About St. Martin · Otter River, Massachusetts
St. Martin's Catholic Church is a small mission parish in the village of Otter River, in the north-central Massachusetts town of Templeton, and is recognized as the historic 'mother church' of Catholic life in the northwestern corner of the Diocese of Worcester. Founded in 1851 by immigrant Catholic pioneers, it is now a mission of Holy Cross Parish in East Templeton, sharing its pastor, the Reverend Patrick Ssekyole, with Holy Cross and the rest of the Templeton-Winchendon cluster. Though one of the smallest churches in the diocese, St. Martin's remains a vibrant community whose parishioners travel from Templeton, Phillipston, Winchendon, and Gardner to worship, serve in lay ministries, and reach out through seasonal charity drives.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Rev. Patrick Ssekyole
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Martin's is a small but strikingly active faith family where nearly every parishioner serves in one or more lay ministries — lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, greeters, ushers, religious education instructors, and choir. Its people are known for hands-on charity: a 'Souper Bowl' collection for the Templeton Food Pantry, a Christmas Baby Food and Clothing Drive organized by Religious Education students, Thanksgiving and Easter Basket raffles for the Food Pantry, and a winter coat drive held every November on the Feast of St. Martin in honor of the patron saint's example of generosity. As the historic 'mother church' of fifteen parishes in the northwest corner of the Diocese of Worcester, it offers newcomers a direct line to more than 170 years of Catholic tradition in a close-knit, welcoming setting.
Mass times at St. Martin
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Drive-Up Confessions offered 3:00 pm-5:00 pm on Saturdays at Annunciation Parish / Holy Rosary parking lot, 135 Nichols Street (cluster resource, not on-site at St. Martin's)
History of St. Martin's Parish
St. Martin's traces its origins to 1851, when immigrant Catholic pioneers in north-central Massachusetts established a faith community in Otter River. A parish history written in 1951 for its 100th anniversary opens: 'Out of the zeal of a few Catholic pioneers, together with the faith inherent in them and coupled with the leadership of those stalwart Catholic leaders, ministers of Christ, St. Martin's was born!' Early members travelled by foot, by horseback, and by wagon from as far as Orange and Ashburnham to attend Mass. Recognized as the 'mother church' of 15 parishes in the northwestern Diocese of Worcester, St. Martin's eventually gave rise to Holy Cross in East Templeton and St. Vincent de Paul in Baldwinville, both carved out when the original church was filled to overflowing.
- Founded 1851 by immigrant Catholic pioneers
- Original parish history written in 1951 for the 100th anniversary
- Mother church of 15 parishes in the northwestern Diocese of Worcester
- Mother parish of Holy Cross (East Templeton) and St. Vincent de Paul (Baldwinville)
Patron Saint — St. Martin of Tours
The parish takes its name and its identity from St. Martin of Tours, the Roman soldier famous for cutting his military cloak in half to share with a beggar. Inspired by the saint's example of generosity, the parish holds a winter coat drive every November on the Feast of St. Martin, collecting coats for adults and children and distributing them through a local charitable organization to those in need. A large painting of the patron, created by artist Matthew Brooks, hangs in the church as part of the sanctuary renewal.
- Feast day: November 11
- Annual winter coat drive held on the Feast of St. Martin
- Large painting of St. Martin of Tours by Matthew Brooks installed during the 2017 renewal
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes for St. Martin's children are held on Sundays from October through May at Holy Cross Church in East Templeton. Students in grades K through 5 meet at 8:30 am, while grades 6 through 11 meet at 11:30 am. Parishioners volunteer their time and talent to pass the faith on to the young people of the parish. The program is organized cluster-wide and is also referred to as the CCD program.
- Grades K-5: Sundays at 8:30 am at Holy Cross Church
- Grades 6-11: Sundays at 11:30 am at Holy Cross Church
- October through May
- Contact: Elizabeth Schroeder, [email protected], (978) 413-8833
Lay Ministries at St. Martin's
Despite being one of the smallest Catholic churches in the region, St. Martin's has a deeply active lay apostolate. Parishioners serve as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, greeters, ushers, religious education instructors, and choir members. Boys and girls who have made their First Communion are welcome to become altar servers, with training provided on an ongoing basis; the altar servers enjoy an annual summer outing with their counterparts from other churches in the cluster.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers (Coordinator: Matthew Denette)
- Greeters and Ushers
- Religious Education instructors
- Choir (Organist: Linda Columbus)
Parish Committees
Two parish committees sustain the life of St. Martin's. The Finance Committee meets with the Pastor as needed to oversee parish finances and to plan projects for the church and rectory, including repairs and renovations. The Craft Group, an informal women's group, meets weekly to create hand-crafted items, gather raffle items, assemble theme baskets, and plan the annual December Holiday Fair; its ongoing series of hand-made quilt raffles has funded carpeting and curtains for the Sanctuary, replacement 'Saint Martin, Pray for Us' signage, a new brass Advent Wreath, and renovations in the rectory.
