About St. Patrick · Stoneham, Massachusetts
St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston, serving the town of Stoneham, Massachusetts and its surrounding communities. Founded in 1868 by Bishop John J. Williams, the parish grew from a small mission serving Irish Catholic immigrants working in Stoneham's shoe industry into a vibrant community of more than 4,500 registered families — roughly 16,000 people — today. The parish worships in a wooden neo-Gothic church built in 1887–1888 at the corner of Central and Pomeworth Streets, rededicated by Archbishop Seán O'Malley in 2005 after a major expansion and the addition of a new parish center. Mass is offered in English seven days a week, with multiple weekend liturgies, weekday devotions, religious education, a parish school, music ministry, and an active St. Vincent de Paul Society and Bereavement Ministry.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland
- Rector
- Fr. David J. Barnes
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Patrick is the only Catholic parish serving the entire town of Stoneham, and it offers a full sacramental and pastoral life: four Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, a daily noon Mass, daily and Saturday confessions, a parish school, a robust Religious Education program with in-person and homeschool options, a two-year Confirmation program, and a flourishing high school youth ministry. The parish's 80+ ministries — including St. Vincent de Paul, Bereavement, Pastoral Visitors to the homebound, Music Ministry, Altar Society, Prayer Shawl, and a weekly Bible Study — make it a genuine hub of community life, and its televised Sunday Mass (on Stoneham Public-TV) extends that reach to the sick and homebound.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 11:20 AM – 11:50 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (in the rear of the Lower Church)
About St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick Parish is the single Roman Catholic parish serving the town of Stoneham, Massachusetts, in the Archdiocese of Boston. Its Mission Statement, published on the parish's About Us page, reads: 'In communion with the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world, St. Patrick Parish seeks to further the mission of Jesus Christ: that all may know God's love for them, and grow in union with God and one another. With the Sacred Liturgy at the center of our parish life, we are formed by the Word of God and strengthened by the Eucharist. We move from the table of the Lord to proclaim God's presence in our world today through a variety of ministries. Manifesting the life of the Holy Spirit in our midst, we strive to be a welcoming community where faith finds expression in service.' The parish describes itself under the banner of 'Beauty, Goodness, Truth & Friendship in Christ' and openly welcomes new parishioners through an online or printable registration form.
- Single Catholic parish serving all of Stoneham, MA
- Part of the Archdiocese of Boston
- Over 4,500 registered families (≈16,000 people)
- Online and printable parish registration available
History of the Parish
St. Patrick was founded in 1868 by Bishop John J. Williams of the Diocese of Boston to minister to the growing Irish Catholic population working in Stoneham's shoe industry. The first Catholic home of the community was the former Christian Union (Universalist) Meeting House, purchased on February 22, 1868, lifted from its foundation and rolled to the corner of Central and Pomeworth Streets. The new parish officially began on August 31, 1868 under its first pastor, Rev. William H. Fitzpatrick, and was originally a mission center also serving Wakefield and Reading. By 1887 the parish had outgrown the old meeting house, and the second pastor, Rev. Dennis T. O'Farrell, built the current wooden church across the street for $38,000; it was dedicated by Archbishop Williams on November 4, 1888.
- 1868 — Parish founded by Bishop John J. Williams
- 1868 — Christian Union (Universalist) Meeting House purchased and moved to Central & Pomeworth
- Aug 31, 1868 — First pastor Rev. William H. Fitzpatrick welcomed
- 1887 — Current wooden church built under Rev. Dennis T. O'Farrell
- Nov 4, 1888 — Church dedicated by Archbishop Williams
- 1968 and 1987 — Major enlargements of the original building
- 2005 — Parish center and expanded nave rededicated by Archbishop Seán P. O'Malley
The 2005 Renovation and Rededication
After decades of growth that had outpaced the old church — including a period when some Easter and Christmas Masses had to be celebrated in Stoneham Town Hall — the parish undertook a major building project that added a sizable parish center and substantially expanded the worship space. The work, designed by architect Angelo Petrozzelli and built by TLT Construction Company, was completed in 2005. On July 23, 2005, Archbishop Seán P. O'Malley processed from the new parish center to the church entrance, blessed the baptismal font and the altar, and formally rededicated the church — the archbishop's first parish dedication in Boston. The parish's then-pastor, Father Bill Schmidt, was honored by parishioners for his leadership of the project.
- Architect: Angelo Petrozzelli
- Construction company: TLT Construction Company
- Rededicated by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Seán P. O'Malley on July 23, 2005
- Pastor at the time: Father Bill Schmidt
Clergy and Staff
St. Patrick is currently served by a pastoral team of three priests and three deacons, with additional senior and administrative staff. Fr. David J. Barnes, who previously spent seven years as chaplain and director of the Boston University Catholic (Newman) Center, is the current pastor. He is assisted by parochial vicars Fr. Sijo Jacob, CMI and Fr. Matthew J. Harrington, with Fr. Jurgen Liias as Senior Priest. Three permanent deacons — Frank Dello Russo (who also serves as Pastoral Associate), David S. Caouette, and Charles G. Hanafin — round out the clergy team. Music Ministry is led jointly by Co-Directors Susan Columbus and Phyllis Bunnell, and Religious Education is coordinated by Brenna Langenau.
