About St. Joseph Basilica · Webster, Massachusetts
St. Joseph Basilica is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Webster, Massachusetts, founded in 1887 as the first parish designated for Polish immigrants in all of New England. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Worcester, and its present neo-Gothic church — designed by architect John W. Donohue and completed around 1913 — was rededicated after a sweeping restoration in 1997 and raised to the dignity of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on October 11, 1998. The parish continues to celebrate Mass in both English and Polish, and remains a vital center of Polish-American Catholic heritage on the Worcester County landscape.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Ryszard Polek (2025–present)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Joseph Basilica is a living landmark of Polish-American Catholic heritage in New England, with Mass celebrated in both Polish and English every week and a roster of traditional Polish devotions (First Friday adoration, Gorzkie Żale, May Devotions, Fatima Devotion, the Wednesday Votive Mass and Novena to St. Joseph) that continue the parish's founding ethnic and spiritual identity. The parish runs a PreK–8 Catholic school staffed in part by the Felician Sisters — the same congregation that has served the school since 1892 — and offers a deep liturgical, sacramental, and devotional life inside a church filled with 55 hand-painted murals, restored Munich stained glass, and a 2,000-pound green-marble altar. Visitors, pilgrims, and parishioners come not just to attend Mass but to step into a piece of living American Catholic history in a community that still reveres its immigrant founders.
Mass times at St. Joseph Basilica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 7:30 AM and 3:15 PM
- Eve of Holy Days: 3:00 PM
- Thursday before First Friday: 3:00 PM
- First Friday: 6:00 PM (also 6:30 PM per pilgrim-info)
- Sunday: 10:30 AM
Adoration times
- First Friday / Pierwszy Piątek: Blessed Sacrament Adoration 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 6:40 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM (First Friday and First Sunday of the month)
History of St. Joseph Parish and Basilica
Polish immigrants arrived in the Webster area after the January Uprising of 1863 and initially attended St. Louis Church, assisted by Polish clergy from New York. In 1887, with the consent of the Bishop of Springfield, they organized their own parish — the first Catholic parish for Polish immigrants in New England. The first pastor, Fr. Franciszek Chałupka, opened the parish school under the Felician Sisters in 1892 and acquired the cemetery land on Worcester Road in 1903. The present church was begun in 1912 and completed c. 1913 under Msgr. Anthony Cyran, who also built the convent, the 20-classroom school (1925), and a new rectory. After a sweeping three-year interior and exterior restoration under Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki in the 1990s, the church was rededicated on October 5, 1997, and raised to the dignity of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on October 11, 1998.
- 1887 — Parish organized for Polish immigrants
- 1889 — Fr. Franciszek Chałupka arrives as first resident pastor
- 1892 — Parish school opens under the Felician Sisters
- 1903 — Land purchased on Worcester Road for parish cemetery
- 1912–1913 — Present neo-Gothic church designed by John W. Donohue
- 1925 — New 20-classroom school built
- 1965–1983 — Msgr. Stanislaus Kubik; first parish festival for the school (1974)
- October 5, 1997 — Rededication by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly after renovation
- October 11, 1998 — Elevated to Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II
- 2019–2025 — Rev. Grzegorz Chodkowski serves as pastor
- 2025 — Rev. Ryszard Polek succeeds as current pastor
Architecture and Sacred Art
The basilica is a neo-Gothic structure by architect John W. Donohue, the longtime architect of the Diocese of Springfield, redecorated in a neo-Renaissance idiom during the 1990s restoration. The interior features 55 life-size hand-painted murals illustrating New Testament scenes, Catholic devotions, and saints of both the universal Church and of Poland. The nave, sanctuary, and the large Eucharistic Chapel of Reservation glow with original Munich stained glass — restored, in many cases, by the same families that had originally donated them.
- Architect: John W. Donohue (Diocese of Springfield architect)
- Style: Neo-Gothic exterior, Neo-Renaissance interior
- Completed: c. 1913
- 55 life-size hand-painted murals (restored and added 1990s)
- Original Munich stained-glass windows restored
- 2,000-pound green-marble altar from Florence on Corinthian columns
- Marble work: white (Italy), green (Greece), red (Spain and Albania)
- Monumental bronze doors with the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary and Good Shepherd tympanum
- Chapel of Our Lady of Częstochowa with Black Madonna icon blessed by John Paul II
- Side shrines of St. Joseph and St. Anne in the original confessionals
- Large statue of St. John Paul II outside the church
Devotions and Traditional Polish Practices
The parish maintains a deep calendar of Polish Catholic devotions, including the Wednesday Votive Mass and Novena to St. Joseph, the Divine Mercy Chaplet on the first Sunday and first Friday of each month, Gorzkie Żale (Lenten Lamentations) in both English and Polish, May Devotions, the monthly Fatima Devotion (13th of the month, May–October), Stations of the Cross in English and Polish, and the First Friday schedule of Adoration, Confessions, and a Polish Mass. All devotions are listed in Polish and English in the parish bulletin.
