About St. Ann by the Sea · Marshfield, Massachusetts
St. Ann by the Sea is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston located at 587 Ocean Street in the Ocean Bluff / Brant Rock beach section of Marshfield, Massachusetts. Founded in 1945 to serve Marshfield's coastal Catholic community, the parish today shares pastoral leadership with neighboring Our Lady of the Assumption Parish as the Our Lady of the Assumption – St. Ann by the Sea Collaborative. Weekend Masses are celebrated at the Ocean Street church (Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM; Sunday 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM), with the collaborative's weekday, holy day and evening Sunday Masses offered at Our Lady of the Assumption. The parish maintains a faith-formation program for elementary and middle-school students, an active music ministry, Knights of Columbus council, Vacation Bible School, and a slate of outreach programs supporting the Marshfield Food Pantry, My Brother's Keeper, and McKinney-Vento clothing for unhoused students.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- Saint Ann (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandmother of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul J. Aveni
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston)
Why belong here
St. Ann by the Sea offers a warm, ocean-side Catholic community that combines traditional Sunday worship with a lively collaborative of ministries serving Marshfield's South Shore. Parishioners can participate in a strong faith-formation program for children and middle-school youth (with First Communion, two-year Confirmation, and optional Youth Nights), Vacation Bible School, an active music ministry under music director Joe Kodzis, and outreach through A Simple Gesture food drives, the Marshfield Food Pantry, McKinney-Vento clothing collections, and My Brother's Keeper housewares drives. The parish's small, walkable beachside location, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday-morning Masses, and visible liturgical calendar — including first-Sunday baptisms, Friday adoration, and a summer Rosary in the Park — make it a faithful, easy-to-join home for coastal Catholics and summer visitors alike.
Mass times at St. Ann by the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Ann by the Sea (Boston Catholic Directory listing)
- Saturday 2:30–3:15 PM at St. Ann (parish website / current bulletin schedule)
- Saturday 8:30–9:30 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption (collaborative)
Adoration times
- Friday morning following the 8:00 AM daily Mass until 9:00 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption (collaborative adoration)
- Churches open daily (except Thursdays) for day visits, adoration and quiet reflection
History of St. Ann by the Sea
St. Ann by the Sea was founded in 1945 to serve the growing Catholic population of Marshfield's ocean-side communities — Ocean Bluff, Brant Rock, Green Harbor and Cedar Crest — which had previously been served from inland parishes. Over eight decades the parish became a fixture of coastal Catholic life on Massachusetts Bay, eventually joining with the neighboring Our Lady of the Assumption Parish (founded 1949, 40 Canal Street) in the Our Lady of the Assumption – St. Ann by the Sea Collaborative under the Archdiocese of Boston. The 80th anniversary was marked in 2025 with a year-long program of celebrations including coffee-and-donut socials, a Block-Party Cookout with the Celtic K's, and an Anniversary Mass concelebrated with Archbishop Richard Henning on July 27, 2025.
- Parish founded in 1945
- 80th anniversary celebrated in 2025 (Anniversary Mass July 27, 2025 with Archbishop Henning)
- Partnered in collaborative with Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
- Located in the South Shore deanery of the Archdiocese of Boston
Pastoral Staff and Clergy
The collaborative is served by a pastor, parochial vicar, weekend assistant, permanent deacon, collaborative music directors, and parish staff including a business manager, operations manager, pastoral associate, parish office, faith-formation coordinators, and seminarian-internship hosts. Fr. Paul J. Aveni is the current pastor; Fr. Jiwon Yoon serves as parochial vicar; Fr. Gerard Petringa is weekend assistant; and Deacon Walter E. Seamon assists across both parishes.
- Pastor: Rev. Paul J. Aveni (ext. 108)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jiwon Yoon (ext. 106); previously Rev. William P. Sexton
- Weekend Assistant: Rev. Gerard Petringa
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Walter E. Seamon
- Pastoral Associate / Faith Formation: Catherine Rein (ext. 105)
- Operations Manager: Debra Conlon (ext. 103)
- Business Manager: Steve Strug (ext. 104)
- Parish Office: Rosemary Haviland (ext. 100); Claudette Berrio, Office Administration (ext. 102)
- Music Director (St. Ann): Joe Kodzis (781-217-5930); Collaborative Music Director: Ezekial Lewis
- Elementary Faith Formation Coordinator: Tarah Agathe Valin (ext. 201)
- Middle School Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Coordinator: Noah Hackendorf (ext. 202)
- Collaborative Pastoral Council Vice-Chair: Jack Hanratty / Melinda Campbell
- Finance Council Chair: William Last
- Former Pastor: Rev. John F. Carmichael
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation is a centerpiece of parish life. Elementary Family Faith Formation meets in the St. Ann by the Sea Parish Hall on Sundays (11:45 AM–12:45 PM) and Tuesdays (5:30–6:30 PM), with Family Fun Nights held 5:00–6:00 PM in the same hall. The middle-school program gathers on Sundays after the 5:30 PM Mass at OLA and combines Scripture study, Confirmation preparation and youth ministry. The Confirmation program is now a two-year curriculum for 7th and 8th graders.
