About St. Theresa of Lisieux · Sherborn, Massachusetts
St. Theresa of Lisieux Parish is a Catholic parish located in Sherborn, Massachusetts, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston. Established as the St. Theresa Mission in 1924 and elevated to parish status in 1945, it now serves roughly 380 families from Sherborn and surrounding towns including Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Medfield, and Millis. Since 2010 it has been in a collaborative partnership with neighboring Most Precious Blood Parish in Dover, sharing a pastor, staff, and programs. In June 2024 the collaborative welcomed Father Bill Robinson (Rev. William H. Robinson) as its new pastor.
- Established
- 1924 (as mission); 1945 (as parish)
- Patron
- St. Theresa of Lisieux (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, "The Little Flower")
- Rector
- Rev. William H. Robinson ("Father Bill Robinson")
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
St. Theresa of Lisieux offers a close-knit Catholic community of about 380 families with Sunday and weekday Masses celebrated in English, a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM and a Sunday Mass at 10:45 AM. The parish runs a robust Faith Formation program for grades 1–6, a Youth Ministry and Confirmation program for grades 7–12, an Adult Faith Formation Bible study, and a new monthly "Dessert and Philosophy" study group. Liturgical and outreach ministries, family and youth Masses, and the long-standing collaborative partnership with neighboring Most Precious Blood Parish in Dover give parishioners many ways to worship, learn, and serve.
Mass times at St. Theresa of Lisieux
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (Saint Theresa Parish)
Adoration times
- First Thursdays following 9:00 AM Mass
- First Fridays following 9:00 AM Mass
About the Parish
Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish, home to the Catholic community in Sherborn, Massachusetts, was established as the Saint Theresa Mission in 1924 and elevated to parish status in 1945. It now serves approximately 380 families from Sherborn and the surrounding communities of Natick, Ashland, Holliston, Medfield, and Millis. Since 2010 it has shared a pastor, staff, and many programs with neighboring Most Precious Blood Parish in Dover, forming the Most Precious Blood & St. Theresa collaborative.
- Established as mission: 1924
- Became a parish: 1945
- Current church built: 1993
- Collaborative formed: 2010
- Families served: ~380
- New pastor welcomed: June 2024
History
The community was organized as a Catholic mission in 1924 to serve the families of Sherborn and was raised to parish status in 1945 as Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish. For decades the parish worshipped in the original building, a former town "almshouse." In 1993 that structure was replaced by today's Church–Parish Center–Rectory complex at 35 South Main Street. In 2010 the parish entered a collaborative arrangement with Most Precious Blood Parish in Dover under Father John Grimes, and in June 2024 Father Bill Robinson (Rev. William H. Robinson) became the new pastor of the collaborative.
- Founded as mission: 1924
- Established as parish: 1945
- New church complex: 1993
- Collaborative with Most Precious Blood: 2010
- Father Grimes led collaborative: 2010–2024
- Father Robinson welcomed: June 2024
Clergy & Staff
The collaborative is led by Rev. William H. Robinson ("Father Bill Robinson"), with deacons Dan Nelson (assigned to St. Theresa) and Tim Donohue (assigned to Most Precious Blood). Lay staff include Joyce Gillis (Office Manager), Mike Alessandro (Operations), Roseann Furbush (Pastoral Associate), Anne Tripp Miller (Director of Music / Liturgy and Music), Graceanne Bowe (Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry), Zach Morris (Youth Minister / Confirmation Coordinator), Dianna Manning, Annemarie Thompson, and Brian Linton (Advancement Officer).
- Pastor: Rev. William H. Robinson
- Deacon: Dan Nelson (St. Theresa)
- Deacon: Tim Donohue (Most Precious Blood)
- Pastoral Associate: Roseann Furbush
- Office Manager: Joyce Gillis
- Operations: Mike Alessandro
- Director of Music: Anne Tripp Miller
- Director of Faith Formation: Graceanne Bowe
- Youth Minister: Zach Morris
Faith Formation (Grades 1–6)
Faith Formation at the collaborative supports parents as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith. Programs include dynamic, interactive in-person classes led by catechists, arts-based activities (music, art, crafts, drama), service projects, and rigorous preparation for the sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Family and Youth Masses coincide with the class schedule, inviting students to serve as lectors, prayer readers, singers, and gift bearers. The program is directed by Graceanne Bowe.
- Dynamic in-person classes with catechists using approved texts bearing the Imprimatur
- Arts-based activities: music, art, crafts, drama
- Service projects: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, welcoming the stranger
- Family and Youth Masses with student liturgical roles
- Annual scheduled opportunity for the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation
- Director: Graceanne Bowe (508-318-9810)
Youth Ministry & Confirmation (Grades 7–12)
The Youth Ministry program of the collaborative serves students in grades 7 through 12 and coordinates preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation. It is directed by Zach Morris, Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation Coordinator.
- Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation Coordinator: Zach Morris
- Email: [email protected]
- Confirmation preparation for grades 7–12
- Family and Youth Mass participation
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation opportunities at the collaborative include a weekly Bible study and a monthly philosophy discussion group. The Bible study meets every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Friday at Most Precious Blood following the 9:00 AM Mass, exploring themes such as Angels in the Bible, the Book of Ruth, the Descendants, and the Gospel of Matthew — newcomers may join at any time without prior experience.
- Bible study: 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Fridays following 9:00 AM Mass (at Most Precious Blood)
- New themes introduced over several weeks
- "Dessert and Philosophy" — monthly Thursday evenings at 7 PM (begun in spring)
- Open to all; no prior experience required
- Contact: Fr. Bill at [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Liturgical ministries are central to the parish's worship life, with lay faithful serving as lectors, prayer readers, singers, gift bearers, and in other roles at both Saint Theresa and Most Precious Blood. Anne Tripp Miller serves as Director of Music and oversees the liturgical music program across the collaborative.
- Director of Music / Liturgy and Music: Anne Tripp Miller
- Family and Youth Masses inviting student participation
- Lectors, prayer readers, singers, and gift bearers
- Choir and music ministry across the collaborative
Pastoral Care & Outreach
Pastoral care and outreach at the collaborative are coordinated by Roseann Furbush, the collaborative's Pastoral Associate. Faith Formation students participate in service projects answering Christ's call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and welcome the stranger. Office and operational support is provided by Joyce Gillis (Office Manager) and Mike Alessandro (Operations).
- Pastoral Associate: Roseann Furbush
- Office Manager: Joyce Gillis
- Operations: Mike Alessandro
- Service projects through Faith Formation
- Diocesan and community charitable outreach
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion do so through the Faith Formation program; Confirmation preparation is provided through the Youth Ministry program (grades 7–12). Confession is heard regularly on Saturday afternoons at Saint Theresa Parish, and the sacrament is offered to Faith Formation students at least once each year.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Penance and Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:15–3:45 PM and by appointment
- First Holy Communion — through Faith Formation (grades 1–6)
- Confirmation — through Youth Ministry (grades 7–12)
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Visit, Register & Give
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 35 South Main Street in Sherborn. Online registration, online giving via WeShare, and the parish bulletin are all available through the parish website. In-person contributions may be given during the Sunday offertory, placed in the offertory box at the back of the church, mailed to the parish, or made online.
- Parish address: 35 South Main Street, Sherborn, MA 01770
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 176, Sherborn, MA 01770
- Phone: 508-653-6253
- Online giving via WeShare
- Bulletin available on the parish website
- Collaborative website: http://www.mpb-stp.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Grimes2010 – June 2024
Named pastor of Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish in 2010 while already serving as pastor of Most Precious Blood in Dover, formally launching the two-parish collaborative; served until June 2024.
- Rev. William H. Robinson ("Father Bill Robinson")June 2024 – present
Welcomed in June 2024 as the new pastor of the Most Precious Blood & St. Theresa collaborative.