About St. John · Worcester, Massachusetts
St. John's Catholic Church, established in 1834 in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts, is the oldest Catholic parish in New England outside of Boston and is known as the "Mother Church" of both the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Springfield. Its founder, Father James Fitton — often called the "Apostle of New England" — laid the cornerstone of the original Christ Church in 1834 and went on to found Mount St. James Seminary, which the Jesuits later developed into the College of the Holy Cross. Today the parish at 44 Temple Street, with its elegant Greek Revival spire rising above the railroad tracks, continues to serve a diverse downtown congregation and operates an extensive outreach network through the adjacent St. Francis Xavier Center, including a daily soup kitchen, food pantry, free health clinic, and Harrington House sober-living program.
- Established
- 1834
- Patron
- St. John (the church was rededicated under the name St. John's in 1846, when the second Temple Street building replaced the original 1834 "Christ Church" on Front Street; the founder's patron saint was St. James, for whom he named Mount St. James Seminary)
- Rector
- Rev. John F. Madden
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. John's is a historic downtown parish where daily Mass is offered every weekday evening and four Sunday Masses welcome a culturally diverse congregation that has long included Vietnamese, Spanish-speaking, African, French-Canadian, Polish, and Lithuanian Catholics. Beyond the liturgy, parishioners are fed by a remarkable social-outreach network — St. John's Food for the Poor at the St. Francis Xavier Center serves more than a thousand hot meals a day, a free weekly health clinic and seasonal mobile showers serve guests in need, and Harrington House offers transitional sober living for men in recovery. With free parish-run faith formation for grades 1–9, an adult formation program through Formed.org and Word on Fire, and the professional Schola Cantorum choir, the parish combines downtown accessibility with deep Catholic tradition in the heart of Worcester.
Mass times at St. John
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 6:45 PM (after 6:15 Mass)
- Tuesday: 6:45 PM (after 6:15 Mass)
- Wednesday: 6:45 PM (after 6:15 Mass)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM (appointments also available)
History of St. John's Parish
St. John's traces its roots to 1834, when Father James Fitton — a Boston-born missionary often called the "Apostle of New England" — laid the foundation for a small church on Front Street called Christ Church. That same year Fitton founded Mount St. James Seminary on Pakachoag Hill, whose students walked into town for Mass. By 1845 the parish had grown to about 2,000 members and a larger church was built at 44 Temple Street, dedicated as St. John's in 1846. After Fitton was reassigned, the parish continued to expand under a succession of pastors, several of whom became bishops of newly created dioceses — making St. John's the "Mother Church" of both Springfield (1870) and Worcester (1950). The original brick walls of the 1845 building are still standing; the current steeple dates from 1951. The parish is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Founded 1834 by Father James Fitton as "Christ Church" on Front Street
- Temple Street church built 1845; dedicated as St. John's in 1846
- Greek Revival architecture, designed by P.W. Ford; listed on NRHP in 1980
- Mother Church of the Diocese of Springfield (1870) and Diocese of Worcester (1950)
- Interior ceiling collapsed Labor Day weekend 2004; rededicated October 15, 2005 by Bishop Robert J. McManus
St. Francis Xavier Center & St. John's Food for the Poor
Adjacent to the parish at 20 Temple Street, the St. Francis Xavier Center houses St. John's Food for the Poor Program — a nonprofit 501(c)(3) soup kitchen and food pantry serving more than 1,000 hot, nutritious meals a day, five days a week, every week of the year. The current building was dedicated May 31, 2013 and named "Neighbors Helping Neighbors." In addition to meals, the center runs a free weekly health clinic, seasonal mobile showers (May–October), a clothing room at the rectory, and over 20 support programs — including job matching and a Thanksgiving basket give-away. Its design was donated pro bono by Lamoureux & Pagano Associates to honor the firm's 40th anniversary.
- Open Monday–Friday for breakfast and lunch
- Over 1,000 meals served daily, 52 weeks a year
- Free Wednesday health clinic on site
- Mobile showers available May–October
- Clothing room at the rectory
- Thanksgiving basket distribution (requires Worcester zip code)
Harrington House Sober Living Program
Located in the rectory of St. John's Church, Harrington House is a transitional sober-living program for men, founded on May 5, 2005 in honor of Bishop Timothy Harrington, who championed similar recovery initiatives during his time at the parish. Residents commit to sobriety, personal accountability, and active engagement in employment, education, or community service. The program fosters a community-oriented atmosphere and operates through the generosity of parishioners.
- Transitional sober-living program for men, founded 2005
- Named for Bishop Timothy Harrington
- Located in the parish rectory at 44 Temple Street
- Residents pursue employment, education, or community service
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish provides a comprehensive, free religious-education curriculum for students in Grades 1 through 9, with classes meeting Sundays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM in the Church Hall, Xavier Center, Chapel Sacristy, or Rectory depending on grade. A "home study" option with PFlaum curriculum materials is also offered. Confirmation preparation is for ages 15 and older and meets Tuesday evenings from 6:15 to 8:00 PM in the lower church. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation are parish-run programs; baptisms are celebrated after the 12:15 PM Sunday Mass or at 1:30 PM on Saturdays following a preparation class.
- Grades 1–6: Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM in the Church Hall
- Grades 7–8: Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM in the Chapel Sacristy
- Grade 9: Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM in the Rectory
- Confirmation (age 15+): Tuesdays 6:15–8:00 PM, lower church
- Family Mass: Sundays at 10:15 AM
- Home-study option with PFlaum curriculum available
RCIA & Adult Faith Formation
Adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation enroll in the parish's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) by contacting the rectory. The parish also subscribes to Formed.org, giving parishioners free, unlimited access to thousands of Catholic studies, audio dramas, and videos from over 75 apostolates. Each Sunday, a video from Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Digital library is shared in the parish's Flocknote email; parishioners can sign up for the St. John's Church (General) Flocknote group to receive it.
