About St. Maurice · Bolton, Connecticut
Church of St. Maurice is a Roman Catholic parish in Bolton, Connecticut, belonging to the Diocese of Norwich. The parish traces its roots to a 1904 summer chapel built on the McGurk family's Bolton Center property, and was formally established as a parish in 1954 — the first new church built in the newly created Diocese of Norwich. Today St. Maurice is yoked with neighboring parishes as part of the Catholic Community of the Good Shepherd, and serves Bolton with weekend and weekday Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and adults, music ministry, and active stewardship outreach.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- St. Maurice (patron saint of Maurice F. McAuliffe, then Bishop of Hartford)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Phillippino, Administrator (parish is presently yoked as part of the Catholic Community of the Good Shepherd, with Rev. Richard Breton as Parochial Vicar)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich
Why belong here
St. Maurice is a small, multigenerational parish where parishioners know one another and step up to lead. Ministries span faith formation for children and adults, a music program with adult and children's choirs, Confirmation preparation, and lively fellowship (pancake breakfasts, the gift-certificate bingo, spring retreats, and the Sleigh Bells Ring event). The parish's Tithing Program and stewardship outreach (Mobile Foodshare, the Annual Catholic Appeal, WAIM Flea Market, the Manchester Area Conference of Churches) put faith into action locally and overseas, while traditional devotions like the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Eucharistic Adoration, and a Holy Hour on Divine Mercy Sunday are openly celebrated.
Mass times at St. Maurice
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday 7:30–8:30 p.m. (following the 7:00 p.m. Mass)
- Divine Mercy Sunday Holy Hour at 3:00 p.m. in the Upper Church
Parish History
Catholic life in Bolton stretches back to the Revolutionary War, when General Rochambeau's army encamped here with a chaplain. The present parish grew from a 1904 carriage-shed chapel on the McGurk family property at Bolton Center, became a year-round station in 1950, and was elevated to parish status in May 1954 when Connecticut's dioceses were reorganized. The new Hebron Road church — the first built in the newly created Diocese of Norwich — was blessed in 1957. Read the full story on the parish's history page.
- 1898: McGurk family takes in girls with tuberculosis at Bolton Center; Mass first celebrated in a house chapel
- 1904: Carriage shed on McGurk property converted into a summer chapel
- 1938: Larger chapel built with volunteer labor from the Maneggia family; blessed July 1938
- 1950: Heating system added; Mass offered year-round
- Sept. 2, 1953: Connecticut divided into three dioceses; St. Maurice falls under Diocese of Norwich
- May 1954: Elevated to parish status; Rev. J. Ralph Kelley named first pastor
- May 19, 1955: Corporation of St. Maurice formally established
- April 1956: Ground broken on Hebron Road site
- May 30, 1957: Cornerstone laid; church blessed by Bishop Flanagan — first new church in the Diocese of Norwich
- May 24, 2015: 60th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Cote; commemorative granite bench blessed
- 2016: Painted image of Divine Mercy brought from Poland and placed in the sanctuary alcove
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Maurice serves both children and adults. The parish's Sacramental preparation for Confirmation is completed in 9th and 10th grade, with the Bishop of Norwich (or his delegate) administering the sacrament each year. Adults have ongoing opportunities for study and growth, with reflections and special talks offered throughout the year, such as Father Richard Breton's Seven Last Words of Christ on Good Friday.
- Director of Faith Formation: Patti Cinea — (860) 212-3901 cell / (860) 374-8084
- Assistant Director (past): Sharon Snuffer
- Rich Carpenter — adult formation contact, (860) 372-2602 / (860) 942-4745
- Confirmation preparation in 9th and 10th grade
- Confirmation 2025: celebrated May 17 at St. Bernard in Rockville and June 1 at St. Matthew in Tolland
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry prepares prayerful music for weekly and seasonal liturgies, drawing singers from across the parish. The adult choir rehearses Tuesday evenings and the children's choir rehearses Sunday mornings in the Upper Church. New singers are always welcome — for the regular season or for special occasions such as Christmas and Easter.
- Music Director: Don Benevides — (860) 875-5883
- Adult Choir rehearses Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. (September through spring; actively preparing for Easter)
- Children's Choir rehearses Sundays 8:30–8:50 a.m. in the Upper Church
- Open invitation to new singers at any time, including Christmas and Easter
Stewardship & Outreach
St. Maurice is a Tithing Parish, a tradition begun under Fr. William Olesik in 1992 that directs a portion of the parish's income to those in need. The stewardship program combines parish-wide fundraising with direct service: Mobile Foodshare brings food to the local community, the parish supports the Manchester Area Conference of Churches, and the WAIM Flea Market raises funds for the wider Hartford-area mission. St. Maurice also participates in the Annual Catholic Appeal.
