About Sacred Heart · Boston, Massachusetts
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1873 and part of the Archdiocese of Boston. Deeply rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, it is described on its official site as a diverse parish community that walks together to grow as a true Christian community, caring for one another and reaching out to those in need. The parish is currently administered by Fr. Paolo Cumin, FSCB, of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians), who also serve with three other confreres in residence. Sacred Heart is one of four historic Catholic parishes that served the 'Island Diocese' of East Boston, and today it welcomes parishioners from the former St. Mary Star of the Sea and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parishes as part of the Archdiocese's pastoral reconfiguration.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Paolo Cumin, FSCB (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Sacred Heart welcomes anyone looking for an English-language Roman Catholic community in East Boston with daily Mass, a robust Religious Education program, and active outreach including a St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter. The parish gathers around its patron, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and draws on a wide mix of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, with Confessions heard in English, Italian, and Spanish. It is also home to a community of Scalabrini Fathers (Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo) and offers parish families, young professionals, faith formation for children, and sacramental preparation—all in a neighborhood parish with deep roots going back to 1873.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
- Thursday: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Confessions heard in English, Italian, and Spanish
Parish History
Sacred Heart was founded in 1873 as the third Catholic church built in East Boston, after Most Holy Redeemer (the 'Island Diocese' mother church served by Father James Fitton) and Our Lady of the Assumption. Father Fitton purchased the land in 1869; ground was broken February 6, 1873, and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1873. Archbishop John J. Williams formally dedicated the church on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 12, 1874. The parish grew to include a rectory, an elementary school staffed first by the Sisters of Notre Dame (until 1911) and then the Dominican Sisters, and later a high school (1956). The 1965 fire that destroyed the church became a defining moment of community faith: parishioners rebuilt their church together and celebrated Christmas Mass in the new Sacred Heart Church in 1966. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023–2024.
Founding & Early Years
Rev. Lawrence P. McCarthy became the first pastor in 1877 and was succeeded in 1881 by Rev. Michael Clark, who built the rectory and a large brick schoolhouse. The Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school from the convent at Most Holy Redeemer until 1911, when a Sacred Heart convent was placed on Paris Street and the Dominican Sisters continued Catholic education in the parish.
The 1965 Fire and Rebuilding
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 30, 1965, a fire believed to have started in the boiler room destroyed the 93-year-old wooden Gothic church. While the church was rebuilt, the parish community worshipped weekly at St. John the Baptist Church on Saratoga Street. United in faith, parishioners raised the resources to rebuild, and a new Sacred Heart Church was ready in time for Christmas Mass in 1966.
Pastoral Succession
The parish has been served by a long line of priests beginning with Fr. Lawrence P. McCarthy (1877–1881) and Fr. Michael Clark (1881–1906). Mid-20th-century pastors included Fr. Charles Donahue, who oversaw 1946 renovations, and Fr. Laurence B. Killian, who arrived the same year and founded Sacred Heart High School. Fr. Vincent J. Piscitelli served from 1971 for 14 years and oversaw the 1973 merger of the elementary school with Our Lady of Mount Carmel School into the Community Center of Christian Education. Since 2020 the parish has been entrusted to the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians), with Fr. Paolo Cumin, FSCB, as Parish Administrator.
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Sacred Heart offers a daily English-language Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM, with Sunday Masses at 8:30 and 10:00 AM and a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM. Confessions are heard every morning Monday through Saturday from 8:30 to 9:00 AM, on Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, and on Saturday afternoons from 3:00 to 3:45 PM, with priests available in English, Italian, and Spanish. Weddings are scheduled by contacting the rectory at least six months in advance to begin marriage preparation.
Sunday Masses
Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM (English); Sunday 8:30 AM (English); Sunday 10:00 AM (English).
Daily Mass
Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM, in English.
Parish Staff & Scalabrini Community
The parish is administered by Fr. Paolo Cumin, FSCB, a priest of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo (the Scalabrinians), with Fr. Luis Hernandez, FSCB, serving as Vicar and Fr. Michele Benetti, FSCB, and Fr. Luca U. Brancolini, FSCB, in residence. Fr. Paolo, born in Trieste, Italy in 1973, was ordained in 2002 and spent ten years as a missionary in Taiwan before being assigned to the Boston FSCB mission. He previously served St. Clement Parish in Medford, the Beverly Catholic Collaborative, the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Voyage in South Boston, and Cristo Rey High School in Dorchester before being appointed Administrator of Sacred Heart in August 2020.
