About St. Mary · Norton, Massachusetts
St. Mary's Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Norton, Massachusetts, one of the parishes of the Diocese of Fall River. Worshiping today at its modern church at 1 Power Street, the parish traces its roots to a small mission church built in 1865 to serve the Catholics of Norton and grew into a full parish in 1925. The current church, dedicated by Bishop Coleman in April 2010, stands on Power Street after the previous building was found to be structurally unsafe; the parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2025 with a year of community events and a 100 Acts of Service challenge.
- Established
- 1865 (mission church); 1925 (established as a parish of the Diocese of Fall River)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Chris Stanibula, S.T.D./Ph.D.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Mary's offers a daily-Mass rhythm — Mass on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:00 a.m., plus a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses — with the Rosary prayed after each daily Mass, livestreamed for those at home. The parish is small enough to know one another and active enough to offer Eucharistic Adoration (monthly First Friday mornings plus two weekday-evening prayer evenings each month), faith formation for children preparing for First Eucharist and Confirmation, a Knights of Columbus council, a Saint Vincent de Paul conference serving local neighbors in need, a Knitting Group, monthly Coffee and Donut Socials, weekly Friday Bingo, and a variety of parish and finance councils. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed by name, and the parish frames itself around '100 Acts of Service' to the wider Norton community.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:30 p.m. (also by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, 9:30–11:00 a.m. (after the 9:00 a.m. daily Mass)
- Quiet Prayer and Eucharistic Adoration the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
- Church open for private prayer after daily Mass until 11:00 a.m. (except holidays)
Our Story: From Mission Church to Centennial Parish
Catholic worship in Norton began informally in the early 1800s when families traveled to Saint Mary's in Taunton, then rotated through the Old Mill in Barrowsville, the George Arnold Mill, and a private home. In 1865 Father Thomas Shahan, pastor of Saint Mary's in Taunton, built the town's first Catholic church at Barrows Street and Taunton Avenue — a mission church that served Norton Catholics for sixty years. Under Monsignor George Cain, Saint Mary's became a full parish of the newly formed Diocese of Fall River in 1925, and that October the Reverend John McNamara became its first resident pastor in a new church at South Worcester and Power Streets. A parish center was added in 1961, and ground was broken in 2008 for the present-day church, dedicated by Bishop Coleman on April 25, 2010.
- 1865 — First Catholic church built in Norton under Father Thomas Shahan.
- 1924 — Cornerstone laid for new church at South Worcester and Power Streets.
- February 1925 — First Mass celebrated in the new (1925) church.
- October 1925 — Saint Mary's ceases being a mission; Rev. John McNamara named first pastor.
- October 1926 — Bishop Daniel Feehan blesses the new church.
- 1961 — Parish Center constructed to support growing faith-formation programs.
- 2008 — Ground broken for the present church.
- April 25, 2010 — Bishop Coleman dedicates the new church on Power Street.
- 2025 — Parish celebrates 100th anniversary with Family Fun Day and 100 Acts of Service.
Parish Staff and Pastoral Team
The parish is served by a small, long-tenured staff led by pastor Rev. Chris Stanibula, S.T.D./Ph.D., who arrived in June 2025 from the Catholic North Collaborative in Taunton. Permanent Deacon Paul Kline assists with parish ministry, and office and program staff handle faith formation, music, finances, and site management.
- Rev. Chris Stanibula, S.T.D./Ph.D. — Pastor (effective June 18, 2025)
- Deacon Paul Kline — Permanent Deacon ([email protected])
- Judy Burgess — Pastoral Coordinator / Faith Formation Assistant
- Anna McReynolds — Parish Secretary and Music Director
- Anne Paone-Nihtila (Paone-Nihtila) — Parish Bookkeeper
- Liz MacDonald — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Jan Meier — Bingo / Site Manager
- Ann Marie Almeida (with Paula Raneri) — St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Chris Regan — Knights of Columbus liaison
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for the parish's children is coordinated by Director of Faith Formation Liz MacDonald. Sacramental preparation for both First Eucharist and Confirmation follows a two-year program, and inquiries should be directed to the Faith Formation Office. Adult faith enrichment includes the ongoing 'Understanding Your Faith' series.
- Director: Elizabeth (Liz) MacDonald — 508-285-3237 / [email protected]
- Two-year preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation.
