About Sacred Heart · Manchester, New Hampshire
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Manchester located at 265 South Main Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Founded in 1911 as a Franco-American parish carved out of Ste. Marie to serve families on the city's southwest side, it has worshipped at its South Main Street location for more than a century and is the spiritual home of a long, multi-generational community. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, a long-standing Eucharistic Adoration hour every Wednesday, a weekly food pantry that serves the surrounding neighborhood, and a Restored Order sacramental preparation program for children. The current pastor is Rev. Richard E. St. Louis, Jr., who was assigned to Sacred Heart by Bishop Peter A. Libasci effective April 8, 2026.
- Established
- 1911
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Richard E. St. Louis, Jr.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester (New Hampshire)
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a welcoming neighborhood parish with deep roots in Manchester's west side and a rhythm of Catholic life that is easy to enter: a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, a daily Mass Monday through Thursday, and a full morning and afternoon block of Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday. The parish runs a Thursday food pantry that serves families in the surrounding neighborhood, and a Restored Order sacramental program prepares children for First Penance, First Communion, and Confirmation by the end of third grade. With lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, an Arts and Environment committee, and a music ministry under Director of Music A. Robert Dionne, there are concrete ways for new parishioners to get involved quickly.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 8:30 am – 9:30 am
- Wednesday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm (church open; use the side door)
Welcome to Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart is a Catholic community on South Main Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the Diocese of Manchester. The parish's homepage invites visitors to celebrate the faith by participating in the Sacraments and lists its weekend and daily Mass schedule, its weekly block of Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, the Thursday food pantry, and online giving. New parishioners are always welcome.
- Mass: Sat Vigil 4:00 pm; Sun 9:00 am
- Daily Mass: Mon–Thu 8:00 am
- Holy Day of Obligation: 8:00 am
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wed 8:30 am – 4:00 pm (side door)
- Food Pantry: Thu 10:00 – 11:30 am (603-668-4004)
Parish History
The parish's own published history, traced from its 1911 founding to the present, forms the backbone of the parish identity. It describes the carving of Sacred Heart from Ste. Marie to serve southwest Manchester's Franco-American families, the tent and chapel-school that preceded the permanent church, the twenty-year pastorate of Father Laliberte and the parish societies he founded, and the 1950s construction of the current brick church under Father Halde.
- 1911: parish established April 23 by Bishop George A. Guertin; first pastor Father Francis Xavier Leclair
- 1912: first Mass in the chapel-school, January 21
- 1917: Father Leclair dies; Father Louis T. Laliberte named second pastor (serves 20 years)
- 1937: Father Elzear N. Durette becomes third pastor
- 1941: Father Nérée Bouchard becomes fourth pastor; dies in office May 10, 1950
- 1950: Father Adelard J. Halde returns as fifth pastor
- 1956: construction of the new brick church begins in December
- 1957: first Mass in the new church at Midnight Mass, December 25
- 1958: Bishop Matthew F. Brady dedicates the cornerstone, May 30
- 1961: Golden Jubilee celebrated June 4
- 1962: Father Halde named a Domestic Prelate, the first in parish history
- 1969: Father Maurice A. Boulanger becomes sixth pastor
- 1974: Father George A. Desjardins becomes seventh pastor (April 23)
- 1985: Father Marcel Allard becomes eighth pastor (June 20)
- 1995: Father Marc Montminy becomes tenth pastor; Sacred Heart twinned with Ste. Marie (July 31)
- 2009: Father Maurice Larochelle becomes eleventh pastor (June 24)
- 2016: Diocese ends the sister-parish relationship with Ste. Marie (August)
- 2017: Father Britto Adaikalam, H.G.N., short-term part-time pastor (September)
- 2017: Father A. Stephen Marcoux, III introduced as twelfth pastor (December 3)
- 2018: Father Marcoux officially installed by Very Rev. Richard Dion, V.F. (January 14)
- 2025: Father Marcoux retires from active ministry (October 1)
- 2026: Rev. Richard E. St. Louis, Jr. assigned pastor (April 8)
The Founding Years (1911–1917)
Father I. H. C. Davignon of Ste. Marie recognized that the 1,200 Catholics in the southwest section of Manchester struggled to reach Mass and petitioned Bishop Guertin for a new parish. A South Main Street parcel was bought for $8,000 in April 1911, the bishop proclaimed the new parish on April 23, and Father Leclair's first Masses were celebrated in the GAR Hall at Granite Square, drawing more than 400 people. A large tent served as chapel through autumn while a $20,000, 100-by-60-foot chapel-school was built; the first Mass in the new chapel was January 21, 1912.
Building the Present Church (1950s)
Father Halde's signature achievement was the new brick church, which he shepherded from planning through cornerstone. The 600-seat building replaced the 450-seat wooden church, which was then converted into classrooms. The new parking area at the back of the parish grounds was part of the same project, and the 1958 cornerstone still encloses a leather chest with silver pieces, a list of benefactors, the names of the children of Sacred Heart School, and a French-language dedication dated to the pontificate of Pius XII.
- Construction began December 1956
- First Mass: Midnight Mass, December 25, 1957
- Cornerstone dedicated May 30, 1958 by Bishop Matthew F. Brady
- Assisting curates: Fathers Gregoire Dumont and Leo Frechette
Parish Staff
The parish office is staffed during published hours and is the point of contact for all sacraments, online giving, and general inquiries. Office hours are Monday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and Tuesday through Thursday 8:30 am – 2:00 pm. Music at Masses is directed by A. Robert Dionne, and parish administration is handled by Julie Cusson.
