On South Broadway, on the south bank of the Merrimack River, the red-brick walls and stained-glass windows of Saint Patrick Parish have anchored a stretch of Lawrence for more than a century. Founded in 1868 to serve Irish Catholic families drawn to the new mill city, the parish has grown into one of the most diverse congregations in the Merrimack Valley, celebrating Mass each Sunday in three languages, running a meal program that serves more than 225,000 free dinners a year, and sponsoring a PreK-8 Catholic academy on Parker Street. To drive past the corner of Broadway and Salem Street is to see a parish whose identity has been shaped by immigration, by generations of Eucharistic devotion, and by a long willingness to feed, teach, and accompany the people of Lawrence.
From a Wooden Chapel to the Red-Brick Church on Broadway
In 1868, Reverend James Taaffee, O.P., pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, purchased a plot of land at the corner of South Broadway and Salem Streets to serve the swelling Irish Catholic population in the "new City" south of the Merrimack. Father Taaffee died within months of the purchase. His successor, Reverend William Orr, oversaw construction of a wooden chapel on the site of the present rectory, and the first Mass was celebrated there on Christmas Day, 1869. The building was blessed and named in honor of Saint Patrick on March 17, 1870, and for about three years it remained a mission of Immaculate Conception Parish.
In 1872, Reverend James Murphy was installed as the first resident pastor, formally establishing Saint Patrick's as a parish serving South Lawrence and North Andover. As immigrants continued to pour into the mills, the original wooden church quickly became too small. The foundations of a larger building were laid in 1881, and Catholic families from South Lawrence and North Andover, after their shifts at the mills, gave their labor to raise the walls. The lower church was dedicated in 1882 under Reverend Michael T. McManus. The upper church, the great red-brick sanctuary that still holds the parish today, was completed and dedicated on June 17, 1894. The rectory was added in 1884.
Through the twentieth century, the parish continued to expand. Reverend John J. Gilday, pastor from 1900 to 1933, opened Saint Patrick School in 1906. The Sisters of Charity of Halifax staffed the school, a second school building, and a high school for girls, raising generations of children in the faith. Monsignor Edmund D. Daly guided the parish through the Great Depression and World War II, overseeing a Holy Name Society of 1,200 men and many building improvements. Monsignor Joseph P. Burke acquired the old Methodist church on Parker Street as a parish center, and after a damaging 1966 fire he added new side entrances and an elevator to the main building. The girls' high school closed in 1971, and Monsignor Burke guided the parish through the implementation of Vatican II. In 1987, during the Marian Year, a Marian shrine was designed and constructed in the parking lot behind the church.
Reverend Paul B. O'Brien, installed as pastor in February 2001, has shaped the most recent chapter of the parish's life. Under his pastorate, Saint Patrick's grew from an English-and-Spanish congregation into a tri-lingual, multi-cultural one with the addition of Vietnamese-language ministry. The Cor Unum Meal Center opened its doors in September 2006, and Lawrence Catholic Academy, a city-wide PreK-8 Catholic elementary school serving about 450 children, was established in 2010 on the site of the former Saint Patrick School.
One Parish, Three Languages
Sunday Mass is offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, with daily Mass added in English and an evening Spanish Mass on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 pm in English
- Sunday: 7:00 am English, 8:30 am Spanish, 10:00 am English, 12:30 pm Spanish, 3:00 pm Vietnamese, 5:30 pm English
- Weekday English Mass: Monday through Saturday at 7:00 am
- Weekday Spanish Mass: Tuesday and Friday at 7:00 pm
Baptism in English is normally celebrated on Sundays at 2:00 pm. Couples interested in marrying at Saint Patrick's begin meeting with a priest or deacon at least six months before the wedding date. The Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person, and Father Paul publishes a weekly homily podcast.
Confession and Eucharistic Adoration
The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in English on Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:45 pm in the upper church, and in Spanish on Fridays from 6:00 to 6:45 pm in the lower church. Eucharistic Adoration is celebrated on Fridays from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the lower church, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance for seven hours. Parishioners sign up in one-hour timeslots to keep watch, and once every hour is covered by a committed adorer, the parish confirms a regular weekly schedule of Exposition. Written guidelines for adorers are available from the parish office.
The Seven Sacraments at Saint Patrick's
Baptism. Children through age six are baptized after parents and godparents complete two preparation classes, held at 7:00 pm on the first Monday and Wednesday of each month. Children seven and older enter through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC), which begins every September and culminates at the Easter Vigil. The parish celebrates baptism in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese; the schedule of dates is available from the parish office. There is no fee; the traditional sacrificial offering supports the work of the parish. Godparents must be confirmed practicing Catholics at least sixteen years old, only one sponsor of each sex may be chosen, and two godparents of the same sex are never permitted under canon law. One godparent, and only one, may be a baptized member of a non-Catholic Christian community.
