About St. Brigid · Amherst, Massachusetts
St. Brigid's Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located in downtown Amherst, Massachusetts, at 122 North Pleasant Street, in the heart of the Five College Consortium (Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and UMass Amherst). The parish traces its origins to 1871, a year after the Diocese of Springfield was set off from the Diocese of Boston, and the current Italianate church building was dedicated on September 27, 1925. Today St. Brigid's serves a vibrant, multicultural Catholic community that includes a large Hispanic congregation (with a weekly Mass in Spanish), a monthly African Mass and potluck celebrating the African diaspora, and the Newman Catholic Center serving UMass Amherst students. The parish is led by Fr. Valentine Nworah and is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Brigid of Kildare (originally dedicated to St. Bridget of Sweden when founded in 1871; re-named in 1925)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Valentine Nworah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Brigid's is the historic Catholic heart of downtown Amherst, serving a strikingly diverse community that includes long-standing English-speaking parishioners, a thriving Hispanic/Latino congregation (which grew from about 50 people in 1993 to 100–250 at Sunday Masses today), and a vibrant African diaspora community with a monthly African Mass and potluck. The parish joins with the Newman Catholic Center at UMass Amherst, offering daily and Sunday Masses, a Spanish Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays, the OCIA/RCIA process, and ministries for men (FORGE), women, families, youth, music, prayer, and the Cursillo Movement — all in the iconic 1925 Italianate church on North Pleasant Street.
Mass times at St. Brigid
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (St. Brigid)
- Wednesday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Newman Center, during student Holy Hour)
- By appointment with Fr. Valentine: 413-256-6181
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Thursday 3:00 PM (Chaplet of Divine Mercy)
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Hora Santa en Español)
- Thursday 6:00 PM (Benediction)
Parish History
Catholic life in Amherst began in 1840 with the arrival of John Slater, the town's first known Catholic settler. Before 1871, Masses were celebrated in secular spaces like Palmer's Hall (now the site of Town Hall). The parish was officially founded in 1871 — the same year the Diocese of Springfield was created from the Diocese of Boston — and the first church, named for St. Bridget of Sweden, was built on North Pleasant Street near Triangle Street. That wooden church served the community until 1925, was sold in 1927, and was later incorporated into the Cathedral Apartments. The present Italianate/Renaissance-inspired church on North Pleasant Street was built after Bishop Thomas M. Leary purchased land from Fannie W. Bangs in 1919. Its cornerstone was laid in 1923, the building was dedicated on September 27, 1925, and it was re-named 'St. Brigid' after the Irish saint of Kildare — reflecting the largely Irish immigrant character of the congregation at that time.
- Founded 1871 (first church dedicated to St. Bridget of Sweden)
- Current church dedicated September 27, 1925; renamed 'St. Brigid'
- Cornerstone laid 1923; financed by two mortgages ($90,000 + $20,000), discharged January 28, 1943
- 1993 major renovation under Fr. John Roach
- New organ installed under Fr. Gary Dailey and Fr. Valentine Nworah
- In 2023, CCD and faith formation merged with the Newman Catholic Center
- 2025 — 100th anniversary of the current church building
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Brigid's is led by Fr. Valentine Nworah, who serves as Pastor and Director of the Newman Catholic Center. He is assisted by two permanent deacons, a business manager, a Director of Music/Cantor and an organist, a Director of Religious Education and Youth Coordinator, the Cemetery Director, a Pastoral Center rental coordinator, and custodial staff.
- Rev. Fr. Valentine Nworah — Pastor (ext. 102)
- Rev. Deacon Tom Lynch — OCIA
- Rev. Deacon Adalberto Santiago-Martínez — Permanent Deacon; Hispanic Community Director
- Lary Grossman — Business Manager (ext. 106)
- Michael McLaughlin — Director of Music / Cantor
- Dr. Klaus Becker — Organist
- Nancy García — Director of Religious Education
- [Youth Coordinator — listed on staff page]
- Ron Lashway, Jr. — St. Brigid's Cemetery Director (413-253-3407)
- George Ryan — Monsignor Lane Pastoral Center Rental Coordinator (413-330-0131)
- Pablo Mercado & Juan Amaya — Custodians & Buildings Maintenance
Parish Groups & Ministries
St. Brigid's ministries serve a multilingual parish family, with explicit Hispanic and African ministries alongside English-language faith and fellowship groups. Parishioners can get involved in men's and women's formation, liturgical work, building and grounds care, and prayer chains.
