About St. Agnes Mission [Gate of Heaven Parish] · Jefferson, New Hampshire
St. Agnes Mission is one of five worship sites of Gate of Heaven Parish, a Roman Catholic community serving the North Country of New Hampshire. The mission church sits along Presidential Highway (Route 2) in Jefferson, NH and is part of a family of churches that also includes All Saints in Lancaster (the parish's main worship site), St. Matthew in Whitefield, St. Patrick in Twin Mountain, and the Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine in Bretton Woods. St. Agnes shares the parish's pastor and staff and is identified in the Diocese of Manchester directory simply as 'Mission church of Gate of Heaven Parish, Lancaster.' Sunday Mass is celebrated in English at the mission during the summer schedule.
- Patron
- St. Agnes of Rome
- Rector
- Rev. Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, HGN (Administrator, appointed May 15, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Agnes Mission belongs to a unified parish family that spans five historic worship sites across the White Mountains, so Catholics in Jefferson can worship in their own small mission church while drawing on the broader pastoral staff and ministries of Gate of Heaven Parish. The parish is explicitly committed to welcoming newcomers, returning Catholics, and anyone searching for meaning — and Fr. Zevi and the parish staff personally invite visitors to reach out with questions. Active groups such as the Catholic Women's Group, the Cenacle of St. Monica (an intercessory prayer group), the Knights of Columbus Council #1624, and the Visitation of Elders ministry give parishioners concrete ways to pray and serve together.
Mass times at St. Agnes Mission [Gate of Heaven Parish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Gate of Heaven Parish — Five Churches, One Family
St. Agnes Mission belongs to Gate of Heaven Parish, which the Diocese of Manchester describes as a single pastoral community serving the 'beautiful North Country of New Hampshire.' The parish's five worship sites are All Saints Church (161 Main St., Lancaster — the main Sunday venue), St. Matthew Church (9 Jefferson Rd., Whitefield), St. Patrick Mission (65 St. Patrick Church Rd., Twin Mountain), Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine (2470 Rte. 302, Bretton Woods), and St. Agnes Mission (769 Presidential Highway, Jefferson). The parish website is gateofheavennh.org, and the main phone and mailing contact for all five sites is the parish rectory at 163 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584-3032.
- All Saints Church — 161 Main St., Lancaster (main worship site)
- St. Matthew Church — 9 Jefferson Rd., Whitefield
- St. Patrick Mission — 65 St. Patrick Church Rd., Twin Mountain
- Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine — 2470 Rte. 302, Bretton Woods
- St. Agnes Mission — 769 Presidential Highway (Route 2), Jefferson
History of Gate of Heaven Parish
Gate of Heaven Parish was canonically established in 2009 when Bishop John McCormack merged the former All Saints Parish of Lancaster and St. Matthew Parish of Whitefield, along with three mission churches — St. Agnes (Jefferson), St. Patrick (Carroll/Twin Mountain) and Our Lady of the Mountains (Bretton Woods) — into one new juridical person. The decree was issued under the 1983 Code of Canon Law (canons 121, 515 and 518) and was designed to strengthen the preaching of the Gospel, ensure the vitality of parish life, steward resources well, and guarantee the faithful of the region access to Word, sacrament and pastoral care. The Diocese of Manchester directory dates the parish 'Est. 2009.'
- Established 2009 by merger of All Saints (Lancaster) and St. Matthew (Whitefield)
- Three mission churches brought into the new parish: St. Agnes (Jefferson), St. Patrick (Carroll), Our Lady of the Mountains (Bretton Woods)
- Merger decree issued by Bishop John McCormack under canons 121, 515 and 518
St. Agnes Mission in Jefferson
St. Agnes Mission sits along Presidential Highway (Route 2) at 769 Presidential Highway, Jefferson, NH 03583, and is canonically a mission church of Gate of Heaven Parish in Lancaster. The parish directory entry reads simply: 'Mission church of Gate of Heaven Parish, Lancaster.' The mission is dedicated to St. Agnes of Rome, the early Christian martyr whose feast day is January 21.
- Address: 769 Presidential Highway (Route 2), Jefferson, NH 03583
- Patron: St. Agnes of Rome
- Feast day: January 21
Parish Ministries
Gate of Heaven Parish lists four named ministries that any of its parishioners — including those at St. Agnes Mission — can join: the Catholic Women's Group, the Cenacle of St. Monica, the Knights of Columbus Council #1624, and the Visitation of Elders. The parish also live-streams its 10:00 AM Sunday Mass from All Saints for those who cannot attend in person.
