St. John's Catholic Church (Worcester, Massachusetts) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
St. John`s Catholic Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	44 Temple St., Worcester, Massachusetts
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1845
Architect	P.W. Ford
Architectural style	Greek Revival
MPS	Worcester MRA
NRHP reference No.	80000619
Added to NRHP	March 05, 1980

St. John's Catholic Church, started in 1834, is a very old Roman Catholic church in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is the oldest Catholic church in the city. It is also the oldest Catholic church in New England, except for those in Boston. The church building, built in 1845, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.

History of St. John's Church
Leaders of St. John's Church
Church Design and Inside Look
Basement Church Area
Church Staff
See also

History of St. John's Church

St. John's Church in Worcester, Massachusetts

How the Church Started

Catholic people began moving to the Worcester area around 1826. Many of them were Irish people who came to build railroads and the Blackstone Canal. When they first arrived, they did not have any priests with them. All the churches in the area were Protestant churches.

A person named Robert Laverty asked Bishop Benedict Fenwick of Boston to send a priest to Worcester. He wanted a priest to hold Catholic church services, called Mass.

So, Father James Fitton, who was from Boston, started visiting Worcester every month in 1834. He began building a church on Front Street. This church was called "Christ's Church." It was finished in 1836. This building was used as a church, a home for the priest (called a rectory), a Sunday school, and even a small hospital.

After about 2,000 church members joined, a bigger building was needed. The church building you see today was built at 44 Temple Street in 1845. It was named after St. John in 1846.

Father Fitton also started a school called Mount Saint James Seminary. This school later became the College of the Holy Cross in 1839. A group called the Society of Jesus bought the school in 1843. They still own and run it today.

From 1836 to 1848, the Penobscot Indians from Maine would visit the church every winter.

A "Mother Church" for Other Areas

The house where the priests live today was built in 1865. When the Diocese of Springfield was created in 1870, Father Patrick T. O'Reilly became its first Bishop. He made the house at St. John's the main office for the Springfield Diocese. He also continued to be the priest at St. John's.

Later, when the Worcester Diocese was created in 1950, St. John's became known as "The Mother Church of the Diocese." This means it was the first and most important Catholic church in the area. However, because of its beautiful design, St. Paul's Parish was chosen as the main church (called the cathedral) for the Worcester Diocese.

Special Traditions

Since 1922, a special prayer event called a Novena of Grace has been held every year from March 4th to 12th. It honors St. Francis Xavier.

The first charismatic prayer group in Worcester started meeting at St. John's in 1970. This group is still active today.

From the 1980s until 2008, a special evening Mass was held on Saturdays at 9:15 PM.

"Preserve the Flame" Project

In 2004, during the Labor Day weekend, part of the church's ceiling fell into the main worship area. It damaged the altar and the baptism area. For a while, church services were held outside on the church lawn. Then, they moved to a nearby church and later to the basement of St. John's.

Because the basement space was small, big events like Confirmation and First Communion were held at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Repairs were finished in September 2005. A special Mass to celebrate the church's reopening was held on October 15, 2005. Bishop Robert J. McManus led the service.

Leaders of St. John's Church

Rev. James Fitton 1834–1843
Rev. Adolphus Williamson 1843–1845
Rev. Matthew W. Gibson 1845–1856
Rev. John Boyce 1856–1864
Most Rev. Patrick T. O’Reilly, D.D. 1864–1885
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Griffin, D.D. P.R. 1885–1910
Rev. Thomas S. Donohue, P.R. 1911–1922
Rev. Edward J. Fitzgerald, P.R. 1923–1937
Rev. John F. McDonnell, P.R. 1937–1944
Rev. Michael E. Lahey, P.R. 1944–1953
Rev. John Donohue 1954–1963
Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. O’Brien 1964–1967
Rev. James B. Kelly (Priest-in-charge) 1967–1971
Most Rev. Timothy J. Harrington 1969–1972*
Rev. William W. McGovern (administrator) 1971–1972
Rev. Cyril A. LeBeau 1972–1977
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Scollen (administrator) 1977–1982; (pastorate) 1983–1984
Rev. Michael G. Foley 1984–1991
Rev. Charles F. Monroe 1991–1994
Rev. Joseph A. Coonan 1994–2008**
Rev. John F. Madden (administrator) 2004–2008; (pastorate) 2008–present
Rev. Richard A. Jakubauskas (chaplain for the Lithuanian community) 2008–present

Church Design and Inside Look

The church building looks a bit like a Baptist or Puritan church. This might make visitors think it is a Protestant church. The tall tower on top, called a steeple, has been there since 1951. The brick walls have been part of the church since it was built in 1846.

The inside walls have been painted many times. The most recent painting was in 2005. The main part of the church has 50 rows of pews, with 4 seats in each row. This means about 1,000 people can sit there. There is also a special section for people with disabilities.

Upstairs, there are balconies on both sides of the main area (called the nave). These balconies have enough space for another 1,000 people. In total, the church can hold 2,000 people and 100 musicians.

In the front part of the church, called the sanctuary, the main altar is in the middle. The Blessed Sacrament (a special part of the Catholic Mass) is kept behind it. The original altar, used for the older Tridentine Mass, holds the tabernacle. It is built in a style called Romanesque.

The pulpit, where the priest gives his sermon, is to the left of the altar. The priest's chair is on the right. To the left, there is a special area for prayer dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You might also see statues of other saints, like St. Francis Xavier and St. Theresa, there. The area for baptisms, called the baptistry, is on the right. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The floor is made of hardwood.

Basement Church Area

The basement church is in half of the building's basement. Classes for learning about the Catholic faith are taught here. These classes help kids get ready for the main church services upstairs. The Blessed Sacrament is only lit during Mass in the basement.

This smaller church area has an altar rail from before Vatican II (a big meeting of Catholic leaders). The tabernacle is to the right of the altar. The main altar is in the center, with a bench used for the newer Novus Ordo Mass. The floor is made of marble.

Church Staff

Rev. John F. Madden, Pastor
Rev. Richard A. Jakubauskas, Lithuanian Chaplain
Msgr. Edmond T. Tinsley, Assisting Priest
Dianne Gustowski, Religious Education Coordinator
Dr. Sean Redrow, Organist and Director of Music Ministry
David M. Moulton, Organist and Asst. Director of Music Ministry
Lucia Clemente Falco, Organist
John LeDoux, Musician
Jane Rabion, Safe Environment Coordinator
Jean Grenier, Altar Server Director Emeritus

St. John's Catholic Church (Worcester, Massachusetts) facts for kids

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