About St. Patrick · South Hadley, Massachusetts
St. Patrick's Catholic Church is a warm, welcoming Roman Catholic parish serving the falls section of South Hadley, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield. Founded in 1867 as a mission of St. Jerome's in Holyoke, it is the oldest Catholic parish in South Hadley and today serves about 1,650 families and over 4,000 parishioners across multiple generations. The parish is known for its homey sanctuary, a long-running Take & Eat weekend meal program that delivers about 95 meals a month to homebound neighbors, and a faithful Catholic community that gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, Adoration, and outreach through Kate's Kitchen, a food pantry, parish nurses, and many other ministries.
- Established
- 1867
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. David Aufiero
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is a multigenerational Catholic family rooted in South Hadley since 1867, where daily and Sunday Mass are livestreamed and the parish volunteers steward programs like Take & Eat (about 95 home-delivered meals a month), Kate's Kitchen, a food pantry, parish nurses, and parish-wide emergency meal support. Its campus includes a sanctuary with a beautiful crucifix, a Social Center for parish suppers and CYO, an attached chapel, St. Rose Cemetery, and a parish school and Religious Education program for K–12. With active liturgical ministries (lectors, extraordinary ministers, ushers/greeters, altar servers, traditional and contemporary choirs), a Ladies Guild, Knights of Columbus Council 1721, scouting, and lively faith formation under DRE Kelly O'Connor, it is a real place to belong — whether your family has been Catholic in South Hadley for generations or you are just returning to the practice of the faith.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM in the Church
- Anytime by appointment (call the rectory)
Adoration times
- Mondays 3:00–4:30 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the Church)
Parish History
St. Patrick's has been a Catholic presence in the falls section of South Hadley since 1867, when Monsignor Patrick J. Harkins established it as a mission of St. Jerome's in Holyoke. The first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day in an unfinished church to just eighteen families. It became a parish in its own right on July 18, 1878 under Rev. David F. McGrath, and the church was eventually moved from North Main Street to its present Main Street home under Rev. Eugene Toher. St. Patrick's mothered St. Anne's in Chicopee (1891) and St. Theresa's (1946, from the Chapel of the Little Flower). Through floods (notably the great 1936 flood), a 1938 hurricane, and a fire, Father Casey and later pastors rebuilt again and again. By 2013 the parish had added decorative evangelist medallions to the sanctuary and a modern Allen electric organ (installed 2012); today it serves over 1,650 families and more than 4,000 parishioners.
- Founded 1867 as a mission of St. Jerome's, Holyoke
- Became a parish July 18, 1878 under Rev. David F. McGrath
- Church physically moved from North Main Street to Main Street in the 1880s
- Mother parish of St. Anne's, Chicopee (1891) and St. Theresa's (1946)
- Survived 1936 flood, 1938 hurricane, and fire — each time rebuilt
- St. Patrick's Social Center opened 1954
- Allen electric organ installed 2012; evangelist medallions added 2013
- Today: 1,650+ families, 4,000+ parishioners
Pastoral Staff
St. Patrick's is led by pastor Father David Aufiero (Diocese of Springfield, ordained 2013), who also serves as Diocesan Director for Recruitment of Vocations and Chaplain to Pope Francis Preparatory School. He is assisted by parochial vicar Father Peter Abengre Ayorogo, a priest of the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga (Ghana) with a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Boston College. Deacon David Bergeron serves as Parish Administrator and Pastoral Minister.
- Pastor: Rev. David Aufiero (ordained 2013, originally from Revere; UMass Amherst 2007 Civil Engineering)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Peter Abengre Ayorogo (ordained July 13, 1985; Ph.D. Philosophy, Boston College)
- Parish Administrator / Pastoral Minister: Deacon David Bergeron (ordained May 20, 2017)
- Director of Religious Education: Kelly O'Connor (joined December 2019; also DRE at Blessed Sacrament, Holyoke since 2014)
- Cantor: Jacob Hartling
- Administrative Assistant: Gwen Blanchard (joined 2010; 4th-generation parishioner)
- Facilities Manager: Tom Vautrin (4th Degree Knight of Columbus, Fairview)
- Parish Safe Environment Coordinator: Ms. Kelly O'Connor
Sacramental Life
The parish celebrates Baptism on the first Sunday of each month at 12:00 noon, with parents asked to contact the rectory to schedule. Children receive First Communion and Confirmation through the parish school and Religious Education program. Confession is heard Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM in the Church, or by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick is celebrated the third Sunday of each month following the 11:00 AM Mass, and Holy Communion can be brought to the homebound by calling the rectory.
