About St. Joseph · Belmont, Massachusetts
St. Joseph Parish is one half of New Roads Catholic Community, a collaborative formed on July 1, 2013 in Belmont, Massachusetts as one of the first 13 collaboratives under the Archdiocese of Boston's "Disciples in Mission" pastoral plan. The collaborative, which includes St. Joseph (130 Common Street) and St. Luke (132 Lexington Street), adopted the name "New Roads" in 2014 from a line of Pope Francis about becoming "a church that finds new roads." Today the community offers four weekend Masses, weekday Masses, Kids' Church for ages two and up, small groups for teens, young adults, and older adults, sacramental preparation programs, social justice ministries, and a St. Vincent de Paul Society — all under one pastor, Rev. Thomas A. Mahoney, with a shared pastoral staff.
- Established
- 1888 (mission); 1900 (established as parish)
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas A. Mahoney
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Joseph is part of New Roads Catholic Community, a collaborative that explicitly welcomes people wherever they are on the journey of faith — including those who have questions, doubts, or who have been away from the Church. The parish offers two Sunday Masses in its South Worship Space with modern music, message series, and a kids' program, as well as a café after Mass where newcomers can connect. Small groups, sacramental preparation, OCIA, Kids' Church, a Teen Small Group, social justice subcommittees (immigration, trafficking), the Bridge Ministry (LGBTQ), and a St. Vincent de Paul Society give parishioners many ways to grow, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Luke Church, 132 Lexington St, Belmont (Eucharistic Chapel)
- Individual appointments available by request
- Communal Reconciliation celebrated during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Mid-week opportunity for silent prayer offered by the collaborative (specific day/time referenced in parish bulletin; see website for current schedule)
History of St. Joseph Parish
St. Joseph's parish began in 1888 as a mission church of St. Malachy's (later St. Agnes) Parish in Arlington. Parishioners first gathered at Belmont Town Hall, then built a small Stick Style wooden church on the present site in 1887–1888, digging the cellar themselves in the evenings after their regular day's work. The church cost about $9,000, was completed in June 1888, and was formally dedicated in March 1889. In 1900 it was formally established as a parish with Rev. Nicholas Murphy as the first pastor. As the congregation outgrew the wooden church, it was moved to School Street and used as a Parish Center until demolition in 1935. The present brick church, designed by architect T. Edward Sheehan, was built in 1912 and has anchored the parish ever since.
- 1888 — Mission begins; first Masses in Belmont Town Hall
- 1888 — Stick Style wooden church completed ($9,000)
- 1889 — Church formally dedicated (March)
- 1900 — Parish formally established; Rev. Nicholas Murphy, first pastor
- 1912 — Present brick church constructed (architect T. Edward Sheehan; builder McGahey & O'Connor)
- Parish later divided into St. Luke's (Waverley), Our Lady of Mercy (Payson Park), and St. Jerome's (Arlington line)
Buildings and Campus
The St. Joseph campus at 130 Common Street has grown over more than a century to include the 1912 brick church, a 1950 school (designed by Whelan & Westman, $350,000), a 1951 convent (also Whelan & Westman), and a 1988 parish hall created when Peirce Pierce & Kramer of Cambridge reduced the school to one story. The 1951 convent was renovated in 1983 for use by the Protestant Guild for the Blind. Today the South Worship Space inside the church complex hosts the Sunday Masses with modern music, message series, and Kids' Church.
- 1912 church — T. Edward Sheehan, architect
- 1950 school — Whelan & Westman
- 1951 convent — Whelan & Westman (later home of Protestant Guild for the Blind)
- 1988 parish hall — Peirce Pierce & Kramer, Cambridge
New Roads Catholic Community
On July 1, 2013, St. Joseph and St. Luke parishes became one of the first 13 collaboratives in Phase 1 of the Archdiocese of Boston's "Disciples in Mission" pastoral plan, launched in 2012 under Cardinal Seán O'Malley. The collaborative shares one pastor, one pastoral staff team, one pastoral council, and one pastoral plan, while each parish keeps its own identity and finances. In 2014 the collaborative adopted the name "New Roads Catholic Community," drawn from a 2013 interview in which Pope Francis urged the Church to be one that "finds new roads" to reach those who have drifted away. The vision: a growing community of people growing in relationship with God and reaching out to friends and neighbors in Belmont, Watertown, and Waltham.
- July 1, 2013 — Collaborative of St. Joseph and St. Luke officially formed
- 2014 — Adopted the name "New Roads Catholic Community" (from Pope Francis)
- Phase 1 of Disciples in Mission, Archdiocese of Boston
Sacraments
New Roads Catholic Community prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptism is normally celebrated within a Mass and includes preparation. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through a workshop-based program for children in grades 2 and up. Confirmation preparation is open to those in grades 9 and above (registration in spring, workshops in fall). OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) walks adults through full initiation into the Catholic Church. Engaged couples should contact the office at least a year in advance of their wedding. Anointing of the Sick is offered communally on occasion and individually by request, especially before hospitalization or surgery.
