About St. Helena · Enfield, New Hampshire
St. Helena Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Enfield, New Hampshire, in the Upper Valley region of Grafton County. Established in 1899, it is part of the Diocese of Manchester and shares its pastor and staff with Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon. The parish also includes St. Mary's Mission Church in nearby Canaan, and together the two churches form a small but active faith family serving the Mascoma Valley area. Mass is celebrated at St. Helena in Enfield on Sunday evenings and at St. Mary's Mission in Canaan on Sunday mornings, with confessions offered before each Mass.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Saint Helena
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Charles H. Pawlowski, KHS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Helena and St. Mary's Mission offer a small, accessible Roman Catholic community in the heart of the Upper Valley where Mass is celebrated every Sunday at both locations, with confessions offered before each Mass. The parish shares its pastor and staff with Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon and supports faith formation for children in grades K–8 as well as adults, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), a Prayer Chain for those in need of intercession, and a thriving Knights of Columbus council that hosts community brunches and volunteers with the Harvesters Soup Kitchen. Both churches are wheelchair accessible, online giving is available, and the parish is already meeting its 2026 New Hampshire Catholic Appeal goal.
Mass times at St. Helena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30–9:45 AM at St. Mary's Mission, Canaan
- Sunday 5:00–5:15 PM at St. Helena, Enfield
History of the Parish
Catholic faith in Enfield stretches back to 1858, when the first Mass was offered in a private home. After decades of house Masses, hall services, and fundraising, the parish was formally established in 1899 under its first resident pastor, the Reverend Timothy W. Coakley, and the cornerstone church was dedicated in April 1902 — a moment the Manchester Union Leader called "the greatest day in the history of the Catholic church in Enfield." The building still stands, with its distinctive hand-cut stone façade and gilded copper steeple cross.
- First Mass: January 20, 1858 in the home of Edward Powers, said by Rev. John Brady
- Early Catholic families: Thomas Laffee, Edward Powers, William Savage, James Fitzpatrick, James Kinsella
- 1886: Monthly Masses begin at Precinct Hall
- 1894: Fundraising begins for a dedicated church
- 1898: Bishop Bradley confirms 8 children (including Fred & Arthur Decato and Mary Moore)
- 1899: Rev. Timothy W. Coakley becomes first resident pastor; parish formally established
- 1901: Construction begins; Decato family loans $3,200 and quarries Mascoma stones
- April 1902: Church dedicated to Saint Helena
- Easter 1902: Bishop Bradley's gift bell is rung for the first time
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Helena Parish shares its pastor and staff with Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon, forming a coordinated Upper Valley Catholic community. The pastor was appointed in January 2016 and also serves as Assistant Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Manchester.
- Pastor — Rev. Fr. Charles H. Pawlowski, KHS
- Parish Secretary — Mrs. Camille Hardt
- Music Director — Alice Maleski
- Accountant — Richard Reece
- OCIA Coordinator — Kelly Diette
- Faith Formation / Baptism Prep contact — Lynn Smollin
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is a communal journey of faith rather than a class — a restoration of the ancient practice of initiation in the Church. It welcomes unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation and Eucharist. The process moves through Inquiry, the Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, and Mystagogy after the Easter Vigil, where the elect are initiated through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. For more information, contact OCIA Coordinator Kelly Diette.
- Begins with a one-on-one meeting with a parish staff or OCIA team member
- Typically takes at least one complete liturgical year for the unbaptized
- Four stages: Precatechumenate, Catechumenate, Purification & Enlightenment, Mystagogy
- Suitable for unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and uncatechized Catholics
Baptism
The parish rejoices with families in the gift of new life and offers Baptism preparation as a required first step. Infants are typically baptized on Saturdays at 2:00 PM, with parents expected to complete catechesis through the parish before a date is scheduled. Adults and children age 7 and older are prepared through the OCIA process. Registration with St. Helena / St. Mary's is required by Church law.
- Infant Baptisms typically celebrated Saturdays at 2:00 PM
- Parents must register with the parish before scheduling
- Required pre-baptismal catechesis offered free of charge at the parish
- Parents asked to review Ascension Press overview and Fr. Mike Schmitz videos before class
- Letters of permission required for families from other parishes
- Contact: Lynn Smollin, [email protected]
Faith Formation
Faith Formation is offered for both adults and children in grades K–8. Because St. Helena and St. Mary's share their pastor and staff with Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon, faith formation programming and information are coordinated through the Sacred Heart Parish website.
- Adult faith formation
- Grades K–8 religious education
- Sacramental preparation in coordination with Sacred Heart Parish
Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is a long-standing ministry of the parish in which members pray daily for those in need of intercession. Anyone may request prayers for themselves or a loved one, and those who wish to join the Prayer Chain are warmly welcomed.
- Daily prayer for those on the Prayer Chain
- Open to new members and prayer requests
Knights of Columbus & Community Outreach
The parish is home to Knights of Columbus Council 8027, which meets in St. Helena Hall and supports a range of parish and community initiatives. The council is active in the local Harvesters Soup Kitchen at Holy Cross Church, hosts free community brunches, and partners with the parish in service and fellowship. The council also joined the 2026 New Hampshire Catholic Appeal alongside the parish.
- Knights of Columbus Council 8027 — meetings at St. Helena hall
- Harvesters Soup Kitchen at Holy Cross Church
- Free Community Brunch (dinner coordinated by Rosalie Swanson)
- Support for Sisters of Life and other charitable works
Giving & Parish Support
Parishioners may support St. Helena and St. Mary's through traditional envelopes mailed to the parish office, or through the online giving platform linked from the parish website. The parish actively participates in the annual New Hampshire Catholic Appeal (NHCA), which funds retired priests, seminarian formation, Catholic education, faith formation, Parable magazine, and Catholic Charities NH. For 2026, the parish met its NHCA goal of $7,721, with 90% of any funds raised above goal rebated back to the parish for local needs.
- Online Giving via the parish website
- Mailed envelopes: PO Box 1363, Lebanon, NH 03766
- 2026 NHCA goal of $7,721 met
- 90% rebate on funds raised above NHCA goal
Locations, Office & Accessibility
The parish operates from three addresses: the historic St. Helena Church on Shaker Hill Road in Enfield, St. Mary's Mission on US Route 4 in the center of Canaan, and the parish office on Fairview Avenue in Lebanon. Both churches are wheelchair accessible. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, and the parish encourages sign-ups on Flocknote for up-to-date information and the weekly bulletin.
- St. Helena Church — 36 Shaker Hill Rd., Enfield, NH 03748
- St. Mary's Mission — 1157 US Route 4, Canaan, NH
- Parish Office — 7 Fairview Ave., Lebanon, NH 03766
- Mailing Address — PO Box 1363, Lebanon, NH 03766
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, walk-ins 9 AM–1 PM, phone 9 AM–3 PM
- Both churches are wheelchair accessible
- Flocknote sign-up available for parish news and bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Timothy W. Coakley1899–transferred
First resident pastor; transferred from Bristol; oversaw the building of the church, which was dedicated in April 1902.
- Rev. Charles H. Pawlowski, KHS2016–present
Appointed Pastor effective January 9, 2016, in addition to his role as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon.