Our Pastor

Date of Ordination: June 22, 1991
Office: 1340 Lakeview Road, Dracut, MA 01826
[email protected]
978-957-0322

Rev. Richard F. Clancy has been the Pastor of the River of Divine Mercy Catholic Collaborative for the past six years, guiding our three parishes and two school communities. We are so pleased that his appointment has been extended to 2027!

He was born on Easter Monday, 1960, and is the youngest of three boys who were raised in a Catholic home by their parents Alfred and Josephine. Growing up as a member of St. Anthony’s Parish in Woburn, Richard was an altar server, lector, Eucharistic minister, and even the summer custodian. The Church was always the central reality of his life. He summarizes his spirituality: “Eucharist, Mary, Mercy.”

He attended Woburn public schools for his early education. In high school he played varsity football and basketball.  He was captain of the basketball team in his senior year and also was elected Senior Class President of the Class of 1978 at Woburn High School.

Richard attended Merrimack College, graduating Magna cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. During his time at Merrimack, he was actively involved in the Campus Ministry program as well as the Orientation Committee. He served as a Freshman Resident Assistant for his last two years at Merrimack.

Ordained a priest in the class of 1991, Fr. Clancy’s first assignment was Most Precious Blood in Hyde Park. He then served in a variety of Campus Ministry assignments, including Emmanuel College, UMass-Boston, MIT, as well as serving as Archdiocesan Director of Campus Ministry. During this time Fr. Clancy also served as administrator of St. Casimir in Brockton. He has been a member of a number of committees within the Archdiocese of Boston, including the Presbyteral Council.

As is the case with many of his parishioners, Fr. Clancy continued his education on his own after ordination and the Master of Divinity degree he received from St. John's Seminary. He has an additional Master's degree from Boston College in Theology (Th M) and a Master in Education from UMass Boston. He also earned a Ph D from Boston College in Higher Education Administration. His dissertation title: “The Perceptions of the Recently Ordained Priests of Boston of Their Post-Secondary Education and Formation in Seminary.”

He has given retreats and conferences in many places throughout the United States and has led pilgrimages to several countries.