About St. Camillus · Arlington, Massachusetts
St. Camillus Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Arlington, Massachusetts, part of the Archdiocese of Boston and now linked in a collaborative with neighboring St. Agnes Parish under the umbrella name Catholic Parishes of Arlington. Founded on July 18, 1950, with Fr. John E. Sullivan as its first pastor, the parish first celebrated Mass on Palm Sunday, April 29, 1951. The current church on Concord Turnpike was dedicated on October 1, 1961, by Richard Cardinal Cushing, and the parish is most famous for its 14-bell carillon chime — one of only eight in Massachusetts with more than 14 bells — cast by the Dutch Royal Eijsbouts/Petit & Fritsen foundry. Today the parish is led by Very Rev. Marc J. Bishop, VF, Pastor, together with parochial vicars, deacons, and a lay staff.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Camillus de Lellis
- Rector
- Very Rev. Marc J. Bishop, V.F.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Camillus is a welcoming family-sized parish with deep roots in Arlington — founded by about 250 families in 1950 and now serving the community alongside St. Agnes Parish under one pastoral team. It offers daily and Sunday Mass in English, Saturday confessions, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a faith-formation program for children and families, and an evangelization outreach. Its 14-bell chime, Botticino marble altar, and stained-glass windows depicting the works of St. Camillus de Lellis give the parish a distinctive character that has called generations to prayer.
Mass times at St. Camillus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (St. Camillus)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Society: every Thursday, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (at St. Agnes / Lower Church, Mercy Chapel)
Parish History
St. Camillus Parish was officially established on July 18, 1950, with Fr. John E. Sullivan as founding pastor. The first Mass was celebrated on Palm Sunday, April 29, 1951, and the church on Concord Turnpike was dedicated October 1, 1961 by Richard Cardinal Cushing. The parish traces its roots to roughly 250 founding families drawn from St. James Parish in Arlington — families whose generosity extended even to donating the loam and plants that landscaped the church grounds.
- Founded: July 18, 1950
- First Mass: April 29, 1951 (Palm Sunday)
- Church dedicated: October 1, 1961 by Cardinal Cushing
- New rectory completed: May 1963
- 75th anniversary celebrated 2025–2026
The Bell Chime and Bell Tower
The 14-bell chime installed at St. Camillus in 1966 is one of only eight in Massachusetts with more than 14 bells. The bells were cast by Royal Bellfounders Petit & Fritsen of Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands — one of the world's oldest family-owned bell foundries, established in 1660. For nearly six decades they have called the parish to prayer and marked life's milestones, but today they are silent due to significant structural deterioration in the Bell Tower. The parish is actively raising funds to restore them.
- 14 bells installed in 1966
- Cast by Petit & Fritsen, Aarle-Rixtel, Netherlands (est. 1660)
- One of only 8 Massachusetts chimes with more than 14 bells
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Camillus offers Mass in English throughout the week. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Saturday at 9:00 AM, and Saturday morning Mass is at 9:00 AM as well. Saturday confessions are heard from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The Mass schedule for the Catholic Parishes of Arlington (St. Camillus and St. Agnes) is also live-streamed through the parish website.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM
- Weekday: Mon–Sat 9:00 AM
- First Friday (St. Agnes Lower Church): 5:30 PM
- Confessions: Sat 9:30–10:30 AM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at the Catholic Parishes of Arlington is coordinated by Ms. Meredith Smith. The program forms children and families in the Catholic faith in close coordination with parish sacramental preparation and family catechesis.
- Director: Ms. Meredith Smith
Liturgy & Music
Liturgy and music ministry at the Catholic Parishes of Arlington is led by Ms. Kristyn McKenna and Mr. Roger Mansen, supporting the sung prayer of the weekend and weekday Masses at St. Camillus and St. Agnes.
- Liturgy & Music: Ms. Kristyn McKenna, Mr. Roger Mansen
Evangelization & Outreach
Evangelization for the Catholic Parishes of Arlington is led by Mr. Scott Morin. The parish describes itself as a 'family of families proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ and forming missionary disciples sent to transform the world through prayer, study, generosity, and evangelization,' with clergy and laity sharing co-responsibility for the mission of Christ in homes, churches, and local communities.
- Director of Evangelization: Mr. Scott Morin
- Mission: proclaiming the Good News and forming missionary disciples
Clergy & Staff
St. Camillus is pastored together with St. Agnes under the Catholic Parishes of Arlington collaborative. The pastoral team includes the pastor, two parochial vicars, three priests in residence, a permanent deacon, an administrative assistant, operations staff, a media communications coordinator, a pastoral associate, liturgy and music staff, a faith-formation director, and an evangelization director.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Marc J. Bishop, V.F.
- Vicars: Rev. Huan D. Ngo; Rev. Alwin J. Chinnappan
- In Residence: Rev. Paul E. Kilroy; Rev. Ronald D. Coyne; Rev. Robert M. O'Grady
- Deacon: Deacon Peter W. Bujwid
- Pastoral Associate: Ms. Mary Wessel
- Faith Formation: Ms. Meredith Smith
- Liturgy & Music: Ms. Kristyn McKenna, Mr. Roger Mansen
- Evangelization: Mr. Scott Morin
- Media Communications: Ms. Fabiola Aguilera
- Administrative: Ms. Charlene Camara
- Operations: Mr. William Healey, Mr. James Judge
The Catholic Parishes of Arlington Collaborative
St. Camillus (1185 Concord Turnpike) and St. Agnes (32 Medford St.) are linked as the Catholic Parishes of Arlington, sharing one pastor, clergy team, and staff. The collaborative uses cparl.org as its unified website and shares a livestream of weekend Masses.
- St. Camillus — 1185 Concord Turnpike, Arlington
- St. Agnes — 32 Medford St., Arlington
- Parish Office — 51 Medford Street, Arlington, MA 02474-3197
- Rectory — 1175 Concord Turnpike, Arlington, MA 02476-7262
Location & Visiting
St. Camillus Church sits on Concord Turnpike (Route 2) in Arlington, Massachusetts, accessible via Exit 57 (Wadsworth Rd). The parish phone line is (781) 648-0220 and the parish office is at 51 Medford Street, Arlington, MA 02474-3197. Mass is live-streamed through the parish website for those unable to attend in person.
- Phone: (781) 648-0220
- Address: 1185 Concord Turnpike, Arlington, MA 02476-7262
- Access via Exit 57 (Wadsworth Rd) off Route 2
- Live stream: https://cparl.org/live-stream
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John E. Sullivan1950–
First pastor; founding pastor when the parish was established July 18, 1950; celebrated the first Mass on Palm Sunday, April 29, 1951.
- Very Rev. Marc J. Bishop, V.F.
Current pastor of the Catholic Parishes of Arlington collaborative (St. Camillus and St. Agnes).