About St. Mary of the Lakes Mission · Otis, Massachusetts
St. Mary of the Lakes Mission is a seasonal Roman Catholic mission church located at 72 North Main Road (Routes 8 & 23) in Otis, Massachusetts, in the Berkshire hills. It is a mission of St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Lee, within the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, and shares its pastor, staff, and ministries with that parish and with St. Joseph Mission in Stockbridge. Weekend Mass is offered at the Otis site on Saturday evenings from Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend only, serving the lake-region Catholic community in the southern Berkshires.
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary of the Lakes)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Guidi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Lakes is the Catholic home for worshippers in Otis and the surrounding lake region of the southern Berkshires, with the convenience of a Saturday evening Mass during the summer season. As part of the Parish of Mary, Mother of the Church, parishioners share in the life of three worship sites (Lee, Otis, and Stockbridge) under one pastor, with online live-streamed Masses from St. Mary's in Lee, parish faith formation including the Southern Berkshire Youth Group 'Matthew 5' for 8th–12th graders, and access to the wider diocesan community.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Lakes Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment at the mission (call 413-243-0275)
About the Parish
The Parish of Mary, Mother of the Church is a single Roman Catholic parish serving the southern Berkshire communities of Lee, Otis, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Its mission statement, as published on the official website, reads: 'We are a Eucharistic community, finding strength in Jesus and His Church by living both Word and Sacrament. We minister to the needs of the People of God through Worship and living out the Gospel and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.' The parish operates three distinct worship sites under one pastor and staff: St. Mary's in Lee (140 Main Street), St. Mary of the Lakes in Otis (Routes 8 & 23), and St. Joseph's in Stockbridge (11 Elm Street).
- Mission statement: a Eucharistic community living Word and Sacrament
- Three worship sites: St. Mary's (Lee), St. Mary of the Lakes (Otis), St. Joseph's (Stockbridge)
- Pastoral and administrative offices: 40 Academy Street, Lee, MA 01238
St. Mary of the Lakes Mission (Otis)
St. Mary of the Lakes is the parish's seasonal summer mission serving Otis and the surrounding lake region of the Berkshires. Weekend Mass is offered on Saturday at 6:00 PM, but only between Memorial Day Weekend and Columbus Day Weekend — a schedule that reflects the church's role as the summer-time worship home for the lake community. During the off-season, parishioners are directed to the sister sites in Lee or Stockbridge, and to live-streamed and televised Masses broadcast by the parish. The mission's mailing is handled through the Lee parish office at 40 Academy Street, and the mission shares the same pastor (Fr. Matthew Guidi) and parish secretary (Ms. Leslee Durfee) as the rest of the parish.
- Worship site address: 72 North Main Rd. (Routes 8 & 23), Otis, MA 01253
- Seasonal Saturday Mass: 6:00 PM, Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend only
- Listed in the diocesan parish finder as 'St. Mary of the Lakes Mission (Otis) – Lee (#1430)'
- Mailing address: 40 Academy St., Lee, MA 01238
Parish Staff
The parish is led by a pastor who serves all three worship sites and supported by a parish secretary. The pastor and parish secretary are listed on the official website's Parish Staff page.
- Pastor: Fr. Matthew Guidi
- Parish Secretary: Ms. Leslee Durfee
Parish Offices & Contact
All administrative, sacramental, and mailing functions for the parish — including St. Mary of the Lakes Mission — are handled from the parish office at 40 Academy Street, Lee, MA 01238. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with visits outside those hours available by appointment. The parish can also be reached by phone, fax, and email listed on the official site.
- Parish Office: 40 Academy Street, Lee, MA 01238-1602
- Phone: 413-243-0275
- Fax: 413-243-1926
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, or by appointment
- Worship Sites: St. Mary's (140 Main St., Lee); St. Mary of the Lakes (Rts. 8 & 23, Otis); St. Joseph's (11 Elm St., Stockbridge)
Parish Ministries & Faith Formation
Because the Otis site is a seasonal mission, ongoing parish ministries and faith formation programs are coordinated across the Parish of Mary, Mother of the Church. The parish's youth ministry is the Southern Berkshire Youth Group 'Matthew 5,' which serves 8th through 12th graders from the parish and the wider area. Bible Study has been part of parish life and is referenced on the parish website (temporarily suspended per the parish's COVID-era communications).
- Southern Berkshire Youth Group 'Matthew 5' — for 8th through 12th graders; meets most Friday nights 8:00–10:00 PM during the school year at St. Ann, Lenox
- Annual trip to the Steubenville Conference for youth
- Bible Study offered at the parish (suspended per parish announcements)
- Parish is always seeking adult volunteers for youth ministry
Live-Streamed & Televised Masses
In addition to in-person worship, the parish maintains an online ministry for parishioners who cannot attend Mass in person — particularly relevant for St. Mary of the Lakes Mission, which is only open during the summer season. The Saturday 4:00 PM Mass from St. Mary's in Lee is live-streamed each week on the parish Facebook page, and the Sunday 11:00 AM Mass is broadcast live on Community Television of the Southern Berkshires (Channel 1301 / CTSBtv.org).
- Live-streamed Saturday 4:00 PM Mass from St. Mary's in Lee — available each week on the parish Facebook page
- Sunday Mass broadcast live at 11:00 AM on CTSB Channel 1301 / CTSBtv.org
- Parish Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StMaryLee140/
- MyParish App used for parish updates and communications
Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
St. Mary of the Lakes Mission belongs to the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The mission is listed in the diocesan parish finder as 'St. Mary of the Lakes Mission (Otis) – Lee (#1430),' a mission of St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Lee. The mission's information — including its seasonal Saturday Mass and confession by appointment — is published in the diocese's official parish directory alongside more than 100 other parishes and missions across western Massachusetts.
- Diocese: Springfield in Massachusetts
- Status: Mission of St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish, Lee
- Diocesan parish finder listing: parish #1430
- Diocesan website referenced for updates: diospringfield.org
Visiting Otis & The Berkshires
St. Mary of the Lakes Mission sits in the heart of the Otis lake region of the southern Berkshires, at the intersection of Routes 8 and 23. The church is a popular summer-season Mass location for seasonal residents, vacationers, and year-round locals in Otis, Becket, East Otis, and surrounding towns. Off-season, visitors and year-round parishioners are welcomed at the parish's sister sites in Lee and Stockbridge, both a short drive away, and can also join the parish via the live-streamed and televised Masses broadcast from the Lee site.
- Routes 8 & 23 intersection — central to the Otis lake area
- Sister worship sites a short drive away in Lee and Stockbridge
- Year-round access to Mass via CTSB Channel 1301 and parish Facebook live-stream
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Brian F. McGrathAssigned September 1, 2016
Announced by the Diocese of Springfield as new pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Church Parish in Lee, which includes St. Joseph Mission in Stockbridge and St. Mary of the Lakes Mission in Otis.