The first stop on our tour is the St. Rose of Lima Parish. This parish was founded to serve the Irish community and in 1848 stood as the first Catholic Church in Chelsea. When established, the majority of the parish’s members were French and English-speaking Canadians. However, in the 1980s, the church had grown to become the center of Hispanic/Latino life, providing services in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The main reason for this shift was the immigration of Hispanics/Latinos from 1970 to 1980.

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By the 1970’s, St. Rose of Lima stood as the center of Latino life in Chelsea, and even housed a Cuban Refugee Center in order to assist in the resettlement of people. For immigrants coming into a new city an established spiritual and community center would help lighten the burden of the transition. St. Rose of Lima still serves as a resource to the population through services offered in multiple languages and offered both in person and broadcasted. Additionally the church hosts religious community events and festivals which contribute to a neighborhood identity and camaraderie. Most recently, on April 21, St. Rose of Lima hosted a station of the cross march, attended by catholic residents from all backgrounds.