About St. Rose de Lima · Chicopee, Massachusetts
St. Rose de Lima Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Aldenville neighborhood of Chicopee, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. Founded as a mission in 1897 by French-Canadian families, it became a parish in 1909 under founding pastor Rev. Joseph A. Fredette and today remains a welcoming, diverse community in the heart of the Chicopee Plains. The parish offers daily and Sunday Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, religious education, parish bingo, and outreach programs, and its grounds include the church, a parish school (St. Joan of Arc School), and St. Rose Cemetery.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima (Isabel Flores de Oliva)
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Gentile, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts
Why belong here
St. Rose de Lima is a warm, multi-generational parish rooted in French-Canadian Catholic heritage but proudly diverse today — parishioners describe it as 'a church for everybody.' It offers four Sunday Masses (including a 4 PM Vigil and a 4 PM Sunday afternoon Mass), daily weekday Mass, Saturday Confession, two Eucharistic Adoration times a month, religious education, an active St. Joan of Arc School, parish bingo, and outreach such as Heartfelt Meals food delivery. After Chicopee's pastoral reorganization the parish was chosen to remain open to welcome new members, making it a natural home for Catholics looking for an engaged, growing community in the Aldenville / Chicopee Plains area.
Mass times at St. Rose de Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (or by appointment; available in French)
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration (Parish Center): 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
- First Tuesday Adoration (Parish Center): 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
History of Ste. Rose de Lima Parish
Ste. Rose de Lima grew out of the French-Canadian Catholic migration to Chicopee's factory neighborhoods in the late 1800s. After developer Edward M. Alden set aside land in 1897, the chapel was built by Marcele Croteau, blessed by Bishop Beaven in 1898, and formally became a parish in 1909 under founding pastor Rev. Joseph A. Fredette. The parish built its current church in 1952–53 under Bishop Weldon and marked its 100th anniversary with a year-long centennial celebration culminating in 2009.
- 1897 — Mission established by Rev. Hormisdas Hamelin for 75 French-Canadian families
- April 17, 1898 — First Mass in the wooden chapel
- October 30, 1898 — Solemn benediction by Bishop Thomas Beaven; 34 children confirmed
- December 8, 1909 — Rev. Joseph A. Fredette becomes founding pastor
- 1914 — Six school rooms opened above the chapel; 178 children register
- November 23, 1952 / January 29, 1953 — Ground broken and construction begins on the current church ($492,895)
- July 2, 1953 — Cornerstone blessed and sealed by Bishop Christopher Joseph Weldon
- 2000 — Air conditioning, new sound system, and energy-efficient school windows installed
- 2001 — Pastoral offices moved into the new 'Pastoral Center' in the former convent; parish website launched
- June 2005 — Rev. William A. Tourigny succeeds Msgr. Leo Leclerc as pastor
- 2009 — Centennial year: monthly events, Centennial Mass with Bishop McDonnell and Bishop Emeritus McGuire
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor, two deacons, a pastoral minister, a religious education director, a bookkeeper, a secretary, a facilities manager, and a bingo coordinator. Contact emails are published in the weekly bulletin.
- Rev. Robert Gentile, Jr. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Mike Trznadel ([email protected])
- Deacon Dan Prats ([email protected])
- Julie Prats — Pastoral Minister ([email protected])
- Maredith Haesaert — Religious Education ([email protected])
- Paul Samson / Chris Reichelt — Bookkeeper
- Sue Gelinas — Secretary ([email protected])
- Chris McDaniel — Bingo ([email protected])
- Kurt Laplante — Facilities Manager
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the usual sacraments of initiation and healing; baptisms are held on the last Sunday of the month and Reconciliation is offered weekly. Couples should contact the parish office to begin marriage preparation.
- Baptism — last Sunday of the month
- First Communion and Confirmation — through the Religious Education program and St. Joan of Arc School
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:15–3:45 PM or by appointment
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick / Pastoral Care — via the Pastoral Minister
Religious Education & St. Joan of Arc School
Faith formation for parish children is run through the Religious Education office, and the parish school on Grattan Street is operated as St. Joan of Arc School under Principal Mrs. A. Mahan. Together they serve as the principal formational ministries of the parish.
- Religious Education Director: Maredith Haesaert ([email protected])
- St. Joan of Arc School — 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 — (413) 533-1475
- Principal: Mrs. A. Mahan
- Sacramental preparation runs through both the school and the parish RE program
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond liturgy, the parish runs a number of pastoral and outreach ministries that serve both parishioners and the wider Chicopee community — including a food-delivery outreach, pastoral care for the homebound, and parish bingo in the handicap-accessible Church Hall.
- Pastoral Ministry / Pastoral Care (Julie Prats)
- Heartfelt Meals — food delivery outreach for those in need (contact Fr. Bob)
- Parish Bingo — Saturday nights in the Church Hall (Early Bird 6:00 PM; handicap accessible)
- AA Meetings — Tuesdays 7:30–8:30 PM in the Church Hall
- Parish Council and Building Committee
St. Rose Cemetery
St. Rose Cemetery is owned and operated by the parish as part of its campus of ministries. The cemetery is located on Olsen Street in Chicopee, with its mailing address going through the parish office.
- St. Rose Cemetery — Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020
- Mailing address: 15 Chapel St, Chicopee, MA 01020
- Cemetery Superintendent: Juan Hernandez
- Cemetery phone: (413) 536-6298
Visiting & Practical Information
The parish church is at 600 Grattan Street, with parish offices at 15 Chapel Street. The Chapel Street entrance, near the elevator, is the recommended way into the church for the Saturday Rosary and other services. Office hours are published in the bulletin.
- Church address: 600 Grattan St, Chicopee, MA 01020
- Mailing / Pastoral Center: 15 Chapel St, Chicopee, MA 01020
- Phone: (413) 536-4558 — Fax: (413) 534-9130
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Church Hall is handicap accessible
- Bulletin deadline: Mondays by noon
- Latest bulletin and weekly schedule available at sterose.org and via the Facebook page (facebook.com/SteRoseChicopee)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph A. Fredette1909–
Founding pastor; established the parish in 1909 from the 1897 mission and set up the original school rooms above the chapel in 1914.
- Rev. Charles N. Fortin1952/1953
Designated pastor of the new (current) church during construction; named in the 1953 cornerstone inscription.
- Rev. Msgr. Leo A. Leclercretired 2005
Beloved longtime pastor whose retirement in 2005 was marked with parish tributes; attended the 2009 Centennial Mass.
- Rev. William A. TourignyJune 2005–
Succeeded Msgr. Leclerc; oversaw new church roof, removal of front fencing, and new landscaping.
- Rev. Robert Gentile, Jr.
Current pastor.