Saint Thomas Parish History

Our parish's story begins in Medway.

In that town, Saint Joseph's Mission was established in 1863. Parishioners included residents of East Medway, separated from everyone else by the Great Black Swamp. This population of Catholics in East Medway comprised of less than forty families.

East Medway incorporated into Millis during 1863. Catholics in town remained
members of Saint Joseph's.

The population of Millis increased during the ensuing years. Reverend William Dwyer realized that an additional church would eventually be needed. In 1909, he and Jeremiah Shannon, a former selectman, purchased a parcel of land fronting on Exchange Street. This parcel was slated as a future site for a church. The land was deeded for one dollar to the Boston Archdiocese.

Building at left occupied location of our current parking lot.
A dry goods store at right became our Small Hall in 1958.

For almost three decades, nothing was built. Catholics in Millis attended masses at the Grange Hall (located beside the Church of Christ) and inside Snow Hall (once located beside Victory Lane on Exchange Street). Clergy from Saint Joseph's traveled to those locations.

The first meeting to discuss church building plans took place on August 10, 1936 at The
Pines, an estate of Mrs. David Gentles. Fifty- four parishioners and friends attended. They
formed women's and men's clubs to promote the Millis Chapel Fund. The Building
Committee, led by the Rev. Henry M. Tattann (Administrator of St. Joseph’s in Medway)
worked with a number of residents to raise money. Ground was broken on October 12,
1936. Four months later, a sum of $15,000 was raised toward the goal of $25,000. The
seeds of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish were planted.



Construction occurred during the winter. A first High Mass was celebrated on Sunday
morning on February 14, 1937. Father Tattan could not attend due to illness. But he
composed a homily. It was read by Reverend John J. Sullivan, Pastor of Saint Catherine in
Somerville. The church building and altar were consecrated, and the cornerstone laid, by the Reverend Erminio Lona. Stations of the Cross were dedicated and prayed that afternoon by Reverend John J. Carroll, C.M., with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
immediately following. The first baptism in the new church was celebrated for Thomas, the
twelfth child of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. Murphy. For the next three days, a Triduum was
conducted by Father Carroll in thanksgiving for the opening of the church.

Newspaper Clipping

Circa Late 1930's: Confirmation class poses outside the church. Bishop Francis Spellman (not in photo) officiated.

During 1944, the Reverend John Cunningham became pastor. He oversaw establishment of a unit of the Catholic Daughters of America (Court Archbishop Cushing, #1390).

In 1947, he was succeeded by the Reverend Thomas F. Ferris. He oversaw redecoration of
the church and alterations at the rectory.

In 1950, Saint Thomas introduced the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD).
It continues to this day.

 In 1953, the Reverend John L. Parsons was named pastor. Under his leadership, the Saint
Thomas Large Hall was purchased and built. The building was dedicated in 1957 by
Richard Cardinal Cushing.

When the Reverend John P. Leonard became pastor in 1959, our parish population was
rapidly expanding. The baby boom peaked during his tenure. To accommodate swelling
numbers of parishioners, additional Sunday masses occurred in the Large Hall. Father Leonard oversaw our parish for over a decade.

During that period, the parish sponsored Boy Scout Troop 115.

In 1971, Reverend Francis W. Beksha became pastor.  He grew up in Medway. A highlight of
the Bayberry Fair (our parish's Christmas fund raiser) was 'Father Beksha's Country Store.'

On February 15, 1987, the parish marked its fiftieth anniversary with a Mass of Thanks-
giving celebrated by Bishop Daniel Hart, D.D.

From 1991 until his retirement in 2012, Father Chambers shepherded our parish. He served
longer than anyone in that capacity. His sermons were known for brevity and clarity.
He oversaw the purchase of land situated behind the back parking lot.

On October 14, 2012, Cardinal Seán Cardinal O’Malley led a mass of thanksgiving at our
church. The occasion celebrated our parish's seventy-five years of existence.

 
2012: Cardinal O’Malley (center) and  Father Goodrow pose during celebration of parish's 75th anniversary.

Dr. Jason C. Zysk assumed leadership of the Music Ministry in 2009. He created a
trans-generational choir including children and adults. He instituted a youth cantor
ministry. It trained young women to be psalmists and leaders of song.

A restored piano was donated in 2011.

In recent years, our religious education program began the following service
projects: Sandwiches and Socks for the homeless, Winter Coat Drive, and Outreach
to Willowbrook Manor in Millis and the Battered Women’s Shelter in Medway.

In 2015, Father Linus Mendis became administrator of our parish. So far, he has revitalized the parish council, overseen fiscal belt tightening, and overseen renovations to the church. He supported the creation of programs for youth.

In 2016, an anonymous donor funded
renovation of the parish basketball court (seen in photo). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the court beside the rectory is currently closed. It will be opened as soon as restrictions are lifted.

In 2017, a parishioner funded
construction of a new bathroom inside
the church.

During the cornoaviurus  pandemic of 2020, masses occured outside in the parking lot.

We began a new chapter in 2020 with the arrival of our new pastor, Father Sinisa Ubiparipovic. Also during that year, our parish formed a collaborative with Saint Joseph Parish in Medway. It lasted only a few months. 

Parishioners have become priests deacons, or sisters. They are Joseph G. Arsenault, Mary Franceline Braun, Kenneth Cannon, Richard E. Cannon, Joseph Cassidy, Rose Christopher Clancy, Robert J. Congdon, Theresa Gillis, Mary Peter Kerwin, Winifred Kerwin, Leo McCarthy, Maura Denis Murphy, and M. Eugenia Sullivan.

One woman, 96 years old, has been a member of our parish since its inception.

Note: This history is based on prior histories of the parish authored by Dr. John Fitzgerald (1968), Mr. Anthony P.
Meleski (1980), and the Reverend Richard E. Cannon (1986). This version is based on Mr. Meleski’s doc-
ument and has been revised and amplified by Dr. Jason C. Zysk.