About St. Eulalia · Winchester, Massachusetts
St. Eulalia Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Winchester, Massachusetts, within the Archdiocese of Boston. It was established in 1965 as a split from St. Mary's Parish to serve the growing Catholic population of western Winchester and a portion of Arlington, and it was formally dedicated on May 23, 1966, under founding pastor Monsignor Joseph W. Lyons. The parish was a pioneer of the post-Vatican II spirit in the region, known from the start for its openness, lay participation, and ecumenical outreach. Today St. Eulalia is part of a collaborative with neighboring St. Mary Parish, sharing a pastor, and continues to serve as an active, family-oriented faith community with daily Mass, faith formation for every age, multiple choirs, and ongoing charitable outreach.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- Saint Eulalia of Barcelona (Virgin and Martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul T. Clifford
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Eulalia is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic community built around the Eucharist and family life. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday, three Sunday Masses (with the 11:00 AM liturgies live-streamed) and a Saturday vigil offer plenty of options, and the church stays open throughout the day for private prayer with a daily rosary after 9 AM Mass and again at 3:15 PM. Robust ministries for every age — K–6 and 7–12 Faith Formation, Confirmation preparation, a youth ministry, an adult choir, a contemporary 5:00 PM choir, a children's choir, bereavement support, prayer shawls, a parish book club, a parish fitness class, and St. Vincent de Paul clothing collection — give newcomers many ways to plug in. As a parish formed in the spirit of Vatican II and now sharing pastoral leadership with neighboring St. Mary's in the Archdiocese of Boston's collaborative model, St. Eulalia offers both rootedness and openness for anyone seeking to grow in faith.
Mass times at St. Eulalia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- By appointment — call the parish office at 781-729-8220
Adoration times
- First Thursday of the month, 9:30 AM–12:00 noon (with Midday Prayer), following the 9:00 AM Daily Mass
About St. Eulalia Parish
St. Eulalia is a Roman Catholic parish in the western section of Winchester and part of Arlington, within the Archdiocese of Boston. The parish office at 50 Ridge Street is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM, and the church is open for daily Mass and private prayer throughout the day. As of 2023 it is in a collaborative with neighboring St. Mary Parish, sharing pastoral leadership under one pastor while remaining its own parish community.
- Parish office hours: Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM
- Address: 50 Ridge Street, Winchester, MA 01890
- Main phone: (781) 729-8220
- Email: [email protected]
History
Founded in 1965 and dedicated in 1966, St. Eulalia was carved out of St. Mary's Parish to serve the post-war Catholic population boom in western Winchester and part of Arlington. Monsignor Joseph W. Lyons was its founding pastor, and the parish became known across the region as a model of Vatican II openness — English Mass, priest facing the people, folk music, ecumenical hospitality, and young families. A 50th anniversary was marked in 2016 with lectures, concerts, and a Mass with Cardinal Seán O'Malley. In 2023, St. Eulalia officially entered a collaborative with St. Mary Parish under Rev. Paul T. Clifford.
- First Mass: March 27, 1965
- Formal dedication: May 23, 1966
- Founding pastor: Monsignor Joseph W. Lyons
- Manion Hall named for Monsignor Thomas Manion of St. Mary's, who helped establish the parish
- Notable pastor at 50th anniversary: Rev. James Savage
- 2023: Joined St. Mary Parish as a collaborative; Rev. Paul T. Clifford assigned as pastor
Saint Eulalia of Barcelona
St. Eulalia of Barcelona, the parish's patroness, was born in Barcelona near the end of the third century and at the age of 13 became Spain's first Christian martyr under the Roman governor Diocletian–Maximian. Her steadfast confession of Christ, in the years before the Council of Nicaea, is credited as the spark that ignited Christianity across Spain. Her relics were hidden and rediscovered after the Arab invasions of 711 AD; in 1298 an Italian sculptor from Pisa completed a magnificent alabaster sarcophagus beneath the high altar of Barcelona's Gothic Cathedral, where her remains were translated in 1339 in the presence of kings, princes and bishops from across Europe. The parish website recounts that Christopher Columbus, returning from the New World in 1493, met with the bishops at the Cathedral and planned the spread of Christianity into the Americas — 'a further extension of Saint Eulalia's martyrdom.' Pope John Paul II visited her crypt in 1983.
