About St. Patrick · Monson, Massachusetts
St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Monson, Massachusetts, part of the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The parish worships at 22 Green Street and shares its pastoral ministry with neighboring St. Christopher Parish in Brimfield, both served together under a single website (stpatstchris.org). Weekend Masses are offered Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 8:30 AM, with weekday Masses on Tuesday mornings and Friday evenings. The parish runs a CCD religious education program for grades 1–9, including Confirmation preparation, and maintains a wide range of lay ministries and commissions serving the community.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. John J. Brennan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a small-town Catholic parish with deep roots in Monson — its 1863 stone church, built of gneiss from the same local quarry as the U.S. Armory in Springfield, is now a declared National Catholic Historical Site. Parishioners worship together at weekend Masses (Saturday 4 PM and Sunday 8:30 AM), share faith through a robust CCD program that prepares children from Grade 1 through Confirmation (Grade 9), and serve one another through a wide array of lay commissions and ministries including altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, the choir, hospitality, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and the Martha and Mary Bereavement Ministry. The parish is also tied to its longtime pastor, Fr. John J. Brennan, and shares pastoral care with neighboring St. Christopher's in Brimfield.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration following Mass (per calendar; see website for weekly schedule)
About St. Patrick Parish
St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic community at 22 Green Street in Monson, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The parish is administered jointly with St. Christopher Parish in Brimfield under the shared website stpatstchris.org, with one pastor (Fr. John J. Brennan) overseeing both faith communities. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed to any of the weekend or weekday Masses.
Our History
Catholic life in Monson dates to September 8, 1850, when the first Mass was offered in the storeroom of the South Monson "Branch" Mill for about sixty Catholics — many of them Irish laborers building the New London and Northern Railroad. Fr. Patrick Healy was appointed the area's first pastor and soon began raising funds for a permanent church. The land deed was signed Christmas Eve 1862, construction began in early 1863, and the Gothic-style stone church was dedicated on Palm Sunday, March 20, 1864, with Fr. John J. Williams (later Archbishop of Boston) presiding and Fr. James A. Healy preaching. After Monson spent fourteen years as a mission of Palmer, it was erected as a separate parish on September 2, 1878, with Fr. Jeremiah McCarthy as its first pastor. The parish has been declared a National Catholic Historical Site, and in the 20th century it gave rise to two daughter parishes — St. Mary's in Hampden (1951) and St. Christopher's in Brimfield (1953).
- First Mass: September 8, 1850 (Branch Mill storeroom)
- Land deed signed: Christmas Eve, December 24, 1862
- Construction: began early 1863, designed by Keely of New York, built by Trainor Brothers
- Dedicated: Palm Sunday, March 20, 1864
- Established as a parish: September 2, 1878 (Fr. Jeremiah McCarthy, first pastor)
- Declared a National Catholic Historical Site
Architecture & Building
Architect Keely of New York drew the plans for St. Patrick's; he later designed Boston Cathedral. The walls were built of gneiss — a native rock resembling granite — cut from the local Flynt Granite Company quarry, the same quarry responsible for the stone used in the U.S. Armory in Springfield. The original interior featured frescoed walls with Stations of the Cross, Cathedral stained-glass windows, black walnut pews with ash trim, and a Hammond organ in the choir loft. In 1900 a Gothic tower was added, Munich windows installed, and a Carrara marble altar with a Pietà and a statue of Saint Joseph placed in the Sanctuary. On August 6, 1928 a fire starting near the organ destroyed the ceiling and roof; the church was repaired and re-opened within ten months.
- Gothic-style stone church with steeple, clock and bell
- Built of gneiss from the Flynt Granite Company quarry
- 1900 renovations: Gothic tower, Munich windows, Carrara marble altar
- 1928 fire destroyed ceiling and roof; repaired and re-opened by mid-1929
Commissions and Ministries
Parish life at St. Patrick's is organized through several Pastoral Council commissions and a wide variety of lay ministries. The Pastoral Council assists the pastor in planning, organizing, initiating, promoting, coordinating, and reviewing evangelization, worship, religious education, and service activities. Anyone interested in joining a ministry is encouraged to call the Rectory at 413-267-3622.
- Parish Council (Pastoral Council)
- Education Commission
- Spiritual Life Commission
- Commission on Family and Community Concerns
- Buildings and Maintenance Commission
Liturgical Ministries
Lay men and women serve the parish as altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, hospitality ministers, and choir members. The choir, directed by Keith Richardson (who also plays the organ), is made up of both children and adults and shares their musical gifts during both weekend Masses. Eucharistic Ministers assist the priest (and on occasion, a deacon) with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass and bring Communion to the homebound. Hospitality Ministers open doors, warmly greet worshippers, pass the offertory baskets, distribute the bulletin, and clean up between Masses. Lectors are called to proclaim the Word of God at liturgies as a living sign of unity in Christ. Altar servers must have received First Communion and be in third grade or higher.
