About St. Francis Xavier · Hyannis, Massachusetts
St. Francis Xavier is a Roman Catholic parish in Hyannis, Massachusetts, serving the Mid-Cape community of Cape Cod as part of the Diocese of Fall River. Originally founded in 1874 as St. Patrick's, it was rededicated to St. Francis Xavier in 1903/1904 to embrace the broader immigrant Catholic community, and today welcomes English-, Spanish-, and Portuguese-speaking (Brazilian) Catholics, with a weekly Tridentine Mass in the 1962 Missal celebrated at Sacred Heart Chapel in Yarmouth Port. The parish is widely known for its deep connection to the Kennedy family, who have worshipped here since 1926 and drawn both pilgrims and bus tours to the South Street church over the decades. Active pastoral ministries include religious education and Confirmation prep, a thriving St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and rental-assistance outreach, monthly First Friday 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration, weekday Faith Fostering gatherings, and a Saturday rosary at the Sacred Heart Chapel.
- Established
- 1874 (as St. Patrick's; renamed St. Francis Xavier in 1903/1904)
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. (Fr.) Michael Fitzpatrick
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier is a welcoming, multilingual Catholic parish in the heart of Hyannis that reaches out in a notably personal way — the priests visit the sick, bring Holy Communion to the homebound, and offer Masses in English, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazilian), and the traditional Latin 1962 Rite. The parish runs a strong faith-formation program for teens (a two-year Confirmation track led by the pastor), a Monday morning 'Faith Fostering' adult study, monthly 24-hour First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a Saturday rosary at the chapel. For those in need, the parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and rental-assistance ministry serves the wider Hyannis community Tuesdays and Fridays, and new parishioners are invited to register online to make this their spiritual home.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday — 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM (Spanish & Portuguese)
- Tuesday — 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM (Spanish & Portuguese); 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (English, at St. Francis Xavier)
- Wednesday — 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM (Spanish & Portuguese)
- Thursday — 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (English, at St. Francis Xavier)
- Friday — 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM (Spanish & Portuguese)
- Saturday — 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM (English, at St. Francis Xavier); 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (English, at St. Francis Xavier); 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM (Sacred Heart Chapel)
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month — 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration (Sacred Heart devotion)
Parish Overview & Identity
St. Francis Xavier is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Hyannis, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Fall River, serving the Mid-Cape region. Its mission statement, posted on sfxhyannis.org, reads: 'Originally founded in 1874 as St. Patrick's, St. Francis Xavier Parish in 1903 embraced all immigrant people by following the missionary zeal of our patron. In response to this call, we now embrace English, Brazilian, and Spanish speaking Roman Catholics and includes a Tridentine Mass (1962 Missal) taking place at Sacred Heart Chapel in Yarmouth Port.' The parish witness is rooted in the celebration of the Sacraments, continual formation in Church teaching, and service to the people of Hyannis — especially the poor.
- Patron: St. Francis Xavier
- Diocese: Fall River
- Multilingual: English, Spanish, Portuguese/Brazilian, Latin (Traditional)
- Worship sites: St. Francis Xavier Church (347 South Street, Hyannis) and Sacred Heart Chapel (Yarmouth Port)
History
The parish dates to 1874, when St. Patrick Church was built on Barnstable Road to serve the Irish Catholic community. In 1903 sections of that building were relocated to South Street and a new church was dedicated there in 1904; to reflect its broadening, immigrant-era identity the parish was renamed St. Francis Xavier. An east wing was added in 1946 and a west wing in 1953, bringing the church's capacity to roughly 960. A 1998–1999 renovation enlarged the sacristy, covered the exterior entrances, and repositioned the altar. The parish achieved national prominence as the Kennedy family's Cape Cod parish — the Kennedys have worshipped here since 1926, and President John F. Kennedy sat in the second pew of the east wing during his presidency.
- 1874 — St. Patrick Church built on Barnstable Road
- 1903/1904 — building moved to South Street, church rededicated St. Francis Xavier
- 1926 — Kennedy family begins attending summer Masses
- 1944 — Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. dies; central altar later given in his memory
- 1946 — East wing added
- 1953 — West wing added (capacity ~960)
- 1969 — Funeral of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
- 1986 — Wedding of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver
- 1998–1999 — Sacristy expanded, entrances covered, altar moved
- 2009 — Funeral of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
The Kennedy Connection
St. Francis Xavier is widely known as 'the Kennedy church on Cape Cod.' The family began attending summer Masses in 1926; the central altar is a memorial to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (1924–1944, killed during WWII when his plane exploded over the English Channel). During his presidency, JFK sat in the second pew of the east wing, and the sacristy even had a direct 'red phone' to the White House. Solid-oak front doors were carved and donated by Charles J. Najarian and family in honor of the Kennedys; plaques in the front foyer and a marker on the Kennedy pew commemorate the connection. Several Kennedy funerals have been held at the church, and many family members are buried at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Centerville. While the family today more often worships at Our Lady of Victory in Centerville, the parish still receives more than 80 tour buses a year of visitors drawn by the legacy.
