About St. Elizabeth Seton · Bedford, New Hampshire
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Manchester, located at 190 Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, New Hampshire. Founded to serve the faithful of suburban Bedford south of Manchester, the parish has grown from about 400 families at its founding to roughly 3,000 households today and is pastored by Rev. Msgr. John Quinn. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass in English, weekly Confession before Saturday Vigil Mass, American Sign Language interpretation every other week, a live-streamed Mass, and active programs in faith formation (RCIA), youth ministry, parish nursing, charity outreach, and community service. It is identified as parish number 44 in the Diocese of Manchester's official directory.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. John Quinn
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Seton is a large, living, and vibrant Catholic parish in suburban Bedford, NH, offering multiple weekend Masses (Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses), daily Mass on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, weekly Confession, a live-streamed Mass for the homebound, and American Sign Language interpretation every other week. The parish runs a robust slate of ministries: youth faith formation, the RCIA process for adults entering the Church, service opportunities, a Walk Against Hunger, a free Parish Nurse Program with blood pressure screenings and a Fit Forever chair exercise program for adults 55+, and a 'Pray & Play' ministry for children ages 0–5. With three of the Diocese of Manchester's roughly 80 parishes serving southern New Hampshire, St. Elizabeth Seton is a welcoming option for families, seniors, newcomers, and those discerning the Catholic faith.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 pm
Parish History & Identity
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish was established in 1964 by the Diocese of Manchester to minister to Catholics in the then-rural community of Bedford, New Hampshire. In its early years the parish served about 400 families; today it serves roughly 3,000 households and approximately 10,000 individuals, making it one of the larger parishes in the diocese. The parish is named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American saint and foundress of the Sisters of Charity.
- Founded 1964 (some parish materials cite 1966 as the establishment year)
- Named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Part of the Diocese of Manchester, Amoskeag Deanery, Hillsborough County
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Msgr. John Quinn, who has served as pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish and is listed in the Diocese of Manchester's directory at the parish's address. He was ordained in 1968. Rev. Michael Zgonc has also served at the parish address.
- Rev. Msgr. John Quinn — Pastor (ordained 1968)
- Rev. Michael Zgonc — associate clergy
- Pastoral contact: [email protected]
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
The parish offers a full weekly schedule of Masses in English, plus a live-streamed Mass and recorded Mass for those unable to attend in person. American Sign Language interpretation is provided every other week.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm
- Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm
- Monday: 7:30 am
- Wednesday & Thursday: 5:30 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am
- Holy Days: 7:30 am, 12:10 pm, 7:00 pm
- Confession: Saturday 3:15 pm
- ASL interpretation every other week
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Elizabeth Seton runs formation programs for both youth and adults. The Adult Faith Formation program includes the RCIA process, an ongoing period of inquiry that runs from fall through the Easter Vigil, designed to welcome new members into the Catholic Church.
- Youth Faith Formation
- Adult Faith Formation / RCIA (sessions begin in fall, end at Easter Vigil)
- Contact: Parish Office at 669-7444
Parish Nurse Program & Wellness
A distinctive outreach of the parish is its Parish Nurse Program, offering free blood pressure screening and nurse consultation, plus a Fit Forever Chair Exercise Program — a free, three-level workout for men and women age 55+. (The program follows Bedford School weather cancellations.)
- Free Blood Pressure Screening & Nurse Consultation
- Fit Forever Chair Exercise Program (3 levels, ages 55+)
- Held Tuesdays
Family & Children's Ministries
The parish offers 'Pray & Play,' a program specifically for children ages 0–5 and their caregivers.
- Pray & Play for children ages 0–5
- Held Fridays at 9:00 am
Outreach & Charity
St. Elizabeth Seton's outreach ministry includes an annual Walk Against Hunger and other service opportunities, paired with online giving to support the parish and wider works.
- Annual Walk Against Hunger
- Service Opportunities program
- Online Giving
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to attend Mass in person or via the live stream. The rectory and parish office share the 190 Meetinghouse Road address.
- Address: 190 Meetinghouse Rd., Bedford, NH 03110-6027
- Phone: (603) 669-7444
- Fax: (603) 644-5371
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stelizabethsetonchurch.org
- Part of the Diocese of Manchester, Amoskeag Deanery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. John Quinn
Current pastor; assigned to St. Elizabeth Seton Parish per the Diocese of Manchester directory; ordained 1968.
- Rev. Charles Pawlowski
Served as Parochial Vicar before being appointed Parochial Vicar of Parish of the Assumption, Dover (per 2012 St. Mary's Seminary appointment notes).