- Altar Servers (Grade 3+; must have received First Communion)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors (Proclaimers of the Word)
- Hospitality Ministers
- Choir — directed by Keith Richardson
Pastoral Care & Outreach Ministries
Two long-standing outreach ministries bring parishioners together in service to others. The Prayer Shawl Ministry brings together knitters and crocheters who create prayer shawls to give hope, comfort, and healing to those who are ill or in need; requests can be placed in the collection basket labeled "Prayer Shawl Request" or by calling Kathy at 267-4069. The Martha and Mary Bereavement Ministry reaches out to families who have lost a loved one, helping to cook and serve food, and setting up and cleaning up the Parish Hall for funeral receptions, mirroring the way Jesus comforted Mary and Martha.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Martha and Mary Bereavement Ministry
CCD & Religious Education
St. Patrick's runs a robust Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program for children in Grades 1 through 9, including Confirmation preparation in Grade 9. For the 2025–2026 year, classes run from September 21 to May 3, with grades 1–6 meeting Sunday mornings from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM in Columbia Hall and grades 7–9 meeting Sundays from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Daniel Moriarty and Catherine Rioux serve as Confirmation teachers. First Holy Communion is normally received in Grade 2 (after a year of preparation), and Confirmation is conferred after completion of Grade 9.
- Grades 1–6: Sundays, 9:30–10:45 AM in Columbia Hall
- Grades 7–8: Sundays, 5:30–7:00 PM in Columbia Hall
- Grade 9 (Confirmation): Sundays, 5:30–7:00 PM; teachers Daniel Moriarty and Catherine Rioux
- First Communion requirements: Grade 1 CCD, full Grade 2 attendance, memorized prayers, copy of Baptismal Certificate if not baptized at St. Patrick's
- Confirmation date: Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM at St. Patrick's
- Confirmation requirements: attend all special sessions/rehearsals, retreat, choose a saint's name and sponsor, complete community-service hours
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Couples are asked to contact the pastor at least one year in advance of a wedding to begin the Matrimony and Pre-Cana process. Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone who is seriously ill, not only those near death, and home/hospital/nursing-facility visits can be arranged by notifying the parish office. Burial arrangements may be made through a funeral director or the Parish Office.
- Baptism — through parish preparation
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — Grade 2
- Confirmation — Grade 9 (Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 12:30 PM)
- Matrimony — contact pastor one year in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Fr. Jack at 413-267-3622
- Holy Orders — contact Diocese of Springfield Vocations Office at (413) 462-0816
- Liturgy of Christian Burial — through funeral director or Parish Office
Prayer, Devotions & Calendar
In addition to weekday and weekend Masses, the parish calendar lists recurring spiritual activities such as the Miraculous Medal Novena at 8:00 AM (S P), Eucharistic Adoration following Mass on selected days, monthly Saturday-morning church cleanings at 8:30 AM, Spiritual Life Commission and Parish Council meetings, and special events such as the Disciples of Mary presentations and the Catholic Women's Club Craft Fair.
- Miraculous Medal Novena — 8:00 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration following Mass (see calendar)
- Monthly Church Cleaning — Saturdays at 8:30 AM
- Spiritual Life Commission & Parish Council meetings (monthly)
- Disciples of Mary presentations
- Coffee & Donut Hour after Mass (selected Sundays)
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Patrick's by phone at (413) 267-3622 during office hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM). The parish shares its rectory and pastor with St. Christopher Parish, 16 Sturbridge Rd. (Rt. 20), Brimfield, MA (office phone 413-245-7274, office hours Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–2:30 PM). The address is 22 Green St., Monson, MA 01057.
- Address: 22 Green St., Monson, MA 01057
- Parish office: (413) 267-3622
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
- Partner parish: St. Christopher, 16 Sturbridge Rd. (Rt. 20), Brimfield, MA — (413) 245-7274
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Healy1859–1866
First pastor; oversaw the building and 1864 dedication of the stone church; later Vicar General of the new Diocese of Springfield.
- Fr. Jeremiah McCarthySeptember 1878
First pastor after Monson became a separate parish; received appointment letter from Fr. Patrick Healy, V.G.
- Fr. James Kelley1881
- Fr. John Lee1885
- Fr. Thomas O'Keefe1894–1941
Long-tenured pastor; his mother welcomed the first priest to town, Fr. J. J. Dougherty of Springfield.
- Fr. Ralph O'Neill1942
- Fr. Henry Burke1946
During his tenure St. Mary's in Hampden became an independent parish (1951).
- Fr. Henry McCormick1953
Under him, Wales, Holland and Brimfield were separated to form a new union with residence in Brimfield (St. Christopher's, first pastor Fr. William Breen).
- Fr. Richard T. Hoey1955
Retired as Pastor Emeritus in residence; died December 28, 1974.
- Fr. Edward M. Kennedy1964 (Administrator)
- Fr. J. Andrew Grady1967 (Administrator), 1968 (Pastor)
- Fr. Ralph Adair1981 (Administrator)
- Fr. Richard O'Toole1981
- Fr. Clarence Forand1994 (Administrator)
- Fr. Jeddie P. BrooksMay 21, 1994 – October 2013
Oversaw extensive refurbishment, reconstruction, and renovation of parish properties.
- Fr. John J. Brennan2013 to present
Current pastor; oversees both St. Patrick (Monson) and St. Christopher (Brimfield).