Ave Maria Parish is one community of faith comprised of two worship sites in the Archdiocese of Boston -- Our Lady of the Assumption Church and Saint Maria Goretti Church -- and one parochial school, Our Lady of the Assumption School.
As members of the body of Christ and charged to live as missionary disciples, we strive to continue to build and expand our unique and vibrant Lynnfield Catholic community. The celebration of the sacraments is at the heart of any parish, but we ask that our parishioners live their faith inside and outside the walls of the church buildings, and we offer a variety of opportunities for people to deepen their own relationship with God, as well as to inspire others to do the same.
Lifelong faith formation is a vital element of the Catholic life as we grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith in Jesus Christ and the Church he gave us. A deeper understanding can lead to a more intimate relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and -- through the Trinity -- to our family, friends, neighbors, parish, and greater community. Such faith formation is not just for children, but for all of us as we grow as Catholics.
Another way to participate in parish life is through our various ministries, including liturgical, social, and outreach opportunities for service. God calls us to use our gifts and talents to glorify Him and to be "doers of the the Word" (James 1:22).
With so many ways to be part of parish life, you'll want to keep informed by staying connected through our weekly parish bulletins, "liking" OLA and SMG Facebook pages, and following us on Twitter. Please visit our Flickr site to view photos from some of the many enjoyable events and enriching programs we've had over the years.
No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church,
No matter what your current family or marital situation,
No matter what your current personal history, age, income, background, gender, race, ethnicity or spirituality,
No matter what your own self-image or holiness or virtue -
You belong to Christ and belong to us!
You are invited, accepted and respected here at Ave Maria Parish.
We welcome you.
We want to share our Roman Catholic way of life with you!
The churches and school that compose Ave Maria Parish have gone through many transitions throughout their existence. Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Maria Goretti were founded as individual parishes, and in 2013, became components of the Lynnfield Catholic Collaborative as part of the Archdiocese of Boston's Disciples in Mission pastoral plan. In June 2020, partly due to the social and financial shockwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parishes were merged and Ave Maria Parish was born. Our core mission, however, remains the same and we endeavor that our image, our ministry work, and our spirit is reflective of it.
Our logo was designed to capture our holistic approach as members of the Body of Christ -- body, mind, and spirit. The starburst -- reminiscent of the Star of Bethlehem and symbolic of the Light of Christ -- is emanating from the cross. The cross itself is incomplete since we, too, are incomplete as we continuously strive for oneness with Christ. The Ave Maria Parish name and motto encircle the cross, but does not close it off, as we continue to let the rays of the cross shine through us and as we continue to be a welcoming community.