About St. Irene · Carlisle, Massachusetts
St. Irene Parish is a Catholic parish in Carlisle, Massachusetts, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston and one of the two parishes that form the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative (CCCC) alongside Holy Family Parish in Concord. The church sits at 181 East Street in Carlisle and serves the community with weekend Masses, weekday Mass, a Communion service, and a wide range of faith formation, youth ministry, music, and outreach programs run collaboratively with Holy Family. Under the pastoral leadership of Very Rev. David M. O'Leary, VF, the parish describes itself as a vibrant, welcoming faith community called to bear witness to the Risen Lord through prayer, the sacraments, and joyful evangelization.
- Established
- c. 1946
- Patron
- St. Irene of Thessalonica
- Rector
- Very Rev. David M. O'Leary, VF, S.T.L., D.Phil.
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Irene is a small-town New England parish that feels like a family: Sunday Masses at 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM, a Monday morning weekday Mass, and a Wednesday Communion service keep daily prayer at the center of parish life. Families raising children find a complete Faith Formation program for Pre-K through 10th grade, including sacramental preparation for First Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation, plus an active Teen Faith Formation (grades 8–12) and Youth Ministry. A Parish Nurse ministry, collaborative music program, monthly Family Mass, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), and a strong tradition of lay involvement and visiting the homebound make it easy to belong, serve, and grow at whatever stage of life or faith a visitor finds themselves in.
Mass times at St. Irene
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Monday of the month, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM at St. Irene, Carlisle
Adoration times
- Silent Exposition & Adoration every Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Prayer Chapel, Parish Center, 70 Monument Square, Concord
Welcome from the Pastor
Fr. Dave O'Leary, pastor of the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative, extends a written welcome on the parish website. The collaborative, which unites Holy Family Parish in Concord (St. Bernard's Church) and St. Irene Parish in Carlisle, 'strives to be a vibrant and welcoming faith community to all people,' inviting the newcomer, the alienated, the disheartened, and the searching to find a 'loving Faith family' through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Dave signs off with 'Pax Christi.'
- Very Reverend David O'Leary, VF, S.T.L., D.Phil. — Pastor
- Quote from Jesuit priest James Martin featured in the welcome message
Our Staff
The collaborative is led by Pastor Fr. Dave O'Leary, VF, with Fr. George Collins, S.J. assisting as a weekend celebrant. Two deacons — Gregory Burch and Chuck Clough — serve the parishes. The lay staff includes Roberto Mercado, Jr. as Coordinator of Parish Life, Marie Noel as Director of Faith Formation, Tony Carbrello as Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Cypriana Coelho as Director of Music for St. Irene (and Jim Barkovic for Holy Family), Jean Gifford as Parish Nurse, and Greg McKeon as Cemetery Superintendent and Facilities lead. The staff email is [email protected]; the main phone is 978-369-7442.
- Pastor: Fr. Dave O'Leary, VF
- Weekend Celebrant: Fr. George Collins, S.J.
- Deacons: Gregory Burch, Chuck Clough
- Coordinator of Parish Life: Roberto Mercado, Jr.
- Director of Faith Formation: Marie Noel
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Tony Carbrello
- Director of Music (St. Irene): Cypriana Coelho
- Director of Music (Holy Family): Jim Barkovic
- Parish Nurse: Jean Gifford
- Cemetery Superintendent / Facilities: Greg McKeon
Faith Formation
The Concord-Carlisle Collaborative views Faith Formation as a parish-wide mission involving children, parents, families, catechists, faith formation leaders, and clergy together. The program integrates catechesis, prayer, sacramental preparation, Scripture study, liturgy, and community building. Classes for 2025–2026 begin Sunday, October 5, 2025, and run Pre-K through 10th Grade. Tuition is $225 for one child up to $300 for four or more children, with a $50 sacrament fee each for First Communion and Confirmation retreats. Programs include First Penance/Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation I & II, a monthly Family Mass, Children's Liturgy of the Word, and a Family Engagement pilot. The office is open Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at 70 Monument Square, Concord.
- Director: Marie Noel ([email protected]; 978-369-7442 x224)
- Grades: Pre-K through 10
- Sacramental Prep: First Penance, First Communion, Confirmation I & II
- Monthly Family Mass & Fellowship
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Three-Year Plan: Year 1 focuses on family & youth engagement, programmatic changes, curriculum adjustments, and sustainability
Teen Faith Formation (Grades 8–12) and Youth Ministry
Teen Faith Formation sessions meet on Sundays during the school year at two collaborative locations: 12:00 noon – 1:30 PM at St. Irene (Parish Hall, after Mass), and 5:00 – 6:30 PM at Holy Family (Lower Hall of St. Bernard Church). Teens register for a specific location but may change on a one-time basis with advance notice. A Home Faith Reflection (make-up) is available for missed sessions. The Youth Ministry program, coordinated by Tony Carbrello, also runs the Adult Retreat Team for Confirmation, ministry/mission opportunities, and the annual Christmas Tree Pick Up event.
- Two Sunday session locations: St. Irene (noon) and Holy Family (5:00 PM)
- Confirmation preparation integrated with Teen FF
- Adult Retreat Team
- Christmas Tree Pick Up fundraiser
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The collaborative runs the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) for those exploring Catholicism — whether brand new to Christianity, coming from another tradition, or Catholic spouses preparing to receive sacraments. The parish explicitly welcomes 'no matter your present status in the Catholic Church, family or marital situation, personal history, age, income, background, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or where you find yourself on your spiritual journey.'
- Contact Marie Noel: [email protected] or 978-369-7442 x224
Parish Nurse and Homebound Ministry
A Parish Nurse (Jean Gifford) supports the health and wellness needs of parishioners across the collaborative. Two lay ministers — Linda Bentley (978-505-8028) and Barb Ewen (978-505-9625) — coordinate visits and bring Holy Communion to parishioners who are unable to attend Mass because of surgery, illness, or disability.
- Parish Nurse: Jean Gifford
- Holy Communion for the Homebound: Linda Bentley, Barb Ewen
Altar Servers
The collaborative trains and commissions new altar servers each year. Requirements: students in 3rd grade or older who have received First Holy Eucharist. Training begins in November and servers are commissioned in December, then serve with reverence throughout the year. Interested families should contact Marie Noel.
- Open to 3rd grade and up who have received First Eucharist
- Training in November; commissioning in December
Contact and Visit
The shared Parish Center is at 70 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742, with office hours Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (typically closed on holidays and for occasional staff meetings). The main phone is 978-369-7442 and the staff email is [email protected]. St. Irene Church itself is at 181 East Street, Carlisle, MA 01741; the rectory can be reached at 978-369-3940.
- Parish Center: 70 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742
- St. Irene Church: 181 East Street, Carlisle, MA 01741
- Phone: 978-369-7442
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 10 AM – 3 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frank Silva2020 (collaborative formed)
First pastor of the newly formed Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative, with Rev. Bill Robinson as parochial vicar.
- Very Rev. David M. O'Leary, VFpresent
Current pastor of both St. Irene and Holy Family in the Concord-Carlisle Catholic Collaborative.