- 'Understanding Your Faith' adult education gatherings (call Jack at 508-409-7425).
Sacraments
Parents and adult parishioners preparing for any sacrament are asked to contact the parish office well in advance. Baptism is arranged through Pastoral Coordinator Judy Burgess; marriage requires at least eight months' notice; the Sacrament of the Sick and communion calls for the homebound can be arranged by speaking to the pastor after Mass or calling the parish office.
- Baptism — meet with Judy Burgess.
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:30 p.m. or by appointment.
- First Eucharist & Confirmation — two-year prep, Faith Formation Office.
- Matrimony — at least 8 months' notice.
- Holy Orders / Vocations — see the pastor or www.FallRiverVocations.org.
- Anointing / Ministry to the Sick — contact the parish office.
Parish Ministries and Community Life
St. Mary's combines traditional parish ministries — Knights of Columbus, Saint Vincent de Paul, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and choir — with social gatherings that knit the parish together. The Hospitality Ministry brings together lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers for shared formation and fellowship, and groups like the Knitting Group and the monthly Coffee and Donut Social give parishioners informal ways to serve and be together.
- Knights of Columbus (Council liaison: Chris Regan)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (Ann Marie Almeida / Paula Raneri)
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Ushers (Hospitality Ministry)
- Parish Choir / Music Ministry (Anna McReynolds)
- Knitting Group — meets in the Social Room
- Monthly Coffee and Donut Social — after Sunday Masses
- Century Club — annual parish fundraiser
- Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- 100 Acts of Service — centennial-year community initiative
Outreach and Charity
Outreach to those in need is centered on the local Saint Vincent de Paul conference, which assists neighbors in Norton. The parish also participates in diocesan second collections (e.g., Debt Reduction, Parish Faith Formation, Church in Central and Eastern Europe, Retired and Infirm Priests) and joined the town's annual clean-up as part of its centennial-year 100 Acts of Service push.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 508-409-7311 ([email protected])
- Diocesan second collections several times per year.
- Annual Norton Town Clean-Up participation (centennial year).
Bingo and Fundraising
Weekly Friday Bingo is one of the parish's signature fundraisers and a longstanding community gathering. Volunteer kitchen crews prepare food for the players each Friday evening, and the kitchen itself is operated by parishioner volunteers with proceeds supporting parish operations. The parish also runs the Century Club and periodic second collections.
- Regular Bingo — every Friday evening.
- Kitchen volunteers needed (4–7:30 p.m.) — contact Judy or Anna.
- Information / weather cancellations — call Jan at 508-285-4241 or check the parish Facebook page.
- Century Club — annual membership fundraiser.
Visit, Contact, and Stay Connected
The parish office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves to the pastor and deacon after Mass. Mass can be watched live on Facebook (St. Mary's Church, Norton MA) or via the parish website.
- Parish Office — 1 Power Street, Norton, MA 02766 — (508) 285-4462
- Office Hours — Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Secretary email — [email protected]
- Faith Formation Office — 508-285-3237 / [email protected]
- Livestream — www.stmarysnorton.com and facebook.com/stmarysnorton/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Shahancirca 1865
Pastor of Saint Mary's in Taunton; built and administered the first Norton mission church at Barrows Street and Taunton Avenue.
- Monsignor George Cainthrough 1925
Led the transition of Saint Mary's in Norton from mission church to a full parish of the new Diocese of Fall River.
- Rev. John McNamarafrom October 1925
First resident pastor of Saint Mary's, Norton; author of a letter placed in the cornerstone time capsule of the 1925 church.
- Rev. Marc P. Tremblay
Long-serving pastor (at least eight years); oversaw groundbreaking for the new church in 2008 and its 2010 dedication; later moved to Holy Trinity Parish, West Harwich.
- Very Rev. Timothy J. Reis, V.F.through 2024 (retired)
Led the parish through the COVID-19 pandemic, the application for federal payroll-tax relief, and the run-up to the 100th anniversary.
- Rev. Joseph Pasalacirca 2024 – June 2025
Served as Parochial Administrator in the interlude between pastors.
- Rev. Chris Stanibula, S.T.D./Ph.D.effective June 18, 2025
Arrived from the Catholic North Collaborative in Taunton; current pastor.