St. Anthony of Padua

About the Parish

St. Anthony of Padua Parish (Igreja de Santo António) is a Roman Catholic parish in Lowell, Massachusetts, founded in 1901 to serve the city's Portuguese-American community. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and, since 2016, is administered as part of the Lowell Collaborative together with Immaculate Conception Church and Holy Trinity Church. The parish worships in both English and Portuguese at 893 Central Street.

History of St. Anthony's

Portuguese Catholics began settling in Lowell in the 1870s and for decades worshipped at St. Peter's, the city's Irish-American parish. By the late 1890s, Rev. Antonio J. Pimentel, from Terceira in the Azores, was saying Mass for them across the street from St. Peter's. Community leader Manuel P. Mello of Graciosa organized a committee that, with Archbishop John Joseph Williams's support, raised enough money in 1900–1901 to buy the old Primitive Methodist Church on Gorham Street. St. Anthony's was dedicated on May 19, 1901, with Rev. Manuel C. Terra of Provincetown celebrating the first High Mass. In early 1902, Archbishop Williams appointed Joaquim V. Rosa, born on Pico, as pastor — he would serve for over four decades. By 1904, the wooden structure was already too small; parishioners again led by Mello raised funds for land on Central Street. Boston architect Timothy Edward Sheehan drew the plans, and Archbishop William O'Connell laid the cornerstone on Thanksgiving Day, 1907.

• 1901 — Parish dedicated, first High Mass by Rev. Manuel C. Terra
• 1902–1943 — Long pastorate of Rev. Joaquim V. Rosa (born Pico, Azores, 1872–1964)
• 1907 — Cornerstone of Central Street church laid by Archbishop O'Connell
• 2004–2016 — Pastorate of Rev. Charles J. Hughes during the post-abuse-crisis decline
• 2016 — Joined the Lowell Collaborative under Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella

Architecture & Buildings

The current church at 893 Central Street was designed by Boston architect Timothy Edward Sheehan (1866–1933), a designer of multiple churches for the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish's first home was the converted wood-frame Primitive Methodist Church on Gorham Street, purchased in 1901. The Central Street building's cornerstone was laid by Archbishop William O'Connell on Thanksgiving Day, 1907.

Sacraments

The Lowell Collaborative bulletin lists sacramental preparation in both English and Portuguese. Baptisms are celebrated monthly with language-appropriate preparation sessions; couples must contact the Rectory at least six months before marriage. Reconciliation is offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the parish office.

• Baptism — monthly; English prep 2nd Saturday 4:00–5:30 PM, baptisms 3rd Saturday 2 PM; Portuguese prep 1st Sunday 9:00–10:30 AM, baptisms 4th Saturday 2 PM
• Marriage — contact the Rectory at least 6 months in advance
• Anointing of the Sick — notify the parish for parishioners in hospital or at home
• Reconciliation — Mon/Wed/Fri 4:00–5:00 PM at the parish office

Parish Office, Staff & Pastoral Team

The parish office is at 893 Central Street, Lowell, open Monday–Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. St. Anthony's is part of the Lowell Collaborative, which shares pastoral leadership across three parishes. A 2025 collaborative bulletin lists Rev. Luiz Lopes as Pastor, with Deacon Carlos DeSousa serving on site at St. Anthony's.

• Parish phone — (978) 452-1506
• Email — [email protected]
• Rev. Nicholas A. Sannella — Pastor of the Lowell Collaborative
• Rev. Luiz Lopes — Pastor (per 2025 collaborative bulletin)
• Deacon Carlos DeSousa — key clergyman at St. Anthony's
• Parish Office Hours — Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Religious Education

Faith formation is offered in both English and Portuguese to serve the parish's bilingual community, with classes held in connection with Sunday Mass schedules.

• Sundays after the 9:15 AM English Mass — English Religious Education

Community Outreach & Groups

St. Anthony's parish hall hosts Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every weekday, a long-standing outreach to the wider Lowell community. The parish also continues its role as a gathering place for Portuguese-American Catholics in the Acre / Centralville neighborhood.

• Alcoholics Anonymous — Monday–Friday 12:00 PM–1:00 PM in the Parish Hall (Salão da Paróquia)

Visiting & Directions

The church is at 893 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01852, in the city's Central Street / Acre neighborhood, opposite the old Lyon Street public school site. From I-495 north, take the Lowell Connector and turn right onto Gorham Street, then left onto Central Street; the church is on the left.

• Address — 893 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01852
• Phone — (978) 452-1506
• From I-495 N — Lowell Connector → right onto Gorham St → left onto Central St