About Sacred Heart · Lebanon, New Hampshire
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving Lebanon, New Hampshire, in the Diocese of Manchester. Established in 1876 for about 100 Catholic families, the parish has been a steady presence in the Upper Valley for 150 years and celebrated its 150th anniversary on May 24, 2026, with a Mass offered by Bishop Libasci. The parish gathers for daily and Sunday Mass at its church on Hough Street and serves its community through an unusually large network of lay ministries — from liturgical roles like lectors and Eucharistic ministers to outreach, prayer, and faith-formation programs for both children and adults. After decades under the pastoral care of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (1979–2015), Sacred Heart returned to diocesan clergy and is currently led by Fr. Charles Pawlowski.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- The Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Charles Pawlowski, KHS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a parish where people pitch in. Liturgically it offers seven Masses each week, Saturday confession, and Eucharistic Adoration on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of each month. Beyond the altar, members serve as Altar Boys, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, Sacristans, Pastoral Care Visitors to the homebound, and through the parish's Music Ministry — alongside a Prayer Chain, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and the Seven Sisters Apostolate. For families, Faith Formation for grades K–8 runs in parallel with adult programs including OCIA, Bible Study, a Book Group, Men of St. Joseph, Infused Men's Ministry, and a Catholics Come Home ministry. The parish is wheelchair accessible, has parking on-site and in a municipal lot across the street, and is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary year — a good moment to register and become part of a faith community with deep Upper Valley roots.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 PM (per Diocese of Manchester directory)
- Saturday 2:45–3:30 PM and by appointment (per third-party listings)
Adoration times
- First Tuesday of the month: 4:15–5:15 PM (one hour prior to evening Mass)
- Third Wednesday of the month: following the 12:10 PM Mass
Parish History
Sacred Heart grew from the first Mass said in Lebanon by Fr. O'Reilly in 1835 into a chapel in a converted storage building (1856) and then a formal parish of about 100 families in 1876. The parish's current church on High/Hough Streets was dedicated in 1942, replacing the 1879 School Street building. Between 1979 and 2015, Sacred Heart was shepherded by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette; pastoral care returned to the Diocese of Manchester on January 3, 2015. In 2003, Holy Redeemer Parish in West Lebanon merged into Sacred Heart. The 150th anniversary was celebrated on May 24, 2026, with a Mass offered by Bishop Libasci.
- 1835 — First Mass in Lebanon offered by Fr. O'Reilly
- 1856 — Storage building at 10 Parkhurst Street converted into a chapel for ~15 Catholic families
- 1876 — Sacred Heart formally established for ~100 families
- 1879 — Blessing of the first parish church on School Street
- 1889 — First Sacred Heart School opens on Granite Street near West Street (~100 pupils)
- 1901 — Holy Redeemer Chapel built in West Lebanon as a mission of Sacred Heart
- 1909 — New Sacred Heart School opens on Eldridge Street with the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy
- 1942 — Dedication of the current Sacred Heart church and rectory on High/Hough Streets
- 1976 — Centennial anniversary celebrated
- 1979 — Parish entrusted to the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette
- 2003 — Holy Redeemer Parish (West Lebanon) merged into Sacred Heart
- 2010 — Interior renovation; Bishop John McCormack rededicates the church
- 2015 — Stewardship returns to the Diocese of Manchester (Jan 3)
- May 24, 2026 — 150th Anniversary Mass with Bishop Libasci
Restoration & Preservation Projects
Since 2016, parishioners have undertaken an extraordinary series of restorations of the 1942 church. Many of the original pieces removed in earlier decades have been painstakingly recovered and reinstalled — most strikingly the 1879 church bell, silent for more than 40 years before ringing again on Holy Thursday 2021.
- 2016–2017 — Restoration of the 1885 pipe organ (installed at Sacred Heart in 1941); completed Nov 22, 2017, the feast of St. Cecilia
- 2017 — Sanctuary floor and woodwork restored; front doors restored
- 2018 — Parish hall kitchen renovated and doubled in size; new coffee/drink bar added
- 2019 — Four new side altars built and installed (Mary, Sacred Heart, Our Lady of La Salette, St. John the Baptist)
- 2019 — Portions of the church repainted in the original burgundy
- 2020 — Altar rail restored to the sanctuary using original pieces removed in the mid-1970s
- 2020 — High altar restored during Lent amid COVID-19 suspension of public Masses
- 2021 — Original 1879 church bell restored; first rang again on Holy Thursday, April 1, 2021
Pastoral Team & Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Charles Pawlowski, KHS, who resides at Sacred Heart. The parish office staff includes a Music Director, Parish Secretary / Safe Environment Coordinator, and an Accountant. A standing note from the parish reminds members that Fr. Charles would never solicit money, gift cards, or donations via email or text — a precaution against phishing scams that have impersonated parish clergy elsewhere.
