About St. Brendan (Dorchester Center) · Boston, Massachusetts
St. Martin de Porres Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston serving the Neponset/Cedar Grove neighborhoods of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Formed by Cardinal Seán O'Malley's decree merging the former St. Ann Parish and St. Brendan Parish, it operates as a multi-site parish with two worship sites — St. Ann Church (251 Neponset Avenue) and St. Brendan Church (589 Gallivan Boulevard) — along with St. Brendan School (29 Rita Road). The parish is led by Fr. W. Chris Palladino, JCL, with Deacon William Proulx and a parish staff supporting worship, faith formation, youth ministry, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and the oldest Catholic neighborhood school still operating in Dorchester.
- Established
- 2020
- Patron
- St. Martin de Porres
- Rector
- Rev. W. Chris Palladino, JCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Martin de Porres Parish welcomes Catholics from across Dorchester's Neponset and Cedar Grove neighborhoods to worship at two historic church sites — the basilica-style St. Ann Church on Neponset Avenue and the 1930s-era St. Brendan Church on Gallivan Boulevard — with daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confessions, and monthly Eucharistic Holy Hours. The parish nourishes faith through OCIA (formerly RCIA), religious education for children, a youth ministry hosting monthly gatherings for grades 3–10, and a music ministry directed by Michelle McCourt; it serves neighbors in need through a St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry and homebound/sick visitation. Families with school-age children can also enroll at the adjacent parish school, St. Brendan School, the last neighborhood parish Catholic school remaining in Dorchester.
Mass times at St. Brendan (Dorchester Center)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM at St. Brendan Church (prior to the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour — 5:00 PM at St. Brendan Church on the 2nd Tuesday of the month
- Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour — 5:00 PM at St. Ann Church on the 4th Thursday of the month
- No Holy Hour during summer months; dates subject to change — see bulletin
Parish Overview
St. Martin de Porres Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston serving Dorchester's Neponset and Cedar Grove neighborhoods. Formed in 2020 from the merger of St. Ann and St. Brendan parishes, it operates two church sites — St. Ann Church on Neponset Avenue and St. Brendan Church on Gallivan Boulevard — and oversees the parish school, St. Brendan School. The parish office is at 243 Neponset Avenue, Dorchester.
- Pastor: Fr. W. Chris Palladino, JCL
- Deacon: William (Bill) Proulx
- Finance & Operations Manager: Nancy A. Lafoe
- Administrative Assistant: Amy Mulvey
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Paula Skalinski
- Music Director: Mrs. Michelle McCourt
- Youth Minister: Ms. Annie McDonnell
- St. Brendan School Principal: Mrs. Maura Burke
History of the Parish
On June 22, 2020, Cardinal Seán O'Malley decreed the merger of St. Ann Parish and St. Brendan Parish, creating what was initially called 'St. Ann–St. Brendan Parish.' After a nomination and online rank-voting process involving roughly 300 parishioners, the new parish was named St. Martin de Porres in honor of the 16th-century Peruvian Dominican brother and patron of mixed-race people, racial harmony, and public health workers. The choice was announced in August 2020 by then-pastor Fr. Brian Clary, who had co-proposed the merger with Fr. Robert Connors.
- Decree of merger: June 22, 2020 (Cardinal Seán O'Malley)
- Parish name announced: August 2020
- Name chosen via parishioner nomination and online rank-voting
- Honors St. Martín de Porres Velázquez (1579–1639), Dominican brother, canonized 1962
St. Ann Church
St. Ann's origins go back to 1880–81, when a wooden church was built on Minot Street in Neponset as a ward of St. Gregory's; it became St. Ann's Parish in 1889. The current church, designed in the style of a Roman basilica with a freestanding campanile (bell tower) in the rear, was begun in 1915 under Fr. John S. McKone and completed in 1920. Today St. Ann Church hosts the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass and the Thursday and Friday 9:00 AM daily Masses.
