About St. Christopher · Brimfield, Massachusetts
St. Christopher Parish is a small Catholic parish in Brimfield, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, sharing pastoral staff and a website with its sister parish, St. Patrick's in Monson. The parish serves the villages of Brimfield, Wales, and Holland — territory that was historically mission territory of St. Patrick's in Monson before being separated in 1953 to form St. Christopher with residence in Brimfield. Today the parish offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, one Sunday Mass, and two weekday Masses, supported by a tight-knit group of liturgical and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Christopher
- Rector
- Rev. John J. Brennan (Fr. Jack)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Christopher is a small, intimate parish where nearly every ministry — from altar serving to the choir, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and the Knights of Columbus — is led by parishioners who know one another by name. It offers the full rhythm of Catholic life with a Saturday Vigil Mass, Sunday Mass, weekday Masses on Monday and Wednesday, a sacrament of Reconciliation schedule, and a Faith Formation (CCD) program that prepares students for Confirmation. The parish also shares resources and sacramental preparation with sister parish St. Patrick's in Monson, giving parishioners access to broader events like the Monson Youth Group while keeping the Brimfield community's small-parish feel.
Mass times at St. Christopher
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday following the 6:00 PM Mass at St. Christopher's
- Saturday at 3:00 PM at St. Patrick's Church, Monson
- By appointment
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Christopher Parish celebrates Mass in English with a Saturday Vigil at 6:00 PM, one Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM, and weekday Masses on Monday and Wednesday at 9:00 AM. Weekday Mass is held in the Parish Center. The parish notes that if school is cancelled or delayed due to inclement weather in Monson or Tantasqua Regional, daily Mass will also be cancelled and the office closed.
- Saturday Vigil Mass — 6:00 PM
- Sunday Mass — 10:30 AM
- Monday & Wednesday — 9:00 AM (Parish Center)
Our History
St. Christopher traces its roots to the Catholic missionary history of the Monson hill towns. The mission territory of Brimfield, Wales, and Holland was separated from St. Patrick's Parish in Monson on May 1, 1953, forming a new union with residence in Brimfield. Fr. William Breen was named the first pastor. The two parishes have remained closely linked ever since, sharing pastoral leadership and resources.
- May 1, 1953 — Missions of Wales, Holland, and Brimfield separated from St. Patrick's, Monson
- Fr. William Breen — first pastor of St. Christopher (1953)
- Fr. Jeddie P. Brooks — pastor from May 21, 1994 to October 2013
- Fr. John J. Brennan (Fr. Jack) — pastor from 2013 to present
- 1997–1998 — Spiritual Life and Family & Community Concerns Commissions developed a parish Mission Statement
Sister Parish — St. Patrick, Monson
St. Patrick Parish in Monson, established in 1861, shares pastoral staff and many ministries with St. Christopher. The Monson church was dedicated on Palm Sunday, March 20, 1864 — Bishop John B. Fitzpatrick appointed Fr. John J. Williams (later Archbishop of Boston) to act in his stead, and Fr. James A. Healy (later Bishop of Portland) preached the sermon. The church is now declared a National Catholic Historical Site. The shared pastor list for St. Patrick's runs from Fr. Jeremiah McCarthy (Sept. 1878) to the present day.
- St. Patrick address: 22 Green St., Monson, MA
- St. Patrick office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
- National Catholic Historical Site designation
- St. Patrick weekend Masses: Saturday 4:00 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM
Liturgical Ministries
St. Christopher has an ongoing need for liturgical volunteers. Altar Servers, Readers, and Eucharistic Ministers are especially sought. To be an Altar Server, one must have made First Communion and be at least entering 3rd grade. Hospitality Ministers open doors, greet parishioners, pass the offertory baskets, and distribute the bulletin. The choir, directed by Keith Richardson (who also plays organ), includes both children and adults and serves both weekend Masses.
