About St. Brigid of Kildare (South Boston) · Boston, Massachusetts
St. Brigid of Kildare is a Roman Catholic parish in the City Point neighborhood of South Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1908 as a mission church of nearby Gate of Heaven Parish. Together with Gate of Heaven Parish and the historic Saint Augustine Chapel, the three faith communities are administered as a single collaborative that shares one rectory, parish office, and pastoral staff. The parish serves South Boston Catholics with daily and Sunday Masses, religious education, sacramental preparation, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and a parish school — South Boston Catholic Academy (SBCA).
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Brigid of Kildare
- Rector
- Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Brigid of Kildare offers a full Catholic life in the heart of City Point, South Boston: three Sunday Masses (including a 6 PM evening Mass during the school year), daily Mass, Monday Eucharistic Adoration with reconciliation, and a robust faith-formation program for children and adults. Parishioners can join the choir, lector or Eucharistic Minister ministries, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, CYO basketball, Bible study, RCIA/OCIA, and an active school community at South Boston Catholic Academy. As one of three linked parishes sharing one rectory and staff, it combines the intimacy of a neighborhood parish with the resources of a larger collaborative.
Mass times at St. Brigid of Kildare (South Boston)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM at Gate of Heaven Church
- Sunday: 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM at St. Brigid Church (September – June)
- Monday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Brigid Church (with Eucharistic Adoration)
Adoration times
- Monday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Brigid Church (paired with confessions)
About St. Brigid of Kildare Parish
St. Brigid of Kildare is a Roman Catholic parish in the City Point section of South Boston, founded in 1908 as a mission church of Gate of Heaven Parish (founded 1863). The parish is administered as a collaborative with Gate of Heaven Parish and the historic Saint Augustine Chapel under one parish office at 841 East Broadway. Together, the three faith communities share clergy, staff, religious-education programs, and the parish school, South Boston Catholic Academy.
- Founded: 1908
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
- Parish Office: 841 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
- St. Brigid Church: 845 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
- Pastor: Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF
History of St. Brigid's
The parish traces its roots to an earlier mission chapel called St. Eulalia's, which served the City Point neighborhood as an outreach of Gate of Heaven Parish. A fire destroyed St. Eulalia's in 1933, and under then-pastor Father Patrick J. Waters the church was rebuilt and rededicated as St. Brigid, named in honor of Father Waters' mother. The new Gothic Revival church was designed by Irish-American architect Maurice P. Mead and built by Charles E. Logue — the County Derry–born contractor who would later build Fenway Park — using red Harvard brick, granite steps, limestone trim and oak doors. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2008 with a published anniversary booklet and continues today as part of the Gate of Heaven / St. Brigid / St. Augustine Chapel collaborative.
- Predecessor chapel: St. Eulalia's, destroyed by fire in 1933
- Rebuilt as St. Brigid, named for the mother of Fr. Patrick J. Waters
- Architect: Maurice P. Mead
- Builder: Charles E. Logue (later builder of Fenway Park)
- Style: Gothic Revival; red Harvard brick, granite, limestone and oak
Clergy and Staff
The collaborative is led by Pastor Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF, with Rev. Peter J. Schirripa serving as Parochial Vicar. Rev. Msgr. Liam Bergin, a priest from Ireland and a Boston College professor, lives at the rectory and assists throughout the week. Karin Cannata serves as Parish Secretary, Marilyn DeAngelo in Operations, Kathy Clancy in Liturgy and Music, and Ellen McDonough in Faith Formation. Additional visiting and assisting priests support weekend and seasonal Masses.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Robert E. Casey, VF
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Peter J. Schirripa
- Priest in Residence: Rev. Msgr. Liam Bergin
- Parish Secretary: Karin Cannata
- Operations: Marilyn DeAngelo
- Liturgy & Music: Kathy Clancy
- Faith Formation: Ellen McDonough
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Education Program provides faith formation for parish children who do not attend South Boston Catholic Academy, with K–6 classes meeting Sundays from 9:00–10:15 AM and joining the 10:30 AM Mass together. First Communion is a two-year program beginning in first grade, in accordance with Archdiocese of Boston norms. Confirmation preparation requires a catechetical year in 7th grade, with classes scheduled at 5:00 PM followed by the 6:00 PM Sunday Mass. Adult faith formation is offered through OCIA (formerly RCIA), running Sunday evenings from late October through the Easter Vigil, plus a five-week Adult Confirmation track.
- K–6 Religious Education, Sundays 9:00–10:15 AM, St. Brigid lower hall
- First Communion — 2-year program, begins in 1st grade
- Confirmation — 7th grade catechetical year; sacrament typically in 8th grade
- OCIA (RCIA) — Sundays, late October through Easter Vigil
- Adult Confirmation — 5-week program within OCIA
South Boston Catholic Academy (Parish School)
South Boston Catholic Academy is the parish school serving City Point and the wider South Boston community, with the motto "Faith, Family, and Academic Excellence." The school enrolls more than 450 students from early childhood through Grade 6 and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. SBCA was formed in 2009 through the merger of the former Gate of Heaven School and St. Brigid School, led by then-pastor Fr. Robert Casey. Its principal is Dr. Helenann Civian; Fr. Casey serves on the school's Board as pastor of the three collaborative parishes.
- Early Childhood program and K–Grade 6
- Motto: Faith, Family, and Academic Excellence
- Accredited by NEASC
- Formed 2009 by merger of Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid schools
- Principal: Dr. Helenann Civian
Parish Ministries and Groups
Beyond the sacraments, the parish offers a wide range of ministries and groups that shape parish life. Liturgical ministries include choir, lectors, altar servers, and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Social-justice and outreach ministries include visiting the homebound, serving the poor, food-pantry volunteering, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Community life includes CYO basketball, men's and women's groups, Bible study, and the annual parish bazaar.
- Choir, Lectors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- CYO Basketball
- Bible Study
- Visiting the homebound / sick
- Food pantry volunteering
- Men's and women's parish groups
- SBCA 1000 Club
- Annual parish bazaar
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Baptisms are scheduled with preparation; First Reconciliation and First Communion follow a two-year religious-education program. Confirmation requires completion of the 7th-grade catechetical year, with the sacrament celebrated the following fall (or in a diocesan adult ceremony for adults). Marriage preparation and the Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the homebound are coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism & Baptismal Preparation
- First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Confirmation (youth and adult)
- Marriage Preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the homebound
Contact and Parish Office
The collaborative parish office is located at 841 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127, and is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Telephone lines are 617-268-2122 and 617-268-3344; the parish email is [email protected]. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and posts Mass times, ministry news, and seasonal updates at gateofheavenstbrigid.org.
- Address: 841 East Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
- Phone: 617-268-2122 / 617-268-3344
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Website: gateofheavenstbrigid.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick J. Waters
Pastor who oversaw the rebuilding of the church after the 1933 fire; the rebuilt church was renamed St. Brigid in honor of his mother.
- Rev. Robert E. Casey
Current pastor; led the 2009 merger of the parish schools into South Boston Catholic Academy and serves as pastor of the collaborative.