About St. Basil Chapel · Bridgewater, Massachusetts
St. Basil Chapel is the Catholic campus ministry chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, serving the students of Bridgewater State University within the Archdiocese of Boston. Originally built in 1965 to house what had become one of the largest Newman Clubs in the United States, the chapel now functions as a worship site alongside St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Center Street — together forming one parish with two worship sites. A Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM is celebrated at St. Basil, and the chapel remains the spiritual home of the Catholic Center and Newman student ministry on the BSU campus.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Basil the Great
- Rector
- Rev. Bill Devine (Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, which operates St. Basil Chapel)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Basil Chapel exists to give Bridgewater State University students — and anyone in the wider Bridgewater community — a place to pray, celebrate the Eucharist, and grow in friendship with Christ and with one another. As the campus ministry arm of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, it combines a Sunday Mass with the full spiritual and devotional life of the parish (daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, Divine Mercy Holy Hour) and a vibrant Newman student community with weekly Newman Nights of Holy Hour, dinner and activities. It is also the spiritual hub of a parish that runs a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, faith formation for children, OCIA for adults entering the Church, music ministry, and outreach to the local and broader community.
Mass times at St. Basil Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:45 – 10:30 AM (Lower Church)
- Saturday 12:00 – 1:00 PM (Lower Church)
- or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Fridays 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Lower Church)
- Saturdays 9:45 – 10:30 AM (Lower Church, after Mass)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM — Divine Mercy Holy Hour (Lower Church)
History of St. Basil Chapel
St. Basil's Chapel traces its roots to the Newman Club formally organized on campus in 1936 by Father Joseph Bernard, then a curate at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. By 1957 the club was the second largest Newman organization in the United States. Catholic students made up the bulk of daily Mass attendance at St. Thomas Aquinas, walking a mile and a half to worship before class. When Cardinal Cushing learned of the need, the Archdiocese purchased a Park Avenue house for $15,900 in 1960; it was remodeled and used 1961–1964, then replaced by the present chapel and Catholic Center in 1965.
- 1936 – Newman Club formally organized by Fr. Joseph Bernard
- 1957 – second-largest Newman Club in the United States
- 1960 – Park Avenue house purchased by the Archdiocese of Boston for $15,900
- 1965 – current St. Basil Chapel and Catholic Center opened
St. Basil Chapel Today
St. Basil Chapel is the campus ministry chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, serving the students of Bridgewater State University under the Archdiocese of Boston. The Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM is celebrated at the chapel, and the building also hosts the Catholic Center offices and student ministry activities.
- Worship site address: 122 Park Ave., Bridgewater, MA 02324
- Parish: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish — 'One Parish…Two Worship Sites'
- Campus Chaplain: Fr. Rodrigo Martinez
Campus Ministry & Newman Student Life
Continuing the tradition begun over eighty years ago, the Catholic Center at St. Basil's Chapel offers a place to pray, grow in holiness and develop authentic friendships. A Sunday-night Student Mass is celebrated at 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church from September through May, and Newman Night on Thursdays includes Holy Hour, dinner, and activities.
- Sunday Student Mass, 5:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church (Sept–May)
- Newman Night on Thursdays: Holy Hour, dinner, activities
- Daily Mass and the wider devotional life of the parish are open to students
- Contact: Fr. Rodrigo Martinez, Campus Chaplain ([email protected])
Mass & Devotional Schedule
Sunday Mass at St. Basil Chapel is celebrated at 10:30 AM, with the parish's daily Mass, Confessions, Eucharistic Adoration and Divine Mercy Holy Hour offered at the Lower Church of St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Center Street. Confessions are also available by appointment.
- Sunday Mass at St. Basil Chapel: 10:30 AM
- Daily Mass (Mon–Sat): 9:00 AM in the Lower Church
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church
- Confessions: Saturday 9:45–10:30 AM and 12:00–1:00 PM, or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Fridays 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM; Saturdays 9:45–10:30 AM
- Divine Mercy Holy Hour: Wednesdays 7:00 PM in the Lower Church
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Basil Chapel is staffed as part of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. The parish pastor is Rev. Bill Devine; the parochial vicars are Fr. Rodrigo Martinez (who serves as Campus Chaplain at St. Basil) and Fr. John Saniuk, with Senior Deacon Leo Donoghue assisting.
- Rev. Bill Devine — Pastor
- Fr. Rodrigo Martinez — Parochial Vicar & Campus Chaplain
- Fr. John Saniuk — Parochial Vicar
- Senior Deacon Leo Donoghue
- Peter Vitagliano — Finance & Operations Officer
- Tina Larson — Administrative Assistant
- Paul Hoffman — Music Director
- Debbie Hill — Faith Formation Director
- Maryann Ofstein — Faith Formation Secretary
- Andy Kovacs — Maintenance Manager
- Aaron Durocher — Pastoral Assistant
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith Formation for children and families is coordinated through the parish's Faith Formation Office under director Debbie Hill, with adult initiation offered through OCIA. The parish also runs a youth group and prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral rites.
- Faith Formation: 508-697-3652, [email protected]
- OCIA for adults entering the Church
- Youth Group
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul
The parish operates a St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and a financial assistance program serving neighbors in the Bridgewater area. Assistance can be requested through the parish office line.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry / Financial Assistance
- Contact: 508-697-9528, then option 5
Facilities & Rental
In addition to its two worship sites, the parish maintains a Parish Center with multiple meeting spaces. St. Basil Chapel can be used as a more intimate meeting space with a small dining area and direct access to a worship space, while the larger Parish Center offers an Educational Center with nine classrooms and a gymnasium/function hall that can host small groups to functions of up to 200 people. The facilities house faith formation, weekend hospitality, the food pantry, and many ministries, and are also available to the community for private parties, meetings, sports, scouts, private schooling, and retreats.
- St. Basil Chapel — intimate meeting space with small dining area and direct access to worship space
- Parish Center — Educational Center with 9 classrooms
- Gymnasium/function hall with 2 small conference rooms
- Hosts up to 200 people
- Rental inquiries: Tina at the Parish Office, 508-697-9528
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is located at 103 Center Street, Bridgewater, MA 02324. Summer hours run Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The Catholic Center at St. Basil's Chapel can also be reached at 508-531-3011 for campus ministry inquiries.
- Parish Office: 103 Center St., Bridgewater, MA 02324
- Phone: 508-697-9528
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stthomasaquinas.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Bernard1936
Curate at St. Thomas Aquinas Church who formally organized the Newman Club at what was then Bridgewater State Teachers College