- First church: wooden structure, Minot Street, 1880–81 (ward of St. Gregory's)
- Became a parish: 1889
- Current church: begun 1915, completed 1920
- Style: Roman basilica with campanile
St. Brendan Church
St. Brendan began with the first Mass celebrated in a garage/auto body shop on the corner of Gallivan Boulevard and Granite Avenue in 1929, with roughly 1,650 in attendance. The current church on Gallivan Boulevard was built beginning in 1935 and celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2025. Early parishioners were largely Irish American laborers who settled in the Cedar Grove area after World War I. In 2022 Cardinal O'Malley temporarily halted a planned closure, and the parish, supported by the Friends of Saint Brendan nonprofit, has since met Archdiocesan goals to keep the church operating.
- First Mass: 1929, in an auto body shop at Gallivan Blvd. and Granite Ave.
- Current church built: beginning 1935 (90th anniversary celebrated 2025)
- St. Brendan School built by parishioners: 1951
- Formerly staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph
- In 2022 Cardinal O'Malley paused plans to close the church; the Friends of Saint Brendan donated $71,000 in fiscal year 2024–25 to support operations
- 'Gathering for Good' 90th-anniversary fundraiser: raised in excess of $200,000
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The normal weekly schedule includes the Saturday Vigil Mass and one Sunday Mass at St. Brendan Church, with the other Sunday Mass at St. Ann Church; daily Mass alternates between the two church buildings Monday through Friday. Wednesday has no daily Mass. Confessions are heard before the Saturday Vigil Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration (Holy Hour) is offered monthly at each church site.
- Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM — St. Brendan Church (Confessions 3:00–3:45 PM)
- Sunday 9:00 AM — St. Brendan Church
- Sunday 10:30 AM — St. Ann Church
- Monday 9:00 AM — St. Brendan Church
- Tuesday 9:00 AM — St. Brendan Church
- Wednesday — No Mass
- Thursday 9:00 AM — St. Ann Church
- Friday 9:00 AM — St. Ann Church
- Holy Days — Masses as announced
Sacraments
The parish celebrates Infant Baptism monthly at each church site, prepares adults for initiation through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly RCIA), and coordinates Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and sacramental record requests through the parish office. Sacramental records (Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage) are kept at the parish for about 25 years; older records are held by the Archdiocesan Archives in Braintree.
- Infant Baptism — 2nd Saturday at 1:00 PM, St. Brendan Church; 4th Saturday at 1:00 PM, St. Ann Church; register ≥30 days in advance
- Godparents must meet Canon Law c. 874 §1 requirements
- Adult Baptism / Reception into the Church — via OCIA (RCIA)
- Marriage — contact parish office at least 6 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through parish office
- Records held: St. Ann baptisms 2000–present; St. Brendan baptisms 1990–present; older records at Archdiocesan Archives, 66 Brooks Dr., Braintree, MA 02184, (617) 254-0100
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for parish children is directed by Mrs. Paula Skalinski. Adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their initiation are served through OCIA (formerly RCIA), led by Deacon Bill Proulx; the 2025–2026 OCIA program began in October 2025.
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Paula Skalinski ([email protected])
- OCIA / Adult Enrichment — Deacon Bill Proulx
- OCIA 2025–2026 program began October 2025
Youth Ministry
The parish hosts monthly Youth Group nights during the school year on Fridays from 6:30–8:00 PM at the Parish Hall (the gym at St. John Paul II Catholic Academy, 235 Neponset Ave.), with occasional sessions in the lower church hall at St. Brendan Church. Two age-based groups meet monthly: Grades 3–5 and Grades 6+ (sometimes written '6–10'). Youth Group gatherings feature pizza, snacks, games, water games in warmer months, and faith-filled activities.
- Two groups: Grades 3–5 and Grades 6+
- When: Fridays 6:30–8:00 PM during the school year
- Where: Parish Hall at St. John Paul II Catholic Academy, 235 Neponset Ave.
- Youth Minister: Ms. Annie McDonnell
- Assistant Youth Ministry Coordinator: Linda Damatin
Music Ministry
Music at weekend and holy day liturgies is led by Music Director Mrs. Michelle McCourt, supported by a small team of musicians and singers.
