About St. Elizabeth Ann Seton · Northampton, Massachusetts
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Northampton, Massachusetts, formed on January 4, 2010 through the merger of five historic parishes that had served Hampshire County Catholics since the mid-1800s. It is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts and is named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born Catholic saint. The parish community worships across two historic buildings — the former Sacred Heart Church on King Street (the main church, a Georgian ecclesiastical design) and the former Annunciation Church on Beacon Street in Florence (now used as the chapel) — and serves a diverse congregation that includes a Spanish-language Mass and an active Catholic Latino Ministry.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Kingsley Ihejirika
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish welcomes anyone seeking an active, multigenerational Catholic community in the Northampton area, with daily and weekly Mass in English and a Sunday Mass in Spanish. It runs a faith formation program for Pre-K through 9th grade, a returning youth choir, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for adults entering the Church, and a range of social ministries including a new Take-and-Eat food ministry (started fall 2025), a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Social Justice Ministry, and a parish Thrift Store whose proceeds go directly back to the parish. As a merged parish rooted in five 19th-century communities, it offers both historic churches and an ongoing commitment to serving neighbors in Hampshire County.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday, 1:10 p.m. (following 12:30 p.m. Mass, at the main church)
- Saturday, 3:15 p.m. (before 4:00 p.m. Mass, at the main church)
- By appointment (call the parish office)
- Extended hours during Advent and Lent (announced in the bulletin)
Adoration times
- Friday, 6:00 p.m. — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel
History of Our Parish
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish is a relatively young parish (founded 2010) but the heir to a long Catholic tradition in Hampshire County. The earliest recorded Mass in the county was in 1806. Five separate parishes were established in Northampton between 1845 and 1904 to serve waves of European immigrants: Our Lady of the Assumption (1845, later St. Mary of the Assumption), Annunciation (1878, Florence), Sacred Heart (1885, French-speaking), Blessed Sacrament (1899, Swiss-designed, Bay State), and St. John Cantius (1904, Polish community). Declining clergy and parishioner numbers at the end of the twentieth century led to their merger. The first Mass of the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish was celebrated on January 4, 2010, the feast day of its patron.
- Earliest Hampshire County Mass: 1806
- Our Lady of the Assumption (later St. Mary of the Assumption) — first Mass Christmas Day 1845; church on Elm Street dedicated 1881
- Annunciation Parish — created 1878 to serve Florence, Leeds, and Haydenville; church on Beacon Street, Florence
- Sacred Heart Parish — established 1885 for French-speaking Catholics; Georgian ecclesiastical church on King Street
- Blessed Sacrament Parish — Swiss-design church on Elm Street, built 1899, for the Bay State section
- St. John Cantius Parish — formed 1904 for the Polish community; Roman-architecture church on Hawley Street, opened 1913
- First Mass of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish: January 4, 2010
Our Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently led by Father Kingsley Ihejirika as Administrator. Father Kingsley was born and trained as a priest in Nigeria before pursuing graduate studies in Rome, where he earned Master's degrees in Theology, Philosophy, Bioethics, and Religious Education from the Pontifical Urban University and the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University, and a doctorate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University. He joined the Diocese of Springfield in the summer of 2022, serving briefly at Holy Name Parish in Springfield before his appointment to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
- Rev. Kingsley Ihejirika — Administrator
- Karen Bobala — Interim Director of Faith Formation and Safe Environment Coordinator
- Doug Almanzar — Director of Music (also leads Youth Choir)
- Mary Rogers — Parish Coordinator (bulletin, envelopes, census, CORI, bookkeeping)
- Mary Ann Barnes — Parish Assistant (Mass bookings, marriage music, funerals, sacramental records)
- Cathy Ann Savarese — Office Manager
- Susan Royea — Coordinator of Social Events and Veterans Green (Club 500)
- Angel Martinez — Catholic Latino Ministry
- Roy Chapman — Superintendent of St. Mary Cemetery
Faith Formation and Religious Education (CCD)
The parish faith formation program offers a safe environment for students from Pre-K through 9th grade to grow in Catholic faith, morality, sacramental preparation, and liturgical and community life. Classes meet in the Parish Center. Sacramental preparation for First Communion typically occurs in second grade, and Confirmation is usually celebrated in ninth grade. A Youth Choir also rehearses and sings at the 9:30 a.m. Mass during the school year.
- Pre-K through 6th grade: Sundays, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Parish Center
- 7th through 9th grade: every other Sunday evening, 6:00–7:30 p.m., Parish Center
- Sacramental prep: First Communion (typically 2nd grade) and Confirmation (typically 9th grade)
- Adult Confirmation classes available through the Religious Education Coordinator
- Youth Choir rehearses after Faith Formation class, sings at 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass; Director: Doug Almanzar
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and offers adult initiation through the RCIA process. Baptisms are scheduled monthly with prior registration and preparation required; weddings must be arranged at least six months in advance; the Anointing of the Sick is available on request; and funerals are coordinated through Parish Assistant Mary Ann Barnes.