- Catholic Women's Group
- Cenacle of St. Monica — intercessory prayer group
- Knights of Columbus Council #1624
- Visitation of Elders
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass (10:00 AM from All Saints, Lancaster)
Cenacle of St. Monica — Prayer for Return
The Cenacle of St. Monica meets the 2nd and last Thursday of every month from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the sacristy of St. Matthew's Church. Its primary ministry is to pray for those who have separated themselves from the Church, but the group also prays for priests, the sick and dying, and many other intentions — making it a broad intercessory prayer community. Contacts: Patty Coutermarsh at (603) 837-9445 and Diane Caruso at (603) 991-4096.
- Meets 2nd and last Thursday of each month
- 3:00–5:00 PM at St. Matthew's sacristy
- Prays for those separated from the Church, priests, the sick and dying, and other intentions
Knights of Columbus Council #1624
The parish's Knights of Columbus council holds its business meetings at All Saints Church's St. Joseph's Room. The evening begins with dinner at 5:00, followed by the Rosary at 5:30 and the business meeting from 6:00 to 7:00.
- Business meetings at All Saints Church, St. Joseph's Room
- 5:00 dinner, 5:30 Rosary, 6:00–7:00 business meeting
Sacraments of Vocation
The parish website has a dedicated 'Sacraments of Vocation' page covering marriage and Holy Orders. For information about weddings, convalidation, or vocations discernment at any of the parish's five worship sites (including St. Agnes Mission in Jefferson), parishioners are directed to contact the parish office at (603) 788-2083.
- Marriage preparation and convalidation
- Holy Orders / vocations discernment
- Contact: parish office, (603) 788-2083
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Gate of Heaven Parish is currently led by Reverend Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, HGN (of the Holy Ghost Fathers / Spiritans), who was appointed Administrator of Gate of Heaven Parish effective May 15, 2025. He is assisted by Reverend Jaykumar Thangaraj, H.G.N., Parochial Vicar. The parish belongs to the White Mountain Deanery of the Diocese of Manchester. A succession of HGN (Holy Ghost Fathers) and diocesan priests have served the parish since its 2009 founding, including Rev. Matthew J. Mason, Rev. Matthew J. Schultz, Rev. Britto Adaikalam, HGN, and Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton (as Temporary Administrator from February to May 2025).
- Administrator — Rev. Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, HGN (appointed May 15, 2025)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Jaykumar Thangaraj, H.G.N.
- Deanery: White Mountain
- Diocese: Manchester
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office that serves all five worship sites — including St. Agnes Mission in Jefferson — by phone at (603) 788-2083 or by email at [email protected]. The parish website is http://www.gateofheavennh.org. The mailing address for the parish is 163 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584-3032, while St. Agnes Mission itself is located at 769 Presidential Highway (Route 2), Jefferson, NH 03583. The parish website also live-streams the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass from All Saints for those at a distance.
- Parish phone: (603) 788-2083
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Parish website: http://www.gateofheavennh.org
- Parish mailing address: 163 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584-3032
- St. Agnes Mission address: 769 Presidential Highway (Route 2), Jefferson, NH 03583
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matthew J. Mason
Pastor of Gate of Heaven Parish, Lancaster; left June 27, 2018 to become full-time Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Manchester.
- Rev. Matthew J. Schultz2018–2022
Administrator of Gate of Heaven Parish from June 27, 2018; reassigned July 13, 2022 as Pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Rochester and St. Leo, Gonic.
- Rev. Britto Adaikalam, HGN
Pastor of Gate of Heaven Parish, Lancaster/Whitefield; later returned to India to serve as Provincial Counselor.
- Rev. Charles Aruldurai, HGN
Served at the parish; later returned to India.
- Very Rev. Kyle F. StantonFeb 25 – May 15, 2025
Temporary Administrator of Gate of Heaven Parish from February 25, 2025 (in addition to pastoring Good Shepherd Berlin, Holy Family Gorham and North American Martyrs Colebrook, and serving as Dean of White Mountain Deanery); relieved May 15, 2025.
- Rev. Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, HGN2025–present
Appointed Administrator of Gate of Heaven Parish, Lancaster and Whitefield effective May 15, 2025.