About St. Ann · Lenox, Massachusetts
St. Ann Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Lenox, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The parish is now yoked into a Tri-Parish Community with St. Vincent de Paul Church in Lenox Dale and St. Patrick Church in West Stockbridge, sharing one pastor and staff. The present stone church on Main Street was built in 1911–12 in an early English Norman style, while the parish itself traces its roots to a Lenox mission established in the 1850s and was formally constituted as an independent parish in 1891. Today the parish is led by Monsignor John J. Bonzagni and serves parishioners through daily and weekend Masses, faith formation, and a wide range of parish ministries at the St. Ann Family Center.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. Ann (Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Monsignor John J. Bonzagni
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Ann Parish welcomes Catholics and seekers into a tight-knit Berkshire community rooted in the Eucharist and the Sacramental life. Parishioners gather for daily Mass in English at the Family Center, weekend Masses in the historic 1911–12 stone church, First Friday Adoration, weekly Rosary, and a Tuesday novena to the Immaculate Conception. The parish also runs ongoing Faith Formation, sacramental preparation, a Capital Campaign for the parish campus, and seasonal events such as the Lenox Farmers Market on the church grounds and a monthly Ladies Luncheon — making it an active, multigenerational parish serving Lenox and the surrounding hill towns.
Mass times at St. Ann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM (St. Ann Church)
- By appointment (call the rectory)
Adoration times
- First Friday, 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM (St. Ann Family Center)
Welcome & Mission
St. Ann Church describes itself as 'a community of faith within the Roman Catholic tradition.' Through the celebration of the Eucharist and the Sacraments, the parish seeks to live as a welcoming family making known the living presence of Jesus Christ in everyday ministry. Empowered by the word of God, parishioners are called to serve as the defining mark of the community, and personal involvement in one or more ministries is invited and encouraged. The St. Ann Family Center is an extension of the church — a place of welcome and renewal where community bonds are strengthened and the building of the Kingdom of God is shared work.
- Tri-Parish Community: St. Ann (Lenox), St. Vincent de Paul (Lenox Dale), St. Patrick (West Stockbridge)
- Mission of welcome, Eucharist, and service
- St. Ann Family Center as a community gathering space
Parish History
Catholic life in Lenox began as a mission of Lee in 1856, with monthly Mass in the town hall. Under Rev. George Brennan (joint pastor from 1864), the first St. Ann's Church was built on Main Street in 1870 as a wooden Gothic Revival frame, funded by donations from Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The territory grew in 1885, St. Ann's Cemetery was established in 1888, and in 1891 St. Ann's became an independent parish under its first resident pastor, Rev. William J. Dower. The present stone church was built in 1911–12 under Rev. William F. Grace, who also built St. Vincent de Paul Church in Lenox Dale and acquired the Willows rectory. The 1970 centenary of the first church was marked under Rev. Thomas S. Hanrahan with a 36-page illustrated parish history, and in 1989 the parishes of St. Ann and St. Vincent de Paul were formally yoked under Rev. Daniel B. Brunton.
- 1856 — Lenox becomes a mission of Lee
- 1864 — Rev. George Brennan named joint pastor of Lee and Lenox
- 1868 — Land purchased on Walker Street (with funds from convert Grace Sedgwick)
- 1870 — First St. Ann's Church built on Main Street (Gothic Revival wood frame)
- 1885 — Northern Lenox added from St. Joseph's, Pittsfield
- 1888 — St. Ann's Cemetery established
- 1891 — St. Ann's becomes a separate parish; Rev. William J. Dower first resident pastor
- 1911–12 — Present stone church built in early English Norman style
- 1918 — Church consecrated during Spanish flu epidemic; Rev. William F. Davitt dies in WWI
- 1989 — Yoked with St. Vincent de Paul under Rev. Daniel B. Brunton
- 2001 — Rev. Christopher J. Waitekus succeeds Father Brunton
- 2015 — Monsignor John J. Bonzagni assigned permanent pastor
The Present Church Building
The current St. Ann's Church was constructed in 1911–12 in an early English Norman style at a cost of $100,000. It was designed by architect F. Burrell Hoffman of New York and built by the E.L. Sampson Brothers of Springfield. The pulpit was the gift of Charles Astor Bristed Jr., and the main altar was given by Father Grace himself. The church was consecrated in October 1918 — during the Spanish flu epidemic — when parishioners could not enter the building and celebrated three Sundays of Mass on the lawn outside. A Lourdes Shrine was later constructed on the lot to the south of the church.
- Architect: F. Burrell Hoffman (New York)
- Builder: E.L. Sampson Brothers of Springfield
- Cost: $100,000 (1911–12)
- Style: Early English Norman
- Pulpit: gift of Charles Astor Bristed Jr.
- Main Altar: gift of Rev. William F. Grace
- Lourdes Shrine on the south lot
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Monsignor John J. Bonzagni has served as permanent pastor since December 2015, having succeeded Father Christopher J. Waitekus (2001–2015) and the now Pastor Emeritus Rev. Daniel B. Brunton, who oversaw the 1989 yoking of St. Ann's with St. Vincent de Paul. Monsignor Bonzagni leads the Tri-Parish of St. Ann, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Patrick, and is assisted by three permanent deacons.