- Baptism — last Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
- Holy Eucharist — Sunday and weekday Masses
- Confirmation — typically 9th grade; adult classes available
- Reconciliation — Friday 1:10 p.m. and Saturday 3:15 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick — on request through the parish office
- Holy Orders — vocational inquiries to parish priests or Diocesan Vocations Director (413-452-0816, myvocation.com)
- Matrimony — arrange at least 6 months in advance
- RCIA — for adults seeking to become Catholic
Catholic Latino Ministry / Ministerio Católico Latino
The parish maintains an active Catholic Latino Ministry coordinated by Angel Martinez, supporting Spanish-speaking parishioners and the wider Northampton-area Hispanic Catholic community. A Spanish-language Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
- Coordinator: Angel Martinez
- Spanish Mass — Sunday 12:00 p.m.
- Outreach to the Latino Catholic community of the Northampton area
Social Ministries and Outreach
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton offers a variety of social ministries that put Catholic social teaching into practice. The Social Justice Ministry coordinates volunteer charitable works and advocacy. The new Take-and-Eat Committee (formed fall 2025) prepares meals for neighbors experiencing food insecurity on the second Saturday of each month on the front lawn of 99 King Street, Northampton. Other ministries include the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Church Decorations Committee, Communications Committee, and Fundraising Committee (formed in 2023).
- Social Justice Ministry — rooted in Catholic social teaching; email [email protected]
- Take-and-Eat Committee — meals served 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month at 99 King Street
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — shawls knitted/crocheted, blessed by the priest, given to hospital patients and nursing home residents
- Church Decorations Committee — decorates the Chapel and Church for Christmas and Easter
- Communications Committee — curates bulletin, website, Facebook, live streaming, and press communications
- Fundraising Committee — formed 2023 to support parish finances
St. Mary Cemetery and Veterans Green
St. Mary Cemetery, located at 235 North Elm Street, Northampton, is operated by the parish. It is open daily from 6:00 a.m. until dusk, with the office open 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Veterans Green, at the west end of the cemetery, is a memorial area dedicated to American veterans, featuring six granite markers (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines), a cross-shaped walkway of 399 bluestone pavers honoring individual veterans, two memorial benches, and a WWII monument moved there in 2011 from the former St. John Cantius Church. A Memorial Day Mass is celebrated annually at Veterans Green.
- Cemetery location: 235 North Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01060
- Superintendent: Roy Chapman; Secretary: Cathy Ann Savarese
- Phone: 413-584-3257; Fax: 413-584-8998
- Burial plots in various sizes; cremation plots available
- Memorial tree planting with bronze plaques available
- Annual Memorial Day Mass at Veterans Green
Gift Shop and Thrift Store
The parish operates both a Gift Shop and a Thrift Store in the parish office building at 87 Beacon Street, Florence. The Thrift Store, run by volunteer managers Pat Shaughnessy and Barbara Kaczenski, offers a wide variety of donated items including books, toys, fabric, furniture, small appliances, jewelry, and seasonal décor. All proceeds go directly back to the parish. The Gift Shop carries religious items such as rosaries, wall crucifixes, and greeting cards, and features the book Reawakening Hope by Father Kingsley Ihejirika.
- Thrift Store hours: Saturdays 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (closed July and August)
- Donations accepted Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; other times by calling Pat Shaughnessy 413-584-6068 or Barbara Kaczenski 413-586-1498
- Special sales: Jewelry Sale, Christmas & Holiday Sale, Linens and Things Sale
- Gift Shop hours: Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and by request
- Gift Shop contact: Theresa Bimbane, [email protected]
Parish Finances and Capital Campaign
The parish is currently undertaking the Building a Stronger Future Together in Faith capital campaign to address the financial health of the parish and fund facility improvements. A feasibility study report has been published and made available to parishioners, and the Fiscal Year 2026 budget is also publicly available. The parish also participates in the Catholic Parish Initiatives (CPI) Raffle, which recently raised over $10,500.
- Capital campaign: Building a Stronger Future Together in Faith
- Feasibility study report available for parish review
- Fiscal Year 2026 budget posted
- Catholic Parish Initiatives (CPI) Raffle participation
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The parish office mailing address is 87 Beacon Street, Florence, MA 01062. The main church is at 99 King Street, Northampton, and the chapel (where Masses are currently being held during renovations) is at 85 Beacon Street, Florence. Parking and accessibility details are not specifically listed on the parish site.
- Parish office: 87 Beacon Street, Florence, MA 01062
- Phone: 413-584-7310; Fax: 413-584-4788
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Main church: 99 King Street, Northampton, MA 01062 (closed for renovation beginning May 2026)
- Chapel: 85 Beacon Street, Florence, MA 01062 (current Mass location)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Kingsley IhejirikaAppointed 2023 (after brief three-month assignment at Holy Name Parish, Springfield, summer 2022)
Currently serving as Administrator (parish priestly leader); joined the Diocese of Springfield in 2022. Native of Nigeria with graduate degrees from the Pontifical Urban University and Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University in Rome, including a doctorate in Philosophy. Founder of the Divine Mercy International Widows Organization (DMIWOO).