St. Charles Borromeo

Parish History

St. Charles Borromeo was founded on November 4, 1893 — the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo — when its first pastor, Rev. Charles J. Boylan, arrived in Pittsfield. The first Mass was celebrated a week later in a building called the Coliseum or Rink on North Street. Ground for the new church on Briggs Avenue was broken on May 20, 1894, the cornerstone was laid by Bishop Thomas D. Beaven on October 7, 1894, and the basement was used as the worship space from December 1894 until the present church was built over it in 1898. The parish's history is preserved on its official 'Parish History' page, which remembers the founding families, the Noble House (first rectory) on the corner of North and Charles Street, and the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph who arrived in 1924 to teach at the parish school.

• Founded November 4, 1893 (Feast of St. Charles Borromeo)
• First pastor: Rev. Charles J. Boylan
• First Mass: November 12, 1893 in the Coliseum/Rink
• Cornerstone laid October 7, 1894 by Bishop Beaven
• Upper church completed 1898
• Architect: John W. Donahue of Springfield (early English Gothic, brick with marble facings)

The Name — Saint Charles Borromeo

The parish takes its name from St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584), Archbishop of Milan and a central figure of the Counter-Reformation, who is honored as a patron of catechists and of the education of all the faithful. According to the parish history page, the parish was named for him simply because Father Boylan arrived in Pittsfield on the saint's feast day, November 4, 1893, and he chose to give the new parish that name. The parish's website notes that the patron 'stirs up a great devotion to the education of all' and that 'Our Roman Catholic faith is passed on from generation to generation, always inspired by Jesus, the Teacher, inviting all children "to come unto me."' Charles Street, near the original rectory site, also commemorates the parish's patron.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Charles is led by Director Michelle Henderson. The program enrolls families in August for all grade levels and is built around the conviction that 'every family is unique and has a different story. Every family is welcome here.' It uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the youngest children (Level I, ages 3–5), with two sessions offered: Sunday mornings 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM or Tuesdays 4:00–5:30 PM. The program walks with parents 'in nurturing the mustard seed of faith in each child,' prepares them for sacraments, and provides 'a foundation that our children need to lead a life of faith.'

• Director: Michelle Henderson ([email protected])
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Level I (ages 3–5) — Sunday 10:30 AM–12:00 PM or Tuesday 4:00–5:30 PM
• Primary and grade-level Religious Education classes
• Enrollment in August for all grade levels

Outreach & Charity

The parish's outreach is grounded in its 1916 tradition of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, founded by Father Dower. A parish food pantry was established in the fall of 1995 and ran independently for many years; today the parish joins forces with its 'sister parish,' St. Joseph in the heart of Pittsfield. At the beginning of each month parishioners pick up a brown bag, fill it with groceries and paper goods, and return it the following Sunday; parish volunteers then pack and deliver the bags to the St. Joseph Food Pantry. The Pro-Life Ministry works to raise awareness of the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, supports Pregnancy Support Services through bulletin updates and fundraising, and promotes the annual '9 Days for Life' novena.

• St. Vincent de Paul Fund (continuing Fr. Dower's 1916 tradition)
• Monthly brown-bag collection for the St. Joseph Food Pantry
• Pro-Life Ministry
• Pregnancy Support Services support
• 9 Days for Life novena

Parish Staff

The parish is served by a small, named staff listed on the official Parish Staff page. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM.

• Fr. Matt Barone — Pastor ([email protected])
• Meg Skowron — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
• Michelle Henderson — Faith Formation Director ([email protected])
• L. Joe Rose — Music Director ([email protected])
• Karen Chrostowski — Business Manager ([email protected])

Our Pastor — Fr. Matthew Barone

Fr. Matthew ('Fr. Matt') Barone is the current pastor. He was born and raised in Chicopee with his mother, younger brother, and sister, attended St. Patrick's School, Holyoke Catholic High School, and Our Lady of the Elms College. After working for eight years as a school bus driver and trainer, he applied to the Diocese of Springfield to study for the priesthood; Bishop McDonnell accepted him, and he completed six years of study and formation at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, MA. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 15, 2020 by Bishop Rozanski (after a COVID-related delay) and assigned to St. Thomas Parish in W. Springfield, where he had already served as a Transitional Deacon. He then served one year at St. Mary's Parish in Lee, before becoming Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph's in Pittsfield. Bishop Byrne appointed him Administrator of St. Charles, and four months later he was named Pastor.

Contact & Visit

St. Charles Borromeo is located at 89 Briggs Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201, on a 'commanding rise of ground' in the northwestern part of the city. The parish office phone is (413) 442-7470, with general email [email protected]. The Parish Center, which houses the Daily Chapel and the parish offices, sits across from St. Charles Church. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM. The parish is also present on Facebook at facebook.com/stcharlespittsfield/.

• Address: 89 Briggs Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201
• Phone: (413) 442-7470
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
• Parish Center / Daily Chapel across from the church