About St. Clare · Braintree, Massachusetts
St. Clare of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 1244 Liberty Street in Braintree, Massachusetts. It is one of three Catholic churches in the town and was founded in 1958, having celebrated its 50th anniversary jubilee in 2008 with Cardinal Seán O'Malley. Today St. Clare is in active pastoral collaboration with neighboring St. Francis of Assisi Parish (856 Washington Street) under the name "Braintree Catholic," a formal collaborative formed in June 2014 as part of the Archdiocese of Boston's "Disciples in Mission" pastoral plan. The collaborative shares clergy, staff, faith formation, and ministries while each church retains its own identity, schedule, and worship space.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Robert M. Blaney
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Clare offers a tight-knit, multi-generational Catholic community in Braintree, with three weekend Masses across the collaborative, daily Mass, a strong faith formation program from K-10 and Confirmation preparation, an active music ministry led by a deacon/director, and well-organized lay ministries for lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters, and altar service. The parish is also home to a Boy Scout troop, an Al-Anon group, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry collection, and a Knights of Columbus council, while parishioners regularly volunteer at Father Bill's and the Pine Street Inn. Worshipping at St. Clare means joining a parish with deep local roots since 1958, an experienced collaborative staff, and the warmth of a community that, in the words of a longtime pastor, has "a history of very consistent generosity."
Mass times at St. Clare
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday following the 8:00 AM Mass at St. Clare
- By appointment
History of St. Clare Parish
St. Clare Parish was founded in 1958 to serve the Catholic community on the Liberty Street side of Braintree. Over its first half-century the parish grew to about 1,500 registered families and was served by only four pastors — a sign of both stability and deep lay roots. Parish life flourished around bowling leagues, social clubs, minstrel shows, Christmas bazaars, and parish auctions. When facilities needed updating, parishioners funded a new sound system, an elevator, and air conditioning together. Outreach to the wider community has long been a hallmark, with regular volunteering at Father Bill's Place and the Pine Street Inn homeless shelters.
- Founded 1958
- 50th anniversary jubilee celebrated in 2008 with Cardinal Seán O'Malley
- Approx. 1,500 registered families as of the 50th anniversary
- Only four pastors served the parish in its first 50 years
- 2014 — entered collaborative with St. Francis of Assisi under 'Disciples in Mission'
The Braintree Catholic Collaborative
Since June 3, 2014, St. Clare has been paired with neighboring St. Francis of Assisi Parish (856 Washington Street) under the formal name "Braintree Catholic," as part of Phase Two of the Archdiocese of Boston's "Disciples in Mission — A Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese of Boston." The collaborative shares clergy, faith formation staff, ministries, and back-office operations, while each parish keeps its own church building, identity, and weekend Mass schedule. The collaborative was designed to help parishes cope with diminished Mass attendance, a priest shortage, and weaker fundraising — common realities across the archdiocese.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert M. Blaney
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Kevin P. Leaver
- In Residence: Msgr. Robert W. Oliver and Rev. Wellington de Oliveira
- Collaborative Office: 856 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184
- Phone 781-843-1332 • Fax 781-848-0976 • Email [email protected]
Who Was St. Clare of Assisi?
St. Clare of Assisi (1194–1253) was a young noblewoman of Assisi who refused marriage at 15, was moved by the preaching of St. Francis, and fled her father's home at 18 to join him. She received a rough woolen habit at the Portiuncula and was placed in a Benedictine convent, where she famously clung to the altar to resist her father's attempt to take her back. Under Francis she founded the Order of Poor Ladies (now known as the Poor Clares), serving as abbess for the rest of her life. Known for radical gospel poverty, she told a pope who tried to soften her rule, "I need to be absolved from my sins, but I do not wish to be absolved from the obligation of following Jesus Christ." She is also remembered for placing the Blessed Sacrament on the walls of San Damiano when Saracens attacked, after which the attackers fled. St. Clare is the patron saint of television, laundry workers, and eyes; her feast day is August 11.
- Founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares)
- Lifelong friend and disciple of St. Francis of Assisi
- Abbess of San Damiano for over 40 years
- Feast day: August 11
Sacraments
St. Clare and the Braintree Catholic Collaborative celebrate all seven sacraments, with specific days and programs for each. Parents should register ahead for Baptism; couples must give at least six months' notice before a wedding; those who are sick or homebound are asked to notify the Collaborative Office so that Anointing of the Sick or Communion Calls can be arranged.
- Baptism — 2nd Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM at St. Clare (register through the Collaborative Office)
- Reconciliation — Saturday following the 8:00 AM Mass, or by appointment
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — prepared through the Religious Education program
- Marriage — minimum 6 months notice; marriage preparation program required; meet with a priest before booking a venue
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion Calls — by request via the Collaborative Office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The collaborative's Religious Education program, directed by Karen Lane, serves children in Grades K-10 and offers a two-year Confirmation track (Year I and Year II, plus an Accelerated Year I option). The program uses a "Super Saturday" session format and is run jointly for both parishes. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is offered by appointment, though it was suspended during COVID and is being restarted through the Collaborative Office.
- Religious Education Grades K-10
- Confirmation Year I and Year II (plus Accelerated Year I)
- Director of Religious Education: Karen Lane — 781-848-7481 — [email protected]
- RCIA — by appointment through the Collaborative Office
Ministries & Volunteer Opportunities
St. Clare has a wide range of lay-led ministries, organized under the collaborative. Liturgical roles (ushers, greeters, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans) are coordinated by Deacon Joe MacDonald and Lucille Barton. Music is led by Deacon Joe, who directs cantors and the Adult Choir (rehearsals Thursday at 7 PM at St. Francis). Outreach includes the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (third-Sunday food collection at St. Clare), and parishioners regularly serve at Father Bill's and the Pine Street Inn. Parish life also includes a Knights of Columbus council, Boy Scout Troop #138, and an Al-Anon group.
- Ushers & Greeters, Lectors, EMHC, Sacristans
- Music: Cantors and Adult Choir (directed by Deacon Joe MacDonald)
- St. Vincent de Paul Collaborative Food Pantry — 3rd Sunday of the month at St. Clare
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 PM, St. Francis Parish Hall
- Boy Scout Troop #138 — Wednesdays, 7:00 PM at St. Clare
- Al-Anon — Tuesdays, 10:30 AM, St. Clare lower church
Getting Involved & Contact
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Clare. Anyone interested in a ministry, in RCIA, or in scheduling a Baptism, wedding, funeral, or Anointing of the Sick can contact the Braintree Catholic Collaborative Office. The collaborative also sells branded "merch" (crew-neck sweatshirts, fleece jackets, and hoodies) to support community identity.
- Collaborative Office: 856 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184
- Phone 781-843-1332 • Fax 781-848-0976
- Email [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Bulletin deadline: Monday 1:00 PM (email [email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul S. Sughrueactive as pastor 2008 (11 years as pastor per 2008 article)
Pastored the parish during its 50th anniversary jubilee year in 2008; noted for the parish's strong culture of generosity.
- Rev. Paul T. Clifford
Listed as pastor of St. Clare on third-party directories after Fr. Sughrue.
- Very Rev. Robert M. Blaney, VF
Current pastor of the Braintree Catholic Collaborative (St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi).