About St. Christine · Marshfield, Massachusetts
St. Christine's Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Marshfield, Massachusetts, belonging to the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish was established in 1944 by Reverend Edmund Moran and named after St. Christine, patron of his deceased mother — the only parish in the Archdiocese dedicated to this saint. The parish serves the Marshfield community from its church on Main Street (Route 3A) and operates a summer chapel, St. Theresa's, in Humarock on the coast, with a large faith formation program serving over a thousand students.
- Established
- 1944
- Patron
- St. Christine (Saint Christina of Bolsena / Tyre)
- Rector
- Father Mario Guarino (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Christine's is a large, multi-generational Marshfield parish with deep roots going back to 1944 and a strong faith-formation program serving more than a thousand students each year. Worshippers can choose from several Sunday Masses, a daily 9:00 a.m. weekday Mass, Thursday Eucharistic Adoration ending in Benediction, and Saturday confessions. The parish also operates the summer mission chapel of St. Theresa's in Humarock, runs a youth ministry for grades 10–12, supports peer ministers and family-life programs, and broadcasts Masses online — making it a good fit for year-round parishioners, summer visitors to the South Shore coast, and families looking for an active Catholic community.
Mass times at St. Christine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Thursdays 9:30 AM – 6:45 PM, ending with Benediction (October–May, winter hours)
- Thursdays 11:45 AM – 6:45 PM, ending with Benediction (June–September, summer hours)
Welcome to St. Christine's
St. Christine's Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Marshfield, Massachusetts, belonging to the Archdiocese of Boston. Founded in 1944 and named for St. Christine — patron of the founding pastor's mother — the parish makes a particular effort to cherish its children, young people, elderly members, visitors and summer vacationers, and to provide for their spiritual needs in the 21st century. Parish staff are described on the website as always ready to render their services to families, with an open invitation to suggest ways the parish can better reach out.
- 1295 Main Street, Marshfield, MA 02050
- Phone: (781) 834-6003
- Archdiocese of Boston parish
Our History
Catholics in Marshfield had worshipped at St. Mary's in Scituate and the St. Theresa's summer mission in Humarock since 1928. By the 1940s nearly 300 families were attending Mass at St. Theresa's, prompting Cardinal Cushing to appoint Rev. Edmund Moran as the first pastor of the new Marshfield Hills parish in 1944. Fr. Moran converted a former antique-shop barn on Route 3A into the parish's first church. Successive pastors built, expanded, and led the parish through the changes of Vatican II. The new church was dedicated on November 13, 1960 by Cardinal Cushing. A complete succession of pastors, parochial vicars, and parish milestones is recorded on the parish's Our History page.
Sacraments
St. Christine's prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and offers reconciliation and marriage preparation. The Faith Formation staff coordinates baptism, first Eucharist, and confirmation, while the parish office handles weddings and other sacramental needs.
- Baptism — Coordinator: Lauretta Grant, 781-837-0088 ext. 28
- First Communion / Reconciliation — Sacramental preparation, Grades 2–5 (Administrator: Susie McCarthy, ext. 19)
- Confirmation — Grades 9–10; contact MaryAnne Bursaw, 781-837-0088 ext. 23
- Matrimony — Contact the Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — Contact the Parish Office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Christine's Faith Formation program supports parents in passing along the Catholic faith to their children through regular classes, sacramental preparation, prayer, and service experiences. The program serves children from Pre-K through Grade 10 and has grown into one of the largest CCD programs south of Boston, with a teaching staff made up largely of parish volunteers. In 2000, enrollment reached 1,400 students with 138 teachers. Family Life programs for parents and students together are a long-standing feature.
- Pre-K – Grade 1: Lauretta Grant, ext. 28
- Grades 2–5: Susie McCarthy, ext. 19
- Grades 6–10, Middle School, Confirmation & Youth Group: MaryAnne Bursaw, ext. 23
- Confirmation Grades 9–10: Kathy Scanlan, ext. 25
- Faith Formation Office phone: 781-837-0088
Youth Ministry
Students in grades 10–12 may assist in grade-level classes as team teachers or aides. Peer ministers are also invited to volunteer in the greater Marshfield community. After Confirmation in Grade 10, youth can serve at parish Masses as Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors.
- Peer Ministry (Grades 10–12)
- Service opportunities in the Marshfield community
- Eucharistic Minister and Lector roles for confirmed teens
- Contact: Maryanne Bursaw, (781) 837-0088
Ministries & Service
The parish runs a wide range of liturgical and service ministries. Alongside faith formation and youth ministry, members serve at the altar, in music, and through parish-wide fundraisers and community events such as the Grand Annual Collection, Irish Night, and the Knights of Columbus Dinner.
