About St. John the Evangelist · East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
St. John the Evangelist is a Catholic parish at 210 Central Street in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, within the Archdiocese of Boston. Since 1903 it has been an independent parish (no longer a mission church), and today it shares pastoral life with neighboring St. Ann Parish in West Bridgewater under the Together in Christ Collaborative, a single pastoral team serving two Bridgewater-area communities. The parish traces its Catholic roots in East Bridgewater to 1863, when Mass was first celebrated in what was then called St. Bridget's; the current church building was dedicated in 1955 after the previous 1894 Gothic-frame church was destroyed by fire. Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:00 am and 11:30 am, with weekday Mass on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
- Established
- 1893 (parish as St. John the Evangelist); 1863 (Catholic worship in East Bridgewater as St. Bridget's); independent parish 1903; current church dedicated 1955
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist (the beloved disciple, author of the Fourth Gospel)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul L. Ring
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a welcoming Bridgewater-area parish that has worshipped in East Bridgewater since 1863 and now shares its pastoral team with St. Ann Parish in West Bridgewater under the Together in Christ Collaborative. Families find a full sacramental life (Sunday and weekday Mass, Reconciliation by appointment, Baptisms, Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick), a faith formation program that places parents at the center of their children's catechesis, and a wide range of lay ministries — lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, the Collaborative Choir, the Disciples of Hospitality, Family Life Ministry, a Bereavement Ministry, and a Eucharistic-Ministers-to-the-Homebound team. A reflection garden behind the church, where beloved pastor Fr. John Corcoran is buried, is a quiet reminder that this is a parish with deep roots and a real sense of community.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call the parish office at (508) 378-4207 to schedule with Fr. Paul
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM available at St. Ann Parish (collaborative partner) as listed in the bulletin
Together in Christ Collaborative
St. John the Evangelist in East Bridgewater is partnered with St. Ann Parish in West Bridgewater under the Together in Christ Collaborative, sharing one pastoral team and many ministries across both Bridgewater-area communities. The collaborative's mission is to 'welcome and engage all ages to become the disciples that Jesus is calling all of us to be,' united by faith and the Celebration of the Mass, embracing the call to 'Go forth and make disciples' through evangelization, education, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
- St. John the Evangelist — 210 Central Street, East Bridgewater, MA 02333
- St. Ann Parish — 103 N. Main Street, West Bridgewater, MA 02379
- Collaborative Sunday Mass schedule: Sat Vigil 4:00 PM (St. Ann); Sun 8:00 AM (St. John), 9:30 AM (St. Ann), 11:30 AM (St. John), 6:15 PM (St. Ann)
- Collaborative Weekday Mass: Wed 9 AM (St. John), Thu 9 AM (St. Ann), Fri 9 AM (St. John), Sat 9 AM (St. Ann)
History of St. John the Evangelist
Catholic life in East Bridgewater began in 1863 with a former Methodist meetinghouse named St. Bridget's, which served as a mission of St. Patrick's (Brockton) and later St. Thomas Aquinas (Bridgewater). After a barn fire destroyed the church in March 1893, the community worshipped in the Town Hall for fourteen months before dedicating a new St. John the Evangelist Church on April 29, 1894 — built with a brick foundation and Gothic-style wood frame to seat 500. A second fire in June 1954 destroyed the 1894 building, and the present modern-style church was dedicated in 1955 by Rev. Daniel Sculley, with interior and windows redesigned in the 1980s.
- 1863 — Catholic worship begins in East Bridgewater as St. Bridget's
- March 5, 1893 — Fire from a neighboring barn destroys St. Bridget's
- June 20, 1893 — Bliss family donates land (in honor of Dr. Samuel A. Orr) for a new church
- April 29, 1894 — St. John the Evangelist Church dedicated; Rev. William E. Kelly, pastor
- May 1903 — Parish becomes independent with first resident pastor Rev. Edward J. Curtin
- 1944 — 50-year golden jubilee; congregation now diverse (Irish, Italian, French, Polish, Portuguese)
- June 1954 — Second church destroyed by fire
- 1955 — Present church dedicated by Rev. Daniel Sculley (modern style, with basement for CCD)
- 1980s — Interior and windows redesigned
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at the Together in Christ Collaborative supports parents as the primary religious educators of their children, providing formal catechesis that builds on the faith lived in the home and at Sunday Mass. Classes run weekly from the week of September 20 through the week of April 11, and the Sunday morning class location rotates between the two parishes in step with the annual Mass schedule (the 9:30 Mass is the Family Mass). The collaborative is implementing the Archdiocese of Boston's directive to lower the age of Confirmation to 8th grade, so 8th and 9th graders will form a combined Confirmation prep class for spring 2027.
