About St. Anne · Southborough, Massachusetts
St. Anne Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Southborough, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Worcester. Founded in 1887 by Irish immigrant families who literally carried the foundation stones in their aprons, the parish has served the Catholics of Southborough Center, Fayville, and the surrounding farms for nearly 140 years. Today, the parish at 20 Boston Road offers a robust schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration with a monthly Healing Mass, and a flourishing Filipino ministry. St. Anne is known for its warm welcome, its deep tradition of stewardship (including the Southborough Food Pantry and the Works of Mercy Club), and a wide range of faith formation opportunities for all ages.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Anne
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Albert
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Anne Parish offers a deeply rooted Catholic community with a tangible sense of family and history. Whether you are drawn by the structured spiritual life (daily Mass, monthly 24-hour Adoration, and a monthly Healing Mass), the vibrant cultural diversity (including a dedicated Filipino ministry and monthly bilingual Mass), or the outreach opportunities (the Southborough Food Pantry, Works of Mercy Club, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and Knights of Columbus), there are dozens of ways to plug in. Newcomers and visitors are explicitly welcomed and encouraged to register through the parish office, making it easy to call this friendly Southborough parish home.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Adoration times
- Sunday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (suspended during summer, resumes in the fall)
- Wednesday 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM (live streamed)
- 24-Hour Monthly Adoration: Tuesday evening through First Wednesday, culminating in the monthly Healing Mass
History & Founding
St. Anne Parish was born out of the rapid growth of Southborough's Irish Catholic community in the late 19th century. After St. Matthew's in Southville was completed in 1879, it became clear that a second church was needed to serve the Catholics living in the town center, Fayville, and the north and northeast farms. Father John F. Redican, the first pastor of the Cordaville parish, took the lead in organizing this new mission in 1887.
A Parish Built by the People
The construction of St. Anne's at 20 Boston Road was a true community project. Local Irish immigrant families—including the Salmons, Bagleys, and Maleys—did the bulk of the labor, while the women of the parish carried smaller stones in their aprons to help build the foundation. The land was purchased from Patrick Fitzgerald, a loyal parishioner whose family had deep roots in Southborough. By the end of 1887, the new mission already had 367 communicants.
- Builders: Brothers John, Frank, Tom, Ed, and Patrick Salmon Jr.; Timothy and Thomas Bagley; Matthew Maley.
- Foundation stone-carriers: Mary E. Bagley and other women of the parish.
- Land donor: Patrick Fitzgerald.
Parish Life & Leadership
St. Anne's stewardship has been led by a succession of devoted priests since 1886. Father Finneran later built a rectory adjacent to the church, cementing 20 Boston Road as the parish's official headquarters. In modern decades, the parish has been shepherded by Father Thirburse F. Millott (1990–2009), Father Thomas Garlick (until his sudden death in 2011), Father Conrad S. Pecevich (who launched the Filipino Ministry), and the current pastor, Father Albert.
Faith Formation & RCIA
Faith Formation is offered for children and adults through the parish's Religious Education program. Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a journey of study, prayer, and reflection that culminates in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. The program is directly overseen by Father Albert and staffed by the RCIA Office Coordinator, Rachelle.
- RCIA Contact: [email protected]
- RCIA Office: [email protected]
- Sacramental Initiation at the Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday)
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Anne Parish runs an extensive network of ministries that allow parishioners to live out their faith in service to one another and the wider community. The Works of Mercy Club and the Food Pantry coordinate the parish's charitable giving, while the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Bible Study, and Coffee Hour feed spiritual and social life.
The Works of Mercy Club
A dedicated outreach group that organizes the parish's corporal works of mercy, supporting those in need both within the parish and the broader Southborough community.
Food Pantry & Our Father's Table
Started in 1990 as a joint effort of the United Parishes of Southborough (St. Anne, Pilgrim Church, St. Matthew, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and First Community Church), the Southborough Food Pantry helps neighbors struggling to provide meals for their families. St. Anne's coordinator is Pat Draper, and the pantry welcomes rotating volunteer support from member churches.
- Location: Fellowship Hall at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 15 Common St., Southborough
- Hours: Thursday evenings 6–7 PM and Friday mornings 9–10 AM
- Parish Coordinator: Pat Draper
- Web: southboroughfoodpantry.org
Bible Study & Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Parish Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM and Saturdays at 9:00 AM and is led by Gerard ([email protected]). The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers to knit shawls for those in need of extra love and support—no experience necessary.
Filipino Ministry
Born in 2015 from a parish questionnaire that revealed a strong Filipino presence in the community, the Filipino Ministry celebrates a monthly Filipino Mass celebrated by Father Francis Alvarez, followed by a potluck dinner with karaoke and games.
Parish-Affiliated Organizations
St. Anne Parish is officially affiliated with several faith-based and community service organizations that operate under the parish's umbrella, giving parishioners concrete ways to live their faith in fraternity and service.
- Knights of Columbus Council #119
- Boy Scout Troop 92
Visiting & Registering
St. Anne Parish warmly welcomes all visitors and new residents. The parish encourages newcomers to call the Parish Office at (508) 485-0141 to formally register as parishioners. Worship aids including weekly bulletins, capital campaign information, and an Act of Spiritual Communion prayer are available on the parish website.
- Office: 20 Boston Road, Southborough, MA 01772
- Phone: (508) 485-0141
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John F. Redican1886-early 1890s
First pastor of the Cordaville parish that encompassed Southborough; organized St. Anne's as a mission in 1887 and served both churches from his home near St. Matthew's.
- Rev. William T. Finneran
Built a new parish rectory adjoining St. Anne's and officially moved the parish headquarters from St. Matthew's to 20 Boston Road.
- Rev. Thirburse F. Millott1990-2009
Appointed pastor on June 29, 1990; transferred to Christ the King Parish, Worcester, on July 1, 2009.
- Rev. Thomas Garlick-2011
Passed away unexpectedly in May 2011 at the age of 61 after serving St. Anne for almost two years.
- Rev. Conrad S. Pecevich2011-
Previously pastor of St. Paul Parish, Blackstone; began at St. Anne on July 1, 2011. He spearheaded the creation of the parish's popular Filipino ministry in 2015.
- Rev. Fr. Albertpresent
Current pastor; directly oversees the RCIA program and sacramental preparation.