About Our Lady of the Valley · Easthampton, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Valley is a Roman Catholic parish in Easthampton, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. It was created on July 1, 2010, by the merger of three historic Easthampton parishes — Immaculate Conception (Adams Street), Sacred Heart of Jesus (Franklin Street, the Polish community), and Notre Dame du Bon Conseil (Pleasant Street, the French-Canadian community). The merged parish worships in the former Immaculate Conception church at 33 Adams Street, a building dating to the 1880s. OLV serves Easthampton, Southampton, Westhampton, and surrounding towns, and is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass community for the entire Diocese of Springfield. The parish is also responsible for two Catholic cemeteries in Easthampton — St. Brigid's and St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Valley (Blessed Virgin Mary); the parish also honors several Marian patronages — Our Lady of Good Success (February 2), Our Lady Queen of the Angels (August 2), and Our Lady Queen of All Saints (November 1) — alongside St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Charles Borromeo as patron saints of catechists.
- Rector
- Rev. Ryan Sliwa
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Valley brings together the faith traditions of Easthampton's Polish, French-Canadian, and Irish/German/Italian Catholic communities into one worshipping family at the historic 1880s Immaculate Conception Church on Adams Street. It is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass for the entire Diocese of Springfield (Sundays at 11:30 a.m., First Fridays at 6 p.m., and Holy Days at noon), offers daily Mass six days a week plus Saturday Vigil, daily Confessions, a robust PK-12 religious education program, and a new adult faith-formation series on the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. The parish also maintains two Catholic cemeteries, an active Purgatorial Society, a sister-parish relationship with Blessed Sacrament/All Souls in Springfield, and ministries that reach out to youth, adults, and the homebound.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Valley
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 7:15 am
- Tuesday: 7:15 am
- Wednesday: 6:30 pm
- Thursday: 7:15 am
- Friday: 7:15 am
- Saturday: 3:00 pm
- or by appointment
Parish History & Identity
Our Lady of the Valley was formed on July 1, 2010, by the Diocese of Springfield from the merger of three historic Easthampton parishes — Immaculate Conception (founded 1871), Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Notre Dame du Bon Conseil — each rooted in a different immigrant community: Irish/German/Italian, Polish, and French-Canadian, respectively. Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell's consolidation named Father Douglas McGonagle as founding pastor and the newly ordained Father Piotr Pawlus as parochial vicar, in part to retain Polish-language ministry. Worship takes place in the former Immaculate Conception church on Adams Street, a building dating to the 1880s and twice rebuilt after fires. The merger was emotionally difficult for many parishioners, and parish leadership has been intentional about honoring the distinct heritage of each founding community.
- Founded July 1, 2010, from merger of Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Notre Dame du Bon Conseil parishes
- Immaculate Conception parish established 1871; current church building dedicated Easter Sunday 1883
- Founding pastor: Father Douglas McGonagle (2010)
- First parochial vicar: Father Piotr Pawlus
The 2016 Altar Consecration
Shortly after the merger, Father McGonagle conceived of a new altar built from materials salvaged from all three founding parishes as a visible sign of unity and healing. Local furniture maker Bill Hewitt of Cottage Street crafted the rectangular wooden altar based on Father McGonagle's 3D design. Its core is from Sacred Heart's old oak Communion rails; its top, base, and pillars from Notre Dame du Bon Conseil's American chestnut pews; and its marble mensa, containing a relic of an unknown saint, is inlaid from Immaculate Conception's high altar — possibly the oldest original Catholic altar stone in Easthampton. On October 16, 2016, Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski consecrated the altar in a Mass concelebrated with Fathers McGonagle, John Gawienowski, and Pawlus — the first altar Bishop Rozanski dedicated in the Springfield Diocese. The project was largely funded by parishioner Louise Cooper in memory of her late husband, Edward J. Cooper Sr.
- Altar consecrated October 16, 2016 by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski
- Built by Bill Hewitt; designed by Father McGonagle
- Materials drawn from all three founding parishes
- Funding gift from parishioner Louise Cooper in memory of Edward J. Cooper Sr.
Traditional Latin Mass
Our Lady of the Valley is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass community for the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The Mass is offered in the Extraordinary Form by Father Ryan Sliwa and was instituted at the parish on May 2, 2021. The Traditional Latin Mass schedule is Sundays at 11:30 a.m., First Fridays at 6:00 p.m., and Holy Days at 12:00 p.m. Weekly Propers (Mass readings) and email sign-ups are available through the parish.
- Sunday 11:30 a.m.
- First Friday 6:00 p.m.
- Holy Days 12:00 p.m.
