About St. Gregory (Dorchester) · Boston, Massachusetts
St. Gregory Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston located at 2223 Dorchester Avenue in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1862 and serving the Dorchester–Mattapan–Milton corridor, it is the oldest Catholic parish in Dorchester and the mother church from which several daughter parishes (St. Ann, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Peter and others) were carved over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The parish offers Sunday Masses in the Upper Church, a daily 6:45 a.m. Mass in the Lower Church, a robust sacramental life including weekly Confession and monthly Anointing of the Sick, Religious Education for children, and a parish food-and-assistance outreach. Fr. Jack Ahern is the current pastor, assisted by priests in residence and a parish staff.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Gregory the Great (Pope Gregory I)
- Rector
- Rev. Jack Ahern (Fr. Jack)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Gregory's welcomes newcomers warmly and offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life in one of Boston's oldest church communities: a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses in the historic Upper Church, a quiet 6:45 a.m. daily Mass in the Lower Church, weekly Saturday Confession, monthly Anointing of the Sick, Eucharistic Adoration on first Saturdays, Religious Education and First Communion classes, RCIA, and a parish food-and-gift-card assistance ministry that helps neighbors in need. Families sending children to school benefit from a direct connection to the Lower Mills campus of Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, right across the street.
Mass times at St. Gregory (Dorchester)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM (Upper Church)
Adoration times
- First Saturday of the month, 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM (Upper Church)
Parish Identity & Quick Facts
St. Gregory Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Dorchester, Massachusetts, founded in 1862 and seated since 1863 on Dorchester Avenue in Lower Mills at the Dorchester–Milton line. The parish bulletin identifies itself as 'Parish of Saint Gregory — Dorchester–Mattapan–Milton.' It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and is led by Fr. Jack Ahern, with Fr. Brian F. McMahon and Fr. James Ojo in residence and Deacon John Williams serving as transitional deacon.
- Address: 2223 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester (Lower Mills), MA 02124
- Phone: 617-298-2460 • Fax: 617-298-9232
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stgregoryparish.com
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (Fr. Jack cell for emergencies: 617-686-0290)
History of St. Gregory Parish
Lower Mills' Catholic roots go back to 1847, when Father Fitzsimmons of Saints Peter and Paul in South Boston tried to acquire a lot at Washington Street and Churchill's Lane. Anti-Catholic hostility led to the 1854 arson of the unfinished church, blamed on the Know-Nothings. In December 1862 the Archdiocese established a new parish under Rev. Thomas R. McNulty, and on August 16, 1863 construction of a Romanesque Revival church—designed by Providence architect James Murphy—began on Dorchester Avenue. Through the 1870s–1900s the parish repeatedly spawned daughter churches (St. Peter's, St. Ann's, St. Matthew's, St. Mark's), and under Father Fitzpatrick the building received its twin-tower façade in 1894–95 and was re-dedicated in 1902.
- 1854 arson of the first Catholic church in Lower Mills — blamed on nativist Know-Nothings
- 1862: parish established under Fr. Thomas R. McNulty
- 1863: construction begins on the present Romanesque Revival church
- 1875–1913: Fr. William H. Fitzpatrick oversees expansion and the founding of mission parishes
- 1894–95: new façade with two towers and stained-glass window; 1902 re-dedication
- 1915: grammar school built under Fr. Francis X. Dolan; 1921 convent opens
- 2012: parish celebrates its 150th anniversary
Pastor & Parish Staff
The current pastor is the Rt. Rev. Jack Ahern, who also serves as a long-time collaborator-priest in the Archdiocese's parish-collaborative model. He is assisted by two priests in residence, a transitional deacon, a business manager and a music director. Parishioners are encouraged to call the rectory for any need; Fr. Jack also publishes a cell number for pastoral emergencies.
- Pastor — Rt. Rev. Jack Ahern (office 617-298-2460; cell 617-686-0290)
- In Residence — Rev. Brian F. McMahon
- In Residence — Rev. James Ojo
- Transitional Deacon — Deacon John Williams
- Business Manager — Julie A. Hayes
- Music Director (late) — Dr. James Busby, D. Mus. (served 25+ years; died Memorial Day 2025)
Sacraments
St. Gregory celebrates all the usual sacraments of initiation and healing. Baptism is offered monthly in the Upper Church, Reconciliation is heard every Saturday, Marriage preparation begins at least six months out with Fr. Jack, and Anointing of the Sick is celebrated after every Mass on the first full weekend of each month (and any time by request for the seriously ill).
