St. John Paul II Parish
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"The future is in your hearts and in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult and uplifting, of working with Him in the building of the civilization of love."
St. John Paul II
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Our ChurchesNotre Dame des sept douleurs & st. stanislaus kostka
Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church, built in 1887, is St. John Paul II Parish's oldest and primary church. Located in the center of Adams at McKinley Square, Notre Dame dominates the view as one travels North on Park St. Its towering steeple and prominent location make Notre Dame an integral part of the historic charm of downtown Adams.
St. Stanislaus Kostka is our Mission Church and is located on the corner of Hoosac and Summer Streets. The twin steeples that soar above the surrounding buildings can be viewed from atop Mt. Greylock. St. Stanislaus Church's ornate architecture and commanding presence lead one to stop and and admire its magnificence. The interrior of the church is even more breathtaking.
<<< Learn more about Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Church
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Parish History
The Parish of St. John Paul II encompasses the former parishes of Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Stanislaus Kostka. Each of the parishes has its own unique history. Their stories are summarized in the individual links below.
The three parishes operated independently until 1998 when the parishes of St. Thomas Aquinas and Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs were merged into the Parish of Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs and St. Thomas Aquinas, with Fr. Daniel Boyle appointed as pastor of the new Parish. In 2003, the pastorate of St. Stanislaus Kostka, the third Catholic parish in Adams, was added to Fr. Boyle's duties. Finally, in 2009, both St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Stanislaus parishes were suppressed, and all three former Adams parishes were merged into a new parish on the Notre Dame campus under the patronage of Blessed (now Saint) John Paul II, with Fr. Boyle continuing as pastor. Notre Dame church remained as the parish church, although it retained its original name (a solemnly consecrated church's name cannot be changed without a grave reason and special permission of the Apostolic See). The churches of St. Thomas and St. Stanislaus were closed, but after appeal by the parishioners of St. Stanislaus, Rome overturned the closure of St. Stanislaus church in 2012, and today it serves as a Mission Church in the parish of Saint John Paul II.
After its closure, St. Thomas Aquinas church served as the location of the parish charity center for the poor of the Adams area. The charity center was closed in 2022, and today the church's future has yet to be determined.
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