About St. Joseph · Barre, Massachusetts
St. Joseph Chapel in Barre, Massachusetts is today one of two worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the Diocese of Worcester. It was originally an independent Catholic congregation founded to serve the Irish and other immigrant families of Barre and South Barre in the nineteenth century, and the current chapel sits on a parish property that traces back to those early worshippers. Since June 21, 2013, when St. Joseph Catholic Church was consolidated with St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Church to form St. Francis of Assisi Parish, St. Joseph Chapel has continued as a Sunday Mass site — most famously for the 8:00 a.m. Sunday liturgy — under the pastoral care of the merged parish's pastor, Father Jamie Callahan. The chapel, located at 29 South Street in the center of Barre, is wheelchair accessible and remains a beloved small-scale worship space within the larger Barre Catholic community.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. James "Jamie" Callahan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Joseph Chapel, as part of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, offers a small, intimate Sunday morning Mass at 8:00 a.m. in the heart of historic Barre Center — ideal for parishioners who want a quieter, earlier liturgy. The merged parish pairs that small-chapel warmth with the wider resources of St. Thomas-à-Becket Church in South Barre, including daily Mass Monday through Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 p.m., Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, a Tuesday-evening rosary and prayer group hosted in St. Joseph's hall, and an active St. Francis Charitable Needs & Resources Fund that helps local families in crisis. The parish supports the Barre Food Pantry, visits the homebound and Grandview Terrace residents, and runs Knights of Columbus, prayer-line, and youth-friendly programs — giving every visitor a real way to participate, not just attend.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM at St. Thomas-a-Becket Church (or by appointment with the pastor)
Adoration times
- Tuesday morning, following the 9:00 AM Mass (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Eucharistic Exposition on Wednesdays, after the 9:00 AM Mass
About St. Joseph Chapel & St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Joseph Chapel in Barre, Massachusetts is one of two worship sites of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, a merged Catholic community in the Diocese of Worcester. The parish was formed in July of 2013 when St. Thomas À Becket Catholic Church (South Barre) and St. Joseph Catholic Church (Barre Center) joined together under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi. The website's welcome message, signed "Fr. Jamie," invites visitors to take their time, scroll through the windows of the site, and discover the parish family.
- Formed: July 2013, by merger of St. Thomas À Becket and St. Joseph Catholic Churches
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi
- Welcoming message: signed by Fr. Jamie
- Wheelchair accessible at both worship sites
History of the St. Joseph Catholic Community
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic congregation was first organized in the 1850s to serve the Irish families then settling in Barre. As recorded by the Massachusetts Historical Commission's town survey, the congregation purchased a school in 1856 and in 1858 converted a brick building at the south end of the Barre common for use as a church. By 1896 the parish had outgrown the original structure and built the church that survives today as St. Joseph Chapel at 29 South Street. After more than a century as an independent parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church was consolidated into St. Francis of Assisi Parish on June 21, 2013.
- 1856 — school purchased for St. Joseph's
- 1858 — brick building at the south end of the common converted for Catholic worship
- 1896 — new St. Joseph's Catholic Church built in Barre Center (today's 29 South Street)
- June 21, 2013 — St. Joseph Catholic Church consolidated into St. Francis of Assisi Parish
- July 2013 — new merged parish formally inaugurated
Sacraments
St. Francis of Assisi Parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments at its two sites. Parents should contact Deacon Bill Ferrarone via the parish office to begin Baptism preparation; couples contact the Pastor to arrange Matrimony; and anyone unable to attend Mass because of illness or age may call 978-355-4445 to arrange a visit with the Pastor for Anointing of the Sick or Communion.
- Baptism — preparation with Deacon Bill Ferrarone
- First Eucharist & First Penance — through the religious education program
- Confirmation — through the religious education program
- Matrimony — contact the Pastor
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00 PM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — call 978-355-4445 to arrange a visit
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education is directed through the parish office at St. Joseph Chapel (Deacon Brian Gadbois served as Religious Education Director according to a 2017 bulletin; contact the parish office for current staff). The program supports parish children attending public schools in their preparation for First Penance, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, and offers Diocesan Safe Environment materials to keep children and teens safe online.
- Religious Education Office at St. Joseph Chapel
- Preparation for First Penance, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Diocesan Safe Environment / Keeping Children & Teens Safe Online program
Outreach, Charity & Food Assistance
The parish runs an unusually wide net of social outreach. Its flagship is the St. Francis of Assisi Charitable Needs & Resources Fund — a donations-and-emergency fund that supports Families in Crisis, coordinated by Paula Wood (978-355-2228 Ext. 6). The parish partners with the Barre Food Bank to distribute food the 2nd Wednesday (10:00–11:30 AM) and 3rd Thursday (5:30–7:00 PM) of each month at Barre Congregational Church, with donations of non-perishable food and personal-care items collected at both church sites. The parish also visits the homebound (and runs the HomeTouch weekly inspirational mailing through Priscilla McGlynn) and refers families to Visitation House, Baby Safe Haven, and Project Rachel post-abortion healing.
