About St. Louis · Webster, Massachusetts
St. Louis Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Webster, Massachusetts, founded in the early 1850s by Irish Catholic immigrants fleeing the potato famine. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Worcester and sits at 14 Lake Street, where the cornerstone of the first church was laid on September 2, 1851, on land donated by John S. Carney. Today St. Louis serves a diverse community with Mass in both English and Spanish, a religious education program, a parish school, and active ministries to the sick, baptized children, engaged couples, and new parishioners.
- Established
- 1852
- Patron
- St. Louis (King Louis IX of France)
- Rector
- Rev. Javier Julio
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Louis is a welcoming bilingual parish — the oldest in Webster — that offers weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, weekday Mass Tuesday through Friday, and a full sacramental life including Baptism, Marriage, RCIA, and visits to the sick and homebound. Families can enroll children in a parish school and a Religious Education program that runs from preschool through Confirmation, while adults can join RCIA, serve in music or youth ministry, or join the Parish Pastoral Council. New parishioners are encouraged to register after Mass, and the parish describes itself as a community where people of all backgrounds are received and supported.
Mass times at St. Louis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. Louis Parish was born from the Irish immigration that followed the potato famine. Between 1847 and 1851, more than a million Irish men, women, and children came to America, and many settled in Webster. By 1851 the local Catholic population was large enough that John S. Carney donated land on Lake Street, and the cornerstone of Webster's first Catholic Church was laid on September 2, 1851. The church was dedicated on August 11, 1852. In its earliest decades the parish ministered to roughly 2,000 Catholics spread across 14 towns — many visited only once every three months — until neighboring parishes gradually took on their own communities. The 1852 church stood for more than a century until a 1967 rectory fire and subsequent inspection led to its condemnation and demolition in 1970. The present building, constructed by A. Mason & Sons of Webster, was dedicated on September 19, 1971.
- Cornerstone laid September 2, 1851; original church dedicated August 11, 1852
- Original building condemned and demolished 1970; current church dedicated September 19, 1971
- Built by A. Mason & Sons of Webster
Parish Staff
St. Louis is served by a pastor, deacons, and a dedicated lay staff in religious education, music, youth ministry, finance, administration, and facilities. Current staff listed on the parish website include Fr. Javier Julio as pastor; Deacons Tom Creamer and Raymond Fontaine; Mrs. Teresa Cacciapouti as Religious Education Coordinator; Mrs. Julie Hubert as Administrative Assistant; Mr. Brian Betty in Finance; Tim Messenger as Sexton; and Mrs. Heidi Hughes and Connie Galli in music ministry, with Mr. Brian Betty also listed as Head of School/Children's Choir Director.
- Rev. Javier Julio — Pastor
- Deacon Tom Creamer
- Deacon Raymond Fontaine (Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson)
- Mrs. Teresa Cacciapouti — Religious Education Coordinator
- Mrs. Julie Hubert — Administrative Assistant
- Mr. Brian Betty — Finance / Children's Choir Director
- Tim Messenger — Sexton
Religious Education & RCIA
Saint Louis offers a full program of religious education from preschool through Grade 10, with a separate Confirmation preparation in Grade 11. Classes meet on Sunday mornings in the Religious Education Center, beginning in late September, following a Youth Ministry model in which young people have several choices for meeting yearly requirements. Families must be registered parishioners, attend Mass weekly, and contribute to parish support; a per-child fee structure applies. The R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a parallel process for adults — never baptized, baptized in another Christian faith, or baptized Catholic without Eucharist or Confirmation — who meet weekly for catechesis and faith sharing, with reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
- Preschool through Grade 10 program; Confirmation preparation in Grade 11
- Sunday-morning classes in the Religious Education Center
- Fees: $70/child, $100 for two children, $130 for three or more
- R.C.I.A. weekly meetings with sacraments at the Easter Vigil
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates Baptism, prepares couples for Marriage, and accompanies the sick and homebound. Baptisms are typically scheduled for Saturdays before 3:00 PM or Sundays at 2:00 PM, and parents of first children attend a Baptism Preparation session on the fourth Thursday at 7:00 PM. The Diocese of Worcester requires a period of Marriage preparation including sessions with the pastor and either a pre-Cana conference or an Engaged Encounter weekend. Sacramental and pastoral visits are made to the hospitalized, homebound, and those in need, with weekly Mass celebrated at nursing homes in Webster.
- Baptism: Saturdays before 3:00 PM or Sundays at 2:00 PM
- First-child Baptism Prep: fourth Thursday, 7:00 PM
- Marriage: pre-Cana or Engaged Encounter required
- Pastoral visits and weekly Mass at local nursing homes
Parish School
St. Louis has long been associated with Catholic education in Webster. A six-room schoolhouse was built in 1893, with a graduating class produced by 1931 under Father Dolan. The school has been described as one of the oldest continuing Catholic schools in Worcester County and has more recently worked in partnership with St. Anne's School. Mr. Brian Betty is listed on the current staff page in a school leadership role.
- School origins date to the 1890s; first graduating class in 1931
- Historically one of the oldest continuing Catholic schools in Worcester County
- School merger/collaboration with St. Anne's School
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Louis is led by a Music Director and a separate Children's Choir Director, supporting the parish's weekend and Spanish-language liturgies as well as feast-day celebrations.
- Music Director (Mrs. Heidi Hughes / Connie Galli listed in music roles)
- Children's Choir Director
Joining the Parish
New parishioners are always welcome at St. Louis. The parish invites visitors to introduce themselves to one of the priests after Mass to register, and encourages families with children to enroll in the religious education program. The parish office can be reached at 508-943-0240, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Register after Mass by introducing yourself to a priest
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: 508-943-0240
Contact & Visiting
St. Louis Catholic Church is located at 14 Lake Street, Webster, MA 01570. The parish office can be reached by phone at 508-943-0240 (fax 508-943-0801) or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. A map and driving directions are available on the parish website.
- Address: 14 Lake Street, Webster, MA 01570
- Phone: 508-943-0240; Fax: 508-943-0801
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stlouischurchwebster.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Mignon (sp.)
First pastor of St. Louis; French, and reportedly influential in shaping the early parish despite its largely Irish congregation.
- Rev. James Quan
Second pastor; served 35 years, oversaw a parish of ~2,000 Catholics in 14 towns, built the rectory, other buildings, and the first parochial school in Webster; beloved by people of all faiths; buried on church grounds.
- Father Dolan
Built and opened the parish school; oversaw the first graduating class in 1931.
- Father Dugan
Injured jumping from a second-story window during the May 1967 rectory fire.
- Msgr. Mitchell
Died as a result of the May 1967 rectory fire.
- Father Joseph Ferenz
Pastor of St. Anthony's on School Street; administered St. Louis for 14 months after the fire, found the church in disrepair, and oversaw its condemnation and 1970 demolition.
- Rev. Joseph A. Marcotte
Longtime pastor; later temporary administrator of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Worcester; returned to senior priest status in 2022.
- Rev. William F. Sanders
Succeeded Fr. Marcotte as pastor of St. Louis; later returned to retirement after sacramental ministry at St. Anne Parish, Shrewsbury.
- Rev. Javier Julio2022–present
Appointed pastor by Bishop McManus effective July 1, 2022, after serving as parish administrator.