- Tithing Program (established 1992) — local, national, and overseas mission support
- Mobile Foodshare
- Annual Catholic Appeal
- WAIM Flea Market
- Manchester Area Conference of Churches — contact: Patti Cinea, (860) 646-0564
- Prayer Line — Carol (860) 643-2837 and Mary Ann (860) 649-5449
- Visit-the-sick / Shut-in ministry — Patricia Cinea, (860) 646-0564
Fellowship & Community Life
Parish life at St. Maurice centers on warm gatherings and seasonal events that build community across generations. The Breakfast Buffet after Sunday Mass, Gift Certificate Bingo nights, and the annual Spring Retreats are parish favorites, while Sleigh Bells Ring is a signature leadership/fundraiser event.
- Breakfast Buffet (after Sunday Mass)
- Coffee Social and Pancake Breakfast after Sunday Mass
- Gift Certificate Bingo
- Spring Retreats
- Sleigh Bells Ring (leadership fundraiser)
- Knights of Columbus — www.stmauricekofc.org
Parish Leadership & Governance
Parish governance is supported by a Pastoral Council whose members are selected by the Administrator to advise him on parish matters. Council meetings are open to any parishioner who would like to attend. A Finance Council oversees the parish's temporal affairs, and a range of ministry coordinators ensure continuity across programs.
- Pastoral Council — open meetings; parishioners welcome to attend
- Finance Council
- Parish Center phone: (860) 643-8374
- Office hours: Mon, Tues, Fri 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Beyond the Eucharist and Reconciliation, St. Maurice prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, and supports families through the annulment process. Families are asked to call the rectory to begin preparation.
- Baptism — call the rectory (860) 643-4466 to arrange a meeting with the Pastor
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation — Bishop of Norwich or his delegate; preparation in grades 9–10
- Marriage — call the rectory to arrange a meeting with the Pastor
- Anointing of the Sick
- Annulment information — see the parish website under 'Sacraments'
- Visit-the-sick / Shut-in visits — Patricia Cinea, (860) 646-0564
Catholic Community of the Good Shepherd (Yoked Parishes)
St. Maurice is presently yoked as part of the Catholic Community of the Good Shepherd, sharing clergy and collaborative ministry with neighboring parishes to make the most of diocesan priest resources. This yoke brings St. Maurice together with St. Columba Church and the Church of the Holy Family in a common pastoral mission.
- Administrator: Rev. Michael Phillippino
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Richard Breton
- Yoked parishes: St. Maurice (Bolton), St. Columba Church, Church of the Holy Family
Visiting & Contact
The church sits on Hebron Road in Bolton, easily reached from Route 384, with parking and a handicapped-accessible entrance and restrooms. The rectory is staffed Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; a Prayer Line is available for those who would like intentions remembered in daily prayer.
- Address: 32 Hebron Road, Bolton, CT 06043
- Phone: (860) 643-4466
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.saintmauricebolton.org/
- Parish Center: (860) 643-8374
- Prayer Line: Carol (860) 643-2837; Mary Ann (860) 649-5449
- Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Fri 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Directions: From Route 384, take exit #5, turn right, then right again at the stop sign — the church is a quarter-mile on the left
- Handicapped accessible with accessible restroom in the upper level of the Parish Center
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. McGurkpre-1904 founder of the chapel as pastor of St. James, Manchester
Purchased Bolton Center land; the 1904 carriage-shed chapel grew from his family property.
- Rev. John F. Hannonserved the chapel while pastor of St. James, Manchester (through 1954)
Purchased the Hebron Road land that would become the site of the new church.
- Rev. J. Ralph KelleyMay 1954 – June 1958
St. Maurice's first pastor; oversaw the corporation's formation (1955) and groundbreaking/cornerstone-laying of the new Hebron Road church (1956–57); organized the Holy Name Society youth group.
- Rev. Bernard McGurkJune 1958 – June 1965
From the founding family; second pastor.
- Rev. Robert W. Cronin1965 – 1980
Paid off the parish debt; oversaw construction of the Parish Center (1969–70); commissioned the gold-leaf tabernacle designed by Mrs. Helen Veitch.
- Rev. Clifford Curtin1980 – May 1987
Added new Stations of the Cross and a statue of the Risen Lord on the sanctuary wall.
- Rev. William OlesikMay 1987 – February 14, 2008
Twenty-year pastorate; made the parish fiscally sound, paid off the Parish Center debt, added handicapped accessibility, launched the Tithing Program in 1992; served as deacon at St. Maurice under Fr. Cronin earlier.
- Rev. Anthony Gruberlate March 2008 – June 2008
Interim pastor during the transition.
- Rev. Stanley SzczapaJune 2008 – 2010 (formal installation Oct. 26, 2008)
Pastor of both St. Maurice and yoked parish Sacred Heart in Vernon; established a Finance Council; enhanced the parish website.
- Rev. Wojciech Pelczarski, S.D.S.November 15, 2010 – September 15, 2016
Reinstituted the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Liturgy of the Hours, and Eucharistic Adoration; returned the original St. Maurice statue to the sanctuary; Parish Center library dedicated to Fr. Cronin in Feb. 2011; led 60th anniversary Mass in 2015.
- Rev. Leon SusaimanickamSeptember 16, 2016 – 2019
Succeeded Fr. Wojciech.
- Rev. William Olesik2019 – present transition
Returned for a second tenure as pastor; current Administrator is Rev. Michael Phillippino.