TAUNTON — Parishioners of the three parishes of the Taunton Catholic North Collaborative received this week a letter regarding St. Mary’s Parish and Church in that city.

St. Mary’s along with St. Anthony and St. Jude the Apostle Parishes make up the collaborative, sharing resources, combined ministries and one ministerial leadership team.

Because of needed repairs and safety concerns, St. Mary’s Church has been closed and unused since November 2023.

The situation has been under study by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and diocesan officials during that time. Concurrently, the Taunton Catholic North Unification Team, comprised of representatives from the three parishes and their pastor and deacons, has also been meeting with staff from the diocesan Office of Strategic and Pastoral Planning to address the collaborative’s future.

In this week’s letter from Bishop da Cunha and the Unification Team members, parishioners were informed that St. Mary’s Church and Parish will need to officially close.

The letter states, “After careful assessment, it is clear that the significant structural repairs and safety upgrades needed for St. Mary’s Church far exceed what is financially feasible. The $10+ million cost shared last year and required to make the space safe and sustainable for continued use as a house of worship is simply beyond the parish’s current and projected resources.”

Bishop da Cunha and Unification Team said that the decision was difficult and made “with heavy hearts.” It followed extensive consultation, prayer, and consideration for the well-being of the faith community.

“While the building may close, the spirit of the parish will live on at St. Anthony and St. Jude,” they share in the letter.

With regard to the future of the church building, they explain that the Diocese has been exploring potential buyers “who may be interested in preserving the building and maintaining it in a respectful and meaningful way. Our hope is to find a path forward that honors the historical value of the church, even if it can no longer serve as our place of worship.”

The Unification Team is planning a special event to celebrate and honor the spirit and incredible legacy of St. Mary’s Parish, which dates to the 1830s. St. Mary’s Church, which is a landmark in the city, followed some decades later and was dedicated in 1872.

The letter may be read in its entirety here.

Diocese of Fall River
Diocese of Fall River
Office of Communications