St. Mary's Catholic Church stands on Church Street in Holliston, Massachusetts, across from the town hall, a parish of more than 2,200 families within the Archdiocese of Boston. Founded in 1870 by Irish Catholics who helped carve the Boston and Worcester railroad through the hills of central Massachusetts, the parish has grown into one of the larger faith communities in the archdiocese. It is known for the beauty of its liturgy, the strength of its youth ministry, and a long-running tradition of social outreach that has reached from Holliston to Roxbury and from the Holliston Pantry Shelf to Family Promise Metrowest.
A Church Built by Irish Immigrants
The story of St. Mary's is the story of the Irish immigrants who came to Holliston in the 1840s. They had arrived to work the deep cut through Phipps Hill for the Boston and Worcester railroad, earning a dollar or a dollar and a quarter a day, and they built rough cottages near what is now Arch Street. Before there was a parish, Catholics in Holliston walked seven miles to St. Mary's in Milford for Mass, or joined 75 or 80 others making their way along the railroad track and road to worship in the old Town Hall, where visiting priests would hear confessions and celebrate the Eucharist.
In December 1870, Holliston was named a district parish including Medway and Bellingham, and Father Richard Quinlan became the founding pastor. Father Quinlan dreamed of a simple church with extraordinary stained glass windows and an organ second to none in the archdiocese. He built the present St. Mary's slowly, unwilling to incur a large debt. The first Mass was celebrated in the basement of the new church on Christmas, 1873, and the rectory was purchased shortly after. Early in 1883, Archbishop John Williams came to dedicate the church, consecrated to be the Home of God under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fourteen pastors have served St. Mary's. Father Quinlan stayed 42 years, until his death in 1912. Father Andrew Fitzgerald, considered the second founder, recruited teachers and ministered through the years of World War I. Father Patrick Lyons brought the Sisters of St. Joseph to teach in the parish and founded a chapter of the Massachusetts Catholic Women's Guild that continues today. Father William Haley served as the thirteenth pastor and guided the parish through the largest building projects in its history, including the Religious Education Center, the renovation of the sanctuary, the 1995 expansion that added two transept wings and 200 seats, and the acquisition of the Hutchings-Votey pipe organ. Since October 2005, Father Mark J. Coiro, a 1990 graduate of St. Anselm College and a former U.S. Army Reserve chaplain, has served as the fourteenth pastor.
For much of its history St. Mary's has had a close relationship with the Xaverian Fathers, whose Our Lady of Fatima Shrine sits along Route 126 in Holliston. The Xaverians continue to celebrate some Masses at the parish and provide confessors for the religious education program.
Mass, Reconciliation, and the Eucharistic Customs
Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM. Saturday Vigil Masses are offered at 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. On Sunday, Mass is celebrated at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:30 AM. The 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is the Family Mass and includes Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) from mid-September through May, with children processing to the lower church for a celebration of the scriptures geared to their understanding. The 11:30 AM Sunday Mass is the Sung Mass, where the Adult Choir leads traditional music.
Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays from Noon to 12:45 PM in the Reconciliation Room located to the left of the church sanctuary, which is arranged so that the penitent may choose face-to-face or anonymous confession. Confession is also available by advance appointment. Adoration takes place on First Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 AM.
Low-gluten hosts are available at every Mass. Communicants approach the altar via the main aisle on the right side and simply say "low gluten" to be presented with the host. Tabernacle, Presence Lamp, and the communion guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops shape the parish's practice of the Eucharist, including a long-standing custom of kneeling for a silent Hail Mary at the close of Mass as a prayerful thanksgiving after Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to share in this practice wherever they worship.
First Communion preparation begins in Grade 1 and is completed in Grade 2. Confirmation is a two-year course of study in Grades 7 and 8, after which the bishop anoints candidates with the sacred chrism and they are considered full members of the Catholic Church. Adults preparing for Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation journey through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, which begins in October or November each fall and culminates at the Great Easter Vigil. The parish is also connected to a sister parish in Beit Sahour.
Anointing of the Sick is offered any time by appointment, and the parish asks to be called as soon as a parishioner becomes aware of a serious illness or upcoming surgery. Funerals and the planning of Vigil, Funeral Mass, and burial are coordinated through the rectory.