- Rev. Richard E. St. Louis, Jr. — Pastor
- A. Robert Dionne — Director of Music
- Julie Cusson — Office Administrator
- Parish phone: 603-625-9525
Mass & Sacraments
The parish's Mass & Sacraments page is the canonical source for the current schedule: Saturday Vigil at 4:00 pm, Sunday at 9:00 am, daily Mass Monday through Thursday at 8:00 am, and Holy Day Mass at 8:00 am. Reconciliation is heard on Wednesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, and the parish follows the Restored Order of Sacraments, with First Penance at the end of second grade and First Communion and Confirmation together at the end of third grade.
- Vigil Mass: Saturday 4:00 pm
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 am
- Daily Mass: Monday–Thursday 8:00 am
- Holy Day of Obligation: 8:00 am
- Reconciliation: Wednesday 8:30–9:30 am and 3:30–4:30 pm
- Baptism: call the parish office at 603-625-9525
- Marriage: contact the office 9 to 12 months in advance
Parish Ministries
The Ministries page describes the parish's lay apostolates and how to volunteer. Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion are commissioned liturgical roles, open to confirmed registered parishioners (men, women, teens, and young adults) who complete training. The Arts and Environment Committee cares for the sanctuary, and the Food Pantry is the parish's signature outreach to the surrounding neighborhood.
- Lector — proclaim Scripture at Mass; arrive 15 minutes early
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion — assist with Communion at Mass and special liturgies after training and commissioning
- Arts and Environment — decorate and prepare the sanctuary for liturgical seasons
- Food Pantry — acquire food, stock shelves, assemble and distribute grocery bags and holiday baskets
- Faith Formation — ongoing faith formation for children and adults, including preparation for the Restored Order sacraments
Sacred Heart Food Pantry
The parish's Food Pantry serves hungry families of Sacred Heart and the surrounding community year-round, distributing groceries every Thursday morning and assembling Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas food baskets. The pantry is run entirely by volunteer parishioners and is supported by food donations, cash contributions, and the parish's 120 Club.
- Open Thursdays 10:00 – 11:30 am
- Contact: 603-668-4004
- Volunteers acquire food, stock shelves, assemble bags, and distribute
Faith Formation & the Restored Order
Sacred Heart follows the Restored Order of Sacraments: First Penance is celebrated at the end of second grade, and First Holy Communion and Confirmation are celebrated together at the end of third grade. The parish also runs ongoing adult faith courses, baptismal and marriage preparation, and is developing parish days of recollection and retreat experiences in conjunction with its Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration.
- First Penance: end of 2nd grade
- First Communion & Confirmation: end of 3rd grade
- Adult faith courses
- Baptismal and marriage preparation
- Parish days of recollection and retreats in development
Online Giving
Parishioners interested in setting up electronic giving are asked to call the parish office at 603-625-9525 and leave a message; Julie Cusson returns the call and walks donors through the process.
- Phone: 603-625-9525 (leave a message for Julie)
Getting Involved & New Parishioners
The parish's Parish Information page frames Sacred Heart as a community that welcomes new parishioners and invites them to celebrate the faith by participating in the Sacraments, including the Eucharist at daily Mass, Adoration, and Holy Days. The Ministries page directs volunteers to contact the parish office, and the Facebook page reiterates that new parishioners are always welcome.
- Contact the parish office to volunteer for any ministry
- Bulletin and announcements are posted on the parish Facebook page
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Xavier Leclair1911–1917
First pastor; organized the new parish, built the original chapel-school on South Main Street; died in office on July 9, 1917 at age 45.
- Rev. Louis T. Laliberte1917–1937
Second pastor; founded the Ligue du Sacré-Coeur, Dames de Saint-Anne, and Enfants de Marie parish societies; served 20 years before transfer to St. Jean-Baptiste, Manchester.
- Rev. Elzear N. Durette1937–1941
Third pastor; later named pastor of St. Jean-Baptiste, Suncook.
- Rev. Nérée Bouchard1941–1950
Fourth pastor; died in office on May 10, 1950.
- Rev. Adelard J. Halde1950–1969
Fifth pastor; previously a curate of Sacred Heart from 1922; led construction of the current brick church (first Mass Christmas 1957, cornerstone dedicated May 30, 1958); named a Domestic Prelate in March 1962; retired for health reasons June 10, 1969.
- Rev. Maurice A. Boulanger1969–
Sixth pastor; established a parish council in line with the bishop's wishes.
- Rev. George A. Desjardins1974–1985
Seventh pastor; restored pews and woodwork to original finish, eliminated parish debt; transferred to St. George Parish on June 20, 1985.
- Rev. Marcel Allard1985–
Eighth pastor; took over from Father Desjardins on June 20, 1985.
- Rev. Marc Montminy1995–2009
Tenth pastor (effective July 31, 1995); on the same day Sacred Heart became sister parish to Ste. Marie; used proceeds of parish land sale to build the Bishop Odore Gendron Parish Center; commissioned the sanctuary cross; transferred to St. Michael's, Exeter on June 24, 2009.
- Rev. Maurice Larochelle2009–
Eleventh pastor (effective June 24, 2009); led parish alongside its sister-parish relationship with Ste. Marie.
- Rev. Britto Adaikalam, H.G.N.Sept 2017–late 2017
Short-term part-time pastor during the 2016–2017 interregnum; reassigned to parishes in western New Hampshire.
- Rev. A. Stephen Marcoux, III2017–2025
Twelfth pastor; introduced December 3, 2017 and officially installed January 14, 2018 by Very Rev. Richard Dion, V.F.; retired from active ministry effective October 1, 2025.
- Rev. Richard E. St. Louis, Jr.2026–present
Current pastor; assigned by Bishop Peter A. Libasci effective April 8, 2026.