One Collaborative, Three Parish Churches
In Brockton, Massachusetts, three Roman Catholic parishes share one pastor, one office, and one set of ministries under the name Brockton Catholic Tri-Parish Collaborative. The parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, Christ the King, and St. Edith Stein came together in 2011 with the appointment of Fr. Joseph K. Raeke to lead them as a single pastoral community. Today the collaborative is a Roman Catholic community committed to journeying together to God through prayer, religious formation, and service. Rich in diversity, it brings God's word to all peoples and serves the many different communities that make up the city of Brockton.
The collaborative's main office sits at 439 West Street in Brockton, the same address as Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Fr. Matthew Westcott serves as pastor, with Fr. Joseph Larose as parochial vicar for the Haitian community and Fr. Joaquim Furtado Garcia assigned to the Cape Verdean community. Three deacons - Deacon Philip LaFond, Deacon Bob Balzarini, and Deacon Paul Bukow - assist in the pastoral work of the three parishes.
Three Churches, Three Neighborhoods
Each of the three churches has its own building and its own character, all within the city of Brockton.
Our Lady of Lourdes stands at 439 West Street, in the heart of the collaborative's administrative life. The parish office, the main phone line, and the office staff are all based here. Our Lady of Lourdes offers Sunday Masses in English at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, and it is the only one of the three parishes that hosts a dedicated Adoration Chapel, open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Christ the King is located at 54 Lyman Street. It serves as the home of the Haitian Mass community, with a Sunday Mass in Haitian Creole at 12:00 noon, and offers the English Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM. Monday evening Eucharistic Adoration is held at Christ the King from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. A weekly Charismatic Prayer gathering is held at Christ the King on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM, and the Knights of Columbus Seville Council 93 also meets at Christ the King on the second and fourth Monday of each month.
St. Edith Stein sits at 71 East Main Street. This parish is the center of the Cape Verdean community's worship, with a Saturday Vigil Mass in Cape Verdean Creole at 7:00 PM and Sunday Masses in Cape Verdean Creole at 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The English Mass at St. Edith Stein is celebrated on Sunday at 10:30 AM. A 5:30 PM Wednesday Mass in Cape Verdean Creole and a Friday evening Adoration in Cape Verdean Creole at 7:00 PM round out the parish's offerings.
A Schedule That Speaks Three Languages
The daily Mass schedule circulates through the three parishes throughout the week. All daily Masses are celebrated in English at 9:00 AM, with the days rotating: Monday and Saturday at St. Edith Stein, Tuesday and Thursday at Christ the King, and Wednesday and Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes. The 5:30 PM Wednesday Mass at St. Edith Stein is celebrated in Cape Verdean Creole.
On Saturday evening, the Vigil Mass in English is celebrated at 4:00 PM at Christ the King and at Our Lady of Lourdes, and at 4:30 PM at St. Edith Stein. A Vigil Mass in Cape Verdean Creole is celebrated at 7:00 PM at St. Edith Stein. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday afternoon in the hour before the Vigil Mass: from 3:00 to 3:45 PM at Christ the King and Our Lady of Lourdes, and from 3:30 to 4:15 PM at St. Edith Stein. Confessions are also available by appointment through the parish office.
The Sunday schedule fills the day across the three parishes. Our Lady of Lourdes offers Mass at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM. St. Edith Stein celebrates Cape Verdean Mass at 8:00 AM, English Mass at 10:30 AM, and Cape Verdean Mass at 1:00 PM. Christ the King celebrates English Mass at 9:00 AM and Haitian Creole Mass at 12:00 noon. Confessions are heard at the Saturday Vigils and by appointment.
Adoration Throughout the Week
Eucharistic Adoration is a regular part of weekly life in the collaborative. Christ the King offers Adoration on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Our Lady of Lourdes keeps its Adoration Chapel open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Adoration is also offered after the 9:00 AM Friday Mass until noon. St. Edith Stein offers Adoration on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM in Cape Verdean Creole.
The Rosary is prayed before daily Mass at Christ the King and St. Edith Stein, and after the daily Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, giving the faithful a quiet start or close to the morning's liturgy.
Becoming Catholic and Returning Catholic
The collaborative welcomes those who wish to become Catholic through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, known as RCIA and now more commonly called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Scott Fearing, the OCIA Coordinator, walks inquirers through the stages of the journey: the period of inquiry, the Rite of Acceptance, the catechumenate, the Rite of Election during Lent, the period of purification and enlightenment, and the celebration of the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. The process is gradual and adapts to each person's needs, with weekly meetings typically beginning in the fall.