- Fr. Paolo Cumin, FSCB — Parish Administrator ([email protected], ext. 2)
- Fr. Luis Hernandez, FSCB — Vicar
- Fr. Michele Benetti, FSCB — In Residence
- Fr. Luca U. Brancolini, FSCB — In Residence
- Peter DeBilio — Business Manager (ext. 3)
- Lisa Heidkamp — Parish Secretary (ext. 1)
- Marcia Petrosino — Parish Secretary (ext. 1)
- Sue Albrigo — Religious Education Director (617-567-6509, [email protected])
- Steven Angelucci — Music Director
- Theresa Malionek — Communications & Social Media Coordinator
- Robert Casaletto — Principal, East Boston Central Catholic School ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs a parish Religious Education program directed by Sue Albrigo. The program prepares children of the parish for the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, and welcomes registration by parish families. The parish also supports East Boston Central Catholic School (EBCCS), the single Catholic elementary school serving East Boston today, with principal Robert Casaletto.
- Religious Education Office: 617-567-6509 / [email protected]
- East Boston Central Catholic School: https://ebccs.org — 617-567-7456
Parish Schools: A Brief History
An elementary school was built at Sacred Heart in 1881 by Father Michael Clark and was staffed first by the Sisters of Notre Dame (until 1911) and then by the Dominican Sisters. In 1956 Fr. Laurence B. Killian opened Sacred Heart High School, which operated for about a decade. The parish schools closed in the late 1960s, and in 1973 the elementary school merged with Our Lady of Mount Carmel School to form the Community Center of Christian Education. Today, East Boston Central Catholic School (EBCCS) is the single Catholic school serving the neighborhood.
Community Life & Outreach
Sacred Heart describes itself as 'a diverse parish community that walks together to grow as a true Christian community.' Outreach and fellowship are central to parish life. The parish hosts a monthly Family Gathering for couples and parents seeking to deepen their faith, and a monthly Work-from-Home (WFH) Luncheon that brings together young Catholic professionals for food, conversation, and formation at the Portside Building, 40 East Pier Drive, East Boston. A St. Vincent de Paul Society chapter (617-406-9103, Marianne Maruzzi) carries out the parish's works of charity to neighbors in need.
- Monthly Family Gathering
- Work-from-Home (WFH) Luncheon — young Catholic professionals
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 617-406-9103
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at Sacred Heart is directed by Music Director Steven Angelucci, working with the parish choir to support the parish's English-language Mass schedule and special celebrations throughout the liturgical year.
Sacraments
Beyond the regular celebration of the Eucharist and Confession, Sacred Heart prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) through the Religious Education program and welcomes couples preparing for Marriage. Couples are asked to contact the rectory at least six months before their desired wedding date to begin marriage preparation.
Visit, Register & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can register as members of Sacred Heart through the online Parish Registration form on the parish website. The Parish Office and Rectory are at 303 Paris Street, East Boston, MA 02128 (phone 617-567-5776, email [email protected]). Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 AM–1:30 PM. The church itself is at 45 Brooks Street, at the corner of Paris and Brooks Streets, within walking distance of MBTA bus stops on Bennington Street and a short walk from the Airport Blue Line station.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lawrence P. McCarthy1877–1881
First pastor of Sacred Heart Parish.
- Rev. Michael Clark1881–1906
Built the rectory and the large brick schoolhouse; Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the school.
- Rev. Charles Donahueto 1946
Undertook major renovations of the 72-year-old church in 1946; transferred that same year.
- Rev. Laurence B. Killianfrom 1946
Founded Sacred Heart High School.
- Rev. Vincent J. Piscitelli1971–c.1985
Served 14 years before retirement; in 1973 oversaw the merger of the elementary school with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School into the Community Center of Christian Education.
- Fr. Paolo Cumin, FSCB2020–present
Appointed Administrator in August 2020; member of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians).