About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Granby, Massachusetts
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Granby, Massachusetts, belonging to the Diocese of Springfield. The parish describes itself as a welcoming community family of God whose life-giving source and center is the celebration of the Eucharist, following the example of its patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Located at 256 State Street, it serves roughly 2,500 members with weekend and daily Masses, faith formation for all ages, a music ministry, a vibrant Warm Meals/Warm Hearts outreach to the homebound, and a Men and Women's Club that supports parish life through fundraisers and special events.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (Immaculate Heart of Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Goodreau
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a mid-sized, family-friendly Catholic community of about 2,500 members that takes seriously both worship and service. Parishioners can worship at a Saturday Vigil Mass, two Sunday Masses, and weekday Masses, then put faith into action through faith formation for all ages, a multi-generational choir and music ministry, the Warm Meals/Warm Hearts program that delivers food to over 100 homebound households in the Granby/South Hadley area each month, and a Men and Women's Club that connects parishioners through fundraisers like the St. Patrick's Day Dinner, Veteran's Day Dinner, Holiday Bazaar, and Breakfast with Santa.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Welcome to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Parish, of the Diocese of Springfield, is a welcoming community family of God whose life-giving source and center is the celebration of the Eucharist. Following the example of their patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, parishioners witness to the life and mission of Christ as they serve the parish, diocese, and greater community. The parish of approximately 2,500 members gathers at 256 State Street in Granby for weekend, daily, and Holy Day Mass, and reaches outward through faith formation, music, charity, and fellowship.
- Approximately 2,500 parish members
- Part of the Diocese of Springfield
- Located at 256 State Street, Granby, MA 01033
Parish History
The Catholic community in Granby grew out of a 1925 Belchertown parish and began gathering for Sunday Mass in Kellogg Hall in the late 1920s. Through the efforts of the Welcome Society, land was purchased from the Durant farm and the cornerstone was laid in 1949 under founding pastor Father Andrew Sullivan. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1950 was the first Eucharist celebrated in the still-unfinished church; it was blessed and dedicated in May 1951. Father George Friel, the first resident pastor (1951–1970), oversaw construction of the rectory in 1953; Father John Shea succeeded him in 1970.
- 1925 — Catholic parish formed in Belchertown; Granby becomes a mission
- Late 1920s — Sunday Mass begins in Kellogg Hall
- 1949 — Cornerstone laid under Fr. Andrew Sullivan
- Dec. 24, 1950 — First Mass in the unfinished church
- May 1951 — Church blessed and dedicated
- Dec. 1951 — Fr. George Friel arrives as first resident pastor
- 1953 — Rectory completed
- 1970 — Fr. John Shea assigned after Fr. Friel's death
- 1977 — Land behind church purchased for recreation
- 1978 — Griffin Pavilion built from Mary E. Griffin bequest
- 1981 — Electronic carillon system replaced
- 1996 — Carillon system updated again
Architecture & Facilities
The church is colonial in design and was built by parishioners using stones from Granby's colonial-era farm walls. Its stained glass windows — donated by parish families — portray the five Sorrowful Mysteries and the five Glorious Mysteries. The campus also includes a rectory, a parish center in the lower church, a Religious Education office in the lower rectory, five acres of recreational land behind the parking lot, the Griffin Pavilion for outdoor events, and two storage buildings.
- Colonial-style church built 1949–1951
- Stones from colonial Granby farm walls
- Stained glass: Sorrowful & Glorious Mysteries
- Bell tower with electronic carillon (1981, updated 1996) — rings Angelus and plays hymns
- Griffin Pavilion (dedicated 1978)
- Five acres of recreational land
Parish Staff & Clergy
Immaculate Heart of Mary is served by a resident pastor and deacon, supported by an office manager, facilities manager, music staff, and pastoral minister. Brief biographies of each staff member are published on the parish website.
- Rev. Michael Goodreau — Pastor (ordained August 15, 2020; native of Wilbraham, MA; former Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph's, Pittsfield; studies at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, Weston, MA)
- Deacon Paul Mazzariello — ordained May 14, 2005; lifelong Granby resident; Chaplain, Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Ludlow
- Deanna Haas — Office Manager (joined February 2021)
- Tessa Cote — Facilities Manager
- Michael Sampson — Choir Director & Organist
- Terri Lambert — Organist
- Kathryn Buckley-Brawner — Pastoral Minister
Faith Formation
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers formation in the Catholic faith for parishioners of all ages through its Generations of Faith Formation program, with the goal of developing every person into a mature Christian strong in the faith. There is no registration fee. The parish depends on volunteers for catechist aides, drop-off/pick-up monitors, hall monitors, office help, and prayer support ("Arise" Angels).
- Generations of Faith Formation program — all ages
- K–5 grade Catechists and Catechist Aides
- Drop-off & Pick-up Monitors (8:50–9:05 AM and 10:00–10:10 AM Sundays)
- Hall Monitors for safety in parish center hallway, gym, and Atrium
- Office Help
- "Arise" Angels prayer support
- Contact: [email protected] or 413-467-9821
Music Ministry
The IHM Music Ministry is a multi-generational group that serves all the Masses and various liturgies of the parish. Its goal is to lead and enhance the worship of the IHM community while having fun, learning, and growing together. The group rehearses, prays, and socializes as one body. All levels of musical experience are welcome, with strong vocal training provided, and instruments of all kinds are invited.
- Choir Director & Organist — Michael Sampson
- Organist — Terri Lambert
- Multi-generational, welcomes all musical experience
- Instruments of all kinds welcome
Warm Meals / Warm Hearts Outreach
The Warm Meals/Warm Hearts Ministry prepares and delivers meals once a month to the sick and homebound of the greater Granby/South Hadley community. The ministry also extends food delivery to the weekends for those who receive meals from the Meals on Wheels Program during the week. Volunteers shop, prepare food, package meals, and deliver them — the parish reports serving over 100 households with food and personal care.
- Serves 100+ homebound households monthly
- Granby/South Hadley service area
- Shoppers, cooks, packagers, and drivers needed
- Contact: Sheila Jolivet at 413-467-3856 or the Parish Office at 413-467-9821
Men & Women's Club
All men and women of the parish are invited to join the Men and Women's Club, which supports the parish family and helps parishioners live out a ministerial call to good stewardship. Members connect through fun, faith, and active participation in parish and community activities, including fundraisers that support parish operations and youth scholarships.
- Change for Children
- St. Patrick's Day Dinner
- Veteran's Day Dinner
- Holiday Bazaar
- Breakfast with Santa
- Special Youth Scholarships & Activities
Stewardship & Pastoral Care
Pastoral Minister Kathryn Buckley-Brawner coordinates pastoral care and outreach to parishioners, including the homebound and those in need. The parish also accepts donations online via PayPal through its website.
- Pastoral Minister — Kathryn Buckley-Brawner (413-467-3566)
- Online donations via PayPal through the parish website
- Beacon of Faith Campaign referenced on the parish site
Bulletin & News
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin with announcements, Mass intentions, ministry news, and a list of upcoming events. Bulletins are archived and viewable on the parish website.
- Weekly bulletin published on ihmparishgranby.org/bulletins
- Past bulletins archived on the site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Andrew Sullivanfounding pastor (cornerstone 1949)
Directed the building of the church; oversaw the laying of the cornerstone in 1949.
- Father George Friel1951–1970
First resident pastor; arrived December 1951, supervised building of the rectory (completed 1953). Served until his death in 1970.
- Father John Sheafrom 1970
Assigned to the parish after the death of Father Friel in 1970.