About St. Mary · Franklin, Massachusetts
St. Mary Parish is a Catholic parish in Franklin, Massachusetts, one Church Square in the heart of town. Founded in 1877, it is approaching its 150th anniversary in 2027 and serves the Franklin community with daily and weekend Masses, a Family Faith Formation program, an active school, and a broad network of lay ministries including the Legion of Mary, the Catholic Women's Club, the Knights of Columbus, a Respect Life commission, and a Parish/Faith Community Nurse program. The parish is part of the Diocese of Worcester and welcomes new parishioners, returning Catholics, and anyone inquiring about the Catholic faith.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Bob Poitras
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Mary Parish is a welcoming community of believers in the heart of Franklin, with daily Mass in the chapel, weekend Vigil and Sunday Masses that are live-streamed for the homebound, and a full sacramental life. The parish runs a year-round Family Faith Formation program, an active Youth Ministry with weekly middle-school hangouts and adoration, and pastoral outreach including a Parish/Faith Community Nurse, a bereavement support group, a prayer shawl ministry, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and a Respect Life commission. With its 150th anniversary opening on February 6, 2027, it is a long-established parish that still introduces itself to newcomers after Mass and invites them to register, join a ministry, or simply come home to the practice of the faith.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:00–9:00 AM in the Chapel
Adoration times
- Thursday evenings with the Middle School Hang Out in Sacred Heart Hall (lower church), 6:30–7:30 PM, with adoration led by Fr. John
Parish History
St. Mary Parish traces its roots to 1849, when the first Mass was offered in a private home on Medway Road. After worshipping in the town hall and an 1871 mission church, the Catholic community of Franklin became an independent parish on February 6, 1877, with Rev. James Griffin as its first pastor. Through fires, debt, and growth, the parish persevered: a parochial school opened in 1893 under the Daughters of Charity, the original church burned in 1900, and the present church was begun in 1923 and solemnly opened at the Golden Jubilee in 1927.
- 1849: First Mass said at the Fitzpatrick home on Medway Road.
- 1877: Parish established under Rev. James Griffin on February 6.
- 1893: Parochial school opened with the Daughters of Charity.
- 1923: Cardinal O'Connell blesses the cornerstone of the present church.
- 1927: First Solemn High Mass in the upper church for the Golden Jubilee.
- 1953: Legion of Mary formed on October 27.
- 1956: St. Mary's School reopens.
- 2027: 150th anniversary year opens February 6 with Archbishop Richard Henning.
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Mary Parish is currently served by Pastor Rev. Bob Poitras and Parochial Vicar Rev. John Tanyi, with Dcn. Ron Gerwatowski assisting as Deacon and Leo Racine as Pastoral Associate. The rectory office is staffed Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and can be reached at 508-528-0020.
- Rev. Bob Poitras — Pastor (Ext. 103)
- Rev. John Tanyi — Parochial Vicar (Ext. 104)
- Dcn. Ron Gerwatowski — Deacon
- Leo Racine — Pastoral Associate (Ext. 106)
- Jennifer Lance — Parish Secretary (Ext. 102)
- Jim Flanagan — Director of Family Faith Formation (617-922-0024)
- Liz Bertoni — Family Faith Formation Assistant
- Krishan Oberoi — Music Director
- TBA — Finance and Operations Manager (Ext. 101)
Family Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a Family Faith Formation program whose stated goal is 'to teach as Jesus taught' — putting Jesus at the heart of all catechesis. The Religious Education Office is located at 201 Main Street, Franklin, and is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Director Jim Flanagan and Assistant Liz Bertoni coordinate the program, and the parish also offers a Catholic Kidz Camp each summer for children ages 5–10.
- Religious Education Office: 201 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038 — (508) 528-1450
- Director of Family Faith Formation: Jim Flanagan (cell 617-922-0024)
- Assistant: Liz Bertoni
- Catholic Kidz Camp — summer program for ages 5–10
- Sacramental certificate requests: Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage
Youth Ministry
St. Mary's has an active Youth Ministry anchored in Eucharistic adoration. The Middle School Hang Out meets every Thursday from 7:30–8:30 AM and again from 6:30–7:30 PM in Sacred Heart Hall (lower church), with adoration led by Fr. John. Young people and families are welcome to attend part or all of the hour. The parish has also participated in the National Eucharist Pilgrimage with a Family Faith Formation Walk with Jesus at Plymouth Memorial State Park.
