From Our Pastor

07-03-2022Pastor's CornerVery Rev. Robert J. Deehan, VF

In 1984, as the Catholic community in Duxbury continued to grow, it became more obvious that our parish needed a larger and more adequate space to gather for Masses and parish activities. And so, with the leadership of the pastor at the time, Msgr. William Glynn, the Archdiocese of Boston approved the purchase of over 11 acres of land as the site of a new Holy Family Church, which was to replace the much smaller church building on St. George Street – now part of the Duxbury campus of the South Shore Conservatory.

Included in the parcel were seven acres of land set back and to the left of our present parking lot that were left undeveloped with the intention of possibly building a parish Catholic school. After much consideration by Msgr. Glynn, and clergy and lay leaders over the years, it became increasingly obvious that a Catholic school in our area would not succeed, especially with such a wonderful school system we have in town and the presence of Sacred Heart School in neighboring Kingston

And so, after 38 years from the time this undeveloped land was purchased, with no need to utilize the property for the mission of our parish, our Parish Finance Council (PFC) and I have decided to sell this unused parcel. In addition, members of the PFC and I have had detailed consultations with the representative of the Archdiocese overseeing land/ property administered by parishes and we have been given the “green light” to sell most of this vacant land on the open market at a time we believe will financially benefit our parish. It is our intention to place most of the proceeds in an endowment for the future of Holy Family Parish and to have some of the money available to fund projects that will improve and update our facilities. We have completed a conceptual engineering study in accordance with the Town of Duxbury Planning Board Rules and Regulations, and with this land zoned for single homes, we feel that the land could reasonably support up to four (4) houses on a cul de sac. There is frontage located on Tremont Street diagonally across from the Duxbury Fire Station Headquarters that could include an 18’ - 20’ wide asphalt road. At this time, the Archdiocese, which handles the particulars of the sale for the parish, has contracted with South Shore Sotheby’s in Duxbury to market the property. Any inquiries should be directed to that broker.

God bless you!

Fr. Bob