- Director of Ministries / Faith Formation: Matt Brady (master's in theology from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago; undergrad from Salve Regina University)
- Contact: [email protected] or 774-533-2002
- Registration open for the 2026–2027 year
- Catechists needed for all grades — no experience required
Sacraments
The seven sacraments are celebrated as the center of parish life. Baptisms are scheduled at 10 AM or 1 PM on Saturdays and 1:30 PM on Sundays, with a brief prep class just before the sacrament. Reconciliation is offered by appointment with Fr. Paul (and on Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Ann). First Communion, Confirmation (with the new 8th-grade preparation program), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders are all coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism: 10 AM or 1 PM Saturdays; 1:30 PM Sundays — call parish office to schedule
- Reconciliation: by appointment with Fr. Paul
- Confirmation: contact Matt Brady (Director of Ministries)
- Marriage: contact the parish office well in advance of the intended date
- Anointing of the Sick: call the Rectory to arrange a priest visit
Ministries and Lay Service
The collaborative runs a wide range of lay ministries that invite parishioners of all ages to put their faith into practice. Liturgical roles include lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers (open to any child in grade 3 or higher, and to adults). Pastoral-care outreach includes Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound and Nursing Homes, and a Bereavement Ministry that walks with grieving families and assists at funeral Masses. The Disciples of Hospitality coordinate fellowship after Mass and parish social events. The Family Life Ministry is being revived to plan family events, parent formation nights, and service projects. A Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference is affiliated with St. John the Evangelist (Conference Br07) at 210 Central Street.
- Lectors — read God's word at assigned weekend liturgies (brief training required)
- Eucharistic Ministers — assist with distribution of Holy Communion at Mass
- Altar Servers — assist the priest; open to children grade 3+ and adults
- Collaborative Choir — under the direction of Richard Cesarini (Liturgy and Music)
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound / Nursing Home
- Bereavement Ministry
- Family Life Ministry
- The Disciples of Hospitality (fellowship and parish social life)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. John the Evangelist Conference (Br07)
Marriage Preparation
Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office well in advance of their intended date so that preparation, paperwork, and the reservation of the church can be arranged. The collaborative's marriage prep page walks couples through the process and connects them with the priest and the parish team.
- Contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation
- Reserve the church and intended date as early as possible
Vacation Bible School
Each summer the collaborative hosts Vacation Bible School, most recently 'VBS: True North,' held July 21–25 at St. Ann from 9:00 AM to noon for students entering grades PreK–5 ($75 per child). The week focuses on trusting in Jesus through games, activities, and Bible stories, and welcomes youth (entering grade 9 and up) and adult volunteers.
- VBS 2025 theme: 'True North'
- Open to students entering PreK–5
- Volunteers: youth entering grade 9+ and adults — contact Matt Brady
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is served by a stable, multi-disciplinary staff that mirrors the Together in Christ Collaborative's structure. Pastoral leadership comes from the pastor and an in-residence priest, supported by a deacon; lay staff handle administration, operations, liturgy and music, and faith formation.
- Pastor: Rev. Paul L. Ring
- In Residence: Rev. Michael Diochi
- Deacon: Deacon Christopher Z. Connelly
- Administrative Staff: Ms. Deborah Conrad
- Operations: Mr. Kevin Mercier
- Liturgy and Music: Mr. Richard Cesarini
- Faith Formation / Director of Ministries: Mr. Matthew Brady
I'm New Here — Visiting St. John
The collaborative welcomes newcomers warmly. Mass times, parking, and accessibility details are listed on the 'I'm New Here' page so first-time visitors know exactly what to expect. St. John has a single parking lot to the left of the church as you face it from Central Street, with handicap parking directly in front of the church in the horseshoe driveway.
- Address: 210 Central Street, East Bridgewater, MA 02333
- Parking lot to the left of the church (facing the street)
- Handicap parking in the horseshoe driveway in front of the church
- Confession by appointment — call (508) 378-4207
Contact and Parish Registration
Parishioners and newcomers are encouraged to register with the parish so the office can better serve them with sacraments, faith formation registration, and pastoral care. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and registration forms for the religious education program are available online.
- Parish Office phone: (508) 378-4207
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education / Director of Ministries: [email protected] or 774-533-2002
- Parish Registration form available on the collaborative website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William E. Kelly1894–
First pastor of newly named St. John the Evangelist Church, dedicated April 29, 1894
- Rev. Edward J. CurtinMay 1903–
First resident pastor when St. John's became an independent parish; purchased the colonial-style rectory next door
- Rev. Daniel Sculleydedicated 1955 church
Dedicated the present modern-style church after the 1894 building burned in 1954
- Rev. John Corcoran25 years, retired 2004
One of the longest-serving pastors; laid to rest in the reflection garden behind St. John's at his request
- Rev. Paul L. Ring
Current pastor; leads the Together in Christ Collaborative with St. Ann