About St. Bridget · Abington, Massachusetts
St. Bridget Parish is a Catholic parish in Abington, Massachusetts, founded in 1863 and pastored today as part of the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative (LOCCC) alongside Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman. The parish serves the South Shore community from its church at 455 Plymouth Street, offering Saturday vigil and Sunday Masses, daily morning Masses on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, weekly Confessions, a parish school (St. Bridget School), Religious Education for grades 1–9, and an array of lay ministries including the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, adult and youth choirs, and Bible study groups. The current pastor is Rev. Adrian Milik, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Godfrey Musabe and three deacons.
- Established
- 1863
- Patron
- St. Bridget of Ireland
- Rector
- Rev. Adrian Milik
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Bridget's is a long-established South Shore parish with deep roots — Irish Catholic heritage, a parish school founded in 1961, and a strong network of lay ministries. Worshippers find a manageable schedule of weekend Masses plus Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning Masses, weekly Saturday Confessions, and the support of three permanent deacons, a parochial vicar, and a pastor who leads the parish collaboratively with neighboring Holy Ghost in Whitman. Outreach includes a local St. Vincent de Paul food pantry for Abington residents, a Knights of Columbus council (#5254), Bible study, adult and youth choirs, a parish lending library, and a Pro-Life committee — making it a place where families, singles, and seniors can plug in easily.
Mass times at St. Bridget
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (or by appointment, 781-878-0900)
Welcome to St. Bridget Parish
St. Bridget Parish is a Catholic community in Abington, Massachusetts, serving the South Shore as part of the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative (LOCCC), which also includes Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman. The parish offers a full schedule of weekend and daily Masses, weekly Confessions, Religious Education, a parish school, and many lay ministries. The pastor is Rev. Adrian Milik, assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Godfrey Musabe and three deacons. The parish office and rectory are located at 455 Plymouth Street, Abington, MA 02351 (Tel: 781-878-0900; Email: [email protected]).
History of St. Bridget Parish
The parish traces its roots to 1856, when Father Aaron Louis Roche was transferred from Immaculate Conception Church in Easton to become pastor of St. Mary's, Randolph, which then included Abington. In the late 1850s, Father Roche celebrated a monthly Mass for Abington Catholics in the Town House (Lyceum Hall) a few hundred feet west of the present church. He purchased the church lot in April 1862; construction began in September of that year and the church was dedicated by Bishop McFarland of Hartford, CT, in November 1863, under the patronage of St. Bridget, patron saint of Ireland. Father Roche served as pastor until his death in January 1869.
- 1856 — Father Roche begins serving Abington from St. Mary's, Randolph; celebrates monthly Masses in the Town House / Lyceum Hall.
- April 1862 — Father Roche buys the church lot.
- September 1862 — Construction of St. Bridget Church begins.
- November 1863 — Church dedicated by Bishop McFarland of Hartford, CT, under the patronage of St. Bridget, patron saint of Ireland.
- January 1869 — Father Roche dies; his monument in St. Patrick's Cemetery is inscribed "Erected by a Grateful Parish."
Pastoral Staff
St. Bridget Parish is led by Pastor Rev. Adrian Milik (781-878-0900 ext. 247; [email protected]) and Parochial Vicar Rev. Godfrey Musabe (781-878-0900 ext. 242; [email protected]). Three deacons — James V. McLaughlin, Joseph Nickley, and Paul Breadmore — assist with parish ministry. Lori Collins is the Administrative Assistant ([email protected], ext. 241), Dennis Leonard is the Finance & Operations Manager (ext. 240), Bill Brown is the Facilities Manager (339-788-8678), and Cathleen Smith is the Religious Education Director (781-447-3135), with Caroline Boffoli assisting as Confirmation Coordinator and Youth Ministry leader. Carrie Bates is the Organist (781-878-5410), and Matthew Collins is Principal of St. Bridget School (781-878-8482).
- Rev. Adrian Milik — Pastor
- Rev. Godfrey Musabe — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon James V. McLaughlin
- Deacon Joseph Nickley
- Deacon Paul Breadmore
- Lori Collins — Administrative Assistant
- Dennis Leonard — Finance & Operations Manager
- Bill Brown — Facilities Manager
- Cathleen Smith — Religious Education Director
- Caroline Boffoli — Confirmation Coordinator / Youth Ministry / DRE Assistant
- Carrie Bates — Organist
- Matthew Collins — St. Bridget School Principal
- Jessie Bishop — Children's Choir
Sacraments
Information on each sacrament is published on the parish website, including practical arrangements and formation requirements. Couples are asked to contact the rectory six to eight months before a wedding; parents register for Baptism directly with the parish secretary; and an Adult Sacrament Preparation Program welcomes adults seeking to enter the Church or complete their sacraments.
- Baptism — Celebrated on the 1st and 2nd Sunday of the month at 1:30 PM; baptism class required for parents (not Godparents); Godparents must be 16+, one confirmed practicing Catholic, the other a baptized Christian.
- Confession — Saturdays 2:30–3:30 PM, or by appointment.
- Marriage — 6–8 months advance notice; meeting with a priest; Marriage Preparation available through the Archdiocese of Boston.
- Anointing of the Sick — by contacting the Parish Office.
- Adult Sacrament Preparation — through Fr. Adrian (ext. 247) or Deacon James McLaughlin (ext. 244).
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation runs from grades 1 through 9 and is coordinated across both parishes of the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative. Registration for the 2025–26 school year has closed, but inquiries about scheduling and Confirmation are welcomed by the DRE and Confirmation Coordinator.