- Baptism (infant and child)
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (grades 2+)
- Confirmation (grades 8+/9+)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Marriage (Wedding Mass or Liturgy of the Word)
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Sacramental records requests
Faith Formation for Children, Teens, and Adults
Faith formation at New Roads spans all ages. Children ages two and up are welcomed at Kids' Church during both Sunday Masses, and the Tiny Disciples program ministers to the youngest. Sacramental Preparation covers Reconciliation and Eucharist (grades 2+) and Confirmation (grades 8+/9+). A Teen Small Group meets regularly, and small groups for young adults and older adults provide community and spiritual growth. OCIA offers a communal process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Kids' Church (ages 2+)
- Tiny Disciples
- Sacramental Preparation (Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Teen Small Group
- Small groups for young adults and older adults
- OCIA (adult initiation)
Music, Liturgy, and Online Worship
Music and liturgy at New Roads are led by a Director of Music (Matthew Ellenberger at St. Joseph, Denise Ryan at St. Luke in the current Boston Catholic Directory; Todd Theriault served as Director of Music in earlier bulletins). Sunday worship at St. Joseph features modern music and a message series in the South Worship Space. Each Sunday the 11:00 AM Mass is livestreamed on Facebook Live and YouTube so parishioners and visitors can worship from home, and an archive of previous St. Joseph Masses is available on the website.
- South Worship Space with modern music at St. Joseph
- Director of Music: Matthew Ellenberger (St. Joseph)
- Sunday 11:00 AM livestream on Facebook Live and YouTube
- Archive of previous Masses online
Parish Staff and Leadership
St. Joseph is led by Pastor Rev. Thomas A. Mahoney, who also serves as pastor of the New Roads Catholic Community collaborative. He is supported by associate ministers, an administrative assistant, a finance and operations manager, a sacramental preparation coordinator, a coordinator of volunteers, a media communications assistant, and a director of music. Several visiting priests — including OCD friars and other weekend presiders — help celebrate Masses across the collaborative.
- Rev. Thomas A. Mahoney — Pastor
- Rachel Keeler — Associate Minister
- Sister Kathleen Moran, CSJ — Associate Minister
- Mary Cahill / Silvia Paredes — Administrative Assistant
- Lou Fabrizio — Finance and Operations Manager
- Holly Muson — Sacramental Preparation Coordinator
- Kathy O'Leary — Assistant to the Leadership Team / Media Communications
- Kathy Rushe — Coordinator of Volunteers
- Matthew Ellenberger — Liturgy and Music (St. Joseph)
- Todd Theriault — Director of Music (earlier bulletin)
- Denise Ryan — Liturgy and Music (St. Luke)
Service, Outreach, and Social Justice
New Roads offers many ways to serve. The St. Vincent de Paul Society (sponsored by St. Luke, serving the collaborative) provides food vouchers, holiday baskets, clothing, furniture, and referrals to local agencies for those in need; donations are accepted at the SVDP box behind St. Joseph's Church. The Bridge Ministry accompanies LGBTQ parishioners and friends. A Social Justice Committee oversees subcommittees on Immigration and Human Trafficking. Hospitality teams (Greeting, Info Desk, Host, Café) welcome people at Mass; worship-support teams include Music, Creative Tech, Altar Servers & MCs, and Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers. All volunteers complete CORI background checks, a Volunteer Application Form, and VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" training.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP drop box behind St. Joseph, 130 Common St.)
- The Bridge Ministry (LGBTQ)
- Social Justice Committee — Immigration and Human Trafficking subcommittees
- Hospitality: Greeting, Info Desk, Host, Café
- Worship support: Music, Creative Tech, Altar Servers & MCs, Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers
- VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" training and CORI background checks for all volunteers
Getting Involved: Small Groups and Prayer
Small groups of 6–12 people are at the heart of community life at New Roads, meeting to intentionally share life, grow spiritually, and encourage one another. Prayer and study opportunities include a Sunday-evening Scripture Reflection at the St. Joseph parish library, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Books Group, a Young Women's Bible Study, and the New Roads Peace Vigil. Making Music Praying Twice offers preschool music classes for young children and their parents.
- Small Groups — contact Maria LeBlanc or 617-484-0279
- Sunday Scripture Reflection, 7:00 PM, St. Joseph parish library
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Books Group
- Young Women's Bible Study
- New Roads Peace Vigil
- Making Music Praying Twice (preschool music)
Visiting, Contact, and Office Hours
The collaborative office is located at St. Joseph, 130 Common Street, Belmont. Visitors are asked to park in the upper parking lot, enter through the double glass doors, turn left down the ramp, and then left into the Café; the administrative office is on the left. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM; calling ahead is encouraged. Phone: 617-484-0279 (parish) / 617-484-1996 (St. Luke office). Email: [email protected]. Sacramental records requests can be submitted online or by calling the office.
- Address: 130 Common Street, Belmont, MA 02478
- Phone: 617-484-0279; fax 617-484-7831
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Park in upper lot; enter double glass doors; ramp → Café → office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Nicholas Murphy1900–
First pastor of St. Joseph Parish when it was formally established in 1900.