- Altar Servers — contact Rectory (267-3622) or Kathy Ridz (267-4069)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors (Readers)
- Hospitality Ministers / Welcoming Team
- Choir — directed by Keith Richardson (organist)
Parish Commissions and Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council assists the pastor in planning, organizing, initiating, promoting, coordinating, and reviewing the evangelization, worship, religious education, and service activities of the parish. Four commissions carry out the work: the Education Commission coordinates faith formation; the Commission on Family and Community Concerns addresses family life and community needs; the Spiritual Life Commission plans and evaluates parish prayer and worship; and the Buildings and Maintenance Commission oversees the physical facilities.
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Education Commission
- Commission on Family and Community Concerns
- Spiritual Life Commission
- Buildings and Maintenance Commission
Outreach and Fellowship Ministries
Several ministries extend the parish's reach into the community. The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers parishioners who knit and crochet shawls to provide hope, comfort, and healing to those in need. The Martha and Mary Bereavement Ministry supports families after a funeral by cooking, serving, and setting up the parish hall for a reception. The Knights of Columbus (men's ministry) meets the second Tuesday of the month, and the Women of St. Christopher also meet on the second Tuesday.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Martha and Mary Bereavement Ministry
- Knights of Columbus (men) — second Tuesday, at St. Christopher's
- Women of St. Christopher — second Tuesday, at St. Christopher
Faith Formation and Youth
Children's faith formation includes CCD (Convent of Christian Doctrine) classes that feed into the two-year Confirmation Preparation Program. Confirmation is received in Grade 9 and requires regular class attendance, special Confirmation sessions and rehearsals, retreats, active participation in parish life, the selection of a saint's name and sponsor, and (if not baptized at St. Patrick's) submission of a Baptismal Certificate. The Monson Youth Group — Collaboration of Faiths, open to youth in grades 4–12, meets once a month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM and is a joint effort with the sister parish.
- CCD Classes (ongoing)
- Confirmation Preparation — two-year program in Grade 9
- Monson Youth Group — Collaboration of Faiths (grades 4–12, monthly 6:30–8:30 PM)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments with preparation appropriate to each. Baptisms are celebrated the second and third Sundays of the month after a Baptismal class (first Friday of the month, 7:00 PM, at St. Patrick's rectory). Reconciliation is offered Saturday after the 6:00 PM Mass at St. Christopher's, Saturday at 3:00 PM at St. Patrick's, or by appointment. Couples are asked to contact the pastor one year in advance of marriage. The Anointing of the Sick is available to anyone seriously ill, and arrangements for Christian Burial are made through a funeral director or the Parish Office.
- Baptism — 2nd and 3rd Sundays; class first Friday at 7:00 PM
- Reconciliation — Saturday after 6:00 PM (St. Christopher's) or 3:00 PM (St. Patrick's), or by appointment
- Confirmation — Grade 9, two-year preparation
- First Communion — via CCD
- Matrimony — one year notice to pastor
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. Jack at 413-267-3622
- Holy Orders — contact Fr. Jack or Vocations Office (413-462-0816)
- Christian Burial — contact Parish Office 413-267-3622
Contact and Office Information
St. Christopher Parish shares its administration and contact points with St. Patrick's in Monson. The parish office can be reached at 413-267-3622, and the rectory at 413-245-7274. The parish email is [email protected]. St. Christopher's office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–2:30 PM; St. Patrick's office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.
- St. Christopher Rectory: 413-245-7274
- Parish Office (St. Patrick's): 413-267-3622
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Christopher office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–2:30 PM
- Address: 16 Sturbridge Rd., Route 20, Brimfield, MA 01010
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Breen1953
First pastor when Brimfield, Wales, and Holland missions were separated from St. Patrick's, Monson on May 1, 1953
- Fr. John J. Brennan (Fr. Jack)2013–present
Current pastor; also referenced in the St. Patrick's pastor list (2013 to present)