- Elementary Family Faith Formation (Grades 1–5), Sunday and Tuesday classes
- First Reconciliation retreat and sacrament in Lent (March 22, 2026 at St. Ann)
- First Communion in May (May 3, 2026 at OLA)
- 6th-Grade Scripture Encounter class (Sundays 4:15 PM)
- Two-year Confirmation Program for 7th and 8th graders; next Confirmation May 3, 2026
- Youth Nights — optional monthly gatherings for tweens and teens
- Catechist recruitment for Sunday and Tuesday classes
- Empowering God's Children safety program (mandatory session for First Communion families)
Sacraments
The collaborative celebrates all seven sacraments across its two worship sites, with St. Ann by the Sea hosting baptisms on the first Sunday of the month, the Anointing of the Sick periodically after weekend Masses, and faith-formation preparation for First Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation. Marriage preparation requires contacting the office at least six months in advance.
- Baptism — 1st Sunday of the month at St. Ann by the Sea (at 1:00 PM / 11:00 AM, varies); preparatory classes required
- First Reconciliation and First Communion — parish-based preparation
- Confirmation — two-year program for 7th and 8th graders
- Marriage — six-month notice required; arrangements via Collaborative Office
- Anointing of the Sick — offered periodically (e.g. June 7–8, 2025 after Masses)
- Pastoral Care of the Sick — home/hospital visits arranged through the office
- OCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Music and Liturgy
The parish maintains a robust music program across both worship sites. St. Ann by the Sea is served by music director Joe Kodzis, with keyboardist Joel Davidson supporting weekend liturgies and cantors Frank Piekut, Colleen Balboni and Christina Dimitri. The collaborative's contemporary Mass at 5:30 PM at OLA is supported by musician Matthew Kimble. Ezekial Lewis serves as the Collaborative Music Director.
- St. Ann Music Director: Joe Kodzis (781-217-5930)
- Collaborative Music Director: Ezekial Lewis
- St. Ann Keyboardist: Joel Davidson
- Cantors: Frank Piekut, Colleen Balboni, Christina Dimitri
- OLA Organists: Gale McCarthy, Thomas Young
- Contemporary Music at 5:30 PM Mass at OLA: Matthew Kimble
- Anointing of the Sick, baptisms, weddings and quinceañeras all use the parish music team
Outreach and Service (Corporal Works of Mercy)
The collaborative Service Committee coordinates several year-round charitable initiatives under the umbrella of the Corporal Works of Mercy. Parishioners sign up to be recurring food donors through A Simple Gesture, with five Saturday pickup days annually supporting the Marshfield Food Pantry. McKinney-Vento collections provide back-to-school clothing for unhoused children in Marshfield, and My Brother's Keeper housewares drives supply local families in transition. Project Nazareth is promoted as a family resource for bringing the Catholic faith into the home.
- A Simple Gesture — recurring food-collection for the Marshfield Food Pantry
- McKinney-Vento back-to-school clothing collection for unhoused Marshfield children
- My Brother's Keeper housewares drive (September 14–15 and 21–22, 2024)
- Project Nazareth — archdiocesan family faith-at-home resource (bit.ly/projectnazareth)
- Catholic Appeal — annual Archdiocese of Boston appeal participation
- Annual parish-led Family Fun Day, Anniversary Cookout, Halloween Fest, Pizza with Santa, Adult Cruise Night and Adult Craft Night
Knights of Columbus and Parish Community Life
The Knights of Columbus Council associated with the parish supports major parish events, including supplying and cooking the meats for the 80th Anniversary Block-Party Cookout in June 2025. The Faith Community Planning Committee coordinates liturgical, social and charitable events with a special emphasis on youth and young families, organizing the calendar of seasonal parish celebrations.
- Knights of Columbus — supplies/cooks for major parish celebrations
- Faith Community Planning Committee — events for youth and young families
- Family Fun Day (annual, e.g. July 27, 2024 at Governor Winslow School)
- Halloween Fest (October 20), Adult Cruise Night (September 13), Pizza with Santa (December 7)
- Trip to La Salette Shrine (annual)
- Coffee-and-Donut Socials after Sunday 9:30 AM Mass (May–September 2025)
Vocations and Seminarian Internships
The collaborative is an active host for Archdiocese of Boston seminarian interns, integrating formation candidates into parish life for eight-week summer internships. In summer 2025 the parishes welcomed Liam Warner, a third-year seminarian, pianist, organist and singer who studied classics in college and credits the parish liturgy of St. Paul's in Cambridge with first inspiring his priestly vocation. The collaborative supports the Archdiocese's Cooperative Seminary Formation and asks parishioners to pray for seminarians on the path to ordination.
- 2024 and 2025 host for Archdiocese of Boston seminarian interns
- 2025 intern: Liam Warner (third-year seminarian, pianist, organist, singer)
- Promotes St. Paul vocations-retreat culture in parish
- Parishioners invited to pray for seminarians on the path to ordination
Visiting St. Ann by the Sea
St. Ann by the Sea sits directly across from Massachusetts Bay in the Ocean Bluff / Brant Rock section of Marshfield, making it a scenic stop for South Shore visitors and summer beachgoers. The church is open daily except Thursdays for visits, adoration and quiet reflection, and the parish office at 591 Ocean Street is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. Parking is available along Ocean Street and adjacent side streets.
- Address: 587 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA 02050 (church); 591 Ocean Street (rectory/parish office)
- Phone: 781-834-4953; Parish office: 781-834-6252
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Churches open daily (except Thursdays) for visits, adoration and quiet reflection
- Beachfront location across from Massachusetts Bay in Ocean Bluff / Brant Rock
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John F. Carmichael
Earlier pastor of St. Ann by the Sea, listed by the Boston Catholic Directory and third-party parish directories before the current pastorate.
- Rev. Paul J. Avenicurrent (as of 2024–2026 bulletins)
Current pastor of the Our Lady of the Assumption – St. Ann by the Sea Collaborative; leads both parishes from the collaborative rectory.