About Saint Ann · Raynham, Massachusetts
Saint Ann's Parish is a family-oriented Catholic community of faith serving the people of Raynham, Massachusetts since 1960. Located at 675 North Main Street, the parish is part of the Diocese of Fall River and is committed to sharing the Gospel, worshiping together in the sacramental life of the Church, and serving the wider community. With a wide variety of ministries, faith formation programs for children and adults, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a strong music program, St. Ann's offers many opportunities for growing in discipleship and deepening the Catholic faith.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- Saint Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew F. Laird (Fr. Matt)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Ann's is a multi-generational Catholic family in the heart of Raynham that takes its worship, formation, and service seriously. Three Sunday Masses, a daily 7:30 AM Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a vibrant OCIA process, Faith Formation from Grade 1 through Confirmation, Adult Faith Formation using the Symbolon series, and a long list of parish ministries make it easy for anyone — single, married, parent, retiree — to plug in and grow as a disciple.
Mass times at Saint Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM (also listed as 3:00–3:45 PM on third-party sites)
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Wednesday: 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM (also listed as 5:00–6:00 PM)
- Other times available by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- First Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
History of St. Ann's Parish
Founded in 1960 by Bishop James L. Connolly from territory belonging to St. Mary's in Taunton, St. Ann's has grown over six decades from a congregation meeting in Gilmore Hall to a thriving parish with its own church (dedicated July 16, 1961), a 42-acre campus at Center and North Main Streets, and a busy parish center built in 1989 under Father Shovelton. Nine pastors have shepherded the community, with the parish center debt retired in 2004 and a rich calendar of ministries, devotions, and faith formation programs in place today.
- Established June 7, 1960 by Bishop James L. Connolly
- First Mass at Gilmore Hall on Broadway, June 19, 1960
- Church construction began July 26, 1960 (Feast of St. Ann); dedicated July 16, 1961
- Parish center built 1989 under Father Shovelton
- Parish center debt retired ahead of schedule in November 2004
- Fr. Matthew Laird installed as ninth pastor on July 26, 2025 (Feast of St. Ann)
Parish Staff
St. Ann's is served by a small pastoral and administrative team led by Pastor Fr. Matthew Laird and Parish Deacon Deacon Joseph McGinley.
- Fr. Matthew Laird — Pastor ([email protected]; ext. 4)
- Deacon Joseph McGinley — Parish Deacon
- Joan Lynn — Faith Formation Coordinator / Director of Religious Education (ext. 2)
- Michelle Paul — Secretary (ext. 3)
- Lisa LeBlanc — Bookkeeper / Office Assistant
- Frank Wilhelm — Director of Music
Devotions
Daily and weekly devotions are woven into parish life at St. Ann's, complementing the Mass and Adoration schedule.
- Rosary — Monday–Friday 8:00 AM; Saturdays 8:30 AM (First Saturday Rosary)
- Divine Mercy Chaplet — First Friday at 3:00 PM
- First Friday Adoration extended to 8:00 PM
Youth Faith Formation
Faith Formation is led by Director of Religious Education Joan Lynn ([email protected]). The program serves children in Grades 1 through Confirmation, with First Communion and Confirmation each running as two-year programs. Class options include Sunday morning (9:15–10:45) or Monday evening (5:15–6:45) for Grades 1–7, with homeschool classes available for Grades 3–7.
- Grades 1–7: Sunday morning or Monday evening classes
- Confirmation 1 (Grade 8): Monday evenings 5:30–7:00 PM
- Confirmation 2 (Grade 9): Sunday mornings, beginning 9:30 AM with Mass at 10:00 AM
- Tuition: $60/child in person; $50/child homeschool; $150 family cap
- Children of catechists and office assistants attend tuition-free
- Payment accepted via cash, check, WeShare, or Venmo
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation at St. Ann's uses the Symbolon video series — a systematic presentation of the Catholic faith. In 2025–2026 the parish is working through Part 2: Living the Faith, meeting in the church basement on Monday nights from 5:30–6:45 PM following the Religious Education calendar.
- Hosted by Karen Toste
- No cost — open to drop-ins
- Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained, Part 2
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is the parish's process for adults who wish to learn about and enter the Catholic Church, or for already-baptized Catholics seeking First Reconciliation, First Communion, or Confirmation. Meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the parish hall on Tuesday evenings during the academic year.
- Open to the unbaptized, baptized Christians exploring Catholicism, and Catholics completing their sacraments
- Team-led discussions with a volunteer OCIA team
- Uses 'This Is Our Faith' catechism and the Symbolon video series
- Recommended reading: Michael Pennox's OCIA guide
Baptisms at St. Ann's
Baptisms are typically celebrated on the first three Sundays of the month at 11:30 AM, with baptisms performed by visiting clergy scheduled on Sundays at 1:30 PM. Parents begin by contacting Fr. Matt or Deacon Joe, who will arrange a brief introductory meeting. Baptisms are normally performed by Fr. Matt or Deacon Joe, who alternate weekends.
- Baptisms: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays at 11:30 AM
- Visiting clergy baptisms: Sundays at 1:30 PM
- At least one practicing Catholic godparent required (age 16+, fully initiated, validly married in the Church)
- A non-Catholic baptized Christian may serve as a Christian Witness
- Sponsor certificates from the godparent's own parish must be submitted before a baptismal date is set
Parish Festival & Community Life
The Parish Festival was established during Father Davignon's tenure to help pay for the new parish center and has continued as a beloved annual gathering. The parish center itself — built in 1989 with 14 classrooms, religious education offices, a meeting room with kitchenette, and a large hall with full-service kitchen — remains the hub of parish life.
- Annual Parish Festival
- Parish center built 1989
- Parish center debt retired November 2004
Contact & Visit
St. Ann's Parish is located at 675 North Main Street in Raynham. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (closed on holidays), and can be reached at (508) 823-9833 or [email protected]. Livestreamed Masses are available on Facebook and YouTube for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 675 North Main Street, Raynham, MA 02767
- Phone: (508) 823-9833
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Livestream: Facebook & YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Leo T. Sullivan1960–1969
First pastor; built the church (dedicated July 16, 1961). Transferred to Holy Name Parish, New Bedford.
- Rev. William E. Farland1969–1974
Second pastor. Transferred to St. Joseph's Parish, Taunton.
- Rev. Gerald T. Shovelton1974–1991
Third pastor. Oversaw rapid growth of religious education and built the parish center (1989). Transferred to Holy Trinity Parish, West Harwich.
- Rev. Philip A. Davignon1991–2000
Fourth pastor; previously at Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket. Established the Parish Festival.
- Rev. Michael K. McManus2000–2012
Fifth pastor. Retired parish center debt four years ahead of schedule (2004). Left in 2012 to become Moderator of the Curia / Diocesan Chancellor.
- Rev. John Murray2012–2021
Sixth pastor. Transferred August 18, 2021 to St. Mary's Parish, Nantucket Island.
- Rev. James Fitzpatrick2021–2023
Seventh pastor. Previously pastor of St. Bernard's Parish, Assonet, MA.
- Rev. David A. Pignato, V.P.2023–2024
Eighth pastor while remaining Vicar for Priests; previously pastor of St. Julie Billiart, Dartmouth and chaplain of Bishop Stang. Left April 2024 for Ave Maria School of Law, Florida.
- Rev. Matthew F. Laird2024–present
Parochial Administrator from June 19, 2024; installed as ninth pastor on July 26, 2025 (Feast of St. Ann) by Bishop da Cunha. Ordained June 2022 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River.