About St. Matthew · Southborough, Massachusetts
St. Matthew Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Southborough, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester, serving the historic Cordaville/Southville village at 105 Southville Road. The parish is a tight-knit community known for friendly parishioners and a welcoming priest, currently led by Reverend James B. Flynn, who has served as its sixth pastor since 1993. The church building is a fixture of the Southborough townscape, described as radiating a quintessential New England charm and parish pride. Daily and Sunday Masses are offered in English, with a Parish School of Religion, Youth Ministry, Liturgy Committee, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and Ministries of Care among its active groups.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. Matthew
- Rector
- Rev. James B. Flynn
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Matthew offers a welcoming, small-parish feel where parishioners are known by name, paired with a full Catholic life: weekday and Sunday Masses in English, weekly Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, a vibrant Parish School of Religion (Little Church School through high school), an active Youth Ministry with mission trips and the Steubenville Youth Conference, and ministries of care that bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. The Spiritual Life Committee hosts parish retreats and scripture classes, the Prayer Shawl Ministry wraps members of the community in handmade prayer, and the Emergency Needs Committee helps local families in crisis. It's a parish that takes seriously both worship and service to its neighbors in Southborough.
Mass times at St. Matthew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:30–7:30 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM
- By appointment
- Tuesday 5:00–7:00 PM (in the church, not the parish center — with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:00–7:00 PM (Blessed Sacrament exposed during Confession hours in the church)
Our Parish
St. Matthew Parish sits in the historic Cordaville/Southville village of Southborough, Massachusetts, and is part of the Diocese of Worcester. The community is described on its own website as charming and close-knit, with a reputation for friendly parishioners and a welcoming priest. The church building itself is considered a landmark of the Southborough townscape, exuding quintessential New England charm and parish pride. The parish is led by Reverend James B. Flynn, its sixth pastor.
History
Catholic life in Southborough began in 1870, when priests from Milford began serving the Cordaville/Southville area as a mission of the Springfield diocese. The community was later served as a mission of the Westborough parish, with Masses first held in Wilson's Hall — the upstairs of what is today Fitzgerald's General Store. In 1872 mill owner Herbert Wilson deeded a half-acre for a church; the building was completed in 1877 by Father Cornelius Cronin. Father John F. Redican became the first permanent pastor in 1886.
- 1870 — Catholic community served as a mission from Milford by the new Diocese of Springfield
- 1872 — Herbert Wilson donates half-acre for a Catholic church site
- 1877 — Church completed under Father Cornelius Cronin; still a mission of Westborough
- 1886 — Father John F. Redican appointed first permanent pastor
- 1956 — Re-established as a parish of the Diocese of Worcester under Bishop John Wright
- 1957 — Father Eugene Archey becomes first resident pastor of the new parish
- 1968 — Father Thomas Lonergan succeeds Father Archey
- Renovation of the church building during the pastorate of Father Pasquale Biscardi
- 1993 — Father James B. Flynn appointed sixth pastor by Bishop Timothy Harrington
Clergy & Staff
Reverend James B. Flynn has served as pastor of St. Matthew since 1993 and is assisted by Deacon Stephen T. Kohut. The parish staff includes Meredith Bishop, Director of Religious Education; Ricardo Reyes, Youth Minister; and a Music Director. Parish Office hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday (or by appointment).
- Rev. James B. Flynn — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Stephen T. Kohut ([email protected])
- Meredith Bishop — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Ricardo Reyes — Youth Minister ([email protected])
- Music Director ([email protected])
- Parish Office — [email protected]
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Matthew rests on three complementary frameworks: the Parish School of Religion, the Family, and the Parish Community. The Parish School of Religion uses the Blest Are We series for grades 1–8 and Saint Mary's Press materials for grades 9–12. Little Church School welcomes ages 4 through Kindergarten on a monthly, seasonally-themed basis. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation takes place during the school year in addition to grade-level classes, and adult education is offered during Advent and Lent.
