About St. Paul · Hingham, Massachusetts
St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Hingham, Massachusetts, situated in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. It is the older of the two parishes that today form the Collaborative of Resurrection and St. Paul, which became official on June 1, 2016. The parish's historic wooden church stands on North Street, and its associated Saint Paul School serves local families. The parish is known for its long history in the town — its roots reach back to early Catholic settlement on the South Shore — and for an active sacramental and devotional life that includes daily Mass, multiple Sunday liturgies, Eucharistic adoration, and the Sea Side Life Teen youth ministry.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas F. (Tom) Nestor, VF
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Paul offers a deep, traditional Catholic life on the South Shore: a 19th-century wooden church still in use, daily and weekly Mass with multiple Sunday options including a Life Teen Mass, daily Rosary via Zoom, Eucharistic adoration several days a week (including a 24-hour First Friday vigil), and a steady confession schedule. The parish runs Faith Formation for grades K–7, a Confirmation program and the Sea Side Life Teen youth ministry for grades 9–12, the parish-based Saint Paul School, Bible study, and outreach through the collaborative. As one of Hingham's two Catholic parishes in formal collaborative since 2016, it pairs historic roots with an active lay-led community.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: 9:30 AM (following 9:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Life Teen Holy Hour)
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- First Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (with 24-hour overnight adoration continuing to Saturday morning)
- 1st and 3rd Tuesday: after 9:00 AM Mass until 6:50 PM Benediction
Parish History
St. Paul Parish traces its origins to the earliest Catholic settlement of coastal Massachusetts. Hingham Catholics were served from Quincy, then Abington, and finally from Weymouth, which became a separate parish on July 16, 1866. Fr. John Hannigan bought the Hingham church site on August 10, 1866; Fr. Hugh P. Smyth, his successor, built the wooden church designed by P. Keely and dedicated by Bishop Williams on July 23, 1871. St. Paul's became independent on August 15, 1876, under the Rev. Peter J. Leddy. The parish expanded to Scituate, Hull, and Cohasset, with mission churches added at St. Mary's of the Assumption (Hull, 1890) and St. Catherine's (1900). Vatican II brought a parish council in 1968 and a forward-facing altar in 1969. In 1985 Cardinal Law praised the restoration of the church during Hingham's 350th anniversary, and on June 1, 2016, St. Paul became part of the Resurrection–St. Paul Collaborative.
- Church dedicated July 23, 1871
- Independent parish established August 15, 1876
- Designed by architect P. Keely
- Vatican II changes implemented 1968–1969
- Collaborative with Resurrection formed June 1, 2016
- Selected as a Jubilee 2025 Pilgrimage Site
Clergy and Staff
The collaborative is led by Pastor Rev. Thomas F. (Tom) Nestor, VF, with Parochial Vicars Rev. Marcelo G. Ferrari Melo, Rev. Michael J. McNamara, and part-time Parochial Vicar Rev. Alphonsus Hien Quang Vu. Deacons include Philip Anderson, Matthew A. Porter, Joseph P. Harrington, and Andrew Rondelli. Pastoral staff include Elizabeth Reardon (Director of Parish Ministries / Pastoral Associate), Sal Bartolotti (Collaborative Director of Sacred Music and Organist), Susan Troy (Pastoral Care Coordinator), and others.
- Pastor: Rev. Tom Nestor, VF
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Marcelo Ferrari Melo, Rev. Michael McNamara, Rev. Hien Quang Vu
- Deacons: Philip Anderson, Matthew Porter, Joseph Harrington, Andrew Rondelli
- Pastoral Associate: Elizabeth Reardon
- Director of Sacred Music: Sal Bartolotti
- Pastoral Care Coordinator: Susan Troy
Faith Formation (Grades K–7)
Family Faith Formation is offered for children in grades K through 7, with two years of prep classes required for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. The program is coordinated by Terri Dasco with office support from Christine Lynch. First Reconciliation is scheduled for February 7, 2026, and First Holy Communion for May 2 and 3, 2026.
