About St. Bartholomew · Needham, Massachusetts
St. Bartholomew Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Needham, Massachusetts, part of the Archdiocese of Boston, that grew out of the post-World War II Catholic population boom on the south side of town. Founded in 1952 and built around a school/church complex on Greendale Avenue, the parish served roughly 600 households and was known for a converted gymnasium/church with magnificent stained glass windows donated by parishioners. In its final years it was led by Rev. Bryan K. Parrish and merged with neighboring St. Joseph Parish effective June 30, 2024, forming one Catholic parish for Needham. The parish mission statement reads: 'As a warm and welcoming community, we strive to live out our Catholic faith and share Christ's loving message of salvation. We nurture the gifts and talents of all, to serve our local and global community joyfully.'
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. Bartholomew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Bryan K. Parrish
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Bartholomew has been a small, deeply personal parish where members know one another by name, supported by daily Monday–Saturday morning Mass, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses, and a rich schedule of devotions and music. Its ministries span faith formation for children and youth, a Prayer Line network for personal intentions, hands-on support of mission parishes in Zambia (building an ablution center, wells, and a new school), and combined sacramental preparation with St. Joseph Parish. Even as the parish enters its merger into one Catholic community for Needham, the welcoming, generous character that built and sustained St. Bart's for more than seven decades remains the spirit of the new whole parish.
Mass times at St. Bartholomew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Joseph Church every Friday after the 6:50 AM Mass until 12:00 noon
History & Founding
St. Bartholomew Parish was carved out of St. Joseph Parish and established in 1952 by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Richard J. Cushing of Boston to serve the rapidly growing Catholic population in the southern part of Needham. Needham's overall population had grown 58% between the 1950 and 1960 censuses, and the new parish was meant to relieve the strain on St. Joseph's.
- Founded 1952 by order of Archbishop Richard J. Cushing
- First services held at nearby Mitchell Elementary School
- School on Greendale Avenue opened 1952; gymnasium converted into a temporary church, first Mass celebrated December 1953
- Parish school staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for 20 years; order withdrew in 1973 and the school closed shortly after
- St. Sebastian's School relocated to the Greendale Avenue campus in 1982 and continued to use the parish's school building
- Merger into St. Joseph Parish announced by the Archdiocese of Boston in March 2023
- Final Sunday Mass concelebrated June 23, 2024 by Fr. Bryan K. Parrish with a dozen other clergy and roughly 500 attendees; merger effective June 30, 2024
Buildings & Architecture
St. Bartholomew's most distinctive architectural feature was that it never had a purpose-built church: its sanctuary was the school gymnasium, fitted with donated stained glass windows and other ecclesiastical appointments by parishioner fundraising. Adjacent land and a future church site on Great Plain Avenue once owned as a rectory were never developed into the church building originally envisioned.
- Converted gymnasium/auditorium used as the parish church from December 1953 onward
- Stained glass windows donated through parishioner generosity
- School building continued in use by St. Sebastian's School after 1982
- St. Joseph's Upper Church used for major events like the organ concerts
Baptisms, Weddings & Other Sacraments
Sacramental preparation was coordinated with St. Joseph Parish during the merger transition. Baptisms were celebrated on two Saturdays each month at St. Joseph Church, and weddings required at least six months' notice to the pastor.
- Baptism — offered two Saturdays per month at St. Joseph Church; scheduled online via stjosephparishneedham.com/baptism
- Matrimony — arrangements with the parish priest at least 6 months before the wedding
- Eucharistic Adoration — held every Friday after 6:50 AM Mass until noon at St. Joseph Church
- Anointing of the Sick and Funerals by request through the parish office
Parish Staff
In its final months the parish was served by a priest-pastor who also oversaw St. Joseph's, an associate pastor and a priest in residence, a permanent deacon, a business manager, front-office staff, faith-formation coordinators, and a director of music.