- Celebrant: Father Ryan Sliwa
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Our Lady of the Valley's religious education program, directed by Katie Sadakierski, serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and prepares them for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Classes meet in the parish hall on evenings such as Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The mission statement centers on strengthening family faith through a God-honoring curriculum rooted in Catholic tradition, with a strong Marian and Eucharistic devotion. The parish also runs an adult formation program for those needing the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) and offers a 33-day adult learning series on the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus in preparation for the U.S. bishops' consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart. Parish-wide catechetical newsletters with saint profiles, feast-day reflections, Scripture, and family activities are distributed via Flocknote.
- Director: Katie Sadakierski ([email protected])
- PK-12 registration open for the 2026-27 academic year
- First Holy Communion retreat with First Confession rehearsal and brown scapular investiture
- Adult sacraments-of-initiation instruction available
- 33-day adult series on the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus (Spring 2026)
Sacramental Preparation
The parish prepares children for First Holy Communion and Confirmation each year, with retreats, learning centers, and devotions such as the brown scapular investiture. Adults who have not yet received Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation can register for personalized instruction and preparation.
- First Holy Communion retreat (e.g., April 11, 2026)
- Brown scapular investiture
- Adult Confirmation / First Communion / Baptism preparation
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Ryan Sliwa as pastor and served by Deacon Lawrence Channel. Katie Sadakierski serves as Director of Religious Education and Coordinator of Safe Environment. Henry Dabek is the Business Manager, and Dan Rattelle serves as Warden of Cemeteries and Bulletin Editor.
- Rev. Ryan Sliwa — Pastor (x160, [email protected])
- Rev. Mr. Lawrence Channel — Deacon ([email protected])
- Katie Sadakierski — Director of Religious Ed. & Coordinator of Safe Environment
- Henry Dabek — Business Manager (x100)
- Dan Rattelle — Warden of Cemeteries, Bulletin Editor (x210)
Cemeteries
Our Lady of the Valley Parish operates two Catholic cemeteries in Easthampton, continuing the burial ministries of the former parishes. Dan Rattelle serves as Warden of Cemeteries. Inquiries about plot purchases, existing plots, and services can be directed to the parish office.
- St. Brigid's Cemetery — Everett Street, Easthampton
- St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Cemetery — Mayher Street, Easthampton
- Warden: Dan Rattelle, (413) 527-9778 x 110
Outreach: Sister Parish with Blessed Sacrament/All Souls
The parish maintains a long-standing sister-parish relationship with Blessed Sacrament/All Souls in Springfield, originally begun in the 1990s between the former Notre Dame du Bon Conseil parish and Fr. Thomas Champ. Outreach has included donations of blankets, hats, mittens, scarves, and coats; cash gifts for children at Christmas; fuel assistance during winter months; and joint activities such as the Good Friday Way of the Cross and walks for non-violence, justice, and peace. The Mission Committee of OLV now carries this ministry forward.
- Original partnership begun by Notre Dame parishioners under Fr. Thomas Champ (pastor 1995–2007)
- Blankets, warm winter items, fuel assistance
- Christmas gifts for parish children
- Good Friday Way of the Cross and justice walks together
Devotions & Spiritual Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish nurtures Marian and Eucharistic devotion through catechetical newsletters, an annual learning series on the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, and a Purgatorial Society that enrolls departed souls for prayer, with the Requiem Rosary offered for their intentions. The parish also joins the diocesan Eucharistic Rosary procession each year.
- OLV Purgatorial Society (enrollment of departed souls)
- Eucharistic Heart of Jesus learning series
- Diocesan Eucharistic Rosary procession
- Brown scapular investiture for First Communicants
Visiting & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to worship, and the parish invites adults to serve as catechists in the PK-12 religious education program. Catechetical enrichment newsletters are available to anyone via Flocknote, and the parish maintains an active bulletin edited by Dan Rattelle. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Office hours Mon–Thu 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Catechist volunteer signup available on the parish website
- Flocknote enrichment newsletters (parish-wide)
- Bulletins archived upon request ([email protected])
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Douglas McGonagle2010–c. 2021
Founding pastor of Our Lady of the Valley, appointed from his role as director of the Newman Center at UMass Amherst; led the merger of the three Easthampton parishes and oversaw the 2016 altar consecration and church renovation.
- Rev. Ryan Sliwa2021–present
Current pastor; celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass (started at OLV on 5/2/21 per the Latin Mass Directory).
- Rev. Piotr Pawlus2010–early tenure
First parochial vicar of OLV, assigned in part to serve the Polish-speaking community; later became associate director of the Newman Catholic Center at UMass Amherst.
- Rev. John Gawienowski2016 era
Parochial vicar of Our Lady of the Valley who concelebrated the 2016 altar consecration Mass.