About St. Christopher Mission · Charlemont, Massachusetts
St. Christopher Mission is a small Catholic mission church located on Main Street in Charlemont, Massachusetts, in the northwestern corner of Franklin County. It is one of two mission churches of St. Joseph Parish in Shelburne Falls — together with St. John the Baptist in Colrain — forming the largest geographic parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The mission serves a rural community whose families historically came to the area for farm and factory work and brought a strong Catholic faith with them. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 6:00 PM in Charlemont.
- Patron
- St. Christopher
- Rector
- Fr. William Lunney
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Christopher Mission is a small, rural Catholic community where longtime hill-town families and newcomers gather for weekly Vigil Mass in an intimate setting on Main Street in Charlemont. As part of St. Joseph Parish — the largest geographic parish in the Diocese of Springfield — worshippers here are connected to a wider Catholic family that includes St. John the Baptist Mission in Colrain and St. Joseph Church in Shelburne Falls, with daily Mass, faith formation for children and adults, Communion visits, choir, lectors, altar servers, and outreach to those in need. The parish is especially known for its commitment to healing, reconciliation, and warmly welcoming anyone seeking a quiet, faithful community in the Deerfield River valley.
Mass times at St. Christopher Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Heard each Saturday after the 9 AM Mass (at St. Joseph Church, Shelburne Falls), before the Vigil Masses, and after Sunday Masses
- Twice a year at St. Joseph Church during Advent and Lenten Communal Reconciliation Services
- Any time by appointment
About St. Christopher Mission
St. Christopher Mission is one of three worship sites that make up St. Joseph Parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield. Together with the main church in Shelburne Falls and St. John the Baptist Mission in Colrain, it forms the largest geographic parish in the diocese. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 6:00 PM at the mission on Main Street in Charlemont.
Parish History & Community
The Catholic community in the hill towns of northwestern Franklin County grew from 19th- and early-20th-century settlers — many of French-Canadian and Irish descent — who came for farm and factory work. Over time, the small mission at Charlemont was grouped with neighboring Catholic communities in Colrain and Shelburne Falls into a single parish family. The parish openly acknowledges the damage done by the sexual abuse crisis and centers its current identity on healing, reconciliation, and welcoming those who have felt isolated from the Church.
- Settlers came to northwestern Franklin County for farm and factory work
- St. Christopher, St. John the Baptist, and St. Joseph together are the largest geographic parish in the Diocese of Springfield
- Healing and reconciliation are named priorities after the abuse crisis
Sacraments
St. Joseph Parish and its missions prepare parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church — from infant Baptism through Anointing of the Sick — under the guidance of the pastor and the Director of Religious Education.
- Baptism — preparation with the pastor; contact the rectory
- First Holy Eucharist — typically 2nd grade in the CCD program
- Confirmation — typically 11th grade in the CCD program; adult classes available
- Marriage — at least one year of preparation; Pre-Cana through the Diocese of Springfield Office of Family Life
- Anointing of the Sick — first weekend of each month after Masses, or by request
- Holy Orders — referrals to the Diocese of Springfield Office of Vocations
Liturgy & Prayer Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited to share their gifts with the worshipping community at St. Christopher and the other parish sites.
- Lector — proclaim Scripture at weekday and weekend Masses (contact Gina Wells)
- Altar Servers — assist at weekend Masses, weddings, and funerals (contact Fr. Lunney)
- Choir / Music Ministry — choirs open to all parishioners including youth; keyboardists and instrumentalists welcome (contact Anne Mislak)
- Ushers — greet, assist, and support the community at liturgies (contact Gina Wells)
Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is offered through the parish's CCD program and adult classes, coordinated by the Director of Religious Education.
- Director of Religious Education: Gina Wells — 413.625.6405
- First Communion preparation in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation in 11th grade
- Adult faith formation classes available
Parish Staff
The three-church cluster of St. Joseph Parish is served by a small, shared staff headed by the pastor.
- Pastor — Fr. William Lunney
- Director of Religious Education — Gina Wells (413.625.6405)
- Deacon (Retired) — Tom Rabbitt (413.337.8309)
- Child Advocate — Juanita Bousquet (413.834.1172)
- Office Manager & Bookkeeper — Gina Wells (413.625.6405)
- Music Coordinator — Anne Mislak (413.325.8779)
Visit St. Christopher Mission
St. Christopher Mission is located on Main Street (Route 2) in Charlemont, Massachusetts. The mission shares its office and mailing address with St. Joseph Parish at 34 Monroe Avenue, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. A map with driving directions to all three worship sites is available on the parish's About Us page.
- St. Christopher — Main Street, Charlemont, MA 01339
- St. Joseph — 34 Monroe Avenue, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
- St. John the Baptist — Church Street, Colrain, MA
- Parish phone: (413) 625-6405
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Lunney
Current pastor of St. Joseph Parish and its missions, St. John the Baptist (Colrain) and St. Christopher (Charlemont).
- Fr. Bombardier
Previously assigned to the St. Joseph / St. John the Baptist / St. Christopher parish cluster before moving on to other assignments, including service at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec.