History

Our parish was founded in 1900 when Bishop Beaven of the Springfield Diocese allowed the Canadian/Acadian community in Leominster to have their own parish and appointed Rev. Wilfrid Balthasard pastor.  The first Mass was celebrated in a rented hall in downtown Leominster.
 
Since we became a parish, we have had eight pastors and two administrators to share in our journey as a parish community.  They are as follows:

• Rev. Wilfrid Balthasard, Pastor:                 January 1900- November 1914
• Rev. Joseph Chicoine, Pastor:                  November 1914- October 1948
• Rev. Leon Sauvageau, Administrator:     October 1948- January 1949
• Rev. Joseph Boutin, Pastor:                      January 1949- September 1950
• *Rev. Arthur Gravel, Pastor:                       September 1950- June 1968
• Rev. Gerard Lucier, Pastor:                        June 1968- November 1976
• *Rev. George Denomme, Pastor:              November 1976- June 1992
• *Rev. Francis Goguen, Pastor:                  June 1992- December 2013
• Rev. Richard Roger, Administrator:          December 2013- June 2014
• Rev. Robert Bruso, Pastor:                        June 2014- Present

 
*Are pastors who became Monsignor’s while pastors at our parish.
 
Since the birth of our parish generations have seen many changes and have overcome challenges.  The church that we currently gather in for fellowship and the sacraments replaced a smaller church and was built during the Great Depression (started in 1931 and completed in 1933) with some parishioners helping with the construction.  The expenses to maintain our Gothic church and other parish buildings has placed us in debt over the years but our parishioner’s resilience keeps us going!
 
We have had three schools over the years.  The first one was old and too small.  The smaller school was replaced in 1908.  Fire destroyed that school in 1925 and in 1926 a school twice the size of the one that burnt was opened.  After the finish of the school year in 1976 the school was closed.  The expenses to function was too great of a financial burden on the parish.  The school continues to be used for parish functions and is currently referred to as the Parish Center.
 
We have had and continue to have many talented and gifted parishioners.  One of our talented parishioners was a wood carver/ sculptor, Louis E. Charpentier, who carved our crucifix that hangs in the church.  He carved the body of Jesus out of a single red oak tree trunk and the arms were branches from that tree.  He and his wife donated the crucifix in 1961. (Philomen Bolduc assisted Mr. Charpentier.)  When the church was renovated in the 1980’s he was asked if he would carve a new cross.  In 1982 Mr. Charpentier with the help of Phil Cote and Randall Gleason carved the current cross that holds the corpus of Christ.
 
And our history continues to write itself….
 
If you would like a more detailed history of our parish see Robert Cormier’s Excerpts on this page.  (He was local author and parishioner until his death.)  If you would like to read the complete tribute, he wrote for our centennial celebration please call the rectory (978-537-6541) or stop by during business hours to receive your own copy of  the booklet- "St. Cecilia’s
Parish 1900-2000"