- Rev. Fr. Charles Pawlowski, KHS — Pastor
- Alice Maleski — Music Director ([email protected])
- Camille Hardt — Parish Secretary and Safe Environment Coordinator ([email protected])
- Richard Reece — Accountant ([email protected])
- Lynn Smollin — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
Faith Formation for Children and Youth
Faith Formation at Sacred Heart follows the diocesan initiative to Restore, Renew, and Proclaim: restoring the natural sequence of the Sacraments of Initiation (Infant Baptism, then Confirmation and First Eucharist in 3rd Grade), renewing youth ministry and adult faith formation, and proclaiming the Gospel to all ages. Programming runs cradle-Catholic through teen and into adulthood, all aimed at deepening a lifelong relationship with Christ and His Church.
- Faith Formation for Grades K–8
- Safe Environment program
- Confirmation preparation (3rd Grade)
- First Eucharist preparation (3rd Grade)
- Infant Baptism preparation
- Altar Boys ministry
Adult Faith Formation & Small Groups
A wide range of adult formation offerings complement the parish's family programming. Curious adults can explore Catholicism through OCIA (formerly RCIA), Catholics Come Home, or weekly Bible Study and Book Group. Two men's groups — Men of St. Joseph and Infused Men's Ministry — meet regularly, and the Third Order of Mary supports members in consecrated lay life.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Rite of Christian Initiation)
- Catholics Come Home
- Bible Study
- Book Group
- Men of St. Joseph (meets second Saturday, 8:00–9:30 AM, lower level of Parish Office)
- Infused Men's Ministry
- Third Order of Mary
Liturgical Ministries
Lay liturgical roles at Sacred Heart include serving at the altar, reading, distributing the Eucharist, supporting the priest, and leading the music that shapes every liturgy. The parish welcomes musicians of all ages to join the Music Ministry for Sunday Mass and special celebrations throughout the year.
- Altar Boys
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (and Eucharistic / Adoration ministry)
- Lectors
- Sacristans
- Music Ministry — Director Alice Maleski
Outreach, Prayer, and Pastoral Care
Pastoral care reaches beyond the church walls: trained Pastoral Care Visitors bring the Eucharist and companionship to homebound parishioners, the Prayer Chain lifts up intentions across the parish, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry offers hand-crafted shawls as a tangible comfort. The Seven Sisters Apostolate supports priests through a holy hour of prayer by seven women for each priest, and the parish also hosts a parish library and the Social Ministry 'Joyful Hearts.'
- Pastoral Care Visitors — Donna Christy, Cathy Filiano, Jan Miles
- Prayer Chain Ministry
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Seven Sisters Apostolate
- Social Ministry — Joyful Hearts
- Parish Library
- Faith in Action
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The Sacraments page links to dedicated information for Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Matrimony (Marriage)
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can register online, attend Mass or an event, or stop by the parish office Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM (summer hours: 9 AM to 1 PM). The parish hall and church are both wheelchair accessible, with parking behind the church, on side streets, and in the municipal lot across the street.
- Register as a Parishioner (online form available)
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–3 PM (summer: 9 AM–1 PM)
- Phone: (603) 448-1262
- General email: [email protected]
- Fr. Charles email: [email protected]
- Director of Religious Education: Lynn Smollin — [email protected]
- Wheelchair-accessible church and Parish Hall
- Parking: behind the church, on side streets, and in the municipal lot across the street
The New Hampshire Catholic Appeal
Each year Sacred Heart participates in the New Hampshire Catholic Appeal, which supports retired priests, seminarian education and formation, Catholic education, faith formation, evangelization through Parable Magazine, and Catholic Charities' Community Services program. The 2026 parish goal is $26,194; any funds raised above the goal are rebated back to Sacred Heart for its own needs.
- 2026 parish goal: $26,194
- Funds raised above the goal are rebated to the parish
- Supports retired priests, seminarians, Catholic education, faith formation, Parable Magazine, and Catholic Charities Community Services
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. O'Reilly1835
Offered the first Mass in Lebanon.
- Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette1979–2015
Pastoral care of Sacred Heart entrusted to the order for 36 years; returned to the Diocese of Manchester on January 3, 2015.
- Rev. Fr. Charles Pawlowski, KHS
Current pastor; resides at Sacred Heart.