About Sacred Heart · Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts — affectionately known around the Berkshires as "the Pink Church" — is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts serving the southeast side of Pittsfield. The parish was established on December 18, 1919 and today offers weekend and daily Mass, Saturday confession, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school (founded 1962), a K-9 Faith Formation program, RCIA, and a variety of liturgical and social-justice ministries under Pastor Rev. Steven Montesanti and a small parish staff.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Steven Montesanti
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic community with a clear local mission: "to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth." Parishioners can plug in across the full spectrum of parish life — liturgical roles (lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers for boys and girls in grade 3 and above, the music ministry under Director Jim Petosa), faith formation for children in grades K-9 (Sunday mornings in the Parish Center) and adults through RCIA, outreach to the homebound and sick, the parish's Friends of St. Vincent de Paul, the Prayer Line, annual food drives for the Pittsfield Food Pantry (the Faith Formation cereal drive is now in its third year), St. Patrick's Day celebrations, and the Spring into Summer Festival. With daily Mass Monday through Thursday, a Friday Communion service, weekend Masses, Saturday confession, and Friday Adoration in the Parish Center Chapel, Sacred Heart offers a full sacramental life rooted in over a century of service to the southeast side of Pittsfield.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM, or by appointment (call the Parish Office at (413) 443-6960)
Adoration times
- Fridays 9:15 AM – 12:00 Noon in the Parish Center Chapel
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Parish describes itself as "a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people." Its stated mission is "to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth." The parish identifies itself around the warmth of parish life, inviting newcomers to join its email list at [email protected] to stay connected with parish news and events. The current pastor, Fr. Steven Montesanti, was recently congratulated by the parish on the 25th anniversary of his ordination.
- Parish mission: to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth
- Affectionately known as "the Pink Church" (thepinkchurch.com)
- Pastor: Fr. Steven Montesanti
- Parish phone: (413) 443-6960
- Parish email: [email protected]
History of Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Parish was established on December 18, 1919 by Bishop Thomas D. Beaven to serve the southeast section of Pittsfield. The first Mass for the new parish was celebrated on December 21, 1919 by founding pastor Rev. George W. Welch in a chapel fitted up in a house at the corner of Elm Street and Meadow Lane. The current church was built beginning in 1931 and dedicated by Bishop Thomas M. O'Leary on May 21, 1933. The parish's full history — including pastors, the 1957 fire, the 1962 opening of Sacred Heart School, the 1983 ordination of its first permanent deacons, and the 1988 founding of its RCIA program — is published in detail on the parish website at thepinkchurch.com/history-of-sacred-heart.
- Established December 18, 1919 by Bishop Thomas D. Beaven
- Founding pastor: Rev. George W. Welch
- Current church cornerstone: November 16, 1931; first Mass in new church: October 30, 1932; dedicated May 21, 1933
- First confirmations at the new church: May 21, 1933 (82 people)
- Church fire: April 13, 1957; renovation completed 1957–1958
- Sacred Heart School opened: September 5, 1962
- First permanent deacons ordained: January 1983 (Rev. Mr. James Hager and Rev. Mr. Eugene Momnie)
- RCIA program inaugurated under Pastor Rev. Raymond A. Lanoue, 1980s
Parish Staff
Sacred Heart's day-to-day operations are run by a small staff working from the Parish Office at 56 Newell Street, with extensions reachable through (413) 443-6960.
- Rev. Steven Montesanti — Pastor
- Diane Massey — Parish Secretary
- John Richardson — Bulletin Editor (ext. 112)
- Jim Petosa — Music Director (also reachable at (413) 841-1140)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Sacred Heart runs a parish-based Religious Education program for students in grades K-9, with classes meeting in the Parish Center building on Sunday mornings. The parish emphasizes that "the parish is the center of faith formation" and that students are expected to attend weekly Mass as part of their formation. Sacrament preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated through the Faith Formation office at extension 140 of the parish phone line. Adult formation takes place through RCIA.
- Religious Education Classes for Grades K-9, Sunday mornings in the Parish Center
- First Communion and Confirmation Preparation — call (413) 443-6960 ext. 140
- Annual Cereal Box Drive for the Pittsfield / South Community Food Pantry (3rd Annual in recent year — 471 boxes collected)
- RCIA — preparation of adult candidates for Catholic sacraments (contact the Parish Office)
Parish Life and Ministries
The parish describes itself as offering "a variety of ways to be part of that communal family in addition to the celebration of the sacraments." Liturgical ministries include choir, lectors, altar servers (open to boys and girls in grade 3 and above), and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist. Social-justice ministries include Communion for the Homebound, Friends of St. Vincent de Paul, and the annual parish food drive for the local food pantry. The parish also supports youth ministry, men's and women's groups, the Prayer Line, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, and the Spring into Summer Festival.
- Liturgical ministries: Music, Lector, Altar Server (grade 3+), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Funeral Servers
- Pastoral care: Communion for the Homebound, Parish Nurse
- Outreach: Friends of St. Vincent de Paul, Cereal Box Drive for the local food pantry
- Community: Prayer Line, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Spring into Summer Festival
Sacraments
Sacred Heart celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments with parish-based preparation. Baptisms are scheduled on Sundays following the 10:30 AM Mass, with arrangements made through the Parish Office. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Faith Formation office. The homebound and those in nursing homes or hospitals can request Communion visits through the pastoral ministry.
- Baptism — Sundays following the 10:30 AM Mass; call the Parish Office to schedule
- Baptism Preparation for parents
- First Communion — through Faith Formation
- Confirmation — through Faith Formation
- Marriage — contact the Parish Office for preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and Communion for the Homebound — call the Parish Office
Music Ministry
The parish music program is directed by Jim Petosa, who can be reached through the Parish Office at (413) 443-6960 or directly at (413) 841-1140. Volunteers for the choir and other musical roles are always welcome; interested parishioners are encouraged to reach out through the Parish Office.
- Music Director: Jim Petosa — (413) 841-1140
- Volunteer choir and musicians — contact the Parish Office
Visit, Contact, and Directions
Sacred Heart welcomes visitors to its weekend and daily services and to its Friday Adoration hour. The parish is reachable by phone at (413) 443-6960 and by email at [email protected]. The church address is 191 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, with the Parish Office at 56 Newell Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. A dedicated directions page is available on the parish website.
- Church: 191 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
- Parish Office: 56 Newell Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
- Phone: (413) 443-6960
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.thepinkchurch.com/
- Directions page: thepinkchurch.com/directions
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George W. Welch1919 – June 1931
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Mass at the Elm-and-Meadow-Lane chapel on December 21, 1919; died in office June 1931.
- Rev. Patrick DowdJuly 1931 – February 1946
Second pastor; oversaw construction of the current church (cornerstone 1931, first Mass 1932, dedicated 1933) and liquidated the building debt on the parish's Silver Anniversary, December 18, 1944.
- Rev. John P. DonahueFebruary 1946 – April 1953
Third pastor; renovated and redecorated the church during 1947–1948.
- Rev. (later Monsignor) Henry M. BurkeApril 1953 – February 1979
Fourth pastor; led the parish through the April 13, 1957 church fire and 1957–1958 rebuilding, opened Sacred Heart School in 1962, launched Sacrificial Giving in 1966, was invested as Monsignor at Sacred Heart on November 14, 1963, and retired in February 1979 as Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Edward CallahanAfter 1979 (previously assistant 1977–1979)
Returned as pastor after serving as Monsignor Burke's assistant; ordained Sacred Heart's first permanent deacons (Rev. Mr. James Hager and Rev. Mr. Eugene Momnie) in January 1983; inaugurated St. Patrick's Day celebrations and built the Sunshine and Shamrock Room.
- Rev. Raymond A. LanoueMay 1983 – October 1988
Died in office; inaugurated RCIA, computerized parish records, hired the first parish secretary (1983), and redecorated the church.
- Rev. James K. JoyceDecember 9, 1988 – March 1, 2016
First Director of Pittsfield Catholic Schools (1978–1987); under him the church exterior was beautified and the Spring into Summer Festival was launched.
- Rev. Steven MontesantiAfter March 2016 – present
Current pastor; recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination.