About St. Anne · Chicopee, Massachusetts
St. Anne Parish is a Roman Catholic community located at 30 College Street in Chicopee, Massachusetts, within the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The parish was established on November 11, 1912, when Father John A. O'Connell became its first pastor, having grown out of a small mission chapel built in the 1890s as an outreach of St. Patrick's Church in South Hadley Falls. Today the parish is served by Fr. Dennis Skowera, pastor, and offers weekend and weekday Masses, the Sacraments, Eucharistic Adoration, faith formation for children and adults, and a wide range of parish ministries and outreach to the Chicopee community.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Dennis Skowera
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Anne Parish offers a full sacramental and devotional life for the Chicopee area, with three Sunday Masses and weekday Masses, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction on Fridays and Wednesdays, and a Holy Hour every other Sunday. Parishioners of all ages can grow in faith through the Religious Education (CCD) program, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA), altar serving, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Homebound Ministry that brings Communion to the sick and elderly, a Pro-Life effort, and an active Spiritual Life Commission featuring the Living Rosary, Marie Rivier Associates, and a Remembrance Mass. A wheelchair-accessible church, an online giving option, and a warm welcome from Fr. Dennis Skowera and the staff make St. Anne a comfortable place to belong.
Mass times at St. Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. (also listed 2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on parish directory sites), or by appointment
Adoration times
- Benediction and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Fridays, followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
- Adoration on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Holy Hour with Benediction and Adoration every second and fourth Sunday of the month, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- First Friday Adoration 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (per Diocese of Springfield parish listing)
Parish History
St. Anne Parish traces its roots to 1891, when it was established as a mission of St. Patrick's Church in South Hadley Falls, served from a small chapel built in the 1890s. On November 11, 1912, the mission was raised to an independent parish with Rev. John A. O'Connell as its first pastor. Through lawn parties and whist card parties, O'Connell raised the funds for a new rectory (completed June 1913) and a Flemish Gothic brick church christened on November 14, 1915, and dedicated the following spring. A major 1964 rear addition (designed by Roberval J. Hubert of South Hadley) added a 650-seat parish hall, altar room, meeting rooms, and other facilities, dedicated by Msgr. Walter F. Connell on Thanksgiving Day 1964. The Golden (50th) Anniversary was celebrated in 1962, a stained glass window of St. Anne was added to the parish hall in 1983, a wheelchair ramp was added in 1987, and the parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2012 with a centennial Mass, the cookbook 'Heavenly Delights,' and a commemorative book.
- 1891 — established as a mission of St. Patrick's, South Hadley Falls
- November 11, 1912 — became an independent parish under Fr. John A. O'Connell
- June 1913 — new rectory completed
- November 14, 1915 — new church christened at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Masses
- 1962 — Golden (50th) Anniversary celebrated
- April 27, 1964 — Bishop Christopher Weldon broke ground for the rear addition
- Thanksgiving Day 1964 — Msgr. Walter F. Connell dedicated the parish hall addition
- 1983 — St. Anne stained glass window installed in parish hall
- 1987 — wheelchair ramp added at the front of the church
- 2012 — 100th anniversary celebrated with centennial Mass, cookbook, and commemorative book
Sacraments
St. Anne Parish celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated on the last Sunday of the month, with prior arrangements and instructions required through the rectory. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Marriages are scheduled at least one year in advance, with Pre-Cana and spiritual conferences arranged through the Pastor. The parish brings the Eucharist to the homebound, hospitalized, and those in nursing homes, and administers the Anointing of the Sick upon request.
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00 p.m. or by appointment
- Baptism — last Sunday of the month; contact rectory for preparation
- Marriage — contact pastor one year in advance for Pre-Cana and conferences
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Sick and Homebound
- First Eucharist & Confirmation preparation via CCD
- OCIA (RCIA) for adult initiation, typically received at the Easter Vigil
Faith Formation and OCIA (RCIA)
Faith formation for children is provided through the parish Religious Education program (CCD), directed by Maredith Haesaert, who also serves as the Safe Environment (Child Advocate) Coordinator. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) welcomes adults who are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or baptized Catholic but missing Eucharist and/or Confirmation. The OCIA team walks participants through a personal journey of faith, with reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Inquiries can be directed to Maredith Haesaert or Fr. Dennis at (413) 532-7503.
