Blessed Sacrament

Our Story: 1907 to Today

Blessed Sacrament was established by Bishop George Albert Guertin on November 6, 1907, with Father Francis X. Lyons as founding pastor and the original church on Baker and South Elm Streets. The present church was dedicated by Bishop John B. Peterson on November 11, 1934. Over more than a century the parish grew up around a school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy (opened 1950, closed 1975), then passed into Franciscan hands in 1979. After the Capuchin Friars (1979–2002) built the Divine Mercy Adoration Chapel and launched many current outreach programs, the Franciscan Friars Minor took over in 2002, renamed the chapel for St. Therese of Lisieux at the 2004 merger with St. Theresa's Parish, and celebrated the centennial in 2007. The parish summarized its identity as "faith and sacrifice, of worship and service," and that tradition continues today under Fr. John Bucchino, O.F.M. (since 2011).

Pastoral Leadership

The parish is currently led by Rev. John J. Bucchino, O.F.M., who became pastor on March 1, 2011, after serving as associate under Father John Bavaro, O.F.M. Sr. Marjorie Lupien, R.S.M., serves as Pastoral Minister after succeeding Sr. Olivia, and Lisa Siraco is Business Manager. Fr. Bucchino is also the coordinator of the interfaith Greater Manchester Clergy Association. (A March 2026 bulletin announced Sr. Marjorie's retirement and relocation to her community's house in Windham, NH.)

• Rev. John J. Bucchino, O.F.M., Pastor
• Sr. Marjorie Lupien, R.S.M., Pastoral Minister
• Lisa Siraco, Business Manager

Faith Formation

Faith formation for children and adults is offered through parish programs run with the help of lay leaders. Children in Grades K–8 attend Religious Education (coordinated by Martha and Steve Donohue). Adults preparing for full initiation follow the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA), and an Adult Confirmation program is offered. A Sunday morning Family Faith Formation gathers between Masses. Advent and Lenten programs round out the catechetical year.

• Religious Education K–8 (Martha & Steve Donohue)
• OCIA (RCIA) — call parish office
• Family Faith Formation (Sunday 9:00 AM)
• Adult Confirmation
• Advent and Lenten Programs

Liturgical Ministries

The Sunday Eucharist is described on the parish website as "the focal point of our community." Lay liturgical ministers support every Mass — greeting worshippers, proclaiming Scripture, serving at the altar, distributing Communion, singing in the choir, and keeping the church orderly. Initial training and ongoing formation are provided.

• Altar Servers
• Greeters
• Lectors
• Ministers of Communion (weekend, weekday, homebound)
• Music Ministers / Choir / Cantors / Instrumentalists
• Ushers
• Schedule Coordinator

Music Ministry

Under the direction of Music Director and Organist James Butka, the parish music program includes an Adult Choir and a roster of cantors who lead the assembly at weekend and holy day liturgies. Attendance at scheduled rehearsals is required.

• Music Director & Organist James Butka
• Adult Choir
• Cantors

Outreach & Service to the Poor

Outreach is a defining mark of the parish. Programs serve neighbors in the 03101 and 03103 ZIP codes, with food, clothing, shoes, seasonal gifts and direct hospitality at funerals.

• St. Anthony Food Pantry — Wednesdays 1:00–3:00 PM, 14 Elm Street; A–L surnames on 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, M–Z on 2nd & 4th
• St. Anne's Closet — free children's clothing, 1st and 2nd Wednesdays, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
• Shoes for Kids — new shoes, boots and winter jackets through referrals
• Homeless Ministry — daily outreach distributing warm socks and gloves, funded by St. Anthony Bread for the Poor baskets
• Memorial Meals — funeral hospitality (Gloria Pilotte, Terry Sylvain)
• Annual Thanksgiving food baskets with donated turkeys
• Annual Children's Christmas Party
• Advent Giving Tree with gift cards for neighbors in need year-round

Prayer & Devotional Life

Beyond the daily Mass and weekly Adoration schedule, several devotional threads run through parish life: a Tuesday 9:00 AM Devotion to St. Anthony, Lenten Stations of the Cross on Friday mornings, a parish Prayer Line, and a Prayer Shawl Ministry that brings comfort to the sick and grieving. The parish is also home to the local Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), which links the parish directly to the broader Franciscan family.

• Devotion to St. Anthony (Tuesday 9:00 AM)
• Stations of the Cross (Friday 9:00 AM in Lent)
• Parish Prayer Line — Gemma Houde, 668-3993
• Prayer Shawl Ministry — Diane Sufat, 625-8665
• Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) — John Proulx, OFS

Community & Groups

Lay-led groups give the parish much of its character. Scouting (Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts), the Youth Group, the Pastoral Council, the Finance Committee, the Social Committee, and the Ezer Spiritual Ministry all meet at the parish hall. Members also represent the parish externally through the Greater Manchester Clergy Association and the Granite State Organizing Project.

• Boy Scouts / Cub Scouts — Ron St. Cyr
• Youth Group — Ellen Vigneault
• Pastoral Council — Tracey Adams
• Finance Committee — Bill Handy
• Social Committee
• Ezer Spiritual Ministry — Charlotte Pratte
• Greater Manchester Clergy Association
• Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP)

Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation

Arrangements for Baptism, Marriage and the Sacrament of the Sick are coordinated through the pastor, Fr. John Bucchino, O.F.M. Children preparing for First Communion and Confirmation are served by the Religious Education program; adults seeking full initiation work with OCIA; Anointing of the Sick is available on request through the parish office.

• Baptism
• Marriage
• Anointing / Sacrament of the Sick
• OCIA (RCIA)
• Religious Education K–8

Getting Involved & Staying Connected

Newcomers are encouraged to drop in for "Coffee Chat with Fr. John" Monday mornings at 9:00 AM in the parish hall, or to contact any ministry leader listed in the weekly bulletin. The parish publishes weekly bulletins online, maintains an online giving portal, and live-streams both Masses and Adoration Chapel time so that the homebound can remain connected.

• Online giving portal
• Weekly bulletin (PDF) on website
• Mass live-stream
• Adoration Chapel live-stream
• Coffee Chat with Fr. John (Mondays 9:00 AM)
• Safe Haven online training for ministry volunteers