About Our Lady of Czestochowa · Turners Falls, Massachusetts
Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish is a historic Polish-American Roman Catholic church at 84 K Street in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, nestled in the hills of the Pioneer Valley and serving Franklin County since 1909. Founded by Polish immigrants drawn to the area's textile mills and industrial work, it is one of the Polish-American Roman Catholic parishes in New England in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Today the parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass in English and Spanish, while still preserving Polish devotions such as Gorzkie Żale, the Forty Hours Devotions, and processions honoring the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. Under current pastor Rev. Seán O'Mannion (appointed August 2016), the parish continues its mission of evangelization, traditional Catholic worship, and cultural heritage through choirs, fraternal societies, faith formation, and outreach.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Our Lady of Czestochowa (the Black Madonna of Czestochowa)
- Rector
- Rev. Seán O'Mannion
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
Our Lady of Czestochowa is a parish that takes its Catholic identity seriously — daily Mass, weekly Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and traditional Polish devotions like Gorzkie Żale during Lent, the Forty Hours Devotions each September, and First Friday and First Saturday votive Masses. Worship is bilingual, with English and Spanish Masses on weekends and a rich calendar of parish societies — the Holy Rosary Society, the St. Stanislaus Society, the St. Cecilia and St. Gregory Choirs, the Gentlemen of St. Joseph, and the Knights of Columbus — that give families of every age a real place to belong. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into a faith community rooted in over a century of Polish Catholic heritage yet very much alive in twenty-first century Turners Falls.
Mass times at Our Lady of Czestochowa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Monday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Tuesday – Friday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
- Saturday: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday – Friday: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
About the Parish
Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish is the spiritual home of Polish-American Catholics in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, founded in 1909 by immigrants who built the area's textile mills and the Russell Cutlery Company. The parish is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts and is dedicated to the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, Poland's national patroness. Today it is a bilingual community that celebrates Mass in English and Spanish while preserving Polish devotions, Gregorian chant, and traditional Catholic worship.
- Address: 84 K Street, Turners Falls, MA 01376
- Phone: (413) 863-4748 · Fax: (413) 863-9263
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Springfield in Massachusetts (Region 4, Boston Province)
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. William D. Byrne
- Pastor: Rev. Seán O'Mannion
History
The parish traces its origin to 1909, when Polish mill workers collectively gave one month's salary to acquire and renovate a former Protestant church. Fr. Franciszek Chałupka, founder of the first Polish-American parishes in New England, oversaw the parish's earliest months before his death in 1909. The present Gothic Revival church was built under Rev. Msgr. Alphonse A. Skoniecki, dedicated on June 23, 1929, and the parish celebrated its 30th anniversary in 1939 and its Golden Jubilee in 1959. By the 1930s the complex included a church, convent, parish school, and rectory, and all debts were cleared by 1948.
- 1909: Parish founded by Polish immigrants
- 1911: St. Stanislaus Society founded
- 1912: Holy Rosary Society founded
- 1913: St. Cecilia Choir founded
- 1925: Rev. Msgr. Alphonse A. Skoniecki becomes pastor
- June 23, 1929: Gothic Revival church dedicated
- 1939: 30th anniversary souvenir booklet
- 1948: Mortgage and all debts cleared
- 1959: Golden Jubilee album
- August 2016: Rev. Seán O'Mannion appointed pastor
Architecture
The parish church is a Gothic Revival building designed by Springfield architect Donat R. Baribault (1885–1970), a prolific designer of Catholic churches, schools, convents, and rectories across Western Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dedicated June 23, 1929, the church's interior prominently features representations of Our Lady of Czestochowa as the devotional focal point. The parish complex by the 1930s included a convent, a parish school, and a rectory alongside the church itself.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Architect: Donat R. Baribault of Springfield, MA
- Dedicated: June 23, 1929
- Devotional centerpiece: image of Our Lady of Czestochowa (Black Madonna)
Clergy and Pastoral Succession
The parish has been served by a succession of pastors appointed by the Bishop of Springfield. The current pastor, Rev. Seán O'Mannion, was appointed in August 2016 by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. Earlier pastors oversaw the construction of the present church, the growth of parish societies, and the steady expansion of parish life across the twentieth century.
