Fr. Matt Alcombright, the soon-to-be Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Westfield, is seen at the rectory of Mary, Mother of Hope in Springfield. (WNG file photo)
WESTFIELD – The Rev. Matthew Alcombright will take the helm as the new pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Westfield beginning on September 1. Currently, he serves as pastor at Mary, Mother of Hope in Springfield.
Born and raised in North Adams, Father Matt, as he prefers to be called, studied piano and composition at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, before he got the call to become a priest. He said he was always around the church, where his mother worked as a part-time secretary in his home parish. Having started piano lessons at age 7, he began playing at one mass a month by the time he was 13.
He has served as music director at the Newman Catholic Center at UMass, Sacred Heart in Easthampton, and St. Mary’s in Longmeadow, as well as at many parishes in the Berkshires before that.
“I was around great priests. I worked with them, and travelled with them on youth ministry trips. You’ve got to follow where God is calling you,” Alcombright said.
He admitted it is going to be hard for him to leave his current parish at Mary, Mother of Hope, where he started as an associate for two and a half years, then transferred to St. Thomas in West Springfield, and came back as pastor for the past two and a half years. He said leaving is the hard part of life as a priest. “You become attached, a part of these people’s lives.”
Alcombright said he is excited about coming to Westfield, a parish three times the size of the one he is leaving. “When we’re ordained, we look right into the Bishop’s eyes and promise respect and obedience. At that point, a newly ordained priest gives his life,” said Alcombright, who was ordained in 2012. He added that he was asked to go to St. Mary’s, where the diocese thought his gifts and talents would serve well. “At the end of the day, there was a need, and you go where you’re needed. I recalled that day six years ago,” he said.
Father Matt believes the primary job of the priest is the salvation of souls. “My goal is to go in and care for the people. That’s my job.” Quoting John Paul, II, he said, “The job of the pastor is to always point to the greener pasture.” He said priests are the bridge to help people encounter God, another quote he credited to John Paul, II.
“My job is to point to God,” Alcombright said.
In addition to serving as a parish priest, Alcombright is the director of Ministry of the Deaf for the diocese, and holds a monthly mass in American Sign Language. He said he will be continuing in that role when he moves to Westfield. He also serves as the co-director of vocations along with the Rev. Michael Wood.
Alcombright is also a part of the 15-member Singing Priests group, which holds a benefit concert once a year. This year it will be held in the Pioneer Valley.
As for his plan for St. Mary’s, Alcombright said he did not have one. “Do I have a plan? No, the plan is going to be made known. I have confidence in that. My goal is to go in and care for the people. That’s my job. You’ve got to see where the people are,” he said.
Alcombright said his boxes are packed to prepare for the move. “I know there’s a lot of unknown at the moment. What I look forward to is working with the people, to see what can and cannot be done. We have to be open with one another, be transparent,” he said, adding, “I’m looking forward to working with them.”
A former teacher, Alcombright said he loves working with kids.
“I’m excited. I am excited to be there. The thing I’m excited about the most is getting to know the parish,” he said. Calling himself “the most imperfect person in the world,” Father Matt added, “I promise to be patient with them if they’re patient with me. I look forward to ministering to them, with them, and for them.”
