With mixed emotions I write to you now in order to let you know of some news that impacts our collaborative. Cardinal O’Malley has just appointed me as the new pastor of St. Michael Parish & School in North Andover effective the 1st of June 2024. I am honored by this appointment but it will mean leaving a place that I have loved being pastor of for the past four years. I and our staff are busy engaging in the transitional realities that this appointment brings. A new pastor will be announced over the coming months. I thank you all for your prayers and support over these past years, and please know that the parishes of Most Precious Blood and St. Theresa of Lisieux will never be far from my heart.

We are pleased to welcome two transitional deacons to our collaborative, Deacon Jonathan Hank and Deacon Jorge Sanchez. The ecclesiastical hierarchy of Christ’s Church is formed of sacred ministers: bishops, priests, and deacons. All of these act in the exercise of their ministry in the name and person of Christ the Head. Deacons minister to the People of God in the diakonia (service) of word, liturgy, and charity. The deacon, configured to Christ the servant of all, is ordained for the service to the Church. He carries out this service under the authority of his proper bishop by the ministry of the Word, of divine worship, of pastoral care and of charity. Deacon Jonathan and Deacon Jorge were ordained deacons of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary on September 30, 2023. As a final part of their formation before being ordained priests on July 27, 2024 they will be serving at Most Precious Blood and St. Theresa of Lisieux Parishes, preaching at Masses, baptizing, and presenting spiritual reflections. Please join us in welcoming Deacon Jonathan and Deacon Jorge!

We urge our parishioners to stay off the roads during severe storms both for personal safety and to give town crews time to clear roads. If Dover-Sherborn schools are canceled due to weather, daily Mass and Religious Education classes will be canceled at both of our parishes and the parish offices will be closed. On weekends, cancellations will be announced on local television channels 5 and 7, on this website, and on the parish phone. Please note that if there is a power outage, the parishes will be closed and it may not be possible to update the phone message.

Our usual weekend Mass times are being changed for the Fourth Sunday of Advent to accommodate the overlap with Christmas Eve/Christmas Masses. On Saturday, December 23, the only Vigil Mass will be at 4:00PM at Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish. There will be NO 5:30 Saturday Vigil Mass at Most Precious Blood Church. On December 24, Sunday Mass will be at Most Precious Blood Church at 9:00AM. There will be NO 10:30AM Mass at Saint Theresa Parish. Catholics are obligated to attend both a Sunday Mass and a Christmas Mass. Christmas Mass times are shown above on this page.

According to the US Council of Catholic Bishops, whenever January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, falls on a Monday, it is not a holy day of obligation. Therefore, the Monday 9:00 AM daily Mass at Most Precious Blood will be the only Mass in the collaborative that day.

The animals of God’s creation inhabit the skies, the earth, and the sea. They share in the fortunes of human existence and have a part in human life. God, who confers his gifts on all living things, has made them symbolic reminders of the gifts of salvation. All are invited to bring their pets – of all kinds – to our 3rd annual Collaborative “Blessing of the Animals” on the front lawn of Most Precious Blood Church. (To assist in the facilitation please bring all of your loving animals on a leash or appropriate carrier.)

We invite all parishioners and friends of Most Precious Blood & St.Theresa’s Parishes to join us for a Collaborative "Welcome Back" Barbeque to kick off the fall season Saturday, September 23rd at 5pm at Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish. Adults & Children over 10 - $10; Children ages 5 - 10 - $5; Children 4 & under - free. For planning purposes, RSVPs are required - please email Roseann at furbushroseann26@gmail.com. Payment may be made at the parish offices or at the event. With the hope that as many parishioners as possible will attend the Barbeque, the 4pm Vigil Mass at St. Theresa’s will be the only Vigil Mass in the collaborative this day. There will be no 5:30pm Mass at Most Precious Blood Church. 

God bless our first Communion students who received the Eucharist for the first time on May 14: Natalie Cole, Lilia Dalance, Ava King, Carrick Mahoney, Sloan Quandt, Dylan Rousseau, Isaac Valenzuela, Evelyn White, Katherine Yerre.

God bless our first Communion students who received the Eucharist for the first time on May 7: Margaret Boehm, Quinn Creedon, Julian Forte, Louisa Glidden, Dara Keane, Daniel Kinder, Elsa Larson, Charles Lombard, Benjamin Parsons, Jensen Police, Noel Siekirka, Harrison Swift, Rhett Wilkes.

Congratulations to our grade 10 Religious Education students who received the sacrament of confirmation on Friday, May 5. Please keep in your prayers: Nathaniel Gregory Aharonian, Maeve Sylvia Boland, Audrey Angelina Capone, John Jude Clark, William Vernon Forde, John Robert Gaynor, John Edward Gramer, Ryan Matthew Gramer, Alexander Paul Hadfield, Eleanor Christine Healey, Sally Katherine Honor, Ava Jean Kasparian, Ella Joyce Kasparian, Mary Katherine King, Ross Sebastian Lipsky, Annelise Teresa Loeffler, Molly Anne Malloy, Luca Gerardo Mariano, Hunter Michael Morton, Katherine Olivia Paster, Sean Patrick Rooney, Bridget Ellen Scannell, Nora Mary Smith, Grant Peter Sullivan, Angelina Michaela Trabocco, Karen Marie White, Finley Elizabeth Whitlock

Last month, 2nd grade students gathered for a retreat to prepare for 1st Holy Communion by engaging in prayer and song, baking bread, and making banners. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their preparation to receive the sacrament on May 7 (MPB) and May 14 (STP). Click on the photo to see the full album.

Parishioners of our collaborative filled Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish to the bursting to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day at our annual Mass and breakfast on March 19. The record-breaking crowd enjoyed a full breakfast of fruit, pancakes, sausage, and more while enjoying each other’s company and being entertained by an amazing performance from the students of the Greene-O’Leary School of Irish Dance. Our thanks to Doug Furbush for organizing this wonderful event and to all the volunteers who gave of their time and effort to make it such a great success!

As the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God is on Sunday this year, our collaborative's usual weekend Mass schedule will be followed. Please see the schedule above.

Saint Theresa of Lisieux Parish, Wednesday, December 14 - 7:00 PM. Most Precious Blood Church, Thursday, December 15 - 7:00 PM. We will begin each evening with Scripture and Reflection, followed by Adoration and the opportunity for Confession.  Nothing can help us prepare the way for Jesus to come into our lives anew better than the Sacrament of Confession.  In this season of gift giving, Confession is one of God’s most precious gifts, restoring our innocence and our capacity to live and love like Jesus.

Our annual  Christmas Sing-alongs will take place at both parishes immediately following morning Mass on Sunday, December 11. Father Blaney, Deb Honor, and Sandy Beyerly will lead the singing. Please join us for this fun family event to celebrate the season!