Founded in 1907, the St. Tarcisius Parish first served the large Italian immigrant population in downtown Framingham. Today, the Parish serves a large Brazilian immigrant population as well as South Framingham residents. St. Tarcisius Parish is named after a Christian martyr from the 3rd century who is the the patron saint of altar servers and first communicants.
The church is led by Pastor Rev. Renald Vecchiato, C.S.
Weekend Masses are held in English and Portuguese.
Schedule includes: Saturday, 4 p.m., English Church; 7 p.m. Brazillian Church and Sunday, 8 a.m., English Church; 9:30 a.m., Portuguese Church, 11 a.m., English Church; 7 p.m. Brazillian Church
There is an English-language CCD Program on Sunday morning prior to the 11 a.m. family Mass.
The Parish rectory is located at 562 Waverly St. The Parish owns the Father Maschi Parish Center, which is used by the Town of Framingham on election day for two South Framingham precincts.
SMOC Rental Assistance provides rent aid to low income and eligible families throughout Massachusetts. Assistance allows families to rent homes in the private real estate market and apply the aid to their rent. Average assistance is 60 to 70-percent of the total rent. The local SMOC office is located near free street parking. Applications and more information are available on the website listed.
The Philadelphia Baptist Church is located on Concord Street near the intersection of Union Avenue. The church is led by pastor Murilo da Silva. Free on-street parking is available on Sundays.
Boston Taiwanese Christian Church was founded in 1969 for Taiwanese immigrants. Since then, the church has expanded and now offers a variety of programs for adults and youth. Worhsip service is held Sundays at 10:30am. Sunday school is from 11:45am until 12:30pm. A variety of other programs are offered on Sundays, including adult Sunday school and choir practice.
Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 894 is located on Park Street at the intersection of Pearl Street. It was founded in 1904 and has roughly 500 members that meet on the first and third Monday of each month.
Fraternal Order of Eagles supports various local community organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs and the local food pantry. The Order sponsors an annual Thanksgiving Day dinner and has two function halls available for rent.
Un-Common Coffeehouse is not a cafe serving coffee, but a music venue, featuring local folk, rock,and blues performers, as well as bigger-name acts on occasion. Attendance can range from 30 to up to 250 for headliners. The shows are held in the First Parish Unitarian Church in Framingham Center. Shows are held on Fridays, about every three weeks all year long, except during the summer. Snacks and beverages are served during the performances. A calendar of events is posted online, and tickets can be purchased at the door, online or at Centre Music on Main Street.
This church serves a largely Spanish population in downtown Framingham. Located across from the main fire station, the church has various programs and services throughout the week. The church is led by pastors Junior and Izabelle Ramos.
- Paul F. Barbieri Elementary School was originally a middle school. Named for a Framingham educator, Barbieri is a a two-way bilingual elementary school on the southside of Framingham, near Cushing Park. Dr. Susan McGilvray-Rivet is the principal of Barbieri Elementary.
- In the 2009-10 school year, 66% of the school was Hispanic. About 10 percent of the students receive special needs services. Barbieri is a Title 1 school. Barbieri elementary has an active PTO. Meetings typically are held the first Thursday of every month at 7 pm in the school's library. The PTO provides free child care and Spanish translation for the meetings.
Framingham Public Schools currently uses school choice. McCarthy is located near downtown Framingham and across the street from Fuller Middle School on Flagg Drive. The school's hours are earlier than the other Framingham Public schools elementary schools at 8:15am to 2:15pm.
It is known as the "Literary Arts" School. The school published a student literary magazine, holds monthly book swaps, and the PTO distributes two free books to all students. Students in grades k-5 participate in a Book It! Reading Incentive Program and students in grades 4-5 participate in the Massachusetts Book Awards program.
The School's Principal is Matt Hanlon. McCarthy Elementary is a Title 1 school. The school has several services for students including: SAGE, ABA therapy, occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and other special education services. About one in every three students receives special education services.
Originally McCarthy was the Warren Oaks School (1952), named after two neighboring streets. in 1969, the community re-named the school to Miriam F. McCarthy, after its first principal (1952 - 1969.)
McCarthy Elementary has been nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School and a State Compass School.
McCarthy Elementary has a very active PTO, which holds a very popular Pumpkin Fair every October. The PTO also holds two Book Bingos, a popular Monster Mash dance, and an interactive Math Night, and several other events. PTO Meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the school caf. The PTO provides FREE babysitting for the meetings.
The YMCA offers an after-care program on site, for an additional fee.
The Metrowest Center for Independent Living is an institution dedicated to assisting disabled persons who wish to be fully integrated into society. The group was established by dissabled persons and follows the independent living paradigm that was created in the 1970s. At this location people work with independent living coordinators to learn more about services provided by towns, the state and other agencies. The center also offers independent living –skills training among many other services.
Maintained by the Framingham Parks & Recreation Department, Cushing Memorial Park sits on the former site of a hospital for troops injured in World War II.
Originally named Tercentennial Park, the Park was renamed in 2007 after the hospital, which had been named for Dr. Harvey Cushing, a famed neurosurgeon. Parks and Recreation Department employee Linda Libby successfully petitioned to rename the park.
The park hosted Framingham High graduation ceremonies in 2010, as Bowditch was under construction.
It is a popular park for walking or cycling. Helmets are required for all children under age 16. There are several picnic tables and the park is used often for family gatherings.
Located on the grounds of the Park is Cushing Memorial Chapel. Dedicated in 1943, the chapel is one of the few buildings that remain of the former Cushing General Hospital Complex.
The town hosts special services at the chapel on Veteran's Day.
The chapel is available for rental for private services, ceremonies and weddings. The Framingham Garden Club has planted several trees around the Memorial Chapel.
Also on the grounds of Cushing Park is the September 11th Living Memorial to the 17 individuals with ties to Framingham who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Dogs are permitted but must be on leash at all times.
Residents may adopt a birdhouse at the park.
The Framingham Parks and Recreation Department is on Phase 3 of the Master Plan of the Park. Currently, there is construction on the Winter Street side.
Saint George parish in Saxonville was established in 1847. In 2004, the Archdiocese of Boston named Saint George as the "welcoming parish" of the suppressed parishes of Saint Anselm in Sudbury and Saint Jeremiah in Framingham.
Saint George's is under the spiritual leadership of Pastor Fr. John M. Rowan and is guided by a 15-member parish council.
Mass is celebrated daily. The weekend Mass schedule is 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.
St. George Parish ministries include: a youth ministry (middle and high school youth, Catholic Faith Formation for children in grades K to 5, a Morning Mass group, a "Lunch Bunch", "Crafters for Christ", a social committee and more.
The parish hosts Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, an ESL class, AA, Big Book sessions, Mothers of Twins and many other organizations.
Shalom Pentecostal Church, a Brazilian congregation of the Assembly of God denomination, was founded in December 1994. The church provides services, study groups and choir and missionary programs to about thirty families. Located in downtown Framingham, the congregation accommodates speakers of both Portuguese and English.
Pastor Adan Ortiz leads this congregation of the Assembly of Christian Churches. The church is located just a few blocks from Butterworth Park and is housed in one of Framingham's historic church buildings. Services are held Sunday at 11am. Other services are held Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7pm.
This Baptist church is located just blocks from downtown Framingham. The church offers Sunday School at 10am, and Sunday and Monday evening services.