About St. Francis of Assisi · Cambridge, Massachusetts
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the East Cambridge neighborhood of Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving the community within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. Founded in 1917 by several prominent Italian families to minister to the growing Italian immigrant community of East Cambridge, the parish is housed in a historic building originally constructed in 1838 as the Second Baptist Church of Cambridge. Today the parish is part of the East Cambridge Catholic Collaborative and offers Sunday and weekday Masses in English, along with Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA (formerly RCIA), and other devotions in collaboration with neighboring parishes.
- Established
- 1917
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Michael C. Harrington
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers an intimate, historic Catholic parish experience in the heart of East Cambridge, with daily and Sunday Masses in English, regular Eucharistic Adoration on Sundays and Fridays, and a schedule of Confessions that includes extended Sunday hours. As part of the East Cambridge Catholic Collaborative, the parish is home to active joint programming such as the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, Advent and Lenten devotional initiatives like the collaborative-wide Marian Consecration, and the 'Fully Alive' retreat — making it a good fit for anyone seeking a deeply devotional parish life rooted in a landmark 1838 Greek Revival building with deep Italian-American heritage.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Monday: 1:00 PM (right after Mass)
- Wednesday: 7:30 AM (right after Mass)
- Thursday: 7:30 AM (right after Mass)
- Friday: 7:30 AM (right after Mass)
Adoration times
- Sunday: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM (preceding evening Mass)
- Friday: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM (following morning Mass)
- Holy Thursday: Adoration continues until 10:30 PM
Parish Identity & Italian-American Heritage
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is the historic Italian Catholic parish of East Cambridge, founded in 1917 by several prominent Italian families to serve the growing Italian immigrant community of the neighborhood. At the time of founding, Italian-Americans in Cambridge were reportedly unwelcome at the existing local Catholic parishes and had to travel to Boston's North End to attend Mass in Italian; the new parish was created specifically to give local Italian-American families their own devotional home, dedicated to the beloved Italian saint from Assisi.
- Founded 1917 in East Cambridge, MA
- Italian-American founding families
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi (feast day Oct. 4)
- Part of East Cambridge's constellation of ethnic parishes (Sacred Heart – Irish; St. Hedwig – Polish; St. Anthony – Portuguese)
Buildings & Architecture
The 1838 Greek Revival building was originally built as the Second Baptist Church of Cambridge, stood for nearly 80 years as a Protestant landmark, and was acquired by the Italian-American founders of St. Francis in 1917. The Cambridge Historical Commission has identified the church and the adjacent buildings — a former police and fire station built in 1871 on Sciarappa Street and a stable on Gore Street — as historic landmarks. The complex at 315–325 Cambridge Street, 40–42 Sciarappa Street, and 74–76 Gore Street is now preserved as a designated Cambridge Historic Landmark.
- Main church: 325 Cambridge Street (built 1838, Greek Revival, former Second Baptist Church)
- Rectory / parish offices: 42 Sciarappa Street (former 1871 police and fire station)
- Stable: 74–76 Gore Street
- Designated Cambridge Historic Landmark (2012/2013)
Historic Landmark Designation (2012)
Following the Archdiocese's November 2011 announcement that St. Francis would be merged with a nearby Portuguese parish 'with the eventual closure of St. Francis Church,' parishioners organized to oppose the closure, sale, or 'profane use' of the church property. Lawyer Maria Elena Saccoccio filed a 'rimostranze' (formal Canon Law appeal) on behalf of parishioners with the Vatican. On January 5, 2012, the Cambridge Historical Commission voted unanimously to initiate a landmark designation study, and the campus was subsequently designated a Cambridge Historic Landmark — preventing demolition and protecting its architectural and cultural heritage.
