In 1992, Bishop John Marshall welcomed me into the Diocese of Springfield as a seminarian, having completed Philosophy requirements and the first year of Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. At Bishop Marshall’s request, I completed my studies at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts (now Blessed Pope John XXIII Seminary).
I was ordained by Bishop Thomas Dupre at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield, on July 1st, 1995. Prior to entering the seminary, I had been a teacher of the Hearing Impaired for 16 years and of multiply-handicapped children for 2 years. Not only am I a "late" bloomer in terms of ordination, I am also a convert to Catholicism. While many people seem to think I had been a Methodist minister, this is not true – but my father is!!!
It is with great happiness that I have served the parishes of St. Patrick’s in Chicopee, St. Ann and St. Vincent De Paul in Lenox/Lenoxdale, St. Theresa and St. Anthony – merged to become All Saints Parish – in Agawam, and St. Patrick in South Hadley. Now, I have come full circle, returning to St. Anne’s where I had helped out on a part-time basis during my assignment at St. Patrick in Chicopee.
It is a great joy for me to be here at St. Anne’s where there is, and always has been, a feeling of warmth and "family." We welcome you to join and discover what makes this parish the wonderful place it is to worship and find fellowship and peace.
God bless,
Father Bill
