About St. Paul · Waterford, Connecticut
St. Paul Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Waterford, Connecticut, belonging to the Diocese of Norwich. Originally founded in the early 1960s as 'St. Paul in Chains Church' and completed in 1964, it is now one of three worship sites that together form St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community, established in 2017 alongside St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Joseph, both in New London. The parish is known for its striking New England architecture and its 126-foot steeple and carillon installed in 1998, with Sunday and weekday Masses celebrated in English on Rope Ferry Road.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Paul (the Apostle) — originally dedicated as 'St. Paul in Chains'
- Rector
- Rev. Mark D. O'Donnell (Father Mark O'Donnell)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich
Why belong here
St. Paul offers a faithful Catholic community rooted in more than 60 years of parish life in Waterford, with a beautiful New England-style church and a distinctive carillon ringing over the grounds. As one of three worship sites of St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community, it shares in a wider array of ministries — faith formation, Scripture study and Faith Share, OCIA/RCIA for adults, Confirmation preparation, and youth ministry — while keeping the intimacy of a single Waterford parish. Weekly Saturday confessions, a Saturday Vigil Mass, and additional weekday Masses make it easy to plug into the liturgical life of the parish.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM at St. Paul Church, 170 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford
- By appointment — contact the parish office to arrange a time with a priest
Parish History
St. Paul Church traces its origins to the early 1960s, when Father Kenneth Flint was asked to form a new parish in Waterford from Catholics who had been attending neighboring parishes in New London, Niantic and East Lyme. The community's first Mass was celebrated at Saint Bernard High School in New London. Land was acquired, a rectory purchased, and in 1964 the church was completed and dedicated as St. Paul in Chains Church. It was later renamed St. Paul Church and is recognized for its New England-style architecture, a 126-foot steeple, and a carillon system installed in 1998.
- Early 1960s — parish formed by Father Kenneth Flint
- 1964 — St. Paul in Chains Church completed
- 1978 — Father Richard Roughan succeeds Father Flint as pastor
- 1998 — 126-foot steeple and carillon installed under Father Roughan
- 2017 — St. Paul joins St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Joseph to form St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community
Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Father Mark D. O'Donnell, pastor, alongside parochial vicars Father Tony DiMarco and Father Eric Hosmer, deacons Jesus Diez Canseco and Mario Ramos, and staff member Sr. Xinia Rodriguez. Father Mark, a Connecticut native ordained in 1985 for the Diocese of Norwich, became pastor of St. Paul Church in 2018 as part of his leadership of the broader St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community.
- Father Mark D. O'Donnell — Pastor (since 2018)
- Father Tony DiMarco — Parochial Vicar
- Father Eric Hosmer — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jesus Diez Canseco
- Deacon Mario Ramos
- Sr. Xinia Rodriguez — Staff
Sacraments
Information about the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation, as well as adult initiation through OCIA/RCIA, is published by the parish. Those interested in sacramental preparation are asked to contact the parish office to speak with one of the Directors of Faith Formation.
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:15 PM at St. Paul; by appointment
- Confirmation — preparation coordinated through the Directors of Faith Formation
- OCIA / RCIA — formation for adults entering the Church or completing initiation
Faith Formation & Scripture Study
Across the St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community, parishioners are invited to grow through Scripture Study and Faith Share gatherings, which explore the riches of the Bible and the Catholic faith. The community also offers Faith Formation for school-age children and OCIA/RCIA for adults.
- Scripture Study and Faith Share
- Children's Faith Formation (K–8)
- Adult Faith Formation / OCIA
- Confirmation preparation
Parish Councils & Trustees
St. Paul elects members to the Pastoral Council of St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community and is represented by trustees who share in the parish's financial and governance responsibilities alongside the pastor and school leadership.
- Pastoral Council — elected and appointed members from St. Paul (Kathy Brunelle, Ethel Reed, John 'Bill' Sheehan, Mary Taglianetti, Kelly Delgado-Chabla, Vicky Hawkins, among others)
- Trustees — Anthony 'Bud' Joyce and Carol McKenna
- Ex-Officio membership includes the pastor and school leadership
St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community
Since 2017, St. Paul Church has shared pastoral and administrative life with St. Mary Star of the Sea (New London) and St. Joseph (New London) as a single parish family with three worship locations. The community is named for St. Brendan the Navigator and brings together the distinct histories of the three churches in the New London / Waterford area of eastern Connecticut.
- Three worship sites: St. Paul (Waterford), St. Mary Star of the Sea (New London), St. Joseph (New London)
- Unified in 2017 as one parish with three worship locations
- Diocese of Norwich
Contact & Visit
St. Paul Church is located on Rope Ferry Road in Waterford, Connecticut, and shares its parish office and main website with St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community.
- Address: 170 Rope Ferry Rd., Waterford, CT 06385
- Phone: (860) 443-5587
- Parish family website: https://www.sbnccct.com/
- Diocese: Norwich
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Kenneth Flint1960s–1978
Founding pastor; formed the parish from Catholics of several nearby parishes; oversaw completion of St. Paul in Chains Church in 1964.
- Rev. Richard Roughan1978–
Succeeded Father Flint; directed installation of the 126-foot steeple and carillon system in 1998.
- Rev. Mark D. O'Donnell2018–present
Became pastor of St. Paul Church upon its merger into St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community.