- Rev. Franciszek Chałupka (1908–1909) — founding pastor
- Rev. Msgr. Alphonse A. Skoniecki (1925–1948) — built the present church (1929)
- Rev. Joseph P. Szczepaniak (1948–1980) — one of the longest tenures
- Rev. Charles J. DiMascola (c. 1986–2016) — over 25 years of leadership
- Rev. Seán O'Mannion (2016–present) — current pastor
Devotions
The parish keeps a robust calendar of traditional Catholic devotions drawn from both Polish heritage and the universal Church. These include weekly novenas to St. Jude and for the Pro-Life cause, Lenten Gorzkie Żale sung in Polish with bi-lingual service books, First Friday and First Saturday votive Masses, May and October Marian devotions, and the Forty Hours Devotions each September.
- St. Jude Novena — Wednesdays at 5:30 PM
- Pro-Life Novena — Saturdays at 8:00 AM
- Gorzkie Żale — Sundays of Lent at 2:00 PM (bi-lingual)
- First Friday: Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart, Angelus, Litany and Consecration
- First Saturday: Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Litany of Loreto and Benediction
- May Devotions (Rosary and Benediction) — First Sunday of May, 2:00 PM
- October Rosary Devotions — First Sunday of October, 2:00 PM
- Forty Hours Devotions — Third Weekend of September
Parish Societies and Ministries
Lay societies are the backbone of parish life, many of them with roots stretching back over a century. Together they organize social events, fundraise for the parish, preserve Polish Catholic traditions, and provide spiritual fellowship for men, women, and youth.
- Holy Rosary Society (1912) — women's devotional society
- St. Stanislaus Society (1911) — men's fraternal organization
- St. Kazimier Society (1904) — historic Polish mutual aid society
- St. Cecilia Choir & Choristers / Stanislaus Moniuszko Society (1913)
- St. Gregory Choir (1996) — adult choir for the 8:00 AM Mass
- Gentlemen of St. Joseph — monthly men's spiritual and discussion club
- Knights of Columbus, Turners Falls Council
- Parish Council — bazaars, picnic, Franklin County Fair evangelization
- Guard of Honor — monthly mini-retreats
Faith Formation
Faith formation is offered to both children and adults during the school year. Children's CCD meets every Sunday during the academic year, and an Adult Catechism Discussion Group runs in the rectory parlor at the same time. A weekly Coffee Hour brings parents and parishioners together between the two Sunday Masses.
- Children's CCD — Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM (school year)
- Adult Catechism Discussion Group — Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM, Rectory parlor; Yves Jacques, instructor
- Coffee Hour — Sundays 9:00–10:00 AM (school year)
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical music at the parish is anchored by two choirs and a children's chorister program. The historic St. Cecilia Choir leads the 10:15 AM Sunday High Mass and the principal Mass on Holy Days, while the St. Gregory Choir sings the 8:00 AM Sunday Mass and certain solemnities. A Choristers Program for boys and girls aged 7–13 was launched in 2015.
- St. Cecilia Choir & Choristers — Henry Gaida, Director and Organist
- St. Gregory Choir — Robert Heath, Director
- Choristers Program (2015) — children aged 7–13
Outreach and Fundraising
The Parish Council coordinates the parish's social outreach and fundraising, including an Evangelization Booth at the Franklin County Fair, an annual Parish Picnic, Christmas and Easter Bazaars, and a Giant Tag Sale. The Knights of Columbus Turners Falls Council, which includes parishioners of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Our Lady of Peace, supports parish and community initiatives.
- Parish Picnic
- Christmas and Easter Bazaars
- Giant Tag Sale
- Franklin County Fair Evangelization Booth
- Knights of Columbus — Turners Falls Council
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Franciszek Chałupka1908–1909
Polish-American priest who oversaw the parish's founding and the renovation of its first church; died 1909.
- Rev. Msgr. Alphonse A. Skoniecki1925–1948
Built and dedicated the present Gothic church in 1929; celebrated his Srebrny Jubileusz (Silver Jubilee) of priestly service in 1942.
- Rev. Joseph P. Szczepaniak1948–1980
One of the longest tenures in parish history; celebrated his own 25th anniversary in 1951; died in office.
- Rev. Charles J. DiMascolac. 1986–2016
Served over 25 years until retirement in 2016; background as an art teacher shaped the church's aesthetic and cultural programs.
- Rev. Seán O'MannionAugust 2016–present
Appointed by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski; current pastor.