St. Patrick Parish

Office hours M & Th 9AM-12PM
T (413) 232-4427
F (413) 
E [email protected]

Mass Times at St. Patrick Parish

Sunday at 8:30am

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Long before the beginning of St. Patrick Parish, the name of St. Patrick was a significant one in West Stockbridge. History has it that the tract of land in which West Stockbridge is located was granted to the Massachusetts State Legislature on St. Patrick’s Day in 1735. To the parishioners and the clergy of the Springfield Diocese this was symbolic.

It is difficult to determine exactly where and when the Roman Catholic Church began its missionary work in the Berkshires. There are records to indicate that Father Fitton (who was based in the city of Worcester) said Mass as early as 1832 in West Stockbridge and actually offered Mass as far west as Great Barrington. The Rev. Jeremiah O’Callaghan of Bennington, Vermont, travelled into Pittsfield as early as 1835 to offer Mass for the Catholics there. 

A few years later Father John Brady, from his parish in Cabotville (Chicopee) penetrated the most remote Berkshires to serve the people in that area. His district or parish included Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties. Father Brady’s assistant, Father Bernard O’Cavanaugh, also came to the Berkshires at this time, and he probably celebrated the first Mass in West Stockbridge in 1848. This was at the home of Michael Stanton who lived in the Leet Ore Beds section of town.

Before this time the Catholics of West Stockbridge endured many inconveniences and actual hardships in order to worship their God according to their religious belief. Many of the faithful would walk to Albany, New York, to hear Mass. It was necessary for them to leave their homes on Saturday so they would arrive in Albany on time for Sunday Mass. They would return home on Monday. Later on, some of the people would travel by horse and wagon to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

About the year 1849, Father O’Cavanaugh became the first pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Pittsfield, which Church assumed the responsibility of serving the Catholic population of the surrounding area. Father Patrick Cuddihy succeeded Father O’Cavanaugh, and he was followed by Father Purcell. Each of these priests journeyed to West Stockbridge three or four times a year to offer Mass in private homes, usually in the home of Michael Stanton or of Martin Powers, who resided on Lenox Road. Baptisms were usually scheduled about twice a year and the people were notified of the time when the priest would be in town and in what home the baptisms would take place. Eventually, as the Catholic population increased, the Town Hall was used for the celebration of Mass, and the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony were administered after Mass.

St. Mary's Parish of Lee was established in 1856 and the towns of West Stockbridge and Stock- bridge, became a part of that parish. Father Peter Eagan was appointed Pastor of St. Mary's and as the Catholic population in the area increased, he realized that a mission Church was needed. The construction of St. Joseph’s Church was begun as a mission Church in Stockbridge in 1860. This project was beset with many difficulties in the building of it and was not completed for several years. Father Eagan passed away in 1864.

After Father Carroll’s death in 1885. Father John Madden was appointed pastor of Saint Patrick's, coming from Webster, Massachusetts. It was during his pastorate that West Stockbridge gave its first son to the priesthood. The Reverend Dennis Mullins grew up in the Leet Iron Ore section of town, received his early Christian learning from Father Carroll and was ordained a priest in Montreal, Canada, on December 17, 1887. His ordination caused much rejoicing among the parishioners.

Father Madden remained as pastor until 1892 and was succeeded by Father James Mahar who continued to serve his parishioners at St. Patrick’s until 1919, a total of twenty-eight years. Father Mahar was succeeded by Father James Hanrahan. Eventually, Bishop O’Leary established St. Joseph’s Parish in Stockbridge and St. Patrick's assumed the direction of the Catholic population in West Stockbridge, Richmond, and parts of Alford, Canaan, N.Y. and Austerlitz, N.Y.

There followed a succession of pastors including Father Jeremiah Sullivan, Father John Mongovan, and Father George Pacey, the latter serving St. Patrick’s during the depression years when work was scarce and times were really difficult. Father McCulloch followed Father Pacey and he served during the years of World War II.

Father William Lee, who served as a Chaplain in the United States Army during World War II came to St. Patrick’s in 1946. He planned immediately the accomplishment of the many changes necessary which could not be done during the years of depression and war. It was at this time that the Church was completely redecorated and a new rectory dedicated in 1952. Father Lee remained until 1953 and Father John Curtin was appointed pastor. During Father Curtin’s pastorate, the second longest at St. Patrick’s, came the difficult task of introducing the many changes in the liturgy brought about by Vatican II. He accomplished this unusual task very wisely and tactfully realizing that these changes had to come slowly for the majority of his parishioners. After eighteen years of service, Father Curtin’s retirement brought sadness to all his people even as they shared in the pride of what he had accomplished.

In September, 1971, Father Raymond A. Lanoue came from Pittsfield to assume the duties of pastor at St. Patrick’s, having completed twelve years of working with the youth of Central Berkshire County. Already he has organized a Parish Council which has become active in parish affairs and has contributed especially to the Centennial Celebration.

Fr. Lanoue was succeeded by Father Leonard Perrault who served the parish faithfully for many years. He was succeeded by Father Steven McGuigan.

St. Patrick became part of our tri-parish community in 2001 when Fr. CJ Waitekus was appointed pastor. He was followed in 2015 by Msgr. John Bonzagni.