St. Ann

St. Ann Parish — North Oxford, Massachusetts

St. Ann Parish is a Roman Catholic community at 652 Main Street in the North Oxford section of Oxford, MA, part of the Diocese of Worcester. Founded in 1896 and made an independent parish in 1926, it grew out of the mill communities of North Oxford and served generations of Catholic families there until 2024, when Bishop Robert J. McManus decreed that St. Ann would merge into neighboring St. Roch Parish effective September 1, 2024. The parish is staffed jointly with St. Roch's — sharing Father James J. Boulette as pastor, Deacon Paul Connolly, the religious-education team, and outreach ministries — and worship continues at St. Roch's campus at 332–336 Main Street, Oxford. The St. Ann name and legacy are being preserved through the planned Saint Ann Center at the St. Roch campus.

History

Catholic worship in Oxford reaches back to missionary Father Robert D. Woodley in 1828 and Father James Fitton in 1833; the original St. Roch church was built by the St. Roch's Catholic Society in 1857 and St. Roch's became a parish in 1886. By 1888 the parish census counted 830 Catholics in Oxford, more than half of them (507) in North Oxford. When Father Patrick F. Hafey became pastor of St. Roch's in 1895, he announced plans for a North Oxford church the following August; foundation work on St. Ann's began September 12, 1896, and Father Hafey celebrated the first Mass in the unfinished basement that Christmas. For thirty years the mission station remained part of St. Roch's, with Sunday Mass times alternating between the two churches and dictated by the inter-town electric trolley schedule, until 1926 when St. Ann was declared an independent parish and Father Hafey became its first resident pastor.

• 1828 — first recorded priestly visit to Oxford (Father Robert D. Woodley)
• 1833 — Father James Fitton assigned to bring sacraments to Oxford Catholics
• 1857 — first Catholic church in Oxford (original St. Roch's) built
• 1886 — St. Roch's becomes an independent parish
• 1888 — parish census shows 830 Catholics in Oxford, 507 in North Oxford
• 1895 — Father Patrick F. Hafey named pastor of St. Roch's
• 1896 (September 12) — foundation work begins on St. Ann's
• 1896 (Christmas Day) — first Mass celebrated in unfinished St. Ann basement
• 1926 — St. Ann declared an independent parish; Father Hafey becomes first resident pastor
• 1991–2009 — Father James S. Steuterman (administrator 1991–92, then pastor) and Sister Jeanne Rouillard lead renovations, retreats, outreach and 12-step groups
• 2013–2022 — Father Michael N. Lavallee serves as pastor; blesses parishioners gathered in cars on Easter 2020 during the pandemic
• 2022 — Father Michael J. Roy becomes pastor of both St. Roch's and St. Ann's
• 2023 — Father James J. Boulette named pastor of both parishes
• 2024 — Bishop McManus decrees merger of St. Ann into St. Roch effective September 1, 2024

Clergy, Staff and Music Ministry

St. Ann shares its pastoral team with St. Roch Parish. Rev. James J. Boulette serves as pastor of both parishes, assisted by Deacon Paul Connolly. Mrs. Teri Rawson is the Administrative Assistant in the Rectory Office, and Mrs. Peggy Moynahan serves as Religious Education Secretary. Religious education is coordinated by Ms. Jaclyn Green. Mr. Roland Gauthier directs the parish music program, and Mr. Charlie Boyle is the parish contact for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The prayer-line coordinator has been reached through the dedicated email [email protected].

• Rev. James J. Boulette — Pastor
• Rev. Mr. Paul Connolly — Deacon
• Mrs. Teri Rawson — Administrative Assistant
• Mrs. Peggy Moynahan — Religious Education Secretary
• Ms. Jaclyn Green — Coordinator of Religious Education
• Mr. Roland Gauthier — Director of Music
• Mr. Charlie Boyle — St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Jan Chesties — parish contact (508-987-8154 / [email protected])

Parish Ministries, Societies and Outreach

St. Ann has a rich network of ministries and societies. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a confidential assistance line through the rectory for parishioners struggling with utilities, fuel oil, or other essentials; the parish Food Pantry distributes supplemental food to about 80 families on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, 10 AM–12 PM, staffed by 12 volunteers. The Altar Rosary Society, founded in 1948, gathers on the first Monday of the month for Rosary, Benediction, a business meeting, and a social. The Holy Name Society offers the 8:00 AM Mass on the second Sunday of each month for its living and deceased members. Knights of Columbus Council #4241 meets on the first Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the parish hall and shares council membership with St. Roch's.