- Wednesday — Votive Mass and Novena to St. Joseph (6:30 AM)
- Saturday 3:30 PM — Rosary
- First Sunday 3:00 PM — Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction
- First Friday — Adoration 7:30 AM–3:00 PM and 6:00–6:40 PM; Chaplet 3:00 PM; Polish Litany 6:40 PM; Polish Mass 7:00 PM
- May Devotions, Mon–Fri 6:00 PM
- Fatima Devotion, 13th of the month, May–October, 7:00 PM
- October Rosary, Mon/Wed/Fri 7:00 PM
- Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent: 8:30 AM (school children), 6:00 PM (English), 7:00 PM (Polish)
- Gorzkie Żale: Saturdays after 4:00 PM Mass (English); Sundays after 10:30 AM Mass (Polish)
St. Joseph School and Religious Education
St. Joseph School is the educational ministry of St. Joseph Basilica Parish and has served PreK through Grade 8 students since 1892, when it opened under the Felician Sisters as their first missionary establishment in New England. The Felician Sisters continue as part of the teaching staff, and the school integrates faith, academics, and Gospel values. Religious Education (katecheza) for parish children and the RCIA program for adults are coordinated through the rectory.
- St. Joseph School, 47 Whitcomb Street, Webster, MA 01570
- Grades: PreK–8
- Phone: 508-943-0378
- Website: www.sjs-webster.com
- Principal: Beth Boudreau
- Staffed in part by the Felician Sisters (since 1892)
- Religious Education / RCIA — contact 508-943-0467; [email protected]
Parish Staff, School, and Music
The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Ryszard Polek and Associate Pastor Rev. Anthony Kazarnowicz, with Monsignor Anthony Czarnecki as Pastor/Rector Emeritus. The parish staff includes a Business Manager, Office Staff, RE Director, Organist Maria Helena Czarnecka-Cieślak, and Sacristan Thomas Liro. The Felician Sisters are reached at 508-943-2228. The parish also supports both English-language and Polish-language choirs that sing at Mass and at special Jubilee Year concerts.
- Pastor: Rev. Ryszard Polek
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Anthony Kazarnowicz
- Pastor/Rector Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki
- Business Manager: Brenda Noonan
- Office Staff: Christine Shore and Ela Gronek
- RE Director: Elizabeth Sabaj
- Organist: Maria Helena Czarnecka-Cieślak
- Sacristan: Thomas Liro
- School Principal: Beth Boudreau
- School Secretary: Aleksandra Gronek
- Felician Sisters: 508-943-2228
Visiting and Pilgrimage
St. Joseph Basilica is a designated Jubilee Church for the Holy Year 2025 and welcomes pilgrims and visitors year-round. Highlights for visitors include the 55 life-size murals, the restored Munich stained glass, the 2,000-pound green-marble altar of Mysterium Fidei, the bronze doors of the Rosary Mysteries, the Black Madonna of Częstochowa touched to the original in Poland, and the statue of St. John Paul II. The basilica livestreams its Masses and devotions online for those unable to attend in person.
- Designated Jubilee Church for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016) and Holy Year 2025
- Bronze doors of the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary
- Black Madonna icon touched to the original in Jasna Góra, Poland, and blessed by John Paul II
- Life-size statue of St. John Paul II outside the church
- Live streaming of Mass and devotions via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Franciszek Chałupka1887–1908
Founding pastor; alumnus of SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake; arrived 1889; built the first wooden church, opened the parish school under the Felician Sisters (1892), and acquired the cemetery land on Worcester Road (1903).
- Rev. Fr. Stanisław ŁączyńskiAfter 1908
Successor pastor in the early 20th century.
- Rev. Fr. Wacław LenzEarly 20th century
Successor pastor in the early 20th century.
- Rev. Fr. Tarnowski, OFM Conv.Early 20th century
Conventual Franciscan pastor.
- Rev. Fr. Czeluśniak, OFM Conv.Early 20th century
Conventual Franciscan pastor.
- Rev. Fr. Bok, OFM Conv.Early 20th century
Conventual Franciscan pastor.
- Rev. Fr. Jaskulski, OFM Conv.Early 20th century
Conventual Franciscan pastor.
- Rev. Msgr. Prelate Anthony Cyran1910–1935
Built the present neo-Gothic church (begun 1912), a new convent, a new 20-classroom school (1925), and a new rectory.
- Rev. Msgr. Dr. Prelate Andrew Lekarczyk1935–1965
Reduced parish debt, expanded pastoral and cultural activities, and added 25 acres to St. Joseph Cemetery.
- Rev. Msgr. Stanislaus Kubik1965–1983
Held the first parish festival for the school (1974), continued physical improvements, and established the St. Joseph School endowment fund.
- Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Stachura1983–1993
Funded and completed repairs to the school, convent, and rectory; celebrated the 100th anniversaries of the parish (1987) and the school (1992).
- Rev. Msgr. Prelate Anthony Czarnecki1993–2019
Led the three-year interior and exterior restoration with Rohn & Associates Design; the church was rededicated on Oct. 5, 1997 and elevated to a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 11, 1998.
- Rev. Grzegorz Chodkowski2019–2025
Succeeded Msgr. Czarnecki as pastor.
- Rev. Ryszard Polek2025–present
Current pastor.
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