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It has been a busy summer at. St. Mary’s since our Church Renovation project began at the end of June. Because of the challenges with construction and renovation projects that we are all facing at this point in time, it was decided to divide the work into two phases. The first is the work that has been taking place this summer which required closing the church for weekend and daily Masses. That work is nearing comple- tion, and we will be able to return to our church for Masses next weekend  September 10 & 11. Yes, just in time for our Centennial Mass! Whew!

St. Mary’s Parish was established on September 10, 1922 by Bishop Thomas O’Leary, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, who also on the same day named Fr. Thomas McKoan the first resident pastor for the town of Shrewsbury. St. Theresa’s Church on Main Street continued to be used as the parish church while the mission in the Lake Shore area was moved from the Palais Royal, first to a tent on the grounds behind St. Anne’s Cemetery and then to the old dye building across the street.

The ending weeks of August are always hectic, busy and even exciting as students and their families begin a new school year. As students were finishing up their summer reading, I had the opportunity to read more about the early days of St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s in Shrewsbury and St. Mary of the Hills in Boylston. This September 10th marks the 100th anniversary of St. Mary’s Parish and the appointment of Fr. Thomas F. McKoan as the first Pastor . Happy 100th Birthday St. Mary’s Parish! We are looking forward to celebrating our 100th Anniversary on September 11th with a Mass & Reception as we open a year long observance of our centennial. Please be sure to join us!

This September 10th marks the 100th anniversary of St. Mary’s Parish and the appointment of Fr. Thomas F. McKoan as the first Pastor . Happy 100th Birthday St. Mary’s Parish! We are looking forward to celebrating our 100th Anniversary on September 11th with a Mass & Reception as we open a year long observance of our centennial. Please be sure to join us!

Dear Parishioners, ADVENT is here. It is the Season of HOPE and EXPECTATION. The Advent and Christmas seasons will look very different for all of us this year – in our homes, in our parish, in our schools and workplaces.

8th grade religious education students in Barbara Jorda's class gathered last weekend to prepare 75 homeless care bags for Net of Compassion in Worcester.  

What a difference a year makes? We are all experiencing something we wouldn’t have dreamed of a year ago. COVID-19 has changed the way we do things and go about our daily lives. We have all had to adapt to a “new normal” way of living. During this season of Thanksgiving, we want to sincerely express our gratitude to you, our Parishioners.

St. Mary’s Parish extends our prayers and congratulations to Seminarian Juan Parra who is in the Third Year of Theology at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore.

Thanks to your generosity, St. Mary Parish continued to support our sister parish, St. Michel, in Roche-auBateau, even during the COVID pandemic.

November is the month when the Church pauses to remember and honor all our brothers and sisters who have been called home to Christ. At St. Mary’s, we also place a memorial book on the altar for parishioners to write the names of their loved ones so that we can remember them at Mass throughout the month. On Monday, November 2nd, we will celebrate a special Mass of Remembrance at 5:00 p.m.

October is Respect Life Month in the Catholic Church of the United States. As Catholics, we believe that every life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and so each and every person has inherent dignity. 

We extend our prayers, blessings, good wishes and congratulations to Mary Layden who is celebrating her 100th Birthday today - Sunday, September 27th. Mary is the oldest life-long member of St. Mary’s Parish.

As we prepare for this coming Fall and the re-opening of our schools, we write to you today to share that the 2020 St. Mary’s Family Festival has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  As you know, the purpose of the annual Family Festival is to provide a fun-filled weekend for our school, parish and local community while, at the same time, raising funds for our parish school and religious education programs.     

I am pleased to announce that our search for a new Director/Coordinator of High School Religious Education and Youth Ministry has been successful. Mark Smith will be joining the St. Mary’s Parish Staff this summer on August 1st. Mark is a native of Derry, New Hampshire and a 2019 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology.

We extend our congratulations and prayerful best wishes to JOSE CARVAJAL who was ordained a Deacon this Saturday, June 20, 2020 by Bishop Robert McManus at St. Paul’s Cathedral and who will join us on Sunday, June 21 at the 5:30 pm Mass to serve and preach as Deacon.

We extend our congratulations, prayers and best wishes to Shawn Noronha, a graduating senior at Shrewsbury High School, who has been named as a 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Semifinalist.

St. Mary's has participated in the CMHA Walk for the Homeless for over 15 years. The walk supports the Worcester county members who are homeless, at risk for becoming homeless, and those struggling with hunger. Help is given to 500 families to maintain stable housing as well as assist over 1100 people to have safe shelter, healthy meals, and household goods. Unfortunately, due to Covid 19 the 35th annual walk took place virtually. 

First, I would like to thank all of you for welcoming me here at Saint Mary’s. Your willingness to host seminarians every year is a great gift to our diocese and to the universal Church. I already know that Saint Mary’s has much to offer me in my own priestly formation. Monsignor Rose asked me to write a little bit more about myself for you to know me better.

The Sacrament of Penance will be offered once again on Saturday afternoon from 3:30 – 4:15 pm beginning next Saturday, June 6th. Our parish confessional remains unsafe due to the closeness of the priest and penitent seated only a few feet apart or separated only by a grill not designed to prevent virus transmission.

We are excited that the day has finally come for us to offer public celebrations of the Mass and the sacraments. Since there are still restrictions in place set forth by Governor Baker, Bishop McManus has continued suspension of the obligation to attend Sunday Worship until December 31, 2020. That means we want to welcome those who feel that they can comply with the restrictions set forth by the Commonwealth - and who are not in a high risk group.