About St. Michael · North Andover, Massachusetts
Saint Michael Parish is a large Roman Catholic parish in North Andover, Massachusetts, in the Merrimack Valley, belonging to the Archdiocese of Boston. With roots going back to 1869 and roughly 5,000 registered families today, the parish runs Saint Michael School (PreK–8), a robust religious education program, an active youth ministry, and over 60 parish groups that meet on its campus. Its current church building was dedicated in 1999, while the older church has been repurposed as a parish hall and offices.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin J. Deeley
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston (Roman Catholic, Latin Rite)
Why belong here
Saint Michael offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in one place: weekend and daily Mass in English, a year-round Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice a week. Parishioners of all ages are served by Saint Michael School (PreK–8), a religious education program reaching over 1,800 public-school students, an active Youth Ministry Center, and more than 60 parish groups. Outreach through the parish's St. Vincent de Paul conference and the Giving Tree provides direct help to neighbors in need.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (in the Adoration Chapel)
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (in the Adoration Chapel)
Adoration times
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- Tuesday–Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
History of Saint Michael Parish
Saint Michael Church was dedicated on November 19, 1869 as a mission church on Water Street, served by priests from Lawrence. In January 1900, with a growing Catholic population in North Andover, it was established as an independent parish with Rev. James Gilday as its first pastor. In 1886 the wooden church was physically moved to its present Main Street location to escape water problems on the original lot; in the late 1940s it was enlarged and restyled in Mission style. On October 24, 1999 parishioners dedicated the current 'new church,' and the older church was converted into a parish hall, parish offices and meeting rooms where more than 60 groups now gather. The parish marked 150 years of faith in 2019 and counted 5,061 registered families in its June 2019 census.
- 1869: Church dedicated on Water Street as a mission church (cornerstone Oct. 11, 1868; land $800; total cost $10,000)
- 1886: Original church moved to Main Street due to water problems (cost ~$11,500); first Christmas Day Masses held at the new site
- January 1900: Established as an independent parish under first pastor Rev. James Gilday
- 1901: Rectory built
- Late 1940s: Church enlarged and restyled in Mission appearance
- 1948: Fr. Shea purchased the Merrimack School on Main Street
- September 1950: Saint Michael School opened, staffed by Sisters of Charity of Halifax
- 1956: New Saint Michael School on Maple Avenue opens
- November 1998: Expanded 'new school' opens (17 additional classrooms)
- October 24, 1999: Present-day church dedicated; combined school/church project cost ~$8 million
- June 2019: Parish census — 5,061 families; 150th anniversary celebrated
Clergy & Parish Leadership
Saint Michael Parish is led by a pastor with the assistance of parochial vicars and a weekend assistant. Parishes of this size in the Archdiocese of Boston typically also work with permanent deacons, but the parish website's clergy page is the authoritative source. The parish is part of the Merrimack Valley deanery of the Archdiocese of Boston.
- Rev. Kevin J. Deeley — Pastor
- Rev. Eric Caden — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Bill Donnelly — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. William Waters — Weekend Assistant
- Fr. Blaney — referenced on the parish website in connection with the Offertory Commitment Program
Saint Michael School
Saint Michael School is the parish's Catholic elementary school serving roughly 525 students in PreK through Grade 8 in up-to-date classrooms. Originally opened in 1950 in the former Merrimack School building on Main Street and staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, the school moved into a new building on Maple Avenue in 1956. Seventeen additional classrooms were added in 1998 as part of the same building campaign that produced the present-day church.
- Opened September 1950 (in former Merrimack School)
- Original staff: Sisters of Charity of Halifax
- New school on Maple Avenue opened 1956
- 1998 expansion: 17 additional classrooms
- Current enrollment: approximately 525 students, PreK–8
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
More than 1,800 public-school students take part in the parish's religious education program, which meets both at Saint Michael School and at the former convent, now converted into the Youth Ministry Center. Together with the parish school, this makes Saint Michael one of the larger Catholic faith-formation programs in the Merrimack Valley.
- Religious Education for over 1,800 public-school students
- Classes held at the school and at the Youth Ministry Center (former convent)
- Youth Ministry Center hosts middle- and high-school programming
Outreach & Parish Life
The parish's life of service centers on the St. Vincent de Paul conference, the annual Giving Tree at Christmas, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and signature events like A Night in Bethlehem. The 1999 repurposing of the old church into a parish hall, offices and meeting rooms made it possible for more than 60 parish groups to meet on the campus.
- St. Vincent de Paul conference — year-round food donations and direct aid to neighbors in need
- Giving Tree — Christmas outreach to families in need
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- A Night in Bethlehem (annual Advent event)
- Offertory Commitment Program
- Shine initiative / online gift-giving store
- 60+ parish groups meeting in the parish hall and offices
Visit, Watch & Connect
Saint Michael reaches beyond its walls through livestream and local cable, and stays connected via Facebook and YouTube. Holy Day schedules and weekly announcements are posted in the parish bulletin.
- Address: 196 Main Street, North Andover, MA 01845-2598
- Phone: (978) 686-4050
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.saint-michael.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/SaintMichaelParishNorthAndover
- YouTube: youtube.com/@saintmichaelparish9323
- Saturday 4:00 PM Vigil Mass livestream on YouTube
- North Andover CAM broadcast: Comcast 22, Verizon 24 (replays Sun 12 PM, Thu 11 AM)
- CatholicTV on Comcast 268 / Verizon 296
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Gilday1900 (first pastor; parish established January 1900)
First pastor of Saint Michael Parish when it became independent from Lawrence.
- Fr. Shea1948 (approx.)
Purchased the Merrimack School on Main Street; opened Saint Michael School in 1950 staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Halifax.