May 15, 2026

Franciscans to leave two parishes, both will remain open with diocesan priests

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD — The Our Lady of the Angels Province of the Conventual Franciscan Friars has informed the Diocese of Springfield of its decision to withdraw from two parishes it has staffed for a combined 200 years.

In announcements made on the weekend of May 9-10, at both Our Lady of the Cross Parish in Holyoke and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Chicopee, parishioners were informed the Franciscans would depart this summer.

The Franciscans will remain at St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee and at Our Lady of Fatima in Ludlow.

In a letter to both of the parishes that the Franciscans will vacate, Bishop William D. Byrne reflected on the departure of the friars.

“While we are saddened by this departure, we are deeply grateful for their faithful presence and many years of devoted service that they have given to our parishes in the diocese. The Franciscan Friars have been a true blessing – preaching the gospel, serving the poor and building a spirit of community rooted in the example of Saint Francis,” stated the bishop.

In Holyoke, the Franciscans first arrived at Mater Dolorosa Parish in 1896 to minister to the growing Polish immigrant community. This parish was a sacred space, where they could worship together, maintaining their rich Polish customs and culture.

As part of a diocesan-wide consolidation of parishes and in an effort to preserve Polish customs and Polish language Masses in Holyoke, Mater Dolorosa Parish was merged with Holy Cross Parish to form Our Lady of the Cross Parish in 2011. Parishioners have since worshiped at Holy Cross Church, while maintaining Mater Dolorosa School. The Franciscans agreed to stay on to staff the new parish.

The decision, however was very controversial and never fully accepted by the former Mater Dolorosa Parish community.

In 1925, 90 Polish families from Chicopee and Holyoke sought to establish another Polish language parish in the Willimansett section of Chicopee. With permission from the diocese the Franciscans purchased 15 acres and staffed the new parish dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua in 1926. In 2009, it was announced that the nearby parishes of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Mary of Assumption were to be merged with St. Anthony’s. The Franciscans continued to staff the parish, which in the last16 years also welcomed members of the Latino community.

Bishop Byrne stressed that no parishes or churches would be closed as a result of the Franciscans’ departure. 

On Aug. 1, Our Lady of the Cross will welcome Father Michael Pierz as its pastor.  Father Pierz serves as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Springfield and is the pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Greenfield.  Father John Williams will become the administrator of Blessed Trinity.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish will also remain open, and is expected to welcome even more Latino Catholics.  Father Jose Siesquen Flores, administrator of Blessed Sacrament/All Souls Parish in Springfield will continue there, while also serving as administrator of St. Anthony’s.

In his letter, Bishop Byrne said, “the Franciscans’ legacy will remain a lasting part of these two parishes.”