About St. Anthony of Padua · Dudley, Massachusetts
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in Dudley, Massachusetts, belonging to the Diocese of Worcester. With roots in the early 20th-century immigration of Slovak families to the Webster/Dudley area, the parish worships today in a church built in 1971 on Dudley Hill Road, serving roughly 540 households and about 1,335 parishioners. It offers daily and weekend Mass in English, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays with a Healing Mass, and a faith formation program that runs from kindergarten through tenth-grade Confirmation. The parish is led by Rev. Henry Ramirez, Pastor, and is supported by Deacon William White, a choir director, and parish staff.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Henry Ramirez
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers the full rhythm of a traditional Catholic parish in a small-town setting: daily morning Mass Monday through Thursday, a Saturday vigil and two Sunday Masses, weekly Confession, all-day Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration that closes with a Holy Rosary, Benediction, and Healing Mass, and a robust faith formation program for children and teens (CCD grades K-8 plus a two-year Confirmation track for grades 9-10) along with a high-school youth ministry that includes retreats like the Light of the World retreat. The parish is small enough that newcomers are personally invited to register as members of the parish family, and homebound parishioners can request that the pastor or a Eucharistic Minister bring Communion. The current Slovak-heritage community cherishes irreplaceable 1865 Innsbruck stained glass, and ministries such as the choir, religious education, and cemetery care keep the parish actively engaged with the wider Dudley/Webster area.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (after the 7:30 AM Mass until the 7:00 PM evening Mass)
Parish History
The parish began in 1908 with the St. Anthony Society, a group of Slovak residents in the Webster/Dudley area. After purchasing the former Universalist Church on School Street in Webster in 1912, the community waited five years before Rev. Paul Herman arrived as the first pastor in 1917. Mass was first celebrated in the basement while the upper floor was renovated. Father Herman was followed by Fathers Seci (1924-1931) and Plavcan (1931-1933), then several priests served between 1933 and 1935.
- 1908: St. Anthony Society formed by local Slovak residents
- 1912: Society obtains the former Universalist Church on School Street in Webster
- 1917: Rev. Paul Herman assigned as first pastor
- 1935: Rev. Joseph A. Ferenz ordained and installed as pastor
- 1948: Land purchased on Worcester Road for St. Anthony's Cemetery
- Late 1940s: Second School Street house converted to a convent and school; Franciscan nuns begin teaching
- 1952: Brick school building constructed at the rear of the parish property
- July 4, 1970: Groundbreaking for a new church on Dudley Hill Road
- October 3, 1971: New church dedicated; Bishop Flanagan announces the Dudley site
- 1982: Rectory completed adjacent to the church; Father Ferenz retires
- Today: parish of approximately 540 households / 1,335 parishioners
Stained Glass Windows
The stained-glass windows at each of the church's entrances were installed in 2006 alongside the replacement of the original, non-thermal entrance doors with new thermal glass. The panels depict scenes from the life of Christ, including The Ascension, Jesus with the Children, Doubting Thomas, Jesus blessing the loaves and the fish, Jesus teaching in the temple, and Mary & Joseph searching for Jesus. These panels were originally made for Holy Rosary Church in Holyoke, MA when that church was built in 1865, were designed and executed in Innsbruck, Austria, and were preserved and installed at St. Anthony's by skilled workers from the parish after Holy Rosary was torn down.
- The Ascension
- Jesus with the Children
- Doubting Thomas
- Jesus blessing the loaves and the fish
- Jesus teaching in the temple
- Mary & Joseph searching for Jesus
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs a CCD program from kindergarten through Grade 8, with First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation in Grade 2. The high-school program follows the Christ Our Life series with Loyola Press, beginning with 'Called to Be Catholic' in Grade 9 and 'Confirmed in the Spirit' in Grade 10 as the Confirmation preparation track. Mary Plante ([email protected]) coordinates religious education; the 2024-2025 registration packet was posted on the parish website.
- Religious Education (CCD) grades K-8
- First Reconciliation and First Communion in Grade 2
- Called to Be Catholic — Grade 9
- Confirmed in the Spirit — Grade 10 (Confirmation)
- Annual Light of the World Lenten Retreat at the parish (held Fri-Sun of the last weekend of Lent)
- Contact: Mary Plante — [email protected]
Youth Ministry
St. Anthony's Youth Ministry keeps teens engaged with summer activities and diocesan events: a free summer volleyball league open to all youth currently in Grades 8-12 (and their non-parish friends), high-ropes and ziplining at an Aerial Adventure Park in Berlin, MA, whitewater rafting on the Deerfield River, and Diocesan Amplify Nights for both high-school and middle-school youth hosted at various parishes including St. Christopher in Worcester and Sacred Heart in Webster. The Diocesan Youth Discipleship Team is a leadership program that starts with a kickoff retreat (typically in Putnam, CT) and meets monthly in Auburn through May.
