cher480
A must see when you are in the area. Please go in to see the beautiful interior that no words can express. It will be a sight to remember. The architecture is magnificent. Check it out and enjoy!!
k123-foodie
A beautiful church which was built by many of the families who settled and founded the town. French influence was dominate in the workmanship. Great church to see inside and out.They don't make them like this any more.
Jrgaudion
I was a visitor for a wedding. What can you say about a Parish? I am not a member, so I don't know the parishoners or the Priests. It is a beautiful church, and a very nice place for spiritual meditation.
joj474
Notre Dame was within view of our suite at the nearby Vienna Inn and we were amazed at the size and beauty of this Catholic church when we visited.
DinoT_11
I have visited churches all over the world and they all have a hard time matching the beauty of Notre Dame. It has Romaneqe, Austrian architecture and its beauty keeps newcomers checking it out closely. It is about 75 years old, build by early French-Canadian settlers. It has been renamed "Blessed John Paul" parish.
NitzaIvelisseR
Notre Dame Parish is a work of art. Very pleased and blessed to praise in Notre Dame. A Parish to admire for its beauty from the outside-in.
gardener1Sturbridge
Always a special time when you walk into this church that is large and ornate enough to be worthy of being called a Cathedral!
VermontTraveller_11
Visiting Notre Dame Church in Southbridge on a Monday morning, groundsworkers kindly directed us to a side door. The outside architecture is impressive, but nothing prepared us for the enormous interior and stunning Rococo design that greeted us inside. I have long thought that I favored Gothic architecture, despite it's dark interiors, but this cathedral is bright and beautiful; in a word, "heavenly." Somehow Notre Dame manages to not go "over the top," from the ornate ceiling paintings to the sculptures and bas relief stations of the cross to the lovely paintings throughout (there is even a fine large canvass of Jeanne d'Arc). We were told that a few weeks earlier Notre Dame was about to be closed down, but at the last minute Sacred Heart, located elsewhere in town, was instead. (See my review elsewhere.)
JellicleCat60
One of the most beautiful church buildings in Southbridge, if not the enter Worcester COunty, is Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. This outstanding example of French Gothic Architecture has the most beauiful mosaic stained glass windows in all of New England. Valued at over one million U.S. dollars, they were manufactured in Bavaria by the F.X. Zettler Company. The building itself is devoid of any distracting interior ornamentation so that your eyes fix on the high Marble altar imported from Italy, which hosts the Blessed Sacrament. Wooden beams in the ceiling add more beauty to the interior, as well as paintings of different Catholic traditions adorn the ceiling. Once you enter the sanctuary, a feeling of quiet, peace and prayer will over come you. The next time you are in or near Southbridge Massachusetts, you owe it to yourself to visit this absolutely gorgeous building!
polish_pinecone
I'm originally from Sturbridge, right next to Southbridge, and when my high school select choir was getting ready for a competition, we used Notre Dame as a rehearsal spot. If I remember correctly, there's an 8-second echo delay from the sanctuary to the choir loft and back.The exterior is Romanesque and was built with granite that was originally meant for tombstones for soldiers from the Spanish-American War. But the war didn't last very long, there were few casualties and the government had a surplus, so the parish got it for a song. The interior, however, is exquisite French Rococo and is not to be missed.When our choir rehearsed there in 1978, the background behind the crucifix in the sanctuary was orange. Fortunately, that's been painted over and it now looks much better.If you're in Sturbridge to visit Old Sturbridge Village, going to St. Anne's Shrine, taking in the Sturbridge to Provincetown bike ride or just touring around, make it a point to go the extra few miles into Southbridge on Route 131 and visit this church. You won't be disappointed.
loftartists
Hello,We were privileged to go to Notre Dame church in April, 2008, and as someone who has toured churches in the U.S. and Europe, I have to say this church was unforgettable. My husband and I just stared at the full-sized gold angels all around the ceiling. It is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever been in, including St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC. We also were awed by the priest who was giving a healing service there. Father Diorio. He is the real deal. This man is a healer from God. And we went in skeptical. A woman I stood next to regained her hearing after 27 years of near-complete deafness. My husband's rotator cuff injury that has been plaguing him for years disappeared, as did my carpal tunnel syndrome in both arms. Father Diorio is a saint and healer. He's at this church regularly. He has a website with info.DON'T SKIP THIS GORGEOUS CHURCH.
goofycj7
Toured the church, was not impressed.