About Corpus Christi Catholic Parish - St. Joseph · Willimantic, Connecticut
Corpus Christi Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Norwich that worships in three historic church buildings in the Windham/Willimantic area of eastern Connecticut: St. Joseph Church (99 Jackson St, Willimantic), St. Mary Church (46 Valley St, Willimantic), and Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (61 Club Rd, Windham). Formed in 2019 through the merger of three parishes, its oldest community dates to 1856 and its most recent to 1991. The combined parish serves more than 2,500 households and celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, with about thirteen Masses offered each week across the three worship sites.
- Established
- 1856 (parish roots); 1874 (current St. Joseph church building); 2019 (Corpus Christi Parish formed by merger)
- Patron
- Saint Joseph (husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster-father of Jesus; patron of workers and of the Universal Church)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Laurence LaPointe (placed on administrative leave by the Diocese of Norwich in March 2026 pending investigation)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich (Connecticut)
Why belong here
Corpus Christi Parish brings together three historic Willimantic/Windham Catholic communities under one roof — literally and pastorally — so a newcomer can belong to a large, multilingual Catholic family (more than 2,500 households) while still worshipping in a familiar, neighborhood church. It offers daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, weekly Bible Study, RCIA/OCIA for those becoming Catholic, adult Faith Formation classes, a vibrant music ministry, a monthly food drive, and preparation for all seven sacraments. The parish's motto — 'One family in Christ serving Windham and Willimantic' — captures the warmth you'll find at St. Joseph, St. Mary and Sagrado Corazón.
Mass times at Corpus Christi Catholic Parish - St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM (at St. Joseph Church)
Welcome to Corpus Christi Parish
Corpus Christi Catholic Parish describes itself as 'One family in Christ serving Windham and Willimantic.' Formed in 2019 by merging three historic parishes, it now serves more than 2,500 households across Willimantic and Windham, Connecticut. The parish worships at three church buildings — St. Joseph (99 Jackson St, Willimantic), St. Mary (46 Valley St, Willimantic) and Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (61 Club Rd, Windham) — and reflects a wide mix of ages, backgrounds and cultures, with the Eucharist at the center of its common life.
- St. Joseph Church — 99 Jackson St, Willimantic, CT 06226 (parish office)
- St. Mary Church — 46 Valley St, Willimantic, CT 06226
- Sagrado Corazón de Jesús — 61 Club Rd, Windham, CT 06226
- Parish Office: (860) 423-8439 | Business Office: (860) 423-5835
- Email: [email protected]
Our Story and History
Catholic life in Willimantic began in 1847 when a small group of Irish Catholic workers arrived to labor at the Windham Manufacturing Company. The first Mass was offered in the kitchen of the Lathrop House by Father Brady of Middletown, and the first public service was held in Franklin Hall in the fall of 1849. By 1858 the Catholic community had purchased the old Baptist meetinghouse on Jackson Street and moved it to the present St. Joseph site. Under the long pastorate of Rev. Florimond DeBruycker (from 1863), a far larger Gothic brick church was built: cornerstone laid by Bishop McFarland on August 17, 1873, and dedicated November 26, 1874. The 156-by-64-foot church seats about 1,500 and features a tower whose spire rises 172 feet above the curb. In 2019, the parish of St. Joseph was merged with St. Mary's, Willimantic, and Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Windham (est. 1991), to form the present Corpus Christi Catholic Parish.
- 1847 — first Irish Catholic families settle in Willimantic to work at the thread mills
- 1858 — old Baptist meetinghouse purchased and moved to Jackson Street
- 1863 — Rev. Florimond DeBruycker becomes pastor
- August 17, 1873 — cornerstone of present Gothic church laid by Bishop McFarland
- November 26, 1874 — St. Joseph Church dedicated
- 1991 — Sagrado Corazón de Jesús established in Windham
- 2019 — three parishes merge to form Corpus Christi Catholic Parish
Clergy and Parish Staff
The pastoral team is bilingual, reflecting the parish's English- and Spanish-speaking communities. The pastor (Very Rev. Laurence LaPointe) oversees the merged parish along with a parochial vicar, two deacons, religious sisters, and lay pastoral assistants.
