June 10, 2018

Our Lady of the Hills Celebrates 150th Anniversary of church building  

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Stephen Kiltonic

 

HAYDENVILLE – It was a few years after the Civil War ended that St. Mary of the Assumption Church was built in Haydenville by Irish immigrants, many of whom came from the Emerald Isle to work in the village’s “Brass Shop,” the name given to the many Hayden family factories that were established in the town of Williamsburg.      

Bishop John Williams of Boston traveled to western Massachusetts to dedicate the new Gothic-style church with Father Patrick Moyce at a high Mass on August 16, 1868 a day after the Feast of the Assumption.

The Springfield Republican newspaper announced that for the occasion, a special train would carry people from Easthampton and Northampton to the services. A dollar was charged for admission.  The Republican noted, “The spire is peculiarly graceful and beautiful” and as such “makes a fine appearance.”

The 150-year anniversary of the church construction was celebrated June 9 at a 4 p.m. Mass at the church, which is now a house of worship for Our Lady of the Hills Parish. The parish was established in 2007 from the merger of St. Mary of the Assumption and St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Leeds.      

The principal Mass celebrant was Springfield Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. Concelebrating priests included St. Mary’s pastor, Father Richard Bondi, as well as former pastors Father Vincent O’Connor, Father Lionel Bonneville, Father Donald Lapointe and Msgr. Ronald Yargeau. Deacon Mark Kolasinski was the master of ceremonies.

In his homily, Bishop Rozanski praised the parish ancestors who built the church and their steadfast faith.

“They wanted to give that faith certain meaning and rootedness, and in doing so, were able to build this beautiful church, never imagining that 150 years later we would be gathering here as God’s people, thanking God for their wisdom and insight and their sacrifice for all they had done and indeed, giving us this beautiful place of worship that has sustained generations,” said the bishop.

Msgr. Yargeau served as pastor of St. Mary’s from 1991 until 2000. He left to become pastor of Holy Trinity in Greenfield. Msgr. Yargeau admits it was hard to leave the Haydenville parish which he called “family.”

“I think it was founded on that. Maybe because it’s considered a country parish – it takes in all of the hill towns around here. Everybody knows one another. When one family is joyful, they’re all joyful. When one family’s in sorrow, they’re all right there. Families, I believe, have always been the hallmark over these 150 years in Haydenville.”

 

Msgr. Yargeau added that the over the years, the parish has become known for its suppers – the turkey dinners in the fall and the roast beef dinners in the spring.

Parishioners recalled that during his tenure, Msgr. Yargeau said “Merry Christmas!” in nine different languages. A talented musician, he also helped parishioners raise $40,000 to purchase a much-needed electronic organ.

“It’s a wonderful gift of us priests to be able to know everybody — their struggles, their joys, their sorrows. That was bittersweet in leaving here but certainly a joy to come back for the 150^th,” Msgr. Yargeau said.

Bernie Bachand, born in 1936, is a lifelong parishioner of St. Mary’s. “I was baptized here, made my first Communion here, made my confirmation here and was married here. Hopefully, they’ll bury me from here.”

Over the years, Bachand has served on various committees and volunteered for events like the 100^thanniversary in 1968 as well as the 150^thanniversary. “This church has always been like a family. Everybody is always so close-knit and they work together. It’s been that way ever since I’ve been here,” said Bachand.

Bachand said the parish has been blessed with many caring pastors, citing Msgr. Yargeau for his faith and support during a particular difficult time when he lost his 22-year-old brother to cancer.

“I’ll always remember him for how close he was to our family. Msgr. Yargeau came to the house. We all joined hands. He said prayers and that really touched my heart for him to come to the house like that when my father and mother needed it,” commented Bachand.

At the conclusion of the Mass, an anniversary banquet was held in the church hall. Here, parishioners were able to purchase a new book on the church’s history written by parishioner Beverly Thomas, who spearheaded the celebration activities. At the banquet, Thomas recognized the nine-member anniversary committee as well as the two oldest active members of the parish – Helen Malloy, 98 and Raymond Elliot, 96.

The church received a Vatican document – an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis — on the occasion of the anniversary. The document was displayed on the altar during the Mass.

The 150^thanniversary celebration concludes in August with a barbecue that includes the Williamsburg Fire Department.   

A video version of this story will be featured in an upcoming edition of the Springfield Diocese’s weekly magazine, “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7pm on WWLP-TV22 NEWS.