About St. Pius X · Leicester, Massachusetts
St. Joseph – St. Pius X Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the town of Leicester, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. It is the product of a November 23, 2014 merger that brought together two historic Leicester parishes — St. Joseph Parish and St. Pius X Parish — into one worshiping community. Today the parish celebrates the Lord's Day Mass at St. Pius X Church on Main Street, offers daily Mass in the Divine Mercy Chapel at the Mother St. John House, and runs outreach ministries including the Leicester Food Pantry and the New 2 You Thrift Shop. The parish's mission statement is simply stated: "Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples."
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Pius X (and St. Joseph, co-patron following 2014 merger)
- Rector
- Fr. Rob Loftus
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Joseph – St. Pius X is a small, mission-driven Catholic community where "Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples" is taken seriously. Worship is offered at St. Pius X Church on Main Street for Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass, with daily Mass Monday through Thursday in the Divine Mercy Chapel at the Mother St. John House. The parish also has an active Religious Education program for K-6 and 7-HS students on Sundays, plus visible outreach to the wider Leicester community through the Leicester Food Pantry (open Tuesdays) and the New 2 You Thrift Shop. Confession, baptism, marriage prep, and Communion to the sick are all coordinated through one parish office, giving families an easy single point of contact.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment only — contact the parish office at 508-859-8083
About St. Joseph – St. Pius X Parish
St. Joseph – St. Pius X Parish was united as a single parish in November 2014, bringing together the historic parishes of St. Joseph's and St. Pius X in Leicester, Massachusetts. The parish's mission is summarized in three phrases: Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples. It serves the town of Leicester in Worcester County and is part of the Diocese of Worcester.
- United as one parish on November 23, 2014
- Parish motto: "Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples"
- Member parish of the Diocese of Worcester
History of the Catholic Church in Leicester
Catholic life in Leicester began in 1855 with a church dedicated to St. Polycarp, the town's first Catholic church. The building had been purchased from the Catholic community in Grafton and reused in Leicester. Within about 15 years the parish had outgrown it; the structure was sold to the Rochdale community, where it was rededicated as St. Aloysius. In 1867 the cornerstone of a new St. Joseph's Church was laid, and the church was dedicated in 1870. Growth forced expansions, and the renovated building was rededicated in 1901 — the St. Joseph's Church that served the town for decades. In 1956 Bishop Rite divided St. Joseph Parish into two new parishes: St. Pius X and Our Lady of the Valley. In 1960 Our Lady of the Valley successfully petitioned the Bishop to revert its name back to St. Joseph, leaving St. Joseph and St. Pius X side by side in Leicester. In 1989 the Diocese clustered St. Joseph and St. Pius X (along with St. Aloysius and St. Jude, which declined) in response to a shortage of priests, but the two parishes remained formally separate until November 23, 2014, when they were united as St. Joseph – St. Pius X Parish. The parish describes that day as one of "hope and joy," while acknowledging the loss felt at the closing of the historic St. Joseph building.
- 1855 — first Catholic church in Leicester dedicated to St. Polycarp
- 1867 — cornerstone of St. Joseph's Church laid
- 1870 — St. Joseph's Church dedicated
- 1901 — renovated St. Joseph's Church rededicated
- 1956 — Bishop Rite divides St. Joseph Parish into St. Pius X and Our Lady of the Valley
- 1960 — Our Lady of the Valley parish reverts to the name St. Joseph
- 1989 — parishes of St. Joseph and St. Pius X clustered due to priest shortage
- November 23, 2014 — parishes formally united as St. Joseph – St. Pius X Parish
Other Sacraments
Beyond Mass and Reconciliation, the parish coordinates the remaining sacraments through the parish office, with preparation requirements set by the Diocese of Worcester.
- Baptism — celebrated the second Sunday of each month (other times during Mass possible); parent instruction required
- Marriage — Diocese requires a one-year preparation time; couples should contact the rectory at least one year in advance
- Care of the Sick — Communion brought to the homebound and visits to the hospitalized on request through the parish office
Parish Staff
St. Joseph – St. Pius X is led by a pastor and supported by a deacon, a Director of Religious Education, and a parish secretary.
- Fr. Rob Loftus — Pastor (774-262-6562)
- Deacon Michael Corby (508-873-7488; [email protected])
- Michelle Herbert — Director of Religious Education (508-304-2685; [email protected])
- Lue Willis — Parish Secretary
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish runs a Sunday Religious Education program for children and youth, organized in two age groupings. Classes meet on Sundays between the weekend Masses, with separate evening sessions for older students.
- Kindergarten–Grade 6: Sundays 10:15–11:15 AM
- Grades 7–High School: Sundays 5:00–6:15 PM
Outreach & Parish Ministries
St. Joseph – St. Pius X runs several ministries serving both parishioners and the wider Leicester community. The Leicester Food Pantry and New 2 You Thrift Shop are visible outreach efforts, while small-group ministries offer spiritual and practical support.
- Leicester Food Pantry — Tuesdays 5:00–7:00 PM, open to all Leicester residents in need (proof of residence required); contact [email protected]
- New 2 You Thrift Shop — Tuesdays 5–7 PM, Wednesdays 9 AM–12 PM, Thursdays 2–5 PM, Saturdays 9 AM–12 PM
- Caregiver Support Group
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — monthly meetings; shawls made and distributed for comfort
Mother St. John House
The Mother St. John House, at 761 Main Street, is the parish office and serves as the Center for Adult Spirituality and Ministry Formation. It houses the Divine Mercy Chapel, where daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Thursday at 8:30 AM.
- Parish office and rectory at 761 Main Street
- Divine Mercy Chapel — site of Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM daily Mass
St. Joseph Cemetery
The parish maintains St. Joseph Cemetery on Waite Street in Leicester. Cemetery business is handled through the parish office at the rectory.
- St. Joseph Cemetery — Waite Street, Leicester, MA 01524
- Office: parish rectory, 508-859-8083
Contact, Hours & Visit
The parish rectory and office are open several days a week, and a single phone number handles all parish business — including Mass intentions, the sacraments, the cemetery, and the food pantry.
- Address: 761 Main Street, Leicester, MA 01524
- Phone: 508-859-8083
- Fax: 508-892-4753
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Tuesday 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Wednesday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (per the parish's listed hours)
- Parish Secretary (Lue Willis): Monday–Wednesday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thursday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM