About St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception · Baltic, Connecticut
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Roman Catholic parish in Baltic, a village within the town of Sprague in New London County, Connecticut. It belongs to the Diocese of Norwich and serves as the regional Catholic center for eastern Connecticut, tracing its parish life back to a congregation formed in the mid-19th century by Irish, French-Canadian, and Polish immigrants who came to work in Baltic's mills. The parish's striking 1911 Georgian Revival church, convent, and the Academy of the Holy Family form one of the most recognizable institutional complexes in Baltic's historic district, and it remains an active worship community with weekend and daily Mass, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, CCD faith formation, and an associated Catholic school (St. Joseph School).
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Tito
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a welcoming parish in the historic village of Baltic that combines small-town community life with the full rhythm of Catholic worship. Mass is offered multiple times each week — including a Monday evening Mass — along with weekday Eucharistic Adoration all day on Tuesdays, regular Confession times, and a CCD religious-education program for parish children. With active groups such as the Council of Catholic Women and the Knights of Columbus, hospitality and liturgical ministries, and the neighboring St. Joseph School and Academy of the Holy Family, it is a place where families, retirees, and new arrivals can find both spiritual nourishment and a real sense of belonging in eastern Connecticut.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Monday: 6:30 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
History of the Parish
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception traces its origins to the Catholic community formed in Baltic by Irish, French-Canadian, and Polish mill workers in the mid-19th century. A congregation was organized by the 1860s, with the parish formally founded in 1869 under Rev. J.C. van Laar. Over the next half-century the parish built a convent (1888), the present church (1911), and the Academy of the Holy Family (1914), creating the brick institutional campus on West Main Street that still defines the village.
- Catholic community formed in Baltic by Irish, French-Canadian, and Polish immigrants
- Parish formally founded 1869 under Rev. J.C. van Laar
- First sisters arrived from Tilburg, Holland in 1874 and opened St. Joseph School
- St. Mary Convent built 1888 (Second Empire style)
- Present church built 1911 in Georgian Revival style
- Academy of the Holy Family added in 1914
The Church Building
The 1911 church is a Georgian Revival design of red brick with Classical quoins, arched openings, and a cupola. Architectural historians describe it as one of the most unique and grandest Catholic church designs in eastern Connecticut, and it stands at the western end of Baltic's historic commercial area alongside the Academy of the Holy Family and the older Second Empire convent.
- Georgian Revival style, 1911
- Red brick with Classical quoins and arched openings
- Distinctive cupola
- Part of the Baltic Historic District
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor and assisted by a parochial vicar, with two additional priests in residence. Together they serve the worship, sacramental, and pastoral needs of the parish community.
- Rev. Joseph Tito — Pastor
- Rev. Christopher Zmunda — Parochial Vicar
- Msgr. Henry N. Archambault — In Residence
- Rev. Ray Introvigne — In Residence
Religious Education (CCD)
The parish's CCD program provides Catholic faith formation for parish children, including sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation. Classes meet both on Sunday mornings and on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at St. Joseph in Occum.
- Sunday CCD sessions: 9:00 – 9:50 AM
- 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 PM at St. Joseph (Occum) basement
- Age-appropriate faith formation
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Joseph School is the parish's affiliated Catholic school, founded in 1874 when sisters from Tilburg, Holland arrived at the invitation of Fr. van Laar and began teaching four hundred students in the old public school building. The school moved into the Academy of the Holy Family building in 1919, and into its present building (blessed by Bishop Henry J. O'Brien of Hartford) in 1950. A three-classroom addition was dedicated by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly of Norwich in 1984. Today it continues as a parish school serving the region.
- Founded 1874 by Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy from Tilburg, Holland
- Present building blessed by Bishop Henry J. O'Brien on August 27, 1950
- Three-classroom addition dedicated by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly on March 18, 1984
- Pastored by Rev. Joseph Tito (pastor of St. Mary's)
Parish Ministries and Groups
St. Mary's describes itself as a vibrant parish community where everyone has a place to share their gifts, with opportunities in prayer and fellowship groups, hospitality, and liturgical service.
- Council of Catholic Women
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Joseph Prayer Group
- Hospitality ministries (greeters, ushers)
- Liturgical ministries (lectors, altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Inquiries about marriage, baptism, First Communion and Confirmation preparation, the Anointing of the Sick, or Holy Orders can be directed to the parish office; those discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life are invited to speak with Fr. Tito.
- Baptism
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Visiting the Parish
The parish is located at 70 West Main Street in the village of Baltic, within the town of Sprague. It is accessible from I-395 via exit 18, with clear local-road directions through Occum and into Baltic.
- Address: 70 West Main Street, Baltic, CT 06330
- Phone: (860) 822-6378
- Website: stmaryicbaltic.org
- From I-395 exit 18: left off ramp, ½ mile to stop sign at Murphy's Fish Market, left, then sharp right through Occum, two miles to stop sign in Baltic, left, church is ⅛ mile ahead
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J.C. van Laar
Pastor at the time of the parish's founding in 1869; recruited Sisters of Charity from Tilburg, Holland, who arrived in 1874 and opened St. Joseph School.