- Coordinator: Teresa (Terri) Dasco
- Office Assistant: Christine Lynch
- First Reconciliation 2026: February 7
- First Holy Communion 2026: May 2 and May 3
- Baptismal certificates required by December 15 for non-parish baptisms
Confirmation and Sea Side Life Teen
Sea Side Life Teen is the collaborative's youth ministry program for teens in grades 9–12, building 'a vibrant faith community through Weekly Mass, Life Nights, Holy Hours, Retreats, Service Events, Mission Trips, Outings and more.' The program also fulfills Confirmation requirements for 9th and 10th graders. Confirmation preparation is directed by Jo-Ann Sullivan. A new Hingham Catholic Teen Ministry / High School Youth Group meets after the Sunday Teen Mass, exploring themes such as 'Freedom.'
- Confirmation Director: Jo-Ann Sullivan
- Life Teen includes Life Nights, Holy Hours, retreats, mission trips
- Teen Mass: Sunday 5:30 PM at St. Paul
- Confirmation for grades 9 and 10
Saint Paul School
Saint Paul School is the parish school associated with St. Paul Parish, described on the collaborative website as offering 'Knowledge and Faith for Life.' It operates as a Catholic elementary school serving families in the Hingham area.
- Parish school under the Resurrection–St. Paul Collaborative
- Principal listed on staff page
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music is led collaboratively by Sal Bartolotti, the Director of Sacred Music and Organist. The parish has supported a 25-voice choir with brass instrumentalists for major feasts, including Cardinal Law's 1985 anniversary Mass. Additional music staff include Andrew Rondelli, David Wanner, and Lisa Fasano. The Life Teen Mass offers its own worship-night music environment for teens.
- Collaborative Director of Sacred Music and Organist: Sal Bartolotti
- Music staff: Andrew Rondelli, David Wanner, Lisa Fasano
- Choir with brass for major feasts
- Life Teen worship nights
Parish Life and Fellowship
The parish nurtures community through simple, regular gatherings. Coffee & Donuts is offered after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass at St. Paul, and the parish supports a Bible Study group. Pastoral Care is coordinated by Susan Troy.
- Coffee & Donuts after 10:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Bible Study
- Pastoral Care (Susan Troy)
- Media Ministry (Media Coordinator listed on staff page)
Cemetery and Facilities
The collaborative maintains St. Paul Cemetery, with administrative support through the parish office. Facilities staffing includes Dave Frank (Facilities Manager – St. Paul) and Andrew Maldonado (Facilities Assistant – St. Paul).
- St. Paul Cemetery administered through the collaborative
- Facilities Manager – St. Paul: Dave Frank
- Facilities Assistant – St. Paul: Andrew Maldonado
Locations and Hours
St. Paul Church and Rectory are located at 147 North Street, Hingham, MA 02043. Rectory office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. The St. Paul rectory answers Resurrection phone calls on Wednesdays. The collaborative partner, Resurrection Parish, is at 1057 Main Street, Hingham.
- St. Paul Church: 147 North Street, Hingham, MA 02043
- St. Paul Rectory: 781-749-0587
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–5 PM; Fri 9 AM–3 PM
- Collaborative partner: Resurrection Parish, 1057 Main Street
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Hannigan1866–
First pastor of the Weymouth parish that included Hingham; purchased the Hingham church site on August 10, 1866.
- Rev. Hugh P. Smyth1869–1883
Built eight new churches; erected the original St. Paul's in Hingham, dedicated July 23, 1871.
- Rev. Peter J. Leddyfrom August 15, 1876
First pastor when St. Paul's became an independent parish, separated from Weymouth.
- Rev. Patrick Quill
Pastor who purchased property in Hull associated with St. Paul's.
- Fr. Fagan1880–1896
Hingham pastor; purchased land on Atlantic Avenue in Hull, 1885; opened St. Mary's of the Assumption in 1890.
- Fr. Mulligan of St Paul
Continued mission work in Hull.
- Rev. Thomas F. (Tom) Nestor, VFcurrent
Current pastor of the Collaborative of Resurrection and St. Paul.