- Baptism — Second Sunday of every month, 11:00 a.m., Upper Church (call rectory in advance to register)
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
- Marriage — Contact Fr. Jack at least six months before the requested date
- Anointing of the Sick — First full weekend of the month after Mass, or any time by request
- Eucharistic Adoration — First Saturday, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes begin each October and are coordinated through the rectory. Children preparing for First Communion meet on Sundays in the Lower Church, and Confirmation candidates meet Thursday evenings in the Lower Church. Adults seeking to become Catholic or to complete their sacraments are welcomed through the parish RCIA process.
- Religious Education — classes begin in October each year; contact the rectory
- First Communion preparation — Sundays in the Lower Church, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
- Confirmation preparation — Thursdays in the Lower Church, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Gregory's has been a hallmark of the parish for decades, most recently under Dr. James Busby, D. Mus., who served as Music Director and Organist for more than twenty-five years before his passing on Memorial Day 2025. The parish continues to support liturgical music at weekend Masses, weddings, and funerals from the historic Upper Church.
- Music Director (deceased, 2025) — Dr. James Busby, D. Mus.
- Music at weekend Masses, weddings and funerals
- Hymns drawn from the Breaking Bread hymnal referenced in the weekly bulletin
Outreach & Parish Assistance
St. Gregory's runs a long-standing parish assistance ministry that supports neighbors in need through grocery gift cards and other practical help. The bulletin regularly thanks donors for supermarket gift cards, noting that 'new people come to our door each week for assistance.' Anyone in need of food or other help is encouraged to call Fr. Jack or Julie at the rectory.
- Food and grocery gift-card assistance (call Fr. Jack or Julie at the rectory)
- Online giving via the parish website (green 'Give' button)
- Offertory reported weekly in the bulletin
Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy — Lower Mills Campus
The former St. Gregory Grammar School building, across Dorchester Avenue from the church, has been part of the Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy multi-campus regional school since September 8, 2008, and serves roughly 300 K–8 students as the 'Lower Mills' campus. An $8.4 million renovation completed in recent years added 16 renovated classrooms, an early-childhood floor, a media room, a reconfigured cafeteria and a handicap-accessible front entrance with a new elevator.
- Principal — Lisa Warshafsky
- Phone — 617-265-0019
- Website — www.sjp2ca.org
- Lower Mills campus serves ~300 students in grades K–8
- Opened as part of SJPII Academy on September 8, 2008
Getting Involved & Contact
Newcomers are warmly welcomed and encouraged to register as parishioners; registration forms are available in the church entryways and the parish office and can be returned via the offertory basket or mailed to the rectory. The parish bulletin (printed and posted online at stgregoryparish.com) is the central source of announcements, with a Monday-morning submission deadline.
- New parishioner registration forms in the church entryways and parish office
- Bulletin deadline: Monday morning
- Parish office hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Contact: 617-298-2460 • [email protected] • stgregoryparish.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas R. McNulty1862–1875
First pastor; oversaw the construction of the 1863 Romanesque Revival church.
- Rev. William H. Fitzpatrick1875–1913
Long-tenured pastor who expanded the parish territory and built St. Ann's, St. Matthew's and St. Mark's as mission churches; oversaw the 1894–95 façade with two towers and the 1902 re-dedication.
- Rev. Francis X. Dolan1914–1944
Built the grammar school (opened 1915) and the convent (opened 1921).
- Rev. E. Ambrose Gallagher1944–1952
Succeeded Father Dolan.
- Rev. Bernard J. McNulty1952–1970
Built the current rectory in 1954; site of the old rectory became the Garden of the Crucifixion.
- Rev. Paul Sweeney1970–1978
Pastor during the early 1970s.
- Rev. William Glynnfrom 1978
Listed in the parish history as succeeding Fr. Sweeney.
- Rev. Paul T. Ryanfrom 1981
Pastor in the 1980s (Michael Parise served under him and wrote the parish history).
- Rev. Vincent E. Daily2006–c.2016
In 2015 named head of the St. Gregory / St. Angela Merici / St. Matthew collaborative.
- Rev. Jack Ahernpresent
Current pastor (Rt. Rev. Jack Ahern); previously led Dorchester's Tri-Parish collaborative 2009–2016.