About Our Lady of Grace Chapel [Holy Trinity Parish] · Bristol, New Hampshire
Our Lady of Grace Chapel is a Catholic chapel located at 2 West Shore Road in Bristol, New Hampshire, on the shore of Newfound Lake in the Lakes Region. It is a chapel of Holy Trinity Parish, which is headquartered at St. Matthew Church in neighboring Plymouth, NH. The chapel was dedicated in 1958 and has been supervised by Holy Trinity Parish since Holy Trinity was formed in 2006 through the merger of St. Agnes, St. Timothy, and St. Matthew Parishes. It serves Bristol-area Catholics with Sunday and weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full program of ministries including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Family Faith Formation, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Our Lady of Grace
- Rector
- Very Rev. Mark E. Dollard (Fr. Mark Dollard)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester (Lakes Region Deanery)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace Chapel gives Catholics in the Newfound Lake area a small, accessible place to worship close to home, while being part of a larger two-site parish family. The chapel offers Sunday and weekday Mass, Thursday morning Eucharistic Adoration at the Marian Center, and a vibrant community life that includes Family Faith Formation, the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, an active Music Ministry, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and a local Knights of Columbus council. Parishioners who belong here also connect with the wider Holy Trinity Parish in Plymouth through shared staff, bulletin, and faith-formation programming.
Mass times at Our Lady of Grace Chapel [Holy Trinity Parish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Matthew Church, Plymouth (or by appointment with Fr. Mark)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30–10:00 AM at the Marian Center in Bristol (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesdays 8:30–10:00 AM at the Marian Center in Bristol (per parish website)
About Our Lady of Grace Chapel & Holy Trinity Parish
Our Lady of Grace Chapel at 2 West Shore Road in Bristol, NH, is one of two worship sites that together make up Holy Trinity Parish. The other is St. Matthew Church at 11 School Street in Plymouth. The parish describes itself as a 'faith family' rooted in central New Hampshire, committed to the Gospel through liturgy, faith formation, and service. The parish offices, Christian Life Center, and the main rectory staff are based at the Plymouth campus; the Bristol site includes the chapel itself, Simard Hall, and the Marian Center (also called the North American Martyrs Oratory) directly across the street.
- St. Matthew Church, Plymouth, NH — main parish church & Christian Life Center (11 School Street)
- Our Lady of Grace Chapel, Bristol, NH — chapel (2 West Shore Road)
- Simard Hall, Bristol, NH — parish hall (17 West Shore Road)
- Marian Center / North American Martyrs Oratory, Bristol, NH — across from the chapel (19 West Shore Road)
History of the Chapel
Our Lady of Grace Chapel was dedicated in 1958 to serve the Catholics of Bristol on the southern shore of Newfound Lake. In 2006, the Diocese of Manchester reorganized the surrounding parishes, merging St. Agnes, St. Timothy, and St. Matthew into a single Holy Trinity Parish headquartered at St. Matthew Church in Plymouth. Our Lady of Grace Chapel continued as a worship site of the new parish, and in 2022 Bishop Peter A. Libasci appointed Very Rev. Mark E. Dollard as its pastor.
- 1958 — Chapel dedicated
- 2006 — Holy Trinity Parish formed by merger of St. Agnes, St. Timothy, and St. Matthew Parishes
- June 22, 2022 — Fr. Mark E. Dollard appointed pastor
Parish Staff
Holy Trinity Parish is served by a small staff based at the Christian Life Center in Plymouth. Fr. Mark Dollard is pastor. Lay staff coordinate parish administration, faith formation, music, the bulletin, the website, and the OCIA process. A separate part-time Catholic campus minister serves students at Plymouth State University.
- Fr. Mark Dollard — Pastor ([email protected], 603-536-4700)
- Maureen Ebner — Parish Secretary ([email protected], 603-536-4700)
- Kristen Downing De Almeida — Family Faith Formation Coordinator ([email protected], 603-535-2673)
- Christine 'Chris' Chiasson — Music / Bulletin / Website / OCIA ([email protected], 603-724-1825)
- Kate Neal — PSU Catholic Campus Minister ([email protected], 603-490-8555)
Parish Mission Statement
The parish mission statement, posted on the 'About' page, reads: 'We, the believing community of Holy Trinity Parish, open to the Holy Spirit to reflect God's love, are committed to Jesus Christ, and to His Church. We are strengthened by the grace of the Word and Sacraments. We recognize Christ's presence in our midst, calling us to unity by living the Gospel. We commit ourselves to building a Catholic Christian Community through liturgy, Faith Formation, and service.'
Sacraments
Holy Trinity Parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Information and preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation is available through the parish office. Adults seeking to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church are welcomed through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process. Couples preparing for marriage are invited to contact the parish; the website also has a 'Wedding Music' page for musicians and couples.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Eucharist (First Communion) — via Family Faith Formation
- Confirmation — for youth via Family Faith Formation; for adults via Fr. Mark ([email protected])
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM at St. Matthew, Plymouth, or by appointment
- Marriage — contact Fr. Mark; wedding music information on parish website
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Holy Orders — contact the parish office
- OCIA / RCIA — contact Chris Chiasson ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Family Faith Formation program serves children and families across both parish sites (Bristol and Plymouth). Adult Faith Formation opportunities are also offered, and the parish runs the OCIA (formerly RCIA) process for adults seeking full reception into the Catholic faith, including those baptized in another Christian tradition who desire full communion. Parents wishing to enroll children in sacramental preparation should contact the Family Faith Formation Coordinator; adults seeking Confirmation or First Communion should contact Fr. Mark directly.
- Family Faith Formation Coordinator: Kristen Downing De Almeida — [email protected], 603-535-2673
- Adult Faith Formation opportunities
- OCIA Team contact: Chris Chiasson — [email protected]
- Confirmation (youth): via Family Faith Formation
- Confirmation (adults): contact Fr. Mark
Parish Ministries & Organizations
The parish supports a wide range of lay-led ministries serving both worship sites. Liturgical ministries include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (who also bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound), Lectors, Altar Servers, and Ushers. Parish life is enriched by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, which represents both worship sites, and by two Knights of Columbus councils — one in Bristol and one in Plymouth — that are described by the parish as 'very active in the parish and community.' The Music Ministry welcomes singers and instrumentalists who wish to share their gifts.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including ministry to the sick)
- Lectors
- Altar Servers (children post-Confirmation/First Eucharist, or adults)
- Ushers
- Music Ministry (director: Chris Chiasson, 603-724-1825)
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas
- Knights of Columbus — Bristol council
- Knights of Columbus — Plymouth council
- PSU Catholic Campus Ministry
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at both worship sites. The parish office and Christian Life Center are located at 11 School Street, Plymouth, NH 03264. Phone (603) 536-4700; email [email protected]. The parish maintains a weekly bulletin, an online parish calendar, online giving, livestreamed Masses, and online parish registration through its website.
- Parish office: 11 School Street, Plymouth, NH 03264
- Phone: (603) 536-4700
- Email: [email protected]
- Online parish registration available on the website
- Online giving available on the website
- Livestream Masses available on the website
- Weekly bulletin available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mark E. DollardJune 22, 2022 – present
Appointed pastor of Holy Trinity Parish by Bishop Peter A. Libasci, having previously served as pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Littleton and as Dean of the White Mountain Deanery.