About Sacred Heart · Lynn, Massachusetts
Sacred Heart Church, founded in 1894 in West Lynn, Massachusetts, is one half of today's merged Saint Mary of the Sacred Heart Parish, which was formed in July 2020 from the historic St. Mary's and Sacred Heart parishes. Originally established to serve the growing Catholic population in West Lynn, Sacred Heart became the home of Catholic schools (now part of St. Mary's School) and a center for immigrant communities, particularly Spanish-speaking newcomers. Today the parish is led by Rev. Daniel A. Zinger and offers Masses in both English and Spanish at Sacred Heart Church (579 Boston Street) and St. Mary's Church (8 South Common Street), along with weekday adoration, a parish school, faith formation for all ages, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It is part of the Archdiocese of Boston.
- Established
- 1894
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Daniel A. Zinger
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Saint Mary of the Sacred Heart is a bilingual, multi-church Catholic community that has welcomed new immigrant families for more than a century and today celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish offers a full sacramental life — daily Mass in two churches, regular confession, weekly adoration, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, OCIA for adults, and the anointing of the sick — along with a PreK–12 Catholic school, the St. Vincent de Paul Society serving neighbors in need, and an active Intercession Ministry that prays for parishioners' intentions. Whether you attend the 4:00 PM Saturday vigil at Sacred Heart Church on Boston Street or the Spanish-language Mass at St. Mary's, you'll find a family of disciples committed to growing in relationship with God and bringing the Gospel to Lynn.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 8:30 AM — Sacred Heart Church
- Friday 8:30 AM — Sacred Heart Church
- Tuesday 11:30 AM — St. Mary's Church
- Thursday 11:30 AM — St. Mary's Church
- Wednesday 5:30 PM — St. Mary's Church
- Saturday 9:30 AM — St. Mary's Church (immediately after the 9:00 AM Daily Mass)
- By appointment (call the Collaborative Office at 781-598-4907)
- Se atienden confesiones los sábados después de la Misa de 9:00 AM en la Iglesia Santa María o haciendo una cita llamando a la oficina.
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM — St. Mary's Church, followed by the 7:00 PM Spanish Mass
- First Friday 7:00 PM — 24-hour Adoration at Sacred Heart Church begins after the Friday evening Mass
History of Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Church was established in 1894 to serve the Catholics of West Lynn, who had been part of St. Mary's Parish until the population growth of Lynn's manufacturing boom made a separate church necessary. Father Dennis F. Sullivan was named first pastor on June 21, 1894, and his flock initially gathered for Mass in a cigar factory on Wyman Street while workers completed the basement church on Boston Street, which opened about two years later. The parish school on Robinson Street followed in 1902, staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (later, after 1930, the Sisters of St. Joseph), and the upper church was dedicated in 1912.
- Founded 1894 from the West Lynn portion of St. Mary's Parish
- First pastor: Father Dennis F. Sullivan (appointed June 21, 1894)
- Worship began in a cigar factory on Wyman Street
- Basement church on Boston Street opened c. 1896
- Sacred Heart Grammar School built on Robinson Street in 1902
- Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur taught at the school until 1930; Sisters of St. Joseph thereafter
- Upper church dedicated in 1912
Monsignor McDonnell and the Parish Center
The seventh pastor, Monsignor Francis J. McDonnell, recognized that a growing, active parish needed facilities beyond the church and school. He commissioned the Sacred Heart Parish Center — completed in 1969 — which housed classrooms, a kitchen, a gymnasium, a stage, and offices. When the original Robinson Street school building became too costly to maintain, the school was relocated to the McDonnell Center in 1989, which was renamed in the monsignor's honor.
- Parish Center completed in 1969
- Contained classrooms, kitchen, gym, stage, and offices
- Became the home of Sacred Heart School in 1989
- Renamed the Monsignor Francis J. McDonnell Center
The Lynn Catholic Collaborative and the 2020 Merger
In June 2013 Sacred Heart was paired with neighboring St. Mary's Parish to form the Lynn Catholic Collaborative, one of the first Phase I collaboratives launched by the Archdiocese of Boston under Cardinal Seán O'Malley's 'Disciples in Mission' pastoral plan. Father Brian L. Flynn was appointed first pastor and oversaw the writing of a Local Pastoral Plan focused on the New Evangelization, programs, vocations, and radical hospitality. In July 2020 the two parishes were canonically merged into a single parish — St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Parish — which today operates across two historic church buildings in Lynn.
- Collaborative formed June 2013 (one of the first Phase I collaboratives)
- Local Pastoral Plan written by a team appointed by Fr. Brian Flynn
- Parishes merged July 2020 into St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Parish
- Merged parish now serves both the Sacred Heart Church (Boston St.) and St. Mary's Church (South Common St.) worship sites
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and explains on its website that 'the Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ to help individuals in their spiritual life and to grow in holiness.' Detailed preparation is offered for First Confession (elementary-age children each fall), First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, OCIA for adult initiation, and Anointing of the Sick. First Confession classes are offered each fall and the parish welcomes adults who have never been to Confession to call the office for personal help.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Baptism
- Confession (Reconciliation)
- Confirmation
- First Communion / First Eucharist
- Holy Orders (vocations support)
- Marriage
- OCIA for adults
Faith Formation and Confirmation
Faith Formation is offered in both English and Spanish for children in Grades 1–8 and at the high-school Confirmation level. St. Mary's Children's Faith Formation meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays (Mass at 9:00 AM followed by formation 10:00–10:30 AM); Sacred Heart Children's Faith Formation meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays (formation 9:30–10:00 AM, then 10:00 AM Mass). Confirmation Preparation is a two-year program for Grades 7–11 (ages 12–16) with monthly parent talks by Fr. Dan Zinger; in May 2025 the Archdiocese of Boston changed the standard age of Confirmation to 8th grade, though the parish accommodates older students and adults who still need the sacrament.
