About St. Richard of Chichester · Sterling, Massachusetts
St. Richard of Chichester is a Catholic parish serving the town of Sterling, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. Established in 1953 under Bishop John J. Wright, the parish was named for St. Richard of Chichester, the patron saint of Boston's Cardinal Richard Cushing, and was built on Bridge Street where it still stands today. Today the parish serves approximately 500 registered families with more than 100 children enrolled in religious education (CCD) classes grades K–12, and is led by Pastor Rev. Sebastian Sanchez with Sacramental Assistant Father Rich. The community describes itself as a vibrant worshipping family committed to spreading the Gospel of Christ through worship, the sacraments, and outreach to those in need locally and in Guatemala.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Richard of Chichester
- Rector
- Rev. Sebastian Sanchez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Richard of Chichester is a welcoming Catholic community in Sterling, Massachusetts, where families, single adults, youth, and the elderly grow together in faith. The parish offers weekend and weekday Mass, Saturday confession, a K–12 religious education program for over 100 children, and a wide range of lay ministries including the Knights of Columbus, music ministry, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and altar servers. Outreach runs deep here: parishioners cook monthly meals for Dismas Family Farm in Oakham, serve the poor through Mustard Seed in Worcester, stock a parish food pantry, support Sister Village in Guatemala through Sunday breakfasts, and visit the homebound with Communion calls.
Mass times at St. Richard of Chichester
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 P.M. – 3:45 P.M.
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Richard of Chichester Parish describes itself as 'a vibrant Catholic community blessed by God spiritually and committed to spread the Gospel of Christ through worship and the sacraments.' The parish invites and welcomes others to worship, to grow together as children, youth, adults, families, single women and men, religious and clergy, and to fulfill God's purpose now and in the future. The parish serves approximately 500 registered families with over 100 children enrolled in religious education classes grades K–12, and draws members even from beyond its designated geographic area.
- Approximately 500 registered families
- 100+ children in CCD grades K–12
- Namesake of Cardinal Cushing's patron saint
History of the Parish
Sterling's Catholics originally worshipped in Lancaster, Clinton, Leominster, and West Boylston. In 1953 Bishop John J. Wright, first Bishop of Worcester, authorized a parish in Sterling; the Bridge Street site was purchased in 1954. The early Women's Guild and Men's Club ran the Apple Fiesta and other fundraisers, and a youth group, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and adult/youth choirs formed. Under Rev. Andre Remillard a 1991 renovation produced today's sanctuary; under Fr. Thomas B. Garlick (1997–2009) the Sacred Heart grotto was restored, carillon bells added, an acre of land and new parking lots acquired, and the roof and carpeting replaced. Fr. James Steuterman (2009–2022) shepherded the parish through Covid-19, installing cameras for livestreamed Mass and renovating the outdoor chapel.
- 1953: Parish authorized by Bishop John J. Wright
- 1954: Original Bridge Street site purchased
- 1991: Sanctuary renovation under Rev. Andre Remillard
- 1997–2009: Rev. Thomas B. Garlick
- 2009–2022: Rev. James Steuterman
- 2022–present: Rev. Sebastian Sanchez
Pastoral Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Sebastian Sanchez, who came to St. Richard's after four years as associate pastor of St. John's in Clinton, MA. Father Rich serves as Sacramental Assistant and Sr. Anne Marie is listed as a contact for many of the lay ministries. The parish office secretary is Mrs. Elbthal.
- Pastor: Rev. Sebastian Sanchez
- Sacramental Assistant: Father Rich
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Elbthal
- Contact for ministries: Sr. Anne Marie (978-422-8881)
Religious Education (CCD)
St. Richard's CCD program serves children in grades K–12, with over 100 students enrolled. Registration is offered annually for the 2025–2026 school year. Families can contact the Religious Education Program Director, Mrs. Charlene Griffin, at [email protected] for more information. The religious education office can also be reached at 978-422-8921.
- Program for grades K–12
- Director: Mrs. Charlene Griffin
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 978-422-8921
Sacraments
Baptism is celebrated at the family's convenience after a weekend Mass, with a home visit by a member of the pastoral staff and attendance at a Baptism Workshop required. First Communion is prepared at the age of reason (7–8) through a monthly parent-and-child class. Reconciliation precedes First Communion, with the regular Saturday 2:45–3:45 P.M. confession schedule. Confirmation is for candidates in Grade 9 or above with a Confirmed, practicing Catholic sponsor aged 16 or older. Marriage requires an extended preparation program arranged at least one year in advance.
