About St. Vincent de Paul · Baldwinville, Massachusetts
St. Vincent de Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Baldwinville, in the town of Templeton, Massachusetts, belonging to the Diocese of Worcester. It grew out of St. Martin's Church in Otter River — recognized as the 'mother church' of Catholic life in the northwestern corner of the Worcester Diocese — and was established in the mid-twentieth century when the original parish had grown too large for one small church. The parish welcomes all to join its family and offers weekend and daily Mass, Saturday confessions, sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, and a faith community that continues to mark baptisms, marriages, and funerals with deep local devotion.
- Established
- c. 1951
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Francis A. Roberge (Pastor from June 25, 2005 until his death on April 12, 2026; current pastoral leadership to be determined)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a small, welcoming Catholic family in the heart of Templeton, with a full schedule of weekend and daily Masses, a regular Saturday confession time, and a CCD religious education program that prepares children for First Communion and teens for Confirmation. The parish has long shared priestly ministry and community outreach with neighboring St. Martin's, Holy Cross, and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes in the local cluster, and it keeps up a lively sacramental and social life marked by Christmas, Easter, First Communion, Confirmation, and Mother's Day celebrations that bring families together year after year. Newcomers can simply print the registration form on the parish website or email the rectory at [email protected] to join.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM (or by appointment)
About St. Vincent de Paul Parish
St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic parish in the village of Baldwinville within the town of Templeton, Massachusetts. A member of the Diocese of Worcester, the parish was established in the early 1950s as one of two new parishes carved out of St. Martin's in Otter River, which had become known as the 'mother church' of the northwestern corner of the diocese. The parish community today gathers for weekend and daily Mass, prepares children and teens for the sacraments through its CCD program, and continues to mark the great feasts of the Church year together.
- Diocese: Worcester
- Town: Templeton (village of Baldwinville)
- Patron: St. Vincent de Paul (feast day September 27)
History & Heritage
The parish's roots lie in St. Martin's Catholic Church in Otter River, whose own 1951 centennial history recounts how Catholic pioneers first brought the faith to the area in the 1850s, when parishioners traveled by foot, horseback, and wagon from towns like Orange and Ashburnham to attend Mass. A century later, with the original little church overflowing, Bishop Mathew Francis Brady established two new parishes in the town of Templeton: Holy Cross in East Templeton and St. Vincent de Paul in Baldwinville. The parish remains linked to its sister communities through shared pastoral care and diocesan cluster ministry.
- Founded c. 1951 as a daughter parish of St. Martin's, Otter River
- St. Martin's celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1951
- Part of a parish cluster with St. Martin Mission, Holy Cross (East Templeton), and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Winchendon)
Pastoral Leadership
From June 25, 2005 until his death in the rectory on April 12, 2026, St. Vincent de Paul was led by Rev. Francis A. Roberge. A Worcester native and 1978 ordinand, Father 'Fran' came to the parish after ministries at Worcester State College and Anna Maria College and was widely loved for his compassion and steady presence. The parish photographed his 45th anniversary of priesthood as a major celebration. The parish deacon, known as Deacon Jim, is also a familiar presence in parish life.
- Rev. Francis A. Roberge — Pastor, 2005–2026
- Deacon Jim — Parish Deacon
- Mrs. Jennifer McNeaney — Secretary / Bookkeeper
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation
The parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program is the heart of faith formation for the children and teens of the parish. First Communion is prepared in Grade 2, and Confirmation in Grade 10 and above, with annual registration forms and a yearly calendar published for families. The program is coordinated through the parish office and supported by the parish secretary/bookkeeper.
- CCD Registration Form (current academic year)
- CCD Calendar (current academic year)
- First Communion preparation (Grade 2)
- Confirmation preparation (Grade 10+)
Parish Life & Celebrations
The parish keeps a rich archive of photographs documenting its sacramental and community life. Recent years have seen celebrations of First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day Blessings, as well as the parish's 45th anniversary of Father Fran's priesthood. These events reflect a small but active community that makes the great feasts of the Church year an occasion for gathering families together.
- First Communion (annual)
- Confirmation (annual)
- Christmas celebrations
- Easter celebrations
- Mother's Day Blessings
- Fr. Fran's 45th Anniversary of Priesthood
Joining the Parish
The parish welcomes all new members. Those wishing to register can print the parish registration form available on the website and return the completed form to the rectory, or pick up a paper copy at the church entrances. Registration can also be initiated by emailing the parish office at [email protected].
- Printable registration form on the parish website
- Paper forms available at the church entrances
- Email: [email protected]
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory by phone at (978) 939-8851, by email at [email protected], or by mail at PO Box 14, 18 Pleasant Street, Baldwinville, MA 01436. Funeral notices and parish communications (such as those following Father Fran's passing) list the church as located at 1 Forest Street, Baldwinville, suggesting the parish worship site and mailing address may differ slightly.
- Mailing address: PO Box 14, 18 Pleasant St., Baldwinville, MA 01436
- Phone: (978) 939-8851
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://saintvincentcatholicchurch.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis A. Roberge2005 – April 12, 2026
Worcester-born priest ordained May 18, 1978, in the Passionist tradition; previously chaplain at Worcester State College and Anna Maria College; concurrently pastor of St. Martin Mission in Otter River and (until 2011) Immaculate Heart of Mary in Winchendon; deeply mourned by the parish at his death in the rectory in April 2026.