- Baptism — first Sunday of each month, 12:00 noon
- First Communion & Confirmation — via Religious Education and parish school
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM in Church, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — third Sunday after the 11:00 AM Mass, or by call
- Marriage — contact parish at least nine months in advance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Patrick's is directed by Kelly O'Connor, who can be reached Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–3:00 PM and Saturdays during scheduled class times at 413-213-6624 ([email protected]). Religious Education classes are held in the Social Center: Sunday 8:00–9:45 AM for Confirmation Prep (Class then Mass), and Sunday 9:00–11:00 AM for Elementary (Mass then Class). All school-age children in grades K–12, in both the parish school and Religious Education programs, receive the diocesan-approved Safe Environment program 'Circle of Grace.' Kelly O'Connor also co-directs CIA (Catholics in Action) Youth Ministry with another parish.
- Director of Religious Education: Kelly O'Connor
- Confirmation Prep: Sundays 8:00–9:45 AM in the Social Center
- Elementary Religious Education: Sundays 9:00–11:00 AM
- CIA (Catholics in Action) Youth Ministry, co-directed by Kelly O'Connor
- Circle of Grace Safe Environment training for grades K–12
- Parish school (K–12) on campus
Liturgical Ministries
St. Patrick's draws more than 100 parishioners into the liturgy each week. Lectors proclaim the scriptures and the general intercessions; Extraordinary Ministers assist the priest and deacon in distributing Holy Communion; Ushers and Greeters welcome worshipers, take up the collection, and distribute bulletins; and Altar Servers (training begins in 3rd grade, usually each February) assist at the altar. The Music Ministry supports the congregation in hymns, psalms, and acclamations, with traditional Choir members rehearsing on Monday evenings in the eight weeks before Christmas and Easter, and a contemporary choir of all ages led by Missy Whitelock singing at the 9:00 AM Mass.
- Lector/Reader
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Usher/Greeter
- Altar Servers (training begins in 3rd grade)
- Music Ministers
- Choir (rehearses Mondays 8 weeks before Christmas and Easter)
- Contemporary Choir led by Missy Whitelock at the 9:00 AM Mass
- Cantor: Jacob Hartling
Community Service & Outreach
St. Patrick's runs two flagship community ministries. The Take & Eat Weekend Meal Program is staffed entirely by 106 church members and friends and currently delivers about 95 meals per month to homebound neighbors (97 on the Sunday before Christmas). Three parish groups also prepare and serve meals at Kate's Kitchen on the second Monday, first Tuesday, and first Thursday mornings of each month. The parish also operates a food pantry (operated by calling 532-2850 between 9 AM and 3 PM), an Emergency Meals program for families in crisis, Habitat for Humanity partnerships with neighboring churches (which have produced two home-ownership opportunities), and parish-nurse wellness work including monthly blood-pressure screenings.
- Take & Eat Weekend Meal Program (~95 meals/month, 106 volunteers)
- Kate's Kitchen meals prepared 2nd Mon, 1st Tue, and 1st Thu mornings
- Parish Food Pantry (call 532-2850 between 9 AM–3 PM)
- Emergency Meals program for families in crisis
- Habitat for Humanity (two home-ownership builds with neighboring churches)
- Parish Nurses and blood-pressure screening (3rd Wed 5–6 PM, Social Center)
- Hospital, Nursing Home & Home Visits (daily Communion visits to Holyoke Hospital)
Parish Organizations
The parish has active fraternal and spiritual organizations that complement its sacramental and outreach life. The Ladies Guild gathers the women of the parish for social and fund-raising activities; Knights of Columbus Council 1721 hosts monthly suppers and breakfasts; Scouting and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) involve many young people; the Spiritual Life Commission works with pastors to provide additional opportunities for parish spiritual growth. St. Patrick's is also a partner in the diocesan-wide Take & Eat program alongside other South Hadley and Granby churches.
