About Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr · Chicopee, Massachusetts
The Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Chicopee, Massachusetts, serving one of the oldest Polish-American parishes in New England. Founded in 1891 by Polish immigrants and entrusted in 1902 to the Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual), it was raised to the rank of minor basilica by Pope John Paul II on July 7, 1991, during the parish's centennial. The imposing 1908 brownstone church on Front Street, designed by architects Robert J. Reiley and Gustave E. Steinback in the Baroque/Byzantine Revival style, seats over 800 worshipers and remains a center of Polish heritage, faith formation, and Marian devotion in Western Massachusetts.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów (Bishop and Martyr)
- Rector
- Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Stanislaus Basilica is one of the most distinctive Catholic parishes in Western Massachusetts, offering a rare combination of historic sacred architecture, active Polish-American devotional life, and an exceptionally full liturgical schedule. Visitors encounter daily Mass in English and Polish, a robust Polish Mass at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday, perpetual-style Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on weekdays, Healing Masses through the Disciples of Mary, and a calendar of Marian devotions (Divine Mercy, Our Lady of Częstochowa, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Morning Star Family Rosary). The parish is served by the Conventual Franciscan Friars and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi, runs its own Pre-K–8 school, a cemetery, faith formation for grades K–8 and Confirmation, and the 125-year-old Rosary Society—making it a vibrant spiritual home for families, Polish-Americans, and anyone drawn to traditional Catholic worship.
Mass times at Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: After the 6:30 a.m. Mass; 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Tuesday: After the 6:30 a.m. Mass; 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Wednesday: After the 6:30 a.m. Mass; 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Thursday: After the 6:30 a.m. Mass; 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Friday: After the 6:30 a.m. Mass; 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Saturday: After the 7:00 a.m. Mass; 9:00–10:00 a.m. (Lower Basilica); 3:00–3:55 p.m. (Upper Basilica)
- Other times for Confession by Appointment
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
- First Friday: after 6:30 a.m. Mass – 7:00 p.m.
- First Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Sacraments
Reconciliation is offered every weekday morning after the 6:30 a.m. Mass and again from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., with an expanded Saturday schedule in both the lower and upper basilicas. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated after every Mass on the Fourth Sunday of the month and at Healing Masses sponsored with the Disciples of Mary. Baptisms, First Communion, First Penance, Confirmation, Marriage, and the OCIA process for adults becoming Catholic are all coordinated through the parish office.
- Confession Mon–Fri after 6:30 a.m. Mass and 10:45–11:45 a.m.
- Saturday confessions after 7:00 a.m. Mass, 9:00–10:00 a.m. (Lower Basilica), and 3:00–3:55 p.m. (Upper Basilica)
- Anointing of the Sick on the 4th Sunday after all Masses
- Healing Masses (3rd Tuesdays May/Aug/Nov) with anointing
- OCIA for adults becoming Catholic
- Faith Formation-based preparation for First Communion, First Penance, and Confirmation
Parish History
Founded in 1891 by Polish immigrants who arrived in Chicopee during the 1880s textile-mill boom, St. Stanislaus was the first Polish Catholic parish in Western Massachusetts. After an initial wood-frame church on the site of the present school, the parish built its current brownstone basilica on Front Street in 1908. The Conventual Franciscan Friars took over pastoral leadership in 1902 and have served the parish continuously ever since. On July 7, 1991, Pope John Paul II raised the church to the rank of minor basilica during the parish centennial. The parish also runs St. Stanislaus School (founded 1897 by the Felician Sisters and staffed since 1902 by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph) and St. Stanislaus Cemetery, a 125-acre property purchased in 1924 on Montgomery Street.
- 1891 — first Midnight Mass celebrated on Christmas in the unfinished first wood-frame church
- 1897 — parish school opened by three Felician Sisters
- 1902 — Conventual Franciscan Friars assume pastoral leadership
- 1908 — present brownstone basilica completed
- 1920 — pipe organ installed
- 1924 — 125-acre St. Stanislaus Cemetery acquired on Montgomery Street
- 1973 — brick school destroyed by fire
- 1976 — new school dedicated on January 5
- 1991 (July 7) — elevated to minor basilica by Pope John Paul II
- 2000 — school accredited by NEASC
- 2002 — Franciscans observed centennial of their ministry at St. Stanislaus
Architecture, Art & Sacred Spaces
The 1908 basilica is a brownstone, cathedral-like structure designed by Robert J. Reiley and Gustave E. Steinback. The Baroque/Byzantine Revival façade is dominated by twin masonry towers whose spires are composed of copper drums with belvederes and arched openings. The spacious interior accommodates at least 800 worshipers across a main nave and two side naves, and is enriched with European stained-glass windows and artistically sculpted Stations of the Cross set into niches. A pipe organ has filled the choir loft since 1920. The lower church, more contemporary in style, is used for daily Masses, confessions, Adoration, and houses a sizable collection of saints' relics in reliquaries near the sacristy.
- Architects: Robert J. Reiley and Gustave E. Steinback (1908)
- Style: Baroque Revival (parish) / Byzantine Revival (Buildings of New England)
- Capacity: at least 800 worshipers
- Twin masonry towers with copper-drum spires and belvederes
- European stained-glass windows, each with its own theme
- Sculpted and painted Stations of the Cross set in niches
- 1920 pipe organ in the choir loft
- Lower church houses a sizable collection of relics in reliquaries
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is directed by Deacon David Southworth and supported by Deacon Joseph Peters. The parish acknowledges parents and guardians as the primary educators of their children—the 'domestic Church'—while trained volunteer catechists provide formal religion classes for students in Grades K–8 and a Confirmation program. There are also First Communion/First Penance preparation and a High School Youth Ministry. The Basilica of St. Stanislaus works in cooperation with families to form children 'through systematic and loving catechesis in the teachings of the Catholic Church.'
