Parish Mission Statement

Saint James, the Mother Parish of Haverhill, is a Roman Catholic community of faith established in 1859 to offer God's spiritual comfort to people struggling to survive in a land that was new and strange to them. Originally ministering to the newly-arrived Irish, our parish family has grown over its long history, continuing to welcome new brothers and sisters in Christ, most recently those of Hispanic and Vietnamese heritage. We are striving to build a more unified community of believers, while incorporating the individual ethnic traditions of our entire parish family. While we recognize our diversity, we also recognize our oneness in the Lord, our unity in faith. Through our celebration of the Eucharist, in spiritual, educational and cultural opportunities, and through the service organizations of the parish, we attempt to live out the Gospel message and to be an example of Christ's presence in our community.