About St. Edith Stein · Brockton, Massachusetts
St. Edith Stein Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Brockton, Massachusetts, part of the Brockton Catholic Tri-Parish Collaborative alongside Our Lady of Lourdes and Christ the King. The parish was officially established on August 9, 2003, through the merger of Brockton's St. Edward Parish (founded 1915) and Abington's St. Nicholas Parish, and is one of only two parishes in the United States named for the Jewish-born philosopher, Carmelite nun, and martyr Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), who died at Auschwitz in 1942. The parish is known for its multicultural community, offering Mass in English and Cape Verdean Creole, and worships at the historic 1915 church building at 71 East Main Street.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew J. Westcott
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Edith Stein is the Catholic home on Brockton's East Side for a genuinely multicultural parish family that celebrates Mass in both English and Cape Verdean Creole every Sunday. The parish belongs to the Brockton Tri-Parish Collaborative, which means parishioners benefit from a wide range of shared faith formation for children and adults, sacramental preparation (including RCIA/OCIA), Confirmation preparation, a vibrant Cape Verdean ministry with its own weekly Mass and Eucharistic Adoration in Creole, and outreach to the homebound and those in nursing homes. Worshipping in a historic 1915 church building under the patronage of a modern saint whose canonization miracle took place right here in Brockton gives the parish a story unlike almost any other in the country.
Mass times at St. Edith Stein
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM (English, before the 4:30 PM Vigil Mass)
- Friday 6:00–7:00 PM (Cape Verdean Creole, before the 7:00 PM Mass)
- Confessions are also held an hour before each Vigil Mass begins
Adoration times
- St. Edith Stein Adoration is on Fridays at 7:00 PM in Cape Verdean Creole
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was the inaugural prayer of the parish, held from 10:30 PM to 12:30 AM on the founding weekend of August 9, 2003
About St. Edith Stein Parish
St. Edith Stein Parish in Brockton, Massachusetts is part of the Brockton Catholic Tri-Parish Collaborative, formed in 2011 with the appointment of Fr. Joseph K. Raeke as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Christ the King, and St. Edith Stein. The parishes together describe themselves as 'a Roman Catholic Community, committed to journey together to God through prayer, Religious Formation, and service,' rich in diversity and focused on bringing God's word to the many different communities within Brockton. The parish worships in the historic 1915 church building at 71 East Main Street, the former home of St. Edward Parish.
History of the Parish
St. Edith Stein Parish was canonically established at 12:00 a.m. on August 9, 2003, by Bishop Richard Malone, regional bishop of the South Region of the Archdiocese of Boston, through the merger of Brockton's St. Edward Parish and Abington's St. Nicholas Parish. The inaugural night was marked by two hours of Eucharistic Adoration attended by roughly 150 parishioners, with Bishop Malone presiding at the first official Mass the following day. In 2011, the parish joined the new Brockton Tri-Parish Collaborative, and in 2015 it celebrated the centennial of its 1915 St. Edward's Church building with Cardinal Sean O'Malley. Seminarians Chris Bae and Joe Hubbard later compiled a commemorative booklet of the rich and diverse history of Brockton's Catholic churches, illustrated by Joe Shaw.
- 2003 — Parish erected by merger of St. Edward (Brockton) and St. Nicholas (Abington)
- 2003 — Bishop Richard Malone celebrates inaugural Mass; Fr. James Flavin named founding pastor
- 2011 — Fr. Joseph K. Raeke appointed pastor of the new Tri-Parish Collaborative
- 2015 — Centennial of the 1915 St. Edward's Church celebrated with Cardinal O'Malley
Why St. Edith Stein as Patroness?
Edith Stein (1891–1942) was born to a Jewish family in Poland, studied philosophy at major German universities, converted to Catholicism after reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, and entered the Discalced Carmelites in 1933 as Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She died in the gas chamber at Auschwitz in 1942 with her sister Rose, refusing an offer to be smuggled to safety and instead choosing to stay with her people. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1998 and proclaimed her co-patroness of Europe in 1999.
