About Our Lady of the Snows · Franconia, New Hampshire
Our Lady of the Snows is a Catholic mission church located at 403 Main Street in Franconia, New Hampshire, serving the White Mountains region as a satellite worship site of St. Rose of Lima Parish in nearby Littleton. Together, the parish and mission provide faith formation for children, teenagers, and adults, along with regular sacramental celebrations including a Saturday evening Mass. The mission is part of the Diocese of Manchester and serves the towns of Bethlehem, Dalton, Easton, Franconia, Littleton, Lyman, and Sugar Hill.
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Snows
- Rector
- Reverend Ryan C. Amazeen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Snows offers a welcoming Catholic presence in the Franconia Notch / White Mountains area with a Saturday evening Mass at 6:00 PM, making weekly worship accessible to residents and visitors in the surrounding hill towns. As part of St. Rose of Lima Parish, the mission connects parishioners to a wide range of faith formation programs (Pre-K through adult), outreach ministries (Dinner Bell, Giving Tree, Esperanza Por Honduras, Hospital & Homebound visits), liturgical ministries, and parish community events. It is a small but active mission in a strikingly beautiful part of New Hampshire, ideal for those seeking an intimate Catholic community serving the towns of Bethlehem, Dalton, Easton, Franconia, Littleton, Lyman, and Sugar Hill.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Snows
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (through the parish office)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Not Available at this mission per the Diocese of Manchester directory
Parish Identity & Mission
Our Lady of the Snows is a Catholic mission church located at 403 Main Street in Franconia, New Hampshire, in the heart of the White Mountains. It operates as a mission of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in nearby Littleton, sharing one pastor and one parish staff with the mother church. Together, the parish and mission strive 'to provide settings and events for local people to grow in the Catholic faith through experiences of formation for children, teenagers and adults, and through sacramental celebrations.' The parish serves the towns of Bethlehem, Dalton, Easton, Franconia, Littleton, Lyman, and Sugar Hill.
- Type: Mission Church
- Parent Parish: St. Rose of Lima, Littleton
- Diocese: Diocese of Manchester, NH
- Address: 403 Main Street, Franconia, NH 03580
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program of St. Rose of Lima Parish is open to children from Pre-K through fifth grade and includes preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Communion. The program runs from September through May, with classes meeting at 6:00 PM at Our Lady of the Snows in Franconia. Lindsey Foss serves as Parish Catechetical Leader.
- Pre-K through Grade 5
- Sacramental prep: Reconciliation, Confirmation, First Communion
- Saturday at 6:00 PM at Our Lady of the Snows
- Contact: Lindsey Foss, (603) 631-0720
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults seeking to learn about the Catholic faith, prepare for Baptism, or come into full communion with the Church. Information is available through the parish office.
Youth Ministry
A parish Youth Ministry is offered for teenagers as part of the parish's formation programming for children, teens, and adults.
Liturgical Ministries
The parish invites parishioners to serve in liturgical roles during Mass. The Liturgical Ministries include altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers, supported by the Music Ministry and the Church Environment Committee. As the parish describes it, 'the ministry of ushers is the oldest lay ministry in the Catholic Church.' Anyone interested in serving is encouraged to contact Father Ryan.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers
- Music Ministry
- Church Environment Committee
Outreach & Charity
The parish runs several outreach ministries that put faith into action locally and internationally. The Dinner Bell serves meals to those in need; Esperanza Por Honduras supports mission work in Honduras; the Giving Tree Project provides holiday gifts for families in need; the Hospital & Homebound ministry brings Communion and companionship to those who cannot attend Mass; and the Garden Ministry grows produce to share.
- Dinner Bell
- Esperanza Por Honduras
- Giving Tree Project
- Hospital & Homebound
- Garden Ministry
Pro-Life & Vocations
The parish's Pro-Life Committee gathers to pray the Rosary of the Unborn at St. Rose of Lima Church each Thursday at 5:25 PM (before the 6:00 PM Mass) and on the first Wednesday of each month at 12:00 PM. The committee also helps educate the parish and community about the evil of abortion and supports the local Pathways Pregnancy Care Center. A separate Vocations Committee fosters and promotes vocations to the priesthood, permanent diaconate, religious life, marriage, and consecrated single life.
- Rosary of the Unborn — Thursdays at 5:25 PM at St. Rose of Lima
- Rosary of the Unborn — First Wednesday at 12:00 PM
- Support for Pathways Pregnancy Care Center
Parish Committees & Community Life
Beyond liturgical and outreach ministries, the parish benefits from a Social Committee that organizes the annual St. Patrick's Day Supper, Parish Picnic, and Harvest Supper, as well as supporting sacramental celebrations. A Finance Committee (mandated by Canon Law as an advisory body to the pastor) meets at least four times a year to set and maintain the parish budget. A Pastoral Council and a Vocations Committee round out parish governance and discernment.
- Social Committee — St. Patrick's Day Supper, Parish Picnic, Harvest Supper
- Finance Committee
- Pastoral Council
- Vocations Committee
Clergy & Staff
Reverend Ryan C. Amazeen is the Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Littleton and Our Lady of the Snows Mission, Franconia. He was appointed by Bishop Peter A. Libasci from Administrator to Pastor effective July 10, 2024. Before him, Very Rev. Mark E. Dollard served as Pastor (he resigned as Co-Vicar for Clergy effective October 1, 2016 but continued as Pastor of the parish and mission). The Parish Catechetical Leader for Religious Education is Lindsey Foss.
- Pastor: Rev. Ryan C. Amazeen (since July 10, 2024)
- Former Pastor: Very Rev. Mark E. Dollard (through at least 2016)
- Parish Catechetical Leader: Lindsey Foss
Sacraments
St. Rose of Lima Parish and Our Lady of the Snows Mission prepare parishioners for and celebrate the seven Catholic sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (First Communion), Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders, Reconciliation (Penance), and Anointing of the Sick. Couples preparing for marriage and families preparing for infant Baptism are asked to contact the parish office in advance.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Holy Matrimony
- Holy Orders
- Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
Locations, Contact & Visiting
Our Lady of the Snows Mission Church is at 403 Main Street, Franconia, NH 03580. The parent parish of St. Rose of Lima Church is at 77 Clay Street, Littleton, NH 03561. The parish office can be reached at (603) 444-2593 (phone), (603) 444-3126 (fax), or [email protected]. Office hours are 9:15 AM to 1:15 PM, Monday through Friday. The parish livestreams some Masses; see the 'Livestream' link on the parish website.
- Our Lady of the Snows — 403 Main Street, Franconia, NH 03580
- St. Rose of Lima — 77 Clay Street, Littleton, NH 03561
- Phone: (603) 444-2593
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:15 AM – 1:15 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. Mark E. Dollardthrough October 2016 and continuing thereafter as Pastor
Resigned as Co-Vicar for Clergy effective October 1, 2016, but continued as Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Littleton and Our Lady of the Snows Mission Church in Franconia.
- Reverend Ryan C. Amazeeneffective July 10, 2024
Appointed from Administrator to Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish, Littleton and Our Lady of the Snows Mission, Franconia by Bishop Peter A. Libasci.