• St. Vincent de Paul Society — confidential help line via 508-987-8892
• Parish Food Pantry — 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 10 AM–12 PM, ~80 families served
• Altar Rosary Society (est. 1948) — 1st Monday Rosary, Benediction and social
• Holy Name Society — 2nd Sunday 8:00 AM Mass for members
• Knights of Columbus Council #4241 — 1st Tuesday 6:30 PM
• Prayer Line — [email protected]
• Music Ministry — Mr. Roland Gauthier, Director
• Liturgy Committee, Parish Council, Finance Council
• Bereavement Committee, Welcoming Committee, Greeters, Ushers
• Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (incl. homebound and hospital)
• Altar Servers (grades 5–12), Lectors and Commentators
• Ministry of the Sick and Homebound
• Buildings & Grounds Committee, Parish Carnival Committee
• Light of the World retreats and small groups (shared with St. Roch's)
• 12-step groups meeting at the parish

Sacraments

Information on the sacraments at St. Ann is published through the parish bulletin and website. Baptisms are typically celebrated at weekend Masses with prior preparation. Children preparing for First Holy Communion and Confirmation do so through the joint Religious Education program with St. Roch's. Couples preparing for marriage should contact the rectory to begin preparation. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist bring Communion to the homebound and to the sick in the hospital; the Ministry of the Sick and Homebound coordinates those visits. Confessions are heard on Friday evenings during Adoration and on Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass, or by appointment.

• Baptism — contact the rectory
• First Communion & Confirmation — through Religious Education
• Matrimony — call the rectory to begin preparation
• Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the sick & homebound — call the rectory
• Confession — Friday 6:30–7:30 PM and Saturday 5:45–6:15 PM, or by appointment

Facilities, Community Life and the Chapel in the Woods

The St. Ann campus at 652 Main Street (with adjoining property at 654) included the church, a rectory, and a parish hall that hosted weekly Friday-night BINGO (doors at 5:30 PM, games at 7:00 PM) and Knights of Columbus meetings. Behind the church, the parish maintained a beloved Chapel in the Woods — an outdoor prayer area with altar, seating, and Stations of the Cross — which the Renewal Committee listed among St. Ann's distinctive strengths. Following the 2024 merger decree, the St. Ann properties are to be sold and proceeds directed to maintenance and an endowment; in the meantime worship, faith formation and pastoral activity continue at St. Roch's campus at 332–336 Main Street, Oxford, where the parish hall is being renamed Saint Ann Center.

• St. Ann Church and Rectory — 652 Main Street, North Oxford, MA 01537
• Adjoining St. Ann property — 654 Main Street
• Chapel in the Woods (outdoor altar, seating, Stations of the Cross)
• Parish hall hosts Friday-night BINGO and Knights of Columbus meetings
• Saint Ann Center (renamed St. Roch's Center) honors St. Ann's legacy

Getting in Touch

Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Ann at the Rectory Office, P.O. Box 488, 652 Main Street, North Oxford, MA 01537. The office phone is 508-987-8892, fax 508-987-8938, and email [email protected]. Rectory office hours have been published as Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. Prayer requests may be sent to [email protected]. The official website is stannschurch.us and the official joint-renewal site during the merger process is oxfordcatholicrenewal.org. The parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester (worcesterdiocese.org), whose Bishop, Robert J. McManus, issued the 2024 merger decree.

• Phone: 508-987-8892
• Fax: 508-987-8938
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.stannschurch.us/
• Prayer Line: [email protected]
• Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester (worcesterdiocese.org)
• Bishop: Most Rev. Robert J. McManus