Director of Music (Kyle Davis), a Director of Faith Formation (Diane Rinkacs), a Director of Religious Education (Janet Rengucci) and a Bookkeeper (Paula Laliberte). Parish office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00–3:30 PM (closed 1:00–2:00 PM for lunch).
- Rev. Joseph Everton, M.S. — Pastor — [email protected] — ext. 11
- Rev. John Dolan, M.S. — Associate — [email protected] — ext. 12
- Kyle Davis — Director of Music — [email protected] — ext. 29
- Diane Rinkacs — Director of Faith Formation — [email protected] — ext. 14
- Janet Rengucci — Director of Religious Education — [email protected] — (508) 385-2115
- Paula Laliberte — Bookkeeper — [email protected] — ext. 28
- Parish Office: (508) 385-3252 — Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00–3:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph A. Nolin, M.S.1961–
Founding pastor; appointed Administrator by Bishop Connolly on April 19, 1961. Built the church and rectory; served from the La Salette seminary (now Ocean Edge) until the rectory opened in 1965.
- Fr. Henry Durand, M.S.
Second pastor of the parish.
- Fr. George Morin, M.S.
La Salette pastor.
- Fr. Roland Bedard, M.S.
La Salette pastor.
- Fr. René Gélinas, M.S.
La Salette pastor.
- Fr. René Caissey, M.S.
La Salette pastor.
- Fr. Richard Lavoie, M.S.
La Salette pastor.
- Fr. Bernard Baris, M.S.
La Salette pastor; oversaw the major 2004 expansion, instituted the four mission symbols (fish, LaSalette cross, scallop shell, pineapple) on every door.
- Fr. William Kaliyadan, M.S.
La Salette pastor.
- Fr. Paul Mandzuik, M.S.
La Salette pastor listed as 'presently serving' in the parish's own history page.
- Rev. Joseph Everton, M.S.
Current pastor.