About Annunciation Chapel · Florence, Massachusetts
Annunciation Chapel (also referred to on the parish website as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel) is the mission chapel of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Florence, Massachusetts, serving the western Massachusetts community within the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Located at 85 Beacon Street, it shares the parish's Catholic life with the main church at 99 King Street in nearby Northampton. Currently, while the main church is undergoing renovation (work scheduled to begin May 2026), all Masses have been moved to the Chapel. The Chapel is the home of the parish's Sunday Children's Mass at 9:30 a.m. and the weekly Spanish-language Mass at 12:30 p.m., making it a particular gathering point for families and the Latino Catholic community.
- Established
- 2009
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the chapel's patron and titular feast)
- Rector
- Rev. Kingsley Ihejirika (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
Annunciation Chapel offers two distinctive Sunday liturgies — a 9:30 a.m. Children's Mass that welcomes families, and a 12:30 p.m. Spanish-language Mass that anchors the parish's vibrant Catholic Latino Ministry under Angel Martinez. The wider parish family complements that with CCD faith formation and RCIA through Karen Bobala, social-justice and outreach work (including the Prayer Shawl Ministry and the Take-and-Eat food-insecurity program started in fall 2025), and a music program led by Director of Music Doug Almanzar. Because the main 99 King Street church is closed for renovation starting May 2026, the Chapel is currently the gathering place for the whole parish community.
Mass times at Annunciation Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Currently: Reconciliation is held at the Church (99 King Street, Northampton) — Friday 1:10 p.m. (after Mass) and Saturday 3:15 p.m. (before Mass)
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 6:00 p.m. (regularly at the Church; check bulletin for Chapel relocation during renovation)
About Annunciation Chapel & St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
Annunciation Chapel at 85 Beacon Street, Florence is the mission chapel of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, which also operates the main church at 99 King Street, Northampton. The parish was formed in 2009–2010 through the merger of five former parish families. Pastor Father Francis Reilly and Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski marked the 10th anniversary with a 4 p.m. Mass in January 2020, followed by a reception at the Elks in Florence. From the summer of 2022, the parish has been administered by Father Kingsley Ihejirika, who came from Holy Name Parish in Springfield. As of 2025–2026 the main 99 King Street church is closed for renovation (work scheduled to begin May 2026), so every Mass in the parish is being celebrated at Annunciation Chapel.
- Mission of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
- Chapel address: 85 Beacon Street, Florence MA 01062 (mailing: 87 Beacon Street)
- Main church: 99 King Street, Northampton MA 01060
- Pastor/Administrator: Rev. Kingsley Ihejirika
- Parish founded 2009–2010; 10th anniversary celebrated January 2020 with Bishop Rozanski
Parish Staff & Clergy
Father Kingsley Ihejirika leads the parish as Administrator. He was ordained and trained in Nigeria, earned multiple Master's degrees and a doctorate in Rome (at the Pontifical Urban University and Pontifical Regina Apostolorum), served a decade in the Archdiocese of Hartford (including four years as administrator of St. Justin–St. Michael Parish), and also holds a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Divine Mercy University in Virginia. He joined the Diocese of Springfield in summer 2022 and was appointed to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton shortly after. The wider team includes Karen Bobala (Faith Formation and Safe Environment), Mary Ann Barnes (Parish Assistant), Mary Rogers (Parish Coordinator), Doug Almanzar (Director of Music), Angel Martinez (Catholic Latino Ministry), Susan Royea (Social Events & Veterans Green), Cathy Ann Savarese (Office Manager), and Roy Chapman (Superintendent of Saint Mary Cemetery).
- Rev. Kingsley Ihejirika — Administrator, [email protected]
- Karen Bobala — Interim Director of Faith Formation / Safe Environment
- Mary Ann Barnes — Parish Assistant (Mass bookings, marriages, funerals, sacramental records)
- Mary Rogers — Parish Coordinator (bulletin, census, CORI, bookkeeping)
- Doug Almanzar — Director of Music, 413-320-3960
- Angel Martinez — Catholic Latino Ministry (Ministerio Católico Latino)
- Susan Royea — Social Events, Club 500, Veterans Green
- Cathy Ann Savarese — Office Manager
- Roy Chapman — Superintendent, Saint Mary Cemetery
Faith Formation, RCIA & Sacramental Preparation
Karen Bobala is the Interim Director of Faith Formation and Safe Environment Coordinator and is the parish contact for both Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes for children and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church. Sacramental records and bookings for baptisms, marriages, and funeral Masses are handled by Parish Assistant Mary Ann Barnes.
- CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes for children
- RCIA for adult initiation
- First Reconciliation / First Communion via CCD
- Marriage and funeral arrangements via Parish Office
Catholic Latino Ministry (Ministerio Católico Latino)
Annunciation Chapel is the home of the parish's weekly Spanish-language Mass at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, supported by the Catholic Latino Ministry. The ministry is led by Angel Martinez ([email protected]), who coordinates outreach and sacramental support for Spanish-speaking parishioners in Florence and Northampton.
- Sunday 12:30 p.m. Spanish Mass at Annunciation Chapel
- Coordinator: Angel Martinez
- Outreach to Spanish-speaking Catholic community in the Pioneer Valley
Music & Liturgy
The parish's liturgical music program is directed by Doug Almanzar. The Chapel itself houses a pipe organ of historical interest — in July 2015, the Organ Historical Society featured it during its Pioneer Valley convention, with a recital by Grant Russell Moss, college organist at Smith College since 1983. Music for weddings and funerals is coordinated through Parish Assistant Mary Ann Barnes.
- Director of Music: Doug Almanzar ([email protected], 413-320-3960)
- Chapel pipe organ featured in 2015 OHS convention recital by Grant Russell Moss
- Music for marriages and funerals arranged via the Parish Office
Social Ministries & Outreach
The parish runs a network of social ministries that invite parishioners to share their time and talents. The Social Justice Ministry coordinates the parish's Catholic social teaching work, charity drives, and legislative advocacy. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls that are blessed by the priest and given to hospital patients and nursing home residents. In fall 2025, the parish launched the Take-and-Eat Committee, which prepares and serves meals on the front lawn of 99 King Street from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month to address local food insecurity. A Fundraising Committee (formed 2023) supports parish finances, a Church Decorations Committee handles seasonal décor, and a Communications Committee curates the bulletin, website, Facebook, and livestream.
- Social Justice Ministry (email [email protected])
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Take-and-Eat Committee (food insecurity, 2nd Saturday each month, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
- Church Decorations Committee (Christmas and Easter)
- Fundraising Committee (formed 2023)
- Communications Committee (bulletin, website, Facebook, livestream)
- Club 500
- Veterans Green
Saint Mary Cemetery
Saint Mary Cemetery is part of the parish's pastoral care, with Roy Chapman serving as Cemetery Superintendent. The cemetery office is located at 235 N. Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060 (phone 413-584-3257, fax 413-584-8998), open 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Superintendent: Roy Chapman
- Office: 235 N. Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060
- Phone: 413-584-3257
- Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Visiting, Contact & Getting Involved
Parish offices are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at 87 Beacon Street, Florence (mailing) with phone 413-584-7310 and fax 413-584-4788. Anyone interested in any of the parish's ministries can call the Parish Office to be put in touch with a coordinator. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and emails parish news (see the 'Parish News' mailer), and its Facebook page is linked from the parish website.
- Parish Office: 87 Beacon Street, Florence, MA 01062
- Phone 413-584-7310; Fax 413-584-4788
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Weekly bulletin and email newsletter published
- Facebook linked from saintelizabethannseton.net
Father Kingsley's Wider Mission — Divine Mercy International
Beyond parish duties, Father Kingsley Ihejirika is the founder of the Divine Mercy International Widows Organization (DMIWOO), which provides care and support to impoverished widows and vulnerable orphans, and has supported the building of a school and hospital in Nigeria. He is also the author of 'Reawakening Hope: The Mission of A Motherless Child,' in which he shares his experiences growing up as a motherless child in a remote Nigerian village and the mental-health journey that shaped his priesthood.
- Founder, Divine Mercy International Widows Organization (DMIWOO)
- Supports school and hospital in Nigeria
- Author: 'Reawakening Hope: The Mission of A Motherless Child'
- Led a parish pilgrimage to Italy in late August–early September 2025
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Reillyat least through 2020
Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish at the time of the 10th anniversary Mass in January 2020, celebrated with Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski.
- Rev. Kingsley Ihejirikajoined 2022; current
Administrator since summer 2022. Born and trained in Nigeria; multiple degrees from the Pontifical Urban University and Pontifical Regina Apostolorum in Rome; also holds a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Divine Mercy University; previously administrator of St. Justin–St. Michael Parish in the Archdiocese of Hartford.