Faith Formation from Pre-K Through Confirmation
The Religious Education Program at St. Mary's is built upon the foundation of Sunday Mass and family prayer. The youngest students experience Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based program held in an atrium designed to engage very young children. Students in Grades 1 through 6 study the faith with grade-appropriate content, and First Communion preparation spans Grades 1 and 2. Confirmation is offered in Grades 7 and 8, and older students are directed to OCIA. Home-based learning is an option for Grades 3 through 5 and may be available by exception for Grades 1 and 6.
The program is directed by Fran Crespi, a longtime catechist who holds a Master's Degree in Theology and Ministry from St. John's Seminary. Tuition assistance is offered to any family in need, and no child is ever denied enrollment because of finances. Special needs support is built into the program, and parents are encouraged to share any learning challenges during registration so that classroom accommodations can be arranged. Jennifer Burgett serves as Religious Education Secretary and as liaison to the sister parish in Beit Sahour.
Registration opens each year on July 1, with a deadline of mid-August. The Religious Education Packet, online registration, the volunteer application, and the teacher/monitor session selection are all completed online. Any confirmed and practicing Catholic may volunteer to teach, and team teaching is encouraged.
Youth Ministry: TGIF, MSYG, and Vacation Bible School
St. Mary's is widely recognized for the strength of its youth ministry. The High School Youth Ministry, known as TGIF (Teens Gather in Faith), meets monthly on Sunday evenings during the school year from 7:00 to 8:45 PM in Father Haley Hall. Open to teens from any faith tradition, public school or private, TGIF is built around three pillars: community, faith, and service. Each meeting includes games, food, a relatable faith message, and Adoration and seasonal studies during Advent and Lent. The highlight of the year is a week-long summer mission trip; since 2005, TGIF teens have served in Mississippi, Jamaica, Texas, Florida, Vermont, and New Jersey, completing home repairs, building ramps, painting, and serving in shelters and camps. The teens gather for daily Mass and donuts on no-school days during the summer and frequently fill pews at weekend Masses together. Lisa Dufault, a Holliston resident and graduate of Anna Maria College, serves as High School Youth Minister.
The Middle School Youth Group (MSYG) meets on the second Sunday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, October through May, in the Parish Center. Open to any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, MSYG mixes prayer, icebreaker games, spiritual topics, intercessory prayer, social time, and snacks. Monthly social or service trips round out the program, and faithful attendance at meetings keeps youth eligible for upcoming trips.
Vacation Bible School takes place for one week each year in late July, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to noon, and is open to children entering Kindergarten through Grade 6. Each year carries a theme through which lessons about Jesus Christ are shared; recent themes have included Stellar 2023, Scuba 2024, and True North 2025. VBS registration is limited to 100 children, and teens entering Grade 7 and adults are invited to volunteer as crew leaders and station leaders. The parish also sponsors a Boy Scouts troop and offers a Youth Lector program for students in 7th Grade and higher.
The Hutchings-Votey Pipe Organ and Music Ministry
Music has always been an important part of the liturgical life at St. Mary's. The Hutchings-Votey pipe organ was built in 1906 for St. Mary's Church in Southbridge, Massachusetts, and was disposed of by that parish in the early 1970s. Father Haley found it in pieces in a barn at the Laws Organ Company in Wenham, negotiated its purchase, and entrusted its rebuilding to the Kinsey-Angestein Organ Company of Wrentham, Massachusetts. The instrument was refurbished piece by piece, with 1,165 pipes ranging from 16 feet to 1/16 inch in length, mostly metal composed of 40 percent tin and 60 percent lead. The original 1906 wood case was stripped, glued, and refinished. The organ was dedicated on September 8, 1979, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. It is an encased mechanical-action tracker organ with two 61-note keyboards, a 30-note pedal, 21 ranks, and 17 stops including a four-rank Mixture on the Great and three solo stops: trumpet, oboe, and cornet.
