About Saint James Church (Manchester Catholic Community) · Manchester, Connecticut
Saint James Church is one of four worship sites of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Manchester, Connecticut, a unified Catholic community formed in 2021 under the guidance of the Archdiocese of Hartford. The church building at 896 Main Street has stood since 1874/1876, making it one of the oldest Catholic landmarks in the town. Today the parish is led by Father Marcin P. Pluciennik (Pastor) and Father Dominic Anaeto (Parochial Vicar) and serves Catholics in Manchester through Mass, the sacraments, Catholic elementary education, social ministry, and a growing Bengali community.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Saint James
- Rector
- Rev. Marcin P. Pluciennik
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
Saint James offers a 140-plus-year-old Catholic worship tradition on Manchester's Main Street, with daily and weekend Masses and the sacrament of Confession available multiple days a week. As part of Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, members benefit from a consortium of Catholic elementary schools (Saint James School and Saint Bridget School, together educating about 600 children), a music ministry, social ministry outreach, faith formation, and a vibrant Bengali Catholic community. It is a parish where long-standing New England Catholic heritage meets the contemporary life of a unified multi-site community.
Mass times at Saint James Church (Manchester Catholic Community)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday, 7:30–8:00 AM at St. James Church
- Monday–Friday, 4:30–5:00 PM at St. Bridget Church
- Saturday, 2:00–3:30 PM at St. James Church
Our Story
The Manchester Catholic community's roots reach back to the mid-1800s, when Irish immigrants came to work at the Cheney silk mills. St. James Church's cornerstone was blessed in 1874; the building was completed and blessed, with its first resident priest Father Daniel Haggerty, in 1876. Through the 20th century the parish founded schools and helped plant new parishes (Assumption in 1954/55 and St. Bartholomew in 1958). A 2017 partial merger created St. James Parish from St. James and Assumption; in 2021, that parish and the Parish of St. Teresa of Calcutta united as the present Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish — One Community. One Parish. One Mission. One Faith.
Saint James Church
Saint James Church is the historic Main Street worship site of the parish, located at 896 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040. It has hosted Catholic worship continuously since its dedication in 1876 and is now one of four churches in the unified Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish.
- Address: 896 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040
- Established: 1874 (cornerstone) / 1876 (blessed)
Pastoral Team
The parish is led by a Pastor supported by a Parochial Vicar, a deacon, and lay leaders for music, education, and social ministry.
- Rev. Marcin P. Pluciennik — Pastor
- Rev. Dominic Anaeto — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Ramon — Parish Deacon
- Luke Scott — Leader of Music (Senior Status)
Consortium of Catholic Elementary Schools
Catholic elementary education is the largest single ministry of the parish. Saint James School and Saint Bridget School form a consortium that educates approximately 600 children, combining strong academics with faith formation and service projects. Families interested in enrollment are invited to contact the Head of Schools.
- Saint James School — 896 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040
- Saint Bridget School — 80 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042
- Approximately 600 students across both schools
- Head of Schools: Mary Alice Nadaskay (860-812-7111)
Ministries & Outreach
Beyond the schools, Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish — of which Saint James Church is a part — supports a range of ministries serving parishioners and the wider Manchester community, including a music ministry, a social ministry, faith formation, and a Bengali Catholic community alongside other parish activities.
- Music Ministry
- Social Ministry
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
- Bengali Catholic Community
- Parish Activities & events
Sacraments & Pastoral Services
The parish office helps families prepare for and celebrate the sacraments and other rites. Weddings and funerals are scheduled through the parish office, and baptism typically requires parish-based preparation.
- Baptism preparation and celebration
- Weddings
- Funerals
Locations (All Four Worship Sites)
Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish worships at four historic church sites across Manchester, Connecticut.
- Saint James Church — 896 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06040 (Est. 1874)
- Church of the Assumption — 27 Adams Street S, Manchester, CT 06040 (Est. 1955)
- Saint Bridget Church — 80 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042 (Est. 1869)
- Saint Bartholomew Church — 736 Middle Turnpike E, Manchester, CT 06040
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, and the parish welcomes first-time visitors through a dedicated page on its website.
- Parish Office: 80 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042
- Phone: 860-643-2403 (Fax: 860-643-4129)
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.saintteresacatholic.org