About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Concord, New Hampshire
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (IHM) is a Roman Catholic parish in Concord, New Hampshire, within the Diocese of Manchester. Founded in 1956 to serve the growing Heights, Loudon, East Concord, and Pembroke communities, it began with 175 registered families and has grown to over 1,000. Today the parish is home to the multicultural African Community Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, a vibrant family faith formation program (GIFT), a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel dedicated to St. Padre Pio, and a livestreamed Sunday liturgy reaching homebound Catholics throughout the region.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Raymond A. Ball (Father Ray)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire)
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers a complete Catholic home for every season of life: weekday and weekend Masses, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the St. Padre Pio Chapel open 24/7/365, sacraments preparation for children through Confirmation, youth ministry for grades 4–12, OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults, a multicultural African Community Mass, Knights of Columbus Council 112, a Catholic bookstore in the parish center, and active outreach including Family Promise. The parish livestreams its Sunday 10am Mass for the homebound and welcomes new families to register online.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 3:00–4:00 PM (in the Reconciliation Room)
- A Reconciliation Room (rather than a confessional) has been in use since January 1977
Adoration times
- St. Padre Pio Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Chapel Coordinator: Lauren Dadmun (603-470-7949)
History of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish
IHM was born from a grassroots petition by Concord Heights neighbors in 1955 asking the Bishop of Manchester for a closer parish. Land on Loudon Road was purchased August 15, 1955; the church was blessed by Bishop Matthew F. Brady on September 16, 1956, with 175 founding families. The parish grew steadily through parish center construction (1967), the Reconciliation Room (1977), Spring Musicals (1976–2005), the IHM Child Care Center (1988–2004), and the Little Hearts Preschool (1999). The 25th Anniversary (1981) and 60th Anniversary (2016) Masses brought together current and former pastors.
Founding and Construction (1955–1956)
Fr. Richard O. Boner was tapped by Bishop Brady to investigate the request from Heights residents. After declining a Canterbury Road lot offered by the Langevins as too small, the parish bought the Loudon Road property from Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cusano on August 15, 1955 for $10,000 (paid by St. John's Parish). Architect Norman P. Randlett of Laconia designed the building; the Armond Roux Co. of Laconia served as builder (the same firm that built Camps Fatima and Bernadette). The construction permit was issued October 25, 1955; construction ended June 14, 1956 at an assessed value of $80,000, with total project cost about $105,000 — much of the lumber was donated.
- Architect: Norman P. Randlett (Laconia)
- Builder: Armond Roux Co. (Laconia)
- First pastor: Rev. Richard O. Boner
- First assistant: Rev. Richard A. Smith
- First Mass: celebrated by Rt. Rev. Jeremiah S. Buckley, pastor of St. John's
Parish Clergy — A 60+ Year Succession
Since 1956, ten pastors have served Immaculate Heart of Mary. Fr. Boner led the founding years (1956–1963); he was succeeded by Fr. Dennis O'Leary (1963–1972), Fr. Robert Barnea (1972–1984), Fr. Thomas Keenan (1984–1992), Fr. Marc Gagne (1992–1997), Fr. Donald Lafond (1997–1998), Fr. Florent Bilodeau (1998–2001), Fr. Paul Gousse (2001–2008), and Fr. Peter Boucher (2008–2011). The current pastor, Rev. Raymond A. Ball — ordained in 1987 and affectionately called 'Fr. Ray' — has served since 2011 and presided at the 60th Anniversary in 2016. Eleven assistant pastors and three deacons (Peter Tumulty, Patrick Ring, and the current Deacon John Morrow, since 2007) round out the parish's clergy history.
- Pastors: Boner, O'Leary, Barnea, Keenan, Gagne, Lafond, Bilodeau, Gousse, Boucher, Ball
- Deacons: Peter Tumulty (1989–1998), Patrick Ring (1991–1993), John Morrow (2007–present)
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
IHM offers Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM and three Sunday Masses — 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (livestreamed), and a multicultural African Community Mass at 1:00 PM on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 9:00 AM, with Holy Day Masses at 9:00 AM, 12:10 PM, and 5:30 PM. Confessions are heard Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00 PM in the Reconciliation Room at the back of the church.
