Community Corner
Medford Parishes Merge Amid Financial Troubles
St. Joseph and St. Francis of Assisi merged Aug. 1 after years of financial struggles, which were exacerbated by the pandemic.
MEDFORD, MA — Two Medford parishes have merged following approval from Cardinal Sean O'Malley. The union between St. Joseph and St. Francis of Assisi took effect Aug. 1 and will rebrand itself as either Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Divine Mercy Parish or Corpus Christi Parish.
"Our two parishes will come together to form a new entity for canonical, sacramental, financial and legal purposes so that we can be stronger together as a Catholic Community," a statement on the collaborative's website reads.
Rev. Paul Sullivan, parish pastor, told the Medford Transcript the merger was primarily driven by years of financial troubles at both parishes. St. Joseph's deficit for the past three years averaged $85,000, and St. Francis recorded an annual debt of about $26,000, the Transcript reported.
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These issues were only exacerbated by the pandemic, which cut the parishes' revenue in half.
The new parish is temporarily being called Saint Joseph – Saint Francis of Assisi Parish. See below for the mass, confessional and prayer group schedule:
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St. Joseph, 118 High Street
Daily Mass Schedule: Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 8:30am
Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday at 4pm, Sunday at 8am & 10am
Confessions: Saturday, 3pm - 3:45pm
Adoration: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 9am -8pm
St. Francis of Assisi, 441 Fellsway West
Daily Mass Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday at 8:30am
Weekend Mass Schedule: Saturday at 4pm, Sunday at 9am & 11am
Confessions: Saturday, after the 8:30am Mass and from 3pm - 3:45pm
Adoration & Weekly Prayer Group: Monday at 7pm
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