About St. Francis of Assisi · Swansea, Massachusetts
St. Francis of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in Swansea, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Fall River. The parish was formed in 2005 through the merger of two earlier Swansea parishes — Our Lady of Fatima and St. Michael's — and is now joined with neighboring St. Dominic Parish under a unified pastoral team, sharing Mass schedules, faith formation, ministries, and the patron saints' charisms. Worship is celebrated at the historic 530 Gardner's Neck Road church, while the parish rectory and offices operate out of 270 Ocean Grove Avenue. The parish community is led by Rev. Thomas Costa, Jr., Pastor, alongside Deacon Gary M. John and a small staff, and serves Catholics in the Ocean Grove and Gardners Neck neighborhoods of Swansea with weekend and weekday Masses, faith formation for grades 1–9, and a handful of lay ministries.
- Established
- 2005
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Costa, Jr.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers the warmth of a small, family-sized Catholic community in the Ocean Grove neighborhood of Swansea, with a manageable Mass schedule (Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and two weekday mornings) and an approachable pastor and deacon who know their people. Faith formation is offered for children in grades 1 through 9, and active lay ministries — including a Family Life Ministry, a St. Peregrine Cancer Prayer Ministry, the Knights of Columbus Council 3669, and the 50 Week Club — give parishioners concrete ways to pray, serve, and gather. As part of the joint St. Francis & St. Dominic Parish, members also have access to the liturgies, programs, and hall life of the neighboring St. Dominic campus.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–3:50 p.m. (St. Francis of Assisi, come to the Sacristy before Mass to request the Sacrament)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Francis of Assisi Parish describes itself as a community united in Christ and inspired by its patron saint, dedicated to building up the parish family 'with Christ as our foundation' and enlivened by the Holy Spirit. The parish mission statement, published on both the standalone St. Francis site and the joint St. Francis & St. Dominic parish site, roots the community's identity in St. Francis's humility and simplicity, with a commitment to sharing God's transforming love with families, the local community, and the wider world. As part of the Diocese of Fall River, the parish also participates each year in the diocese's Catholic Appeal.
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi (feast day October 4)
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
- Parish Mission: 'In the spirit of our patron, St. Francis of Assisi, we dedicate ourselves as living stones to building our parish family with Christ as our foundation.'
History & Formation
The present-day St. Francis of Assisi Parish was created in 2005 when the Diocese of Fall River merged the former Our Lady of Fatima Parish and St. Michael's Parish in Swansea into a single new parish under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi. The merged parish continued to use the historic church building at 530 Gardner's Neck Road for liturgical celebrations. More recently, St. Francis of Assisi entered a collaborative pastoral arrangement with neighboring St. Dominic Parish, sharing a pastor, support staff, and faith formation program while each church retains its own identity and Mass schedule.
- Formed in 2005 from the merger of Our Lady of Fatima and St. Michael's parishes
- Worship site: 530 Gardner's Neck Road, Swansea, MA
- Currently linked with St. Dominic Parish under one pastoral team
Mass & Sacraments
St. Francis of Assisi offers a compact, family-friendly Mass schedule: one Saturday vigil and one Sunday morning Mass at its Gardner's Neck Road church, plus two weekday morning Masses on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in a personal way on Saturday afternoons between 3:30 and 3:50 p.m.; parishioners are asked to come to the Sacristy before Mass to request the sacrament. Information about baptisms, marriages, anointing of the sick, and other sacraments is handled through the parish office.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 11:00 a.m.
- Weekday Masses: Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30–3:50 p.m. (request in the Sacristy before Mass)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a small, stable team of clergy and lay staff. Rev. Thomas Costa, Jr. serves as Pastor and is the primary shepherd of both St. Francis of Assisi and St. Dominic parishes. He is assisted by Deacon Gary M. John. The office is managed by Colleen Fontaine (Office Manager/Bulletin), with Fran Kelley handling bookkeeping, Antone (Tony) Roderigues caring for facilities, and Ada Simpson serving as Music Director.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas Costa, Jr.
- Deacon: Rev. Mr. Gary M. John
- Office Manager/Bulletin: Colleen Fontaine
- Bookkeeper: Fran Kelley
- Maintenance: Antone (Tony) Roderigues
- Music Director: Ada Simpson
Parish Office & Location
The parish rectory and mailing address is 270 Ocean Grove Avenue, Swansea, MA 02777, while the church building used for liturgy is at 530 Gardner's Neck Road, Swansea, MA 02777. Parish office hours are Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; the office is closed on Thursdays and Fridays. The main parish phone line is (508) 673-2808.
- Rectory/Mailing: 270 Ocean Grove Avenue, Swansea, MA 02777
- Church: 530 Gardner's Neck Road, Swansea, MA 02777
- Office Hours: Mon–Wed 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed Thu/Fri)
- Phone: (508) 673-2808
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for children and youth is offered through the joint St. Francis & St. Dominic Parish program, serving students in grades 1 through 9. The program posts registration forms, parent letters, and class schedules on the parish website each year, and recent 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 documents are available as downloadable PDFs. Parents are asked to complete an Authorized Caretaker Form as part of registration.
- Grades 1–4 class schedule and parent letter
- Grades 5–7 class schedule and parent letter
- Grades 8 & 9 class schedule (Confirmation preparation)
- Annual registration form
- Authorized Caretaker Form
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Francis of Assisi supports a small portfolio of lay-led ministries that parishioners can join. The Family Life Ministry works to foster parish life and fellowship; the St. Peregrine Cancer Prayer Ministry offers prayer support for those affected by cancer; the 50 Week Club provides ongoing parish fellowship and fundraising; and Knights of Columbus Council 3669 is the parish's Catholic fraternal organization. The parish notes that its ministries page is still being built out and welcomes additional members.
- Family Life Ministry (contact: Karen, 508-523-8143)
- St. Peregrine Cancer Prayer Ministry (contact: Karen Gagnon)
- 50 Week Club (contact: Kathy Sullivan)
- Knights of Columbus Council 3669 (contact: Rev. Fr. Tom Costa)
- Additional ministries continue to be added to the parish website
Joint Parish Life with St. Dominic
St. Francis of Assisi now shares its pastor, staff, and many programs with St. Dominic Parish, which worships at 1277 Grand Army of the Republic Highway (also called 1277 GAR Highway) in Swansea. The two parishes maintain separate Mass times and patron-saint identities, but parishioners of either can attend services and events at both churches and participate in shared faith formation and ministries. The joint parish mission statement affirms they come together 'as one parish family, building on [the] humility and preaching spirit' of both St. Francis and St. Dominic.
- St. Dominic worship site: 1277 Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Swansea, MA 02777
- Shared pastor and staff
- Combined Faith Formation program (Grades 1–9)
- Joint ministries page hosted at francisdominicparish.com