- Summer Volleyball League (Grades 8-12, no cost, all youth welcome)
- Aerial Adventure Park — Berlin, MA ($30/person, ~3 hours)
- Whitewater Rafting on the Deerfield River ($50/person)
- Diocesan Summer Amplify Nights (high school and middle school)
- Diocesan Youth Discipleship Team
- Diocesan contact: Tim Messenger — [email protected]
Sacraments and Pastoral Care
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments through age-appropriate catechesis (First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in Grade 2; Confirmation after a two-year high-school track) and makes every preparation ahead of time for marriage, which requires arrangements at least one year in advance. Pastoral care extends beyond the church walls: Deacon William White serves as the Deacon for local nursing homes, and anyone unable to attend Mass due to illness or caring for someone can call the rectory to have the pastor or a Eucharistic Minister bring Communion. A Healing Mass is celebrated every Tuesday evening during Adoration.
- Marriage — arrange at least one year in advance
- Baptism and First Reconciliation — Grade 2
- First Holy Communion — Grade 2
- Confirmation — Grades 9-10
- Anointing / Healing Mass — Tuesday 7:00 PM
- Eucharistic Ministry to the homebound — call the rectory
- Deacon William White — Deacon for Local Nursing Homes
Music, Cemetery, and Parish Life
Music at St. Anthony's is led by Choir Director Carol Rossetti, who also assists with cemetery care and parish administration. The parish operates St. Anthony's Cemetery on Worcester Road (land acquired in 1948), and members of the community are encouraged to dedicate flowers in memory of loved ones for any of the Masses by calling the rectory.
- Choir Director: Carol Rossetti
- St. Anthony's Cemetery — Worcester Road
- Memorial flowers — call the rectory to dedicate flowers at any Mass
Getting Involved — New Parishioners
Newcomers are warmly welcomed. The parish invites new residents to register as members of the parish family by clicking the registration link on the website, speaking with staff after any Mass, or calling the rectory. Active ways to participate include the choir, CCD catechesis, youth ministry, the Light of the World retreat team, cemetery care, Eucharistic ministry to the sick and homebound, and bringing Holy Communion to local nursing homes alongside Deacon White.
- Register online via the parish website
- Speak with the parish staff after any Mass
- Call the rectory at 508-949-0335
- Volunteer for CCD, youth ministry, choir, or the Light of the World retreat team
- Eucharistic Ministry to the homebound
- Visit local nursing homes with Deacon William White
Contact and Visiting
The parish office is at 24 Dudley Hill Road, Dudley, MA 01571, with the rectory next door at 22 Dudley Hill Road. The parish office phone is 508-949-0335 and the rectory phone is 508-943-0470 (fax 508-943-5663). Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Parish address: 24 Dudley Hill Road, Dudley, MA 01571
- Rectory: 22 Dudley Hill Road, Dudley, MA 01571
- Parish Office: 508-949-0335
- Rectory: 508-943-0470
- Fax: 508-943-5663
- Office Hours: Mon/Wed/Fri 8:00 AM-1:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul Herman1917-1924
First pastor of St. Anthony of Padua; assigned in 1917, celebrated first Masses in the basement of the School Street building.
- Rev. Stephen Seci1924-1931
Parish prospered under his leadership; purchased a second School Street house in 1925 with the idea of establishing a parish school.
- Rev. John Plavcan1931-1933
Succeeded Father Seci.
- Several different priests1933-1935
Served the needs of the parish between Father Plavcan and Father Ferenz.
- Rev. Joseph A. Ferenz1935-1982
Ordained June 1935; oversaw creation of St. Anthony's Cemetery (land purchased 1948), the parish school staffed by Franciscan nuns, and the 1952 brick school building; retiring in 1982 alongside the completion of the new rectory.
- Rev. J. Normand Tremblay1982-1992
Succeeded Father Ferenz.
- Rev. Paul Campbell1992-2012
Twenty dedicated years at St. Anthony of Padua before retiring in June 2012.
- Rev. Joseph A. Marcotte2012-2017
Transferred from St. Louis Church in Webster (where he had served 28 years); served St. Anthony's for five years before retiring in June 2017.
- Rev. Michael J. Sheridan2017-2018
Returned to active ministry; was ordained a priest by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan on April 25, 1975.
- Msgr. John E. Doran
Came out of retirement to serve as interim pastor after Fr. Sheridan's retirement.
- Fr. Daniel Moreno2018-
Appointed by Bishop Robert J. McManus as administrator to St. Anthony of Padua on July 1, 2018.
- Rev. Henry Ramirez
Current pastor as listed on the parish website.