The Adult Choir sings and leads the assembly with traditional classical music at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass, for the liturgies of Holy Week, and for other special liturgies during the year. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays in the lower church from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, September through June, and the choir is open to both professionally trained singers and amateurs. Professional section leaders strengthen the sound each week. The Children's Choir welcomes singers in Grades 3 through 6 with musical games, kinesthetic activities, and thoughtful reflection on the music of the faith. A new Youth Music Jam program for middle and high school musicians in Grade 7 and up invites singers and instrumentalists to collaborate on Christian song genres, harmonize, and improvise. Music for weddings is offered by the parish through Abigail Kelley-Lanser, Director of Music, who holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance with an Emphasis in Church Music from St. Olaf College.
WINGS, Cor, and Parish Fellowship
Women in God's Spirit (WINGS) is a faith enrichment group for women of all ages - single, married, separated, divorced, widowed, or in religious life - who seek to grow in their relationship with God. The group meets on Wednesday mornings during the school year from 9:45 to 11:15 AM in Father Haley Hall and via Zoom, with childcare available for those who give advance notice. WINGS runs three seasons: the Fall Season explores Catholic tradition and teaching, the Winter Season focuses on Scripture study and sharing, and the Spring Season, the faith focus season, helps women discern ways to put their faith into practice in family life, community, and the world. The archdiocesan WINGS moderator, Jennifer Schiller, coordinates the program locally.
Cor is a newer parish offering for men aged 18 and over. The name means "heart" in Greek and reflects the program's focus on claiming Christ as king of the heart. Cor meets on the second and second-to-last Thursdays of each month at St. Mary's for prayer, formation, and fraternity. Through bible study, catechesis, prayer, and friendship, men encounter Christ and welcome him into daily life.
Other parish fellowship groups include the Catholic Women's Group, which meets on the second Wednesday of the month for lunch and friendship from March through December; the Mom's Prayer Group, which meets every Tuesday from 9:45 to 11:00 AM in Father Haley Hall; the Prayer Shawl Ministry (PSALM), which knits and crochets shawls, wraps, and lap blankets for the ill, bereaved, or those experiencing change; the Welcoming Committee, which greets new families; the Art and Environment Committee, which decorates the church and grounds for the seasons; the Marriage Fellowship; and the Knights of Columbus council founded as a joint effort of several parishioners. The Marriage Fellowship also supports the parish's pastoral care for engaged and married couples.
Outreach: The Food Pantry, Family Promise, Addiction Ministry, and Beyond
Social outreach has long been a hallmark of St. Mary's. The parish maintains a strong relationship with the Holliston Pantry Shelf, which was established in 1993 and now serves the community from 73 Charles Street. A food donation bin sits in the Parish Center lobby by the main parking lot doors on the Elm Street side of the church, and the parish bulletin lists items most needed each week. On Holy Thursday and Thanksgiving Day, a special collection is taken up for the Pantry Shelf.
Through Family Promise Metrowest, a faith-based volunteer program that helps families experiencing temporary homelessness, St. Mary's serves as a support congregation. Family Promise is based at the First Baptist Church in Natick and involves sixteen host congregations and fifteen support congregations across MetroWest. St. Mary's parishioners provide financial assistance, meals, volunteers, and supplies, and may serve as meal-time, overnight, activities, or laundry volunteers at host congregations.
The Addiction Ministry is led by Deacon John Barry and his wife Diane, both iTHIRST-trained companions certified by Seton Hall University and board members of the Holliston Drug & Alcohol Awareness Coalition. The Barrys walk with individuals and family members affected by substance use disorders through their lived experience, fellowship in Twelve Step programs, and Catholic spiritual companionship. Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous both meet at St. Mary's, providing regular recovery fellowship in the parish building.
The Give a Gift Christmas outreach began at St. Mary's in 1988 and supports St. Mary of the Angels in Roxbury and Holy Family Parish in the Dorchester Collaborative. Originally coordinated by Sister Mary Ricci, the program collects toys, sneakers, clothing, and other gifts at a designated weekend before Christmas. Volunteers sort and load the gifts on Sunday afternoon and drive them to Boston, with over a thousand gifts delivered each year.