- Altar Servers (Grade 3 through High School) — contact Fr. Mario
- Adult Choir & Choristers (Music Ministry)
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Grand Annual Collection
- Irish Night and K of C Dinner (parish fundraisers)
- RCIA / Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
- Family Life programs
- Bulletin Editor / Coordinator: Joan Woodhull
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Christine's is led by Fr. Mario Guarino, Parish Administrator, supported by a Pastoral Associate, parish secretary, facilities manager, bulletin editor, music director, and a full faith-formation team. The parish also benefits from a Parochial Vicar and the long-term leadership of successive pastors documented in the parish's Our History page.
- Fr. Mario Guarino — Parish Administrator, ext. 18
- Mary Doolan — Pastoral Associate, (781) 834-6002 ext. 21
- AnnMarie Roth — Parish Secretary, ext. 15
- Kerry McMasters — Parish Facilities Manager
- Joan Woodhull — Bulletin Editor/Coordinator, ext. 16
- Music Director — Adult Choir & Choristers
Watch Mass Online
The parish live-streams Masses on alternating Saturdays at 5:00 PM and Sundays at 11:15 AM. Live streams are currently suspended on the website while the sound system is being updated; viewers are directed to the parish's YouTube channel and to Marshfield Public Television for ongoing broadcasts.
- Live stream: alternating Saturdays 5:00 PM and Sundays 11:15 AM
- Currently suspended pending sound system update
- Available on the parish YouTube channel
- Also broadcast on Marshfield Public Television
St. Theresa's Chapel, Humarock
St. Christine's operates St. Theresa's Chapel in the coastal village of Humarock as a summer mission chapel, continuing the tradition begun in 1928 when Catholics from Marshfield worshipped at the original St. Theresa's summer mission. A chapel committee was established in 1989 to undertake significant maintenance of the seasonal worship site.
- Sunday Mass: 8:10 AM (July & August) / 9:30 AM (June – September)
- Weekday Mass: 10:30 AM Thursday
- Used as the temporary worship site during the 2002 main church renovation
Office Hours & Contact
Parish Office and Faith Formation Office hours are concentrated midweek, reflecting the parish's staffing model. The Middle School / Confirmation Office is open Wednesdays for Grades 6–10 families.
- Parish Office: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Faith Formation Office (CCD): Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (summer 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM)
- Middle School / Confirmation Office: Wednesday, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
- Faith Formation phone: (781) 837-0088
- Main phone: (781) 834-6003
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edmund A. Moran1944–c.1950s
Founding pastor; appointed by Cardinal Cushing; named the parish for his deceased mother's patron, St. Christine; initially worshipped in a converted barn on Route 3A. Later honored as Monsignor and present at the 1960 dedication.
- Rev. Daniel McCarthyc.1950s
Succeeded Fr. Moran during the period when the barn church was outgrowing the parish flock.
- Rev. Daniel Flynn1948–c.1970
22-year tenure; obtained Archdiocese approval and funding to build the present church and rectory; oversaw the November 13, 1960 dedication by Cardinal Cushing; parish grew from a small mission to 750 families.
- Rev. Charles Sheehyc.1970–1974
Succeeded Fr. Flynn just as Vatican II reforms were being implemented; gently shepherded the parish through the English Mass, altar reversal, and lay distribution of Holy Communion, avoiding much of the polarization seen in other parishes.
- Rev. John Foley1974
Succeeded Fr. Sheehy in 1974.
- Rev. George Connolly1975–1987
Known for unannounced visits to parishioners' homes by car or bicycle; expanded professional parish staff and welcomed Sister Katrina as first DRE; CCD grew to 1,000+ students. Departed in 1987 to become pastor of St. Mary's, Dedham.
- Rev. Francis A. Regan, S.T.D.1987–January 2005
Former professor at St. John Vianney Seminary (Buffalo) and Pope John XXIII Seminary (Weston); previously pastor of St. Bridget's, Maynard for 10 years. Expanded Family Life and sacramental-year programs; CCD grew to 1,400 students and 138 teachers. Retired January 2005 after 55 years of priestly service.
- Rev. Thomas Walsh2005–
Succeeded Fr. Regan in January 2005.
- Rev. Keymont
Succeeded Fr. Walsh as pastor; subsequently appointed pastor of St. Ann's Church, Dorchester.
- Rev. Vincent P. Doolan
Parochial Vicar; continued Fr. Keymont's pastoral work with the support of Mrs. Claire McManus; later called to be pastor at St. Joseph's, Quincy.
- Rev. Henry Yanju
Parochial Vicar; born and raised in Nigeria, former Dominican brother for 5 years; first African ordained for the Archdiocese of Boston in 1996; previously served five years at St. Mary's, Waltham and one year at St. John the Evangelist, Winthrop.
- Rev. Mario Guarinopresent
Current Parish Administrator; per official staff page.