- Faith Formation — Grades 1–9.
- Confirmation preparation coordinated by Cathleen Smith ([email protected]).
- Youth Ministry led by Caroline Boffoli ([email protected]).
- Vacation Bible School — held August 10–14, 2025 at St. Bridget; contact Deacon Joseph (Jasinski).
St. Bridget School
St. Bridget Parish School, established in 1961 under Msgr. Charles E. Riley's pastorate, serves students from Abington and surrounding communities. The school shares the campus at 455 Plymouth Street with the parish church and rectory.
- Principal: Matthew Collins — 781-878-8482
- Website (per bulletin): www.Stbridgetschool.us
- Opened in 1961 during Msgr. Riley's pastorate.
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Bridget is supported by an Adult Choir, a collaborative Youth Choir, and a Children's Choir, all coordinated by Organist Carrie Bates. The SB Adult Choir sings at the Saturday Vigil Mass on the third Saturday of each month and at special liturgies.
- SB Adult Choir — sings at 4 PM Vigil Mass, third Saturday of each month; meets 3 PM that day.
- Collaborative Youth Choir — sings twice per month.
- Children's Choir — directed by Jessie Bishop (781-974-5043).
- Organist Carrie Bates — 781-878-5410.
Parish Ministries & Outreach
A broad range of lay ministries welcomes parishioners of all ages. The Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative organizes outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, the Knights of Columbus, Bible study, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers and greeters, altar servers, and the parish lending library.
- Knights of Columbus — Abington Council #5254 (781-878-9863).
- St. Vincent de Paul & Food Pantry — Abington residents in need of assistance; Mary Hickey 781-878-1194.
- Bible Study — periodic; Martha Craft 781-878-1116.
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers & Greeters, Servers — contact Parish Office 781-878-0900 ext. 241.
- Parish Lending Library — Catholic books, CDs, DVDs; in Fr. Glennon Hall, open 24/7; contact Martha Ea 617-699-7511.
- Pro-Life Committee and Scholarship Committee — coordinated through the Parish Office.
Cemeteries
The parish is associated with two South Shore Catholic cemeteries whose care is overseen through the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative staff.
- St. Patrick Cemetery — questions to Lori at 781-878-0900 x 241 or [email protected].
- St. James Cemetery (Whitman) — questions to Kathy on Wednesdays only at 781-447-4421 x 213.
The Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative
St. Bridget Parish is one of two parishes of the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative (LOCCC), the other being Holy Ghost Parish in Whitman (518 Washington Street). The collaborative shares pastors, staff, faith formation, and many ministries, while each parish retains its own worship schedule. Inquiries, records, and scheduling for both parishes are routed through the St. Bridget parish office at 781-878-0900 x 241.
- St. Bridget Parish — 455 Plymouth Street, Abington, MA 02351; 781-878-0900; [email protected].
- Holy Ghost Parish — 518 Washington Street, Whitman, MA 02382; 781-447-4421.
- Website — https://www.loccc.org/
Visit, Contact & Accessibility
Visitors and parishioners are warmly welcomed. The church is wheelchair accessible via ramp, the rectory is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM (closed noon–1 PM for lunch), and inquiries can be made by phone, fax, or email. The collaborative also broadcasts TV Masses for those at home.
- Address — 455 Plymouth Street, Abington, MA 02351.
- Telephone — 781-878-0900; Fax — 781-878-6566.
- Email — [email protected].
- Wheelchair accessible via ramp.
- Rectory Hours — Monday–Friday 9 AM–3 PM (closed 12–1 PM).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Aaron Louis Roche1856–1869
First pastor; bought the church lot in 1862; the church was dedicated in November 1863.
- Rev. Michael Moran1869–1872
Brief successor to Father Roche.
- Rev. James Whitman (or successor)1870s–1888
Identified on the parish history page as a pastor in the early decades after the church was founded.
- Rev. Patrick H. Billing1897–1917
Twenty-year pastorate; built the present rectory in 1904.
- Rev. John H. Lyons1917–1931
Erected the altar as a memorial to Father Billing; added oak screen, new lighting, and interior improvements.
- Rev. James H. Downey1931–1937
Six-year term under the diocese's six-year pastoral policy.
- Rev. Bernard S. O'Kane1937–1943
Served during the difficult years of World War II.
- Rev. Peter J. Conlon1943–1949
Served during World War II.
- Rev. Francis Egan1949–1951
Brief tenure.
- Rev. Charles E. Riley1951–1973
Beloved twenty-two-year pastor (later Monsignor); built Parish Hall (1953), opened St. Bridget School (1961) and the Sisters of Divine Providence convent (1966); led the centennial in 1963.
- Rev. James W. McWade1973–1985
Welcomed the Capuchin Friars, who occupied the convent as St. Lawrence Friary until 1989.
- Rev. Michael L. Bowab1985–1987
Brief pastorate.
- Rev. Gerald J. Hickey1987–1994
Successor to Father Bowab.
- Rev. Allan Butler1994–2006
Succeeded Father Hickey.
- Rev. James M. Mahoney2006–
Appointed by Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley effective June 6, 2006; previously director of the archdiocesan Pastoral Institute and faculty member at St. John's Seminary.
- Rev. Adrian Milik
Current pastor (per the parish staff page on loccc.org); leads the parish as part of the Light of Christ Catholic Collaborative.