About St. Patrick · Whitinsville, Massachusetts
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester, with a worship tradition reaching back to 1870 and the parish described on its site as "A Faith Community Since 1898." The church is located at the corner of Church and Cross Streets in the village of Whitinsville within the town of Northbridge, and its mission statement is "All are welcome — Love God, Love One Another, Grow Disciples." The parish runs an active faith-formation program for children through high school, weekly Mass in person and via livestream, a free Saturday community breakfast, and a year-round GriefShare support ministry.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- St. Patrick (Saint Patrick)
- Rector
- Rev. Chris Finan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Patrick's in Whitinsville is a welcoming parish whose mission is simply to love God, love one another, and grow disciples — and that mission shows up in real, everyday ways. Families with children will find a full faith-formation track from preschool through Confirmation (spKids, Samaritans for middle schoolers, and a Confirmation program for grades 9–12), and every weekend offers three Masses plus a 5 p.m. Praise & Worship Mass that high-school families are encouraged to attend together. The parish is also visibly oriented outward: it serves a free, sit-down or take-out community breakfast every Saturday morning through its John 21 ministry, runs a 13-week GriefShare support group, livestreams Mass and a Wednesday Divine Mercy Chaplet, and lays out concrete ways to serve as a greeter, lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, or on the audio/visual team.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Or by appointment (call the rectory).
Adoration times
- Wednesday 3:00 p.m. (precedes the 4:30 p.m. daily Mass)
History
Catholic worship in Whitinsville traces back to about 1834, when missionary priest Rev. Father Fitton said Mass in Riverdale within the limits of Northbridge. Regular Catholic life in Whitinsville began in 1852 when Father O'Reilly of Blackstone instituted monthly services; Whitinsville was cared for as a mission of Uxbridge beginning in 1853 under Rev. E. J. Sheridan. Land at the corner of Church and Cross Streets was purchased in 1868 by Rev. Dennis O'Keefe, and O'Keefe's successor Rev. Dennis Moran built the first church under the patronage of St. Patrick, dedicating it on Christmas Day 1870. In May 1889 Whitinsville was raised to a full parish with Rev. Peter S. O'Reilly as first resident rector, who purchased a fourteen-acre cemetery tract and oversaw the construction of the present church (cornerstone May 15, 1898; dedicated September 24, 1899). The bell from McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore was installed by Christmas 1899, then the largest swinging bell in the United States.
Worship and Liturgy
St. Patrick's offers three Sunday Masses — 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and a Praise & Worship Mass at 5:00 p.m. — plus a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday and Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., and Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. (preceded by Adoration at 3:00 p.m.). Confessions are heard Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment with the rectory. For those unable to attend in person, Mass and a weekly Wednesday Divine Mercy Chaplet are livestreamed via the parish's YouTube channel.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday Masses — 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (Praise & Worship)
- Weekday Masses — Mon 8:30 a.m., Tue 8:30 a.m., Wed 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday Adoration — 3:00 p.m.
- Confessions — Saturday 3:30–4:00 p.m. and by appointment
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Patrick's is organized into two programs: spKids for children PK–Grade 4, and spStudents for middle-school and high-school youth. All programs are coordinated by the Interim Director of Student Ministries, Shelly Mombourquette, with classes and gatherings held in the parish center.
spKids (PK–Grade 4)
spKids gathers on Sunday mornings during the 10:00 a.m. Mass, with age-appropriate groups introducing the children to prayer, the parts of the Mass, the liturgical seasons, the stories of the Bible, and the life of Jesus.
- Angels — Preschool through Grade 1 (meets during 10 a.m. Mass; uses Word4Kidz).
- Daily Bread — Grade 2 (preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion; meets 8:45 a.m., joins family for 10 a.m. Mass; First Reconciliation on March 8; First Communion on May 3 at 2:00 p.m. per the published calendar).
- Followers — Grades 3–4 (meets Sundays at 8:45 a.m., joins family for 10 a.m. Mass; deepens prayer, the Sacraments, parts of the Mass, liturgical seasons, and the 'why' of Catholic belief).
spStudents — Middle School (Grades 5–8)
Called 'Samaritans,' the middle-school program is built around discovering who God made each young person to be, walking with Jesus, learning about the Saints, and studying social justice in the Catholic tradition, the life of Jesus, and Catholic Church history. Meetings are every other Monday evening from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. in the parish center.
spStudents — Confirmation (Grades 9–12)
High-school faith formation (grades 9–12) is focused on preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and on living as a fully initiated Catholic. Students meet once a month for seven months, with an off-site retreat in January; sessions run from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and incorporate the 5:00 p.m. Mass. Confirmation is conferred at St. Paul's Cathedral, with the date set by the Bishop.
