About St. Thomas-a-Becket (St. Francis of Assisi) · South Barre, Massachusetts
St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the village of South Barre, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Worcester. It was formed in July 2013 by the merger of two earlier faith communities, St. Thomas à Becket Church and St. Joseph Catholic Churches, and the merged parish took St. Francis of Assisi as its patron — the 13th-century saint and founder of the Franciscan Order. Worship continues at both of the merged churches: the main church of St. Thomas-a-Becket on Vernon Avenue, and St. Joseph Chapel nearby. The parish is pastored by 'Fr. Jamie' and serves a small, tightly-knit congregation in north-central Worcester County with daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, faith formation, and an active charitable outreach.
- Established
- 2013
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Father Jamie Callahan (referred to on the parish site as 'Fr. Jamie')
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a small, family-sized Catholic parish that makes it easy to get involved — daily Mass is offered Monday through Wednesday, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses (one at St. Joseph Chapel, one at St. Thomas-a-Becket) keep worship close, and Eucharistic Adoration is offered Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The parish runs a working food pantry partnership with the Barre Congregational Church, the St. Francis Charitable Needs & Resources Fund for families in crisis, a homebound ministry with weekly 'HomeTouch' mailings, a Knights of Columbus council, a Tuesday-evening rosary and prayer group at St. Joseph's hall, and a Religious Education program under Deacon Brian Gadbois. Newcomers are explicitly welcomed by parish member Mary Ann Jordan, who connects anyone who wants to be involved with a ministry that fits.
Mass times at St. Thomas-a-Becket (St. Francis of Assisi)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm (at St. Thomas-a-Becket Church)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:00 am (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 9:00 am Mass at St. Thomas-a-Becket Church)
- Wednesday 9:00 am (Eucharistic Exposition after the 9:00 am Mass at St. Thomas-a-Becket Church)
Parish History and Patron
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was formed in July 2013 with the merger of two faith communities — St. Thomas à Becket and St. Joseph Catholic Churches — into a single Roman Catholic parish in South Barre, Massachusetts. The merged community took St. Francis of Assisi as its patron, honoring the saint for his love and devotion to Jesus Christ and as founder of the Franciscan Order. Worship continues at the historic St. Thomas-a-Becket church (398 Vernon Ave., South Barre) and at St. Joseph Chapel in Barre, the second worship site of the new parish.
- Merger of St. Thomas à Becket and St. Joseph Catholic Churches (July 2013)
- Patron: St. Francis of Assisi
- Main church: St. Thomas-a-Becket Church, 398 Vernon Avenue, South Barre
- Second worship site: St. Joseph Chapel, Barre
Pastor and Parish Clergy
The parish is pastored by Father Jamie Callahan, addressed on the website as 'Fr. Jamie,' and serves both worship sites from the office on Vernon Avenue. He is assisted by permanent deacons who run much of the parish's sacramental and formation work: Deacon Bill Ferrarone coordinates Baptisms, the Emergency Fund, home visits and Communion to the homebound; Deacon Brian Gadbois is the Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph Chapel; and Deacon Malcom handles 2026 Mass Intentions via email and phone.
- Fr. Jamie Callahan — Pastor
- Deacon Bill Ferrarone — Baptisms / Emergency Fund / Home Visits / Communion
- Deacon Brian Gadbois — Director of Religious Education
- Deacon Malcom — Mass Intentions
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Religious Education is run by Deacon Brian Gadbois from the Faith Formation Office at St. Joseph Chapel (978-355-2228 ext. 4) and prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation through the parish's family-based program. Adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) by contacting the Pastor. Sacramental preparation, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick are likewise arranged through the Pastor or the assigned deacon.
- RCIA — contact the Pastor
- Religious Education — Deacon Brian Gadbois (St. Joseph Chapel)
- Baptism — Deacon Bill Ferrarone
- Matrimony — contact the Pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — call 978-355-4445 for homebound visits
Music Ministry
Music at weekend Masses is led by two long-serving musicians. Ken Stanley plays guitar at the Sunday 10:30 am Mass at St. Thomas-a-Becket Church. Louise Ohrn is the organist for the Saturday 4:00 pm Mass. The parish has historically recruited additional choir members around major feasts such as Pentecost.