- St. Francis Charitable Needs & Resources Fund (Paula Wood, 978-355-2228 Ext. 6)
- Barre Food Pantry Distribution — 2nd Wed 10:00–11:30 AM, 3rd Thu 5:30–7:00 PM at Barre Congregational Church
- Food & personal-care donations accepted at both churches
- Homebound visits and HomeTouch mailing (Priscilla McGlynn, 508-822-3128)
- Visitation House support (visitationhouse.org)
- Baby Safe Haven referral line (1-877-796-HOPE / 1-888-510-2229)
- Project Rachel post-abortion healing (508-791-HOPE)
Prayer & Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass, parishioners keep the week prayerful with a Tuesday-evening Rosary and Prayer Group at St. Joseph's hall (led by Liz, 774-364-2158), Adoration on Tuesday morning, Eucharistic Exposition on Wednesday, and the parish Prayer Line staffed by Pat Kowal (978-355-2144) and Vicky King (978-355-4830). The parish also promotes Cursillo Weekends — separate men's and women's retreats — as a way to deepen faith.
- Parish Prayer Line — Pat Kowal (978-355-2144), Vicky King (978-355-4830)
- Tuesday Rosary & Prayer Group — 6:45 PM at St. Joseph's hall (Liz, 774-364-2158)
- Tuesday Adoration — after 9:00 AM Mass
- Wednesday Eucharistic Exposition — after 9:00 AM Mass
- Cursillo Weekends — Women's & Men's retreats via www.fourthday.org (Pam Hamilton, 774-239-8909)
Hospitality & Pastoral Visits
Father Jamie celebrates Mass at Grandview Terrace on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. — and residents of other towns are welcome to attend. Free transportation to the Mass is available by calling 978-355-6659. The parish also sends cards through Priscilla McGlynn to anyone experiencing illness, hospitalization, or the loss of a loved one.
- Grandview Terrace Mass — 4th Tuesday, 1:00 PM, with ride available (call 978-355-6659)
- Card outreach — call Priscilla McGlynn (508-822-3128)
Parish Organizations
The Knights of Columbus Council meets in person on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the St. Thomas-a-Becket church hall. New members are always welcome; anyone interested in helping with parish support efforts is invited to contact Mary Ann Jordan at 978-808-3371. The parish also maintains a relationship with the Barre Senior Center (director Betty-Jo O'Brien, 978-355-5004), which helps residents of any age with fuel, utility, housing, and veterans' assistance paperwork.
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 PM, St. Thomas-a-Becket hall
- New Members — contact Mary Ann Jordan (978-808-3371)
- Barre Senior Center / Betty-Jo O'Brien (978-355-5004) — fuel, utility, housing, veterans' assistance
Staff, Clergy & Office
The merged parish is led by Rev. James "Jamie" Callahan, Pastor, whose welcome message appears on the homepage. The current parish staff includes Deacon Malcom (Mass Intentions) and the office administrator reachable through the main number; a 2017 parish bulletin additionally named Deacon William "Bill" Ferrarone (Baptisms, Emergency Fund, Home Visits, Communion), Deacon Brian Gadbois (Religious Education Director), Ken Stanley (guitarist at St. Thomas), Louise Ohrn (organist), and Donna Jean Malmquist (office administrator). Most staff can be reached through the main phone number, 978-355-2228, using the menu extensions listed in the bulletin.
- Pastor: Father Jamie (Rev. James) Callahan — Extension 7
- Deacon Malcom — 2026 Mass Intentions
- Deacon Bill Ferrarone (per 2017 bulletin) — Baptisms, Emergency Fund, Home Visits, Communion (Ext. 3)
- Deacon Brian Gadbois (per 2017 bulletin) — Religious Education Director (Ext. 4)
- Ken Stanley — Guitarist, St. Thomas
- Louise Ohrn — Organist
- Donna Jean Malmquist — Office Administrator (Ext. 2)
- Parish email: [email protected]
Getting Involved & New Members
The parish website carries an explicit "New Members are Always Welcome!" box, with Mary Ann Jordan as the parish contact for getting involved (978-808-3371 / [email protected]). Volunteers are also recruited for the Barre Food Pantry (Sonja Blaney, 978-355-6921; Chuck Radlo, 978-355-6463) and other parish support efforts.
- New Members — Mary Ann Jordan (978-808-3371 / [email protected])
- Barre Food Pantry volunteers — Sonja Blaney (978-355-6921), Chuck Radlo (978-355-6463)
- Charitable Needs & Resources Fund — Paula Wood (978-355-2228 Ext. 6)
Plan Your Visit
St. Joseph Chapel is at 29 South Street in Barre Center; the parish office and the larger St. Thomas-a-Becket Church are at 398 Vernon Avenue in South Barre (P.O. Box 186, South Barre, MA 01074). The phone number for both is 978-355-2228 (Fax 978-355-0042). Both worship sites are wheelchair accessible. Weekly bulletins for the parish are dated and posted regularly on the homepage.
- St. Joseph Chapel — 29 South Street, Barre, MA 01005
- Parish office / St. Thomas-a-Becket Church — 398 Vernon Avenue, P.O. Box 186, South Barre, MA 01074
- Office phone: 978-355-2228 | Fax: 978-355-0042
- Wheelchair accessible at both sites
- Free transportation to Grandview Terrace Mass — call 978-355-6659