- Music directors: Frank Giordano (Sat 4:30 PM, Sun 8 AM); Chris Taylor (Sun 10 AM); Allison Tessier has also been listed for the 4:30 PM Mass
- Livestream: Facebook (/ihmnh/) and YouTube channel UC8k6IHvjPrEePEdofgoA6ng
Faith Formation (GIFT) and Youth Ministry
The parish operates a multi-track faith formation program called GIFT — Growing In Faith Together — that meets Sundays 11:20 AM–12:30 PM in the Parish Center, plus dedicated youth ministries for older students. Kim Ostrowski serves as Director of Faith Formation PreK–12 (contact 603-224-4393). Sacramental preparation is a partnership between parish and parents, with Reconciliation in Year 1 and Confirmation/First Eucharist in Year 2 for children in grades 2–4; older students (grades 5–12) who missed a sacrament can also be accommodated.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Preschool ages 3 & 4, K, Grade 1)
- Family Faith Formation (K–5)
- SHINE — Sharing His Incredible News Everywhere (Grades 4–5)
- LIFT — Living in Faith & Trust (Grades 4–8): twice monthly Fridays 6:30–8 PM; leader Tara Henley (603-209-6484)
- ROCK High School Ministry (Grades 9–12): twice monthly Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 PM; leader Jennifer Morgan (603-831-4038)
- Annual Steubenville Youth Conference trip for grades 8–12
OCIA and Adult Formation
Adults interested in becoming Catholic — or baptized Catholics who missed a Sacrament such as Confirmation — are invited to the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA). Sessions meet Sundays 9:30–10:40 AM in the Rectory Office Conference Room. Inquiries: 603-224-4393 or [email protected].
Parish Life, Outreach, and Community
Beyond Mass, the parish has long traditions that knit its families together: the Spring Musicals (1976–2005) and the continuing Christmas Show, the Heart of the Heights Catholic Bookstore run by Sue Perry, a Men's Prayer Group on Tuesdays at 6:00 AM, and a Charismatic Prayer Group on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM. Outreach includes Knights of Columbus Council 112 (which serves both IHM and Christ the King parishes; meetings the 2nd Monday at 7:00 PM in the Parish Center) and a partnership with Family Promise through NH Catholic Charities, which since September 2015 has used the upstairs of the parish house. The parish supports the local Catholic radio station, WICX 102.7 Hope FM, and promotes Diocesan events like the Catholic Life Conference.
- Knights of Columbus Council 112 — website kofc112.org, Facebook /kofccouncil112
- Family Promise / NH Catholic Charities partnership
- WICX 102.7 Hope FM (local Catholic radio)
- Online Giving: ihmnh.churchgiving.com
- Weekly bulletin by email: parishesonline.com subscription
- Summer parish events include youth kayaking on the Contoocook, hiking Mt. Major, and the Steubenville youth conference
Visiting and Joining the Parish
New parishioners are warmly welcomed; a printable parish registration form is available on the parish website and is updated annually. Visitors are invited to attend Mass, spend time in the Adoration Chapel, browse the Heart of the Heights Bookstore, or simply stop in — the church itself is open for prayer Sunday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Those unable to attend in person can join the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass via the parish's Facebook page or YouTube channel. The parish office can be reached at (603) 224-4393 or [email protected].
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Richard O. Boner1956–1963
Founding pastor; previously associate at St. John the Evangelist Concord and founder of Camps Fatima (1949) and Bernadette (1953).
- Rev. Dennis O'Leary1963–1972
- Rev. Robert Barnea1972–1984
Celebrated the 25th Anniversary Mass in 1981.
- Rev. Thomas Keenan1984–1992
- Rev. Marc Gagne1992–1997
- Rev. Donald Lafond1997–1998
- Rev. Florent Bilodeau1998–2001
- Rev. Paul Gousse2001–2008
- Rev. Peter Boucher2008–2011
- Rev. Raymond A. Ball2011–present
Current pastor; oversaw the parish's 60th Anniversary in 2016.