About St. Roch · Oxford, Massachusetts
St. Roch Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the town of Oxford, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. The parish community gathers at its church on Main Street, where it celebrates weekend and daily Mass in English and offers a regular schedule of confession, Eucharistic adoration, and benediction. A small but active faith community, St. Roch runs a religious education program for children, a youth ministry, OCIA for adults discerning the faith, scouting-style ministries (Trail Life and American Heritage Girls), a St. Vincent de Paul Society for outreach, a music program, and a prayer line. On September 1, 2024, St. Roch absorbed the neighboring St. Ann Parish of North Oxford under a diocesan decree, becoming the sole worship site for the combined community.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Roch (Rocco)
- Rector
- Rev. James J. Boulette
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Roch offers a close-knit Catholic home in the heart of Oxford, with daily and weekend Mass, three weekly confession slots plus a Friday evening Holy Hour with benediction, and a perpetual adoration chapel (the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Webster) supported by the parish. Families can enroll children in the parish religious education program, teenagers in 'Family of Friends' youth ministry, and children of all ages in Trail Life Troop MA-1321 and American Heritage Girls Troop MA-0716 — Catholic-oriented alternatives to scouting that recently chartered at St. Roch. Adults discerning the faith can join the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, and parishioners in need can turn to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or the homebound-ministry led by Linda Lloyd.
Mass times at St. Roch
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00–7:00 PM
- Friday 6:30–7:30 PM (during Adoration)
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 6:30 PM Adoration following 6:00 PM Mass, with Confession during Adoration and Benediction at 7:30 PM
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is supported at the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, 17 E. Main St., Webster, MA (call 508-206-8153)
About St. Roch Parish
St. Roch Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Oxford, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Worcester. Its mission statement, posted on the parish website, calls the community to be a 'loving, sharing and welcoming community' that 'rejoice[s] and give[s] thanks for the diversity of our giftedness' and works together to 'discover and further develop these talents' through worship, education and service. As the only parish physically in Oxford after the September 2024 merger with St. Ann, St. Roch now serves as the worship home for the combined community of roughly 1,100+ households.
- St. Roch Parish Mission Statement (full text on strochoxford.com/about-us)
- Combined parish census ~1,120 households following the 2024 merger
History of St. Roch Parish
Catholic worship in Oxford is documented from 1828, when missionary priest Father Robert D. Woodley passed through on the Providence–Worcester circuit. Father James Fitton took up the Oxford missions in 1833. The first Catholic church in town — the original St. Roch's — was built by the St. Roch's Catholic Society in 1856/57. The mission was formally declared an independent parish in 1886, and the 1986 centennial was marked by parishioner Jean M. O'Reilly's book 'A People of Faith.' St. Ann Parish of North Oxford was carved out of St. Roch in 1895–96 and shared a pastor with St. Roch for generations until the Diocese of Worcester merged the two parishes under the St. Roch name effective September 1, 2024.
- 1828 – First recorded Catholic priestly visit to Oxford (Fr. Robert D. Woodley)
- 1833 – Father James Fitton assigned to bring sacraments to Oxford Catholics
- 1856/57 – Original St. Roch's church built by the St. Roch's Catholic Society
- 1886 – Mission elevated to an independent parish
- 1888 – Parish census: 830 Catholics in Oxford, 507 in North Oxford
- 1895 – Father Patrick F. Hafey arrives at St. Roch's
- 1896 – St. Ann Parish founded out of St. Roch's for North Oxford
- 1986 – Centennial; Jean M. O'Reilly writes 'A People of Faith' (published 1987)
- 2011 – 125th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert J. McManus
- September 1, 2024 – Merger of St. Ann into St. Roch per diocesan decree; St. Ann's church closed
The Patron: St. Roch
St. Roch (also called Rocco in Italy and Roque in Spain) was a late-14th-century pilgrim and confessor from Montpellier, traditionally invoked against plague, cholera, and skin diseases. His universal feast day in the Roman calendar is August 16, fixed by Pope Gregory XIV when he added Roch to the Roman Martyrology. He is usually depicted as a pilgrim lifting his tunic to reveal a plague sore on his thigh, accompanied by a dog carrying a loaf of bread. At St. Roch's 125th anniversary Mass, Bishop McManus blessed St. Roch medals and holy cards, and a prayer distributed with them echoed the parish's own identity: 'Like our patron saint we are a pilgrim people who little by little move forward on the journey to the fullness of life.'
- Feast day: August 16
- Patronage: against plague, cholera, epidemics, knee problems, skin diseases; patron of dogs, invalids, pilgrims, surgeons, falsely accused people
- Added to the Roman Martyrology by Pope Gregory XIV
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. James J. Boulette, with Deacon Paul Connolly assisting. The rectory office and St. Roch Cemetery are administered by Administrative Assistant Teri Rawson. The Faith Formation office is led by Coordinator of Religious Education Jaclyn ('Jackie') Green, with office hours Monday–Friday. The Music Ministry is directed by John Drahos, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society is led by Arlene Gionet.
