About Our Lady of the Rosary · Worcester, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Rosary is a Catholic parish in Worcester, Massachusetts that marked its 100th anniversary in October 2011. It is a small, tight-knit community church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, currently pastored by Father Patrick (Fr. Pat) Hawthorne, with Deacon John LeDoux and Sister Irene Moran (Director of Religious Education) on staff. The parish is known for its long tradition of outreach and service to those in need, and offers weekly Mass, devotions, a Catholic DVD library, and an array of parish ministries including prayer shawls, food collection, and Respect Life work. Its physical plant includes the church itself and a parish center (the Father Riley Center) across the parking lot.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rector
- Father Patrick J. Hawthorne
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Rosary is a small, personable parish in Worcester where the pastor, deacon, and sisters know parishioners by name and where faith formation is hands-on. The parish lives out its long-standing reputation for service — feeding Dismas House residents twice a month, stocking the St. Joan of Arc food pantry, knitting prayer shawls, supporting Visitation House, and sponsoring the Wounded Warrior Project. There are also social opportunities for every age: an Adult Drop-In every Monday morning with coffee and cribbage in the parish center, and a free Youth Drop-In for grades K–8 with moon walks, karaoke, and games. Weekday and Sunday Masses are celebrated in an intimate setting, with the Rosary prayed aloud before weekend Masses and the Sacrament of the Sick offered the first Saturday of each month.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:20 PM
- By appointment with Fr. Pat
Welcome from the Pastor
On the parish homepage, Father Patrick J. Hawthorne extends a personal welcome. 'If you have come to this page, you are either searching for information about Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Worcester, Massachusetts OR you are looking for a parish church to join in the area. In either case, I hope you find what you are looking for,' he writes, recalling the Gospel scene where Jesus invites seekers to 'Come and see.' He invites visitors to come and see if Our Lady of the Rosary is the worshiping, serving, and belonging community they are seeking.
Parish History & Legacy
Our Lady of the Rosary marked its 100th anniversary on October 2, 2011. The parish grew up around a Franco-American community in Worcester and is indelibly linked to Father Richard F. Riley, who served as pastor for 49 years — from the 1920s until his death in 1970. He is remembered as a 'missionary' pastor who preached in both French and English, and who cared for parishioners with quiet, subtle generosity. Msgr. Francis Scollen, who grew up in the parish, reflected at the anniversary Mass that 'Our Lady of the Rosary was more than a neighborhood church… it was also a place to learn about God and to learn about his way of living.' The parish's identity as a community known for service to others has been a through-line from its founding through today.
- Parish founded: 1911 (100th anniversary celebrated Oct. 2, 2011)
- Father Richard F. Riley: pastor 1920s–1970 (49 years)
- Father Riley Center named in his honor across the parking lot
- 100th anniversary Mass concelebrated by Bishops McManus, Reilly, and Rueger
Devotions & Liturgical Life
The parish has a strong Marian identity, fitting for a church named in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. Before weekend Masses, a recording of the Rosary is played in the church, and all are invited to join in praying along. The Sacrament of the Sick is offered the first Saturday of each month, immediately after the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass, and is available to anyone who feels a need — physical, spiritual, or emotional — not only those facing imminent danger of death. A Catholic DVD lending library is offered free of charge, signed out after weekend Masses.
- Recording of the Rosary: Saturday 3:30 PM and Sunday 7:00 AM
- Sacrament of the Sick: First Saturday after the 4:00 PM Mass
- Catholic DVD Library — free, one-week loans
- Holy Day Masses: As announced
Sacraments
The parish website's Sacraments page sets out the basic arrangements for each sacrament. Baptism is usually celebrated on Sundays at noon but can be flexible; at least one godparent must be a baptized, confirmed, and practicing Catholic. Couples are asked to contact Fr. Hawthorne one full year before their anticipated wedding date, with the date confirmed at the parish before other arrangements are made. Confession is available Saturday afternoons or by appointment, and the Sacrament of the Sick is offered monthly — or any time on request.
