Until 1964, no Catholic church existed in the town of Pembroke .  Property on Washington St. was purchased by the Archdiocese of Boston from and Smith family, and on December 13, 1963 , Richard Cardinal Cushing placed the cornerstone of St. Thecla church. Over the next six months, town residents saw an unusual piece of architecture rise from the ground.  

The roof was formed on the ground.  It is a solid piece of concrete, weighing thirty five tones.  It is six inches thick at the base and three inches at the rounded top.  It was raised in a two hour process to its present height by sixteen jacks.  With no interior columns, worshippers may enjoy unobstructed views of the entire church.  Architect  David Shields designed a sky dome and stained glass windows so that sunlight could pour throughout.  

On July 19, 1964 , Bishop Jeremiah Minihan, accompanied by an honor guard of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, blessed and dedicated the building and celebrated Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  

The population of Pembroke in 1964 was five thousand with about three hundred families registered in the parish.  The parish hall, at the rear of the building, became a popular gathering place for all residents.  Since it had the distinction of being the largest hall in town, members of the police and fire departments held their annual balls there.  Many dances, fund raisers, and parties, as well as the Pembroke Bicentennial Ball were held at the hall.  

The first pastor was Fr. Eugene Bailot, and he became the first chairman of Pembroke’s Housing Authority.   He was succeeded as pastor three years later by Fr. Vincent Piscitelli, who was followed in 1971 by Fr. James Mahoney.  Fr. Mahoney served as pastor until 1997 when he retired and was succeeded by Fr. Robert Sullivan.  Fr. Sullivan served as pastor until May 2008 when he was succeeded by Fr. Joseph S. McCarthy. Father McCarthy now serves as the current pastor of St. Thecla Parish.  

Parochial Vicars have included Frs. Mark Corrigan, David Doucet,  John Nichols, Joseph Slyva, William Sullivan,  Robert Meffan, James Robertson, and Michael Harkins.  

Another group of priests has provided week-end assistance through the years.  This group includes Frs. Robert Kelliher, Robert Buchan, Daniel Flavin, Lawrence Cedrone, Joseph Ryan, Peter Shakalis, Clyde Leonard, Edward Roberts, Paul Bailey, and currently Frs. Arthur Brown, Roger Cormier and John Gerry Shea.  

St. Thecla has also enjoyed the assistance of two transitional deacons: Deacon Paul Scriber and Deacon John Creed.   Three permanent deacons have also been part of our parish life.  They are: Deacon Joseph Papile, Deacon Thomas McMorrow who was the first permanent deacon to be ordained from this parish and who served here until his death in 2002, and our current deacon, Deacon Jack Sullivan.  

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