- Pastor: Rev. Bryan K. Parrish
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Michael Ssenfuma
- In Residence: Rev. Charles Mulindwa
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Bob Horne
- Business Manager: Patrick Farragher
- Front Office: Ann Mullin and Kathy Whitney
- R.E. Coordinators: Andrea Fidurko and Maryellen Jennings
- Director of Music: Charlie Kanelos
Faith Formation & Religious Education
During the merger transition the upper-grade faith formation programs of both parishes were combined under one team led by Michael Lescault and assisted by Andrea Fidurko and Phil Bonasia. Lower-grade (K–6) classes ran out of St. Joseph School with multiple time-slot options, and the Archdiocese of Boston began transitioning the Sacrament of Confirmation to the 8th grade, with current 9th and 10th graders preparing in 2024–2025.
- K–6 Faith Formation combined with St. Joseph Parish
- Class times: Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM, Sundays 11:00–12:00 PM, Mondays 4:15–5:15 PM, Wednesdays 4:15–5:15 PM
- Grades 7–10 combined program led by Michael Lescault
- Confirmation moving to 8th grade with 9th and 10th grade preparation tracks during transition
- Volunteer catechists and assistants welcomed
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Bart's was supported by a parish choir that rehearsed in the church on Wednesday evenings. As the parish shared worship life with St. Joseph, special liturgical events such as organ concerts for the late Dr. Charles Callahan took place in the Upper Church at St. Joseph's.
- Director of Music: Charlie Kanelos
- Choir Practice — Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM in the Church
- Special organ concerts in the Upper Church at St. Joseph Parish
- Monthly calendar of daily Mass intentions published in the weekly bulletin
Devotions, Prayer & Community Groups
Beyond the Mass schedule the parish nurtured an active devotional and small-group life, including a prayer-line network for personal intentions, a Men's Group that met Friday mornings, a parish Book Club, Stations of the Cross during Lent, and First-Friday Eucharistic Adoration (held at St. Joseph Church).
- Prayer Line — call the parish office to request prayers for a special intention
- Men's Group — Fridays 7:30 AM at the Parish Office
- Book Club — weekday afternoons in the O'Brien Room
- Stations of the Cross — following Friday Mass during Lent (except when there is a 10:00 AM funeral)
- Eucharistic Adoration — every Friday at St. Joseph Church after 6:50 AM Mass until noon
- Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston
Outreach & Mission
St. Bart's developed a tangible missionary friendship with two diocesan priests serving in Zambia — Fr. Mathews Mwanza in Christ the King Parish, Chipata, and Fr. Alick Phiri in a nearby area — supporting them through vestment and religious-article donations and direct financial contributions that funded an ablution center, wells, food distribution, and the establishment of a new parish school. A Healing Mass for those impacted by divorce or separation was hosted with the Family Life Ministry during Lent.
- Mission outreach to Fr. Mathews Mwanza (Chipata, Zambia) and Fr. Alick Phiri
- Funded ablution center, drilling of wells, and food distribution
- Supported establishment of a new parish school in Zambia
- Host of 'Let Anyone Who Thirsts, Come to Me' Healing Mass for those impacted by divorce or separation
Merger into One Catholic Parish for Needham
In March 2023 the Archdiocese of Boston announced the merger of St. Bartholomew with St. Joseph Parish, citing declining Mass attendance, weakened sacramental vitality, and financial challenges. A fifteen-month transition followed under Fr. Bryan K. Parrish, with a joint Transition Team drawn from both Pastoral Councils. The final Sunday Mass was celebrated June 23, 2024, and the merger became effective June 30, 2024. Online giving was migrated to the St. Joseph OSV platform, and active parishioners were enrolled into the St. Joseph envelope system.
- Merger announced March 2023 by the Archdiocese of Boston
- Fifteen-month transition under Fr. Bryan K. Parrish
- Final Sunday Mass on June 23, 2024 — concelebrated, ~500 attendees
- Officially merged into St. Joseph Parish June 30, 2024
- Online giving migrated to St. Joseph's OSV (Our Sunday Visitor) platform
- Parishioners enrolled in St. Joseph's envelope system
Contact & Practical Information
The parish office at 1180 Greendale Avenue was open Monday through Friday 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, with a confidential transition email set up during the merger process.
- Parish Office: (781) 444-3434
- Fax: (781) 449-7550
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stbartholomew-needham.org
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- Transition suggestions: [email protected]