About St. Joseph · Boston, Massachusetts
St. Joseph Parish is a Roman Catholic church in downtown Boston serving the West End, Beacon Hill, North Station, and Government Center neighborhoods. The parish worships in a stately 1834 Greek Revival church designed by the renowned Boston architect Alexander Parris, which was purchased by the Archdiocese of Boston in 1862 to serve the flood of Irish Catholic immigrants arriving in the West End. After nearly being wiped out by mid-century urban renewal that demolished the surrounding neighborhood, the parish was rebuilt from a near-empty sanctuary in the 1970s and today serves a mixed community of residents, hospital workers, and visitors at 68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way. Its mission is 'to continue to speak and spread the name of Jesus so that His kingdom continues to grow and human hearts continue to be touched.'
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph M. White
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Joseph's offers a downtown Boston Catholic home with daily Mass and a peaceful, historic sanctuary in the heart of the city. Parishioners can get involved in liturgical ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers), faith-based recovery and young-adult outreach (P3 — Prayer, Penance, Pub, and the Ignatian Spirituality Project), and hands-on service such as food collection for the local ABCD food pantry. With a welcoming pastor, an active liturgical life, and easy access from Beacon Hill, the West End, North Station, and Government Center, it is both a quiet place of prayer and a community of service.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Prior to all Masses
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- P3 (Prayer, Penance, Pub): Eucharistic Adoration every 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 PM, followed by reflection and Benediction at 7:30 PM
Our History
St. Joseph's was founded in 1862 when Bishop Fitzpatrick bought the 1834 Alexander Parris church from the Twelfth Congregational Society for $27,000, after Irish famine immigrants had filled the West End. Archbishop John J. Williams dedicated the church on November 9, 1862, with Rev. Patrick T. O'Reilly as first pastor (later Bishop of Springfield). By its 50th anniversary the parish served 12,000 faithful. Urban renewal in the 1950s–60s destroyed the surrounding neighborhood and nearly the parish itself; the community was rebuilt through public meetings beginning in 1968, and the church was restored and reopened in May 1974.
- 1834: Church built for the Twelfth Congregational Society by Alexander Parris
- 1862 (Nov 9): Dedicated as St. Joseph's; Rev. Patrick T. O'Reilly first pastor
- 1884: Hook & Hastings pipe organ installed (still in use)
- Late 19th c.: Future Cardinal William O'Connell serves 7 years as curate
- 1912: Peak congregation of 12,000 at 50th anniversary
- 1958–1960: West End demolished for urban renewal; ~10,000 displaced
- 1968: Parish rebuilding begins; lower church converted to Parish Hall
- 1974: Restored church reopened (May)
- 1987: 125th anniversary Mass celebrated by Cardinal Law with returning West Enders
- 1999 (Oct 19): Fr. Gabriel Troy installed as pastor
- Mid-2000s: Fr. Daniel C. O'Connell becomes pastor; ceiling repainted, grand staircase reopened
Our Mission
Quoting Matthew's Gospel — 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home' — the parish states its mission: 'It is the goal of St. Joseph Parish to continue to speak and spread the name of Jesus so that His kingdom continues to grow and human hearts continue to be touched.'
Our Staff
St. Joseph's is led by a small parish team supported by the Archdiocese of Boston and partner organizations.
- Rev. Joseph M. White — Pastor
- Joe Griffiths — Business Manager
- Sr. Agnes Wan — Sacristan / Daily Disciple
- Archbishop Richard G. Henning — Archbishop of Boston
Liturgical Ministries
The parish welcomes new ministers into its liturgical life, noting: 'In the celebration of Mass, the faithful gather, not as a crowd, but as the Body of Christ.' A weekly Liturgical Update email goes out to all involved ministers with Sunday readings, reflections, and scheduling.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Sacristan / Daily Disciple (Sr. Agnes Wan)
- Liturgical Update weekly email
- Contact: [email protected]
Ongoing Activities and Outreach
St. Joseph's hosts several ongoing ministries and outreach efforts that draw young adults, those in recovery, and neighbors in need.
- P3 — Prayer, Penance, Pub (young adults / young professionals): 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7:00 PM
- ISP — Ignatian Spirituality Project 'Spiritual TuneUps': Fridays at 10:00 AM in the parish hall (recovery + Ignatian spirituality)
- Saturday Rosary for Hope, Healing, Recovery, Peace, and Conversion: 2nd Saturday of the month, 9:30 AM
- Wednesday Rosary following 12:10 PM daily Mass
- Food collection for the ABCD food pantry at the West End Library ([email protected])
- AARPSS — Archdiocesan Addiction Recovery Pastoral Support Services (aarpss.org)
Visiting the Parish
St. Joseph's is located at 68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way in downtown Boston, near Beacon Hill, the Charles River Park, North Station, and Government Center. The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Tuesday and Thursday Masses are celebrated next door in the chapel at Regina Cleri.
- Address: 68 William Cardinal O'Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114
- Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Liturgical/music inquiries: [email protected]
- Outreach: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick T. O'Reilly1862–
First pastor of St. Joseph's, named at the dedication on November 9, 1862; later appointed Bishop of Springfield, MA.
- Rev. William O'Connell (future Cardinal)Assigned as curate for 7 years (late 19th c.)
Served at St. Joseph's before rising through the Archdiocese; the street the church now sits on, William Cardinal O'Connell Way, is named for him.
- Rev. Gerald BuckeThrough 1999
Irish-born pastor who gave 31 years to rejuvenating the parish after the West End urban renewal.
- Rev. Gabriel TroyInstalled October 19, 1999 – ended June (mid-2000s)
Missionary and Director of the Society of St. James the Apostle at the time of his installation; oversaw restoration of the parish hall.
- Rev. Daniel C. O'ConnellMid-2000s –
From the Office of Worship & Spiritual Life and the Catholic Television Network; oversaw redrawing and repainting of the ceiling and reopening of the grand staircase.