- Patroness: Saint Eulalia of Barcelona, Virgin and Martyr
- 13 years old at martyrdom under Diocletian
- Relics enshrined in Barcelona's Gothic Cathedral
- Visit commemorated locally by William L. Wilson (1985)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by pastor Rev. Paul T. Clifford, a Norwood native ordained in 1992 and formerly of the Braintree collaborative, who came to St. Eulalia in 2023 when it joined the St. Mary–St. Eulalia collaborative. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Valanarasu Newton-Williamraj ('Fr. Valan'), an Indian priest assigned alongside Fr. Clifford from Braintree. The parish also benefits from the ministry of Deacon Justin Ilboudo, who was featured in the parish's 50th-anniversary coverage. Lay staff lead faith formation, music, and parish operations.
- Pastor: Rev. Paul T. Clifford, ext. 104
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Valanarasu Newton-Williamraj ('Fr. Valan')
- Deacon: Deacon Justin Ilboudo
- Pastoral Associate: Louise Cocuzzo, ext. 102
- Parish Administrator: Bob Ferry
- Faith Formation K–6 Coordinator: Stephanie Rogers, ext. 107
- Coordinator of Teen Faith Formation & Youth Ministry: Cathy Saleh, ext. 108
- FF and Youth Ministry Assistant: Cathy Bui, ext. 106
- Facilities/Media Manager: Tim Hughes
- Adult Choir Director: Deborah Moscoso
- 5:00 PM Music Director / Cantor: Cheryl Pongratz
- Children's Choir Director: Maeve Lien
- Organist/Pianist: Tim Hughes
Sacraments and Preparation
Information on the seven sacraments and their preparation is published on the parish website. Baptisms are celebrated on the second Sunday of each month, with required preparation for parents and godparents two weeks prior. Couples are asked to contact the pastor at least six months before a wedding and to complete a Marriage Preparation Course. First Communion and Confirmation candidates are prepared through the Faith Formation program, while adults seeking initiation into the Church do so through the parish's RCIA process. The Anointing of the Sick is offered on the fourth Sunday of the month after each Mass as needed and on request.
- Baptism: second Sunday of the month; prep two weeks prior (Louise Cocuzzo, ext. 102)
- First Communion & Confirmation: through Faith Formation (Cathy Bui, ext. 106 / Cathy Saleh, ext. 108)
- Matrimony: 6 months advance notice; contact Fr. Clifford ext. 104
- Anointing of the Sick: 4th Sunday after each Mass and on request
- RCIA: for adults seeking to become Catholic (Louise Cocuzzo, ext. 102)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Eulalia offers a comprehensive Faith Formation program for children and teens, founded on the words of Jesus, 'Let the children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these' (Mt 19:14). The K–6 program uses the Sadlier 'We Believe' series and follows the four pillars of the Catholic Church: creed, morality, sacraments, liturgy and prayer. Reconciliation is prepared over a two-year period beginning in first grade, and Eucharist preparation follows. Grades 7–12 follow a separate track focused on formation in addition to information, with small-group classrooms for 7th graders and a large-group/small-group Confirmation Prep model. The parish is currently phasing in the Archdiocese of Boston's policy moving the normal age for Confirmation to 8th grade by 2026, with Confirmation scheduled in early fall of that year for the Classes of 2029 and 2030.
