About St. Ann · Gloucester, Massachusetts
Saint Ann Church is a Roman Catholic church located at 74 Pleasant Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts, known affectionately as the 'Church of the Fishermen.' Originally established in 1855 to serve Catholic immigrants drawn to Cape Ann by the fishing industry, Saint Ann is today one of three worship sites of Holy Family Parish, which has been part of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport (CCGR) collaborative since 2014. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and is served by a single pastoral team led by Father James M. Achadinha, pastor. Saint Ann offers a Saturday Vigil Mass and a Sunday morning Mass, along with reconciliation before the Vigil, and shares weekday Masses and devotions with its sister churches in Gloucester and Rockport.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- Saint Ann (St. Anne)
- Rector
- Rev. James M. Achadinha
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
Saint Ann Church remains a warm, working-class Catholic parish rooted in Gloucester's fishing heritage — long known as the 'Church of the Fishermen' — and welcomes everyone regardless of background. Worshippers can attend the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 pm or Sunday Mass at 8:15 am at the historic Pleasant Street church, with reconciliation every Saturday afternoon. As part of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, the parish extends its reach through a Clothes Closet in St. Ann Church Hall, an active youth faith formation program, music ministry, and a collaborative pastoral council — all under one pastoral team that genuinely invites 'All are invited! All are welcome! Always!'
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM (at Saint Ann Church, per Boston Pilot)
- Wednesday 6:00 PM (after the 5:30 PM Mass, at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church)
- By appointment — contact [email protected]
Adoration times
- Wednesday: Silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 5:30 PM Mass (at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church)
About Saint Ann Church
Saint Ann Church is one of three worship sites of Holy Family Parish in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and a contributing part of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport collaborative established in 2014. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and is served by Pastor Father James M. Achadinha and a shared pastoral team. Long known as the 'Church of the Fishermen,' Saint Ann has been the spiritual home of Cape Ann's Catholic fishing families for more than 165 years. The church sits at 74 Pleasant Street in the heart of Gloucester's historic downtown, within the Central Gloucester Historic District.
- Holy Family Parish, within the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport (CCGR) collaborative
- Part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
- Served by Pastor Father James M. Achadinha and a collaborative pastoral team
Our History
Catholic worship on Cape Ann began in 1849, when the first Mass was celebrated in a private Gloucester home and the town hall served when needed. By 1855, the growing Catholic community — many of them immigrant fishing families — purchased an old Baptist meeting house on Pleasant Street and moved it to Prospect Street, founding St. Ann's Parish. Reverend J. J. Healy led the transformation of the parish over the following decades. The substantial Gothic Revival stone church we see today was designed by J. H. Besarick and built in 1876, then dedicated by Archbishop Williams on July 31, 1881.
- 1849: First Catholic Mass in a private home in Gloucester
- 1855: Old Baptist meeting house purchased and moved; St. Ann's Parish founded under Rev. J. J. Healy
- 1876: Present Gothic Revival stone church built (architect J. H. Besarick)
- July 31, 1881: Church dedicated by Archbishop Williams
- 1880s: Complex expanded to include rectory, library, and convent
- 2014: Saint Ann's becomes part of Holy Family Parish and the CCGR collaborative
Architecture & Historic Significance
Designed by architect J. H. Besarick, Saint Ann Church is described in the Central Gloucester Historic District nomination as 'an unusually sophisticated example of the Gothic Revival style in Gloucester.' Its defining feature is a 'huge gable roof with bright patterns in slate' that dominates the view north from Gloucester's Civic Center. The 1880 rectory, also by Besarick, is a rare local example of High Victorian design with polychromatic voussoirs, hooded lintels, and ornamental variegated brick. The parish center echoes the rectory's form but uses rusticated granite on the first story. The original steeple was removed in 1947 and replaced with a shorter one. The whole complex is a contributing property of the Central Gloucester Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Pastoral Team & Staff
Saint Ann Church is served by the collaborative pastoral team of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport. Pastor Father James M. Achadinha leads the team, supported by Brother Patrick Garvey (Associate Minister), an associate minister and archivist, an associate minister of music, an associate minister of youth faith formation, and administrative staff. The Boston Catholic Directory also lists a pastoral associate, liturgical/music staff, and youth ministry staff for Holy Family Parish.
- Rev. James M. Achadinha — Pastor ([email protected])
- Brother Patrick Garvey — Associate Minister ([email protected])
- Sheila McCarthy-Durkin — Associate Minister & Archivist ([email protected])
- Thomas Misuraca — Associate Minister of Music ([email protected])
- Betsy Works — Associate Minister of Youth Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Melissa Joseph — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Cliff Garvey — Pastoral Associate (per Boston Pilot)
- LuAnn Pallazola — Liturgy and Music (per Boston Pilot)
- Pastoral Office: 74 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 — 978-281-4820
Music & Liturgy
Thomas Misuraca serves as Associate Minister of Music for the collaborative, with LuAnn Pallazola also supporting liturgy and music. Sunday Mass with Father Jim is livestreamed for those joining from home.
- Thomas Misuraca — Associate Minister of Music
- LuAnn Pallazola — Liturgy and Music (per Boston Pilot)
- Sunday Mass with Father Jim — online livestream
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Youth faith formation for the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport is led by Betsy Works, Associate Minister of Youth Faith Formation. Families seeking sacramental preparation, religious education, or youth ministry may reach Betsy directly at [email protected] or the pastoral office at 978-281-4820.
- Betsy Works — Associate Minister of Youth Faith Formation
Outreach & Charity — The Clothes Closet
Saint Ann Church Hall hosts the collaborative's Clothes Closet, providing gently-used clothing to those in need on Cape Ann. A convenient donation bin is located in the Saint Ann Church parking lot for drop-offs anytime.
- Clothes Closet: open 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Location: Saint Ann Church Hall
- Donation bin: Saint Ann Church parking lot
- Accepts new or gently-used clothing in good condition
The Assisi Project & Pastoral Care
Brother Patrick Garvey, Associate Minister, also ministers through the Assisi Project, a prayer and outreach ministry. Prayer requests may be sent directly to [email protected].
- Brother Patrick Garvey — Associate Minister
- Assisi Project prayer requests: [email protected]
Collaborative Pastoral Council (CPC)
Established in 2014 with the formation of the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, the Collaborative Pastoral Council advises the pastor and pastoral team on the life and mission of the two parishes and four worship sites. The CPC welcomes parishioner engagement in rebuilding the Church and shaping the collaborative's pastoral plan.
- Contact: [email protected]
Sister Churches in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
In 2014, Saint Ann's joined with Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish to form the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport — one collaborative with one pastor and one pastoral team, serving four historic worship sites across Cape Ann.
- Saint Ann Church — 74 Pleasant Street, Gloucester
- Saint Anthony-by-the-Sea Chapel — 21 Farrington Avenue, Gloucester
- Saint Joachim Church — 56 Broadway, Rockport
- Our Lady of Good Voyage Church — 142 Prospect Street, Gloucester
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. J. Healy1855–1880s
Acquired the old Baptist meeting house in 1855, founded St. Ann's Parish, and led the ambitious 1870s–80s building program that produced the present Gothic Revival church, rectory, library, and convent.