About St. Aloysius of Gonzaga · Nashua, New Hampshire
St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish (locally known as "St. Louis") is a Roman Catholic parish in Nashua, New Hampshire, founded in 1871 by French-Canadian immigrants and recognized as the oldest remaining Catholic parish in the city. It belongs to the Diocese of Manchester (Souhegan Deanery) and today is a bilingual English/Spanish community serving Nashua and surrounding Hillsborough County. The parish is led by Rev. Marcos Gonzalez-Torres (ordained 2006) and Deacon Jorge Ivan Hurtado Garces, and offers daily and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, faith formation for children and adults, Vacation Bible School, and a tradition of novenas and devotions.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Aloysius of Gonzaga (Italian Jesuit scholastic, 1568–1591, patron saint of youth and students)
- Rector
- Rev. Marcos Gonzalez-Torres
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire (Ecclesiastical Province of Boston; Souhegan Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Aloysius of Gonzaga welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics, with a full Sunday schedule (Vigil Mass Saturday at 4 PM, Sunday Mass at 9 AM in English and 11 AM in Spanish) and daily Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The parish offers weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays from 2:00–5:45 PM, regular confession on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a vibrant faith-formation program for children and adults, including RCIA, Adult Confirmation, and a popular Vacation Bible School. Active lay ministries — greeters, altar servers, Children's Liturgy, baptism-preparation classes, and ongoing novenas and devotions — make it easy for newcomers to get involved and serve.
Mass times at St. Aloysius of Gonzaga
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 2:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Thursday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Eucharistic Chapel, per directory listing)
Parish History & Heritage
St. Aloysius of Gonzaga was founded in 1871 by the French-Canadian Catholic population of Nashua. The original church was built in 1873 in the American Gothic Revival style and dedicated June 8, 1873; a 1920 renovation added a transept and a perpendicular-style stained-glass window. After a July 20, 1976 fire destroyed the roof, most of the structure was razed — the shorter steeple remains as a memorial — and a new church was dedicated in 1979, incorporating salvaged 1887 stained glass, doors, sanctuary seating, and the sanctuary light.
- Founded 1871 — oldest remaining Catholic parish in Nashua
- Original church built 1873 (American Gothic Revival), dedicated June 8, 1873
- 1920 renovation added a transept
- Fire of July 20, 1976 destroyed the roof
- New church dedicated 1979; shorter original steeple preserved as memorial
- Interior retains 1887 stained-glass windows and other salvaged elements
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Marcos Gonzalez-Torres (Pastor, ordained 2006) and Deacon Jorge Ivan Hurtado Garces. The Diocese of Manchester lists the parish in the Souhegan Deanery under Bishop Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci and Dean Very Rev. John M. Grace.
- Rev. Marcos Gonzalez-Torres — Pastor (ordained 2006)
- Deacon Jorge Ivan Hurtado Garces
- Parish business manager: [email protected]
- Rectory/pastor email: [email protected]
- Bishop of Manchester: Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci
- Dean (Souhegan Deanery): Very Rev. John M. Grace
Novenas & Devotions
The parish maintains a rich devotional life centered on its patron, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and on traditional Catholic practices. The parish's Novenas and Devotions page explains the meaning of novenas (rooted in the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost) and encourages Eucharistic adoration, the Way of the Cross, processions, the Rosary, and meditation on Scripture. The traditional Prayer to Saint Aloysius of Gonzaga — to which Pope Pius VII attached an indulgence of 100 days, once a day, in 1802 — has a place of honor in the parish's devotional tradition.
- Novenas (nine-day prayer cycles, especially before major feasts)
- Prayer to St. Aloysius Gonzaga (indulgence of 100 days attached by Pope Pius VII, 1802)
- Way of the Cross
- Rosary and private devotional prayer
- Meditation on Scripture and scapular medals
Faith Formation
The parish's faith-formation program equips students with the knowledge and skills to strengthen their relationship with God and to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. It complements the parish's sacramental preparation and parish-school partnerships.
- Faith Formation for children and youth
- Adult Formation / Faith Enrichment (RCIA, Adult Confirmation)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Baptism preparation classes
- Vacation Bible School — 'On the Way with Jesus' (August 10–13, 5:30–7:15 PM in the church hall)
Adult Formation & Sacraments for Adults
Adult Ministry at St. Aloysius aims to call all people to a deeper understanding of God and how He calls them to live. It includes service opportunities, fellowship/discussion series, and lectures, alongside formal sacramental preparation for those entering or completing initiation into the Church.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (offered every year)
- Adult Confirmation — for baptized Catholics 18+ who have received First Communion but not yet Confirmation
- Fellowship, discussion series, and adult lectures
- Baptism preparation for new parents
Parish Ministries & Service Opportunities
The parish is an active, lay-led community with many ways to serve. Newcomers are especially welcome to join the Greeters' ministry, become altar servers, or assist with children's and family ministries.
- Greeters (Mass greeting ministry)
- Altar Servers
- Children's Liturgy
- Baptism Preparation Classes
- Cruzados
- Volunteer support for Vacation Bible School and adult faith-enrichment programs
Merged Communities — St. Stanislaus & St. Francis Xavier
St. Aloysius is now home to former parishioners of two neighboring Catholic churches that have since closed. St. Stanislaus Church served the Polish-speaking community of Nashua and was suppressed in 2002, with its members joining St. Aloysius; the building was later used for Eucharistic Adoration and, in 2016, became a personal-use Latin Mass parish entrusted to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. St. Francis Xavier Church, which served the French-speaking population, has also closed; its former building is now occupied by a Coptic Orthodox congregation (St. Mary and Archangel Michael Church).
- St. Stanislaus Parish (Polish community) suppressed in 2002; members absorbed
- St. Francis Xavier Church (French-speaking) closed; building now Coptic Orthodox
Contact, Location & Directions
The parish office and rectory are located at 48 W. Hollis Street in Nashua, with the church at 50 W. Hollis Street — the same block, in the heart of the city's downtown historic district.
- Address: 48 W. Hollis Street, Nashua, NH 03060-3286 (church at 50 W. Hollis Street)
- Phone: (603) 882-4362
- Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
- Directions: Everett Turnpike (Rt. 3), Exit 5E onto Kinsley Street; turn left/north onto Vines Street; parking lot on the right about 1.5 blocks up