About Saint Bridget Church (Manchester Catholic Community) · Manchester, Connecticut
Saint Bridget Church (80 Main Street, Manchester, CT) is one of four worship sites that together make up Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, the unified Catholic community serving Manchester, Connecticut under the Archdiocese of Hartford. Established in 1869 by Father James Campbell — Manchester's first resident Catholic pastor — Saint Bridget is the oldest Catholic parish in town, born from the wave of Irish immigrants drawn to work at the Cheney silk mills. The current Main Street church was built and blessed by Bishop Michael A. Tierney in 1903, and Saint Bridget remains a vibrant center of daily and Sunday Mass, Catholic elementary education through Saint Bridget School, and a wide range of parish ministries shared with the Manchester Catholic Community.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- Saint Bridget of Kildare
- Rector
- Rev. Marcin P. Pluciennik
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
Saint Bridget Church is the historic heart of Catholic life in Manchester, CT, offering daily Mass Monday through Friday at 5:00 PM and a Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM in a century-old Main Street church. As part of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish — one unified Catholic community of four worship sites — Saint Bridget parishioners benefit from a robust Consortium of Catholic Elementary Schools (including Saint Bridget School, educating 600 children), a full sacramental life including weekday confessions, an active OCIA/RCIA process for those becoming Catholic, ChristLife small-group ministry, vibrant youth ministry, and a strong Social Ministry led by a dedicated staff team.
Mass times at Saint Bridget Church (Manchester Catholic Community)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 4:30–5:00 PM at Saint Bridget Church (before daily Mass)
Our Story & Parish History
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish was created through a decades-long unification of Manchester's Catholic parishes under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Today the parish proudly declares 'One Community. One Parish. One Mission. One Faith.' The story begins in 1869, when Father James Campbell — Manchester's first resident Catholic pastor — founded Saint Bridget Parish to serve the wave of Irish immigrants drawn by the Cheney silk mills. The cornerstone of Saint James Church was blessed in 1874, completed in 1876 under Father Daniel Haggerty, and the present Saint Bridget Church was built and blessed by Bishop Michael A. Tierney in 1903.
- 1869 — Father James Campbell establishes St. Bridget Parish
- 1874 — Cornerstone of St. James Church blessed
- 1876 — St. James completed; Father Daniel Haggerty named first resident priest
- 1903 — Present-day Saint Bridget Church blessed by Bishop Michael A. Tierney
- 1922 — St. James dedicates brick school and convent on Park Street
- 1954 — Church of the Assumption dedicated on Adams Street (made a parish in 1955)
- 1958 — St. Bartholomew Parish created from St. Bridget and St. James territories
- 1961 — Assumption School opens
- 1962 — St. Bartholomew church, school, and convent dedicated
- 1970 — St. Bartholomew school closed; building repurposed
- 2015 — Assumption School closes
- 2017 — St. James + Assumption unify; St. Bridget + St. Bartholomew unify as St. Teresa of Calcutta
- 2021 — St. Teresa of Calcutta and St. James parishes merge into one Catholic community
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for anyone exploring the Catholic faith — whether never baptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or already baptized Catholic but not yet confirmed. The OCIA team guides inquirers through a journey of learning, faith, and prayer alongside sponsors and fellow seekers, culminating in reception of the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.
- Open to those never baptized, baptized in another tradition, or baptized Catholic without Confirmation/Communion
- Includes catechesis, sponsor accompaniment, and parish community discernment
- Coordinator: Lorena Holland, Adult Ministries Coordinator (ext. 117, [email protected])
- Leader of Education: Rachel Bursiewicz (ext. 105)
Faith Formation & Small Groups
Parish life extends well beyond Sunday Mass through ChristLife, a small-group evangelization process geared to adults 18 and older, and a network of small Christian communities meeting throughout the week. Groups are designed to match people where they are in life — young professionals, new parents, caregivers, men, women, those grieving, and those seeking to grow deeper in Scripture.
- ChristLife (Discovering, Following, Sharing)
- RCIA Alumni group — one Monday a month at 7:00 PM
- Moms with Young Children — 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM
- Young Professional Women — every other Tuesday at 6:30 PM
- Men's and Women's faith-sharing groups
- Support Group for Caregivers of Those with Dementia
- Making Sense of the Bible Scripture study
- Grief groups and other age-specific gatherings
Youth Ministry
The parish's Youth Ministry celebrates and lives out the faith through youth group, service projects, movie nights, prayer events, and more throughout the year. Youth Group meets once a month in the evening for teens, combining games, food, faith and life discussion, and prayer, led by a peer-ministry team of high schoolers and supported by adult volunteers.