- Parishioner-led Canon Law appeal ('rimostranze') filed by Maria Elena Saccoccio
- Cambridge Historical Commission unanimous vote on Jan. 5, 2012 to study the complex
- Complex designated a Cambridge Historic Landmark
- Real estate valued at over $4 million at time of designation
East Cambridge Catholic Collaborative
St. Francis of Assisi is a member parish of the East Cambridge Catholic Collaborative, which shares pastoral staffing and joint programming with three other East Cambridge parishes: Sacred Heart of Jesus (39 Sixth Street), St. Mary of the Annunciation (134 Norfolk Street), and St. Anthony of Padua or Lisbon (400 Cardinal Medeiros Avenue). The collaborative hosts joint events such as the collaborative-wide Marian Consecration, the 'Fully Alive' parish retreat, and the OCIA process for adults seeking Christian initiation.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus – 39 Sixth Street
- St. Mary of the Annunciation – 134 Norfolk Street
- St. Anthony of Padua or Lisbon – 400 Cardinal Medeiros Avenue
- Joint OCIA, Marian Consecration, 'Fully Alive' retreat events
Pastoral Staff
The pastoral leadership of the parish is shared within the East Cambridge Catholic Collaborative. The current pastor, Rev. Michael C. Harrington, oversees all four collaborative parishes. Parochial Vicars and operational staff support day-to-day ministry and evangelization efforts across the collaborative's parishes.
- Rev. Michael C. Harrington — Pastor
- Rev. Edinardo DeOliveira — Vicar / Parochial Vicar (July 2021 – June 2025; now pastor of Charlestown Catholic Collaborative)
- Rev. Eucinei Antonio DeSouza, FDP — Vicar
- Mr. Higor Fontoura — Operations
- Ms. Hilda Pires — Evangelization
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA — formerly known as RCIA — is the collaborative-wide formation process for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and/or First Communion in the Catholic Church. Classes begin in early October each year (e.g., October 7, 2025) at St. Francis of Assisi Parish (325 Cambridge Street) at 7:00 PM, and the program is open to anyone interested in learning about the Catholic faith, including baptized Christians from other traditions.
- Classes begin early October (e.g., Oct. 7, 2025)
- Held at St. Francis Parish, 325 Cambridge Street
- 7:00 PM start time
- Open to all, including baptized Christians from other traditions
- Contact: Odette Jagou ([email protected])
Sacraments & Devotional Life
The parish coordinates preparation for and celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and the quinceañera, with requests handled through the parish office. Mass intentions can be requested by calling the parish office at (617) 945-1046. The Home Visit of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Statue is coordinated by parishioner Iberia Frias (617-491-0281).
- Baptism (by request through the parish office)
- Marriage / Wedding preparation
- Quinceañera coordination
- Mass intentions: (617) 945-1046
- Home Visitation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Statue: 617-491-0281
Parish School (1926–1969)
In 1926 — nine years after the parish was founded — the parish opened a Catholic school nearby, along with a convent for the religious sisters who served as teachers. The school served the children of the Italian-American East Cambridge community for more than four decades before being forced to close in 1969 due to declining enrollment. The former school building was sold to the City of Cambridge and repurposed as the Gore Street School.
- Parish school opened in 1926
- Sisters' convent housed the teaching religious
- School closed in 1969 due to low enrollment
- Building acquired by the City of Cambridge and reused as the Gore Street School
Stewardship & Online Giving
The parish supports its mission and facilities through the Sunday and weekday offertory, recurring online giving, and occasion-specific online donations (for baptisms, weddings, and quinceañeras). Online giving can be set up as a one-time or recurring gift via the parish website, and the parish also lists a Venmo account in its bulletins.
- Online giving: https://stfranciscambridge.org/donate
- One-time and recurring gift options
- Occasion-specific giving (Baptism, Wedding, Quinceañera)
- Venmo account listed in bulletins
Visiting & Practical Information
The church is open Mon–Tue and Wed–Fri from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at 42 Sciarappa Street (bulletins also note Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM). The historic 1838 Greek Revival church building and 1871 police/fire station complex are designated Cambridge Historic Landmarks.
- Church opens Mon–Fri 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Parish office: 42 Sciarappa Street
- Phone: (617) 945-1046
- Email: [email protected]
- Cambridge Historic Landmark
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael C. HarringtonCurrent pastor
Current pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, also serving the East Cambridge Catholic Collaborative which includes Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Mary of the Annunciation, and St. Anthony of Padua/Lisbon parishes.