- Central altar — memorial to Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
- Solid-oak front doors — gift of Charles J. Najarian & family
- Kennedy Legacy Trail stop in Hyannis
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Michael Fitzpatrick, who grew up in Norwood, MA, attended Xaverian Brothers High School and St. John's Seminary College in Brighton, and completed theology at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. He was ordained October 11, 2003, and after assignments at St. Mary's (Mansfield), Bishop Feehan High School, UMass Dartmouth, and Corpus Christi Sandwich / St. Joan of Arc (Orleans) became Parochial Administrator of St. Francis Xavier in June 2014 and subsequently Pastor. He is supported by two parochial vicars: Fr. Marcelo Silva (IVE — Institute of the Incarnate Word), who serves the Spanish community and especially visits the sick, and Fr. Thiago Santos, who leads the Brazilian apostolate.
- Fr. Michael Fitzpatrick — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Marcelo Silva — Parochial Vicar, Spanish-speaking community ([email protected])
- Fr. Thiago Santos — Parochial Vicar, Brazilian Community ([email protected])
- Mrs. Pollyanna Lemos — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Mrs. Franciele Ferias — Business Manager & Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Mr. Don DiChiappari — Music Director
- Mr. Edson Liborio — Building and Grounds Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Francis Xavier runs a Religious Education program (CCD) led by Mrs. Franciele Ferias. Its Confirmation preparation is a two-year program beginning in grade 8 and is led personally by Fr. Michael; it 'aims to encourage our teens to find the TRUE answer for our modern life problems.' Confirmation II classes meet every other Tuesday from 6:30–8:00 PM in the Fr. Duffy Pastoral Center ('Duffy House,' 357 South Street). A separate adult gathering called 'Faith Fostering' meets Monday mornings at 10:00 AM for faith formation and fellowship.
- Confirmation — 2-year program, grade 8+, led by Fr. Michael
- Faith Fostering — Mondays 10:00 AM (adults)
- CCD contact: [email protected]
- Duffy House / Fr. Duffy Pastoral Center — 357 South Street
St. Vincent de Paul & Outreach
Outreach to the poor is a centerpiece of parish life. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Francis Xavier operates a food pantry and — when funds allow — rental assistance for families in the Hyannis area. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable items to Mass for the pantry. The parish also participates in the diocesan 'Walking with Moms in Need' initiative.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — 508-775-3073 / [email protected]
- Pantry hours: Tuesday 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Friday 10:00 AM–12:00 PM (do not arrive before 10 AM)
- 'Walking with Moms in Need' pro-life outreach
- Parish office does NOT handle assistance requests — call St. Vincent de Paul directly
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish prepares Catholics for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage (Weddings), and Reconciliation, and ministers to the sick and homebound. Fr. Marcelo, in particular, highlights his ministry of 'visiting the sick and bringing Holy Communion to them' as central to his vocation.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Confirmation — 2-year program beginning in grade 8
- Marriage / Weddings — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick & Communion to the homebound — by request via the parish office
Visiting the Parish
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at 21 Cross Street, Hyannis, MA 02601. The main church is at 347 South Street in downtown Hyannis. Visitors and new parishioners are invited to register online via the 'New Parishioners Registration Form' link on the homepage of sfxhyannis.org. The mid-week bilingual Masses, the Portuguese and Spanish Sunday Masses, the Latin Tridentine Mass at Sacred Heart Chapel in Yarmouth Port, and the monthly 24-hour First Friday Adoration together make the parish a particularly welcoming stop for seasonal Cape visitors as well as year-round residents.
- Parish Office: 21 Cross Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
- Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
- Phone: 508-775-0818
- New Parishioner Registration available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Fitzpatrick2014–present
Initially appointed Parochial Administrator in June 2014; subsequently named Pastor. Grew up in Norwood, MA; attended Xaverian Brothers HS and St. John's Seminary College, Brighton; completed theology at St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD; ordained October 11, 2003. Prior assignments: St. Mary's Mansfield, Bishop Feehan HS chaplain, UMass Dartmouth chaplain, Corpus Christi Sandwich, St. Joan of Arc Orleans.
- Fr. (Rev. Msgr.) Ronald A. LaCroix (prior pastor referenced in 2013 Cape Cod Times)
Discussed in 2013 press coverage as the pastor at that time, giving interviews about the parish's Kennedy heritage.