March 10, 2022

Novena to St. Patrick begins at St. Jerome Church in Holyoke

REGIONAL
Story and photos by David Martin

HOLYOKE – Faithful pilgrims from the city of Holyoke braved the elements during a late season snowstorm to attend a 12:15 p.m. Novena Mass to St. Patrick at St. Jerome Church, here, on March 9.

The Mass was the first in a series of daily novenas taking place at the church until March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. Father Richard Riendeau, a retired diocesan priest, celebrated the March 9 liturgy. St. Jerome Parish council member Mary Ellen O’Conner said the event represents a collaboration of the three parishes, St. Jerome, Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe, which have newly merged into one parish, but also includes Our Lady of the Cross and Blessed Sacrament parishes in Holyoke.

“We are pleased to have the pastors of both of those parishes as well as priests who have served at St. Jerome and parishes in the city of Holyoke, as well as those who are currently serving here as Mass celebrants during the novena. So, it is a gathering of people of Irish descent, but of all ethnic groups to come together as one during these nine days. It truly is a celebration of Irish and of St. Patrick,” said O’Conner.

O’Conner said people attending the nine-day novena will see familiar celebrants, some who they may not have seen in while because they served in Holyoke in years past. She said is very honored to have Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne leading the novena Mass on March 15 at 12:15 p.m. as celebrant.

Those attending on March 9 prayed the rosary before the beginning of Mass. Sister of St. Joseph Maureen Charest, who is a eucharistic minister at the parish, also gave a Gospel reading during the Mass. She told iObserve that praying to St. Patrick is more important now than ever.

“St. Patrick was a man from another culture and he comes with a great depth of courageous faith. That we are asking people to see the spirtualness of St. Patrick, to pray to him and give him honor, is what our novena is all about – to step back and see this holy man, this preacher, this witness of the faith as a real live person. The heritage of the Irish culture that we celebrate here in Holyoke is of a paramount, faith-filled people,” said Sister Charest.

Sister Charest encourages others to attend over the nine days to experience the novena for themselves and receive the blessing. St. Patrick prayer cards in both English and Spanish were handed out before the Mass. Russell McNiff, chairman of St. Jerome Cemetery, said he is pleased to have many people of different backgrounds and cultures coming together to celebrate the novena under one roof.

 “I think it is important to do it in the mother church of Holyoke, St. Jerome, to go back to tradition and show the people that the church is an integral part of our lives,” said McNiff. “The Irish have been a very integral part of this parish and we have also opened the doors to celebrate everybody in the city of Holyoke and the surrounding communities as well.”

The Masses will take place each weekday at 12:15, while the Saturday Mass on March 12 will take place at 4 p.m. and The Sunday Mass on March 13 will take place at 8 a.m.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.