About St. Ignatius of Loyola (Chestnut Hill) · Newton, Massachusetts
St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish is a Jesuit Catholic parish in Chestnut Hill, Newton, Massachusetts, situated on Commonwealth Avenue right next to the main campus of Boston College. Founded in 1926 by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell and placed under the care of the Jesuit Fathers of Boston College, the parish blends diocesan life with the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian charism of the Society of Jesus. Today it serves both Chestnut Hill residents and the Boston College community, offering Mass in English and Spanish, robust faith formation, music ministry, and outreach rooted in the Jesuits' Universal Apostolic Preferences.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Society of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. John C. Wronski, S.J.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Ignatius offers something rare: a territorial parish of the Archdiocese of Boston that is also steeped in Jesuit, Ignatian spirituality and physically embedded in a major Catholic university campus. Parishioners find a welcoming home with vibrant liturgies celebrated in English and Spanish, a rich music program anchored by a Casavant organ, lifelong faith formation for children and adults (including OCIA/RCIA, First Communion, Confirmation, and Primera Comunión), active outreach through Habitat for Humanity, Cor Unum, Family Aid Boston, and Pine Street Inn, and discernment-friendly ministries rooted in finding 'God in all things.'
Mass times at St. Ignatius of Loyola (Chestnut Hill)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM in the Upper Church (or by appointment)
About St. Ignatius Parish
St. Ignatius of Loyola, Chestnut Hill is a Jesuit parish rooted in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality and located just next to Boston College's main campus. It serves as a center of spiritual life for residents of Chestnut Hill and Newton as well as students from the BC community. While part of the Archdiocese of Boston, the parish blends diocesan life with the richness of the Jesuit tradition because, from its founding, care of the parish was assigned to priests of the Jesuit community of Boston College. As a Catholic community, St. Ignatius welcomes all to share in the joy of the Gospel as parishioners grow in knowledge, love, and service to God and each other.
- Jesuit parish in the Archdiocese of Boston
- Adjacent to Boston College's main campus
- Mission: 'As a Jesuit parish community, animated by the spirit of St. Ignatius, we welcome ALL to share in the joy of the Gospel and to come to know, love, and serve God and one another.'
- Guided by 'Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam' — For the Greater Glory of God
Parish Mission & Vision
St. Ignatius Parish values Nourishing Liturgy, Inclusive Community, Ignatian Spirituality, Education, and Social Justice. As a parish in the care of Jesuit priests, its Catholic identity is shaped by the spirituality of the Society of Jesus, and its mission reflects the Jesuits' Universal Apostolic Preferences. The parish vision statement commits it to being a welcoming Ignatian community and spiritual home by actively engaging in vibrant liturgies, journeying with youth, walking with the excluded, caring for our common home, and discerning its response to God's vision for peace, justice, and reconciliation.
- Nourishing Liturgy — worship through word, music, and sacraments
- Inclusive Community — welcoming to all
- Ignatian Spirituality — seeking God in all things
- Education — lifelong faith formation
- Social Justice — human dignity, righting injustices, care for our shared home
History & Centennial
Cardinal William Henry O'Connell created the parish of St. Ignatius of Loyola in October–November 1926 to serve the Chestnut Hill area and placed its care with the Jesuit Fathers of Boston College. From the 1920s through the late 1940s, parish Masses were held in an auditorium of the Boston College library. After decades of delay, ground was broken in November 1947; Archbishop Richard Cushing dedicated the new Gothic church on July 31, 1949, the feast of St. Ignatius. The parish launched a Centennial Series in fall 2025 and will formally mark 100 years on November 7, 2026.
- Founded November 1926 by Cardinal O'Connell
- Church designed by Desmond and Lord in modern Gothic style
- Dedicated July 31, 1949 by Archbishop Richard Cushing
- Upper church seats ~1,000; lower church ~500; 200-seat parish hall below
- Stained-glass windows depict the history of the Jesuit Order
- Casavant Frères pipe organ installed at dedication
- Centennial Year: November 2025 – November 2026
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Ignatius fosters each parishioner's lifelong search to encounter and follow Jesus Christ, rooted in both Ignatian Spirituality and the broad Catholic tradition. Programs serve Pre-K through 8th grade and teens preparing for Confirmation, with morning and evening Confirmation sections. A bilingual program includes Spanish-language Primera Comunión and Catequesis Familiar for the whole family.