- Children's Faith Formation Grades 1–8 (English and Spanish)
- Two-year Confirmation Preparation for Grades 7–11
- $90 per-family registration fee
- Contact: Michele Morin ([email protected]) and Chris Carmody ([email protected])
- Parent Talks with Fr. Dan Zinger on Friday evenings
- Adult Confirmation / OCIA by emailing Astrid Marroquin
Catholic School (St. Mary's Lynn, PreK–12)
Sacred Heart School has been educating Lynn children since 1902. In 2018 Sacred Heart School merged with St. Mary's Grammar School to form one PreK–12 Catholic school with a STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, math) focus, now branded as St. Mary's Lynn. Early childhood through Grade 5 continues at the Boston Street (former Sacred Heart) campus, Grades 6–8 at the Marian Division, and Grades 9–12 at St. Mary's High School, both on the Tremont Street campus.
- Sacred Heart Grammar School opened 1902
- 2018 merger into PreK–12 St. Mary's with STREAM curriculum
- PreK–5 at Boston Street campus (former Sacred Heart)
- Grades 6–8 at Marian Division, Tremont Street
- Grades 9–12 at St. Mary's High School, 35 Tremont Street, 781-595-7885
- Head of School: Dr. John F. Dolan
- Associate Head of School: David J. Angeramo
- School website: www.stmaryslynn.com
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul and the Intercession Ministry
Two St. Vincent de Paul conferences — one rooted in the Sacred Heart community and one in the St. Mary's community — provide direct aid to neighbors in material need across Lynn. The parish also operates an online Intercession Ministry where anyone can submit prayer requests to be lifted up by the prayer team.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Sacred Heart Conference: 781-592-3015
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — St. Mary's Conference: 781-599-6705
- Intercession Ministry — submit prayer requests through the parish website
- Text LYNNCATHOLIC to 84576 for parish news and updates
Parish Staff and Clergy
The merged parish is led by Rev. Daniel A. Zinger (Pastor) and served by Vicar Rev. Agnal Samy Arumai Selvam, HGN, along with three active deacons — Richard P. Field, Anthony J. Constantino, and David A. Barceleau — and Deacon Emeritus John Hardy. Former pastor Rev. Brian L. Flynn oversaw the Collaborative and the 2020 merger. The Collaborative office staff includes the Director of Finance & Operations, Director of Ministries, Coordinators of Faith Formation and Family Evangelization, and an Administrative Assistant, plus the school leadership team at St. Mary's.
- Pastor: Rev. Daniel A. Zinger
- Vicar: Rev. Agnal Samy Arumai Selvam, HGN
- Deacons: Richard P. Field, Anthony J. Constantino, David A. Barceleau; Deacon Emeritus John Hardy
- Director of Finance & Operations: Sharon Thurston
- Director of Ministries: Chris Carmody ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Faith Formation: Michele Morin ([email protected])
- Coordinator of Family Evangelization: Lisa Foley
- Administrative Assistant: Donna Faieta
- Head of School: Dr. John F. Dolan; Associate Head: David J. Angeramo
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
The Collaborative Office at 8 South Common Street, Lynn, is open Monday–Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the parish can be reached at 781-598-4907 (press 2 for Spanish) or [email protected]. The Sacred Heart office at 571 Boston Street is open Thursdays 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed — the parish invites everyone to 'join us in the Celebration of the Eucharist' and to encounter Christ in the Mass and in the people who greet them.
- Collaborative Office: 8 South Common Street, Lynn, MA 01902
- Sacred Heart Office: 571 Boston Street, Lynn, MA 01905
- Phone: 781-598-4907 / 781-593-8047
- Email: [email protected] (English) / [email protected] (Spanish)
- Website: www.lynncatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Dennis F. Sullivan1894–
First pastor, appointed June 21, 1894; parishioners first worshipped in a Wyman Street cigar factory.
- Monsignor Francis J. McDonnell
Seventh pastor; commissioned the Sacred Heart Parish Center (1969). The school building was renamed the Monsignor Francis McDonnell Center in 1989 when Sacred Heart School moved into it.
- Rev. Brian L. Flynn2013–
First pastor of the Lynn Catholic Collaborative (2013) and of the merged St. Mary of the Sacred Heart Parish (2020); oversaw the Local Pastoral Plan and the school merger.
- Rev. Daniel A. Zinger (Fr. Dan Zinger)
Current pastor; leads the merged parish together with Vicar Rev. Agnal Samy Arumai Selvam, HGN.