Springfield Diocese Names New Assistant Director of Development

11:11AM / Thursday, July 17, 2025Print Story | Email Story

Christine Peyman

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Wilbraham resident Christine Peyman has been named the new assistant director of development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

Peyman, who began working with the diocese in 2023 as a member of the Beacon of Faith capital campaign team, will now take on expanding the diocese's goal to advance its mission through fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship.

She will continue to oversee the Beacon of Faith campaign, as well as partner with the Catholic Communications office staff to oversee the Annual Catholic Appeal, which distributes funds to 48 ministries and agencies.

Born and raised in Western Massachusetts, she attended the former Our Lady of Hope School in Springfield and graduated from St. Mary's High School in Westfield. She currently lives in Wilbraham with her husband, Jeff, and their daughter, Abby. The family attends St. Cecilia Parish in Wilbraham.

"When I was working with many parishes as a campaign director, I had the ability to learn more about how our parishes operate. My goal is to continue working with our parishes and maintain, as well as strengthen these relationships," Peyman said. "We are all the diocese. We are all Catholics and it is important to be committed to our faith and to follow Jesus' word."

The Very Rev. Christopher Malatesta, the new vicar general of the Diocese of Springfield, will serve as

interim development director. He served as pastor of St. Agnes' Church in Dalton for 23 years before his recent assignment.

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Pittsfield Proposes 2.64 Tax Rate Hike

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:34PM / Tuesday, November 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2027 is less than 40 cents per $1,000 valuation for residential properties and would increase the average property tax bill by about $146 per year.

On Tuesday's City Council meeting agenda is a request from the mayor and Board of Assessors to use a residential factor of .8245 at a shift of 1.75, resulting in a residential tax rate of $17.88 and a commercial, industrial, and personal property tax rate of $37.95.

These matters are typically referred to the Committee of the Whole for deliberation. The proposed rates for residential and commercial are 38 cents and $1.05 more, respectively, from FY26.

The average residential home, valued at $316,792 in FY27, has increased by about $1,500 from the previous fiscal year, and would pay $5,664.24 in yearly taxes.

This is a 2.64 percent, or $145.88, increase.

The average commercial property worth $239,600 saw a $100 increase in value from the previous fiscal year, and would pay $9,092.82 in yearly taxes. This is a $255.27, or 2.89 percent, increase from the previous fiscal year.

The FY27 tax levy of $124,468,317 is a $5.3 million increase from the previous year, or 4.45 percent. There is about $388,000 in excess levy capacity, $2.3 million in new growth, and the levy limit is $124,856,412.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, 11 single-family homes were added to Pittsfield's housing stock this fiscal year, increasing the city's total assessed value by $19,987,600 to $3,592,737,600.

The city lost five two-family homes in 2027, and that housing type decreased by $3.2 million in assessed value, now worth $384,620,400.

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