- Ladies Guild (social and fund-raising)
- Knights of Columbus Council 1721 (monthly suppers and breakfasts)
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
- Scouting program
- Spiritual Life Commission
- Habitat for Humanity partnership
- Parish Pastoral Council (meets 3rd Tuesday) — contact Jim Foley
- Parish Finance Council (meets 4th Tuesday) — contact Steve Werenski
Facilities & Grounds
The parish campus centers on the Main Street church, famous for surviving floods and fire and for its warm, home atmosphere and a beautiful crucifix. A chapel attached to the rear of the church hosts parish receptions, meetings, and education programs. The Social Center, originally opened in 1954 and renovated under Fathers Boland and Shea, hosts parish suppers, the blood-pressure clinic, Religious Education classes (Sundays in the Social Center), and CYO activities. St. Rose Cemetery, expanded and refenced under Father Price, remains an active parish cemetery. The rectory was re-roofed and re-sided under Father Turner. The parish organ was replaced with an updated Allen electric organ in 2012, and decorative medallions of the four evangelists were added to the sanctuary in 2013.
- Main Street church with attached rear chapel
- St. Patrick's Social Center (opened 1954; renovated 1980s and 2000s)
- St. Rose Cemetery (created 1884 on Michael Lynch's donated land; expanded by Fr. Price)
- Rectory with new roof and siding under Fr. Turner
- Allen electric organ installed 2012
- Four evangelist medallions added to sanctuary 2013
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. David F. McGrathfrom 1878
First resident pastor when the mission became a separate parish on July 18, 1878.
- Rev. Lawrence Dervinfrom 1882
Michael Lynch donated land in 1884, creating St. Rose Cemetery.
- Rev. Eugene Toherfrom ~1885
Moved the church from North Main Street to its current Main Street site; founded St. Anne's in Chicopee as a mission (1891).
- Rev. John F. Conwayfrom 1901
St. Anne's grew under him and became an independent parish in 1912.
- Rev. Dennis Sullivanfrom 1913
Continued parish growth.
- Rev. Humphrey J. Wren1913-1933
Purchased land at Boynton's Curve on Newton Street anticipating Woodlawn/Center expansion.
- Rev. James W. Casey1933-1944
Led the parish through the 1936 flood, 1938 hurricane, and a fire; each time rebuilt.
- Msgr. Martin J. Tracey1944-1950
Built rectory for Little Flower Chapel; that chapel became St. Theresa's parish in 1946.
- Rev. John H. Engstromfrom 1950
Church modernization completed 1952; opened St. Patrick's Social Center in 1954. Died Sept. 25, 1969.
- Rev. Thomas J. Price1969-1982
Brought first Pastoral Ministry team (Srs. Sheila McGuirk & Judy Rosenthal), repositioned the altar, renovated confessionals, expanded St. Rose Cemetery. First Parish Council elected 1973. Died June 2, 1982.
- Rev. Brian Boland1982-1994
Renovated the Social Center; formed the church renovations committee. Welcomed first deacon, John Bledsoe (May 1991). Died March 3, 1994.
- Rev. Richard M. Turner1994-2001
Major Main Street renovations: new steeple, roof, siding, interior paint, carpeting, altar furnishings, plus rectory/garage roofs. Left Dec. 1, 2001.
- Rev. John K. Sheafferfrom December 2001
Established the parish website; appointed Sr. Catherine Ormond as Pastoral Minister. Called in August 2002 to Holyoke Catholic and Cathedral High Schools.
- Rev. William C. RousseauSeptember 2002 - May 2003
Worked with the Spiritual Life Commission; returned to St. Anne's in Chicopee.
- Rev. Thomas M. Sheafrom June 7, 2003
Renovated the Social Center; retired June 2015 after 12 years.
- Rev. James Noltefrom July 2015
Ordained in 2012; named Pastor July 2016; background in law and education.
- Rev. David Aufierocurrent
Ordained 2013, Diocese of Springfield; also Diocesan Director for Recruitment of Vocations and Chaplain to Pope Francis Preparatory School.