About St. Mary · Winchester, Massachusetts
St. Mary Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Winchester, Massachusetts, established in 1876 and currently celebrating its 150th anniversary. A Roman Catholic Eucharistic community in the Archdiocese of Boston, the parish worships in a historic Gothic Revival church at 159–160 Washington Street that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the parish family is served by a pastor (who also shepherds nearby St. Eulalia), a parochial vicar, a senior deacon, and a full lay staff, and it continues the merged communities of Immaculate Conception (Winchester) and St. Joseph (Woburn) absorbed into St. Mary's in 2004.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Clifford
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a genuine, down-to-earth Eucharistic community in the heart of Winchester, where the same three Hail Marys for the deceased prayed at the end of every Mass have been said since 1959. Members of three former parishes — St. Mary, Immaculate Conception, and St. Joseph — are welcomed into one parish family that runs Disciples in Action outreach, St. Vincent de Paul, faith formation, and the historic Early Learning Center. With daily and Sunday Masses, a full day of Friday Eucharistic Adoration, weekly confession, and a pastor who also serves neighboring St. Eulalia, the parish balances deep tradition (a 1876 Gothic Revival church on the National Register of Historic Places) with the living rhythm of a 150-year-old community still actively evangelizing in 2026.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM (ends 8:00 AM)
- Saturday: 8:30 AM (ends 9:00 AM)
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:15 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in St. Mary Chapel)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Mary Parish describes itself as 'a Roman Catholic church called to love as a Eucharistic Community in order to fulfill each member's baptismal mission to evangelize the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.' It is the oldest Catholic parish in Winchester, founded in 1876, and is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Boston and now also embraces members of the former Immaculate Conception Parish (Winchester) and St. Joseph Parish (Woburn), merged into St. Mary in 2004.
- Oldest Catholic parish in Winchester, MA (since 1876)
- Currently celebrating 150th Anniversary
- Archdiocese of Boston
- Eucharistic community with evangelization mission
A Walk Through 150 Years of History
Catholic worship in Winchester began around 1874 with a small wooden mission chapel of St. Charles Borromeo in Woburn, built on land once part of the Caleb Swan farm purchased by prominent resident Jerome B. Judkins. Archbishop Williams erected St. Mary's as an independent parish in 1876 and appointed Rev. Cornelius O'Connor its first resident pastor. Successive pastors enlarged the church, added the tower, and in 1896–97 re-clad the building in brick under architect P. W. Ford, creating the Gothic Revival structure parishioners know today.
- 1874: small wooden chapel built on Washington St.
- 1876: parish erected; Rev. Cornelius O'Connor first pastor
- 1882: Rev. Patrick J. Daly enlarges church, adds tower
- 1894: stained glass, organ, and library installed under Rev. Henry J. Madden
- 1896–97: brick re-cladding by architect P. W. Ford
School, Sisters, and Stations of the Cross
By 1910 the parish numbered more than 9,000 souls. In 1914 Cardinal William O'Connell blessed the new grammar school, which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph until 1973; the order also ran a high school for girls from 1922 to 1950. A remarkable gift arrived in 1951 from Hemroulle, Belgium — ten Stations of the Cross paintings sent to thank Winchester residents for camouflage sheets they had donated during the Battle of the Bulge, an episode later featured in Life Magazine.
- 1914: grammar school opened, Sisters of St. Joseph to 1973
- 1922–1950: St. Mary's High School for Girls
- 1951: ten Stations of the Cross from Hemroulle, Belgium (Life Magazine coverage)
- 2020: grades 1–5 closed; school continues as St. Mary's Early Learning Center (preschool & kindergarten)
Pastor Succession
The parish's published Parish Timeline names more than a dozen pastors, with notable figures including Msgr. Daniel J. Keleher (elevated 1909), Rev. Nathaniel J. Merritt (died in office 1934), Rev. Aloysius S. Malone (who founded the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference in 1934), Msgr. John Manion (who began the three Hail Marys tradition in 1959 and helped carve out St. Eulalia in 1964), and the 14th pastor, Rev. Richard Messina, installed in 1993. Rev. Paul Clifford is the current Pastor/Administrator.
- Rev. Cornelius O'Connor (1876–1882)
- Rev. Patrick J. Daly (1882–1888)
- Rev. William M. O'Brien (1888–1894)
- Rev. Henry J. Madden (1894–1906)
- Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Keleher (1906–1909, later Msgr.)
- Rev. Nathaniel J. Merritt (1909–1934)
- Rev. James Lynch (acting, 1934)
- Rev. Aloysius S. Malone (1934–1940)
- Rev. John O'Riordan (mid-20th c.)
- Msgr. John Manion (1952–1969)
- Rev. James A. Garrity (post-Vatican II)
- Fr. Koen (early 1990s)
- Rev. Richard Messina (14th pastor, 1993–)
- Rev. Paul Clifford (current)
Parish Mergers and Shared Leadership
In 1931 Cardinal O'Connell carved off the northern section of St. Mary's to create the new Immaculate Conception parish. In 1964 Msgr. Manion helped establish St. Eulalia parish from the western portion of Winchester and part of Arlington. Facing a projected priest shortage, the 2004 Archdiocesan reconfiguration merged Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph (Woburn) back into St. Mary, and the parish today shares its pastor with St. Eulalia at 50 Ridge Street, Winchester.