The Ministry to the Homebound, directed by Deacon Marty Breinlinger and his wife Mary Alice, trains parishioners to bring pastoral visits and Holy Communion to those unable to leave their homes. The Respect Life Committee supports the work of the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office and Project Rachel. Parishioners are also active with Worldwide Marriage Encounter, Catholic Charities of Boston, Project Just Because in the MetroWest community, the Holliston Pantry Shelf, and a local Pax Christi group hosted by the Xaverian Missionaries at Fatima Shrine.
Weddings at St. Mary's
Couples preparing for marriage at St. Mary's are asked to meet with a parish priest at least six months before the desired wedding date. The parish offers both a Nuptial Mass and a ceremony without Mass, and the couple works with the priest to select readings, plan the liturgy, and arrange for any visiting clergy. Visiting priests or deacons are welcome but must receive delegation from the pastor, and out-of-state clergy must obtain authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of State. A Marriage Preparation Program (Pre-Cana or Transformed in Love) is required, and a recently issued baptismal certificate with all sacramental notations must be mailed directly from the church of Baptism.
Weddings may be scheduled any day of the week. On Saturdays, weddings may be scheduled no earlier than 10:15 AM and no later than 3:00 PM. On Sundays, weddings may begin no earlier than 2:00 PM and no later than 4:00 PM. The center aisle of the church is 68 feet long. There are 20 pews on either side of the center aisle seating up to 400 people, and the church has an elevator making it handicap accessible. Restrooms are located in the Parish Center, which is handicap accessible from the main parking lot. Two flower arrangements are suggested for the sanctuary, with arrangements remaining in place for the weekend Masses. Flowers are not placed on the altar table itself.
The Music Ministry assists couples in selecting music for the wedding and offers a wide repertoire of processional and recessional pieces, including works by Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, Vivaldi, Wagner, Mendelssohn, Charpentier, Clarke, Haydn, Satie, and Beethoven. Guest musicians are welcome with the priest's approval. Alcoholic beverages, gum, flower petals, confetti, birdseed, rice, and balloons are not permitted on church property; bubbles and bells are allowed.
The Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministry at St. Mary's is a vocation open to many. Altar Servers, in grades 4 through 12, prepare the credence table and sanctuary for Mass and assist at weddings, First Communion, Confirmation, Holy Days, Holy Week, Christmas, and Easter. New servers complete four 1.5-hour training sessions each fall and are formally installed at a Sunday Mass. The parish takes all servers on a day-long trip to Six Flags New England each summer as a thank you for their ministry.
Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Masses offered on Saturday, Sunday, Holy Days, and other special services. At Masses without a deacon, Lectors also offer the Prayers of the Faithful and lead the Entrance Antiphon, Lamb of God, and Communion Antiphon at Masses without music. Youth Lectors in 7th Grade and above are most often assigned to the 9:30 AM Family Mass. Ministers of the Eucharist bring Holy Communion to the homebound and to those in hospital. Ushers welcome and seat the assembly. The Art and Environment Committee decorates God's house with flowers, greenery, colored tapestries, the Advent Wreath, the Christmas Crèche, and more. Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass from mid-September through May for children in Kindergarten through Grade 5, with adult leaders and congregation monitors providing ministry each week.
Visiting St. Mary's
St. Mary's Catholic Church is located at 8 Church Street in downtown Holliston, directly across from the Town Hall. From the north or south, take I-495 to exit 19 in Milford, follow Route 16 east for 4.5 miles, and the church will be on the right. From the east or west, take the Massachusetts Turnpike to I-495 South and follow the same directions. The rectory can be reached at 508-429-4427, and the Religious Education Office at 508-429-6076.
New parishioners are invited to register through the online registration form. The parish offers Automatic Giving through participating banks and WeShare Online Giving for electronic stewardship. Mass is livestreamed, and recordings are available. Bulletin announcements, weekly bulletins, and monthly newsletters are posted regularly. Volunteer opportunities span liturgical, educational, social, and outreach ministries, and all adult volunteers must complete the Archdiocesan CORI background check, Code of Conduct, and Protecting God's Children training before serving with youth. The parish stands ready to welcome those who come to pray, to walk alongside them, and to share the mercy of Jesus Christ in Holliston and beyond.