About St. Sylvester · Graniteville, Vermont
St. Sylvester is a Roman Catholic parish in Graniteville, Vermont, situated in the heart of Vermont's historic granite-quarrying region in Washington County. The parish was founded in 1899 — though Mass had been celebrated in the area since about 1885 — and historically served the immigrant quarry workers (French-Canadian, Italian, Irish, Scottish, German, Polish and Spanish families) of the Barre granite belt. Following diocesan reorganization, St. Sylvester Church closed in 2020 and its congregation was united with St. Monica in Barre, St. Cecilia and St. Frances Cabrini as a collaborative cluster of parishes within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- St. Sylvester (Pope St. Sylvester I)
- Rector
- Father Romanus Igweonu (parochial vicar of the collaborative cluster serving St. Sylvester; Deacon Daniel Pudvah serves St. Monica Parish in the cluster; a new pastor was to be named after Fr. Peter O'Leary's departure from active ministry in 2025)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Why belong here
St. Sylvester offers the spiritual and cultural heritage of a 19th-century immigrant parish born of Vermont's granite quarries — a community with a century-long tradition of Catholic education, devotion to the saints, and a remarkable artistic legacy including original Tomie dePaola Stations of the Cross. Since 2020 it has shared its pastoral life with the wider St. Monica–St. Sylvester–St. Cecilia–St. Frances Cabrini cluster of parishes in the Barre area, giving parishioners access to multiple weekend Masses, regular confession, adoration, and the Totus Tuus youth program, while remaining rooted in the history of Graniteville's quarrying families.
Mass times at St. Sylvester
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (at St. Monica)
- Sunday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (at St. Monica)
- No confessions on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sunday
Adoration times
- Wednesday following the 8:15 AM Mass, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM (cluster)
Parish History and the Graniteville Immigrant Community
St. Sylvester Parish traces its origin to the 1880s granite boom. Vermont Catholic records note that Mass was first offered in Graniteville about 1885, and by 1889 priests from Barre and Northfield were celebrating there twice monthly. As the quarries drew French-Canadian, Italian, Irish, Scottish, German, Polish and Spanish immigrant families, the need for a resident pastor became clear, and St. Sylvester was formally established in 1899 with Rev. Thomas Donahue as first resident pastor. By 1901 the parish contained nearly 500 Catholic families, served by Father Damase Daigneault.
- Mass first offered in Graniteville c. 1885
- Parish founded 1899
- First resident pastor: Rev. Thomas Donahue
- Pastor Damase Daigneault arrived 1901
- Nearly 500 Catholic families by 1901
Holy Ghost Convent and School
Under Father Daigneault's pastorate and with the encouragement of Burlington Bishop John Stephen Michaud, the Daughters of the Holy Ghost (Les Filles du Saint-Esprit Soeurs Blanches de Bretagne) were invited from St-Brieuc, Brittany, to operate a new Catholic grammar school. The Holy Ghost Convent and School opened September 7, 1903, with 163 pupils; by 1912 enrollment had grown to 247. After 64 years of service the school closed in 1967 due to insufficient enrollment. The sisters' ministry is credited with fostering many vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
- Holy Ghost Convent and School opened September 7, 1903
- 163 students at opening; 247 by 1912
- Operated by the Daughters of the Holy Ghost from Brittany
- School closed 1967 after 64 years
Liturgical Art and the Donahue Memorial Window
St. Sylvester was the recipient of significant Catholic artistic heritage. In 1960 and 1962 Tomie dePaola — the celebrated children's author and illustrator — painted fourteen Stations of the Cross, a classroom mural titled 'Christ's Entry into Jerusalem,' and depictions of the Sacred Heart, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Sylvester, St. Anne, St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist. The church also contained a stained-glass memorial window dedicated in memory of Rose and William Donahue, killed by a car in Lower Websterville on October 14, 1933. After the church's 2020 closure, the dePaola works were transferred to St. Monica Parish rectory in Barre (and exhibited at St. Augustine Church in Montpelier), while the Donahue window was installed in the bishop's private chapel at St. Joseph Cathedral rectory in Burlington.