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at St. Patrick's is led by the Director of Music Ministries, Chris Bilodeau. The parish also maintains a Director of Audio/Visual Ministries (Shawn) who oversees the A/V team and the livestream operation that brings Mass and the Wednesday Divine Mercy Chaplet to the parish's YouTube channel.
Outreach & Community Service
Outreach is a clear part of parish identity. The John 21 Community Breakfast serves a free, nutritious breakfast every Saturday morning from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the parish center (1 Cross Street), eat-in or take-out, staffed by rotating volunteer teams. GriefShare offers a 13-week faith-based grief recovery program that meets Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. in the parish center, featuring a weekly video, group sharing, and a take-home guide. The parish also has a broader 'Helping Those In Need' outreach focus and lists multiple liturgical-volunteer roles.
- John 21 Community Breakfast — Saturdays, 8:00–9:30 a.m., parish center
- GriefShare — Tuesdays 5:00 p.m., 13-week session (parish center)
- Helping Those In Need — community outreach
- Volunteer Liturgical Roles — Greeter, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server
- Audio/Visual Volunteer Team
Parish Team & Staff
St. Patrick's is led by a small pastor-and-staff team based at the rectory (7 East Street, Whitinsville). The contact page lists Pastor Rev. Chris Finan and a parish Deacon named Chris, plus a director-level staff supporting ministries, music, finances, formation, the cemetery, weddings, and A/V — along with 'Moja,' the rectory cat.
- Pastor — Rev. Chris Finan
- Deacon — Deacon Chris
- Director of Ministries & Growth — Sadie Perkins
- Interim Director of Student Ministries — Shelly Mombourquette
- Director of Music Ministries — Chris Bilodeau
- Director of Audio/Visual Ministries — Shawn
- Director of Finance and Operations — Liz Baker
- Cemetery Superintendant — Derek Ciccone
- Wedding Coordinator — Marylin Arrigan
- Staff Support — Mary Contino
- Rectory Cat — Moja
Sacraments
The parish prepares children and youth for the Sacraments of Initiation through its faith-formation tracks and prepares couples for marriage through the parish wedding coordinator. First Reconciliation and First Communion are prepared for in Grade 2 (Daily Bread) and celebrated annually per the parish calendar. Confirmation is prepared for across grades 9–12 and is conferred at St. Paul's Cathedral under the direction of the Bishop. Couples planning a wedding are assisted by Wedding Coordinator Marylin Arrigan.
- First Reconciliation — prepared in Grade 2 (Daily Bread)
- First Communion — prepared in Grade 2, celebrated annually (e.g., May 3, 2:00 p.m.)
- Confirmation — grades 9–12 program, conferred at St. Paul's Cathedral
- Marriage — coordinated through the parish wedding coordinator
Visit, Contact & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can worship in person at the church (1 Cross Street, Whitinsville) or watch live online via the parish YouTube channel. The rectory is open by phone at 508-234-5656 (fax 508-234-6845) for appointments, including for Confession outside the regular Saturday window. The parish maintains online giving (linked from mystpatricks.com) and supports its ministries through earmarked giving, including the John 21 Community Breakfast.
- Church — 1 Cross Street, Whitinsville, MA 01588
- Rectory / Mailing — 7 East Street, Whitinsville, MA 01588
- Rectory Phone — 508-234-5656; Fax — 508-234-6845
- Livestream — parish YouTube channel via mystpatricks.com/join-us-online
- Online Giving — via the parish 'GIVE' page on mystpatricks.com
- John 21 Breakfast donations — mail to John 21 Community Breakfast, 7 East St., Whitinsville, MA 01588
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter S. O'ReillyMay 1889 – (successor era)
First resident rector after the Whitinsville mission was raised to the dignity of a parish in May 1889. Purchased the cemetery tract and oversaw design and build of the current church (cornerstone 1898, dedicated 1899).
- Rev. Dennis O'Keefe
Received pastorate of Uxbridge in May 1857, with Whitinsville as a mission; purchased the chapel site at Church and Cross Streets.
- Rev. Dennis Moran
Built and had the first church in Whitinsville dedicated under the patronage of St. Patrick; first service held Christmas Day 1870.
- Father Hickey
Honored in spring 1972 on the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination; retired that September.
- Rev. Daniel M. Driscoll1972 –
Co-pastor at St. Patrick's beginning in 1972 under the Team Ministry experiment after Father Hickey's retirement.
- Rev. John J. Kelliher1972 –
Co-pastor alongside Fr. Driscoll beginning in 1972; became Parish Director of the CCD program.
- Monsignor James A. Deery
Built St. Patrick's School on Cross Street in 1952.
- Rev. Chris Finanpresent
Current pastor as listed on the parish's Contact / Parish Team page.