- Music Director: Mrs. Michelle McCourt ([email protected])
- Allyn McCourt — baritone / strings
- Rachel Webb — soprano
- Annie McDonnell
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is centered on the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry, which serves local families in need and residents of Keystone housing. The parish also visits the homebound and elderly, bringing Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Sick, or a priest visit on request. Friends of Saint Brendan — a separate nonprofit 501(c)(3) — raises funds for St. Brendan Church operations and repairs.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — by appointment; contact Sue Allen (617-650-2118) or Dianne Byrne (617-905-3151)
- Accepts non-perishables: cereal, pasta, sauce, canned pasta, box potatoes, rice, mac & cheese, soups, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned chicken
- Drop-off baskets inside front entrances of St. Ann and St. Brendan churches
- Friends of Saint Brendan — separate 501(c)(3) supporting St. Brendan Church; donated $71,000 in fiscal year 2024–25
- Ministry to the Homebound & Elderly — call parish office
St. Brendan School
St. Brendan School is a parish Catholic elementary school built by parishioners in 1951 in the Cedar Grove section of Dorchester, bordering Milton and Quincy. Formerly staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph, it enrolls roughly 200 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 6/8 and is described as the last neighborhood parish Catholic school still operating in Dorchester. The school and the adjacent St. Brendan Church together serve as anchors of the Cedar Grove Catholic community.
- Address: 29 Rita Road, Dorchester, MA 02124
- Phone: 617-282-3388; Fax: 617-822-9152
- Website: www.stbrendanschool.org
- Principal: Mrs. Maura Burke
- Founded: 1951 (built by parishioners)
- Formerly staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph
- A neighborhood parish school of St. Martin de Porres Parish
Parish Leadership & Councils
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. W. Chris Palladino, JCL, and Deacon William Proulx, supported by a Finance & Operations Manager, Administrative Assistant, Director of Religious Education, Music Director, and Youth Minister. Governance is shared with a Parish Council and a Finance Council, whose members (2024–2025) are listed in the parish bulletin.
- Pastor: Fr. W. Chris Palladino, JCL ([email protected])
- Deacon: William Proulx ([email protected])
- Finance & Operations Manager: Nancy A. Lafoe ([email protected])
- Administrative Assistant: Amy Mulvey ([email protected])
- Finance Council: Deacon Bill Proulx, Lawrence Feeney, James Hunt, Robert Madden, Mary Lou O'Connor, Michael Ryan
- Parish Council: James Ashe, Patricia Dennehy, Michael Flynn Jr., Mark Hegarty, Laura Lasdow, Stefanie O'Shea, Kaitlin Passafaro, Deacon Bill Proulx, Emily Sanchez, Kristen Sullivan, Al Totten
Getting Involved
Parishioners can get involved through liturgical ministries (music, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion — by inquiry through the parish office), faith-formation volunteer roles, youth ministry support, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and the Friends of Saint Brendan nonprofit that supports St. Brendan Church operations and repairs.
- Volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry (contact Sue Allen or Dianne Byrne)
- Volunteer with Youth Ministry (contact Ms. Annie McDonnell)
- Support Friends of Saint Brendan (separate 501(c)(3) for St. Brendan Church repairs)
- Join the OCIA team or assist with Religious Education (contact Mrs. Paula Skalinski)
- Parish Council and Finance Council service
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open by phone at 617-436-0310 (fax 617-436-1386) and by email at [email protected]. The two church sites — St. Ann Church at 251 Neponset Avenue and St. Brendan Church at 589 Gallivan Boulevard — are open for scheduled Masses and the monthly Holy Hour; the latest schedule and announcements are published in the weekly parish bulletin.
- Parish Office: 243 Neponset Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02122
- Phone: 617-436-0310
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stmartindeporresparishdorchester.org/
- St. Ann Church: 251 Neponset Avenue
- St. Brendan Church: 589 Gallivan Boulevard, Dorchester, MA 02124
- St. Brendan School: 29 Rita Road, Dorchester, MA 02124
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Connors
Co-proposed the merger with Fr. Brian Clary to the Archdiocese of Boston
- Fr. Brian Clary
Pastor who led the merger process and announced the choice of St. Martin de Porres as the new parish name in 2020
- Fr. W. Chris Palladino, JCLJuly 2021–present
Current pastor; arrived July 2021; in 2022 requested relegation of St. Brendan Church; led financial-recovery plan that kept the church open