About St. Nicholas Parish - St. Mary · Ayer, Massachusetts
St. Nicholas Parish, located at 31 Shirley Street in Ayer, Massachusetts, is part of the Nashoba Valley Catholic Collaborative, a multi-ethnic, rural archdiocesan faith community formed in 2017. The parish encompasses St. Mary Church in Ayer — established in 1858 — together with its collaborative partner, St. Anthony of Padua Church in Shirley (established 1905). Worship is offered in English across both churches, with St. Mary hosting the Sunday 8:30 AM Mass and the parish office serving both communities at the Ayer address.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph D'Onofrio
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Nicholas Parish offers the warmth of two historic Catholic communities — St. Mary in Ayer (since 1858) and St. Anthony of Padua in Shirley (since 1905) — joined in one collaborative family since 2017. A parishioner finds English-language Sunday Masses at both churches, weekday Masses at St. Anthony, ongoing faith formation for all ages, the Fatima Club fundraising effort, outreach and ministry opportunities, online Mass via Facebook Live, and a diverse rural community committed to the New Evangelization. It is a parish where a new arrival is welcomed by name and invited to plant, water and grow with a 160-year-old community.
Mass times at St. Nicholas Parish - St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (St. Anthony Church)
- Friday 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (St. Anthony Church)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Anthony Church)
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered; specific times are listed on the parish website under the Adoration schedule
Welcome to the Nashoba Valley Catholic Collaborative
The Nashoba Valley Catholic Collaborative unites two rural parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston — Saint Mary's in Ayer and Saint Anthony of Padua in Shirley — under a single Pastor, Finance Council and Parish Council. Father Joseph D'Onofrio and the community welcome new parishioners and visitors to worship, formation and outreach across both church buildings. The collaborative frames itself as a multi-ethnic, diverse faith family working to be a 'strong, stable, intentional, and effective center of the New Evangelization.'
- Two parishes, one collaborative
- Saint Mary's Parish, Ayer (est. 1858)
- Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Shirley (est. 1905)
- Collaborative established 2017
Parish History
Saint Mary's Parish in Ayer traces its roots to 1858, when Catholics in this Nashoba Valley mill town organized their own worshipping community. Neighboring Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Shirley followed in 1905. After more than a century of independent life, the two parishes came together in 2017 as the Nashoba Valley Catholic Collaborative. Parish leadership draws inspiration from Archbishop Oscar Romero's words about planting seeds and laying foundations that will need further development.
- St. Mary's founded 1858
- St. Anthony of Padua founded 1905
- Collaborative formed 2017
- Guiding quote from Oscar Romero
Mass & Worship Schedule
Weekend Masses are celebrated at both churches. St. Anthony Church in Shirley hosts the Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM and the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass; St. Mary Church in Ayer hosts the Sunday 8:30 AM Mass. Weekday Masses are celebrated at St. Anthony Church on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30 AM. The Sunday Mass is also livestreamed on Facebook Live at 9:00 AM for those who cannot attend in person.
- Saturday 4:00 PM — St. Anthony, Shirley
- Sunday 8:30 AM — St. Mary, Ayer
- Sunday 10:30 AM — St. Anthony, Shirley
- Wed & Fri 8:30 AM — St. Anthony, Shirley
- Sunday 9:00 AM — Facebook Live livestream
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Life-Long Faith Formation is a centerpiece of parish life, led by Director of Faith Formation Marianne Cooper. The program supports parishioners of every age in growing in knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith, including preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation and Marriage. Adults seeking full initiation into the Church are welcomed through the RCIA process.
- Life-Long Faith Formation for all ages
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage)
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA for adult initiation
Parish Life & Outreach
Beyond Mass and formation, the collaborative offers a range of ways to get involved. The Fatima Club is an annual fundraising effort supporting the parish and its ministries. A 'Get Involved' section on the website connects parishioners with outreach and volunteer opportunities, and the parish shares a Sunday Mass online via Facebook Live for the homebound and wider community.
- Fatima Club annual fundraising
- Get Involved ministries and outreach
- Facebook Live Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM
- Shared Parish Council and Finance Council
Our Staff
The collaborative is led by Pastor Rev. Joseph D'Onofrio, with the support of Deacon Michael J. Markham and a lay staff serving both parishes from the Ayer office. Together they shepherd worship, formation, administration and operations for Saint Mary's and Saint Anthony of Padua.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph D'Onofrio
- Deacon: Deacon Michael J. Markham
- Administrative Staff: Ms. Mary Hamblett
- Operations: Mr. David LaFleur
- Faith Formation: Ms. Marianne Cooper
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary Church and the parish office are located at 31 Shirley Street, Ayer, MA 01432. The collaborative's second worship site, St. Anthony of Padua Church, is at 12 Phoenix Street, Shirley, MA. The parish office can be reached at (978) 772-2414 or [email protected], and the latest schedule information is always posted at nashobacatholic.org.
- St. Mary Church: 31 Shirley Street, Ayer, MA 01432
- St. Anthony of Padua Church: 12 Phoenix Street, Shirley, MA
- Phone: (978) 772-2414
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: nashobacatholic.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edmond Derosier
Pastor at the time the Nashoba Valley Catholic Collaborative history page was written; welcomed the community to the collaborative.
- Rev. William P. Sexton
Listed as Pastor of Saint Nicholas Parish (Ayer/Shirley) in the Boston Catholic Directory.
- Rev. Joseph D'Onofrio
Current pastor of Saint Nicholas Parish / Nashoba Valley Catholic Collaborative, featured on the parish homepage.