June 29, 2021

Bishop Byrne announces decree to merge three parishes in Holyoke

REGIONAL
Staff report

Immaculate Conception Church, Holyoke (Catholic Communications file photo)

HOLYOKE – Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne has issued a “decree and order” merging Our Lady of Guadalupe and Immaculate Conception parishes in Holyoke into St. Jerome Parish, also in Holyoke. This reconfiguration will take place Aug. 15, 2021. The “decree” along with the supporting documents have been posted on www.diospringfield.org.

The merger came at the direct request of the parishes involved and was the result of many years of discussion between the three faith communities.

“We bring together diverse communities into one family of faith,” said Bishop Byrne. “I congratulate Father Mark (Stelzer) and all the lay people who worked so hard to bring this to a successful conclusion.”

Last fall, the three parishes came together to form the Catholic Collaborative of Holyoke, to share worship space and resources.

“Since July 2020, our three parishes have worked closely in preparation for our formal merger on August 15. Parish leaders are convinced that the reconfiguration they have proposed will foster a stronger sense of community and promote a better sharing of resources,” said Father Stelzer, administrator of St. Jerome Parish.

“The truly wonderful thing about this merger is that the request to merge came from parish leaders and was not imposed on parishioners by diocesan leadership. The entire process by which the Holyoke merger came about reflects the type of collaboration that builds stronger parishes and a more vibrant church,” he said.

In October 2020, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish began worshiping at St. Jerome Church on Hampden Street. Its former place of worship, Sacred Heart Church, was closed in March 2017 when plaster began falling from the ceiling.  At that time, Masses were moved into the chapel and parish center. The former Sacred Heart Church building had been the worship space of Our Lady of Guadalupe since 1999 after Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church burned down.

Pictured in a composite photo are St. Jerome (left) and Sacred Heart churches in Holyoke. (Catholic Communications file photos)

The new merger will allow for Masses to be celebrated at St. Jerome Church and Immaculate Conception Church on North Summer Street, which will be retained as a chapel.

All sacramental records for the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes will be moved to St. Jerome’s parish office as will be the sacramental records for three other former Holyoke parishes, Precious Blood, Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

A new pastor/administrator will be named to lead the newly merged parish.

St. Jerome Parish is the oldest Catholic parish in Holyoke, opening in 1854.

The Mass schedule is as follows:

Immaculate Conception Chapel – Saturday, 8:30 a.m. (English); Saturday, 6 p.m. (Spanish); Sunday, 8 a.m. (English); and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. (Spanish); Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. (English), eucharistic adoration following Mass

St. Jerome Church – Saturday, 4 p.m. (English); Sunday, 8 a.m. (English); Sunday, 9:30 a.m. (English), Sunday, 11:45 a.m. (Spanish); Monday-Friday 12:15 p.m. (English); Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 7:45 a.m. (English); Friday, 7 p.m. (Spanish), eucharistic adoration and confessions before Mass.