St. Susanna

Parish History

St. Susanna was established in February 1960 to serve the Riverdale neighborhood of Dedham and relieve overcrowding at St. Mary of the Assumption, which by the 1930s counted over 6,000 parishioners. The first pastor, Father (later Monsignor) Michael Durant, lived at St. Mary's while the church was being built, and Sunday Masses during construction were held at Moseley's on the Charles. The new church opened with its first Mass on February 11, 1962, celebrated by Cardinal Richard Cushing, who named the parish after his titular church, Santa Susanna, in Rome. The traffic island at the corner of Pine and Needham Streets is named Durant Square in the founding pastor's honor. Long described by The Boston Globe as 'one of the most liberal parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston,' St. Susanna has built a reputation for active social outreach — including a Peace and Justice committee, St. Vincent de Paul Council, and a partnership with the Dedham Food Pantry — and for creative engagement with current events through its annual outdoor Nativity. In 2018 the parish's Nativity drew national attention; the parish is a member of Parishes Organized to Welcome Immigrants and Refugees (POWIR). Cardinal Seán O'Malley celebrated the parish's 50th Anniversary Mass in 2010 and blessed its Peace Chapel.

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Youth Faith Formation at St. Susanna combines catechesis, family support and enrichment opportunities. Children's faith formation runs from preschool through eighth grade, with Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in second grade and Confirmation in seventh grade. A Youth Group for grades 9–12 meets Sunday evenings in the St. John Bosco Youth Room, and Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered for ages 4 through Grade 1 during Mass on most weekends from late October through April.

• Early Childhood Program (Ages 3–Kindergarten) — Sundays during 9:30 Mass (pre-Vatican-II streaming schedule on site)
• Children's Formation Program (Grades 1–8)
• Youth Group (Grades 9–12) — Sundays 5:00–6:30 PM, St. John Bosco Youth Room
• First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation (Grade 2)
• Confirmation preparation (Grade 7)
• Children's Liturgy of the Word (Ages 4–Grade 1) — Sundays in season

Adult Faith Formation

The Adult Faith Formation Commission plans and produces a year-long adult education program. Courses are designed both to inform and to allow for independent thinking; the commission meets annually to plan the calendar, with most communication by email.

• RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Coordinator: Joanne Mongeon
• Monday Evening Lectures and Events
• Tuesday Evening Dimensions of Faith
• Friday Morning — Scripture, Form and Artistry
• Friday Evening — Ponder
• Labyrinth Walks
• Parish Library
• Bible Study — Tuesday 7:00–9:00 PM and Saturday 8:30–10:30 AM (Coordinator: Tim Sullivan)
• Faith Sharing Group — first Thursday, 7:00 PM in the Library (Coordinator: Jean Brown)
• Landings Program — for Catholics considering returning to the Church (Coordinator: Linda Bates)

Music and Liturgy

St. Susanna's Contemporary Music Group prepares and delivers liturgy-appropriate music for Sunday Mass, seasonal liturgies and special Masses. Led by Doug Farwell, the group rehearses Sundays at 9:15 AM for the 10:00 AM Mass, with Monday-evening rehearsals at 6:30 PM and additional practice for major liturgical celebrations. Singers and instrumentalists are welcome to join.

• Rehearsal: Sundays 9:15 AM (for 10:00 AM Mass)
• Rehearsal: Monday evenings 6:30 PM
• Director of Liturgy and Music: Doug Farwell

Parish Life, Service and Outreach

St. Susanna's parish life runs well beyond Sunday Mass. A Hospitality Helpers team makes coffee and serves donuts after weekend Masses; the Green Thumb Garden Helpers tend the parish gardens, vegetable garden and orchard Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM; the Bus Ministry helps bring parishioners to Mass and parish events; and the Good Art Series brings local musicians and artists into the parish once a month, often Saturday nights from 8:00–10:00 PM or Sunday afternoons.

