About St. Charles Borromeo · Meredith, New Hampshire
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish in Meredith, New Hampshire, serving the Lakes Region communities of Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, and Sandwich. Established in 1946 by Bishop Matthew F. Brady as part of the Diocese of Manchester, the parish is a family of faith and hospitality that worships year-round or seasonally in its church on NH Route 25. Its mission is to help one another live better lives by putting Jesus Christ, His teachings, and His Church first, sharing the Catholic faith, encouraging the gifts of time, talent, and resources, and fostering participation by parishioners of all ages.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Volney J. DeRosia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a parish that takes its mission to be a 'welcoming community' seriously, offering a full sacramental life — daily and weekend Masses, Saturday confessions, weekly and monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and baptism, marriage, and anointing preparations — all in a friendly Lakes Region setting. Families can enroll children in K–8 faith formation and sacramental prep, adults can grow through adult faith formation and a New Evangelization study group, and parishioners can share their gifts through music, outreach, and pastoral ministries. Whether you live here year-round or only during the summer season, the parish invites everyone to join the journey of uncovering God's love and goodness together.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM
- By appointment (call the Parish Office, 603-279-4403)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM in the Chapel
- First Friday of the month 9:00 – 10:00 AM
- No Adoration on Fridays when a funeral is scheduled
Parish History
Catholic faith has been present in Meredith since 1877, when roughly sixteen families began gathering for Mass in homes and halls. In 1906, Our Lady of Victory Chapel was built in Center Harbor, and in 1907 Meredith was officially recognized as a mission of St. Joseph Parish in Laconia. A second worship space, the 'Little Green Chapel on the Hill' (today Trinity Episcopal Church), was built in 1911. Bishop Matthew F. Brady formally established St. Charles Borromeo Parish in 1946, with Rev. Robert Richard as its first pastor, to serve the towns of Center Harbor, Moultonborough, and Sandwich. The lower level of the original church was completed that same year, the upper level was finished in 1961, and on March 8, 2003, Bishop John B. McCormack celebrated the first Mass at the parish's current home on NH Route 25.
- 1877 — about 16 families begin worshipping together in homes and halls
- 1906 — Our Lady of Victory Chapel built in Center Harbor
- 1907 — Meredith recognized as a mission of St. Joseph Parish, Laconia
- 1911 — 'Little Green Chapel on the Hill' built in Meredith
- 1946 — St. Charles Borromeo Parish established by Bishop Matthew F. Brady
- 1961 — upper level of original church completed
- 2003 — first Mass at current NH Route 25 location celebrated by Bishop John B. McCormack on March 8
Mission & Core Values
St. Charles Borromeo describes itself as 'a family of faith and hospitality blessed with a diversity of people coming together to grow closer to God and to worship Him year-round or seasonally in our beautiful church and in this stunning Lakes Region of New Hampshire.' The parish's stated mission is to be a welcoming community that helps one another live better lives by putting Jesus Christ, His teachings, and His Church first.
- Share our Catholic faith with all
- Encourage all to share their gifts of time, talent and resources
- Foster and value participation by parishioners of all ages
Clergy, Staff & Contacts
The parish is served by a pastor, a permanent deacon, and a small lay staff led by an Office Manager. The Faith Formation Office and the Parish Office share the same physical address but have separate phone lines.
- Rev. Volney J. DeRosia — Pastor
- Deacon David (Dave) Hemeon III — Permanent Deacon
- Carol Abromowich — Office Manager
- Cindy Ossola — Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
- Dee Porter — Faith Formation Grades K–6 & Sacramental Prep
- Kevin Chamberlain, C.A.G.O. — Music Ministry
- Parish Office: (603) 279-4403
- Faith Formation Office: (603) 279-8691
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM and 1 PM – 3 PM
- Rectory: 8 Ridge Road, Meredith, NH 03253
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Charles is organized around Family Faith Formation and follows the Diocese of Manchester curriculum. Classes are scheduled during the school year and work around the Inter-Lakes and Moultonborough School District calendars.
- Grades K–6 faith formation (Dee Porter)
- Grades 7 & 8 classes following the Diocese of Manchester curriculum
- Sacramental Preparation (First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Youth Ministry led by Cindy Ossola
- Confirmation preparation
- Adult Faith Formation Library open Sunday 8:00 – 11:30 AM and Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Faith Formation Office: (603) 279-8691
Liturgy & Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Baptisms are scheduled after parents complete the Parish Baptismal Catechesis, and marriages require at least six months of preparation.
- Baptism — Parish Baptismal Catechesis required; register before the baby is born
- Confirmation
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Penance and Reconciliation — Saturday 4 PM or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Matrimony — at least six months advance notice; contact the pastor first
- Holy Orders — supported through the Diocese of Manchester
Music Ministry
Music at St. Charles is led by Kevin Chamberlain, C.A.G.O., a Certified Associate of the American Guild of Organists. The ministry supports the parish's liturgical life at weekend and holy day Masses.
- Director of Music: Kevin Chamberlain, C.A.G.O.
- Supports Sunday, weekday, and holy day liturgies
- Welcomes parishioner musicians and singers
Outreach & Evangelization
Beyond its liturgical life, St. Charles runs an Outreach Ministry and a New Evangelization Team that meet to study and share how to bring the Catholic faith to others in the spirit of Pope Francis's call to mercy and love.
- Outreach Ministries coordinator: Helen Heiner Turner
- New Evangelization Team — currently sharing excerpts from 'How to Share Your Faith with Anyone' by Terry Barber
- Supports parishioners and those in need in the Lakes Region
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Charles Borromeo sits on NH Route 25 in Meredith, in the heart of New Hampshire's Lakes Region, drawing both year-round residents and seasonal visitors. The parish office is staffed Monday through Thursday mornings and afternoons; the Faith Formation Office has its own dedicated line.
- Address: 300 NH Route 25, PO Box 237, Meredith, NH 03253
- Parish Office: (603) 279-4403
- Faith Formation Office: (603) 279-8691
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM & 1 PM – 3 PM
- Website: https://www.stcharlesnh.org/
- Diocese: Diocese of Manchester
- Deanery: Lakes Region; County: Belknap
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert Richard1946
First pastor of St. Charles Parish
- Rev. John Bosa
- Rev. Gerard Noel
- Rev. Msgr. George Chicoine1977
- Rev. Msgr. Fernand Pichette1986
- Rev. Richard B. Thompson1999
- Rev. Gerard Boucher
Retired
- Rev. Dennis J. Audet2006
- Rev. Msgr. Gerald F. Belanger2016
- Rev. Ronald Smith
Retired
- Rev. Volney J. DeRosia2024
Current pastor