About St. Denis · Hanover, New Hampshire
Saint Denis Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Manchester located in Hanover, New Hampshire, home of Dartmouth College. Founded in 1907 and named after Saint Denis, the parish has served area residents, Dartmouth students, and visitors for more than a century. The present church on Sanborn Road was built in the early 1920s and dedicated in 1925. Since 2007, the parish has been entrusted to the Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph (New York), who also staff Aquinas House, the Catholic campus ministry at Dartmouth College.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- Saint Denis
- Rector
- Fr. Brian Mulcahy
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Denis welcomes Hanover residents, Dartmouth students, and visitors into a parish that has been a place of peace and contemplation for more than a century. With daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration ending in Benediction, and a robust schedule of Confessions, the parish provides steady sacramental life. Its ministries — Children's Liturgy, RCIA, Bible Study, Music Ministry, Homebound Ministers, a Vocations Committee, and a Parish Relations Committee — offer ways for every age and vocation to belong, while the Dominican Fathers also staff Aquinas House, the Catholic campus ministry at Dartmouth, giving students a direct bridge between parish and college life.
Mass times at St. Denis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
- Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (ending with Benediction) — other listing shows 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- First Fridays of the month: 8:00 AM – Noon
Parish Identity & Location
Saint Denis Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Manchester located at 8 Sanborn Road in Hanover, New Hampshire — home of Dartmouth College. Founded in 1907 and named for Saint Denis, the parish has welcomed area residents, college students, and visitors for more than a century.
- Diocese of Manchester
- Deanery: Upper Valley
- County: Grafton
- Founded 1907
History of the Parish
Catholic life in Hanover predates the parish. The first recorded Mass in town was offered in 1845 in the home of Arabella Doe. A wooden church on East South Street followed in 1887, dedicated in 1888 by Bishop Denis M. Bradley. In May 1907 Hanover was erected as its own parish with Fr. James E. McCooey as first pastor, beginning with about 40 families plus Dartmouth students and employees. The present church was built in the early 1920s, with the cornerstone laid in 1922, first Mass celebrated November 1, 1924, and formal consecration on May 23, 1925, by Bishop Georges A. Guertin.
- 1845 – First Mass in Hanover offered in the home of Arabella Doe
- 1887 – Wooden church built on East South Street (now Ramunto's site)
- 1888 – Church dedicated by Bishop Denis M. Bradley; first Confirmation in Hanover
- 1907 – Hanover erected as its own parish; Fr. James E. McCooey appointed first pastor
- 1921 – Land for the present church purchased under Fr. John Sliney
- 1924 – First Mass in the present church on All Saints' Day
- 1925 – Church consecrated and dedicated by Bishop Georges A. Guertin
- 2007 – Centennial year; parish entrusted to the Dominican Friars
Dominican Heritage & Aquinas House
Since 2007, Saint Denis has been entrusted to the Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph (New York). The same order also ministers at Aquinas House, the Catholic campus ministry at Dartmouth College, where Catholic student life traces back to a 1924 Newman Club started by then-pastor Fr. John Sliney with Catholic faculty. The current Aquinas House property was dedicated in 1962, and its chapel is named after St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, CSsR, co-founder of the Redemptorists, in honor of the order in which Msgr. William Liguori Nolan — the beloved 'Father Bill' who founded the ministry — was ordained.
- Pastored by Dominicans of the Province of Saint Joseph (NY) since 2007
- Aquinas House founded in spirit by Fr. John Sliney (1924 Newman Club)
- Monsignor William Liguori Nolan ('Father Bill') served as director 1950–1987
- Chapel named for St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, CSsR
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The parish is currently served by Dominican priests. Fr. James Cuddy, O.P. was assigned Pastor of St. Denis effective September 16, 2024. He previously served in parish ministry in Louisville, KY and Greenwich Village, NY, in college ministry at Providence College, and as a Navy chaplain with Marine Corps units at home and abroad.
- Rev. Michael James Cuddy, O.P. — Pastor (assigned September 16, 2024)
- Fr. Brian Mulcahy, O.P.
- Jessica DePrizio Cole — Director of Faith Formation (M.T.S. Harvard Divinity; D.Min. Catholic University, liturgical studies)
- Amy Longmoore — Administrative Assistant
Sacraments
St. Denis celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments. Infant Baptisms normally follow the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass, with first-time parents required to attend a pre-baptismal session. Confessions are heard weekly and by appointment. Couples should contact a priest at least six months before scheduling a wedding; weddings are not scheduled during Advent or Lent, and not on Saturdays when Dartmouth has a home football game. The Anointing of the Sick and home Communion visits can be arranged by calling the parish office.
- Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
- 6-month notice for weddings; no Advent/Lent weddings
- No Saturday weddings on Dartmouth home football-game days
Parish Ministries
The parish maintains a broad ministry program spanning parish leadership, liturgy, religious education, spiritual growth, and social/service outreach. There are opportunities for every age and stage, from children's liturgy and RCIA to music ministry and homebound visits.
- Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, Stewardship Committee, Parish Relations Committee, Vocations Committee
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Lectors, Communion Ministers, Children's Liturgy Leaders, Funeral Ministers, Homebound Ministers, Altar Guild, Music Ministry, Ushers
- Religious Education: Catechists, Classroom Assistants, RCIA, Bible Study
- Spiritual Growth: Monthly hour of Eucharistic Adoration
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James E. McCooey1907–1918
First pastor; native of Dover, NH, ordained 1898 by Bishop Denis Bradley; led a congregation of ~40 families plus Dartmouth students/employees.
- Rev. John Sliney1918–1945
27-year pastorate; purchased the land for the present church (1921), laid the cornerstone (1922), broke ground (1923); first Mass in the new church celebrated All Saints' Day 1924.
- Rev. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P.
Recent Dominican pastor preceding Fr. Cuddy; later returned to the Order per Diocese of Manchester assignments.
- Rev. Michael James Cuddy, O.P.2024–present
Dominican friar; entered the Order in 2000, ordained 2007; previously served in Louisville, Greenwich Village, Providence College, and as a Navy chaplain; assigned Pastor of St. Denis effective September 16, 2024.