Marriage. Engaged couples meet with a priest or deacon at least six months before the planned date to discuss their freedom to marry in the Catholic Church. Most weekday afternoons and evenings are open for weddings; Saturdays are available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 5:30 pm onward. The church's liturgical schedule cannot accommodate weddings on Sundays. Wedding music is planned in consultation with Music Director Bernie Choiniere, and brides and grooms must present a civil license from any Massachusetts city or town hall at least two weeks before the wedding. Flowers placed in the church remain there after the ceremony, and runners are discouraged because of the length and tiling of the sanctuary.
Anointing of the Sick. Any Catholic whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age, or who is facing serious surgery, may receive the sacrament. The parish urges priests to be called without delay, and priests from Saint Patrick's anoint the sick at home, in hospitals, and in nursing homes throughout the Lawrence area.
First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA. Religious Education prepares children in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Adults and older children seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church enter through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), coordinated through the parish office, and baptized but uncatechized Catholics use the same process to complete their sacramental initiation.
Faith Formation in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
Under the direction of Diane Jarvis, the parish's Religious Education program is offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and is open to children and adults with disabilities. The program aims to enhance the foundation that parents and guardians give their children, with catechists helping young people establish a personal and loving relationship with Christ, who is at the heart of the program. A one-week Vacation Bible School is held each summer, drawing volunteers of all ages who want to share their faith with God's children. The parish's Prayer Line publishes a monthly list of intercessory intentions for parishioners who commit to five minutes of daily prayer; members who cannot come to the church may have the list mailed to them.
Cor Unum Meal Center: 225,000 Meals a Year
The most visible work of Saint Patrick's in the wider Lawrence community is the Cor Unum Meal Center, Latin for "One Heart," located at 191 Salem Street in Lawrence. The center serves free, hot, restaurant-quality meals to anyone who walks through the door, every day of the year, including holidays, serving more than 225,000 meals annually. Volunteers of all ages prepare meals, cook, serve, clean, and maintain the state-of-the-art facility. The center is funded entirely from sources outside the parish's regular offertory, with leadership reserving funds for long-term capital improvements and unforeseen needs. Cor Unum is described by the parish as "a uniquely powerful opportunity to put into action the heart of Christian discipleship."
Lawrence Catholic Academy: PreK Through Grade 8
Saint Patrick's is a sponsoring parish of Lawrence Catholic Academy, a Nursery-through-Grade 8 Catholic school serving about 450 students at 101 Parker Street, on the parish campus. The school offers a full curriculum "enlightened by Catholic teaching," in a faith-filled and supportive environment. The faculty works to permeate the school with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, and in partnership with families and the wider Church community, the school fosters the spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of every student. Saint Patrick's contributes tens of thousands of dollars a year toward the operation of the academy, which the parish calls "the best educational opportunity for most children in Lawrence." Milestones from kindergarten graduation to the eighth-grade graduation mark the rhythm of each school year, joined to the parish's liturgical calendar through the annual May Procession.
Music Across Three Languages
Music is a defining feature of worship at Saint Patrick's. The English-language Adult Choir has "blessed St. Patrick's with beautiful music for many years" and sings for Sunday Mass and major feasts. The Children's Choir raises voices in praise at the Sunday Mass and is open to children of the parish. In Spanish, the Coro 8:30 and Coro 12:30 lead congregational singing and bring instrumentalists into the liturgy. At the 3:00 pm Vietnamese Mass, the Vietnamese Choir blends vocalists and instrumentalists into an uplifting experience of prayer and song. Cantors lead the assembly at every Mass, and a Television Team operates the cameras that bring Sunday Mass into homes and onto the parish's livestream. The ability to read music and sing on pitch is required to serve as a cantor, with training offered by the Music Director.
The Hispanic Apostolate and Spanish-Speaking Community Life
The Hispanic Apostolate at Saint Patrick's, directed by Hosffman and Guadalupe Ospino, weaves together more than twenty Spanish-language groups, gatherings, and courses. Equipo San Pablo plans and reviews the work of the Apostolate each month. Cofradía del Sagrado Corazón consecrates the parish and the world through prayer and service every Friday at 6:00 pm, before the Spanish Mass. Círculo de Oración gathers after the 7:00 pm Spanish Mass on Tuesdays for prayer within the spirituality of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. The Comite de Actividades Marianas plans feasts for Our Lady of Divine Providence, Our Lady of Altagracia, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Movimento Pro-Vida organizes public witness for life in cooperation with other Pro-Life groups in Lawrence. Pastoral Matrimonial accompanies couples preparing for marriage and parents raising children. Cursos Bíblicos, taught twice a month on Saturdays, help Spanish-speaking parishioners grow in their understanding of God's Word. The Equipo Bautismo walks parents through each step of their children's baptisms. Cursillistas continue the formation begun at a three-day Cursillo, and for Spanish-speaking adults 55 and older, the Grupo de Adultos Mayores meets monthly for activities, reflection, and the religious practices that affirm Catholic identity.
The Vietnamese Faith Community
Vietnamese Catholics make Saint Patrick's their home. The 3:00 pm Sunday Mass in Vietnamese is the center of a growing part of parish life, animated by the Vietnamese Choir's blending of vocal and instrumental music. Religious Education classes prepare children for the sacraments in Vietnamese, and sacramental policies apply across all three parish languages, with translation support as needed.