- Religious Education (CCD) for children
- OCIA (RCIA) for adults — formation for Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- First Eucharist & Confirmation preparation
- Safe Environment / Child Advocate program
- Contact: Maredith Haesaert, DRE — [email protected] — (413) 532-7503 ext 20
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Parish life at St. Anne is organized around several commissions. The Spiritual Life Commission supports Adoration, the Prayer Group, the Prayer Shawl Ministry (meeting the second Saturday of each month, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), the Living Rosary, Marie Rivier Associates, and a Remembrance Mass. The Parish Social Outreach Commission and Formation Commission support parish charitable work and educational programs. Additional ministries include Altar Servers, a Pro-Life effort, Homebound Ministry, and a Property/Maintenance team.
- Spiritual Life Commission — Adoration, Prayer Group, Prayer Shawl, Living Rosary, Marie Rivier Associates, Remembrance Mass
- Parish Social Outreach Commission
- Formation Commission — CCD and OCIA
- Altar Servers
- Pro-Life
- Homebound Ministry (Coordinator: Deacon Greg St.)
- Property / Maintenance
- Adoration/Devotion Coordinator: Margaret Cooper
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish is led by Fr. Dennis Skowera, pastor, with support from Deacon Theodore 'Ted' Tudryn; Patricia (Patty) Daviau, Administrative Assistant; Bill Brawner, Finance Administrator (in office Tuesdays/Fridays 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.); Marie LaBonte, Bookkeeper (in office Tuesdays/Fridays 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.); and Maredith Haesaert, Director of Religious Education and Safe Environment Coordinator. The Saint Anne Rectory is located at 30 College Street, Chicopee, MA 01020, with phone (413) 532-7503 and fax (413) 532-5970.
- Rev. Fr. Dennis Skowera, Pastor — [email protected] — (413) 532-7503
- Deacon Theodore 'Ted' Tudryn — (413) 532-7503
- Patricia (Patty) Daviau, Administrative Assistant — [email protected]
- Bill Brawner, Finance Administrator — [email protected]
- Marie LaBonte, Bookkeeper — (413) 532-7503
- Maredith Haesaert, DRE & Safe Environment Coordinator — [email protected] — (413) 532-7503 ext 20
Architecture and Buildings
St. Anne's church is a Flemish Gothic brick building with old cathedral glass windows that face the setting of the sun, side-entry doors into the vestibule, and a North Carolina-finish woodwork interior stained golden oak. The original nave seated 540 with a choir loft for another 100. In 1964, a brick and fieldstone addition was built at the rear (designed by Roberval J. Hubert of South Hadley) housing a 650-capacity parish hall, altar room, two meeting rooms, an infant room, a coat room, two restrooms, and an enlarged sacristy. A 22-foot wide walnut screen allows the altar to be visible from the parish hall when opened. A two-car garage for the pastor and curate was also part of the 1964 project, and a wheelchair ramp at the front of the church was added in 1987.
- Flemish Gothic design — brick with old cathedral glass windows
- Golden oak North Carolina-finish woodwork interior
- Original nave capacity 540 + choir loft for 100
- 1964 rear addition of brick and fieldstone by Roberval J. Hubert
- 650-seat parish hall with 22-foot walnut screen
- 1983 stained glass window of St. Anne in parish hall
- 1987 wheelchair ramp at front entrance
Getting Involved and Giving
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed by Fr. Dennis Skowera and the parish community. The website points parishioners to drop-down menu pages with practical information on Mass, sacraments, devotions, faith formation, and ministries. Online giving is available through the parish's WeShare page, and the parish keeps a current calendar of liturgical, ministry, and family events at the bottom of every page of the website so families can stay up to date on parish life.
- Online giving via WeShare: https://stannechicopee.weshareonline.org/
- Parish calendar of liturgical, ministry, and family events on the website
- Rectory phone: (413) 532-7503
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John A. O'ConnellNovember 11, 1912 – November 10, 1919
First pastor; oversaw construction of rectory (1913) and new church (1915).
- Father Henry Auger
Former pastor; invited guest of honor at the 1962 Golden Anniversary.
- Father Leon Ruty
Former pastor; invited guest of honor at the 1962 Golden Anniversary (then retired in Ware).
- Father Edward Authier
Pastor in 1964; directed demolition of the old chapel and construction of the rear addition dedicated Thanksgiving Day 1964.
- Father Francis X. Sullivan
Past pastor in whose mother's memory a St. Anne stained glass window was added to the parish hall in 1983.
- Father Roland GalipeauJuly 14, 1985 – October 1995
- Father J. Victor CarrierOctober 28, 1995 – February 28, 2003
- Father William C. RousseauJune 1, 2003 – ?
- Rev. Fr. Dennis Skowera2020 – present
Current pastor; author of the welcome message on the parish website.