About Holy Family · Gorham, New Hampshire
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Gorham, New Hampshire, part of the Diocese of Manchester. Founded in 1876 as a mission of Lancaster, it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Coos County and has served the people of Gorham and the surrounding North Country for nearly 150 years. Since June 2002, Holy Family has been twinned with Good Shepherd Parish in nearby Berlin, and the two sister parishes now share clergy and pastoral staff while continuing to celebrate Mass in their own churches. Today Holy Family welcomes Catholics from Gorham, Shelburne, Randolph, Milan and Dummer, and is pastored by Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton together with parochial vicars Rev. Stephen Savarimuthu, HGN, and Rev. Isaac Honsan.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
Holy Family offers a small, welcoming Catholic community in the heart of New Hampshire's North Country, where parishioners know one another and are served by a clergy team shared with the sister Good Shepherd Parish in Berlin. The parish sustains the traditional sacramental life of the Church — weekend and weekday Mass, regular Confession, and pastoral care for the sick and bereaved — while running outreach ministries such as the Marie Rivier Food Pantry that serve families far beyond the parish borders. Whether you are an active parishioner, a newcomer, or just passing through Gorham, you are greeted as a guest and invited into the faith life of a parish that has cared for Catholics here since 1876.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:15 pm – 5:45 pm at Holy Family Church, Gorham
- Sunday 10:00 am – 10:20 am at Holy Family Church, Gorham (before 10:30 am Mass)
- Saturday 8:30 am – 9:15 am at St. Anne Church, Berlin
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm at St. Anne Church, Berlin
History of Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Parish began in 1870 as a mission of Lancaster, when Father Noiseaux supervised construction of the first Catholic church in Gorham. The first Mass was celebrated in 1876 by Reverend John Sullivan, and Bishop James A. Healy appointed Fr. Narcisse Charland as the first pastor that same year. After the second church burned on December 21, 1900, and the third was condemned in 1973, today's church was built in 1973–1974 on the same property, and the original bell still stands in the front yard.
- 1870 – Construction of the first Catholic church in Gorham begins
- 1876 – First Mass celebrated; parish formally erected with Fr. Narcisse Charland as first pastor
- April 1895 – Second church built under Fr. J. E. Emerson
- December 21, 1900, 5:30 am – Church destroyed by fire; only the bell tower survives
- April 1973 – Ground broken between the old church and rectory for the present church
- June 2002 – Holy Family twinned with Good Shepherd Parish, Berlin
Good Shepherd Parish & the Twinning of 2002
Good Shepherd Parish was established on November 1, 2000, when Bishop John B. McCormack accepted the recommendations of the Berlin Catholic Community Strategic Planning Task Force and merged Berlin's four parishes — St. Anne (1885–2000), Guardian Angel (1917–2000), St. Joseph (1941–2000) and St. Kieran (1894–2000) — into a single new parish. The official Opening Liturgy was celebrated on November 5, 2000, with the pastor, Rev. Richard A. Roberge, reading the decree. In June 2002, Good Shepherd Parish was twinned with Holy Family Parish in Gorham, and the two sister parishes have since shared clergy and pastoral ministry to Berlin, Gorham, Shelburne, Randolph, Milan and Dummer.
- St. Anne Parish 1885–2000
- Guardian Angel Parish 1917–2000
- St. Joseph Parish 1941–2000
- St. Kieran Parish 1894–2000
- Good Shepherd Parish established November 1, 2000
- Twinned with Holy Family Parish in June 2002
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
Holy Family Parish and Good Shepherd Parish are served by a shared pastoral team. The Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton serves as Pastor, with Rev. Stephen Savarimuthu, HGN, and Rev. Isaac Honsan as Parochial Vicars. Deacon Michael Couture also assists in the pastoral care of both parishes.
- Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton — Pastor
- Rev. Stephen Savarimuthu, HGN — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Isaac Honsan — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Michael Couture
Parish Office & Contact
Although the church sits at 7 Church Street in Gorham, the combined parish office for Holy Family and Good Shepherd Parishes is located in Berlin. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (closed Monday and Friday).
- Combined Parish Office: 151 Emery Street, Berlin, NH 03570
- Rectory: 162 Madison Avenue, Berlin, NH 03570
- Phone: (603) 752-2880
- Fax: (603) 752-1855
- Email: [email protected]
Outreach: Marie Rivier Food Pantry
The Marie Rivier Food Pantry is a joint ministry of Good Shepherd and Holy Family Parishes, providing food assistance to families in need across the Berlin–Gorham area. It operates out of the Guardian Angel Thrift Shop on Grafton Street in Berlin and is open twice a week.
- Operated by Good Shepherd & Holy Family Parishes
- Location: Guardian Angel Thrift Shop, 153 Grafton St., Berlin, NH 03570
- Hours: Tuesdays 1:00–2:00 pm and Fridays 1:00–2:00 pm
- Contact: (603) 752-2880
The Building & the Historic Bell
The present Holy Family Church dates to 1973–1974, built after the previous church was condemned as unsafe. The original bell, salvaged from the 1900 fire that destroyed the second church, is preserved in the front yard of the parish as a tangible link to the parish's 19th-century origins.
Visiting & Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at Holy Family, whether for Sunday Mass, a quiet weekday visit, or to take part in the shared faith formation and outreach programs with Good Shepherd Parish. The parish encourages newcomers to introduce themselves, attend Mass, and read the weekly bulletin to learn about ministries, sacramental preparation, and community events.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Narcisse Charland1876–
First pastor; appointed by Bishop James A. Healy when the parish was erected. Completed the interior of the first church and built the rectory.
- Fr. J. E. Emersonc. 1895–
Directed construction of the second church in April 1895; rebuilt after the December 1900 fire that destroyed the building.
- Rev. Richard A. Roberge2000
Pastor who read the Official Decree at the Opening Liturgy of Good Shepherd Parish in Berlin; involved in the early twinning of the two parishes.