December 2, 2018

 Holy Family Parish celebrates renovations with rededication Mass

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

SOUTH DEERFIELD – Holy Family Parish in South Deerfield celebrated the completion of a major renovation to its church, parish hall and rectory with a rededication Mass held Sunday, Dec. 2 at 10:30 am.

“Today we write a new chapter in the history of our parish. This chapter begins with a newly renovated church that fits our identity as Holy Family Parish,” said Father Jonathan Reardon, pastor of Holy Family.

“We may still have ties to other places, but today proves it doesn’t matter where we have been, where we have come from. Here, we have the ability to come together to create a new identity, making this parish community what it is today, truly, a holy family,” Father Reardon said.

It was standing-room-only inside the newly renovated church on Sugarloaf Street as Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski concelebrated the Mass with Father Reardon, former Holy Family pastor Phillip Roux, and Father Barrent Pease. Deacon Rodney Patten also assisted during the Mass.

Father Reardon said after he became pastor in 2015, he noticed that the 105-year-old church and parish properties had deteriorated, in part, because dwindling parish resources hadn’t kept up with the required maintenance.

“The ceiling in the church was literally falling, paint chips falling off the ceiling,” said Father Reardon. “It just kind of snowballed from well, if you’re going to do one thing, you should really look at everything.”    

The renovation campaign, which, he said, was a “parishioner-led endeavor,” began in 2016 with a budget of $350,000.

“We’ve done some fundraiser type of events but it’s been pledges and donations all along. Most people just giving out of the kindness of their heart and matching gifts,” said Father Reardon.

Since then, nearly $450,000 has been raised.

The restoration work began in 2016 with phase one by replacing both the Pope John Paul II Parish Center and rectory roofs as well as the painting of the church exterior. All the exterior glass of the church was replaced and the bottom portions of the stained-glass windows restored.

Phase two of the project began in the summer of 2017 and consisted of the renovation of the interior of the church which included repainting the ceiling and walls, restoring the pews, replacing the flooring and rebuilding the archway over the sanctuary. The original baptismal font was also moved to a more prominent place near the front. In addition, inmates from the Franklin County Jail helped with the exterior painting.

“As far as the renovation, I think it’s beautiful. From the blue ceiling, to the hardwood floors, to the pews, to the altar. It’s really quite stunning and beautiful and I was overwhelmed when I first saw it,” said parishioner John O’Neil, who served on the budget committee.

Several parishioners volunteered their talents in the renovation effort. Rick Rousseau restored the Communion altar rails which were re-purposed from the closed St. James Parish. St. James merged with St. Stanislaus Parish in 2008 to form Holy Family.

Jeremiah Patterson, whose artwork has been exhibited throughout New England, spent over eight months restoring the 14 Stations of the Cross. He designed and painted three-dimensional faux niches behind the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary altar statues. He also created a wooden crucifix which will be erected above the high altar. This was the first time Patterson had created work for a church.

“It allowed me to use talents that I feel are gifts from God,” said Patterson. “Hopefully, for generations to come, people will come to Mass here and look around at the church and they’ll reflect upon our faith.”

In a brief ceremony during Mass, Bishop Rozanski blessed the new crucifix and two other sacred icons:  St. Michael the Archangel and Divine Mercy.

Phase three of the project will complete the renovation and begin next spring when the parking lot will be paved over and air conditioning will be installed in the church. Any monies left over will be put aside for future maintenance so a large campaign will never be needed again.

After the Mass, parishioners gathered at the parish center where an early dinner was served.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-TV22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA