The Roman Catholic Parish of St. Pius V, founded in 1912, is an urban, archdiocesan parish located in Lynn, MA. The parish is a multi-ethnic, socially, culturally, and educationally diverse faith community.
Our History
The first pastor of Saint Pius V Parish, Reverend John P. Gorham, presided at the first liturgy on June 2, 1912. On May 5, 1913 (the feast day of our patron) the first sod on Maple Street was turned. The basement church was formally opened on Christmas morning 1913.
Msgr. Bernard O’Kane oversaw the construction of the upper church, which was dedicated by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Richard Cushing on July 3, 1949 during a Confirmation celebration.
Msgr. John E. Mullarkey, then pastor, celebrated the laying of the cornerstone for the new school building after liturgy on October 31, 1955 attended by Cardinal Cushing and in 1966 celebrated the completion of the new rectory. Today, Saint Pius V School offers quality Catholic Education to over 530 students.
Father Joseph Collins became pastor in September 1971 and under his direction the lower church was converted into the parish hall.
In 1983, a new team ministry of Fathers Thomas Buckley, Paul Kilroy and David D’Olimpio came to Saint Pius V Parish. Their vision and understanding of the nature and purpose of the parish unit gave rise to the concept of Pastoral Staff that has developed in Saint Pius V Parish over the ensuing years. While the staff’s membership has changed many times, the vision guiding the life of the parish has been marked by consistency and continuity. This reality is singular.
Reverend Edward T. Malone assumed the responsibilities of pastor in May 1994. Father Ed chose to continue to guide the pastoral and administrative life of the parish in collaboration with Saint Pius V Pastoral Staff. In the spirit of collaboration, Saint Pius V Parish works at developing relationships with other parishes in our city. Our parish eagerly welcomed many parishioners from the parish of Saint Jean Baptiste in 1998.
A new team ministry chose to serve Saint Pius V Parish in August 1999. Fathers Neil J. Mullaney and Joseph M. Rossi, like their predecessors, continue to develop and nurture the leadership style of a Pastoral Staff, who work together for the well being of Saint Pius V Parish. Empowerment and enablement of our parish membership is a top priority at Saint Pius V Parish.
After Fr. Neil's retirement, Fr. Joe was named Administrator and we had a new Parochial Vicar join our parish in July 2012, Fr. John J. Healy, who was newly ordained.
In June 2013, Fr. Joe started his new assigment and we had a new administrator join our parish, Fr. Gregory Mercurio.
In June 2017, Fr. Gregory and Fr. John went on their new assignments and we had a new Pastor and a new Parochial Vicar join our parish, Fr. Robert Poitras and Fr. Godfrey Musabe.
St. Pius V, Pope
Pope from 1566-1572 and one of the foremost leaders of the Catholic Reformation. Born Antonio Ghislieri in Bosco, Italy, to a poor family, he labored as a shepherd until the age of fourteen and then joined the Dominicans, being ordained in 1528. Called Brother Michele, he studied at Bologna and Genoa, and then taught theology and philosophy for sixteen years before holding the posts of master of novices and priorfor several Dominican houses. Named inquisitor for Como and Bergamo, he was so capable in the fulfillment of his office that by 1551, and at the urging of the powerful Cardinal Carafa, he was named by Pope Julius III commissary general of the Inquisition. In 1555, Carafa was elected Pope Paul IV and was responsible for Ghislieri's swift rise as a bishop of Nepi and Sutri in 1556, cardinal in 1557, and grand inquisitor in 1558. While out of favor for a time under Pope Pius IV who disliked his reputation for excessive zeal, Ghislieri was unanimously elected a pope in succession to Pius on January 7, 1566. As pope, Pius saw his main objective as the continuation of the massive program of reform for the Church, in particular the full implementation of the decrees of the Council of Trent. He published the Roman Catechism, the revised Roman Breviary, and the Roman Missal; he also declared Thomas Aquinas aDoctor of the Church, commanded a new edition of the works of Thomas Aquinas, and created a commission to revise the Vulgate. The decrees of Trent were published throughout all Catholic lands, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the New World, and the pontiff insisted on their strict adherence. In 1571, Pius created the Congregation of the Index to give strength to the Church's resistance to Protestant and heretical writings, and he used the Inquisition to prevent any Protestant ideas from gaining a foot hold in Italy. In dealing with the threat of the Ottoman Turks who were advancing steadily across the Mediterranean, Pius organized a formidable alliance between Venice and Spain, culminating in the Battle of Lepanto, which was a complete and shattering triumph over the Turks. The day of the victory was declared the Feast Day of Our Lady of Victory in recognition of Our Lady's intercession in answer to the saying of the Rosary all over Catholic Europe. Pius also spurred the reforms of the Church by example. He insisted upon wearing his coarse Dominican robes, even beneath the magnificent vestments worn by the popes, and was wholeheartedly devoted to the religious life. His reign was blemished only by the continuing oppression of the Inquisition; the often brutal treatment of the Jews of Rome; and the ill advised decision to excommunicate Queen Elizabeth I of England in February 1570, an act which also declared her deposed and which only worsened the plight of English Catholics. These were overshadowed in the view of later generations by his contributions to the Catholic Reformation. Pope Clement beatified him on May 1, 1672, and Pope Clement XI canonized him on May 22, 1712.