- Faith Formation Director: Deacon David Southworth
- Religious Education Classes for Grades 1–8
- First Communion and First Penance preparation
- Confirmation Preparation program
- High School Youth Ministry
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults becoming Catholic
St. Stanislaus School
St. Stanislaus School is a Roman Catholic, Franciscan, co-educational Pre-K through Grade 8 school that has served the parish and surrounding communities for more than 120 years. Originally founded as a parish school for the children of Polish immigrants, it now welcomes students of many faiths and backgrounds. From 1907 through 2023 it was administered by the Conventual Franciscans of Our Lady of the Angels Province together with the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamburg, New York; in 2023 lay administration began collaborating with the Franciscans. The current school was built on the site of the 1925 brick school that was destroyed by fire in 1973; it includes a preschool, chapel, large library/computer center, art room, cafeteria, gym, science lab, and an outdoor playground.
- Principal: Katherine Rorrio
- Vice Principal: Kathleen Dziok
- Pastor: Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv.
- Grades: Pre-K 3 through Grade 8
- Accredited by New England Association of Colleges and Schools (2000)
- Faithfully Franciscan since 1907; lay administration collaborating since 2023
Rosary Society (BSSR)
Founded in 1900 under Father Francis Chalupka and reorganized on September 17, 1914 by Very Rev. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conventual, the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Rosary Society is one of the oldest continuously active parish rosary societies in New England, having marked its 125th anniversary in October 2025. Members are called to devotion to Mary through daily personal recitation of the Rosary, monthly meetings for prayer and spiritual formation, Marian devotions in May and October, and service to the parish through bake sales and the annual parish bazaar. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month in September, October, November, March, April, and May in the school cafeteria at 7:00 p.m., followed by a social hour.
- Founded 1900 under Rev. Francis Chalupka
- Reorganized September 17, 1914 by Very Rev. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv.
- Chaplain: Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv.
- 125th anniversary celebrated October 5, 2025
- Monthly meetings: 2nd Tuesday (Sept–Nov, Mar–May) at 7:00 p.m. in the School Cafeteria
St. Stanislaus Cemetery
In 1924 the parish purchased a 125-acre tract of land on Montgomery Street in Chicopee—about three miles from the basilica—for St. Stanislaus Cemetery. The large, exceptionally well-maintained cemetery is served by Cemetery Foreman James Duggan and includes a small refurbished chapel used for interment services in inclement weather. As a Catholic cemetery, it is a place of prayer and remembrance for the parish's Polish-American community and beyond.
- Address: Montgomery Street, Chicopee, MA (about 3 miles from the basilica)
- 125 acres, exceptionally well maintained
- Refurbished chapel for inclement-weather interment services
- Cemetery Foreman: James Duggan
Our Lady of Częstochowa Polish-American Festival
Each summer the parish hosts a free-admission festival in honor of Our Lady of Częstochowa, drawing the Polish-American community from across New England. The day features Polish food (Polish plates, hot dogs, hamburgers), live music and dancing by Sarah the Fiddler and Friends and the Heritage Pops Orchestra, an outdoor bilingual Mass (frequently celebrated by the Bishop of Springfield), a candlelight procession with the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa down Front Street and back to the basilica, and Benediction followed by music and dancing in the school cafeteria. The icon is displayed outside for the duration of the festival.
- Outdoor bilingual Mass typically presided by the Bishop of Springfield
- Candlelight procession with the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa
- Free admission; presented with sponsor support (e.g., Polish National Credit Union)
- Polish food, polka music, Heritage Pops Orchestra
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The basilica is served by Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi (FMSA). Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv., serves as Pastor and is also Dean of the Hampden Central Deanery of the Diocese of Springfield. He is assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv., and Fr. Lucjan Szymanski, OFM Conv., along with Friar in Formation Fr. Edgar Varela, OFM Conv., and three permanent deacons: Deacon Joseph Peters, Deacon Michael Pray, and Deacon David Southworth (who also directs Faith Formation). Lay and religious staff direct the school, music, administration, and cemetery.
- Fr. Brad Milunski, OFM Conv. — Pastor
- Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. — Parochial Vicar (Rosary Society chaplain)
- Fr. Lucjan Szymanski, OFM Conv. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Edgar Varela, OFM Conv. — Diaconate Year
- Deacon Joseph Peters
- Deacon Michael Pray
- Deacon David Southworth — Director of Faith Formation
- Katherine Rorrio — School Principal
- Kathleen Dziok — School Vice Principal
- Sr. Agnesa Negru, FMSA — Ministry of Care
- John Makselon — Music Director
- Karl Hammond — Administration and Finance Manager
- James Duggan — Cemetery Foreman
- Gladys Les and Janina Surdyka — Parish Secretaries
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Franciszek Chałupka1890–~1902
Diocesan priest who organized the Polish parish in 1890; celebrated the first Midnight Mass on Christmas 1891 in the unfinished first wood-frame church; led the parish before the Franciscans assumed leadership.
- Very Rev. Lawrence M. Cyman, OFM Conv.
Pastor who reorganized the Rosary Society on September 17, 1914; Conventual Franciscan pastor during the building program of the present basilica era.