About St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish - St. Margaret · Dorchester, Massachusetts
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Boston, located in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is an urban, multi-ethnic, socially and culturally diverse faith community that worships principally at St. Margaret's Church, 800 Columbia Road, with additional services at St. Christopher's. The parish was formed in 2004 by merging St. Margaret's and St. William's parishes and was renamed in 2016 in honor of newly-canonized St. Teresa of Calcutta. It is led by Pastor Father John Ronaghan with Vicar Father Jose Nicanor Vivas Vivas, OSA, and Pastoral Associate Sister Maryanne Ruzzo, SC.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Calcutta (formerly Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta; the parish was renamed in her honor following her 2016 canonization). The parish building itself was originally dedicated to St. Margaret.
- Rector
- Rev. John J. Ronaghan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Teresa of Calcutta is a welcoming, multi-ethnic urban parish that makes room for everyone — young and old — to use their gifts in worship and service. Daily and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and confession are offered at St. Margaret's, while Spanish-speaking ministries (Santo Rosario and the Charismatic Prayer Group) gather weekly at St. Christopher's. The parish runs the Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry, a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, a vibrant music ministry, religious-education teaching corps, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, and a home-visit ministry that brings Communion to the housebound — giving every parishioner a concrete way to live out the Gospel.
Mass times at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish - St. Margaret
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Margaret's (or by appointment)
- Wednesday 6:30–7:30 PM at both St. Margaret's and St. Christopher's during Holy Week
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:30–7:30 PM (combined with Confession) at St. Margaret's and St. Christopher's
Parish History
The parish's roots go back to 1893, when St. Margaret's was set off as the first large offshoot of St. Peter's Parish in Dorchester, covering the area south of Washington Village along Dorchester Bay nearly to Savin Hill and west to Upham's Corner. Its first pastor was Rev. William J. Ryan, and the present St. Margaret's church building — designed by Keely and Houghton in the Romanesque Revival style — was erected in 1904. The parish took its current form in 2004 when, as part of the Archdiocese of Boston's post-2002 reconfiguration, St. Margaret's and St. William's merged into Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish. Following Mother Teresa's canonization on September 4, 2016, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley celebrated a Mass at the church and the parish was renamed St. Teresa of Calcutta.
- 1893 — St. Margaret's Parish carved from St. Peter's; first pastor Rev. William J. Ryan.
- 1904 — Present St. Margaret's church built by Keely and Houghton in Romanesque Revival style.
- August 31, 2004 — Merger of St. Margaret's and St. William's into Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, based at 800 Columbia Road.
- September 4, 2016 — Parish renamed St. Teresa of Calcutta on the day of Mother Teresa's canonization; Cardinal O'Malley celebrated Mass.
St. Margaret's Church Building
The Romanesque Revival church at 800 Columbia Road is the principal worship site of the parish. The parish office sits at the back of the building with its entrance off RoseClair Street, and the Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry also operates from the RoseClair Street entrance.
- 800 Columbia Road, Dorchester MA 02125
- Designed by Keely and Houghton, Romanesque Revival style, 1904
- Parish office: 73 RoseClair Street (back of church)
- Phone: 617-436-2190 · Fax: 617-282-5428
Pastoral Staff
The parish is pastored by Father John Ronaghan, with parochial vicar Father Jose Nicanor Vivas Vivas, OSA, and pastoral associate Sister Maryanne Ruzzo, SC. The business office, music ministry, and parish-office support staff complete the team.
- Rev. John J. Ronaghan — Pastor
- Rev. Jose Nicanor Vivas Vivas, OSA — Vicar
- Sister Maryanne Ruzzo, SC — Pastoral Associate
- Mr. Richard Gribaudo — Business Manager / Operations
- Mr. Timothy Macri — Music Ministry
- Ms. Michelle — Liturgy and Music
- Mr. Glen — Liturgy and Music
- Ms. Rosemarie Pessia — Administrative Assistant
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled monthly, matrimony requires contacting the parish office, and Anointing of the Sick is offered at weekend Masses each month. The parish also makes accommodations for gluten allergies (low-gluten hosts) and hearing assistance (listening devices at the back of the church and in the sacristy).
- Baptism — 3rd Saturday of the month (call the parish office)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — 1st Saturday after the 4:00 PM Mass at St. Margaret's; 1st Sunday after the 12:30 PM Mass at St. Christopher's
- Penance — Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Margaret's or by appointment
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Masses; low-gluten hosts and listening devices available
Parish Ministries
Parishioners are encouraged to join one or more of the parish's liturgical and service ministries. The parish invites anyone interested to fill out the blue volunteer form at the back of the churches or speak with Fr. Nicanor, Sister Maryanne, or Fr. John.
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Choir / Music Ministry
- Ushers
- Religious Education Teachers
- Greeters
- Home Visit / Communion-to-the-Homebound Ministry
Outreach: Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry
The Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry provides food assistance to neighbors in need. It is open on Saturday mornings and welcomes both clients and volunteers. The entrance is on RoseClair Street. To volunteer, contact Sister Maryanne at 617-436-2190 x203 or [email protected].
- Hours: Saturdays 9:00–11:00 AM
- Entrance: RoseClair Street
- Contact: Sister Maryanne · 617-436-2190 x203 · [email protected]
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society
The parish hosts a conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, devoted year-round to helping neighbors who are less fortunate. Poor boxes are at the doors of the church for ongoing donations, and the parish invites anyone interested in joining the society's work to contact Sister Maryanne.
- Donation boxes available at the church doors
- Contact: Sister Maryanne · 617-436-2190 x203 · [email protected]
Spanish-Language Devotions: Santo Rosario y Grupo de Oración Carismático
Each Thursday evening, St. Christopher's hosts a bilingual Catholic devotional gathering: the Holy Rosary at 6:15 PM followed by the Charismatic Prayer Group from 7:00 to 8:30 PM — an evening of praise and devotion to the Holy Spirit. All are invited.
- Thursdays at St. Christopher's
- 6:15 PM — Santo Rosario (Holy Rosary)
- 7:00–8:30 PM — Grupo de Oración Carismático
Become a Parishioner
Newcomers are warmly welcomed. Those wishing to register can pick up a green form at the back of either church, fill out the parish website's online form, or speak with a priest or Sister Maryanne after Mass.
- Green registration forms at the back entrances of the church
- Online form available at stteresaofcalcuttadorchester.org/become-a-parishioner
- Office Hours: 8:30–12:30 Monday–Friday
Records and Archives
As of April 27, 2016, sacramental records for predecessor parishes — St. Margaret's, St. William's, St. Kevin's, and St. Paul's — are housed at the Archives at the Pastoral Center in Braintree and can be requested by calling Violet Hurst at 617-746-5897. All St. Teresa of Calcutta records are housed at the parish office (617-436-2190). School records for the former parish schools are available through the Regional Office of St. John Paul II Catholic Academy at 617-265-0019.
- St. Margaret's, St. William's, St. Kevin's, St. Paul's sacramental records — Archives, Pastoral Center, Braintree (617-746-5897)
- All St. Teresa of Calcutta records — at the parish
- School records — St. John Paul II Catholic Academy Regional Office (617-265-0019)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. Ryan1893–
First pastor of St. Margaret's Parish when it was carved out of St. Peter's.