September 6, 2020

Holyoke parishes announce establishment of the Catholic Collaborative of Holyoke

REGIONAL
Staff report

A composite image shows photos of St. Jerome Church (left) and Sacred Heart Church, now the site of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (right). (Catholic Communications file photos)

HOLYOKE – Three Holyoke parishes have announced this weekend, Sept. 5 and 6, the establishment of the Catholic Collaborative of Holyoke. The announcement, issued by Fathers Yerick Mendez and Mark Stelzer, was made at all weekend Masses at Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and St. Jerome parishes.

“The Catholic Collaborative of Holyoke will provide the necessary organizational framework for our three parishes to share worship space and other resources as we await the appointment of a new bishop and possible canonical action that would formally merge Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish with Saint Jerome Parish and establish Immaculate Conception Parish as a mission of the merged parish,” they wrote in the joint announcement.

Just a month ago, with permission from then apostolic administrator, Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, discussions began on how the three parishes might come together.

In addition to establishing the collaborative, it was also announced that they have agreed to a new Mass schedule for the three parishes effective the first weekend of October.  This will result in all liturgies being celebrated at Immaculate Conception and St. Jerome churches.  

In March 2017, after falling plaster resulted in the closing of Sacred Heart Church, the worship space for Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Masses there were moved into the chapel and parish gym. These Masses will now be consolidated into the other worship sites.

Although the parishes will share worship space, they will remain as separate parish entities. Father Mendez will continue to serve as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Immaculate Conception parishes, and Father Mark Stelzer will continue to serve as administrator of St. Jerome Parish. The statement noted that the parishes will remain financially autonomous.

Immaculate Conception Church, Holyoke (Catholic Communications file photo)

Fathers Mendez and Stelzer told iObserve that, “The Catholic Collaborative of Holyoke will ensure a continued and vibrant presence of our church in the Flats, South Holyoke, Churchill, and downtown Holyoke neighborhoods.” 

The new Mass schedule effective Oct. 3 will be as follows:

Immaculate Conception Church – Saturday 6 p.m. (Spanish) Sunday 8 a.m. (English) 10:30 a.m. (Spanish) Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m. (English) Friday 7 p.m. (Spanish)
First Friday of the Month: 8:30 a.m. (English).

St. Jerome Church –  Saturday 4 p.m. (English) Sunday 8 a.m. (English) Sunday 9:30 a.m. (English) 11:45 a.m. (Spanish)
Mon-Friday 12:15 p.m. (English).

The following is a link from a previous story on the Catholic Collaborative of Holyoke:
https://iobserve.org/2020/08/09/holyoke-parishes-to-explore-coming-together-creating-new-faith-community/