About St. John the Baptist · Quincy, Massachusetts
St. John the Baptist Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Quincy, Massachusetts, just outside Quincy center at 44 School Street. Founded in the 1850s to serve Catholic immigrant workers drawn to Quincy's granite quarries, it is now part of the Archdiocese of Boston and is partnered with neighboring St. Joseph Parish in the St. Joseph / St. John the Baptist Collaborative. The collaborative is pastored by Fr. Matthew Williams and a team of priests and deacons, runs a weekly food pantry, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and various ministries for youth, evangelization, and outreach.
- Established
- 1853
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist (John the Baptist)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew Williams
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston)
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers a generous liturgical life — daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, multiple Sunday Masses, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration — together with a brand-new Perpetual Adoration Chapel just behind the church. The parish runs two weekly food pantries (at St. John the Baptist and St. Joseph), lively youth and evangelization ministries, and a faith formation program, all within a collaborative model that lets parishioners plug in at whatever level works for them.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm (and by appointment)
- Sunday Holy Hour 3:00–4:00 pm
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Adoration with Holy Hour)
- Sunday Holy Hour 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Perpetual Adoration at the Holy Family Perpetual Adoration Chapel (behind St. John the Baptist Church, 44 School Street) — sign up for a weekly holy hour via [email protected]
Parish Identity and History
St. John the Baptist Parish is a Roman Catholic community at 44 School Street in Quincy, Massachusetts, founded in 1853 to serve the Catholic families — many of them immigrants — who came to Quincy for work in the granite quarries. It is the second-oldest Catholic church in the city and belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston. Today the parish is partnered with neighboring St. Joseph Parish in the St. Joseph / St. John the Baptist Collaborative, sharing clergy and many programs.
- Founded 1853 to serve Catholic quarry-worker families; second Catholic church in Quincy
- Cornerstone of the (expanded) church laid November 24, 1872 by Archbishop Williams
- Church dedicated June 14, 1874; building enlarged in 1873
- Partnered with St. Joseph Parish as the St. Joseph / St. John the Baptist Collaborative
Buildings and Architecture
The complex occupies School Street just outside Quincy center. The church presents a classic New England silhouette with three steeples at the front facade; the traditional white clapboard has been replaced with aluminum siding over time. The 21 Gay Street rectory, built in the 1860s in the Second Empire / mansard style, is part of the Quincy Historical and Architectural Survey and has served as the parish rectory since at least 1876. A new Holy Family Perpetual Adoration Chapel has been added behind the church.
- Church with three steeples at the front facade; aluminum siding has replaced earlier clapboard
- Large crucifix at the sanctuary entrance
- 21 Gay Street rectory — 1860s Second Empire/mansard style, in the Quincy Historical and Architectural Survey
- Holy Family Perpetual Adoration Chapel behind the church
Clergy and Staff
The collaborative is led by a pastor supported by a parochial vicar, senior priests in residence, a deacon, and a full-time staff. Day-to-day operations, evangelization, faith formation, music, and youth ministry are coordinated by named directors and coordinators working across the collaborative.
- Rev. Matthew Williams — Pastor
- Rev. Jason Worthley — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Tom DiLorenzo — Senior Priest in Residence
- Rev. Arthur Wright — Senior Priest in Residence
- Deacon Tim Booker — Deacon
- Paul Kelly — Collaborative Music Director
- Donna Niosi — Office Manager
- Andrea Alberti — Evangelization & Outreach Director
- Chessie Reynolds — Youth Minister
- Eliza Alberti — Operations Specialist
- Alyson Doucette — Evangelization & Outreach Coordinator
- Lisa Cahill — Religious Education Coordinator
Outreach and Charity
The collaborative runs a Food Pantry that distributes groceries every Wednesday evening at both parish sites — at St. John the Baptist from 6:30–7:30 pm (in the building next to the back door of the rectory) and at St. Joseph from 6:00–7:00 pm (in the basement). Non-perishable donations are welcomed in baskets at the back of either church. A Healing Ministry, led by Fr. Tom DiLorenzo, is announced through the parish news page.
- Food Pantry at St. John the Baptist, Wed 6:30–7:30 pm (44 School Street)
- Food Pantry at St. Joseph Rectory, Wed 6:00–7:00 pm (556 Washington Street)
- Food donation baskets at the back of both churches
- Healing Ministry (Fr. Tom DiLorenzo) — schedule via parish news
Faith Formation and Youth
Faith formation runs through the Religious Education program coordinated by Lisa Cahill, and includes preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and the RCIA process for unbaptized adults or baptized Catholics preparing for First Communion. The Youth Ministry, led by Chessie Reynolds, runs summer programming and other activities for the parish's young people.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation (Lisa Cahill)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Youth Ministry (Chessie Reynolds) — summer programs and more
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry is led by Paul Kelly, Collaborative Music Director, working with musicians, cantors, and choir to support liturgical prayer across both parish churches. Sacristans and liturgical coordinators maintain the sacred vessels, linens, and books and organize the schedules for lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers.
- Collaborative Music Director Paul Kelly
- Musicians, cantors, and choir serving both parishes
- Sacristans and liturgical coordinators
- Lectors, EMHCs, ushers/greeters, and altar servers
Getting Involved and Parish Life
Beyond liturgical roles, parishioners can join the Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Council, Building and Facilities Committee, Decorations Committee, Collection Counters, Church Cleaning teams, or the Bereavement Ministry. Our Father's Table is a group of parishioners who cook meals for the priests on certain Friday or Saturday evenings, either bringing food to the rectory or inviting the priests to their home.
- Parish Pastoral Council (meets every other month on Monday evenings)
- Parish Finance Council (meets quarterly)
- Building and Facilities Committee
- Decorations Committee, Collection Counters, Church Cleaning
- Bereavement Ministry
- Our Father's Table (cooking meals for the priests)
Contact and Locations
The parish has three addresses: the church at 44 School Street, the rectory at 21 Gay Street, and the collaborative administrative office (St. Joseph Rectory) at 556 Washington Street. Phone calls and email reach the parish through the rectory line and [email protected]. Online giving is available by PayPal, Venmo, or through an online appeal page linked from the parish site.
- Church: 44 School Street, Quincy, MA 02169
- Rectory: 21 Gay Street, Quincy, MA 02169 — phone (617) 773-1021
- Collaborative Office: 556 Washington Street, Quincy, MA 02169
- Email: [email protected]
- Online giving via PayPal, Venmo, and the parish appeal page