About All Saints · Ware, Massachusetts
All Saints Catholic Church is a parish in Ware, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Originally known as St. William's Parish and established around 1850 to serve French-Canadian mill workers in Ware's industrial village, it is the oldest Roman Catholic congregation in town. The present Victorian Gothic church building, designed by architect Patrick W. Ford and begun in 1888, stands at 17 North Street and is considered one of the best examples of the style in central Massachusetts. Today All Saints is part of a collaborative Catholic community with nearby St. Mary's Church, sharing pastoral staff and faith-formation programs.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- All Saints
- Rector
- Fr. Piotr Pawlus
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
All Saints offers a deeply rooted Catholic community in the heart of Ware, with daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confessions, First Friday adoration, and a year-round slate of adult faith formation including Foundations of Faith on Wednesdays and O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) on the 1st and 3rd Mondays. Families raising children in the faith benefit from the parish's CCD religious-education program, while members of all ages can get involved through the Knights of Columbus, Friends of the Cross, St. Mary's Rosary Sodality, and a vibrant food-distribution ministry that serves anyone in need.
Mass times at All Saints
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm
Adoration times
- First Friday: 3:00 pm – 5:50 pm
Our History
All Saints Catholic Church in Ware was originally known as St. William's Parish and is the oldest Roman Catholic congregation in the town. Beginning in 1850, regular Catholic services were held in the new industrial village, as a large population of French Canadians moved to Ware for work in the textile mills. A small frame church was built on West Street, and a cemetery was laid out around it for members of the congregation. As the congregation grew, a larger building was needed, and in 1888 work began on the present structure in a more central location. The Archdiocese worked with architect Patrick W. Ford — who designed many Roman Catholic churches in the eastern United States through the latter half of the 19th century — and the resulting Victorian Gothic church remains one of the best examples of the style in central Massachusetts. As soon as the church was completed, work began on the adjoining parish house in a complementary Colonial Revival wood-frame style.
- Founded c. 1850 as St. William's Parish (oldest Catholic church in Ware)
- First frame church built on West Street, with cemetery around it
- Present church begun in 1888, designed by Patrick W. Ford
- Victorian Gothic style — among the finest in central Massachusetts
- Adjoining parish house built in Colonial Revival style
Our Staff & Clergy
All Saints and St. Mary's share a single pastoral and administrative team. The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Piotr Pawlus, assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Joel Philip. Melissa Delargy serves as Parish Director, Susan Butcher and Gail Moryl as Administrative Assistants, Maribeth Royer as Cemetery Coordinator, and Joshua Lauzier as Communications Manager. The CCD Faith Formation program is coordinated by Brian Rheaume and Regina Mace.
- Fr. Piotr Pawlus — Pastor
- Fr. Joel Philip — Parochial Vicar
- Melissa Delargy — Parish Director
- Susan Butcher — Administrative Assistant
- Gail Moryl — Administrative Assistant
- Maribeth Royer — Cemetery Coordinator
- Joshua Lauzier — Communications Manager
- Brian Rheaume — CCD Coordinator
- Regina Mace — CCD Coordinator
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is a central ministry of the parish, with programs for children, youth, and adults. The CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program offers religious education for all grade levels and prepares students for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Adult faith formation is offered through Foundations of Faith (a weekly study described as a 'spiritual pilgrimage' through Catholic teaching), Men's Faith Formation meetings, and O.C.I.A. — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — for those exploring Catholicism or completing sacraments of initiation.
- CCD for all grades — registration $20 per child
- Classes meet September through June (schedule published on CCD Information page)
- Coordinators: Brian Rheaume and Regina Mace
- Foundations of Faith — Wednesdays 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
- O.C.I.A. — 1st and 3rd Mondays, 6:30 pm – 6:45 pm at St. Mary's Church
- Men's Faith Formation — Mondays 6:30 pm at St. Mary's Church
Faith Community & Parish Groups
The parish describes itself as a faith community with many ways to get involved locally, through the Diocese of Springfield, and through the wider Catholic Church. Several named groups and sodalities meet regularly in Ware for prayer, fellowship, and service.
- Friends of the Cross
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Mary's Rosary Sodality
- Adoration Team
- AA meetings hosted at St. Mary's Church
Outreach & Charitable Works
Outreach to those in material need is a visible part of parish life. A Free Food Distribution is hosted at St. Mary's Church Hall on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, open from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. No documentation is required and there is no charge for recipients, making it a welcoming community resource.
- Free Food Distribution — 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
- Location: St. Mary's Church Hall, 60 South Street, Ware
- Open to anyone — no documentation required, no charge
Sacraments
All Saints prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. Children prepare for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation through the CCD program. Adults seeking Baptism, Communion, or Confirmation participate in O.C.I.A. Couples should contact the rectory to begin marriage preparation. Families are encouraged to call the parish office to arrange funerals, baptisms, and the Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- First Holy Communion — prepared through CCD
- Confirmation — prepared through CCD
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00 pm at All Saints
- Marriage — contact the parish office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Funerals — Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 am – 10:00 am office hours for cemetery and funeral inquiries
Parish Cemetery — St. William's Cemetery
The parish maintains St. William's Cemetery, which was originally laid out around the first small frame Catholic church on West Street when Catholic services began in Ware around 1850. Today the cemetery is coordinated by Maribeth Royer; funeral and cemetery inquiries are handled Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the parish office.
- St. William's Cemetery — original parish burial ground
- Cemetery Coordinator: Maribeth Royer
- Funeral & cemetery office hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30 am – 10:00 am
Contact, Locations & Office Hours
All Saints Parish shares its rectory and offices with St. Mary's Church at 60 South Street, Ware, MA 01082. Office hours are split between general inquiries and funeral/cemetery inquiries. The parish can be reached by phone at (413) 967-4963 and by email at [email protected].
- All Saints Church: 17 North Street, Ware, MA 01082
- Rectory/Parish Office: 60 South Street, Ware, MA 01082
- St. Mary's Church: 57 South Street, Ware, MA 01082
- Phone: (413) 967-4963 (also 413-967-5913 for St. Mary's line)
- Email: [email protected] (All Saints); [email protected] (St. Mary's)
- General inquiries: Monday & Wednesday, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Funeral & cemetery inquiries: Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30 am – 10:00 am