St. Mary's Announcement: see ://stmarysridgefield.org/bulletin/061806.pdf

Two hundred years ago General Rochambeau and his army of 5000 troops came to Ridgefield and camped in Ridgebury on July 1st and 2nd, 1781, on their historic march from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia.  As July 1st, 1781 was a Sunday, and according to the diaries kept by several of the French officers, a Catholic Mass was celebrated on that day.

History gives us the names of the French chaplains who were with the comte de Rochambeau. They were as follows: Reverend Fathers Robin, Gluson, Lacy, and St. Pierre. Undoubtedly, the first Mass celebrated in Ridgefield was on July 2, 1781. – "History of Ridgefield, Connecticut" by George L. Rockwell, 1927.

In commemoration of both this historic event for the Catholic Church in New England and the 125th Anniversary of the founding of St. Mary’s Parish, we are honoring these events with an "in the field" Mass on the grounds of Ridgebury Meadow, the actual site of Rochambeau's encampment.

The Rev. William Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, will celebrate a Roman Catholic Mass July 2 at 11:30 a.m. in the field on the corner of Ridgebury and Old Stagecoach roads.

There will be NO PARKING at the site. Parking will be at Ridgefield High School,

with free shuttle buses starting at 9:45AM.     (See Parking & Transportation webpage for maps & directions).


When Gen. Jean Rochambeau and his French army marched through Ridgebury during the Revolutionary War, a Catholic Mass was held on July 1, 1781. To highlight the historic event and the 125th anniversary of the founding of St. Mary's Parish in Ridgefield, Bishop Lori's Mass will be at the site of the Mass held by Rochambeau's troops.

The Mass is part of the March to Victory weekend being celebrated in Ridgefield