List of churches, parishes affected

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield Diocesan Planning Committee Recommendations:

Amherst
No change

Belchertown
No change

Bondsville
St. Bartholomew – Closed. The St. Bartholomew parish will merge with the parish of St. Thomas (Palmer).

Brimfield
No change

Chicopee
St. Mary of the Assumption – Closed
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Closed
St. George – Closed
St. Patrick – Closed
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish and the Holy Name of Jesus parish – Merged
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary building will be utilized by Holyoke Catholic High School. The rectory will be retained for use by the pastor of the Holy Name of Jesus parish.

East Longmeadow
No changes

Easthampton
Immaculate Conception, Notre Dame, and Sacred Heart parishes recommended for merger. The new single parish will be renamed. The decision on the merger should be finalized by November 29, 2009

Florence
Our Lady of the Annunciation – Remains open, but changes its status to ‘chapel.’ Consideration will be given toward changing the name of the chapel.

Granby
No change

Hadley
No change

Hatfield
No change

Haydenville
No change

Holyoke
Blessed Sacrament – Remains as a stand alone parish
Immaculate Conception – Remains as a stand alone parish unless the LaSalette order cannot supply a priest. If the religious order leaves, the parish would be recommended for mission status.
Holy Cross and Mater Dolorosa – Link the parishes. Both parishes should be staffed by the Franciscans. The link should last for two years, after which a decision will be made as to the future of both churches.
St. Jerome and Our Lady of Guadalupe – Link the parishes. The link should last for two years, after which a decision will be made as to the future of both churches. The gymnasium at Our Lady of Guadalupe should be retained for use as a community center.

Indian Orchard
Immaculate Conception – Closed. The Immaculate Conception *parish* merges with Christ the King Parish in Ludlow. The Immaculate Conception building will close.
St. Jude’s Parish - Ceases operation as a parish. St. Jude becomes a mission of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish.
St. Jude’s Church - Open. St. Jude’s will continue to offer a limited number of masses/sacraments. Masses in Spanish and in English will be retained at St. Jude’s Mission.

Longmeadow
No changes

Ludlow
St. Mary of the Assumption – Closed. The St. Mary of the Assumption *parish* merges with St. John the Baptist parish, utilizing St. John’s building. The new parish will be serviced by one full-time priest. The new name for the parish is TBD.
Christ the King *parish*– Merges with the Immaculate Conception parish of Indian Orchard. The Immaculate Conception building will close. The newly merged parish will be serviced by one full-time priest, and one part-time priest. The new name for the parish is TBD.

Northampton
Blessed Sacrament – Closed
Sacred Heart – Closed
St. John Cantius – Closed
Our Lady of the Annunciation (Florence) – Remains open, but changes its status to ‘chapel.’ Consideration will be given toward changing the name of the chapel.
St. Mary of the Assumption – Open. A possible name change to the St. Mary’s church is yet to be determined.

Palmer
St. Thomas parish and St. Bartholomew (Bondsville) parish – Merged. The St. Bartholomew church will be closed.
St. Anne (Three Rivers) parish and Sts. Peter and Paul (Three Rivers) parish – Merged. The incorporation of both parishes into one set of buildings has yet to be determined. The Diocesan Planning Committee also recommends changing the name of the newly merged parishes.

South Hadley
St. Patrick parish and St. Theresa of Lisieux parish – Status unchanged. The Diocesan Planning Committee also recommends both parishes to continue to be serviced by one assigned priest each, for the next two years.

Springfield
Our Lady of Hope – Closed. The Our Lady of Hope *parish* merges with the parish of St. Mary, utilizing the St. Mary’s church. The new name of the merged parish is TBD.
Immaculate Conception – Closed. The Immaculate Conception *parish* merges with Christ the King Parish in Ludlow.Holy Family Parish and Church – Closed. The Holy Family rectory will be retained for use as a community outreach center.
St. Jude’s Parish - Ceases operation as a parish. St. Jude becomes a mission of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish.
St. Jude’s Church - Open. St. Jude’s will continue to offer a limited number of masses/sacraments. Masses in Spanish and in English will be retained at St. Jude’s Mission.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – Open (with conditions). The parish will remain open as long as the Stigmatine Order priests are assigned to staff it. The parish would need to be restructured if the religious order priests leave.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and St. Catherine of Siena – Open (with conditions). The Diocesan Planning Committee recommends that both parishes work toward a possible linkage, to be served by one full-time priest. If attendance at both churches continues to drop, then the link between the parishes should occur.
All Souls and Blessed Sacrament – Open (with conditions). The Diocesan Planning Committee recommends that both parishes work toward combining into one parish, utilizing one set of buildings. The rectory of All Souls should remain as residence for the priest(s) serving Blessed Sacrament.

Three Rivers
St. Anne and Sts. Peter and Paul – Merged. The incorporation of both parishes into one set of buildings has yet to be determined. The Diocesan Planning Committee also recommends changing the name of the newly merged parishes.

Ware
No changes