Parishioners Saddened by Pittsfield Church Closings

By Larry Kratka09:20AM / Monday, February 11, 2008Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD - As you may expect, reaction to the announced closing of six Catholic churches in Pittsfield over the weekend was one of shock and sadness.

For most parishioners at Mount Carmel for Mass, they were looking around at a parish that most of them had spent their entire lives in. By the time Sunday morning Mass started, just about everyone knew about the closing but it was a different story at the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday when parishioners were read a letter from Bishop Timothy McDonnell.

The churches are All Souls' Mission, Holy Family, Mount Carmel, St. Francis', St. Mary's and St. Teresa's at 290 South St. There closure will leave only four Catholic churches in Pittsfield. The diocese's Mullin Report, a strategic planning guide released last year, had recommended closing two churches.

One woman attending Mass said she was baptized at Mount Carmel 70-something years ago, married at Mount Carmel and held the funeral for her husband at Mount Carmel. Her children and grandchildren were all baptized and confirmed at Mount Carmel. The church was her life.

The closing of Mount Carmel and other churches has a trickle-down effect - it also means that bingo will end at Mount Carmel at the end of June, CYC students will have to sign up at new parishes in the fall and even Boy Scout Troop 8 at Mount Carmel will have to find a new home. Some parishioners had attended a planning conference in the fall at which time they were told Mount Carmel would probably stay open for another year but that didn't happen.

The closings of the six Catholic churches in Pittsfield also means that the remaining churches will be on the receiving end of hundreds of catholic families looking for a new home.

Diocese officials were planning a press conference at St. Joseph's Church this morning.

Provided by the Berkshire News Network (WUPE/WNAW).

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

12:05PM / Wednesday, December 24, 2025

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.

This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.

The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.

DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.

"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths.

"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."

Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.

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