About St. Elizabeth. Good Shepherd Parish. · Edgartown, Massachusetts
St. Elizabeth's Church is one of three worship sites of Good Shepherd Parish, the Catholic parish that serves the island of Martha's Vineyard in southeastern Massachusetts. Located at 86 Main Street in the historic harbor town of Edgartown, it hosts the parish's daily Mass, its Saturday Vigil, and two Sunday Masses year-round. The church is part of the Diocese of Fall River and is joined under one pastor with St. Augustine's Church in Vineyard Haven and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs — a parish family consolidated by Bishop George Coleman on May 2, 2004.
- Established
- 1925 (church dedicated August 9, 1925; St. Elizabeth's declared an independent parish in 1969; consolidated into Good Shepherd Parish on May 2, 2004)
- Patron
- Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Pasala
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
Good Shepherd Parish welcomes Catholics and visitors across Martha's Vineyard into a single, unified family with three historic worship sites, daily Mass offered every weekday morning at St. Elizabeth's in Edgartown, and a vibrant music ministry that includes adult and children's choirs, a Sunday morning music group, and a Portuguese music ministry serving the island's Brazilian Catholic community. The parish offers a complete faith-formation path from Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children through Confirmation prep for teens, plus OCIA for adults, and is supported by First Friday devotions, 24-hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and outreach to local Navigator Homes residents.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth. Good Shepherd Parish.
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 – 9:00 AM at St. Elizabeth's Church, Edgartown
- Saturday: 3:00 PM at St. Augustine's Church, Vineyard Haven
- First Fridays / First Saturdays: 8:30 – 9:00 AM at St. Augustine's Church, Vineyard Haven
- First Fridays in Portuguese: 6:30 PM at St. Augustine's, Vineyard Haven
- Saturdays before the 7:00 PM Portuguese Mass at St. Augustine's, Vineyard Haven
- Saturdays 4:30 PM at St. Elizabeth's, Edgartown (summer)
Adoration times
- 24-Hour Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel, beginning after the 8:00 AM First Friday Mass at St. Augustine's Church, Vineyard Haven (8:30 AM Friday – 8:00 AM Saturday; listed elsewhere as 9:00 AM Friday – 9:00 AM Saturday)
About Good Shepherd Parish
Good Shepherd Parish is the Catholic parish of Martha's Vineyard, formed on May 2, 2004, when Bishop George Coleman of the Diocese of Fall River consolidated three historic island parishes — Sacred Heart / Our Lady Star of the Sea in Oak Bluffs, St. Augustine's in Vineyard Haven, and St. Elizabeth's in Edgartown — into one parish with three worship sites. The parish is pastored from the Parish Center at 55 School Street in Oak Bluffs and serves year-round island residents as well as the seasonal summer population.
St. Elizabeth's Church, Edgartown
St. Elizabeth's Church is located at 86 Main Street, Edgartown. It is the parish's site for the weekday 8:00 AM daily Mass, the Saturday Vigil at 5:30 PM, and Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The Rosary is prayed after the weekday Mass at about 8:30 AM. St. Elizabeth's is also a summer location for Reconciliation at 4:30 PM on Saturdays.
- 86 Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539
- Daily Mass Monday–Friday at 8:00 AM (Rosary follows)
- Saturday Vigil 5:30 PM
- Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
History of Catholic Life on Martha's Vineyard
Catholic worship on Martha's Vineyard began informally in 1878-1879 when summer visitors and resident Portuguese Catholics arranged for priests from New Bedford or Sandwich to celebrate Mass in private homes. In 1880 a frame church — Sacred Heart — was erected in Cottage City (now Oak Bluffs) on land donated by Frank Magetts and John McGrath. The mission was turned over to St. John the Baptist Parish of New Bedford (the first Portuguese parish in the United States) in 1896 and became an independent parish on February 1, 1903. St. Augustine's Mission Church in Vineyard Haven was dedicated July 27, 1911, and Our Lady Star of the Sea in Oak Bluffs on August 22, 1920.
Founding of St. Elizabeth's
By 1924 the small Edgartown church on Pease's Point Way could no longer accommodate the growing summer community. Land at the corner of Main and School Streets was purchased; one house was torn down and another moved to its present location as the rectory. The foundation was laid on December 1, 1924, and St. Elizabeth's Church was dedicated on August 9, 1925. St. Elizabeth's was declared an independent parish in 1969, before the 2004 consolidation into Good Shepherd Parish.