Children aged seven and older who have not been baptized also have a path to full initiation through the OCIA for Children program, which prepares children and their families to enter the Catholic faith community. The collaborative offers special sacramental preparation for children with social or educational needs beyond those served by the regular classes.
For Catholics who have been away from the practice of their faith, the collaborative offers a path home. A returning Catholic is invited to come back, take part in parish life, and rediscover the richness of Catholic worship, prayer, and community.
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Faith Formation is offered at each of the three parishes. Classes are held on Sunday mornings, with one class at St. Edith Stein on a different day. The program welcomes all children and accommodates multiple languages and various learning styles, with instructors who can speak the language of the students and their families.
Sacramental preparation follows the Archdiocese of Boston's schedule. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared in second grade. Confirmation preparation begins in seventh grade, with the sacrament celebrated in eighth grade. For children with social or educational needs beyond the regular classes, the collaborative offers special sacramental preparation adapted to each child's situation. An OCIA for Children program welcomes school-age children who have not yet been baptized or who are behind the usual sacramental schedule.
Deacon Tim Booker serves as the Director of Faith Life and Ministry and Coordinator of Confirmation. Nancy LaMonica is the Faith Formation Coordinator for Grades 1 through 8. Sister Eugenia DaSilva, known in the community as Sister Djai, coordinates Faith Formation in the Cape Verdean community. Scott Fearing is the OCIA Coordinator.
Faith Formation tuition runs by family size: $100 for one child, $125 for two children, and $150 for three or more. Online payment is available for each parish. Families facing financial difficulty may contact the parish office to arrange a payment plan or discuss scholarship options.
The Sacraments of the Tri-Parishes
Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation, the sacrament that frees a person from original sin and makes that person a member of Christ and His Church. Baptism is administered by pouring water on the person's head or by immersion, with the words "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The Catholic Church recognizes baptisms from other Christian denominations that baptize in the name of the Trinity, so a person can only be baptized once. Parents of infants present at the baptism vow to practice their faith and provide a Catholic upbringing for their child. Adults who have never been baptized typically take part in the OCIA process and are baptized at the Easter Vigil.
Marriage at one of the Tri-Parish churches requires at least a year of preparation. Couples are asked to call Adaugo Ugocha at 508-586-4715 to begin the process and to meet with a priest or deacon before any other wedding plans are finalized. The Sacrament of Matrimony is celebrated after a meeting with the clergy to schedule the date.
Anointing of the Sick is available by appointment through the parish office, and a Funeral Liturgy is offered through the Ministry of Consolation for families who have lost a loved one. The Ministry of Consolation contacts grieving families, offers prayers at the wake service, helps with writing cards, and prepares the annual Mass of Remembrance.
A Quinceanera Mass is offered under a Tri-Parish policy that guides the celebration of this milestone for young women in the community, marking the transition into young adulthood with a Mass of thanksgiving.
Liturgical Ministries at the Altars
Worship at the Tri-Parishes is supported by a wide range of liturgical ministries. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist serve the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound. Lectors proclaim the Scriptures at Mass and other services. Altar servers - boys and girls from grade four and above, and adults - assist the priest at the liturgy. Greeters warmly welcome parishioners as they enter the church, and ushers help people to their seats and take up the collection. Sacristains prepare and clean the altar for Mass.
The Music Ministry welcomes all voices and instrumentalists. Rehearsals are held on most Thursday evenings from September through May, and the teen choir rehearses briefly on some Sundays after Mass. The collaborative is blessed with music at all three parishes and invites anyone interested to join through the parish office.
A Spiritual Development Committee writes brief articles and announcements for the bulletin, coordinates the annual Rosary Rally, distributes Divine Mercy Chaplet pamphlets, organizes the annual blessing of the bread, makes rosaries available in October and May, and helps facilitate the annual parish Lenten retreat. The committee meets monthly and prays the Rosary for priests, vocations, and all religious after each meeting.
Parish Life: Knights, Daughters, Consolation, and Service
The social and service ministries of the collaborative are deeply rooted in Catholic tradition.
The Knights of Columbus Seville Council 93, based at Christ the King, meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The Knights are a fraternal organization of Catholic men and their families, founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael McGivney, with more than 1.7 million members and over 13,000 councils worldwide. The Seville Council at St. Edith Stein began in 1894. The Knights offer a wide variety of service projects and fraternal benefit programs, and the council welcomes new members interested in friendship, faith, and service.
Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Our Lady of Lourdes #2396 is a national and state organization of Catholic women aged 18 and older who meet under the motto of Charity and Unity. The court gathers on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM in the Our Lady of Lourdes church hall. Members promote quality-of-life issues, support education through scholarships, work in the community, and raise funds for various charities. Spiritual, social, and cultural activities round out the work of the court.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society, founded locally in 1948, ministers to the poor and needy of the parishes. The work is funded by the donations placed in the St. Vincent de Paul boxes at the church exits and by the generosity of donors to the food pantry.
The Homebound Ministry brings the Eucharist to parishioners who cannot attend Mass. The collaborative is always looking for new Eucharistic ministers willing to visit the homebound and to bring Communion to nursing home residents. The Digital Media Ministry supports the technology and presentations used in the parishes, and volunteers with computer and media skills are always welcome.
The Twentieth Century Catholic Club, founded in 1905, supports Catholic education through scholarships awarded annually since 1916 to deserving Catholic students. The club brings Catholic adults together for fellowship, service, and faith, with a special focus on the educational, social, and charitable aims of the Church.
The Parish Pastoral Council assists the pastor in the spiritual and liturgical work of the Tri-Parishes. Members are invited by the pastor to share in the shepherding of the people of Brockton, and the council is involved in most activities and programs affecting the liturgical and spiritual life of the collaborative.
Trinity Catholic Academy
Trinity Catholic Academy is the parish school of the Brockton Tri-Parish Collaborative, serving families in Brockton and the surrounding area. The school welcomes applications and offers financial aid to all qualified families. Information packets are available in English, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese, and the school can be reached at 508-583-6225. More information is available through the school's own presence at tcabrockton.org.
Office, Staff, and Online Resources
The Tri-Parish office is located at 439 West Street, Brockton, MA 02301. The main parish phone line is 508-586-4715. Office hours run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Sunday. The reception desk is staffed by Deirdre Wirzburger and Mimie Lecorps, who can be reached at receptionist@brocktoncatholic.org.
The pastoral team includes Fr. Matthew Westcott, Pastor; Fr. Joseph Larose, Parochial Vicar for the Haitian community; and Fr. Joaquim Furtado Garcia, priest for the Cape Verdean community. Deacon Tim Booker, Director of Faith Life and Ministry, coordinates Confirmation. Nancy LaMonica is the Faith Formation Coordinator for Grades 1 through 8. Scott Fearing serves as the Pastoral Assistant and OCIA Coordinator. Adaugo Ugocha handles administration and evangelization and coordinates weddings. Tom Gillespie is the Finance and Operations Manager. Sister Eugenia DaSilva serves as the Pastoral Coordinator for the Cape Verdean community.
Online giving is available for each of the three parishes through secure links. Donors can set up one-time or recurring gifts, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly, with withdrawals from a bank account or charges to a credit card. Online giving is also used for Religious Education tuition payments, Christmas and Easter flowers, and special collections.
Sunday and holy day Masses are livestreamed on the Tri-Parishes YouTube channel and shared on the Tri-Parishes Facebook page. The collaborative maintains an active social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube under the names "Brockton Tri-Parishes" and "Tri-Parishes of Brockton." The site itself is available in English, Portuguese, and French.
Sacramental Records and Closed Parishes
Copies of sacramental records for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, and other sacraments may be requested through the parish office for sacraments celebrated at any of the three parishes or at the closed parishes of St. Edward, St. Colman, St. Margaret, Sacred Heart, St. Nicholas in Abington, and Our Lady of Ostrabrama. Many older records from the closed parishes are available through the Archdiocese of Boston Archives, which serves as a repository for the historical sacramental life of the Brockton Catholic community.
Beliefs and the Catholic Faith
The Catholic faith of the collaborative is grounded in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the seven sacraments celebrated by the Church. The Sacraments are described as outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ to help individuals in their spiritual life and to grow in holiness. The three Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. The two Sacraments of Healing are Penance (Reconciliation) and Anointing of the Sick. The two Sacraments of Vocation are Marriage and Holy Orders. Through the sacraments, Jesus remains with His people, strengthening, healing, feeding, and forgiving them as they face life's challenges.
The collaborative's own description of its mission reads: "Deeply committed to Jesus Christ, we endeavor to become a unified community of faith, worship, and service. We strive to be a warm, welcoming and caring parish in which the gifts and talents of all, young and old, are recognized and graciously used to nourish others." That mission is lived out across the three parishes, three languages, and one shared faith that has gathered Catholics in Brockton for generations.