- Tomie dePaola Stations of the Cross and murals (1960, 1962)
- Donahue family memorial stained-glass window (donated after Oct. 1933 deaths)
- Artworks relocated after 2020 closure
Closure and the Collaborative Parish Cluster
Following diocesan reorganization under Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, St. Sylvester Church was closed in 2020 and its congregation merged with St. Monica (Barre), St. Cecilia and St. Frances Cabrini (East Barre) into a collaborative cluster of parishes sharing clergy, faith formation and a unified Mass schedule. The St. Sylvester building at 217/223 Church Hill Road is no longer used for regular worship, but the parish retains its identity within the cluster.
- St. Sylvester closed 2020
- Clustered with St. Monica, St. Cecilia and St. Frances Cabrini
- Bishop Christopher J. Coyne oversaw the reorganization
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
The parish has been led by a succession of priests from its 1899 founding. Its first resident pastor was Rev. Thomas Donahue, followed by Rev. Damase Daigneault (from 1901). Fr. Francis Eksterowicz served as Administrator from 1990 to 1996 and became Pastor in 1994. More recently Fr. Peter O'Leary served as pastor of both St. Monica and St. Sylvester until departing active ministry on Feb. 25, 2025; Fr. Romanus Igweonu served as parochial vicar of the cluster, with Deacon Daniel Pudvah continuing at St. Monica Parish. A new pastor was to be named for the cluster following O'Leary's departure.
- Rev. Thomas Donahue — first resident pastor (1899)
- Rev. Damase Daigneault — pastor from 1901
- Rev. Francis Eksterowicz — Administrator 1990–1996, Pastor 1994
- Rev. Peter O'Leary — pastor until Feb. 25, 2025
- Rev. Romanus Igweonu — parochial vicar (2025)
- Deacon Daniel Pudvah — deacon serving St. Monica in the cluster
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Religious education and youth ministry for the cluster is coordinated through the St. Monica Parish office. The Totus Tuus summer catechetical program (a week-long youth mission led by missionary teams) is offered for grade-schoolers and teens. The cluster also operates the K-8 St. Monica–St. Michael School in Barre, historically connected to St. Sylvester families. Families may contact Abigail Beach at the Religious Education office ([email protected], 802-476-4020).
- Totus Tuus summer youth program
- St. Monica–St. Michael School (K-8)
- Religious Education office: 802-476-4020, [email protected]
Visiting and Heritage
St. Sylvester Church itself is no longer open for regular worship following its 2020 closure. However, the parish's artistic and memorial heritage is preserved in two locations: the Tomie dePaola liturgical paintings are displayed at the St. Monica Parish rectory in Barre (and have been exhibited at St. Augustine Church in Montpelier), while the Donahue-family memorial stained-glass window is now installed in the bishop's private chapel at St. Joseph Cathedral rectory in Burlington.
- dePaola paintings: St. Monica Parish rectory, Barre
- Donahue stained glass: bishop's chapel, St. Joseph Cathedral rectory, Burlington
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Donahue1899–
First resident pastor of St. Sylvester Parish at its founding in 1899.
- Rev. Damase Daigneault (Daignault)1901–
Took over a parish of nearly 500 Catholic families. Founded Holy Ghost Convent and School (opened 1903) with the Daughters of the Holy Ghost from Brittany.
- Rev. Francis Eksterowicz1990–1996 (Administrator), Pastor 1994–
Served as Administrator of St. Sylvester from 1990 to 1996, becoming Pastor in 1994. Later pastor at All Saints (Richford), St. Isidore (Montgomery Center) and Our Lady of Lourdes (East Berkshire); retired to Senior Priest status 2007; died September 18, 2024.
- Rev. Donald Roy
Listed as the parish priest in the Barre/Graniteville community schedule in the Times Argus.
- Rev. Peter O'Learyuntil Feb. 25, 2025
Pastor of St. Monica in Barre and St. Sylvester in Graniteville, and of St. Monica-St. Michael School; departed active ministry in February 2025.