St. Catherine of Siena

Welcome to St. Catherine of Siena and St. Joseph Parishes

The official website describes St. Joseph and St. Catherine of Siena as 'two rural community parishes which means we really become a big family,' with a good representation of all ages and walks of life between the Woodsville and Lisbon communities. Members often band together in times of difficulty, and the parishes seek to image Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament, study, prayer, and the interactions of the people with one another. Visitors and those returning to the faith are warmly invited to introduce themselves at Mass, adoration, or one of the talks and classes offered.

Parish History

St. Catherine of Siena Church was dedicated on August 9, 1909, after Rev. Thomas Redden oversaw construction of the building between 1908 and 1909 and Bishop George Guertin blessed it. It began as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Woodsville, which had included Lisbon in its territory since January 1896. After serving as a mission for nearly half a century, the church was canonically erected as its own parish on September 10, 1958, by Bishop Matthew Brady, with Rev. Raymond Desjardins as the first resident pastor. The parish has since returned to mission status under St. Joseph's, and the present pastor resides in the Woodsville rectory.

• 1896 — Lisbon assigned to new St. Joseph Parish in Woodsville; monthly Masses in Franklin Hall on Main Street.
• August 24, 1907 — site at NW corner of Highland & Kelsea Avenues acquired for the church.
• 1908–1909 — church built under Rev. Thomas Redden.
• August 9, 1909 — church dedicated and blessed by Bishop George Guertin as a mission of St. Joseph's.
• May 3, 1921 — second rectory site behind the church acquired.
• July 16, 1958 — first rectory lot (SW corner of Highland & Kelsea) acquired.
• September 10, 1958 — canonically erected as a parish by Bishop Matthew Brady; Rev. Raymond Desjardins named first resident pastor; Our Lady of the Snows (Franconia) made a mission.
• September 20, 1967 — Rev. Raymond Desjardins ends tenure as first resident pastor.
• 1976–1978 — original rectory traded to Lisbon School District; new rectory built behind church by Lisbon School Supervisory Union's vocational class.
• October 1997 — second rectory sold; St. Catherine's returns to mission status under St. Joseph's.

Clergy & Parish Staff

The two parishes share a single pastoral team. Fr. Ryan Amazeen serves as pastor and Fr. Roarke (Rory) Traynor as parochial vicar. The parish secretary is Linda Aliberti, Ben Roy directs Youth Ministry, Tammy Poitras coordinates the Christian Initiation of Adults (CCIA) program, Jonah Hahr handles maintenance, and Marianne Hahr leads the Music Ministry.

• Fr. Ryan Amazeen — Pastor
• Fr. Roarke (Rory) Traynor — Parochial Vicar
• Linda Aliberti — Parish Secretary
• Ben Roy — Youth Ministry (603-243-0224)
• Tammy Poitras — CCIA Coordinator
• Jonah Hahr — Maintenance
• Marianne Hahr — Music Ministry (802-757-2136)

Sacraments

Arrangements for Baptism must be made in advance through the parish rectory. Couples preparing for Marriage are asked to contact the parish at least six months in advance. The Christian Initiation of Adults (CCIA) program, the local equivalent of RCIA, is coordinated by Tammy Poitras for those seeking to become Catholic. New parishioners are warmly invited to stop in or call the rectory to register, and a Prayer Line is also available for those in need of prayer support.

• Baptisms — register in advance via the rectory
• Marriage — contact at least 6 months in advance
• CCIA (Christian Initiation of Adults) — Tammy Poitras, Coordinator
• Parish Prayer Line — 603-747-2038

Religious Education & Youth Ministry

Religious Education Sunday School classes are offered for students from Kindergarten through 9th grade (except 2nd grade), meeting on Sundays from 9:30 to 10:30 am (dates subject to change). Youth Ministry for grades 7 through 12 is led by Ben Roy and uses a separate Youth Group Registration Form available on the parish website. Baptismal, parish, and religious-education registration forms can be downloaded, printed, and returned to the rectory or emailed to the parish office.

• Religious Education Sunday School: K–9th grade (except grade 2), Sundays 9:30–10:30 am
• Youth Group (grades 7–12): led by Ben Roy (603-243-0224)
• Baptismal Registration Form — available on the parish website
• Parish Registration Form — available on the parish website
• Religious Education Registration Form — available on the parish website

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners serve as Lectors and Altar Servers at Mass, with rotating schedules published for several months at a time on the parish website. Marianne Hahr coordinates the Music Ministry for the two parishes. The parish welcomes new volunteers to these liturgical roles.

• Lectors — rotating schedule published on the website
• Altar Servers — rotating schedule published on the website
• Music Ministry — Marianne Hahr (802-757-2136)

Parish Councils

The two parishes share consultative councils that assist the pastor in pastoral and financial decisions. The St. Joseph Parish Council is chaired by Peter Cataldo with members Mary Cataldo, Chuck Schultz, and Betsy Belanger. The St. Joseph Finance Council is chaired by Philip Roy, with John French VI, Elie Roy, Carolyn Hofmann, and Betsy Belanger-Krasucki. The St. Catherine of Siena Finance Council is chaired by Jacqueline Taxter, with Donna Northrop as a member.

• St. Joseph Parish Council — Peter Cataldo (Chair); Fr. Ryan Amazeen; Mary Cataldo; Chuck Schultz; Betsy Belanger
• St. Joseph Finance Council — Philip Roy (Chair); John French VI; Elie Roy; Carolyn Hofmann; Betsy Belanger-Krasucki
• St. Catherine of Siena Finance Council — Jacqueline Taxter (Chair); Donna Northrop

Visit, Directions & Contact

St. Catherine of Siena Church is located at 14 Highland Avenue, Lisbon, NH 03585, directly across the street from Lisbon Regional School and next door to 4 Highland Avenue. The rectory/parish office is at 21 Pine Street, Woodsville, NH 03785, with office hours Monday 8:30 am to 1:30 pm and Thursday/Friday 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The parish can be reached by phone at (603) 747-2038 or by email at [email protected].

• St. Catherine of Siena Church — 14 Highland Avenue, Lisbon, NH 03585
• St. Joseph Rectory / Parish Office — 21 Pine Street, Woodsville, NH 03785
• Rectory Office Hours — Mon 8:30 am–1:30 pm; Thu & Fri 9:00 am–2:00 pm
• Phone — (603) 747-2038
• Email — [email protected]