- Parish School of Religion (grades 1–8) — Blest Are We curriculum, monthly 2-hour sessions
- High School Religious Ed (grades 9–12) — Saint Mary's Press, Fall and Spring sessions
- Little Church School (ages 4–Kindergarten) — monthly, seasonally themed
- Sacramental Preparation: Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Adult Education offered during Advent and Lent
Youth Ministry
St. Matthew's Youth Ministry serves young people in grades 7–12, with a mission of leading teens to a closer relationship with Christ and the parish community through ongoing faith formation and social justice activities. Annual highlights include the Steubenville Youth Conference and a long-running summer mission trip to Biloxi, Mississippi — a tradition that has been sending teens south since 2006. The group also hosts social events such as summer volleyball and service projects like spring clean-ups.
- Grades 7–12 ongoing faith formation and social justice activities
- Steubenville Youth Conference (July, grades 8–12)
- Mission Trip to Biloxi, Mississippi (since 2006; July 25–August 1, 2026)
- Spring Clean-Ups service project
- Summer Volleyball (grades 7–12)
Ministries
Parish life at St. Matthew is shaped by a wide circle of lay ministries. The Liturgy Committee coordinates liturgical planning and recruits sacristans, greeters, lectors, musicians, leaders of song, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The Spiritual Life Committee organizes parish retreats, prayer services, and scripture classes. The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets Wednesday evenings at 7 PM in the Parish Center Lobby to knit and crochet shawls for those in need of prayer. Ministries of Care visits the sick, elderly, and infirm, brings them the Eucharist, and provides transportation to hospitals and nursing homes. The Emergency Needs Committee coordinates volunteer help and assistance for families in crisis.
- Spiritual Life Committee — retreats, prayer services, scripture classes
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — meets Wednesdays 7 PM, Parish Center Lobby
- Religious Education Board
- Liturgy Committee — Liturgical Planning, Sacristan, Greeter, Lector, Musician, Leader of Song, EMHC
- Ministries of Care — visits the sick and homebound, brings the Eucharist, transportation
- Emergency Needs Committee — assistance to families in crisis
Sacraments
The Sacraments page outlines preparation for Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick, as well as ongoing opportunities for Reconciliation. Penance is celebrated weekly on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons, with communal Reconciliation services during Advent and Lent. Anointing of the Sick is celebrated twice a year. Sacramental preparation for children and teens takes place within the Parish School of Religion during the school year.
- Baptism — register through the parish office
- Penance / Reconciliation — Tuesday 6:30–7:30 PM, Saturday 3:30 PM, or by appointment; communal services in Advent and Lent
- First Eucharist — preparation within Religious Education
- Confirmation — Candidate & Parent Info Session in October; preparation for eligible teens
- Anointing of the Sick — twice yearly
- Matrimony — preparation through the parish office
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Matthew at 105 Southville Road, Southborough, MA 01772. The Parish Office phone is 508-485-2285, with a separate Religious Education line at 508-229-2429. Office hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday–Thursday and 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Friday, with appointments available outside those times.
- Address: 105 Southville Road, Southborough, MA 01772
- Parish Office: 508-485-2285
- Religious Education Office: 508-229-2429
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (or by appointment)
- General email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John F. Redican1886–
First permanent pastor; also led building of St. Anne Church in Southborough Center/Fayville.
- Father William T. Finneran
A new parish residence was built adjoining St. Anne Church during his pastorate and parish headquarters moved.
- Reverend John Bakanas1956–1957
Appointed administrator when St. Matthew was re-established as a parish of the new Diocese of Worcester.
- Father Eugene Archey1957–1968
First resident pastor of the re-established Cordaville/Southville Catholic community.
- Reverend Thomas Lonergan1968–
Succeeded Father Archey.
- Father Pasquale Biscardi
Completely renovated the church building during his tenure.
- Reverend Raymond Anger
Continued the work of Father Biscardi as pastor.
- Father Daniel Driscoll
Succeeded Father Anger.
- Father Brendan O'Donoghue–1993
Served until 1993.
- Reverend James B. Flynn1993–present
Sixth pastor; appointed by Bishop Timothy Harrington.