About St. Mary Star of the Sea · Beverly, Massachusetts
St. Mary Star of the Sea is a Roman Catholic parish in Beverly, Massachusetts, founded in 1870 when the Archdiocese of Boston purchased the former Crispin Hall on Cabot Street and dedicated it as a mission of Immaculate Conception in Salem. The parish became independent on October 16, 1871, and is now part of the Beverly Catholic Collaborative with St. John the Evangelist and St. Margaret of Scotland parishes under Pastor Rev. David C. Michael. The present Romanesque Revival brick church, completed in 1898 to replace an earlier wooden structure destroyed by fire in 1896, features a campanile tower, Mayer of Bavaria stained glass, and an elevator for accessibility. The parish celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021 with Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley celebrating a joint Mass and presenting a Papal Blessing.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Mary Star of the Sea (Our Lady Star of the Sea)
- Rector
- Rev. David C. Michael
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Mary Star of the Sea offers a warm, historic Catholic community on Beverly's Cabot Street, with Sunday Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. and weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, plus Saturday confessions and a livestream option for those unable to attend in person. As part of the Beverly Catholic Collaborative, the parish shares faith formation, music, and outreach ministries with St. John the Evangelist and St. Margaret of Scotland, and its 1898 Romanesque Revival church — with Mayer of Bavaria stained glass and a working bell tower — gives the community a strong sense of place and tradition. Visitors and parishioners alike are welcomed by an accessible building (elevator at the main entrance), active liturgical music, and a parish that has marked 150+ years of continuous Catholic life on the North Shore.
Mass times at St. Mary Star of the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church (confessional)
- By appointment — call the Collaborative office at 978-922-5542
Parish History
St. Mary Star of the Sea traces its origins to July 24, 1870, when the Archdiocese of Boston purchased Crispin Hall on Cabot Street and dedicated it as a mission of Immaculate Conception Parish in Salem. The parish was canonically erected on October 16, 1871, and has served Beverly Catholics continuously for 150+ years. The present Romanesque Revival brick church replaced an earlier wooden structure that burned on August 15, 1896.
- Founded July 24, 1870, as a mission of Immaculate Conception, Salem
- Became an independent parish October 16, 1871
- Original wooden church destroyed by fire August 15, 1896
- New brick church blessed May 15, 1898, by Archbishop John J. Williams
- Three bells installed December 1900; upper church dedicated October 11, 1908
- 125th anniversary commemorated in 1995
- 150th anniversary celebrated October 17, 2021, with Cardinal O'Malley
Architecture & Building
The current church is a Romanesque Revival red-brick building with a prominent campanile tower and heavy wooden entrance doors. Inside, stained glass windows and statuary were crafted by Mayer & Company of Bavaria. The facade bears the Latin inscription 'A.M.D.G. — St. Maria Maris Stella'. An elevator at the right of the main entrance serves ground level for accessibility.
- Romanesque Revival style, red brick exterior
- Stained glass by Mayer & Company of Bavaria
- Three-bell campanile tower (installed 1900)
- Latin inscription: A.M.D.G. — St. Maria Maris Stella
- Elevator at main entrance for accessibility
Mass & Liturgy
St. Mary Star of the Sea celebrates Sunday Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., with weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. As part of the Beverly Catholic Collaborative, additional Masses are offered at St. John the Evangelist and St. Margaret of Scotland parishes, and confessions are heard Saturday mornings at St. John the Evangelist. The 10:15 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed, and the 4 p.m. Saturday Vigil at St. John's is livestreamed on Facebook.
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
- Weekday: Tuesday 7:30 a.m.; Thursday 7:30 a.m.
- Confessions: Saturday 9–10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist
- Livestream Sunday 10:15 a.m. Mass
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. David C. Michael, with Parochial Vicar Rev. Barry T. Mongeon and Deacons Michael C. Joens, Stephen Thompson Kohut, and Frank Finlayson. Music is directed by Brian Sousa and faith formation is coordinated by Sarah Coen.
- Pastor: Rev. David C. Michael
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Barry T. Mongeon
- Deacon Michael C. Joens
- Deacon Stephen Thompson Kohut
- Deacon Frank Finlayson
- Music Director: Brian Sousa
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Sarah Coen
Beverly Catholic Collaborative
St. Mary Star of the Sea is one of three parishes in the Beverly Catholic Collaborative, alongside St. John the Evangelist (111 New Balch Street) and St. Margaret of Scotland (672 Hale Street). The three parishes share clergy, staff, faith formation, and liturgy resources, with the Collaborative Office at 552 Cabot Street.
- St. Mary Star of the Sea — 253 Cabot Street
- St. John the Evangelist — 111 New Balch Street
- St. Margaret of Scotland — 672 Hale Street
- Collaborative Office — 552 Cabot Street
Visiting Beverly's Catholic Heritage
The Beverly Catholic Collaborative welcomes visitors to Masses, the annual Lessons and Carols, and the historic 1898 church with its Mayer of Bavaria stained glass. The parish is part of the broader Catholic heritage of the North Shore of Massachusetts, where Catholicism was first served by missionary priests such as Father Severus in the early 1800s.
- Annual Lessons and Carols service in December
- Open for Sunday and weekday worship
- Elevator accessibility at main entrance
- 150th anniversary celebrated with Cardinal O'Malley, October 17, 2021
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Severusearly 1800s
Served Beverly Catholics before the parish existed; traveled from Boston by ferry and on foot to celebrate Mass at the Salem parish, giving his saved fare to the poor.
- Father Curran1896 (during/after fire)
Oversaw the parish after the 1896 fire and the rebuilding of the brick church; remembered for telling his housekeeper to cook a steak for a stonemason on a Friday during reconstruction.