About St. Mary · Hampden, Massachusetts
St. Mary's Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish in the Town of Hampden, Massachusetts, within the Diocese of Springfield. Founded in 1879 as a mission of St. Patrick's Church in Monson and dedicated under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is one of the older Catholic congregations in the southern Pioneer Valley. Today the parish serves the Hampden community from its current church at 27 Somers Road (dedicated in 1963), offering weekend and daily Mass, Saturday confession, Eucharistic adoration, children's faith formation, and a long tradition of parish organizations such as the St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Mark Stelzer (also chaplain, professor of humanities, and special assistant to the President for Catholic Identity at Elms College, Chicopee)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Mary's, Hampden has been the Catholic home of its town for more than 140 years, and remains a parish where individual families are known by name. The community gathers for daily and Sunday Mass in English, with Saturday Confession, weekly Saturday Adoration, Communion Service on Thursdays, and ongoing Bible Camp and parish-school faith formation for children in grades K–5. Rooted in organizations like the long-running St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club (since 1932) and partnering with Elms College chaplaincy, the parish offers the warmth of a small-town mission church combined with the rhythms of a diocesan parish — a place to belong, be formed in faith, and serve the Town of Hampden.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (in the confessional at the back of the church)
Adoration times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Parish Identity & Patron
St. Mary's Parish in Hampden, Massachusetts is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Springfield, dedicated in 1879 under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The parish takes its Marian identity from the dedication by Bishop Patrick O'Reilly at its first Mass in 1879, and the present church — the second building on parish grounds — was dedicated on October 5, 1963 by Bishop Christopher Weldon.
- Patron: The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Dedicated: Trinity Sunday, May 23, 1879
- Present church dedicated: October 5, 1963
- Diocese: Springfield, Massachusetts
- Address: 27 Somers Road, Hampden, MA 01036
Parish History
Catholic life in Hampden began even before the church existed, with Mass celebrated in Academy Hall and the home of James McCarthy on Riverside Drive from 1869 onward. The Town of Hampden separated from Wilbraham in 1878, and the parish was dedicated the next year as a mission of St. Patrick's, Monson. Over more than 140 years, St. Mary's has weathered debt on its original church, fires in the local mills, the installation of electric lights in 1938, and the construction of a new brick church in 1963 — building a deep tradition of parish organizations, including the Catholic Women's Club (since 1932) and a robust children's ministry that includes the recent Bible Camp.
- 1869: First Masses offered in Hampden at Academy Hall and private homes
- 1879: Parish dedicated as a mission of St. Patrick's, Monson; cemetery consecrated the same day
- Father Jeremiah McCarthy served about one year as first pastor
- Rev. Thomas O'Keefe's 47-year pastorate (longest in Springfield Diocese history)
- 1951: Rev. John Shea named first full-time resident pastor
- 1954: Diamond Jubilee — parish dubbed 'the biggest little parish in the diocese'
- October 5, 1963: Present church dedicated by Bishop Christopher Weldon
Pastorate & Clergy
The parish has been led by a succession of priests whose ministries together span more than a century. The longest continuous pastorate was that of Rev. Thomas O'Keefe, who served 47 years and is believed to hold the longest pastorate in the history of the Diocese of Springfield. After a period of mission pastors in the early 20th century, Rev. John Shea became the first full-time resident pastor in 1951 and oversaw the construction of the rectory and the present church. Rev. Fr. Timothy John Murphy served as pastor from 1997 to 2019 and was named pastor emeritus; he died on January 14, 2023. The current pastor is Father Mark Stelzer, who also serves as chaplain, professor of humanities, and special assistant to the President for Catholic Identity at Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee.
- Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy (mission pastor, c. 1879)
- Rev. John F. Lee
- Rev. Thomas O'Keefe (~1894–1941) — 47 years, 500 marriages, 1,000 baptisms
- Rev. Ralph O'Neil (1942–)
- Rev. Henry Burke (last Mission Pastor) with Rev. George Dudley, curate
- Rev. John Shea (from 1951) — first full-time resident pastor; oversaw construction of the present church
- Rev. Fr. Timothy John Murphy (1997–2019, Pastor Emeritus; died January 14, 2023)
- Rev. Mark Stelzer (current pastor; also Elms College chaplain)
Faith Formation & Bible Camp
St. Mary's invests in the faith of its youngest parishioners through an ongoing religious education program and an annual summer Bible Camp for grades K–5. Lead catechist Deb Joy has overseen Bible Camp together with parish volunteers; the 2025 camp theme was 'God's Promise' and included arts and crafts, outdoor games, drama, music, and plays — one about Noah's Ark for grades K–2, and one about Our Lady of Guadalupe for grades 3–5.
- Children's faith formation / Religious Education
- Annual Bible Camp (Vacation Bible School)
- Lead catechist: Deb Joy
- Bible Camp 2025 theme: 'God's Promise'
Parish Organizations & Community Life
The St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club, organized in 1932 during Father O'Keefe's long pastorate, has been a mainstay of parish life for nearly a century. Through the years its members have worked to promote 'all religious, educational, charitable, and social interests of St. Mary's Church, and civic interests in the Town of Hampden.' The club continues as a central vehicle for lay leadership, fellowship, and outreach.
- St. Mary's Catholic Women's Club (since 1932)
- Lay-led social, charitable, and civic engagement
- Biblical-camp volunteer corps
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Pastoral care at St. Mary's follows the rhythms of a small, intimate parish. Baptisms and weddings are arranged by contacting the parish office, and First Communion and ongoing faith formation are available through the parish's religious education program. The pastor also serves as chaplain at Elms College, deepening the parish's connection to campus ministry in the diocese.
- Baptisms — call the parish office
- Marriage preparation — call the parish office
- First Communion and faith formation — parish school of religion
- Pastoral connection to Elms College chaplaincy through Father Mark Stelzer
Beacon of Faith Campaign
The parish website carries a notice asking visitors to watch for more information on its Beacon of Faith Campaign, an initiative that signals active fundraising and stewardship efforts to sustain St. Mary's ministry into the future. (Specifics of the campaign are referenced on the parish site but details should be checked directly for the latest updates.)
- Active parish fundraising / capital stewardship campaign
Visiting & Contact
St. Mary's parish office is at 27 Somers Road in Hampden, with weekday Mass at 9:00 AM and Saturday Confession and Adoration in the mid-afternoon. Visitors should check the parish website or call the parish office for the latest information on parish events, the Beacon of Faith Campaign, and sacramental preparation.
- Address: 27 Somers Road, Hampden, MA 01036
- Phone: (413) 566-8843
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stmaryshampden.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy1879 (mission pastor, ~1 year)
Second pastor of St. Patrick's, Monson, who served the Hampden mission
- Rev. John F. Lee
Succeeded Father McCarthy at the new church
- Rev. Thomas O'Keefe~1894–1941
47-year pastorate — believed to be the longest in the history of the Springfield Diocese; performed 500 marriages and 1,000 baptisms
- Rev. Ralph O'Neil1942–
Succeeded Father O'Keefe
- Rev. Henry Burke
Last 'Mission Pastor'; Rev. George Dudley served as curate
- Rev. John Sheafrom 1951
First full-time resident pastor; built the rectory; oversaw new church construction
- Rev. Fr. Timothy John Murphy1997–2019
Ordained 1974 for Springfield; named pastor emeritus 2019; died Jan. 14, 2023
- Rev. Mark Stelzercurrent (as of 2025)
Also chaplain/professor at Elms College, Chicopee