• Ushers — Wendall Putney
• Hospitality Helpers (coffee and donuts after Mass)
• Green Thumb Garden Helpers — Saturday mornings 8:00 AM (Coordinator: Molly McCabe)
• Bus Ministry
• Good Art Series — monthly local-music and arts evenings (Coordinator: Brian Dwyer)
• Knitting and Crocheting Group — Tuesdays 7:00 PM, Parish Hall (Coordinator: Elaine Fino)
• Circle of Friends — outreach to sick and homebound parishioners (Coordinator: Sally Gould)
• Parish Pastoral Council — Chair Jay Johnson (9 members, 3-year terms)
• Finance Council — John Goodfellow

Outreach, Peace and Justice

Outreach is organized around the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The Peace and Justice Outreach Committee (with a Pax Christi character) educates the community on war, torture, environmental degradation and human rights, and is the parish's principal public-witness voice on social issues. The St. Vincent de Paul Council assists local families facing financial and social needs, and parishioners also volunteer monthly at the Dedham Food Pantry.

• Peace and Justice Outreach — Pat Ferrone
• St. Vincent de Paul Council — Bill Gorman (meetings Thursday evenings)
• Dedham Food Pantry — second Saturday of the month, 8:00–11:00 AM, 600 Washington Street, Dedham (Coordinator: Carol Burak)
• POWIR (Parishes Organized to Welcome Immigrants and Refugees) — parish membership

Sacraments

Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation for adults are offered through the parish RCIA. Sacramental preparation for children begins in second grade (First Reconciliation and First Eucharist) and seventh grade (Confirmation), with parent meetings and retreats. Weddings and funerals are coordinated through the parish office, and Anointing of the Sick is offered at a seasonal Anointing Mass each year.

• Adult Initiation (RCIA) — Baptism, Eucharist and/or Confirmation
• First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — Grade 2
• Confirmation — Grade 7
• Marriage / Weddings — parish office
• Anointing of the Sick — seasonal Anointing Mass

Parish Staff and Councils

The parish is led by a small pastoral team: Fr. Steve Josoma as pastor, Deacon Larry Bloom, music director Doug Farwell, parish secretary Janet Sebago, and pastoral intern Lynn Berkley. Lay governance is shared through the Parish Pastoral Council (chair Jay Johnson) and the Finance Council (chair John Goodfellow).

• Pastor — Fr. Stephen S. Josoma
• Deacon — Deacon Larry Bloom
• Director of Liturgy and Music — Doug Farwell
• Parish Secretary — Janet Sebago
• Pastoral Intern — Lynn Berkley
• Parish Pastoral Council Chair — Jay Johnson (members Bill Campbell, Jorge Finke, Valerie Flynn, Kathy Hubert, Phil Mandeville, Mario Mauro, Susan Pozaic, Margo Yie; adjunct: Pat Ferrone for Pax Christi, Dan Head for Finance)

Feast Day and Special Celebrations

St. Susanna's liturgical feast (August 11) is celebrated on the closest Sunday — usually the first or second weekend in August — with an ice-cream-sundae social and relaxed conversation. Because St. Susanna is not the patron saint of any particular cause, the parish has informally named her patroness of 'Honest Conversations,' a nod to the long deliberations her family must have had before refusing her marriage to the Emperor — a decision that cost them their lives.

• Feast of St. Susanna — August 11 (celebrated on the nearest Sunday, typically around August 9)
• Blessing of the Animals — first weekend of October
• Anointing Mass (seasonal)
• Nativity Play (December)

Directions, Access and Contact

The parish offices and church are at 262 Needham Street, Dedham, MA 02026, just off Route 128/I-95 Exit 33 (Great Plain Avenue / West Roxbury). The church is fully handicap-accessible, with a ramp and lift on the side behind the Resurrection Garden. For questions about parish life, the sacraments or to register, the parish office can be reached at 781-329-9575 or [email protected].

• Address: 262 Needham Street, Dedham, MA 02026
• Phone: 781-329-9575
• Parish email: [email protected]
• Pastor's email: [email protected]
• Handicap-accessible: yes (ramp and lift on the side of the church behind the Resurrection Garden)
• Location: intersection of Pine and Needham Streets (Durant Square)