- Monthly evening youth group gatherings for teens
- Peer ministry team of high school students helps plan and run events
- Service projects, movie nights, and prayer events throughout the year
- Adult volunteer team supports every event
- Information and registration: contact parish youth minister Evan
Catholic Schools (Consortium of Catholic Elementary Schools)
Catholic elementary education is described by the parish as its largest ministry. Saint Bridget School and Saint James School together form the Consortium of Catholic Elementary Schools of Manchester, educating roughly 600 children in Pre-K through grade 8 with faith formation woven into the academic day. Mary Alice Nadaskay serves as Head of Catholic Schools, welcoming inquiries from prospective families.
- Saint Bridget School — Main Street campus
- Saint James School — under the Consortium
- Approximately 600 students across the consortium
- Faith formation and service projects integral to curriculum
- Contact: Mary Alice Nadaskay, Head of Catholic Schools — 860-812-7111
- Saint Bridget School phone: 860-649-7731
Music & Worship
The parish's Worship Team is led by Thomas Leone as Worship Team Leader, with Luke Scott serving as Leader of Music. Together they coordinate liturgical music across the parish's four worship sites, supporting congregational singing, choirs, cantors, and instrumentalists that enhance every weekend and daily liturgy.
- Worship Team Leader: Thomas Leone (ext. 114)
- Leader of Music: Luke Scott (ext. 106)
- Parish-wide coordination across Saint Bridget, Saint James, Saint Bartholomew, and Assumption
Social Ministry & Outreach
Inspired by the Gospel call to serve, the parish's Social Ministry team coordinates outreach, advocacy, and direct service to those in need — especially the most vulnerable. The parish mission statement commits the community to 'practice our faith through service, stewardship, and compassionate care' and to 'witness our faith through outreach, advocacy, and social action.' John Ryan leads Social Ministry for the parish.
- Leader of Social Ministry: John Ryan (ext. 104)
- Outreach, advocacy, and direct service to neighbors in need
- Parish mission: 'love, mercy, compassion, and justice'
- Coordinates with community partners and parish volunteers
Parish Staff & Leadership
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish is served by a large staff team organized into the Pastor's Team, Administration, Finances/Communications/Operations, Catholic Schools, Children/Youth/Adult Discipleship, and the Worship Team and Music Ministry. Father Marcin P. Pluciennik serves as Pastor, with Father Dominic Anaeto as Parochial Vicar and Father Edward Moran also in residence. Two permanent deacons — Deacon Ramon Guzman and Deacon Lee Larocque (Senior Status) — assist with ministry.
- Pastor: Rev. Marcin P. Pluciennik (ext. 101)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Dominic Anaeto (ext. 102)
- Rev. Edward Moran (ext. 103)
- Permanent Deacon Ramon Guzman
- Permanent Deacon Lee Larocque (Senior Status)
- Leader of Education: Rachel Bursiewicz (ext. 105)
- Leader of Music: Luke Scott (ext. 106)
- Leader of Communications: Robert Muirhead (ext. 107)
- Leader of Finances, HR and Operations: Nancy Lastrina (ext. 108)
- Leader of Staff: Mary Fitzpatrick (ext. 110)
- Head of Catholic Schools: Mary Alice Nadaskay (ext. 111)
- Worship Team Leader: Thomas Leone (ext. 114)
- Small Groups / ChristLife Coordinator: Lorena Holland (ext. 117)
- Leader of Social Ministry: John Ryan (ext. 104)
- 'PARISH 2030' Pastor's Advisors: Thomas Mazza, Robert Hoey
- Facilities Manager: Rich Yirga
- Parish Office Coordinator: Janessa Rivera
Visiting & Contact Information
The parish office for Saint Bridget Church is located at 80 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The main parish phone line is 860-643-2403 (fax 860-643-4129). The unified parish operates primarily through manchestercatholic.org and saintteresacatholic.org, with active presence on Instagram at @ManchesterCatholic.
- Parish office: 80 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042
- Office hours: M–Th 8:30 AM–3:30 PM; F 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Phone: 860-643-2403 | Fax: 860-643-4129
- Website: saintteresacatholic.org
- Instagram: @ManchesterCatholic
- Saint Bridget School phone: 860-649-7731
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Campbell1869
Manchester's first resident Catholic pastor; established St. Bridget Parish in 1869.