About St. Peter & St. Casimir · Westfield, Massachusetts
St. Peter and St. Casimir Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Westfield, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. It was formed in 2003 by the merger of two earlier Westfield congregations — the Slovak-heritage St. Peter Parish (whose 1916 church at 24 State Street is retained) and the Lithuanian-heritage St. Casimir Parish — and now serves as one of several collaborative Catholic parishes in greater Westfield alongside neighboring Holy Trinity, St. Mary's, and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. The parish offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, daily morning Mass Monday and Tuesday, Saturday confessions, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, and a Confraternity Prayer Line. It shares clergy and ministry with neighboring parishes under the wider Westfield Catholic community.
- Established
- 2003 (merger; St. Peter Parish founded 1916; St. Casimir Parish founded 1915/1918)
- Patron
- St. Peter (Apostle) and St. Casimir of Poland/Lithuania (1458–1484, patron of Lithuania and Poland)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Onuegbu (Administrator, as of the August 2025 parish bulletin); Rev. Stanley Sokol (Provisional Priest); previously pastored by Rev. Jonathan Reardon (Sept. 2024 onward) and Rev. John Salatino before him
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Peter and St. Casimir is a small, historic parish that keeps the prayer and Eucharistic life close to the rhythms of a family community: a Saturday Vigil Mass, Sunday Mass, daily Mass on Monday and Tuesday mornings, weekly Tuesday Eucharistic Adoration with confession on the first Tuesday, Saturday confessions, and a Confraternity Prayer Line. As its mission statement puts it, 'As a Roman Catholic Family, with the Eucharist as our center, we draw strength and dedicate ourselves to praise God through prayer, worship and service.' Newcomers are drawn by its bilingual Slovak-Lithuanian heritage and by its active ministries — Children's Liturgy of the Word, Music Ministry, a Soup Kitchen take-and-eat outreach, altar serving, a Prayer Line, and a St. Vincent de Paul chapter.
Mass times at St. Peter & St. Casimir
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM (and by appointment)
- First Tuesday of the month 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (with Holy Hour beginning at 3:00 PM, Confession 6:00 PM and Benediction 7:00 PM)
- Mondays 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Parish History: Two Immigrant Churches, One Family
St. Peter and St. Casimir Parish carries the legacy of two Westfield congregations founded by Central European immigrants in the early 20th century. Slovak families pooled their savings to dedicate St. Peter's Church on August 27, 1916, while Lithuanian families — many contributing 25 cents a month from 1905 — built their social hall on William Street in 1915 and completed St. Casimir Church on Parkside Avenue in 1917, opening it for Mass in 1918. Both groups came to Westfield to preserve their Catholic faith and worship in their own language.
- 1916: St. Peter's Church dedicated by Bishop Thomas Beaven at 24 State Street
- 1915: St. Casimir Parish established; cornerstone laid 1917; opened for Mass 1918
- 2003 (June 8): Merger — St. Casimir closes; combined parish forms on State Street
- 2017: Centenary Mass celebrated by Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, '100 Years of Faith, Hope and Love'
Our Patrons
The parish is united under the patronage of St. Peter, the Apostle and first Pope (feast June 29), and St. Casimir (1458–1484), the Polish-Lithuanian prince honored as patron saint of Lithuania and Poland (feast March 4). Together the two patron saints reflect the combined Slovak and Lithuanian heritage of the founding congregations.
- St. Peter — Apostle, first Pope; feast June 29
- St. Casimir — 15th-century Polish-Lithuanian prince; patron of Lithuania and Poland; feast March 4
Sacraments
Parish staff and deacons prepare parishioners for the sacraments of Christian initiation, marriage, and anointing. Parents preparing for Baptism and couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish office well in advance.
- Baptisms: contact the parish office for an appointment prior to making any arrangements
- Weddings: contact the parish office at least one year in advance
- Anointing of the Sick: call the parish office if a parishioner is seriously ill, hospitalized, or planning surgery
- Baptismal Preparation led by Deacon Andrew
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Peter and St. Casimir runs a wide array of lay-led ministries coordinated under the larger Westfield Catholic collaboration. These include liturgical service ministries, music programs for adults and youth, faith formation for children, men's and women's groups, and outreach to the homebound and the wider Westfield community.
- Altar Servers (Scheduling – Melissa Trzasko; Training – Deacon Andrew)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word – Sue Fratini
- EMs and Readers (Scheduling – Beth Modlish)
- Homebound / Pastoral Care – Mary
- Music Ministry: Adult & Youth Choir (Melanie Peetz); Contemporary Group 'Psalm 33' (Tom Fucci, Tom Layman, Sara Miller)
- Soup Kitchen / Take & Eat – Cheryl Wood
- Wedding Rehearsals – Kathy Harrington
- Prayer Line – Diane Wright (568-9754)
- Parish Outreach – Mary Federici
- St. Joseph Movement
- Volunteer Workers – Fr. Dan
- TMIY Men's Group – Deacon Andrew
- Youth Ministry / JPII Crew – Lisa Laferriere
- Faith Formation / Religious Education – Lisa Laferriere (Director); Sharon Czarnecki
- Rosary Sodality of St. Peter & Casimir – Sharon Wielgus
- Ministry to the Sick and Homebound – Annette Perry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
Clergy & Staff
Following the departure of Fr. Jonathan Reardon (who was named pastor of the three Westfield parishes in September 2024), the August 2025 joint bulletin lists Rev. Paul Onuegbu as Administrator and Rev. Stanley Sokol as Provisional Priest, with Deacon Kevin Kriesak assisting at the parish.
- Rev. Paul Onuegbu — Administrator
- Rev. Stanley Sokol — Provisional Priest
- Deacon Kevin Kriesak
Visiting & Parish Office
The parish's historic worship site is the 1916 Slovak church at 24 State Street in downtown Westfield. The collaborative parish office, shared with Holy Trinity Parish, is located at 335 Elm Street, Westfield. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed Friday) or by appointment, per the joint bulletin.
- Church: 24 State Street, Westfield, MA 01085
- Parish Office: 335 Elm Street, Westfield, MA 01085
- Phone: (413) 568-5421
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM (closed Friday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jonathan Reardon2024–(approx. 2025)
Appointed by Bishop Byrne; originally from North Adams; ordained 2008; previously Holy Family, South Deerfield and Holy Name, Springfield; also chaplain of St. Mary's High School.
- Rev. John Salatino2019–2024
Preceded Reardon as pastor of the three Westfield parishes; gifted stained glass for St. Mary's High School chapel before departing for St. Mark Parish, Pittsfield.
- Rev. William H. Wallisat least by 2017
Pastor at time of the 2017 centennial celebration of the founding parishes.