- K–6 Coordinator: Stephanie Rogers, ext. 107
- 7–12 Coordinator: Cathy Saleh, ext. 108
- Curriculum: Sadlier 'We Believe' (K–6)
- K–5 Sunday mornings 10:15–11:15 AM
- Grades 1–6 meet Wednesdays 3:30–4:30 PM; Grade 6 also meets Monday 7–8 PM
- Grades 7–12 meet Monday evenings (and some Tuesday afternoons) in Manion Hall, the Parish Center, and the Mulrenan Youth Center
- Monthly High School Faith Nights, Sundays 6–7:30 PM
- Confirmation plans aligned with Archdiocese of Boston's age shift
Music and Liturgy
Three Sunday liturgies are supported by a robust music ministry: an Adult Choir for the 11:00 AM Mass, a Contemporary Choir for the 5:00 PM Mass, and a Children's Choir. The Adult Choir rehearses Thursdays at 7:30 PM (no rehearsals in summer); the Contemporary Choir rehearses Thursdays at 5:30 PM. Cantors and an organist/pianist support the parish's liturgical celebrations. The 9:00 AM Daily Mass and the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass are live-streamed from the church.
- Adult Choir Director: Deborah Moscoso (11:00 AM Sunday Mass)
- 5:00 PM Music Director / Cantor: Cheryl Pongratz
- Children's Choir Director: Maeve Lien
- Organist/Pianist: Tim Hughes
- Live-stream: 9:00 AM Daily Mass and 11:00 AM Sunday Mass
Devotions and Prayer Life
St. Eulalia cultivates a strong devotional life rooted in the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, and prayer for the sick. The rosary is prayed publicly every day after the 9:00 AM Daily Mass and again at 3:15 PM, usually gathering by the Tabernacle at the front-right of the church (with the First Floor Conference Room as a backup). Monthly Eucharistic Adoration on the first Thursday invites parishioners into extended prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, joined with Midday Prayer.
- Morning Rosary: after 9:00 AM Daily Mass
- Afternoon Rosary: every day at 3:15 PM
- First Thursday Eucharistic Adoration: 9:30 AM–12:00 noon with Midday Prayer
- Sacrament of the Sick: Fourth Sunday of the month after each Mass
Fellowship, Service, and Outreach
Parish life at St. Eulalia extends well beyond the sanctuary into fellowship, formation, and outreach. Coffee and Conversation brings parishioners together after Mass (on hiatus over the summer and resuming each September), the Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers on the first Tuesday of the month after 9:00 AM Mass, and a parish Book Club meets via Zoom. A seasonal Bereavement Support program runs in the spring and fall, with six sessions of caring, supportive conversation. Outreach is supported through St. Vincent de Paul clothing and shoe drop-off bins at the end of the entrance driveway, ongoing food donation collection in the church foyer for non-perishables, and Mass Intentions and altar-flower memorials offered through the parish office.
- Coffee and Conversation (resumes each September)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry: first Tuesday after 9:00 AM Daily Mass
- Parish Book Club (Zoom)
- Parish Fitness exercise class (on hiatus July–August)
- Bereavement Support — spring and fall six-session program; contact Stephanie Rogers at ext. 107
- St. Vincent de Paul clothing and shoe drop-off bins
- Food donations of non-perishables collected in the church foyer
Collaborative with St. Mary Parish
Since 2023, St. Eulalia has been officially partnered with neighboring St. Mary Parish in Winchester under one pastor, Rev. Paul T. Clifford, and parochial vicar Fr. Valan. Each parish retains its own identity, staff, finances, and property while sharing pastoral leadership, in line with the Archdiocese of Boston's push to combine nearly 300 parishes into roughly 135 collaboratives. The arrangement traces St. Eulalia's roots full circle — it was originally carved out of St. Mary's in 1964–1965 and has now returned to closer partnership with it.
- Collaborative pastor: Rev. Paul T. Clifford
- Parochial vicar (collaborative): Fr. Valanarasu Newton-Williamraj ('Fr. Valan')
- Each parish retains its own identity and property
- Part of the Archdiocese of Boston's collaborative model
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Joseph W. Lyons1965–founding era
Founding pastor; led dedication of the new parish on May 23, 1966; known for embodying the post-Vatican II spirit.
- Rev. James Savageserved through 50th anniversary in 2016; planned retirement within 3-4 years thereafter
Longtime pastor at the time of the parish's 50th anniversary celebrations; cited in Wicked Local 2016 retrospective.
- Rev. Paul T. Clifford2023–present
First pastor of the St. Mary–St. Eulalia collaborative; previously served a collaborative in Braintree; ordained in 1992.