- Hispanic Ministry — Deacon Adalberto Santiago-Martínez ([email protected])
- African Ministry — Christina Camara
- Hispanic Music Coordinator — Nelson López
- Women of Faith Group — Megan Johnson
- FORGE Men's Group — Stephen Rich (built on Worship, Formation, Fellowship, Service)
- Spiritual Life Committee — Joseph (Joe) Lake
- Cursillo Movement (English) — Jan Peterson
- St. Brigid's Prayer Tree / El Árbol de Oración — Laura MacLeod
- Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, Maintenance Committee, Fund Raising Events Committee, Liturgy Committee
Newman Catholic Center at UMass Amherst
The Newman Catholic Center, part of St. Brigid's Parish, ministers to UMass Amherst students and visiting students from the Five College Consortium (Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Amherst & Hampshire Colleges). Its staff — led by Fr. Valentine Nworah with Deacon Tom Lynch — provide spiritual, enrichment, community, counseling, and recreational programs in partnership with student organizations including the Esselen Peer Ministers, the Newman Catholic Student Association, and FOCUS Missionaries. The new Center was constructed in 2023. The Newman also serves the faculty, staff, and guests of the University, and hosts additional Masses, the Wednesday student Holy Hour with confessions, and the OCIA program.
- Director: Fr. Valentine Nworah
- Resident Deacon: Deacon Thomas Lynch
- Student orgs: Esselen Peer Ministers, Newman Catholic Student Association
- Partner: FOCUS Missionaries
- Newman Center building constructed 2023
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and offers preparation for each. Baptism is arranged through a family meeting with Fr. Valentine, registration, and a Baptism Orientation. OCIA (formerly RCIA) forms each September and meets weekly through Easter, welcoming unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and adult baptized Catholics. Marriage requires a recommended 9-month preparation process and a fee of $500 (parishioners) or $1,000 (non-parishioners), with the deposit due at reservation.
- Baptism (infants, older children, adults via OCIA)
- Confirmation (teens and adults)
- Eucharist (Holy Communion)
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see schedule
- Marriage — 9-month prep; $500 parishioner / $1,000 non-parishioner
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders — vocational discernment with Fr. Valentine or the Diocesan Vocations Office
Hispanic & African Communities
St. Brigid's Hispanic/Latino community began in 1993 with about 50 people and has grown to 100–150 at typical Sunday Masses, swelling to 200–250 on Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day. A Spanish Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 12:30 PM, with Deacon Adalberto Santiago-Martínez serving as Hispanic Community Director and Nelson López as Hispanic Music Coordinator. The parish also hosts a monthly African Mass and potluck on the first Sunday at 4:30 PM, celebrating the African diaspora.
- Hispanic Community Director: Deacon Adalberto Santiago-Martínez
- Spanish Mass: Sundays 12:30 PM
- Hora Santa en Español: Thursdays 5:00–6:00 PM
- Hispanic Music Coordinator: Nelson López
- African Ministry contact: Christina Camara
- African Mass & Potluck: 1st Sunday of the month, 4:30 PM
Facilities: Church, Pastoral Center & Cemetery
St. Brigid's campus includes the historic 1925 church and rectory at 122 North Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst; the Monsignor Lane Pastoral Center at 43 North Prospect Street (parish office, mailing address, and banquet-hall rentals coordinated by George Ryan); and St. Brigid's Cemetery at 85 North Maple Street in Hadley, MA, at the corner of North Maple Street and Rocky Hill, directed by Ron Lashway, Jr.
- Church & Rectory — 122 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002
- Monsignor Lane Pastoral Center (parish office) — 43 North Prospect Street, Amherst, MA 01002
- St. Brigid's Cemetery — 85 North Maple Street, Hadley, MA 01035 (Ron Lashway, Jr., 413-253-3407)
- Pastoral Center rentals — George Ryan, 413-330-0131
- Parish Office hours — Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Get Involved
Volunteers are the strength of the parish. St. Brigid's invites parishioners and newcomers to participate in Mass and the sacraments, daily prayer, faith formation, charity, and the parish's many groups — including the FORGE men's group, Women of Faith, the Cursillo Movement, the Prayer Tree, the Spiritual Life Committee, and parish councils and committees. The parish emphasizes acts of charity, continuing spiritual education, and finding a supportive Catholic community.
- Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, Maintenance Committee, Fund Raising Committee, Liturgy Committee
- Men's: FORGE; Women's: Women of Faith
- Prayer: Prayer Tree / El Árbol de Oración, Cursillo Movement, Spiritual Life Committee
- Volunteer needs: Repairs, Painters, Church Cleaning, Grounds Keepers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Roach
Directed the major 1993 renovation of the church building
- Fr. Gary Dailey
Oversaw additional renovations, including a new organ installation
- Fr. Valentine Nworah
Current pastor and Director of the Newman Catholic Center; oversees the merged Amherst Catholic Community programs