About The Congregation of Saint Athanasius - St. Lawrence · Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
The Congregation of Saint Athanasius — St. Lawrence is a Catholic chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Boston that preserves elements of the Anglican liturgical tradition within the Roman Rite. Established in September 1997, it is the first and only chaplaincy in the United States erected under the 1980 Pastoral Provision for former Anglicans, and worships using the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite — a liturgy based on the Book of Common Prayer and adapted to conform to Catholic tradition. The congregation began life as a group of Episcopalians from the Parish of All Saints, Ashmont, led by their rector Father Richard Bradford, who together entered the full communion of the Catholic Church. Today the community gathers for a weekly Sung Mass at Saint Lawrence Church in Chestnut Hill and at the Saint Augustine Chapel at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, under its current chaplain Father Patrick Armano.
- Established
- 1997
- Patron
- Saint Athanasius of Alexandria
- Rector
- Father Patrick Armano (Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Why belong here
The Congregation of St. Athanasius offers a rare opportunity in the United States: a Catholic parish that worships according to the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite, preserving the cadences of the Book of Common Prayer, reverent Anglican chant and hymnody, and the rhythms of the Anglican liturgical year — all in full communion with the Pope. Members include lifelong Catholics drawn to the beauty of the liturgy, former Episcopalians who 'swam the Tiber,' and inquirers considering the Catholic faith. With a small, close-knit congregation, a coffee hour after the Sunday Sung Mass, bible study, catechesis, Evensong and Benediction, and an annual joint service with St. Paul's Episcopal Parish in Brockton, the community warmly welcomes anyone who longs for the fullness of the Catholic tradition expressed in an Anglican idiom.
Mass times at The Congregation of Saint Athanasius - St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Who We Are — Anglican Catholics in Boston
The Congregation of Saint Athanasius is a Roman Catholic chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Boston that preserves elements of the Anglican liturgical tradition within the Roman Rite. Its tagline on the website reads: 'A Roman Catholic Community in Boston Preserving Elements of Anglican Tradition and Liturgy.' Members are a mix of lifelong Catholics drawn to the Anglican Use liturgy, converts from the Episcopal Church and other denominations, and inquirers preparing to enter the Catholic Church. The congregation's own self-description invites visitors to 'come for Mass, and learn more about who we are.'
- Roman Catholic, in full communion with the Pope
- Worships using the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite
- Anglican Use Chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Boston
History and Origins
The community traces its roots to the Episcopal Parish of All Saints in Ashmont, where Father Richard Bradford served as rector. In 1996, after discerning that the Episcopal Church was moving away from apostolic tradition, Father Bradford and several dozen parishioners sought reception into the Catholic Church. Cardinal Bernard Law welcomed them, and on September 29, 1997 the group — 29 members including Father Bradford — was received into full communion. Father Bradford was ordained a Catholic priest in May 1998 under Pope John Paul II's 1980 Pastoral Provision, and the archdiocese erected the Congregation of Saint Athanasius as the first U.S. chaplaincy dedicated to the Anglican Use of the Roman Rite.
- Origin: Parish of All Saints Episcopal, Ashmont (Dorchester), MA
- September 29, 1997 — reception into full communion
- May 1998 — Father Bradford ordained a Catholic priest
- First and only U.S. chaplaincy under the Pastoral Provision still under diocesan care
How We Are Different — The Anglican Use Liturgy
The Anglican Use is a Catholic liturgy approved by Rome, based on the Book of Common Prayer but adapted to conform to the tradition of the Roman Church. The parish explains that 'over the centuries since the Reformation, a rich inheritance of worship and spirituality developed among Anglicans,' and that the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council had said that 'worthy elements of the patrimony of piety' from other Christian bodies could find a home in the Catholic Church. The Anglican Use is, in the parish's words, 'the realization, the fulfillment of a hope offered at Vatican II.' Masses fulfill the Sunday obligation for any Catholic in attendance.
- Based on the Book of Common Prayer, adapted to Catholic teaching
- Fulfills the Roman Catholic Sunday obligation
- Sung Mass with Anglican hymnody, chant and ceremonial
Swimming the Tiber — From Anglicanism to Rome
The phrase 'Swimming the Tiber' — Anglican humor for crossing over into the Catholic Church — is central to the community's self-understanding. The website tells the long story: of the Oxford Movement, of John Henry Newman's conversion, of the Catholic Movement within Anglicanism, and of the crisis in the Anglican Communion in the mid-20th century that led faithful Anglicans to seek full communion with Rome. Cardinal Law welcomed the congregation, and the Archdiocese of Boston remains their canonical home.
- Pastoral Provision (1980) made possible the ordination of married former Anglican clergy
- Pastoral Provision also authorized worship communities to keep elements of Anglican liturgy
- Cardinal Bernard Law (then Archbishop of Boston) was a key supporter
Worship and the Sunday Mass
The congregation's regular Sunday liturgy is a Sung Mass in the Anglican Use / Ordinariate form, celebrated at 10:30 AM by the chaplain, Father Patrick Armano, followed by coffee hour and fellowship. Historically (under Father Bradford) the Sung Mass was celebrated at 11:30 AM at St. Lawrence Church in Chestnut Hill, with a Saturday 8:00 AM Mass in the Ordinariate form at the Marian altar of St. Theresa of Avila in West Roxbury. Today the regular Sunday Mass is held in the Saint Augustine Chapel at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, MA. Coffee hour follows each Sunday Mass in the undercroft (or library).
