About St. Mary · Ware, Massachusetts
St. Mary Parish is a historic Polish-American Roman Catholic parish in Ware, Massachusetts, founded in 1905 by Polish immigrant millworkers from the southern Polish counties of Dąbrowa, Tarnów, Rzeszów, and Jasło. It is one of the Polish-American Catholic parishes in New England in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts, today administered jointly with neighboring All Saints Parish under a single pastor. The original Romano-Gothic church at 60 South Street was completed in 1907 and remains the spiritual home of the parish, which continues to serve the people of Ware in the Quabbin region of western Massachusetts.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- St. Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Piotr S. Calik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Mary's is the historic Polish-American Catholic parish of Ware, paired with nearby All Saints Parish under one pastor — meaning parishioners get the deep-rooted heritage, devotions, and identity of the Polish community alongside shared Mass times, joint parish councils, and joint events like the annual parish picnic and youth nights. The parish offers the full sacramental life — daily and weekend Masses, Reconciliation before weekend Masses, baptism and marriage preparation, First Communion and Confirmation catechesis, and OCIA for adults — at two convenient Ware locations on South Street and North Street.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM at All Saints Church
- Friday: after 8:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's Church
Parish History — A Polish-American Foundation
St. Mary Parish was founded at the turn of the twentieth century by Polish immigrants working in the textile mills of Ware. On December 22, 1904, two La Salette missionaries — Fr. Joseph Fux, M.S. and Fr. Oswald Loretan, M.S. — arrived to organize the Polish Catholic community. Fr. Fux became the parish's first pastor, and on January 1, 1905 the first Polish-language religious service was celebrated in the lower level of the existing All Saints Church. That first collection raised $300 toward a parish of their own, and a second campaign gathered $2,000. A lot was acquired just south of the mills and, by 1907, the Romano-Gothic church at 60 South Street was completed. Three large bells were added to the central tower in 1923, and that same year the lower church was remodeled into eight classrooms for the parish school.
Sacraments
The parish website describes the seven sacraments with their doctrinal background (citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church) and the parish's practical process for each.
Baptism
Parents contact the parish office to schedule a date, then complete the Baptism Registration form. Families are encouraged to begin as soon as they are home from the hospital (or even earlier). Baptisms for those 16 and older proceed through the OCIA process.
First Holy Communion / Eucharist
The parish describes First Holy Communion as 'a big deal' for children and every reception of the Eucharist as a renewal of that first encounter. The site's catechetical text quotes Pope Francis calling the Eucharist 'the Sacrament of Love' and the 'shortest and safest way to heaven.'
Confirmation
Youth Confirmation is typically celebrated in the spring. Adult Confirmation is arranged through the parish's OCIA program. The website notes that Confirmation is not a 'graduation' from the Church but the sacrament of active, lifelong participation.
Matrimony
Diocesan law requires a six-month preparation period. Couples complete a pre-marital inventory administered by the priest and participate in a Sponsor Couple Program, Engaged Encounter Weekend, or Diocesan Retreat Day. Couples are invited to contact Fr. Piotr or Fr. Joel to begin.
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA — sometimes still referred to as RCIA — is the route for adults seeking baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church. Referenced on the parish site as the path for candidates 16 and older.
Two Churches, One Pastor
St. Mary's and All Saints Parish share a pastor (Fr. Piotr Calik) and increasingly shared parish councils and events. As Fr. Calik himself told the regional press in 2022: 'All Saints and St. Mary's function as separate parishes under one pastor. It's great when people come together to work on a project like this. It brings them closer to God and to each other.'
- St. Mary's Catholic Church — 60 South Street, Ware, MA 01082-1003
- All Saints Catholic Church — 17 North Street, Ware, MA 01082
- Rectory/Office address: 60 South Street, Ware, MA 01082
- Joint annual parish picnic (drawing 300+ attendees)
- Joint parish council meetings
Contact, Office Hours & Cemetery Ministry
The rectory handles general inquiries on Mondays and Wednesdays, and funeral / cemetery inquiries on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two email addresses are listed so that each church's community can write directly to its own parish office.
- Phone: 413-967-4963 (alt. 413-967-5913)
- Email — St. Mary's: [email protected]
- Email — All Saints: [email protected]
- General inquiries: Monday & Wednesday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Funeral & cemetery inquiries: Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30–10:00 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Fux, M.S.1904–1913
First pastor; one of two La Salette missionaries who arrived December 22, 1904 to organize the Polish Catholic community.
- Fr. Oswald Loretan, M.S.1913–1926
La Salette missionary who co-founded the parish with Fr. Fux.
- Fr. Joseph Piszczalka, M.S.1926–1927
- Fr. Michael Kolbuch, M.S.1927–?
- Fr. Walentin Kustosz?–1981
- Fr. Charles Kuzmeski?–2005
- Fr. Jeffrey A. Ballou2005–2019
- Fr. Paul Norman
Listed in regional press as a former pastor of All Saints and St. Mary Parishes; as of 2022 assigned as pastor of St. John Paul II Parish, Adams.
- Fr. Piotr S. Calik2019–present
Also serves as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Springfield.