About St. Anthony of Padua · Chicopee, Massachusetts
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Willimansett section of Chicopee, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Founded in 1925 by about 90 Polish families from Holyoke and Chicopee, it has been served continuously by the Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual, O.F.M. Conv.) for a century. Originally a Polish-language parish, today it ministers in three languages: English, Polish, and Spanish, with a weekly Spanish Mass added in the late 1990s and early 2000s to welcome Latino Catholics from across Chicopee. In 2009 the parish absorbed the territory of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Mary of the Assumption parishes, becoming the territorial parish for the whole Willimansett neighborhood.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, OFMConv.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a trilingual Catholic home in the Willimansett neighborhood, offering Mass in English, Polish, and Spanish every week, with a weekly novena to St. Anthony, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, a faith formation program for children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation, a religious articles store, and regular parish pilgrimages organized by the pastor. It is the territorial parish for Willimansett and welcomes new parishioners through a simple registration form, with a Conventual Franciscan friar as pastor and a parish office open Tuesday through Friday.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Chapel of the Blessed Mother)
Parish History
St. Anthony of Padua Parish was founded in 1925 by approximately 90 Polish families who had moved into the Willimansett section of Chicopee from Mater Dolorosa Parish in Holyoke and St. Stanislaus in Chicopee. Bishop Thomas O'Leary approved the new parish and asked the Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) of the St. Anthony of Padua Province to establish it. Fourteen acres were purchased on Senecal and Enright Streets (now St. Anthony and Celestine Streets) for $9,500, and the first Mass was celebrated on August 9, 1925.
- 1925 — parish organized by Rev. Stephen Musielak; first Mass August 9, 1925
- 1926 — first parish building constructed (intended as a school)
- 1927 — cornerstone of church-school blessed by Bishop O'Leary, May 29, 1927; first Mass in new building by Fr. Celestine Rozewicz on Palm Sunday, April 10, 1927
- 1971 — current church built under Fr. Raphael Wisniewski; Blessed Sacrament transferred July 7, 1971; old church became social center
- 1997 — Fr. Benedict Fagone arrives; Spanish Mass ministry begins
- 2009 — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Mary of the Assumption merged into St. Anthony of Padua under Bishop McDonnell's pastoral planning
- 2026 — Conventual Franciscans announce withdrawal; parish to remain open under diocesan administration
Children's Faith Formation
The parish runs a Children's Faith Formation (CCD) program at the parish for children not enrolled in Catholic school. Sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation is incorporated into the same program. Parents register in late summer and receive a class schedule on the first day of class. Catechist and parish leadership affirm that 'catechesis is a responsibility of the entire Christian community' and follows the General Directory of Catechesis.
- Faith Formation classes held at the parish
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Contact: Deacon Raymond Cournoyer or Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, (413) 538-9475 ext. 100
Parish Staff & Volunteers
The parish is led by Conventual Franciscan friars and supported by a deacon, a secretary, and maintenance staff. The parish site invites new volunteers to serve in the parish's ministries.
- Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, OFMConv. — Pastor
- Deacon Raymond Cournoyer
- Alina Sanmiguel — Secretary
- Lino Sanmiguel — Maintenance
- Volunteer opportunities available
Parish Store: Our Little Store
Our Little Store sells religious articles at the parish. According to the diocesan parish finder, the store is open Tuesday through Friday morning, Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday morning around the Mass schedule.
- Tuesday–Friday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm
- Sunday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Online presence: https://stanthonychicopee.square.site/home
Parish Pilgrimages
Under the leadership of Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, the parish organizes regular group pilgrimages and outings open to parishioners and friends. Past and upcoming trips have included the Christmas Festival of Lights at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, MA, Sight & Sound Theatres productions in Lancaster, PA, and a 17-day Spiritual Journey through Europe passing through the Holy Door.
- Christmas Festival of Lights at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette (annual day trip)
- Joshua at Sight & Sound Theatres, Lancaster, PA
- Spiritual Journey Through Europe (17 days, Czech Republic to Medjugorje)
- Eucharistic Miracles Pilgrimage (18 days, Warsaw, Poland)
- Year of Hope: Jubilee
Becoming a Parishioner
St. Anthony of Padua welcomes new parishioners. Registration forms can be downloaded from the parish website, picked up at the church entrances, or filled out at the parish office.
- Print and complete the New Parishioner Registration Form
- Submit by mail, in the Offertory basket at Mass, or in person
- Office: 56 Saint Anthony Street, Chicopee, MA 01013
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Diocese & Canonical Status
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts and has been served by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of what is now the Our Lady of the Angels Province since its founding. In 2009, diocesan pastoral planning merged two neighboring Willimansett parishes into St. Anthony of Padua, making it the territorial parish for the Willimansett section of Chicopee.
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
- Religious order: Order of Friars Minor Conventual (O.F.M. Conv.) — Conventual Franciscans
- 2009 merger under Bishop Timothy McDonnell with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Mary of the Assumption
- Listed in GCatholic as Church of St. Anthony of Padua
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen Musielak1925
Appointed to organize the new Polish parish
- Fr. Celestine Rozewicz, OFMConv.1927
Celebrated first Mass in the new church building on Palm Sunday, April 10, 1927
- Fr. Raphael Wisniewski1968–1971
Under Bishop Weldon's urging, oversaw construction of the current church; solemnly transferred the Blessed Sacrament to the new church July 7, 1971
- Fr. Placid Kaczorek
Renovated social center rooms into classrooms and moved CCD classes from Chapin School
- Fr. Benedict Fagone1997–2011+
Guided the parish for over 14 years; welcomed Spanish-speaking Catholics and began Spanish Masses
- Fr. Jacek Leszczynski, OFMConv.
Current pastor; organized international parish pilgrimages