- Sunday Mass — 10:30 AM
- Coffee hour / fellowship after Mass
- Saturday Ordinariate-form Mass at St. Theresa of Avila (historically 8:00 AM)
Special Liturgies and the Church Year
Beyond the weekly Sunday Mass, the congregation celebrates the rich round of the Anglican-Catholic year. Bishop Robert Reed, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, was the celebrant and homilist on Sunday, February 2, 2025 for Candlemas (the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord), with the Blessing of Candles and Solemn Procession preceding the Sung Mass and a festive coffee hour following. The community also celebrates a Christmas Eve Mass (December 24), Advent Lessons & Carols, Solemn Vigil Masses for major holy days such as the Assumption (with Procession and Sermon, fulfilling the Holy Day obligation), and an annual joint Evensong with St. Paul's Anglican Church in Brockton, held at Stonehill College.
- Candlemas — Blessing of Candles and Solemn Procession (Feb. 2, 2025 with Bishop Reed)
- Christmas Eve Mass
- Advent Lessons & Carols and holiday party
- Solemn Vigil Masses for major Holy Days (e.g., Assumption)
- Joint Evensong with St. Paul's Anglican Church, Brockton (at Stonehill College)
The Daily Office and Prayer Life
Following Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus, which directs Ordinariate communities to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and other celebrations 'according to the liturgical books proper to the Anglican tradition,' members of the congregation pray the Ordinariate's Daily Office together. The website prayer.covert.org, originally set up in 2016 by John Covert at Father Liias's request, supplies the daily propers (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Compline, Terce, Sext, None, Mattins and Evensong of the Dead), and a daily teleconference at 914-226-2403 gathers participants at 8:45 AM and 5:30 PM.
- Morning Prayer — daily at 8:45 AM via prayer.covert.org and teleconference
- Evening Prayer — daily at 5:30 PM
- Compline, Terce, Sext, None, and Office of the Dead also available
- 100+ office hymns in the new Divine Worship: Daily Office
Music Ministry
Music is a defining feature of the Anglican Use liturgy. The community's longtime organist, Jim Reedy, retired on December 1, 2024 after a 50+ year career as an organist, half of which he dedicated to the Congregation of Saint Athanasius. He donated part of his personal archive of rare methods and scores to his successor, Grace Smith. Jim Reedy received the prestigious Cheverus Award Medal in 2023. Choristers from St. Thomas More College (introduced by congregation member Michael Yost) have joined the community for special liturgies such as Lessons and Carols.
- Longtime organist Jim Reedy — 25+ years of service; Cheverus Award 2023
- Current organist: Grace Smith
- Choristers from St. Thomas More College for special liturgies
Clergy and Leadership
The chaplain since the end of 2023 is Father Patrick Armano, who celebrates the weekly Sunday Mass and tends to the parish's pastoral and liturgical life. Father Richard Sterling Bradford, the founding chaplain, served from his ordination in May 1998 until his retirement in December 2023 and is now chaplain emeritus. Father Jurgen Liias, founding pastor of the former St. Gregory the Great Ordinariate community (which merged into the Congregation of St. Athanasius in 2016), serves as a visiting priest. Father Bradford remains incardinated in the Archdiocese of Boston.
- Father Patrick Armano — current Chaplain
- Father Richard Bradford — Chaplain Emeritus (1998–2023)
- Father Jurgen Liias — Visiting Priest
Contra Mundum — Parish Newsletter
From August 1998 until Father Bradford's retirement in December 2023, the congregation published a monthly parish paper called Contra Mundum. Edited at various times by Father Bradford and by lay parishioners, it included articles and sermons by Father Bradford, writings by noted classic and contemporary Catholic authors, parish news, and announcements of upcoming events. Selected issues are preserved on the parish website.
- Published monthly from August 1998 to December 2023
- 25+ years of continuous publication
- Archive of selected issues available on the parish website
Worship Locations
The community has worshipped in several locations over its history. In its early years the Sunday liturgy was celebrated in the convent chapel of St. Theresa of Avila in West Roxbury, where Father Bradford serves as parochial vicar. For many years the principal Sunday Sung Mass was celebrated at 11:30 AM at St. Lawrence Church, 774 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, with parking in the lot behind the church off Reservoir Road. Following Father Bradford's retirement, the community now gathers for the regular Sunday Mass at the Saint Augustine Chapel at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, MA.
- St. Lawrence Church — 774 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 (historic worship site)
- St. Theresa of Avila — 2078 Centre Street, West Roxbury (Saturday Ordinariate Mass)
- Saint Augustine Chapel at Austin Preparatory School, Reading, MA (current Sunday Mass)
Contact, Visiting and Getting Involved
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The Sunday Sung Mass is open to all, and Catholic faithful fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending. Coffee hour after Mass is a regular opportunity to meet members and learn about upcoming bible study, catechesis, Evensong, Benediction, and special liturgies. The parish phone is staffed at (617) 325-5232; the website's Upcoming Events page lists additional Masses, special liturgies and parish-life activities. Those interested in the Anglican patrimony within the Catholic Church, or considering entering full communion, are encouraged to come for Mass and introduce themselves.
- All are welcome at the Sunday Mass
- Coffee hour and fellowship after Mass
- Bible study and catechesis offered
- Contact: (617) 325-5232
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Richard Sterling Bradford1998 – December 2023
Founding chaplain; formerly rector of the Episcopal Parish of All Saints, Ashmont. Ordained a Catholic priest in May 1998 under the 1980 Pastoral Provision. Married with children. Led the congregation for 25 years through its years at St. Theresa of Avila (West Roxbury) and St. Lawrence (Chestnut Hill).
- Father Patrick ArmanoEnd of 2023 – present
Succeeded Father Bradford as chaplain. Currently celebrates the weekly Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM in the Saint Augustine Chapel at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, MA.
- Father Jurgen LiiasVisiting Priest
Former founding pastor of St. Gregory the Great Ordinariate community, which merged with the Congregation of St. Athanasius in 2016 after his retirement.