About St. Agnes · Middleton, Massachusetts
St. Agnes Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 22 Boston Street in Middleton, Massachusetts, part of the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish is partnered with neighboring St. Rose of Lima Parish in Topsfield to form a collaborative known as 'St. Agnes and St. Rose of Lima Parishes,' sharing clergy, staff, and offices. Under the pastoral leadership of Father Daniel F. Hennessey and two parochial vicars, St. Agnes offers Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, daily weekday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and youth, OCIA for adults, and a long-running Tuesday Bible study. The parish serves the Tri-Town area of Middleton, Topsfield, and surrounding communities with a strong emphasis on sacraments, Scripture, family ministry, and outreach to those in need.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Agnes of Rome
- Rector
- Father Daniel F. Hennessey
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Agnes welcomes Catholics and newcomers to a faith community rooted in the Eucharist, Scripture, and family life. Parishioners gather for a Sunday 11:00 AM Mass with Children's Liturgy, a long-running Tuesday Bible study led by Sister Mildred (over 15 years in continuous operation), Thursday Eucharistic Adoration, and Saturday confessions. The parish invests deeply in the next generation through PreK–Grade 8 faith formation, Confirmation preparation, a Bible Prayer Group for teens and young adults, and family ministry coordinated around Baptism and First Communion. A spirit of outreach is visible in monthly volunteer meal preparation supporting Bread & Roses in Lawrence, plus simple fellowship like weekly Coffee & Donuts after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass — all reasons to belong to or visit St. Agnes.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (St. Agnes)
- Thursday 9:45–10:30 AM (St. Agnes, combined with Adoration)
- By appointment — call Fr. Dan or Fr. Karlo at (978) 887-5505
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:45–10:30 AM (St. Agnes)
Parish History & Identity
St. Agnes Parish traces its roots to the mid-1940s, with the IRS recording a ruling date of March 1946 for the parish as a religious charitable organization. The first St. Agnes Church was built on Boston Street and dedicated on April 17, 1948, with Cardinal Cushing taking part in the dedication ceremonies. The parish grew to serve the Catholic faithful of Middleton and the surrounding Tri-Town area. Today, St. Agnes shares a collaborative partnership with neighboring St. Rose of Lima Parish in Topsfield, operating under the unified name 'St. Agnes and St. Rose of Lima Parishes' with shared clergy, staff, offices, and bulletins.
- IRS ruling date: March 1946
- First church dedicated: April 17, 1948
- Cardinal Cushing participated in the dedication
- Collaborative partner: St. Rose of Lima Parish, Topsfield, MA
Pastoral Team & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Father Daniel F. Hennessey, supported by two Parochial Vicars — Father Karlo Hocurscak and Father Maiyele Njuakom Romaric, who joined the collaborative in August 2023 from the Archdiocese of Bamenda in Cameroon after completing a master's in Spiritual Direction at Merrimack College. A collaborative office staff of administrative, faith formation, and ministry coordinators supports both St. Agnes and St. Rose of Lima Parishes.
- Pastor: Father Daniel F. Hennessey ([email protected], ext. 105)
- Parochial Vicar: Father Karlo Hocurscak ([email protected], ext. 102)
- Parochial Vicar: Father Maiyele Njuakom Romaric ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Monica Medeiros Solano (ext. 101)
- Business Manager: Janine Castro
- Confirmation Coordinator: Susan Saumsiegle
- Faith Formation Grades 3–8 Coordinator: Melisa Hughes
- First Communion (PreK–Grade 2) Coordinator: Erica Yanchus
- Baptism & Family Ministry Coordinator: Lauren Sullivan
- Sacristan (St. Agnes): Scott Saulnier
- Facilities: Eric D'Agostino
- Webmaster: Brian Curley
- Natural Family Planning Practitioner: Eileen Wood (978-500-1771)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The collaborative faith formation program serves children from PreK through Grade 8 and high-school-aged youth preparing for Confirmation. Erica Yanchus coordinates the PreK–Grade 2 program that prepares children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist for the first time. Melisa Hughes coordinates Grades 3–8, helping students deepen their faith and live it out. Susan Saumsiegle coordinates Confirmation preparation for high schoolers and is a lifelong parishioner of St. Rose of Lima.
- PreK–Grade 2 — First Communion preparation (Erica Yanchus)
- Grades 3–8 — ongoing catechesis (Melisa Hughes)
- Confirmation — high school program (Susan Saumsiegle)
- OCIA — adult initiation and formation for inquirers and uncatechized Catholics
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults who are not Catholic, Christians exploring the Catholic faith, those discerning a call to Catholicism, and adult Catholics who have never received First Communion or Confirmation are invited to join the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The parish office encourages inquirers to call or email Father Dan to begin the conversation, with no prior decision required to start the first phase of OCIA.
- For non-Catholics exploring the faith
- For Christians learning more about Catholicism
- For adults seeking First Communion or Confirmation
- Contact: Father Dan at (978) 774-1958
Bible Study & Scripture
St. Agnes has hosted a Tuesday Bible Study for over 15 years, led by Sister Mildred, meeting in the downstairs hall after the 9:00 AM Mass. The group focuses on the upcoming Sunday's readings and is open to anyone who can come, even occasionally. The parish also runs a Bible Prayer Group for teens (ages 13–17) and young adults (ages 18–25) every other Monday from 7:15 to 8:15 PM at St. Rose Hall, with pizza and drinks provided and led under the guidance of Youth Chaplain Fr. Romaric.
- Tuesday Bible Study — after 9:00 AM Mass in the downstairs hall (Sister Mildred, 15+ years)
- Bible Prayer Group for Teens (13–17) — every other Monday 7:15–8:15 PM at St. Rose Hall
- Bible Prayer Group for Young Adults (18–25) — same schedule at St. Rose Hall
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, the parish offers a rich devotional life including Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday mornings at St. Agnes, the Friday Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed in the presence of a relic of St. Faustina at St. Rose, an MMP Rosary Cenacle on Thursday mornings, and a weekly Holy Hour combining the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Stations of the Cross. Coffee and Donuts are offered after the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass at St. Agnes as a sign of parish fellowship.
- Eucharistic Adoration — Thursday 9:45–10:30 AM (St. Agnes)
- Divine Mercy Chaplet with relic of St. Faustina — Friday 3:00 PM (St. Rose)
- MMP Rosary Cenacle — Thursday 11:30 AM–1:00 PM (St. Rose Parish Hall)
- Holy Hour (Divine Mercy + Stations) — Friday 3:00 PM (St. Rose)
- Coffee & Donuts — after Sunday 11:00 AM Mass (St. Agnes)
Outreach & Charity
St. Agnes parishioners live the call to serve those in need through regular charitable outreach. Volunteers from the parish prepare meals monthly to support Bread & Roses in Lawrence, Massachusetts, an organization that provides free, nutritious meals and groceries to individuals and families in the Merrimack Valley facing food insecurity, while promoting dignity and respect through emergency pantries, food rescue, and educational workshops. The parish also takes up annual special collections to benefit Bread & Roses.
- Bread & Roses (Lawrence, MA) — monthly volunteer meal preparation
- Special Collections — annual second collection to benefit Bread & Roses
- Prayer for the Sick — weekly bulletin list of parishioners and loved ones
Sacraments
St. Agnes celebrates the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church in collaboration with St. Rose of Lima. Baptism is coordinated through the Baptism & Family Ministry office, First Communion is prepared through the PreK–Grade 2 faith formation program, and Confirmation is prepared through the high school program. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons and Thursday mornings (with Adoration). Marriages and the Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office, and OCIA welcomes adults seeking full initiation.
- Baptism — Baptism & Family Ministry Coordinator
- First Communion — PreK–Grade 2 program
- Confirmation — high school program
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM and Thursday 9:45–10:30 AM
- Marriage / Anointing of the Sick — by request to parish office
New Members & Parish Registration
Newcomers to the Tri-Town area and those who have recently found their way to St. Agnes are warmly welcomed to register as parishioners through the parish website. The online form allows selection of either 'St Agnes Parish, Middleton' or 'St Rose of Lima Parish, Topsfield' from the Organization dropdown. The parish encourages newcomers to get involved as a way of meeting neighbors and getting to know the local Catholic community.
- Online parish registration at agnesandrose.org
- OCIA inquiries welcomed through the parish office
- Phone: (978) 774-1958 — Monday–Thursday 9 AM–4 PM, Friday 9–11 AM
Visiting the Parish
St. Agnes Church stands at 22 Boston Street in Middleton, MA, and serves as the collaborative offices for both St. Agnes and St. Rose of Lima Parishes. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The parish can be reached by phone at (978) 774-1958 or (978) 887-5505, and by email at [email protected]. Weekend Masses from St. Rose are livestreamed at agnesandrose.org/live with an archive of recent celebrations available for viewing at any time.
- Address: 22 Boston Street, Middleton, MA 01949
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM; Fri 9–11 AM
- Phone: (978) 774-1958 / (978) 887-5505
- Email: [email protected]
- Livestream and Mass archive: agnesandrose.org/live