St. Patrick Chapel

About St. Patrick Chapel & Saint Agnes Catholic Community

St. Patrick Chapel at 48 Church Street in Hinsdale, MA is one of two worship sites of Saint Agnes Catholic Community, whose main parish church is St. Agnes in Dalton. Together they serve the Hilltowns of Berkshire County. The community describes itself as 'a faith filled, welcoming parish that seeks to give glory to God through prayer, worship and service.' The parish office is at 489 Main Street, Dalton, MA 01226 (phone 413-684-0125; fax 413-684-0734), pastored by Fr. Brian McGrath.

History of St. Patrick's and the Catholic Church in the Berkshires

St. Patrick's was one of the pioneer Catholic mission churches of the Berkshires, built in 1852 by Father Patrick Cuddihy to serve Catholics from Hinsdale, Dalton, Peru, Washington, Middlefield, Becket and Windsor. Before its construction, local Catholics walked or rode nine miles to St. Joseph's in Pittsfield — sometimes over Tully Mountain in bad weather — for Mass and sacraments. In 1868 Hinsdale was elevated to parish status, with the Rev. A. Romano as first resident pastor, followed by Father Daniel J. Cronin. Father Cronin then founded St. Agnes Parish in Dalton (built 1881–82, dedicated by Bishop P. O'Reilly on October 22, 1882, the same afternoon he confirmed a class of 200 at St. Patrick's — the last service for Dalton communicants there). St. Agnes became a parish in its own right in 1907. Today the two parishes operate together as Saint Agnes Catholic Community.

• 1835 — First Catholic Mass in Berkshire County said by Rev. Jeremiah O'Callahan at the Daly home on Honasada Street, Pittsfield
• 1852 — Father Patrick Cuddihy builds St. Patrick's Church in Hinsdale, St. Peter's in Great Barrington (1853), and St. Mary's in Lee (1856)
• 1861 — Father Edward H. Purcell establishes a Catholic mission in Dalton (Mass in private homes, schools, Town Hall)
• 1868 — Hinsdale elevated to a parish; Rev. A. Romano first resident pastor; followed by Father Daniel J. Cronin
• 1881–82 — St. Agnes Church built in Dalton (architect F. W. Ford of Boston; builder Charles McKay of Springfield; cost $10,500 / $17,000 with furnishings)
• 1907 — St. Agnes elevated from mission to parish under Father Cronin
• 1937 — New St. Patrick's Church under construction to replace the original 1852 building

Live-Stream, Recordings & Outreach to the Homebound

Saint Agnes Catholic Community live-streams daily Masses at 8:30 AM (Monday–Friday) and weekend Masses on Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, and 5:30 PM (September–June). Recorded Masses — including daily Masses, weekend Masses, weddings, confirmations, baptisms, Stations of the Cross, funerals, and other special occasions — are posted on the parish website and can be downloaded. The Saturday 4:00 PM Mass is also televised LIVE on Dalton and Pittsfield Cable TV Channel 1301 as an outreach to the homebound. The parish offers hearing-assist devices (kept in the sacristy) for those who have difficulty hearing Mass.

• Daily live-stream Mass: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM
• Weekend live-stream: Sat 4:00 PM; Sun 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 5:30 PM (Sep–Jun)
• Televised Saturday Mass on Dalton/Pittsfield Cable Channel 1301
• Recorded Mass archive on the parish website (daily, weekend, weddings, funerals, special events)
• Hearing assist devices available in the sacristy

Parish Staff & Clergy

Saint Agnes Catholic Community (which includes St. Patrick Chapel) is pastored by Fr. Brian McGrath and served by two active deacons and one retired deacon, plus lay staff for faith formation, youth ministry, the parish school, and parish operations.

