About Parish of the Transfiguration · Manchester, New Hampshire
Parish of the Transfiguration is a Roman Catholic parish on the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire, in the Diocese of Manchester. Founded in February 2002 through the merger of Saint Edmund of Canterbury and Saint John the Baptist parishes and joined in 2007 by Saint Patrick Church, the parish worships in the former St. John the Baptist church building (built 1964) on Kelley Street. It is led by Very Rev. Christopher Martel (pastor) with Rev. Eric Ouellette (parochial priest) and Deacon Richard Shannon, and offers weekend Masses on the West Side of Manchester together with an active food pantry, parish nurse program, faith formation and a network of parish ministries.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- The Transfiguration of Jesus
- Rector
- Very Rev. Christopher Martel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Parish of the Transfiguration is a small but active west-side Manchester Catholic community that combines traditional parish life with direct service to neighbors in need. Weekend and weekday Masses are celebrated in its 1964 church and in the Mother Rivier Chapel, confession is offered every Saturday afternoon, and the parish runs both a Food Pantry & Outreach and a Parish Nurse Program affiliated with Catholic Medical Center. Lay faithful can join the choir, altar servers, Women's Club, Men's Group, Social Committee, Finance Committee, Liturgy Committee, Pastoral Council, or faith formation team — giving every member a clear way to put faith into action.
Mass times at Parish of the Transfiguration
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm (in church)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Mother Rivier Chapel open daily 7:30 am – 11:30 am (entrance at 107 Alsace St.)
About the Parish of the Transfiguration
The Parish of the Transfiguration is a welcoming Roman Catholic community on the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire. Its mission is to promote spiritual growth as the Body of Christ by proclaiming the Word of God, celebrating the Sacraments, and transforming faith into action and outreach. The parish commits itself to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ and witnesses to the Gospel, asking God — who revealed Himself in the Transfiguration — to help make His presence known to all of God's children.
- Member of the Diocese of Manchester
- Serves the greater Manchester area from the West Side
- Motto drawn from the Transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James and John
History & Formation
The parish was established in February 2002 by the merger of Saint Edmund of Canterbury and Saint John the Baptist parishes, with Saint Patrick Church clustered into the community on June 10, 2007. Worship is held in the 1964 former St. John the Baptist church; formation in the Parish Center; and offices plus the Mother Rivier Chapel in the rectory at 107 Alsace Street.
- 2002: Merger of St. Edmund of Canterbury and St. John the Baptist parishes creates Parish of the Transfiguration
- June 10, 2007: St. Patrick Church (founded 1898) united with the parish by decree of the Bishop of Manchester
- Name and logo mark the merger and the Gospel event of the Transfiguration
Pastoral Team & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial priest, a permanent deacon, and lay staff and ministry leaders. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am – 11:30 am (closed on holidays); the parish phone number is 603-623-4715, and after-hours emergencies (Anointing/Funerals) go to 603-622-4966 x 202 (Fr. Martel) or x 203 (Fr. Ouellette).
- Pastor: Very Rev. Christopher Martel
- Parochial Priest / Faith Formation & Youth Ministry: Rev. Eric Ouellette ([email protected])
- Deacon: Richard Shannon
- Business Office: Claire Janelle — 623-4715
- Sexton: John Leduc — 623-4715
- Music Ministry: Susan Lawrence — 674-7621
Committees & Lay Ministry Contacts
Parish committees and lay ministry coordinators are listed on the parish's About Us page with phone numbers for parishioners who wish to get involved.
- Altar Servers — Tom & Robin Maloney, 644-7604
- Finance Committee — Eva Martel
- Liturgy Committee — Carmelle Lamothe, 623-4715
- Pastoral Council — Claire Janelle, 625-9379
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Baptisms for infants and young children are celebrated year-round with required formation for parents and godparents; older children, teens, and adults enter through OCIA. Marriage preparation requires at least six months' notice. Confirmation and First Communion preparation begins in third grade in accordance with diocesan practice.
- Baptism (infants to age 6) with formation class for parents and godparents
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (and children over 6, teens)
- Confirmation and First Communion (preparation from third grade)
- Matrimony (six-month notice required)
- Anointing of the Sick (home, hospital, nursing home, or church)
- Reconciliation (Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm and by appointment)
Parish Ministries
Beyond the sacraments, parishioners can join a wide variety of liturgical, formation, fellowship, service, and parish-life ministries.
- Altar Servers
- Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
- Music Ministry (choir)
- Liturgy Committee
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Committee
- Social Committee
- Women's Club
- Men's Group
Outreach & Parish Nurse
Outreach is a core expression of the parish's mission. Volunteers staff a parish Food Pantry, and a long-running Parish Nurse Program operates in partnership with Catholic Medical Center (CMC) hospital to serve parishioners and neighbors.
- Food Pantry & Outreach — volunteers on call, 628-6859
- Parish Nurse Program — affiliated with CMC, 663-8002
Location & Contact
Parish offices are reached by phone at 603-623-4715 or by email ([email protected]). The mailing address is 305 Kelly Street, Manchester, NH 03102, with the parish office located in the rectory building at 107 Alsace Street.
- Tel: 603-623-4715
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 305 Kelly Street, Manchester, NH 03102
- West Side of Manchester, Kelley St. between Alsace and Youville Sts.
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 am – 11:30 am (closed holidays)
- After-hours Spiritual Emergency: 603-622-4966 x 202 (Fr. Martel) or x 203 (Fr. Ouellette)