About St. Martin's Parish
A century and a half ago, faithful Catholics travelled by foot, by horseback and by wagon from as far away as Orange and Ashburnham to attend Mass at St. Martin's Church.
Today, St. Martin's parishioners are primarily residents of Templeton, Phillipston, Winchendon and Gardner. Although relatively small in number, the congregation of St. Martin's is vibrant and active, serving both their faith community and the community at large in many ways.
Faith Formation
Religious Education classes are held on Sundays from October through May. Classes for students in grades K through 5 are held at 8:30 am, and classes for grades 6 through 11 are held at 11:30 am at Holy Cross Church in East Templeton. Parishioners generously donate their time and talent to pass the faith on to our young people.
Committees
The Finance Committee meets with the Pastor as needed throughout the year to oversee parish finances and discuss projects of importance to the community's physical assets, including church and rectory repairs and renovations. Current members of the Finance Committee are Ruth Alie, Pat Gale, Tom Farrell, Tom Kane, Theresa Kasper, and Barbara White.
The Craft Group is an informal group of women of the parish whose main focus is the Holiday Fair. The group meets weekly to create hand-crafted items, gather items for raffle tables, create theme baskets, and plan the December event. Through an ongoing series of raffles of hand-made quilts, the Craft Group has financed a number of enhancements to the church and the rectory, including carpeting and curtains for the Sanctuary, replacement of "Saint Martin, Pray for Us" signage in the church, the purchase of a new brass Advent Wreath, and renovations in the rectory.
Like all church communities in the Diocese of Worcester, the people of St. Martin's are active in the Parish Cluster process. Our Cluster also includes St. Vincent de Paul in Baldwinville, Holy Cross in East Templeton, and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Winchendon.
Lay Ministries
Saint Martin's parishioners serve in a variety of ministries: as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, greeters, ushers, religious education instructors, and choir members.
Boys and girls who have made their First Communion are welcome to become Altar Servers. Training is provided on an on-going basis. St. Martin's Altar Servers enjoy an outing with their counterparts from other churches in our cluster each summer.
Activities & Outreach
In addition to the special fund-raising events to support their church, St. Martin's parishioners participate in a number of community-oriented acvitities throughout the year. These include a "Souper Bowl" collection on Super Bowl Sunday, with proceeds benefiting the Templeton Food Pantry, and a Baby Food and Clothing Drive held during the Christmas season, both sponsored and organized by Religious Education students. The parish has also supported the Food Pantry through raffles of Thanksgiving and Easter Baskets.
Inspired by the actions of our patron saint, Martin of Tours, we conduct a winter coat drive in November, on the Feast of St. Martin. This drive collects winter coats for adults and children, and distributes them through a local charitable organization to those who are in need.
Today, St. Martin's parishioners are primarily residents of Templeton, Phillipston, Winchendon and Gardner. Although relatively small in number, the congregation of St. Martin's is vibrant and active, serving both their faith community and the community at large in many ways.
Faith Formation
Religious Education classes are held on Sundays from October through May. Classes for students in grades K through 5 are held at 8:30 am, and classes for grades 6 through 11 are held at 11:30 am at Holy Cross Church in East Templeton. Parishioners generously donate their time and talent to pass the faith on to our young people.
Committees
The Finance Committee meets with the Pastor as needed throughout the year to oversee parish finances and discuss projects of importance to the community's physical assets, including church and rectory repairs and renovations. Current members of the Finance Committee are Ruth Alie, Pat Gale, Tom Farrell, Tom Kane, Theresa Kasper, and Barbara White.
The Craft Group is an informal group of women of the parish whose main focus is the Holiday Fair. The group meets weekly to create hand-crafted items, gather items for raffle tables, create theme baskets, and plan the December event. Through an ongoing series of raffles of hand-made quilts, the Craft Group has financed a number of enhancements to the church and the rectory, including carpeting and curtains for the Sanctuary, replacement of "Saint Martin, Pray for Us" signage in the church, the purchase of a new brass Advent Wreath, and renovations in the rectory.
Like all church communities in the Diocese of Worcester, the people of St. Martin's are active in the Parish Cluster process. Our Cluster also includes St. Vincent de Paul in Baldwinville, Holy Cross in East Templeton, and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Winchendon.
Lay Ministries
Saint Martin's parishioners serve in a variety of ministries: as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, greeters, ushers, religious education instructors, and choir members.
Boys and girls who have made their First Communion are welcome to become Altar Servers. Training is provided on an on-going basis. St. Martin's Altar Servers enjoy an outing with their counterparts from other churches in our cluster each summer.
Activities & Outreach
In addition to the special fund-raising events to support their church, St. Martin's parishioners participate in a number of community-oriented acvitities throughout the year. These include a "Souper Bowl" collection on Super Bowl Sunday, with proceeds benefiting the Templeton Food Pantry, and a Baby Food and Clothing Drive held during the Christmas season, both sponsored and organized by Religious Education students. The parish has also supported the Food Pantry through raffles of Thanksgiving and Easter Baskets.
Inspired by the actions of our patron saint, Martin of Tours, we conduct a winter coat drive in November, on the Feast of St. Martin. This drive collects winter coats for adults and children, and distributes them through a local charitable organization to those who are in need.
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Pastors of St. Martin's Rev. Thomas Bannon 1864-1867 Rev. William Orr 1867-1869 Rev. Richard Donovan 1869-1870 Rev. Patrick McManus 1870-1871 Rev. Charles McManus 1871-1872 Rev. Robert Walsh 1872-1873 Rev. Joseph Coyne 1873-1885 Rev. T. Murphy 1885-1887 Rev. T. Reynolds 1887-1889 Rev. James Norris 1889-1893 Rev. Thomas E. Purcell 1893-1898 Rev. J. M. Predergast 1898-1902 Rev. J. J. Howard 1902-1903 Rev. Thos. O'Connor 1903-1908 Rev. Patrick J. Meehan 1908-1914 Rev. Charles J. Mulcahy 1914-1916 Rev. Michael J. Curran 1916-1916 Rev. James. W. Dolan 1916-1926 Rev. James T. Reilly 1926-1933 Rev. James T. Fitzgibbons 1933-1939 Rev. James A. Deery 1939-1941 Rev. Henry M. Burke 1941-1946 Rev. John A. Donohue 1946-1953 Rev. Edward D. Hendron 1953-1956 Rev. Charles E. Lynch 1954-1956 Rev. Paul B.McArdle 1956-1979 Rev. Martin Donohue 1979-1979 Rev. Cornellius F. O'Leary 1979-2004 Rev. William G. O'Brien (temp. administrator) 1996-1997 Rev. Son Anh Nguyen (associate pastor) 2003-2005 Rev. Francis A. Roberge 2005-2006 Rev. Joseph Jurgelonis 2006-2015 Rev. Marcin J. Nowicki 2015-2017 Rev. Patrick Ssekyole, 2017-present |
St. Martin's Church • 248 State Road • Otter River, MA 01436 • Telephone 978-939-5588 Email info@saintmartinchurch.org