- Very Rev. Laurence LaPointe — Pastor
- Rev. Michael Castiblanco — Parochial Vicar; Director of Faith Formation
- Deacon Felipe Silva
- Deacon Lawrence Goodwin
- Sister Leidy Castillo, RODA — Pastoral Assistant
- Lorraine Gallup — Pastoral Assistant
- Madre M. Jude Lazarus, SCMC — Director, Diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry
Faith Formation and Education
Adult Faith Formation classes are offered weekly in both languages, and the parish runs an RCIA / OCIA program for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church. Religious Education coordinators Nancy Brennan and Liliana Rojas oversee catechesis for children and youth.
- Adult Faith Formation in English — Tuesdays at 7:00 PM at the St. Joseph School building, 21 Valley Street
- Adult Faith Formation in Spanish — Mondays at 7:00 PM at Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Sundays
- Coordinators of Religious Education: Nancy Brennan and Liliana Rojas
- Director of Faith Formation: Rev. Michael Castiblanco
Bible Study and Devotions
Lorraine Gallup leads an ongoing Bible Study on the Acts of the Apostles, gathering at the parish Business Office on Thursday evenings. The parish also operates a Prayer Chain ([email protected]) and supports other devotions tied to its liturgical calendar.
- Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles — Thursdays at 6:30 PM, Business Office, 80 Maple St
- Led by Lorraine Gallup
- Parish Prayer Chain: [email protected]
Music and Liturgy
Music is offered in both English and Spanish by separate directors, with a parish organist and an organist emeritus at St. Joseph. The liturgy is supported by sacristans and liturgical volunteers at each of the three worship sites.
- Annette Pavone — Minister of Music (English)
- Zoila Diaz — Minister of Music (Spanish)
- Carla Shafer — Parish Organist
- Michael McCarthy — Organist Emeritus, St. Joseph
- Robert Luond — Sacristan, St. Mary Church
Outreach and Social Ministry
The parish runs a monthly food drive and welcomes volunteers to help sort and deliver food to neighbors in need. Additional giving is supported through parish envelopes, mailed offertory donations to 99 Jackson Street, and EFT donations via the parish website.
- Monthly Food Drive — contact Bob at [email protected] to volunteer
- Offertory: envelopes at Mass, mail to 99 Jackson St, Willimantic, or EFT via www.catholicwindham.org
- Prayer Chain ministry — [email protected]
Saint Mary–Saint Joseph School
The parish operates the Saint Mary–Saint Joseph School, which is currently in temporary hiatus. When active, the school has served families across the Willimantic area and is led by an administrative assistant in coordination with parish leadership.
- Address: 35 Valley Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
- Phone: (860) 423-8479
- Administrative Assistant: Evelyn Denis ([email protected])
- Status: currently in temporary hiatus
Saint Joseph Cemetery and Facilities
Cemetery and facilities operations are coordinated from the parish office on Jackson Street. A dedicated secretary and grounds staff maintain the cemetery and church buildings at all three worship sites.
- Parish and Cemetery Secretary: Susan Lalashuis
- Cemetery and Facilities staff: Otis Axson, Jean Pierre Gutierrez, Jaime Borgos (schools)
- Bulletin Editor: Susan Sharpley
- Office Assistant: Denise Champagne
Administration and Finance
Day-to-day operations of the merged parish are supported by a Business Office at 80 Maple Avenue, Willimantic, handling donations, accounting and facility matters for all three churches.
- Director of Administration and Finance: Donna Marouski
- School Accountant: Roland Huard
- Business Office address: 80 Maple Avenue, Willimantic, CT 06226
- Business Office phone: (860) 423-5835 | Email: [email protected]
Getting Involved
New parishioners are invited to register via the parish website. Volunteer opportunities include the monthly food drive, liturgical ministries, Faith Formation teaching, and the parish bulletin team.
- New parishioner registration: forms available at www.catholicwindham.org
- Volunteer for the Monthly Food Drive: [email protected]
- RCIA / OCIA: contact Father Michael at (860) 423-8439, ext. 16
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. H. I. Riley
First resident pastor of St. Joseph's, Willimantic (mid-19th century)
- Rev. Daniel Mullen
Second pastor; later of St. Mary's, Norwich
- Rev. Florimond DeBruycker1863–
Assumed charge May 1863; built the present Gothic St. Joseph church, dedicated 1874