Sacred Heart Parish, Greenfield

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish was a parish of the Roman Catholic Church designated for Polish immigrants in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Founded 1914,[1] it was one of the Polish-American Roman Catholic parishes in New England in the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts. The diocese closed the parish in 2009.

Sacred Heart Parish
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42°35′5.8″N 72°36′3.3″W / 42.584944°N 72.600917°W / 42.584944; -72.600917
LocationDeerfield Street
Greenfield, Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
Founded1914 (1914)
Founder(s)Polish immigrants
DedicationSacred Heart
Administration
DivisionRegion 5
ProvinceBoston
DioceseSpringfield in Massachusetts
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. Timothy A. McDonnell
Pastor(s)Rev. Stanley Aksamit

History

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The Greenfield Polish community had become well established by 1910, the church beginning to offer mass in the Polish language. The parish grew large enough by 1920 to support and establish their own church facility.[2] A survey of Polish parishes taken during World War II showed 944 members of the community, with 153 members serving in the military and four having died during military service.[3]

Though the parish closed in 2009, the community still honored the church with several celebrations in 2011.[4] After closing, the parish was joined with the "Our Lady of Peace" parish community.[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ "History of White Eagle Society". White Eagle Society of Greenfield Massachusetts. 2001. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  2. ^ Woll, Kris. "Through the City, To these Fields: Eastern European Immigration". University of Massachusetts. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  3. ^ "Polish Parishes in the US - 1944". Polish Genealogical Society of America. 2011. Archived from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "Board of License Commissioners". Town of Greenfield. May 31, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  5. ^ Aksamit, Stanley (2009). "Montague Catholic Social Ministries: A Look Back". Montague Catholic Social Ministries home page. Montague Catholic Social Ministries. Retrieved February 2, 2012.

Sources

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