St. Brigid’s is located in the center of Amherst at 122 North Pleasant Street. The church is across the street from the US Postal Office. It is on the same side of the street as CVS and the fire station, both on North Pleasant Street. Route 9 (College Street/Northampton Road in Amherst, which becomes Russell Street in Hadley) is east of St. Brigid’s and the University of Massachusetts is west of St. Brigid’s.
The Pastoral Center is located behind the Church, main entrance via Prospect Street. Please see the map below for details.
St. Brigid’s Parish / Rectory
122 North Pleasant Street,
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
Tel: (413) -256-6181
Mailing Address
43 North Prospect St.
Amherst MA 01002
Monsignor Lane Pastoral Center & Parish Office
43 North Prospect St.
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
Tel: (413)-256-6181
Fr. Gary Dailey came to the Newman Catholic Center in 2010 with a mission in mind-to further the ministry that is available each day especially to the students at UMass Amherst & students of the other colleges in the Five College Consortium.
He became the Administrator of St Brigid’s Parish January 2023, in addition to being the Director of the Newman Center. The former Diocesan Director of Vocations, pastor & teacher in our diocesan parishes and Catholic Schools, Fr. Gary comes to St Brigid’s Parish with a wealth of ministerial experience.
Fr. Gary Dailey – 413-549-0300, ext. 101 / g.dailey@diospringfield.org
Fr. Onyekachukwu Valentine Nworah (Fr. Val) was born Sept. 18 in the southeastern part of Nigeria. He is from a family of 4 boys and 2 girls. With the exception of his father who transitioned into eternal delight in January 2020, about 6 months before his priestly ordination, his mother and other siblings are still with us. He is fluent in Igbo, French and English Languages. He has a common knowledge of some other languages including Spanish. He holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Joseph Mukasa Philosophical Institute in Yaoundé, Cameroon; a Certificate in Religious Studies from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan; and a Masters Degree in Divinity from St John’s Seminary, Brighton class of 2020 and was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on August, 15 2020 (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) for the Diocese of Springfield. He also spent some time in Rwanda and Kenya. Fr. Val has served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield, Holy Trinity and Blessed Sacrament Parishes now Blessed Trinity Parish in Greenfield. He became the Parochial Vicar of St Brigid’s Parish as well as Chaplain at the Newman Center in January 2023.
Fr. Valentine Nworah – 413-256-6181, ext. 102 / v.nworah@diospringfield.org
Deacon Tom was ordained in June of 2015. Growing up in eastern Massachusetts, he graduated from Boston College with degrees in Classics and Philosophy. He received a Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College in New York and a Masters of Applied Theology from Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee. He served in the US army Military Police Corps for ten years with the rank of major before spending 35 yrs. in healthcare security and emergency management. He retired after 21 years as the Director of Security at Baystate Health in Springfield. Tom has 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren. Deacon Tom and his wife Linda have been members of the Newman Community for over twenty years. Deacon Tom started assisting at St Brigid’s Parish January 2023.
Deacon Tom Lynch – t.lynch@diospringfield.org
In addition to performing as our Secretary, Gricelle is a musician and loves playing the guitar and singing in the Music Ministry “Hágase” with her two sisters and mother in various churches within the Diocese of Springfield. She is also a Eucharistic Minister and Lector and recently got her Certificate in Hispanic Ministry from the Elms College in collaboration with the Diocese of Springfield. She is a Medical Interpreter and Language Coach for the Berkshire AHEC/UMass Chan Medical School Interpreters Training. Gricelle has two daughters: Ariana, who is a Doctor in Microbiology, and Michelle, who is a Psychologist/Sociologist. Please stop by the office and say hi to her when you are nearby.
Gricelle Cruz – 413-256-6181, ext. 101 / saintbrigidsamherst@gmail.com
Hailing from the great state of Illinois Maureen assumes several positions at Newman Center including coordinating religious Education for St Brigid’s Parish. She spent two years as a FOCUS missionary at UMass here in Amherst and has been in ministry since then. She has a love for people, ministry and sharing in a nice home cooked meal with just about anyone. If you need anything at all, she would be more than happy to assist you!
Maureen
Sullivan – 413 -549 -0300 / newmansecretary@diospringfield.org
Emily is a music teacher at Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School. A UMass Alum, she finished her teacher certification at UMass in 2018 and graduated from UMass in 2016 with a BA in Music and a BS in Communication Disorders. After being a Peer Minister at Newman for two and a half years and then taking a year off to focus on school, Emily began singing in the choirs at Newman in 2016 and developed her love of church hymns and worship music. She is passionate about the power of music in worship and encourages anybody who enjoys music to join in, whether it be singing in the choir, playing an instrument, or praising the Lord with song from the pews. She became the Music Director at St Brigid’s Parish January 2023.
Emily Stone – 617-827-2147 / ecstone92@gmail.com
Larry takes care of St Brigid’s financial affairs and ensures that we are being good stewards of all our/your gifts.
Pablo Mercado – 413-427-2395