• Pastor — Rev. Brian McGrath ([email protected])
• Deacon Richard Radzick ([email protected])
• Deacon George Morrell ([email protected])
• Deacon Sean Mulholland — Retired ([email protected])
• Academy Principal — Lisa Stankiewicz ([email protected])
• Director of Faith Formation — Karen Chrostowski ([email protected])
• Director of Office of Faith Formation — Lisa Stankiewicz ([email protected]; 413-684-1803)
• Youth Minister — Paula Curti ([email protected])
• Business Manager — Nancy Skwira ([email protected])
• Parish Office / Pastoral Center — 513 Main Street, Dalton, MA 01226 (Faith Formation mailing address)

St. Agnes Academy (Parish School)

St. Agnes Academy, located at 30 Carson Avenue in Dalton, is the parish's Massachusetts-accredited Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through Grade 8. As a community ministry of Saint Agnes Catholic Community, the school shares in the educational and faith-formation mission of the parish that includes St. Patrick Chapel in Hinsdale.

• Massachusetts-accredited Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic school
• Address: 30 Carson Avenue, Dalton, MA
• Principal: Lisa Stankiewicz

Faith Formation, Youth Ministry & OCIA

Faith Formation at Saint Agnes Catholic Community serves students from kindergarten through high school and adults preparing for the sacraments. K–8 CCD classes meet on Sundays from 10:45 to 11:45 AM. Life Teen (the parish youth ministry) follows the Sunday 5:30 PM Life Teen Mass during the academic year. Confirmation preparation for Grades 9 and up meets three times a month from 6:15 to 7:45 PM. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church participate in OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA).

• St. Agnes CCD (K–8): Sundays, 10:45–11:45 AM
• Life Teen: Sunday evenings following the 5:30 PM Life Teen Mass
• Confirmation Preparation (Grades 9+): three times a month, 6:15–7:45 PM
• OCIA / RCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (for adults 18+ seeking sacraments)
• Youth Support ministry

Knights of Columbus & Community Life

Knights of Columbus Council #411 is a parish-affiliated fraternal organization of Catholic men that supports Saint Agnes Catholic Community through works of charity, faith, and service. The parish also organizes fellowship events such as a three-day, two-night bus trip to Lancaster, PA (Sight and Sound Theatre, Amish countryside, Kitchen Kettle Village, and an Amish home dinner) — typical of the community-building activities the parish offers to parishioners from both Dalton and Hinsdale.

• Knights of Columbus Council #411
• Parish bus trips and community fellowship events
• Annual parish appeals, including the Beacon of Faith Campaign
• Parish Online Giving

Sacraments

The parish celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments — Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation (youth and adult), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funeral Masses — with Reconciliation (Confession) heard Saturday afternoons at St. Patrick Chapel before the Vigil Mass and by appointment at the parish office. Confirmation for youth is celebrated in Grade 9 or older, with adult Confirmation available through the OCIA process.

• Baptism
• First Eucharist / First Communion
• Confirmation (youth Grade 9+; adults via OCIA)
• Marriage / Weddings
• Anointing of the Sick
• Funeral Masses
• Confession: Saturdays 5:15–5:45 PM at St. Patrick Chapel; by appointment

Visiting St. Patrick Chapel

St. Patrick Chapel sits at 48 Church Street in the small town of Hinsdale in northern Berkshire County, Massachusetts (ZIP 01235). It is the Saturday-evening and weekday-Mass worship site of Saint Agnes Catholic Community; Sunday morning Masses (8:00 AM and 10:00 AM) and the 5:30 PM Life Teen Mass (September–June) are celebrated at St. Agnes Church at 489 Main Street, Dalton. Parking is available on site at the chapel, and hearing-assist devices are available in the sacristy.

• Address: 48 Church Street, Hinsdale, MA 01235
• Phone: (413) 655-2208
• Parish office / mailing address: 489 Main Street, Dalton, MA 01226 (Phone 413-684-0125; Fax 413-684-0734)
• Hearing assist devices available in the sacristy
• Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:30 PM is the main Sunday-obligation Mass at St. Patrick's