- Baptism — Sundays at noon; schedule with Fr. Pat
- Penance — Saturdays 3:00–3:20 PM or by appointment
- Marriage — contact Fr. Hawthorne one year in advance
- Sacrament of the Sick — first Saturday monthly, after the 4 PM Mass; on request
- First Holy Communion (Eucharist Program) — annual celebration
Outreach & Service Ministries
Outreach is the heart of Our Lady of the Rosary's identity. Msgr. Scollen said at the 100th anniversary that 'Our Lady of the Rosary is known for our service to other people,' and that reputation is carried on today. Communion Ministers bring the Eucharist to the homebound. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls and lap-blankets for those who are ill, grieving, facing surgery, or in difficult times. The parish hosts a monthly food collection that has donated over 17,000 items in four years to the St. Joan of Arc food pantry.
- Communion Ministers — homebound visits (contact Fr. Pat or Sr. Irene)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — each stitch a prayer (contact Anita Kelley, 508-852-7708)
- Monthly Food Collection — for St. Joan of Arc food pantry
- Respect Life Ministry / Visitation House — annual Baby Bottle Drive Mother's Day to Father's Day
- Dismas House Ministry — meal preparation twice monthly on Wednesday evenings (contact Liz Bibaud, 508-853-3827)
- Wounded Warrior Project — parish sponsorship
- Christmas Giving Tree — gifts coordinated with Urban Missionaries
Parish Life & Community
Beyond liturgy and outreach, Our Lady of the Rosary has built in regular social times for both adults and youth. The Adult Drop-In runs every Monday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the parish center, with coffee, tea, and hot cocoa, plus space to knit, play cards, cribbage, scrabble, or just talk. The Youth Drop-In for students in grades K–8 fills the parish center with video games, giant Jenga and Connect-Four, karaoke, ball games, two giant moon walks, Simon electronic games, a foosball table, and an air hockey table — with hot dogs, snacks, and drinks. Both are free and open to all, not just parishioners.
- Adult Drop-In: Mondays 10:00 AM–1:00 PM — coffee, tea, cocoa; cards, cribbage, scrabble, knitting
- Youth Drop-In (Grades K–8): moon walks, karaoke, video games, foosball, air hockey, hot dogs & snacks
- Father Riley Center — gathering space across the parking lot from the church
Religious Education / Faith Formation
Faith formation at Our Lady of the Rosary is led by Sr. Irene Moran, the parish's Director of Religious Education. The parish runs a Eucharistic Program preparing children for First Holy Communion, with the most recent First Communion celebrated on May 18, 2025. Sr. Irene also assists with the Sacrament of the Sick ministry and supports families arranging for First Communion and other faith milestones.
- Director of Religious Education: Sr. Irene Moran
- Eucharist Program (First Holy Communion preparation)
- Most recent First Communion: May 18, 2025
Parish Staff
Our Lady of the Rosary is a smaller parish with a tight-knit staff. Father Patrick J. Hawthorne serves as Pastor. Deacon John LeDoux assists with liturgy and parish life. Sister Irene Moran is the Director of Religious Education. Rose Charpentier and Brenda O'Brien serve as Parish Secretaries and handle parish communications and office needs.
- Father Patrick (Pat) J. Hawthorne — Pastor
- Deacon John LeDoux
- Sr. Irene Moran — Director of Religious Education
- Rose Charpentier — Parish Secretary
- Brenda O'Brien — Parish Secretary
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The church sits at 23 Fales Street, Worcester, MA 01606, and the Father Riley Center (parish center) is across the parking lot. Messages can be sent through the website's contact form (selecting General Contact, Father Hawthorne, or Brenda O'Brien).
- Address: 23 Fales Street, Worcester, MA 01606-2095
- Phone: 508-853-1640
- Fax: 508-853-2426
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Website contact form via olr.weconnect.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Richard F. Riley1920s–1970
Legendary pastor who served the parish for 49 years — nearly half the parish's first century. A 'missionary' to a Franco-American community, preaching in both French and English. Originally traveled to the parish by trolley, later by horse and buggy. Died in 1970. The parish's parish center is named the Father Riley Center in his honor.
- Father William Sanders
Pastor at the time of the parish's 100th anniversary Mass in October 2011.