About Immaculate Conception · Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Corpus Christi Parish is the unified Catholic community of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, formed in 2006 by the merger of three former city parishes — Immaculate Conception, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. James — into one parish served by one pastor. Its name, meaning 'Body of Christ' in Latin, deliberately echoes St. Paul's image of 'many parts of the one Body of Christ,' celebrating the diversity of gifts each former parish contributes. The parish operates from the historic Immaculate Conception Church on Summer Street, long considered the 'mother church' of Portsmouth Catholicism, and is part of the Diocese of Manchester. It is rooted in the Word, nourished by the Eucharist, and strengthened by the sacraments, striving to live out the baptismal call as disciples and enthusiastic witnesses to the faith.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Gary J. Belliveau
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (New Hampshire)
Why belong here
Corpus Christi Parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, abundant reconciliation opportunities, and weekday Eucharistic Adoration, all centered in the historic Immaculate Conception Church in the heart of Portsmouth. A wide range of ministries — young adult Bible study, faith formation, the Prayer Cenacle, the Mystical Rose Rosary Group, the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and Catholic education through St. Patrick Academy — give parishioners concrete ways to grow in faith and serve neighbors. With its three formerly separate parishes now one Body of Christ, the community welcomes new members looking to be part of an active, sacramental, and missionary Catholic life on the Seacoast.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Saturday: approximately 8:30 AM (after the daily Mass)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM
- Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM
- Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM and 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM
- Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:55 AM
- Doors open for prayer weekdays from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
Corpus Christi Parish describes itself as a vibrant, welcoming Catholic community of 'many parts united in the one Body of Christ.' Its mission statement says the parish is 'Rooted in the Word, nourished by the Eucharist, and strengthened by the sacraments,' and seeks to reflect the unconditional love of Christ and to live out the baptismal call as disciples and enthusiastic witnesses to the faith.
- Parish name means 'Body of Christ' in Latin.
- Formed in 2006 by merging three former Portsmouth parishes under one pastor.
- Belongs to the Diocese of Manchester, Seacoast Deanery, Rockingham County.
History
Catholic life in Portsmouth began in 1833 with Masses in a confectionery store; the parish was formally erected in 1851 as St. Mary's, renamed Immaculate Conception in 1874 after a fire destroyed the original church, and rebuilt in 1933–34 with preserved stained glass. Two daughter parishes — St. Catherine (1951) and St. James (1958) — spun off as the city grew, then reunited with Immaculate Conception in June 2006 to form Corpus Christi Parish.
- 1833: First Masses celebrated in Dominick Peduzzi's home.
- 1851: Parish established as St. Mary's with Fr. Charles McCallion as first pastor.
- 1852: First church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin on October 8.
- 1871: First church destroyed in suspicious fire (November 27).
- 1874: Brick successor built and renamed Church of the Immaculate Conception.
- 1884: Part of the new Diocese of Manchester.
- 1933–34: Present Immaculate Conception Church built; formally dedicated October 21, 1934.
- 1951: St. Catherine Parish established.
- 1958: St. James Parish established.
- June 2006: Three parishes reunited as Corpus Christi Parish.
From Three Parishes to One: 'Move from Maintenance to Mission'
Beginning in 2013, the parish undertook a process of exploration, prayerful discernment, and planning to move 'from maintenance to mission.' Approved by the Bishop in December 2016, the plan rolled out in three phases: sale of the former St. James property on Lafayette Road, conversion of the St. Catherine Rectory into the new Parish Office in 2017, repurposing of the former St. Catherine Church (removed from sacred use June 2017) into a parish hall and meeting center, and finally a full renovation of Immaculate Conception Church in 2020.
- Phase 1: Sale of St. James Church property.
- Phase 2: Parish Office relocated to 845 Woodbury Avenue (former St. Catherine Rectory).
- Phase 3: Renovation of Immaculate Conception Church (2020).
Faith Formation & Education
Catholic education has been part of the parish since a school at 202 State Street in 1869; St. Patrick School on Austin Street, opened in 1885 and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, served generations of parish children. The parish opened the new St. Patrick Academy on Banfield Road in May 2018, continuing this educational mission. Adult faith formation is offered through faith formation / religious education sessions and Bible Study.
- St. Patrick School founded 1885; staffed by Sisters of Mercy.
- St. Patrick Academy (Banfield Road) opened May 2018.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education (Saturday 3:30 PM session reported).
- Bible Study offered.
Parish Life & Ministries
A variety of groups gather for prayer, study, fellowship, and service. Regular gatherings include a Monday-evening Young Adult Bible Study, a Tuesday-afternoon Prayer Cenacle, the Mystical Rose Rosary Group on Wednesday afternoons, and Prayer Shawl Ministry meetings. The parish also lists a Young Adult Ministry as an active program.
- Young Adult Bible Study — Mondays 6:30–8:30 PM
- Young Adult Ministry
- Prayer Cenacle — Tuesday afternoons 2:00–3:00 PM
- Mystical Rose Rosary Group — Wednesday 1:30–4:00 PM
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Thursday afternoons
- Bible Study
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
Clergy & Staff
Corpus Christi Parish is currently served by one pastor, Rev. Gary J. Belliveau, who was ordained in 1985 and serves as pastor. The diocesan directory lists him as the pastor of Corpus Christi Parish; he has recorded a video tour of the church explaining the meaning behind its architecture and furnishings. Virginia McDonough serves as the parish's Administrative Assistant.
- Pastor: Rev. Gary J. Belliveau (ordained 1985)
- Administrative Assistant: Virginia McDonough
Locations, Contact & Visiting
Immaculate Conception Church — the parish's worship site — stands at 98 Summer Street in downtown Portsmouth on the historic 'Circus Field on Mason's Hill' at the corner of Summer and Chatham. The parish office is at 845 Woodbury Avenue. Visitors can reach the parish by phone at (603) 436-4555 or by email at [email protected], and can register as parishioners through the parish website.
- Immaculate Conception Church: 98 Summer Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Parish Office: 845 Woodbury Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801
- Phone: (603) 436-4555
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.corpuschristinh.org
- Weekday prayer access: doors open 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Charles McCallion1851–
First pastor of the original parish, then known as St. Mary's, established in 1851.