- Finance Committee: Ruth Alie, Pat Gale, Tom Farrell, Tom Kane, Theresa Kasper, Barbara White
- Craft Group: focuses on Holiday Fair and quilt raffles
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is woven into the parish calendar. Each Super Bowl Sunday, Religious Education students run a 'Souper Bowl' collection for the Templeton Food Pantry. At Christmas, the students organize a Baby Food and Clothing Drive, and the parish supports the Food Pantry through raffles of Thanksgiving and Easter Baskets. On the Feast of St. Martin in November, the parish collects winter coats for adults and children in honor of St. Martin of Tours and distributes them through a local charitable organization.
- 'Souper Bowl' collection benefiting the Templeton Food Pantry
- Baby Food and Clothing Drive at Christmas (organized by Religious Education students)
- Thanksgiving and Easter Basket raffles for the Food Pantry
- Winter coat drive on the Feast of St. Martin (November 11)
Parish Cluster
Like all church communities in the Diocese of Worcester, St. Martin's participates in the Parish Cluster process. Its cluster also includes St. Vincent de Paul in Baldwinville, Holy Cross in East Templeton, and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Winchendon. St. Martin's is a mission of Holy Cross Parish and shares its pastor, the Reverend Patrick Ssekyole, who can be reached at the Holy Cross rectory at 978-632-2121.
- St. Vincent de Paul, Baldwinville
- Holy Cross, East Templeton
- Immaculate Heart of Mary, Winchendon
- St. Martin's is a mission of Holy Cross Parish
Buildings & Renovations
St. Martin's has invested steadily in its physical plant in recent years. On Sunday, June 25, 2017, Bishop Robert J. McManus dedicated a new altar designed and built by Bob LeMieur, replacing an altar installed in the late 1960s or early 1970s after the Second Vatican Council. The same project restored a large historic tabernacle that had been used in the church for many years prior to the post-Vatican changes, and added a large painting of St. Martin of Tours by Matthew Brooks. In 2018, a new handicap ramp was completed, providing access to the front of the church via the Sacristy. The outdoor Marian shrine on the church lawn, with marble benches crafted from the original 1903 church steps donated by Rev. James Howard, is open to visitors at any time for prayer.
- New altar dedicated June 25, 2017 by Bishop McManus (designed/built by Bob LeMieur)
- Painting of St. Martin of Tours by Matthew Brooks
- Return of a historic tabernacle
- New handicap ramp completed in 2018
- Outdoor Marian shrine with marble benches made from 1903 church steps
Events & Fundraisers
Two flagship fundraisers anchor the parish year. The annual Summer Festival & BBQ is held at the Otter River Sportsman's Club on Lord Road, with dinner served from noon to 1 pm and reservations strongly suggested. The Holiday Fair, hosted at the American Legion Hall, 3 Central St., Baldwinville, features hand-crafted items, home-baked goods, fresh wreaths, a theme-basket raffle with more than 40 baskets, a Chinese auction, and a 50/50 raffle — along with coffee, pastries, lunch, and a visit from Santa.
- Summer Festival & BBQ (July, Otter River Sportsman's Club)
- Holiday Fair (first weekend of December, American Legion Hall, Baldwinville)
Contact & Visiting
St. Martin's Church is located at 248 State Road, Otter River, MA 01436, telephone 978-939-5588, email [email protected]. Messages may be left for any member of the staff by calling the Otter River rectory. The pastor, Rev. Patrick Ssekyole, can also be reached through the Holy Cross rectory at 978-632-2121. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed; registration forms are available from the parish greeters before or after Sunday Mass.
- Address: 248 State Road, Otter River, MA 01436
- Phone: 978-939-5588
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor reachable via Holy Cross rectory: 978-632-2121
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Bannon1864-1867
- Rev. William [name partially obscured]1867-1869
- Rev. Richard Donovan1869-1870
- Rev. Patrick McManus1870-1871
- Rev. Charles McManus1871-1872
- Rev. Robert Walsh1872-1873
- Rev. Joseph Coyne1873-1885
- Rev. T. Murphy1885-1887
- Rev. T. Reynolds1887-1889
- Rev. James Norris1889-1893
- Rev. Thomas E. Purcell1893-1898
- Rev. J. M. Predergast1898-1902
- Rev. J. J. Howard1902-1903
- Rev. Thos. O'Connor1903-1908
- Rev. Patrick J. Meehan1908-1914
- Rev. Charles J. Mulcahy1914-1916
- Rev. Michael J. Curran1916-1916
- Rev. James W. Dolan1916-1926
- Rev. James T. Reilly1926-1933
- Rev. James T. Fitzgibbons1933-1939
- Rev. James A. Deery1939-1941
- Rev. Henry M. Burke1941-1946
- Rev. John A. Donohue1946-1953
- Rev. Edward D. Hendron1953-1956
- Rev. Charles E. Lynch1954-1956
- Rev. Paul B. McArdle1956-1979
- Rev. Martin Donohue1979-1979
- Rev. Cornellius F. O'Leary1979-2004
- Rev. William G. O'Brien1996-1997
Temporary administrator
- Rev. Son Anh Nguyen2003-2005
Associate pastor
- Rev. Francis A. Roberge2005-2006
- Rev. Joseph Jurgelonis2006-2015
- Rev. Marcin J. Nowicki2015-2017
- Rev. Patrick Ssekyole2017-present
Current pastor; also serves Holy Cross Parish, East Templeton