St. Mary of the Angels (Roxbury)

History of St. Mary of the Angels

St. Mary of the Angels Parish was created in 1906 out of territory that had belonged to St. Joseph's, Roxbury. Rev. Henry A. Barry was the founding pastor and celebrated the first Mass at the Egleston Square Car Barn at Amory Street and Columbus Avenue. In 1907 construction began on the basement church on the former Schuman Estate; the upper church originally planned was never built. Through the late 1950s and 1960s the African American community grew dramatically, the Hispanic community grew in the 1970s, and in 1971 the parish celebrated its first Spanish Mass. In 1974 parishioners launched both the first Vía Crucis procession through the streets and the parish Food Pantry, and in 1984 SMA's Friends of the Library helped reopen the Egleston Square Library. In the 1990s the parish began 'Taking Back the Streets' night walks and joined 'Hands Around Egleston' with neighborhood agencies.

• Founded 1906 from St. Joseph's Parish, Roxbury
• First pastor: Rev. Henry A. Barry
• First Mass at the Egleston Square Car Barn (Amory St. & Columbus Ave.)
• Basement church built 1907 on former Schuman Estate; upper church never built
• First Spanish Mass: 1971
• First Vía Crucis: 1974 (same year the Food Pantry opened)
• Egleston Square Library reopened with parish help: 1984
• 'Hands Around Egleston' partnerships: Barbara McInnis House, Shattuck Hospital, Rogerson Complex, New Academy Housing

Mission Statement

Saint Mary of the Angels is a multicultural and multilingual Catholic community of believers in Jesus Christ and His message. The parish strives to live its faith in joyful worship, providing spiritual nourishment, a welcoming and inclusive environment and a sense of family in all its activities, and committing itself to promote justice in its neighborhood and the broader world. The Spanish-language version of the statement affirms the same commitment: 'La Parroquia Santa María de los Ángeles es una comunidad Católica multicultural y multilingüe de creyentes en Jesucristo y su mensaje.'

Parish Staff & Leadership

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Carlos F. Flor, with Parochial Vicar Fr. Andrea (S.) Povero assisting, and Deacon Rafael Bautista serving in ministry. Rose Gilles serves as Finance & Operations Manager, with Amaryllis Nieto as Administrative Assistant and Simon Pierre as Custodian. Faith Formation is coordinated by Luz Dary (Luzdary) Pelaez and Shauna Townsend. Liturgy and Music for the Spanish community is led by Juana Bencosme, and the English Choir is directed by John Rood.

• Pastor: Rev. Carlos F. Flor
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Andrea S. Povero
• Vicar: Rev. Felipe de Jesus Gonzalez
• Deacon: Rafael Bautista
• Finance & Operations Manager: Rose Gilles
• Administrative Assistant: Amaryllis Nieto
• Custodian: Simon Pierre
• Religious Education Coordinators: Luz Dary Pelaez, Shauna Townsend
• Liturgy & Music: Juana Bencosme
• English Choir Director: John Rood
• Pastoral Associate: Amaryllis Nieto

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith formation at St. Mary of the Angels is supported by parishioners together with visiting Jesuits and religious sisters. Bilingual adult retreats, evenings of reflection during Advent and Lent, the Religious Education program for children in Grades 1–8, the Neocatechumenal Way, and the RCIA process for adults all form part of the formation life of the parish.

• Adult Retreats (bilingual English/Spanish)
• Evenings of Reflection (bilingual) — weekly during Advent and Lent
• Religious Education Program — Grades 1 to 8 (Sundays; begins in mid-September; registration $60/child)
• Sacramental preparation: Baptism, First Communion & Penance (2 years), Confirmation (2 years), Holy Matrimony
• RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
• Neocatechumenal Way
• Coordinator: Luz Dary Pelaez (also Shauna Townsend listed)

Liturgy & Music

Parishioners strive to live their faith in joyful worship. Masses are celebrated in Spanish and in English, and for major feasts the community gathers for a bilingual Mass. Liturgies are planned and carried out by a dedicated team of musicians, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, greeters and artists working with the pastor and visiting celebrants.

• English Choir — directed by John Rood
• Spanish Liturgy & Music — led by Juana Bencosme
• Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, greeters, artists
• Bilingual Masses on major feasts

Social Justice & Outreach

The Social Justice Cluster at SMA seeks to live the faith through the promotion of justice in the neighborhood, the church and the broader world. Parishioners are invited to put their faith into action through the Food Pantry, neighborhood walks and peace vigils, workshops and speakers on worker rights, refugees, immigration, racism and housing, and advocacy/solidarity work with interfaith and community organizations.

• Food Pantry / Despensa de Comida (Wednesday evenings; 617-833-1898)
• Neighborhood Walks and Peace Vigils (summer)
• Racism awareness — listening to life stories, films, workshops on race, culture and class
• Immigration — welcoming, understanding and protecting immigrants
• Stewardship — care for creation and global solidarity
• Outreach — community events and gatherings in the church, parish house or front yard
• Workshops & Speakers — worker rights, refugees, immigration, racism, housing
• Advocacy/Solidarity with interfaith and community organizations

Catholic JP Roxbury Collaborative

St. Mary of the Angels shares its pastor (Rev. Carlos F. Flor) with two neighboring parishes — St. Thomas Aquinas in Jamaica Plain and Our Lady of Lourdes in Jamaica Plain — in the Catholic JP Roxbury Collaborative. The parish office for all three parishes is located at 97 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, open Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• Partner parish: St. Thomas Aquinas, 95 South Street, Jamaica Plain
• Partner parish: Our Lady of Lourdes, Jamaica Plain
• Shared pastor: Rev. Carlos F. Flor
• Parish Office: 97 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
• Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Getting Involved & Contact

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at (617) 524-0240 or by fax at (617) 524-1840, or by emailing [email protected]. The collaborative website at catholicjproxbury.com hosts the bulletin archive, registration forms for Religious Education, and ongoing parish news. Anyone interested in volunteering with the Food Pantry, Social Justice cluster, Faith Formation, the English or Spanish choirs, or the Home Visitors ministry is encouraged to call the rectory.

• Phone: (617) 524-0240
• Fax: (617) 524-1840
• Email: [email protected]
• Collaborative website: catholicjproxbury.com
• Food Pantry line: 617-833-1898
• Religious Education contact: Jose Gonzalez, 617-522-6862