About Our Lady Star of the Sea · Marblehead, Massachusetts
Our Lady Star of the Sea is the only Catholic parish in Marblehead, Massachusetts, situated on Atlantic Avenue within the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish serves the historic coastal town with a robust schedule of Masses, the Sacraments, faith formation, and a strong network of outreach ministries including the Marblehead Food Pantry (housed in its own Parish Center) and My Brother's Table in nearby Lynn. Under the pastoral leadership of Monsignor Timothy J. Moran — appointed in September 2020 by Cardinal Sean O'Malley — the parish combines deep North Shore Catholic roots with contemporary ministries like Centering Prayer, a Creation Care Team, and a gluten-free host program for parishioners with celiac disease. Its mission statement, published weekly in the parish bulletin, declares: 'We are one community moved by Faith, led by Hope and united in Charity, seeking, as a caring family, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.'
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- Our Lady, Star of the Sea
- Rector
- Monsignor Timothy J. Moran
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Star of the Sea is Marblehead's only Catholic parish, with a deep-rooted worship tradition, a daily 9:00 AM Mass (Monday-Saturday) and three Sunday Masses that make regular participation easy for parishioners and visitors alike. The parish lives out an active social apostolate — running the Marblehead Food Pantry out of its own Parish Center and being a founding supporter of My Brother's Table — alongside contemplative offerings such as Monday-morning Centering Prayer and a church open seven days a week from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM for personal prayer and adoration. Faith formation for all ages is coordinated by a full-time Director, supported by a parish school of music and an accommodating welcome that includes low-gluten hosts and a reserved socially-distanced section of the church.
Mass times at Our Lady Star of the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30-3:30 PM in the church
- By appointment at any reasonable time (contact the Rectory)
Adoration times
- Church is open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day for individual prayer, Adoration, Stations of the Cross, and the Rosary
About Our Lady Star of the Sea
Our Lady Star of the Sea is the only Catholic parish in Marblehead, Massachusetts, located at 85 Atlantic Avenue within the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish welcomes everyone, offering daily Mass, the Sacraments, faith formation for all ages, and an active social ministry. Its mission statement, repeated in each weekly bulletin, reads: 'We are one community moved by Faith, led by Hope and united in Charity, seeking, as a caring family, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ by reaching out in welcome to all: the young, the old, the stranger, and the neighbor.'
- 85 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead, MA 01945
- Parish Center: 80 Atlantic Avenue
- Rectory phone: 781-631-0086
- Wheelchair accessible
History of the Parish
Catholic families in Marblehead originally worshipped in Salem; a Reverend Shehan from Salem began visiting twice a year for confessions and Communion, holding services first at homes on Gover Square, then twice monthly at Anderson's Hall on Pleasant Street from 1854. The community raised $1,000 by 1857 to build its own church, purchasing land on Prospect Street and (interestingly) loaning part of the building fund to Roman Catholics in Gloucester. The first wooden Star of the Sea Church was completed on Prospect Hill by 1859, and Marblehead became its own parish in conjunction with Danvers in 1864. That church and a successor on Gregory/Atlantic Avenue both fell to fire, and the present stone church — built in an English parish-church style in the 1920s — has served the parish ever since. Sacramental records from 1865 forward survive in the Archdiocese of Boston's collection at American Ancestors.
- 1854: Twice-monthly Mass begins at Anderson's Hall
- 1857: Building fund raised; Prospect Street land purchased
- 1859: First Star of the Sea church built on Prospect Hill
- 1864: Marblehead constituted as its own parish
- 1872: Second church built after fire, also later lost to fire
- 1920s: Present stone English parish-church-style church built
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Monsignor Timothy J. Moran (ordained 1976, appointed to Star of the Sea in September 2020 by Cardinal Seán O'Malley), who in June 2026 celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Stephen Arinzechukwu Okoli, SMMM; Deacon Kris J. Larson; Senior Deacon John E. 'Joe' Whipple; and weekend assistants Rev. Timothy Kelleher and Rev. William T. Schmidt.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Timothy J. Moran
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Stephen Okoli, SMMM
- Deacon Kris J. Larson
- Sr. Deacon John E. 'Joe' Whipple
- Weekend Assistance: Rev. Timothy Kelleher
- Weekend Assistance: Rev. William T. Schmidt
Parish Office & Support Staff
Day-to-day operations and formation are carried out by a dedicated lay staff at the Rectory (85 Atlantic Ave) and the Parish Center (80 Atlantic Ave).
- Lynne Celli — Director of Faith Formation
- Matthew Arnold — Director of Music
- Jean Ranger — Office Manager
- Yvonne Verrette — Center Receptionist
- Jonathan Johnston — Facilities Manager
- Ivo Palavra — Facilities Assistant
- Linda Poehler — Business Manager / Accountant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Center at 80 Atlantic Avenue houses the Religious Education office under the direction of Lynne Celli. The program prepares children for the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation and includes an annual Vacation Bible School held during the last week of July (9:00 AM to Noon). For more information or to register, families may call 978-660-9511 or email [email protected].
- Religious Education Office: 80 Atlantic Ave, 781-631-8340
- Director: Lynne Celli
- Annual Vacation Bible School (late July)
Music Ministry
Liturgical music is directed by Matthew Arnold, Music Director, who can be reached at [email protected]. The music ministry enriches every Sunday Mass, holy day, and parish celebration with sacred song.
- Director of Music: Matthew Arnold
- Email: sosmusic (at staroftheseamarblehead.org)
Centering Prayer & Lectio Divina
A Centering Prayer group meets on Monday mornings immediately after the 9:00 AM Mass until 11:00 AM in the Parish Center. Members practice silent Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina — reading the Gospel four times to hear God's Word at a deeper level — and the group is open to all.
- Mondays after 9:00 AM Mass to 11:00 AM
- Parish Center
- Contact: Gail Kanarski (781-631-8296) or Grace Potier (781-631-9151)
Outreach Ministries
Outreach to those in need is central to the parish's identity. The Marblehead Food Pantry operates out of the Parish Center (80 Atlantic Ave); My Brother's Table in Lynn — co-founded by parishioner Nancy Ryan over 40 years ago — receives a batch of parish-cooked beef stew every other month; and the Caring Meals Ministry delivers hot meals to parishioners and others in crisis.
- Marblehead Food Pantry — Tuesdays 9 AM-12 noon, Thursdays 5-7 PM (Parish Center)
- My Brother's Table — beef-stew cooking every other month
- Caring Meals Ministry — meals delivered to parishioners in crisis
Parish Pastoral Council
Lay leadership is provided through the Parish Pastoral Council, which includes elected members serving three-year terms in collaboration with the pastor on the spiritual and temporal life of the parish.
- Three-year elected terms
- Works with Monsignor Moran on parish mission and governance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Rainoni
Succeeded founding priest Fr. Shehan; served Marblehead Catholics from Peabody; died 1875.
- Rev. Daniel S. Healey1875-
Took over after the death of Fr. Rainoni in 1875.
- Rev. Msgr. Timothy J. Moran2020-present
Appointed pastor in September 2020 by Cardinal Seán O'Mley; celebrating 50th anniversary of ordination in 2026.