- The miracle behind her canonization was the 1987 healing of 2-year-old Benedicta Murray of Brockton
- Benedicta's family had prayed to Edith Stein after the child accidentally ingested a lethal dose of Tylenol
- Memorialized liturgically as an Optional Memorial on August 9
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Tri-Parishes offer comprehensive religious education at each parish, with classes and instructors who speak multiple languages. Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist takes place in Grade 2; for the 2025-2026 academic year Confirmation Preparation begins in Grade 7 with reception of the Sacrament in Grades 8 and 9. Beginning in 2025-2026, all Faith Formation classes, including Confirmation, take place on Sunday mornings (with one exception of a class at St. Edith Stein). The Tri-Parishes also offer OCIA for Children for school-age children who have not been baptized or are behind the usual schedule, as well as special sacramental preparation for children with social or educational needs.
- Grades 1–8 Coordinator: Nancy LaMonica
- Confirmation Coordinator: Deacon Tim Booker
- Cape Verdean Community Faith Formation: Sr. Eugenia (Djai) DaSilva
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the parish's formal process for welcoming new members into the Catholic Church through education, faith sharing, and ritual. Open to unbaptized adults (catechumens), baptized-but-uncatechized Catholic adults, and baptized Christians from other denominations seeking full communion, the RCIA is described as 'a process rather than an educational program' that unfolds within the local community of the faithful. The Tri-Parish RCIA is coordinated by Scott Fearing at 508-586-4715.
Multicultural Community: Cape Verdean Catholics
St. Edith Stein is a major spiritual home for Brockton's Cape Verdean Catholic community. Multiple weekend Masses and a Wednesday evening Mass are celebrated in Cape Verdean Creole, and a weekly Friday evening Eucharistic Adoration is held in the same language. The community's pastoral care is led by Fr. Joaquim Furtado Garcia (Vicar) and Sr. Eugenia 'Djai' DaSilva (Pastoral Coordinator and Faith Formation for the Cape Verdean Community).
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Edith Stein is pastored within the Tri-Parish Collaborative by Rev. Matthew J. Westcott (Pastor), with vicars Rev. Joaquim Furtado Garcia (Cape Verdean Community) and Rev. Joseph LaRose, SMM. Deacons serving the parishes include Deacon Paul C. Bukow, Deacon Timothy Booker (Director of Faith Life and Ministry), Deacon Bob Balzar, and Deacon LaFond. The pastoral team also includes Pastoral Associate and RCIA Coordinator Scott Fearing, Director of Liturgy and Music Jack Colombo, Faith Formation Coordinator Nancy LaMonica, Faith Formation Coordinator for the Cape Verdean Community Sr. Eugenia DaSilva, Finance and Operations Manager Tom Gillespie, Administration and Evangelization Assistant Adaugo Ugocha, and reception staff Deirdre Wirzburger and Mimie Lecorps. The main Tri-Parish phone line is 508-586-4715; the office is at 439 West Street, Brockton, MA 02301.
Outreach and Charity
Beyond its regular sacramental and formation work, St. Edith Stein reaches out through a Homebound Ministry that brings Holy Communion to parishioners at home and in nursing homes (visits can be requested through the parish office), a St. Vincent de Paul chapter for direct charitable assistance, and the Archdiocese's Protecting God's Children safe-environment program. The Evangelization ministry is coordinated by Adaugo Ugocha.
Visiting and Contact
St. Edith Stein Church is located at 71 East Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301-2461. The Tri-Parish Collaborative offices (and the main phone line) are at 439 West Street, Brockton, MA 02301, reachable at 508-586-4715, with the general inbox at [email protected]. Staff can also be reached directly through their email extensions listed on the collaborative's staff page.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Flavin2003–
Founding pastor of St. Edith Stein Parish at its 2003 merger; oversaw the inaugural Mass and called the merger a way to ensure 'another 100 years of sacramental life in this part of the vineyard.'
- Rev. Joseph K. Raeke2011–
Appointed pastor of the three Brockton parishes in 2011, formally creating the Brockton Tri-Parish Collaborative of Our Lady of Lourdes, Christ the King, and St. Edith Stein.
- Rev. Matthew J. Westcott
Current pastor per the Boston Catholic Directory and parish staff page; oversees the collaborative with vicars Rev. Joaquim Furtado Garcia and Rev. Joseph LaRose, SMM.