About St. Bernadette · Randolph, Massachusetts
St. Bernadette Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in North Randolph, Massachusetts, in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. Founded in 1937, it grew out of a request from the North Randolph Improvement Association to Cardinal William O'Connell and was the second Catholic parish established in Randolph after St. Mary's. Today it is widely recognized as one of the most diverse parishes in the Boston Archdiocese, with parishioners who together speak twenty-three different languages and a large Vietnamese Catholic community that has shaped the parish's identity since the 2000s. Worship is offered in both English and Vietnamese, and the parish runs a Vietnamese-language Sunday school/cultural program in partnership with Boston College.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. Bernadette Soubirous (Saint Bernadette of Lourdes)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Hoa Le (Mark Hoa Tien Le), CRM — Administrator
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is a small but remarkably diverse parish where English and Vietnamese Masses are celebrated side by side, with weekly Eucharistic Adoration in both languages on Thursdays. The parish combines traditional Catholic life — Reconciliation before Mass, monthly Baptisms, Marriage preparation, religious education for grades 1–10, and a devotion to the Eucharist — with a Vietnamese-American heritage program that draws children and adults from across the South Shore to learn language, culture and history together. For Catholics looking for a welcoming, multilingual parish family on the South Shore with a strong tradition of Vietnamese Catholic devotion, St. Bernadette offers an unusual and genuine community.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–3:50 p.m.
- Sunday 8:30–8:50 a.m.
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (English, in the Chapel)
- Thursday 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Vietnamese, in the Chapel)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Bernadette describes itself as 'a community of faith, proud of our Catholic identity, welcoming people from all walks of life and from all over the world.' Its mission statement emphasizes devotion to the Eucharist and a desire to grow 'in number and faith, working together in the hope that we will become what we receive — the Body of Christ.' A 2012 Patriot Ledger profile quoted the parish as one of the most diverse in the Archdiocese of Boston, with members who together speak twenty-three different languages.
- Parish Mission: 'We strive to be united as an example of Christ and His teachings, and to pass on our Christian experience from generation to generation.'
- One of the most diverse parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston — 23 languages spoken among parishioners
- Typical Sunday Mass attendance around 400
History of the Parish
Organized in 1937 in North Randolph after the North Randolph Improvement Association petitioned Cardinal William O'Connell for a second Catholic parish in town, St. Bernadette took the name of St. Bernadette Soubirous, canonized only four years earlier in 1933. It reportedly is the second-oldest St. Bernadette parish in the United States. Initially an Irish-dominated congregation, the parish gradually became one of the most multicultural in the archdiocese as immigration to the South Shore diversified. In 2004 it briefly appeared on a closure list before being removed; in 2009 it welcomed its first Vietnamese pastor, the Rev. Linh Nguyen; and in 2012 Cardinal Seán O'Malley joined the parish to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
- Founded 1937, North Randolph, MA
- Established at the request of the North Randolph Improvement Association
- Second Catholic parish in Randolph after St. Mary's
- On Archdiocesan closure list March 2004; removed May 2004
- First Vietnamese pastor in Archdiocese of Boston: Rev. Linh Nguyen, 2009
- 75th anniversary Mass with Cardinal O'Malley, September 2012
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by an Administrator, Rev. Mark Hoa Le (also given as Mark Hoa Tien Le), CRM, assisted by Deacon Thomas P. Burke. The staff also includes an Office Administrative Assistant, a Music Director with both English and Vietnamese music leadership, and a Religious Education coordinator serving Grades 1 through 10.
- Administrator: Rev. Mark Hoa Le, CRM
- Deacon: Thomas P. Burke
- Office Administrative Assistant: Jean Peri
- Music Directors: Joan Wotton (English); Phong Ta (Vietnamese)
- Religious Education (Grades 1–10): Hieu Tran / Mrs. Huyen Ngo (per Boston Catholic Directory)
Baptism, Marriage & Anointing of the Sick
St. Bernadette offers the three initiation and pastoral sacraments, with scheduling adapted to its bilingual community. Baptisms are celebrated monthly in either English or Vietnamese; couples must contact the parish at least six months before their wedding; and the priest, deacon and Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to the homebound and hospitalized.
- Baptism (English): 2nd Sunday of the month, 12:00 p.m.
- Baptism (Vietnamese): 4th Sunday of the month, 10:00 a.m.
- Baptism instruction: call the office in advance to register
- Marriage: contact priest or deacon ≥ 6 months before wedding; Marriage Preparation Program required
- Visitation of the Sick: Communion brought to the homebound; please notify the parish office of hospitalized parishioners
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children runs from Grades 1 through 10, with a coordinator overseeing both English and Vietnamese tracks in cooperation with parish families. The parish also hosts a Vietnamese-American heritage program for children and adults after Sunday Mass.
- Religious Education for Grades 1 to 10
- Coordinator: Mrs. Huyen Ngo / Hieu Tran
- Vietnamese-American heritage program founded 2009 by BC Professor Thanh Tran (~80 children and ~10 adults weekly)
Parish Office & Visiting
The parish's worship site is at 1031 North Main Street, while the parish office (rectory) is across the street at 1020 North Main Street. Office hours and a bilingual welcome (English and Vietnamese) are posted on the parish website.
- Church (worship): 1031 North Main Street, Randolph, MA 02368
- Parish Office / Rectory: 1020 North Main Street, Randolph, MA 02368
- Phone: (781) 963-1327
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Website: http://www.stbernadette.us
- Bilingual signage and staff (English / Vietnamese)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Linh T. Nguyen2009–(succeeded)
Installed August 2009 as the first Vietnamese pastor in the history of the Archdiocese of Boston; led the parish's 75th anniversary in 2012. Succeeded Rev. Edward Doughty, who was on medical leave.
- Rev. Edward Doughty
Listed in 2009 Patriot Ledger coverage as pastor on medical leave at the time Fr. Linh Nguyen was appointed.