- Pre-K through 6th Grade and Confirmation morning sections (10:00–11:00 AM Sundays)
- Confirmation evening sections (3:45–4:45 PM Sundays)
- First Communion preparation begins in grade 1; reception in grade 2
- Confirmation preparation begins in 9th grade; confirmed in spring of 10th grade
- Primera Comunión / Catequesis Familiar (Spanish)
- Early bird discount available for early registration
Music & Liturgy
St. Ignatius is home to a distinguished music program anchored by its Casavant Frères pipe organ, installed at the church's 1949 dedication, and led by Director of Music Allyn McCourt. The 9:00 AM Sunday Mass is celebrated as a Children's Mass, and the parish has long hosted sacred concerts and student retreats for the Boston College community.
- Director of Music: Allyn McCourt
- Casavant Frères organ (Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec)
- Children's Mass at 9:00 AM Sunday
- Sunday 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM (Spanish) liturgies are livestreamed
Outreach & Social Justice
St. Ignatius is committed to restorative justice and social outreach. The parish partners with several Boston-area organizations to serve those in poverty, hunger, and homelessness, and commissions such as the Green Team, Racial Justice Committee, Immigration Committee, and LGBTQ+ Catholics work together to live out the Christian faith in the wider world. Outreach is coordinated by Sr. Diane Vallerio, MFIC.
- Habitat for Humanity
- Cor Unum
- Family Aid Boston
- Pine Street Inn / Shattuck Shelter
- Green Team (care for our common home)
- Racial Justice Committee
- Immigration Committee
- LGBTQ+ Catholics group
Sacraments
St. Ignatius prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptisms for infants and children are coordinated with Sr. Diane Vallerio; First Communion and Confirmation have multi-year preparation tracks through Faith Formation; weddings welcome parishioners, BC alumni, and non-parishioners; the Anointing of the Sick and OCIA/RCIA are arranged through the Parish Office.
- Baptism — Sr. Diane Vallerio
- First Communion — grades 1–2
- Confirmation — grades 9–10
- Matrimony — contact Office Manager Carol Russo
- Anointing of the Sick — Parish Office
- OCIA / RCIA — Parish Office
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. John C. Wronski, S.J., supported by two parochial vicars (Rev. Matt Cassidy, S.J., and Rev. Jake Braithwaite) and a lay staff responsible for operations, music, faith formation, communications, outreach, youth ministry, and facilities. All clergy and staff share the common goal of animating an Ignatian Catholic community at the edge of Boston College.
- Pastor: Rev. John C. Wronski, S.J.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Matt Cassidy, S.J.; Rev. Jake Braithwaite
- Pastoral Director of Operations: Carol Russo
- Director of Music: Allyn McCourt
- Spiritual Life Coordinator: Sr. Diane Vallerio, MFIC
- Director of Communications/Evangelization: Chase Hockema
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Liz Turnwald
- Hispanic Community & Faith Formation: Paula Gomez Victoria
- Youth Ministry: Natalia Dilan
- Business Manager: Janet Kaduboski
- Facilities Manager: Delio Barrientos
Volunteering & Child Protection
St. Ignatius depends on the support of parish volunteers across liturgical, catechetical, outreach, and operational roles. The parish operates a Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Team responsible for training clergy, employees, and volunteers in mandated reporting and the VIRTUS 'Protecting God's Children' program required of those who minister to children, youth, or vulnerable parishioners.
- CAP Team members: Liz Turnwald, Helena Alfonzo, Trudy Good, Kathy Maher
- Required: VIRTUS 'Protecting God's Children for Adults' training
- Annual CORI submission
- Sign and adhere to the Archdiocesan Code of Conduct
Visit, Directions & Contact
St. Ignatius is located at 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Newton, MA 02467 — adjacent to Boston College in the picturesque Chestnut Hill neighborhood, a short drive from downtown Boston and accessible by public transportation. Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00–4:00 PM (closed weekends). For GPS, the parish notes it is in Chestnut Hill, not Boston.
- Address: 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, Newton, MA 02467-3849
- Phone: 617-552-6100
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office: Mon–Fri 10 AM–1 PM and 2 PM–4 PM
- Parking: yellow spaces beside/in front of church (Fr. Herlihy Drive) and Boston College garage off Campanella Way
- Handicapped spaces on Commonwealth Avenue and at top of parish office driveway
St. Mary's Cemetery
St. Ignatius Parish is associated with St. Mary's Cemetery, located at 1 Wellesley Avenue, Needham, MA 02494. Inquiries about cemetery services can be directed to the cemetery staff at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church at 781-235-1841.
- Cemetery address: 1 Wellesley Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
- Inquiries: 781-235-1841 (Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Erps, S.J.
Listed as Pastor in earlier parish bulletins (e.g., 2024 Pilot directory).
- Rev. John C. Wronski, S.J.Current
Current Pastor per the parish website and the Boston Pilot 2026 directory.