August 9, 2016

Mill River Church celebrates 150 years

Regional
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

MILL RIVER – On Aug. 7, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Mission celebrated an historic milestone: the 150^thanniversary of its church building.

Many former members journeyed to Mill River, a village of New Marlborough, to join current members at the 150^th anniversary Mass which was concelebrated by Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski; Father Bruce Teague,  administrator of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Hills in Monterey and  of Our Lady of the Valley in Sheffield; Father John Lis, pastor emeritus of Immaculate Conception who served as pastor from 2001-2008; and Father Geoffrey Deeker, a Stigmatine priest in residence at St. Joseph Parish in Pittsfield.

Immaculate Conception, which is the “Mother Church” and mission of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Sheffield, was built in 1866 in fulfillment of a vow by Father Peter Menietti, a young Italian priest. While he lay ill and near death in his native land, Father Menietti professed that if God restored his health, he would “cross the seas to a new country and build a church in honor of the Blessed Virgin.” It was 10 years earlier that Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

Cured of his illness, Father Menietti soon arrived in Great Barrington, where in 1864, he was appointed the first parish priest of St. Peter’s. Many of the laborers recruited by Berkshire businessmen to work the many mills were of Irish descent. When Mill River became a flourishing paper manufacturing center, a church was needed  for the Irish Catholics to worship. Father Menietti contributed the first $100 toward the $5,500 it took to construct the church. Other parishioners and non-parishioners also contributed money and Immaculate Conception Church was completed on Aug. 5, 1866.

Unfortunately, Father Menietti’s health failed again and after two years, he returned to Italy. But over the years, many founding parishioners and their families remained. Their descendants still can be found in the current church register.

“The people who gather today are really the spiritual sons and daughters of those founders and we really feel that bond with them, that those who have gone before us helped to pass the faith along in generations,” said Bishop Rozanski who spoke with several parishioners whose great, great grandparents helped established the church. “What a wonderful continuity to have here in Mill River.”

John Wrinkle, a parishioner, is a descendant of Timothy Wrinkle, who emigrated with his family from Dublin in the 1830s to work the mills. The first Catholic Mass in Mill River was held at Timothy Wrinkle’s home sometime in the 1840s. Wrinkle, who grew up in Mill River, said that when a new roof was added several years ago, the engineer who inspected the roof for its structural integrity commented that “this place is built just like an old mill. It’s so sturdy.” 

“It’s still the same as it was then,” commented Wrinkle as to the workmanship of the Irish. Although there have been renovations to the church over the years, the basic building structure has survived a century and a half of New England storms.   

Hugh Fitzpatrick, a former parishioner who grew up in New Marlborough, came from his home in Connecticut to attend the Mass. His grandparents and relatives were also some of the original parish founders. “I always admired my father, especially for having a very strong faith. It did pass down to us. I’m very grateful that it did. We have three boys and two girls, and every one of them the faith has been passed down to them. In this day and age that’s not an easy task,” said Fitzpatrick.

During the Mass, a document from Pope Francis with his blessing of the church was unveiled, along with an oil painting of Immaculate Conception Church by Margaret Buchte. After Mass, a luncheon reception hosted by the anniversary planning committee was held at the American Legion Hall in Sheffield.