About New Bedford, Massachusetts:
Early settlers in this area were Quakers, focused on farming and fishing amid conflicts like King Philip’s War (1675). New Bedford is best known for its rich maritime history which led it to became, arguably, the wealthiest city per capita in the world, fueled by the global whale oil trade that lit cities and powered industries, making it a major center of commerce and wealth (which inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick).
Whale oil was an important commodity, used for fuel in lamps and to create candles, as well as a lubricant for machinery during the early days of the Industrial Revolution, and also used in the production of soap, cosmetics, and varnish.
Post-Revolutionary War, New Bedford boomed as a whaling hub, peaking in 1857 with 329 ships and $12 million in value—making it North America’s richest city per capita. Quaker entrepreneurs like William Rotch drove innovation (e.g., onboard tryworks for oil processing).
New Bedford was also a key abolitionist center and Underground Railroad stop. Frederick Douglass (1818–1895), the renowned abolitionist, orator, author, and statesman, spent the formative years of his freedom in New Bedford from 1838 to 1841. This coastal whaling hub, already a hotbed of Quaker abolitionism and a key stop on the maritime Underground Railroad, provided Douglass with safety, community, and the spark for his public career. Arriving as a fugitive slave just 20 years old, he found not only refuge but also inspiration in a diverse, anti-slavery environment that shaped his early activism. New Bedford’s free Black community—many of whom were former sailors or whalemen—offered solidarity, contrasting sharply with the oppression he fled in Maryland.
Whaling declined after the 1859 oil discovery and disasters like The Arctic fleet loss in September 1871, when 33 American whaling ships were trapped by Arctic pack ice off the coast of Alaska. The ships’ crews, which included over 1,200 men, women, and children; were evacuated by other whaling ships, while the abandoned vessels were crushed and sunk by the ice. The event resulted in a significant financial loss and is considered a major turning point that signaled the decline of the American whaling industry.
The city shifted to textiles (e.g., Wamsutta Mills employed 30,000 by the early 1900s) until southern competition hit in the 1920s–1940s. Immigration waves—from Irish (Great Famine era), Portuguese/Azoreans/Cape Verdeans (whaling ties), French Canadians, Poles, and Jews—shaped its culture. Today, it remains a prominent commercial fishing port as well as tourist attractions such as the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
Catholic places of interest in New Bedford, Massachusetts:
Although New Bedford had a significant Quaker population, the influx of so many immigrants from predominantly Catholic countries resulted in quite a few Catholic churches in the city. Over the last half of the 20th century, the population declined due to the movement out of the area toward greater opportunities elsewhere in the country. Today, thankfully, these eight beautiful churches remain, although the congregations have merged.
Saint Anthony of Padua Church: beautiful church reminiscent of the Cathedrals of Europe
Marian Friary of Our Lady, Queen of the Seraphic Order: the U.S. headquarters for the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. The friary’s main chapel is open 24/7 for perpetual Eucharistic adoration and its apostolates include administering sacraments, celebrating Mass, and conducting missions and retreats.
The parishes listed below have merged and do not have Masses every day. All links will open in a new page, this page will stay open.
Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
Saint Gabriel the Archangel Parish
Traveling to New Bedford, Massachusetts:
New Bedford is 58 miles south of Boston. You can travel to New Bedford by car, train, or ferry.
By air: The nearest airport is New Bedford (EWB) Airport, which is about 3 miles away. Other nearby airports include Providence (PVD) and Boston (BOS).
By train: The MBTA Commuter Rail offers a direct route from Boston’s South Station to the New Bedford station. Driving is also an option, with free parking available on weekends.
By Ferry: The Seastreak ferry provides service to and from Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.