- Foundation laid: December 1, 1924
- Dedicated: August 9, 1925
- Declared independent parish: 1969
Clergy & Staff
Good Shepherd Parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Joseph Pasala, who became pastor on June 18, 2025, and Parochial Vicar Rev. Edivar DaSilva, who was appointed by Bishop Edgar da Cunha on June 1, 2016 to serve the Brazilian community and since 2021 also serves the American community. The parish office is staffed by a Parish Secretary and Office Assistant, and a Catechesis Director & SET (Safe Environment Training) coordinator oversees faith formation. The music ministry is led by an Adult and Children's Choirs director, the Good Shepherds Music Group, the Our Lady Star of the Sea Music Group, and the Portuguese Music Group.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Pasala — 508-693-0342 — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Edivar DaSilva — 508-933-1737 — [email protected]
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Good Shepherd Parish is organized for all ages and meets at the Parish Center in Oak Bluffs. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered for children age 3 (by Sept. 30, potty-trained) through sixth grade, with sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion celebrated in second grade or later. Middle-school youth (7th and 8th graders) follow The Great Adventure / Encounter and Symbolon programs. Confirmation Preparation is offered to students in 9th grade and above, meeting once a month on Sundays plus weekly at-home video and workbook lessons. Adult formation includes OCIA, home-study DVD series, retreats, guest speakers, parish missions, prayer groups, and instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (PreK-6)
- Sacramental Prep (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion)
- Encounter / The Great Adventure & Symbolon (grades 7-8)
- Confirmation Preparation (grade 9+)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult & Family Formation retreats, missions, prayer groups
Music Ministry
The parish supports a robust music ministry that reflects the diversity of its worship sites and its bilingual congregation. Adult and Children's Choirs sing at the 4:00 PM Saturday Mass in Vineyard Haven (summer: Edgartown 5:30 PM, 9:00 and 11:00 AM) and at weddings and funerals. The Good Shepherds Music Group leads the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass in Vineyard Haven (summer 8:00 AM), and the Our Lady Star of the Sea Music Group leads the summer 9:30 AM Sunday Mass in Oak Bluffs. The Portuguese Music Group serves the 7:00 PM Saturday Mass in Vineyard Haven.
- Adult & Children's Choirs
- Good Shepherds Music Group
- Our Lady Star of the Sea Music Group
- Portuguese Music Group
Parish Ministries & Parish Life
Parishioners are invited to share their time and talent through a wide range of parish ministries, including faith formation of students, liturgical music, the Parish Council and Finance Committee, and outreach and volunteer ministries. The parish describes lay involvement in parish life as part of divine revelation — 'the lay faithful are expected to be involved in the life of Christ through their parish.' The parish also operates a Gift Shop inside the main entrance of the Parish Center.
- Parish Council
- Finance Committee
- Volunteer and outreach ministries
- Gift Shop at the Parish Center (rosaries, books, cards, First Communion and sacrament gifts, seasonal items)
Parish Center, Gift Shop & Office
The Parish Center is located at 55 School Street, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 (postal mail: P.O. Box 1058, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568). Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, closed on Monday holidays. Telephone: 508-693-0342. A Gift Shop inside the main entrance sells First Communion and sacrament gifts, rosaries, books, cards, Mother's Day items and seasonal goods during office hours.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph PasalaJune 18, 2025 – present
Current pastor of Good Shepherd Parish.
- Rev. Paul C. FedakAugust 18, 2021 – 2025
Came to Good Shepherd after Fr. Nagle's retirement; during his four years the tabernacles were restored to the center of the sanctuaries, liturgical reforms and upgrades made, repairs to St. Elizabeth's and St. Augustine's, First Saturday Masses returned, Adoration and Confession hours expanded, and Lenten Stations of the Cross instituted.
- Rev. Michael Nagle1996 – 2021
Served the three island parishes for 28 years; designed the Good Shepherd Parish coat of arms. Under his leadership the three parishes banded together (1997) into one Religious Education Program, one Youth Ministry Program, one Parish Council and one Finance Committee.