- Middle School Hang Out — Thursdays 7:30–8:30 AM and 6:30–7:30 PM, Sacred Heart Hall
- Adoration with Fr. John for middle-schoolers and families
- Catholic Kidz Camp (summer)
- Youth Ministry T-shirts designed by Fr. Bob
Parish Ministries & Lay Organizations
St. Mary's is supported by a strong network of lay ministries and parish organizations, many of which have met in the parish for decades. New parishioners are encouraged to browse the Parish Life section of the website and indicate which ministries interest them when they register.
- Our Lady of Grace Praesidium (Legion of Mary) — Mondays 1:00 PM, Olive Branch Room; 7 active and 75 auxiliary members; visits the sick and homebound and brings the Eucharist.
- Catholic Women's Club — Third Thursday evenings, Sacred Heart Hall; 115 members; awards annual scholarships to Franklin graduating seniors.
- Knights of Columbus — chaplaincy established in 1916.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (SVdP) — ongoing food assistance.
- Respect Life Commission — speakers, prayer services, and discussion on life issues from conception to natural death.
- Parish / Faith Community Nurse — home visits, Communion, health education, medication review, prayer shawl ministry, bereavement support.
- Bible Study — Mondays at Magnolia Heights (485 E. Central St).
- Zoom Rosary — Monday nights at 7:00 PM with Deacon Guy.
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Mary Parish is directed by Music Director Krishan Oberoi. The parish marks major liturgical milestones with special music, including the 1927 Golden Jubilee Solemn High Mass and the upcoming 150th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Richard Henning in February 2027. Mass intentions may be requested through the parish office for special occasions, deceased loved ones, or anniversaries.
- Music Director: Krishan Oberoi
- Live-streamed weekend Masses include full musical accompaniment
- Mass Intentions — request through the parish office
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish takes seriously its call to serve beyond the church walls. Its Parish / Faith Community Nurse program, a bereavement support group, and a prayer shawl ministry care for the sick, aging, and grieving. The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry serves families facing food insecurity, while the Respect Life Commission educates parishioners on the Church's teachings about the dignity of human life. The parish also broadcasts Mass for the homebound on local cable channels.
- Parish/Faith Community Nurse — registered nurse parishioners offering home visits, Communion, and counseling.
- Bereavement Support Group
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
- Respect Life Commission — addresses IVF, abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, palliative care, the chronically ill and disabled, and capital punishment.
Sacraments & Becoming Catholic
Parishioners can request sacramental certificates (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage) through the parish website. Anyone seeking to understand or join the Catholic faith is invited to email Fr. Bob at [email protected], and he will personally follow up to discuss the path forward. The parish offers a warm welcome to newcomers, returning Catholics, and the merely curious.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage certificate requests via the parish website.
- Online Parish Registration available on stmarysfranklin.org.
- Inquiry into the Catholic faith — email [email protected].
- New parishioners are asked to introduce themselves to the priests after Mass.
150th Anniversary (2027–2028)
On February 6, 2027, St. Mary Parish will open a year-long 150th anniversary celebration with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Richard Henning, continuing through February 2028. The parish has established a 150th Anniversary Committee and is inviting all parishioners to volunteer on sub-committees to help plan prayer, fellowship, service, storytelling, music, remembrance, and celebration events. Details will be shared through the bulletin, the parish website, and social media.
- Opening Mass: February 6, 2027, with Archbishop Richard Henning.
- Year-long celebration running through February 2028.
- 150th Anniversary Committee accepting volunteers — sign up via the parish website.
- Planned events: prayer, fellowship, service, storytelling, music, remembrance, and celebration.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Griffin1877–1885
First pastor when St. Mary's became an independent parish on February 6, 1877.
- Rev. John L. Mulcahy1885–1891
Second pastor, upon the death of Father Griffin.
- Rev. Martin J. Lee1891–1903
Third pastor; established the parochial school in 1893 and opened St. Mary's Grammar School under the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
- Rev. Daniel P. Scannell1903–1924
Fourth pastor; oversaw the 1923 cornerstone of the present church.
- Rev. Edward Kenney1924–1949
Fifth pastor; celebrated the Golden Jubilee Mass in 1927.
- Rev. James J. McManus1949
Appointed administrator.
- Rev. George M. Dowd1950
Sixth pastor; installed new carpeting and oversaw parish renovations.