St. Catherine of Siena

About Saint Catherine of Siena Parish

Saint Catherine of Siena Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Boston, located at 547 Washington Street in Norwood, Massachusetts. Formally established in 1890 from a mission of St. Mary in Dedham that had served the area since 1863, the parish is now in its 125th year of continuous ministry. Its mission statement, drawn from the First Letter to the Corinthians, commits the community to live the Gospel 'through worship, education, service and evangelization' and to welcome all in Christ.

Parish History

Catholic life in what is now Norwood began with Irish immigrant families who arrived in the 1840s to build the Norfolk County Railroad and work at the Bird and Son paper mills. A small church was purchased in 1863 for $3,000, and the community was organized as a mission of St. Mary in Dedham before being formally erected as Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in April 1890 by Archbishop Williams. The first pastor, Rev. James B. Troy, shepherded 1,500 Catholics; within a century the parish would serve more than 15,000 souls as Norwood itself grew from 7,000 to 30,000 residents.

• 1863 — small mission church purchased for $3,000
• April 1890 — parish formally established by Archbishop Williams
• First pastor: Rev. James B. Troy (1890–1907)
• 100th-anniversary pastorate under Msgr. McRae served more than 15,000 parishioners
• Parish crest combines patron-saint emblems with Massachusetts codfish, Norwood Town Hall carillon, and Archdiocesan 'Tremont' mountains

Our Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Stephen Donohoe and Parochial Vicar Rev. Christopher Letizia, supported by a dedicated lay staff handling religious education, music, business, and parish administration. Direct extensions are listed in the parish bulletin for easy contact.

• Rev. Stephen Donohoe — Pastor (x112)
• Rev. Christopher Letizia — Parochial Vicar (x131)
• Joseph Scolastico — Director of Music and Organist (x126)
• Beth Lindberg — Religious Education Coordinator (x122); [email protected]
• Bob Calarese — Parish Business Manager (x119)
• Diane Butts — Parish Bookkeeper (x120)
• Laura Hayes — Administrative Assistant (x110)

Devotions & Prayer Life

Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a robust devotional life that includes a daily morning Rosary, a First Friday all-night vigil, First Saturday devotions in reparation to the Immaculate Heart, a monthly 'Mondays with Moms' gathering with adoration and confession, and a weekly Men's Prayer Group with Bible study and fellowship. Lenten retreats are offered with visiting priests (e.g., the SMA Fathers).

• Daily Rosary — 6:20 AM
• First Friday All-Night Adoration Vigil
• First Saturday Devotions (reparation to the Immaculate Heart)
• Mondays with Moms — first Monday, 9:30 AM (chapel)
• Men's Prayer Group — Saturday after 7:00 AM Mass
• Feast of Divine Mercy celebration
• Lenten Retreat with visiting priests

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments on a regular schedule. Baptisms are held at 1:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, First Penance is prepared in Grade 2, and Confirmation is prepared in grades 3–7. Engaged couples are asked to contact a parish priest at least eight months before the wedding, and the Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the priests.

• Baptism — 1:00 PM, 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month
• First Penance — Grade 2 preparation
• First Holy Communion — Grade 2 preparation
• Confirmation — Grades 3–7 preparation
• Matrimony — 8-month notice required
• Anointing of the Sick — by request to a parish priest
• Reconciliation — Saturdays 12:00–1:30 PM, or by appointment

Religious Education & Youth

The parish runs a full Religious Education program coordinated by Beth Lindberg, including Family Catechesis on Sunday mornings at 10:15 AM, Confirmation preparation meetings, and sacramental prep for First Penance and First Holy Communion. Youth ministry offerings include training sessions for new youth lectors and the Little Flowers Girls' Club for ages 5–12.

• Family Catechesis — Sundays at 10:15 AM
• Confirmation Preparation — periodic Sunday sessions in the cafeteria
• Little Flowers Girls' Club (ages 5–12) — monthly meetings in the school cafeteria
• Youth Lector training sessions
• RCIA / Becoming Catholic — contact Fr. Donohoe
• Contact: [email protected]

Saint Catherine of Siena School

Founded in 1926 by Father James Doherty and originally staffed by the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Saint Catherine of Siena School (SCS) is the parish's PreK–8 elementary school, located at 249 Nahatan Street, Norwood. With roughly 406 students, an average class size of 15, and a 1:1 technology program in grades K–8, the school emphasizes a holistic, Christ-centered education in which students are taught to 'See Christ in others. Be Christ for others.' Students log more than 5,500 community-service hours each year and 85% receive a sacrament annually.

• Address: 249 Nahatan Street, Norwood, MA 02062 — Phone: 781-769-5354
• Founded 1926 by Father James Doherty; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph at founding
• Grades: Preschool–8
• Approximately 406 students; average class size 15; 43 faculty
• 1:1 technology in Grades K–8; 81% of 8th graders at/above grade level in reading
• 5,500+ community service hours performed each year
• Principal Beth Tanner; Vice Principal Rob Hall
• Four pillars: project/problem-based learning, faith formation, character & service, stewardship of gifts

Outreach & Charity

The parish runs active outreach through its local St. Vincent de Paul conference and through the parish school, which logs thousands of community-service hours annually. Adult inquirers interested in becoming Catholic or being received more fully into the Church are invited to speak with Fr. Donohoe.

• St. Vincent de Paul Society — 781-414-2744
• Parish-school community service: 5,500+ hours/year
• RCIA inquiries directed to Fr. Donohoe (x112)

Music & Liturgy

Liturgical music at Saint Catherine's is led by Director of Music and Organist Joseph Scolastico. The parish's Sunday 11:00 AM Mass is designated the Choir Mass, while the 9:00 AM Mass is the Family Mass, reflecting the parish's commitment to full, participatory, intergenerational worship.

• Director of Music & Organist: Joseph Scolastico (x126)
• 11:00 AM Sunday Mass — Choir Mass
• 9:00 AM Sunday Mass — Family Mass
• Liturgy check-in / volunteer sign-ups published in the bulletin

Contact & Visit

Parishioners and visitors can reach Saint Catherine of Siena Parish by phone at 781-762-6080 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is located at 547 Washington Street, Norwood, MA 02062, and Masses and devotions are livestreamed from the parish website. The parish school, Saint Catherine of Siena School, is reached separately at 781-769-5354.

• Parish Office: 547 Washington Street, Norwood, MA 02062 — 781-762-6080
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://stcatherinenorwood.org (with live-stream link)
• School Office: 249 Nahatan Street — 781-769-5354
• Religious Education: [email protected]
• Facebook: facebook.com/stcatherinenorwood