Ministries of Time and Talent
Saint Patrick's runs more than sixty distinct ministries, and the parish encourages every parishioner to share time and talent. Liturgical roles include Altar Servers (open to children in third grade and above who have received First Communion), Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Cantors, Sacristans, the Altar Guild, Funeral Servers, and the Saint Matthew Guild, which counts the weekly offertory collections. Hospitality and service ministries include the Giving Tree (an Advent outreach from November to December that provides clothing for hundreds of children in need at Christmas), Saint Vincent (food, medicine, shelter assistance, household items, and transportation assistance for neighbors in need, with monthly nonperishable food collections), the Christian Visitation Committee (Communion and visits to the sick, homebound, and those in nursing homes), and Visitas a las Cárceles (monthly bilingual visits to inmates at the Essex County Correctional Alternative Center in Lawrence with Catholic reading materials, bible classes, and catechesis). Formation and small-group ministries include RCIA/RCIC, the Charismatic Prayer Group on Tuesdays, the Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests on the first Saturday of each month at 3:15 pm in the lower church, Pro-Life, the Movimento Pro-Vida, Our Lady's Sodality, the Stewardship Commission, the Prayer Line, and Friends of Saint Anne, who hand-sew baptismal robes for every infant baptized at the parish while praying for the child who will wear each robe. Sunday Night Basketball draws hundreds of teenagers to the gym each week. The CAP Team (Child Abuse Prevention Team) works with the Archdiocesan Child Advocacy Office to ensure that all parish staff and volunteers are trained in the Protecting God's Children program.
Pastoral Staff
The pastor is Reverend Paul B. O'Brien, who has served Saint Patrick's since 2001. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Reverend Alonso E. Macias and Weekend Assistant Reverend John Dello Russo, O.S.A. Two deacons, Julio J. Sanchez and George Escotto, serve at Masses and throughout parish life. The directors of the Hispanic Apostolate are Hosffman and Guadalupe Ospino. Music Director Bernie Choiniere leads the parish's choirs and plans music for weddings and funerals. Diane Jarvis coordinates Religious Education across English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The parish offices are at 118 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA 01843, telephone (978) 683-9416. Each year's First Communions, Confirmations, the Easter Vigil, and the academy's kindergarten and eighth-grade graduations are recorded in the parish's photo gallery.
Stewardship, FORMED, and the Saint Patrick Legacy Society
Parishioners support Saint Patrick's through the weekly offertory collection, the Monthly Parish Projects Collection, the Grand Annual Appeal, and the Spring Collection. The parish finishes its fiscal years with a balanced operating budget and maintains reserves across several categories. Online and automatic giving are managed through WeShare, a direct-giving program that allows monthly or weekly withdrawals from checking, savings, brokerage, or credit card accounts. Donations may be made securely online through the parish's giving portal, and Saint Patrick's is a 501(c)(3) organization. The parish also partners with FORMED, the Catholic study platform used by more than 3,000 parishes nationwide, offering parishioners free access to Catholic films, audio bible studies, audiobooks, and e-books in English and Spanish, with a phone app for the road. The Saint Patrick Legacy Society invites parishioners and friends of the parish to make a planned gift, ensuring that even after one's earthly journey, support continues for the work of Saint Patrick's in Lawrence.
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, a Catholic cemetery in North Andover, is owned and operated by Saint Patrick Parish. The cemetery operates on a stand-alone basis without subsidy from the parish's regular offertory and maintains a Perpetual Care Fund for ongoing grounds work, providing Catholic families across the Merrimack Valley with a place of burial under the parish's stewardship.
The Stained-Glass Windows of the Upper and Lower Church
Saint Patrick's is known across the region for its stained-glass program, begun in the 1890s when the upper church was completed. The upper nave holds fourteen narrative windows running from the Nativity to the Last Supper, each with a meditation card written for visitors: the Nativity, the Call of the Fishermen, Jesus and the Children, Saint Joseph the Worker, the Wedding at Cana, Christ Heals the Sick, the Good Samaritan, the Death of Saint Joseph, the Raising of Lazarus, the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, the Woman with the Alabaster Jar, Saint Michael Casting Satan into Hell, Christ the Good Shepherd, and the Last Supper. The lower church contains thirteen sacramental and devotional windows, including incense, the Ten Commandments, the Lamb of God on the seven-sealed book, the pelican feeding her young, the Eucharist, the priesthood, Christian marriage, the monstrance, the Virgin Mary, the theological virtues, the passion and resurrection, and a baptismal font. Two entry windows complete the set: a shamrock for Saint Patrick above the parking-lot door and alpha and omega above the Salem Street door. A multi-year stained-glass restoration campaign, the Inspiring Hope Campaign, is currently underway, with the Nativity and Flight into Egypt windows already returned to the upper church. The windows of Saint Patrick's tell the parish's story in glass and color, and the next century of faith in Lawrence will continue to be written in light passing through them.