- 1931: Immaculate Conception parish established from northern St. Mary's
- 1964: St. Eulalia parish established from western St. Mary's
- 2004: Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph merged into St. Mary
- Pastor currently shared with St. Eulalia parish
The Historic Church Building
St. Mary's 1876 church was originally wood-clad and was remodeled and encased in brick in 1896–97 by Boston architect Patrick W. Ford. In plan it resembles older Federal-period New England churches, with the nave set parallel to the roof gable, corbelled cornices, and decorative buttresses. The square tower is offset at the northwestern corner, with a Gothic-arched entrance and a belfry with louvered Gothic-arched openings, and a small baptistry/library addition stands just south of the main building. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 1989 (NRHP #89000625).
- Gothic Revival style
- Architect: Patrick W. Ford (1896–97 remodel)
- Tower offset at NW corner with Gothic-arched belfry
- Federal-period New England plan
- NRHP listed July 5, 1989 (#89000625)
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor/Administrator Rev. Paul Clifford, with Parochial Vicar Fr. Valanarasu Newton-Williamraj and Senior Deacon Rev. Mr. Anthony DiLorenzo. Lay staff include a Director of Finance & Operations, a Principal for the Early Learning Center, Religious Education, Outreach, Communications, and Facilities roles.
- Rev. Paul Clifford — Pastor/Administrator
- Fr. Valanarasu Newton-Williamraj — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Mr. Anthony DiLorenzo — Senior Deacon
- Director of Finance & Operations
- Principal (Early Learning Center)
- Nancy Riley — Religious Education Administrative Assistant
- Karen Yuska — Outreach/Evangelization
- Laura Queen — Communications
- Colleen DeBruyckere — Religious Education/Evangelization
- Chip DeBruyckere — Facilities Manager
- Colleen Marek — Facilities
- Michael Fitzmaurice — Facilities
Outreach & Ministry
Disciples in Action is the ministry and outreach arm of St. Mary's mission to evangelize as disciples of Jesus Christ. Parishioners can refer neighbors in need to [email protected]. The parish has run a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference since 1934, and it also maintains ministries for the homebound, religious education, communications, and facilities, plus an annual Italian Feast honoring the Assumption of Mary each August (dating to about 1910) and an annual lawn party (since 1911).
- Disciples in Action (outreach/evangelization)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (since 1934)
- Homebound Ministry
- Religious Education / Faith Formation
- Italian Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August, since c. 1910)
- Annual lawn party (since 1911)
St. Mary's Early Learning Center
The successor to the parish grammar school that opened in 1914 and was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph until 1973, St. Mary's Early Learning Center continues today as a preschool and kindergarten on the parish campus.
- Original grammar school opened October 1914, blessed by Cardinal O'Connell
- Staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph 1914–1973
- Grades 1–5 closed 2020; school continues as preschool & kindergarten
Sacraments & Devotions
Beyond Mass and Confession, St. Mary's offers Friday Eucharistic Adoration, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, and Benediction, and it retains the parish tradition — begun by Msgr. Manion in 1959 — of praying three Hail Marys for the deceased at the end of every Mass. The historic baptistry (originally built c. 1900 as the parish library) still stands just south of the main church building.
- Daily and Sunday Mass
- Confession (Wed 6 PM, Sat 7:30 & 8:30 AM)
- Eucharistic Adoration (Fri 9 AM – 5:15 PM)
- Chaplet of the Divine Mercy (Fri 4:45 PM)
- Benediction (Fri 5:15 PM)
- Three Hail Marys for the deceased at end of every Mass (since 1959)
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
The parish office is at 160 Washington Street, Winchester, MA 01890; the rectory number is 781-729-0055 and email is [email protected]. Summer office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (holiday hours may differ). The church and parish hall are handicap accessible.
- Address: 160 Washington Street, Winchester, MA 01890
- Phone: 781-729-0055
- Email: [email protected]
- Summer office: Mon–Thu 9 AM–3 PM, Fri 9 AM–1 PM
- Handicap accessible church and parish hall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Cornelius O'Connor1876–1882
First resident pastor; replaced the 1874 wooden chapel with a larger structure.
- Rev. Patrick J. Daly1882–1888
Enlarged the church to its current dimensions and added the tower.
- Rev. William M. O'Brien1888–1894
Acquired two parcels of land including the present school site.
- Rev. Henry J. Madden1894–1906
Installed stained-glass windows, an organ, and the parish library.
- Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Keleher1906–1909
Later elevated to Monsignor before being transferred.
- Rev. Nathaniel J. Merritt1909–1934
Beloved priest; died in office, funeral Mass attended by 100+ clergy.
- Rev. James Lynch1934
Acting pastor between Merritt's death and Malone's appointment.
- Rev. Aloysius S. Malone1934–1940
Organized the parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference and began church renovations.
- Rev. John O'Riordanmid-20th century
Received the 9th Station of the Cross from Hemroulle, Belgium in 1951; retired 1952.
- Rev. John Manion (Msgr.)1952–1969
Elevated to Monsignor 1959; began the three Hail Marys for the deceased tradition and helped establish St. Eulalia parish in 1964.
- Rev. James A. Garrity1969–
Installed Marian stained-glass windows; formed first Pastoral Parish Council after Vatican II.
- Fr. Koenearly 1990s
Reassigned to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton in 1993.
- Rev. Richard Messina1993–
14th pastor; installed Sept. 19, 1993 by Very Rev. Francis X. Turke; surveyed parish property and planned new Chapel and Gathering Room.
- Rev. Paul Cliffordpresent
Current Pastor/Administrator; also serves as pastor of nearby St. Eulalia parish.