About St. Mary · Orange, Massachusetts
St. Mary's Parish in Orange, Massachusetts is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, serving the towns of Orange, Erving, New Salem, Warwick, and Wendell in north-central Massachusetts. Located at 19 Congress Street in Orange, the parish describes itself as "a parish family, growing as followers of Jesus, as we learn from Mary the path of faithful discipleship." Worship is offered in the main church on weekends and in the smaller Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel (in the rectory) for weekday Masses, and Sunday Masses are broadcast on local cable (AOTV Channel 1301) and radio (WVAO 105.9 FM) so that homebound parishioners and neighbors without internet can still take part.
- Patron
- St. Mary (Mother of God)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Glover (Administrator, as of March 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Mary's is a welcoming small-town parish that actively reaches beyond its four walls: it broadcasts Sunday Mass on local cable and radio for those who cannot attend, runs a free Summer Bible Camp ("Scuba VBS"), offers Sunday School registration each fall, and maintains Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays alongside the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It serves a wide rural area (Orange, Erving, New Salem, Warwick and Wendell) and, by the parish's own description, is committed to growing as a family of disciples who follow the example of Mary.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
- And by appointment (call the parish office at 978-544-2900)
- Quarterly Penance Service with Confession held in the Parish Hall
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 4:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, followed by 5:00 PM Mass)
About St. Mary's Parish, Orange
St. Mary's is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, located at 19 Congress Street in Orange. The parish extends pastoral care to the towns of Orange, Erving, New Salem, Warwick and Wendell. Its stated identity is 'a parish family, growing as followers of Jesus, as we learn from Mary the path of faithful discipleship.' Worship is offered in two locations on the parish campus — the main church (weekend Masses and Holy Day Noon Mass) and the Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel in the rectory (weekday Masses).
- Diocese: Springfield in Massachusetts
- Address: 19 Congress Street, Orange, MA 01364
- Phone: 978-544-2900
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 Noon (per the March 2025 bulletin)
- Serves: Orange, Erving, New Salem, Warwick & Wendell
Parish Life & Fellowship
The parish maintains an active social and fundraising calendar, including an annual Christmas Family Mass, an annual Scout Sunday recognition of St. Mary's Scouting troops, and recurring fellowship events such as a Big Band Night dinner-and-dance and a Jazz Night dinner-and-dance. A 'Virtual Collection Basket' is offered for online giving. The parish encourages parishioners to keep contact information current with the office so it can communicate by mail and email.
- Christmas Family Mass
- Scout Sunday — St. Mary's Scouting
- Big Band Night — Dinner & Dancing
- Jazz Night — Dinner & Dancing
- Virtual Collection Basket (online giving)
- Parish dinners and committee-led events
Faith Formation: Sunday School & VBS
Faith formation for children is offered through two seasonal programs. Sunday School runs through the academic year, with online registration opening each September. The parish's Summer Bible Camp — branded 'Scuba VBS' — is a free program typically held in late July (e.g. July 22–26, 9:00 AM to noon), and combines Bible lessons, an 'Imagination Station,' outdoor games, snacks, and sing-along songs.
- Sunday School — online registration for the September–May program
- Scuba VBS (Vacation Bible School) — free, late July, 9 AM–noon
- Imagination Station, outdoor games, snacks, sing-along
Mass Broadcasts: Cable, Radio & Vimeo
Because many parishioners and neighbors in the rural five-town service area lack reliable internet, St. Mary's broadcasts its Sunday Mass on local cable, local radio and an online video channel. The same Mass can be seen on AOTV (Channel 1301) on Sundays at 11:00 AM, heard on WVAO 105.9 FM on Sundays at 9:00 AM, and viewed on demand on the parish's Vimeo channel. AOTV also live-streams the Mass at www.aotv13.org for those without cable.
- AOTV Cable Channel 1301 — Sundays, 11:00 AM
- WVAO Radio 105.9 FM — Sundays, 9:00 AM
- Vimeo — weekly Mass on demand
- Live stream at www.aotv13.org
Sacraments
Information about the celebration of the seven sacraments is handled through the parish office. The bulletin explicitly invites parishioners to call about Baptism, Marriage, and Becoming Catholic, and asks those facing surgery or extended illness to call Fr. Mark directly to receive the Anointing of the Sick. Confession is scheduled weekly on Saturday afternoons, available by appointment, and offered additionally at the parish's quarterly Penance Service in the Parish Hall.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA) — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — call Fr. Mark
- Confession / Reconciliation — Saturday 3 PM and by appointment; quarterly Penance Service
- Eucharistic Adoration — Wednesdays 4 PM
Staff & Governance
The parish is currently administered by Fr. Mark Glover, with the rectory reachable through the parish office. The Finance Committee, chaired by Gary Cormier, oversees the temporal affairs of the parish. A previous pastor, Fr. Shaun O'Connor, was leading the parish in late 2017 and was working with parishioners on committees for parish dinners and outreach to inactive Catholics; by March 2025 the bulletin lists Fr. Mark Glover as Administrator.
- Fr. Mark Glover — Administrator (per March 2025 bulletin)
- Fr. Shaun O'Connor — referenced as pastor in December 2017
- Gary Cormier — Finance Committee Chairperson
Visiting the Parish
Visitors are welcomed with 'Welcome Envelopes' available at the church entrances for those who wish to register or learn more. The parish asks visitors and parishioners to make sure the office has current mailing addresses and email addresses so it can stay in touch. Parish office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon.
- Parish Office: 19 Congress Street, Orange, MA 01364
- Phone: 978-544-2900
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu, 9 AM–12 Noon
- 'Welcome Envelopes' available at the church entrances
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Shaun O'Connor
Identified in a December 2017 external blog post as the then-new pastor of Saint Mary's, Orange MA, who was forming committees to plan parish dinners and reach out to inactive members and inquirers.