- Fr. David J. Barnes — Pastor
- Fr. Sijo Jacob, CMI — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Matthew J. Harrington — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Jurgen Liias — Senior Priest
- Deacon Frank Dello Russo — Pastoral Associate
- Deacon David S. Caouette
- Deacon Charles G. Hanafin
- Brenna Langenau — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Susan Columbus — Co-Director, Music Ministry
- Phyllis Bunnell — Co-Director, Music Ministry
- Anthony J. Foti — Business Manager
- Susanne Bromander / Paul Stocks / Diane McCarthy / Ramona Belcher — additional parish staff
Religious Education and Youth Ministry
The parish's Religious Education program supports parents in forming their children in the Catholic faith and offers a flexible mix of in-person and homeschool options. The program uses Loyola Press's Finding God series for Grades 1 through 6, with Grade 2 students preparing for and receiving First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. All students are required to participate in Family Mass (each grade leads the 10:00 AM Mass once a year) and to complete Christian Service hours. The Confirmation program is a two-year journey beginning in Grade 7, with Confirmation 1 and Confirmation 2 meeting together on Sunday evenings from 7:00 to 8:15 PM following the 6:00 PM Mass, October through mid-February. A High School Youth Ministry also runs regular small groups led by trained adult mentors for fellowship and faith discussion.
- Grades 1–6: Foundation in Faith (Finding God series, in-person or homeschool)
- Grade 2: First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- Grades 7–8+: two-year Confirmation preparation program
- Confirmation 1 & 2 meet Sunday evenings 7:00–8:15 PM
- High School Youth Ministry small groups with adult mentors
- Christian Service requirement (2–4 hours Grades 1–6; 5 hours/year Confirmation)
- Family Mass participation for all Religious Education students
St. Patrick School
The parish operates St. Patrick School, a Catholic elementary school whose students and teachers the priests highlight for their faith formation — most recently during a parish-wide period of First Reconciliation, when the priests heard the confessions of every St. Patrick School student. Students of the school are an integral part of parish life, serving in liturgical roles such as lectors, ushers, and offertory collectors at Family Masses, and taking part in the parish Christian Service program.
- Parish elementary school: St. Patrick School
- Students participate in Family Masses and parish Christian Service
- School-age confessions are scheduled and supported by the priests
Liturgical Ministries
St. Patrick runs the full complement of lay liturgical ministries, and the parish actively recruits volunteers. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at the Eucharist and at other prayer services; Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with distributing the Eucharist at weekend and daily Masses; Sacristans prepare the sanctuary; Ushers greet and seat the assembly; and a Videographer records and livestreams Mass for the homebound. Music is described as 'integral to every liturgical celebration,' and the Adult Choir welcomes any parishioner who can sing, lead the assembly in song, or play an instrument.
- Lectors (weekend and daily Mass)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers)
- Sacristans
- Ushers
- Videographer (livestream/recording of Sunday Mass)
- Adult Choir and Music Ministry (Co-Directors Susan Columbus and Phyllis Bunnell)
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Pastoral care of the sick, homebound, and bereaved is a hallmark of the parish. The Pastoral Visitors Ministry sends trained lay volunteers into homes and local nursing centers to bring Holy Eucharist, lead group Rosaries, and offer prayerful companionship to those who cannot attend Mass. All Pastoral Visitors must complete a CORI check, training in distributing Holy Eucharist, and the Archdiocese of Boston's Pastoral Visitors Training Workshop. The Bereavement Ministry hosts a 6-week in-person Grief Support Group, 'a place where you may find healing through the experience of being with others who are also encountering loss,' with registration through the Pastoral Associate.
- Pastoral Visitors (Eucharist to the homebound)
- Visits to local nursing centers in Stoneham
- Group Rosary leadership at nursing centers
- Bereavement Ministry 6-Week Grief Support Group
- Required CORI and Archdiocesan training for Pastoral Visitors
Parish Life and Other Ministries
Beyond liturgy and pastoral care, the parish offers a wide range of community-building ministries. The parish website's 'What's Happening' page lists Altar Society, Food Group, Prayer Shawl, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Adult Choir, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Pastoral Visitors as ways to get involved. There is also a weekly Bible Study on Thursday evenings, the parish's televised Mass ministry, and ongoing formation opportunities. The parish's most recent pastoral letter, written by Fr. Barnes in early 2025, reflects especially on the presence of young families and the gift of a faith-centered community life.
- Altar Society
- Food Group
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (charitable outreach)
- Weekly Bible Study (Thursday evenings)
- Parish App (WeConnect by LPi)
- Parish blog and pastoral letters by Fr. David Barnes
Contact and Visiting
The Parish Office is at 71 Central Street, Stoneham, MA 02180, and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The main parish phone line is 781-438-0960 (fax 781-435-0075), and the general email is [email protected]. The Religious Education Office can be reached at 781-438-1093 or [email protected]. Music Ministry contact: Susan Columbus at 781-438-0040. Pastoral Associate (and Bereavement/Pastoral Visitors contact): Diane McCarthy at 781-438-0200 or [email protected]. Newcomers are warmly invited to stop in after Mass to introduce themselves to the staff or to register online.
- Parish Office: 71 Central Street, Stoneham, MA 02180
- Phone: 781-438-0960 • Fax: 781-435-0075
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and 12:30 PM–4:00 PM
- Religious Education: 781-438-1093 / [email protected]
- Music Ministry: Susan Columbus, 781-438-0040
- Pastoral Associate: Diane McCarthy, 781-438-0200 / [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William H. Fitzpatrick1868–
First pastor; welcomed August 31, 1868 when the parish officially began operation as a mission center for Stoneham, Wakefield and Reading.
- Rev. Dennis T. O'Farrell
Second pastor; planned and directed construction of the wooden St. Patrick Church in 1887 at a cost of $38,000.
- Father Bill Schmidt
Pastor in the mid-2000s who led the major parish-center and church-expansion project rededicated by Archbishop O'Malley on July 23, 2005.
- Fr. David J. Barnes
Current pastor; previously served as chaplain/director of the Boston University Catholic (Newman) Center for seven years before being assigned to St. Patrick.