- Baptism: home visit + Baptism Workshop required
- First Communion: monthly parent-and-child preparation class
- Confirmation: Grade 9 and older
- Marriage: arrange at least one year prior
Ministry Opportunities (Liturgical & Parish Life)
The parish invites parishioners into a wide range of liturgical and community ministries. Altar Servers (4th grade and up) assist the priest at weekend Masses. Eucharistic Ministers serve as commissioned Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Lectors (Ministers of the Word) proclaim Sacred Scripture at liturgies. The Music Ministry includes an adult choir and Children's Choir and welcomes singers and instrumentalists of all levels. Greeters welcome parishioners at the doors, and the Knights of Columbus Council carries out works of charity and fraternity.
- Altar Servers (4th grade and up)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors (Ministers of the Word)
- Music Ministry (Adult & Children's Choirs)
- Greeters
- Knights of Columbus
Outreach & Community
St. Richard's operates a robust outreach network. The Parish Food Pantry (held the first Saturday of each month) collects non-perishable food for local community pantries. Mustard Seed Ministry prepares and serves a monthly meal to the poor in Worcester. My Brother's Keeper provides food to families in need twice a week. The parish also cooks and delivers an evening meal once a month to Dismas Family Farm in Oakham, MA — a community reconciling former prisoners to society. Sister Village Sunday Breakfast is an ecumenical partnership with First Church of Sterling whose proceeds benefit medical and nutritional assistance in Los Patzanes, Guatemala. Communion Calls bring the Eucharist to the aged, shut-ins, and nursing home patients, and The Alpha Course Ministry hosts a fellowship meal as part of a parish evangelization program.
- Parish Food Pantry (first Saturday monthly)
- Mustard Seed Ministry (Worcester)
- My Brother's Keeper (twice weekly)
- Dismas Family Farm meal (monthly)
- Sister Village Sunday Breakfast (Guatemala partnership)
- Communion Calls to homebound
- The Alpha Course Ministry
Other Parish Activities
The parish hosts Alcoholics Anonymous meetings every Thursday evening at 8:00 P.M. in the parish hall as a community service. The Sunday 10:00 A.M. Mass is livestreamed via Vimeo for parishioners who cannot attend in person. New parishioners are invited to stop by the parish office to register and meet the staff.
- AA meetings – Thursdays 8:00 P.M. in parish hall
- Sunday 10 A.M. livestream Mass via Vimeo
- New parishioner welcome at parish office
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish is located at 4 Bridge Street, Sterling, MA 01564. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.; the office is closed on Friday. The main parish phone is (978) 422-8881, fax (978) 422-0291, and the Religious Education line is (978) 422-8921. The email is [email protected]. Pastor Rev. Sebastian Sanchez can be reached at [email protected]. Detailed driving directions from Worcester (Route 290/190/12) and from 495 (Route 2/190/12) are provided on the parish website, with Bridge Street located just beyond the junction of Routes 62 and 12 across from the Sterling Municipal Light Plant.
- Address: 4 Bridge Street, P.O. Box 657, Sterling, MA 01564
- Phone: (978) 422-8881
- Fax: (978) 422-0291
- Religious Ed: (978) 422-8921
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. (closed Friday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Sebastian Sanchez2022–present
Came to St. Richard's after 4 years as associate pastor of St. John's in Clinton, MA.
- Rev. James Steuterman2009 – July 2022
Came from 18-1/2 years as pastor of St. Ann's Parish in N. Oxford, MA. Led the parish through the Covid-19 pandemic, oversaw roof, parking lot, and carpeting improvements, installed camera system for livestreamed Mass, and renovated the outdoor chapel. Retired in July 2022.
- Rev. Thomas B. Garlick1997 – July 1, 2009
Assigned by Bishop Reilly. Led Lenten programs, missions, adult education, restored the Sacred Heart grotto, purchased carillon bells, acquired an acre of land and new parking lots, replaced the roof, installed new carpeting, and ran Forward in Faith and Partners in Charity campaigns. Transferred to St. Ann Parish in Southborough, MA.
- Rev. Andre Remillardthrough 1991
Led the ambitious 1991 renovation program and capital campaign that produced the current sanctuary and interior.