- Ken Stanley — guitarist, Sunday 10:30 am Mass
- Louise Ohrn — organist, Saturday 4:00 pm Mass
Devotions and Prayer Groups
Beyond Mass and Reconciliation, the parish sustains an active devotional life. A rosary and prayer group meets every Tuesday evening at 6:45 pm at St. Joseph's hall with refreshments served. A 'Tilling the Ground with Prayer' initiative — based on a vision given to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska — was launched by Fr. Jamie and asks parishioners to commit to holy hours for the conversion of loved ones. The parish also promotes the Cursillo movement and the diocesan Project Rachel ministry of healing.
- Tuesday rosary & prayer group — 6:45 pm at St. Joseph's hall (Liz 774-364-2158)
- Tilling the Ground with Prayer holy hours
- Cursillo Weekends (Pam Hamilton 774-239-8909)
- Project Rachel post-abortion healing — 508-791-HOPE
- Parish Prayer Line — Pat Kowal 978-355-2144 / Vicky King 978-355-4830
Outreach and Charity
St. Francis of Assisi is known for hands-on outreach to Barre and the surrounding villages. The parish partners with the Barre Congregational Church to operate the Barre Food Pantry (distribution on the 2nd Wednesday 10:00–11:30 am and 3rd Thursday 5:30–7:00 pm); non-perishable and personal-care donations are accepted at both churches. The St. Francis of Assisi Charitable Needs & Resources Fund ('Families in Crisis') provides emergency help to parishioners and neighbors; donations can be made in any envelope marked 'Emergency Fund.' The parish also promotes Visitation House (mothers and babies) and Baby Safe Haven resources, and supports a Haitian Ministry and Bereavement Ministry.
- Barre Food Pantry partnership with Barre Congregational Church
- St. Francis Charitable Needs & Resources Fund (Families in Crisis) — Paula Wood 978-355-2228 ext. 6
- Visitation House (mothers and babies)
- Baby Safe Haven (1-877-796-HOPE)
- Haitian Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
Homebound and Senior Outreach
A robust homebound ministry cares for parishioners who can no longer attend Mass in person. Deacon Bill Ferrarone coordinates home visits and brings Communion; weekly 'HomeTouch' mailings include the parish bulletin and an inspirational note, coordinated by Priscilla McGlynn, the Parish Outreach Coordinator. Fr. Jamie celebrates Mass at Grandview Terrace (a local senior residence) on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm — open to all, and rides can be arranged by calling 978-355-6659. The parish also passes along referrals to the Barre Senior Center, which helps residents of all ages with fuel, utility, housing, and veterans' assistance.
- Homebound Communion visits — Deacon Bill Ferrarone
- HomeTouch weekly mailing — Priscilla McGlynn 508-882-3128
- Mass at Grandview Terrace — 4th Tuesday, 1:00 pm (rides: 978-355-6659)
- Barre Senior Center referrals — Betty-Jo O'Brien 978-355-5004
Parish Life and Getting Involved
The parish has a small-staff, family feel and welcomes new members openly. The parish's bulletin, website, and Facebook page are the main communications channels. Anyone wishing to volunteer is invited to contact Mary Ann Jordan (email or text 978-808-3371), who steers newcomers to existing ministries. The Knights of Columbus Council meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm in the St. Thomas-a-Becket church hall.
- New-member contact — Mary Ann Jordan 978-808-3371
- Knights of Columbus — 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 pm, St. Thomas-a-Becket hall
- Weekly bulletin posted on parish website
- Facebook: facebook.com/StFrancisBarreMA
Location, Accessibility and Contact
Parish offices and the main church (St. Thomas-a-Becket) are at 398 Vernon Avenue, South Barre, MA 01074. The parish office can be reached at (978) 355-2228, with fax (978) 355-0042 and email [email protected]. The parish explicitly notes that the Church of St. Thomas-a-Becket and St. Joseph Chapel are both wheelchair accessible.
- Address — 398 Vernon Ave., P.O. Box 186, South Barre, MA 01074
- Office phone — (978) 355-2228
- Fax — (978) 355-0042
- Email — [email protected]
- Wheelchair accessible at both worship sites