- Monsignor John J. Bonzagni — Pastor (since December 2015)
- Deacon George Keator
- Deacon John Zick
- Deacon Dan Romanello
- Rev. Daniel B. Brunton — Pastor Emeritus
Mass & Sacramental Schedule
Daily Mass in English is offered Monday through Thursday at 7:00 AM in the St. Ann Family Center; on Fridays a Communion Service is celebrated at 7:00 AM. Saturday Vigil Mass is at 4:00 PM at St. Ann Church, with Sunday Masses at 9:45 AM (Children's Mass) and 11:15 AM. Holy Day Vigil Masses are at 7:00 PM. Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:30 PM, and First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 7:30 AM to noon at the Family Center.
- Weekday Mass Mon–Thu: 7:00 AM at St. Ann Family Center
- Friday 7:00 AM — Communion Service
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (St. Ann Church)
- Sunday: 9:45 AM (Children's Mass) and 11:15 AM
- Holy Day Vigil & Holy Day: 7:00 PM
- Confession: Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM or by appointment
- First Friday Adoration: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Ann's keeps a steady rhythm of devotion. The Rosary is prayed after each daily Mass and additionally on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 PM. A Novena of the Immaculate Conception is prayed on Tuesdays following Mass, and First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament runs from 7:30 AM until noon in the Family Center. The parish also hosts a monthly Ladies Luncheon in the Family Center as a time of fellowship.
- Rosary after daily Mass
- Rosary on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 PM
- Novena of the Immaculate Conception — Tuesday following Mass
- First Friday Adoration — 7:30 AM to noon, St. Ann Family Center
- Monthly Ladies Luncheon
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is central to parish life at St. Ann's. The parish runs ongoing Religious Education / CCD programs out of its CCD Office and prepares parishioners for the sacraments. The new Tri-Parish website at avptriparish.org lists Faith Resources, Sacraments, and Faith Formation as core areas of parish life, with online registration available for parish programs.
- Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
- CCD Office: (413) 637-4027
- Sacramental Preparation
- Faith Resources and online registration
- New Parishioner Registration
Parish Ministries & Community Life
St. Ann's encourages personal involvement in ministries as the defining mark of the community. The parish publishes a Mass Ministry Schedule and operates across liturgical, spiritual, educational, organizational, and parish-life categories, with combined Tri-Parish programming alongside St. Vincent de Paul and St. Patrick. The parish also runs the St. Ann Parish Capital Campaign and welcomes volunteers through the parish office.
- Liturgical Ministries (Mass Ministry Schedule)
- Spiritual & Educational Ministries
- Parish Life & Organization Ministries
- Tri-Parish combined ministries
- St. Ann Parish Capital Campaign
- Lenox Farmers Market at the church grounds (seasonal)
- Monthly Ladies Luncheon in the Family Center
Tri-Parish Community
St. Ann is the lead church of a yoked Tri-Parish Community that today includes St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Lenox Dale and St. Patrick Parish in West Stockbridge. All three share the same pastor (Monsignor Bonzagni) and deacons. The joint website avptriparish.org carries news, events, bulletins, Mass times, and ministry information for all three parishes.
- St. Ann Parish — 134 Main St., Lenox, MA 01240-2395
- St. Vincent de Paul Parish — 29 Crystal Street, Lenox Dale, MA 01242-0003
- St. Patrick Parish — 30 Albany Rd., West Stockbridge, MA 01266
- Shared pastor: Monsignor John J. Bonzagni
- Shared staff and bulletins via avptriparish.org
Contact, Office & Directions
The parish office, rectory, and cemetery share the number (413) 637-0157, with a fax line at (413) 637-2945 and a separate CCD Office line at (413) 637-4027. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The rectory email is [email protected] and the parish office email is [email protected]. Directions from the Mass Pike (Exit 2 at Lee) and from Pittsfield (Route 7 South) are listed on the parish site.
- Rectory/Cemetery/Office: (413) 637-0157
- Fax: (413) 637-2945
- CCD Office: (413) 637-4027
- Rectory email: [email protected]
- Parish Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tues–Thu 9:00 AM–3:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Website: avptriparish.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. George Brennan1864–
Joint pastor of Lee and Lenox; purchased Walker Street land (1868) and built the first St. Ann's Church on Main Street (1870).
- Rev. William J. Dower1891–1903
First resident pastor when St. Ann's became a separate parish in 1891. Served on the Lenox School Committee and as trustee of Lenox Academy; administered the first Confirmation in 1894.
- Rev. William F. Grace1903–1922
Built St. Vincent de Paul Church in Lenox Dale, installed cemetery gate and wall, purchased the Willows rectory, and built the present St. Ann's Church (1911–12). Gifted the main altar.
- Rev. Thomas B. Cunningham1922–
Demolished the original 1870 church; sold the Willows (now Roche Funeral Home) and returned to the older rectory.
- Rev. Cornelius F. O'Rourke (Oghue)
Succeeded Father Cunningham as pastor; commissioned the Lourdes Shrine on the lot south of the church.
- Rev. Thomas S. Hanrahan
Led the parish in 1970 centenary celebrations of the first St. Ann's Church and commissioned a 36-page illustrated parish history.
- Rev. Daniel B. Brunton1989–2001
First pastor of the yoked parishes of St. Ann and St. Vincent de Paul; now Pastor Emeritus. Later assisted by Deacon George Keator.
- Rev. Christopher J. Waitekus2001–2015
Served 14 years as parish priest before being re-assigned.
- Monsignor John J. Bonzagni2015–present
Assigned as permanent pastor in December 2015; now leads the Tri-Parish of St. Ann, St. Vincent de Paul, and St. Patrick.