- RCIA — contact the rectory at (508) 756-7165 to enroll
- Free parish-wide Formed.org subscription
- Word on Fire Digital library videos shared weekly via Flocknote
Music & Liturgy
St. John's music ministry is led by Music Director Dr. Sean Redrow, with Assistant Director Lucia Clemente Falco. The Schola Cantorum — a choir of professional solo and choral singers directed by Dr. Redrow — sings for liturgies and posts upcoming events on its Facebook page. Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion serve on a published rotating schedule.
- Music Director: Dr. Sean Redrow
- Assistant Music Director: Lucia Clemente Falco
- St. John's Schola Cantorum — professional choir
- Published Lector and Extraordinary Minister schedule
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. John's is pastored by Father John F. Madden (administrator since 2004, pastor since 2008) and served by Associate Pastor Father Jean Robert Simbert Brice and Assisting Priest Father Conrad Pecevich. Father Richard A. Jakubauskas serves as chaplain for the Lithuanian community. Lay staff include Office Manager Jimmy Archibald, Coordinators of Religious Education Dianne Gustowski and Donna Mastrovito, and Sister Patricia Murphy, SSJ, who directs the After-School Programs. A Safe Environment Coordinator oversees the parish's child-protection program.
- Fr. John F. Madden — Pastor
- Fr. Jean Robert Simbert Brice — Associate Pastor
- Fr. Conrad Pecevich — Assisting Priest
- Fr. Richard A. Jakubauskas — Chaplain for the Lithuanian community
- Jimmy Archibald — Office Manager / Rectory Manager
- Dianne Gustowski — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Donna Mastrovito — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Sean Redrow — Music Ministry Director
- Lucia Clemente Falco — Music Ministry Assistant Director
- Sr. Patricia Murphy, SSJ — Director of After-School Programs
Devotions & Spiritual Life
Long-running devotions give St. John's its spiritual identity. The Novena of Grace in honor of St. Francis Xavier has been prayed every March 4–12 since 1922. A charismatic prayer group — the first in Worcester — has met weekly at the parish since 1970. The Angelus and Rosary are prayed each weekday at 5:50 PM before the 6:15 PM Mass, and a Mass for Healing with Anointing of the Sick is celebrated every third Tuesday at 6:15 PM.
- Novena of Grace (St. Francis Xavier): March 4–12 annually, since 1922
- Charismatic prayer group: weekly since 1970
- Angelus & Rosary: weekdays at 5:50 PM
- Mass for Healing & Sacrament of the Sick: third Tuesday at 6:15 PM
Getting Involved & Volunteering
St. John's depends on parishioner volunteers across nearly every aspect of parish life. The religious-education program recruits catechists, classroom aides, door monitors, and service-project helpers. The St. Francis Xavier Center welcomes volunteers to serve meals, organize donations, and greet guests. Parishioners also serve as lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, choir members, and on the Safe Environment team. Donations to the food pantry, clothing room, and Harrington House are welcomed, and financial contributions to the Food for the Poor Program are tax-deductible through its 501(c)(3) (EIN #042 106 729).
- Volunteer catechists, aides, and door monitors for religious education
- Soup kitchen and food-pantry volunteers at the Xavier Center
- Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Choir and music ministry
- Financial support for Food for the Poor Program (501(c)(3) EIN #042 106 729)
Visiting & Contact Information
St. John's is located in the heart of downtown Worcester at 44 Temple Street, with its tall spire a familiar landmark above the railroad tracks and highway. The rectory is staffed weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The adjacent St. Francis Xavier Center at 20 Temple Street is the hub of the parish's outreach network. Both can be reached at (508) 756-7165 or [email protected].
- Parish address: 44 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604
- St. Francis Xavier Center: 20 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604
- Rectory hours: weekdays 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Phone: (508) 756-7165; Fax: (508) 754-5153
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Fitton1834–1843
Founder; lay apostle of New England.
- Rev. Adolphus Williamson1843–1845
- Rev. Matthew W. Gibson1845–1856
- Rev. John Boyce1856–1864
- Most Rev. Patrick T. O'Reilly, D.D.1864–1885
First Bishop of Springfield (Diocese created 1870); kept St. John's as his parish.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Griffin, D.D.1885–1910
- Rev. Thomas S. Donohue1911–1922
- Rev. Edward J. Fitzgerald1923–1937
- Rev. John F. McDonnell1937–1944
- Rev. Michael E. Lahey1944–1953
- Rev. John Donohue1954–1963
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. O'Brien1964–1967
- Rev. James B. Kelly1967–1971
Priest-in-charge.
- Most Rev. Timothy J. Harrington1969–1972
In residence; not pastor. Later bishop, in whose honor Harrington House was named.
- Rev. William W. McGovern1971–1972
Administrator.
- Rev. Cyril A. LeBeau1972–1977
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Scollen1977–1984
Administrator 1977–1982; pastorate 1983–1984.
- Rev. Michael G. Foley1984–1991
- Rev. Charles F. Monroe1991–1994
- Rev. Joseph A. Coonan1994–2008
Placed on administrative then medical leave; Fr. Madden effectively ran the parish from 2004.
- Rev. John F. Madden2004–present
Administrator 2004–2008; Pastor 2008–present.