Rev.
Daniel S. Pacholec, Pastor
- was born and raised in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He was a member
of Mater Dolorosa Parish and educated in its school. He is a graduate
of Holyoke Catholic High School and Amherst College where he received
his B.A., cum laude, as a double major in Psychology and English.
His honors thesis was a comparison of the conversions and autobiographies
of Thomas Merton and C.S.Lewis.
After
college, Fr. Dan worked for Steiger's Department Stores completing
its Management training Program and working in several branch stores
at various levels of management. He later was appointed Human Resource
Manager for the company's flagship store in downtown Springfield.
His last position at Steigers was as Manager of Executive Development,
recruiting and training management trainees, and overseeing their
career pathing.
At
the age of 30, after many years of discernment, Fr. Dan entered
religious life in the Conventual Franciscan Order as a postulant.
He attended St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, MA and
received his Pre-Theological Certificate in Philosophy from St Hyacinth.
After completing a Novitiate, he professed temporary vows and was
assigned for his Pastoral Year to teach at a Catholic School in
Bessemer, Alabama. Family concerns brough him back closer to home
where he discerned his call to Diocesan Priesthood.
Fr.
Dan entered Blessed John XXIII National Seminary as a Seminarian
for the Diocese of Springfield in the Fall of 1992. He received his
Masters of Divinity from the seminary in 1996 and was ordained a
priest for the Diocese of Springfield on June 1, 1996. His first
assignment was a Parocial Vicar at Holy Cross Parish in Springfield
from 1996 - 1999. He then moved to St Michael's Parish in East Longmeadow
as Parochial Vicar from 1999 - 2001. He was appointed Vocation Director
for the Diocese of Springfield on July 1, 2001 and has served in
that capacity until his 2004 appointment as Pastor of Our Lady
of the Blessed Sacrament Parish here in Westfield.
In
addition to his responsibilities as Pastor, Fr. Dan serves the Diocese
of Sprinfield as a member of its Catholic Schools Board and the Building Commission.
Fr.
Dan enjoys running (he has run the Boston Marathon six times for
various charities), as well as hiking and most outdoor activities.
Fr. Dan can be reached at olbsfrdan@aol.com.
Rev.
Mr. Paul Federici (Deacon) - is a native of Bethel, CT. He graduated
from Stonehill College and Albany Medical College where he earned
his degree as a Physician Assistant. He currently works at Baycare
Health Partners; part of the Baystate Health System in Springfield.
Deacon Paul, along with his wife Mary, and their three daughters
Lisa, Janet, and Beth have been parishioners at Our Lady of the
Blessed Sacrament since 1984. Together with 12 of his fellow deacon
candidates, Deacon Paul was ordained as a Deacon on May 14, 2005
by Bishop Timothy McDonnell in St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield.
Deacon
Paul served as Co-Chairman of the Church Building Committee. He currently oversees the D.I.A.C Adolescent Catechesis Program and the Confirmation Program. Deacon Paul is also the Chairperson of the member of the Diocesan Catholic School Board.
Contact
Deacon Paul at 562-5074, through the Parish Office at 562-3450,
or E-mail at deaconpaulf@comcast.net
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