- Rev. James J. Boulette – Pastor
- Deacon Paul Connolly
- Teri Rawson – Administrative Assistant / Cemetery Administrator
- Jaclyn (Jackie) Green – Coordinator of Religious Education ([email protected])
- John Drahos – Director of Music
- Arlene Gionet – St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Linda Lloyd – coordinator of the homebound/outreach ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program, run from the parish Faith Formation office, serves children in Kindergarten through High School and relies on volunteer catechists. Each year the parish puts out a call for new catechists and assistants, with all volunteers CORI-checked per diocesan policy. The program is led by Coordinator of Religious Education Jaclyn (Jackie) Green, and registration is available online through the parish website. High-school youth gather separately as 'Family of Friends Youth Ministry.'
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Jaclyn (Jackie) Green – [email protected]
- Grades served: K through High School
- Online registration via strochoxford.com/religious-education-registration
- Family of Friends Youth Ministry (high school)
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA is the parish's process for anyone age seven and older who is interested in becoming Catholic, completing the sacraments of initiation, or simply learning more about the Catholic faith. Sessions are held on Tuesdays, and the parish is actively recruiting new members for its OCIA team. Information is at strochoxford.com/ocia.
- Open to ages 7 through adult
- Tuesdays — see strochoxford.com/ocia for current schedule
- Contact: [email protected]
Youth & Family Ministries
St. Roch families are served by an expanding set of faith-based youth and family programs. In 2025 the parish officially chartered Trail Life Troop MA-1321 for boys, and American Heritage Girls Troop MA-0716 transferred its charter to St. Roch, giving children ages 5–18 a Catholic alternative to traditional scouting. The parish also hosts a TLC Homeschooling Co-op and supports 'Family of Friends,' the high-school youth ministry that emphasizes being a 'youth ministry' rather than a 'youth group' — siblings and parents are included in events.
- Trail Life Troop MA-1321 (boys, ages 5–18)
- American Heritage Girls Troop MA-0716 (girls, ages 5–18)
- TLC Homeschooling Co-op
- Family of Friends Youth Ministry
Outreach & Charity
Outreach to those in need is woven into the parish's identity. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, led by Arlene Gionet, is the primary vehicle for works of mercy in the community. A newer homebound ministry, coordinated by Linda Lloyd, offers visits and conversation, rides to medical appointments, grocery and food delivery, and other practical help to parishioners who are elderly or shut in. To request assistance or volunteer, parishioners are asked to call the parish office.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society – contact Arlene Gionet via the parish office
- Homebound Ministry – Linda Lloyd, coordinator; call 508-987-8987
- Services: visits, rides to doctors, grocery pickup, food delivery
Music Ministry
Music at St. Roch's liturgies is coordinated by Director of Music John Drahos. The music ministry supports the parish's weekend and daily Masses and the Friday Holy Hour.
- Director of Music: John Drahos
St. Roch Cemetery
The parish operates the St. Roch Cemetery, with administrative support handled by Administrative Assistant Teri Rawson through the rectory office. Inquiries about cemetery records or arrangements go through the parish office at 508-987-8987.
- St. Roch Cemetery Administrator: Teri Rawson – 508-987-8987
Communications & Prayer Line
Parishioners can stay in touch through the parish's Flocknote channel and a dedicated Prayer Line. The St. Roch Prayer Line receives requests via email at [email protected], and the parish uses Flocknote (a Worcester-Diocese-wide tool) to send important notices and information by text or email.
- Flocknote – https://strochoxford.flocknote.com/everyone
- St. Roch Prayer Line – [email protected]
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Reconciliation follows the regular weekly schedule (Tuesday, Friday during Adoration, Saturday) or by appointment. Couples preparing for marriage and families seeking Baptism are asked to contact the parish office well in advance.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation – through the Faith Formation office
- Reconciliation – Tuesday, Friday, Saturday (see schedule) or by appointment
- Marriage – contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick – contact the parish office
Contact & Location
St. Roch Church is located at 334 Main Street, Oxford, MA 01540. The parish office can be reached by phone at 508-987-8987 (fax 508-987-8938) or by email at [email protected]. The Faith Formation office ([email protected]) is open Monday–Friday during daytime hours. Mass-time changes and announcements are posted on the parish website and through Flocknote.
- Address: 334 Main Street, Oxford, MA 01540
- Phone: 508-987-8987
- Fax: 508-987-8938
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation email: [email protected]
- Website: strochoxford.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael J. Royaround 2011
Pastor at the 125th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop McManus.
- Rev. James J. Bouletteby 2024–present
Current pastor; was already pastor of both St. Roch and St. Ann when the parishes were merged on September 1, 2024.