About St. Joachim · Sunapee, New Hampshire
St. Joachim Mission Church is a Roman Catholic mission church located at 5 Old Georges Mills Road in Sunapee, New Hampshire, in the Upper Valley region of Sullivan County. It is a mission of Saint Patrick Parish in Newport and falls under the Diocese of Manchester. The mission celebrates one Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM and is served by the pastor and staff of Saint Patrick Parish in Newport. All weekday Masses and most sacramental activities take place at the mother church, Saint Patrick Church, just a short drive west down Route 11.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- St. Joachim
- Rector
- Rev. Michael L. Sartori, KCHS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Joachim Mission offers Catholics in the Sunapee area a dedicated Sunday Mass in their own community while drawing on the full pastoral, formation, and sacramental resources of Saint Patrick Parish in Newport. Worshippers can participate in a rich variety of parish organizations — Knights of Columbus, Men of St. Joseph, Columbian Squires, the parish choir, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, ushers, and altar servers (the Guild of St. John the Beloved) — as well as faith formation for children and adults through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, RCIA, and homeschool community.
Mass times at St. Joachim
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Joachim Mission Church
St. Joachim Mission Church is a Catholic mission in Sunapee, New Hampshire, under the pastoral care of Saint Patrick Parish in Newport and the Diocese of Manchester. The mission serves Catholics in Sunapee and the surrounding Lake Sunapee region with a single Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM, while the wider parish community gathers at Saint Patrick Church in Newport for weekday Masses, the Saturday Vigil, the 8 AM Solemn Mass on Sundays, and sacramental and formation programs.
- Type: Mission Church
- Mother parish: Saint Patrick Parish, Newport, NH (Est. 1902)
- Diocese: Manchester (Upper Valley Deanery)
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM
History of St. Joachim and the Sunapee Mission
Catholic worship in Sunapee predates the current mission building by decades. Mass was celebrated in Sunapee at least occasionally in the early 1900s, and in 1910 a building in nearby Georges Mills was given to Fr. James Hogan, the first pastor of Saint Patrick Parish. The decisive step came on October 1, 1948, when land on Route 11 and Central Street was acquired for a new church. Rev. Fr. John A. McCarthy began building St. Joachim Mission in 1952, and the completed church was consecrated on July 26, 1953 — the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne — by Bishop Matthew F. Brady.
- 1948: Land for St. Joachim Church acquired (Oct. 1)
- 1952: Construction begins under Rev. Fr. John A. McCarthy
- 1953: Church consecrated and dedicated July 26 by Bishop Matthew F. Brady
- 1910: Earlier worship site given to Fr. Hogan in Georges Mills
Parish Staff
Because St. Joachim is a mission of Saint Patrick Parish, its staff is shared with the mother parish in Newport. The pastor, Rev. Michael L. Sartori, KCHS, oversees both worship sites. A dedicated custodian, Mrs. Lucy Hampson, cares for St. Joachim's Church building.
- Reverend Michael L. Sartori, KCHS — Pastor
- Mr. Ambrose Bean — Director of Adult Formation
- Ms. Mary O'Mara — Director of Faith Formation
- Mrs. Katherine Yost — Principal Organist
- Mr. Daniel Klucinec — Choir Director
- Mrs. Pamela Castor — Business Manager
- Mrs. Bernadette McLaughlin — Parish Staff
- Ms. Karen Grenier — Administrative Assistant
- Mrs. Lucy Hampson — Custodian of St. Joachim's Church
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Saint Patrick Parish — of which St. Joachim Mission is a part — offers a wide range of ministries, apostolates, and fraternal organizations for men, women, youth, and families. All baptized Catholics are called to radical Christian discipleship, and the parish provides many concrete ways to serve Christ, the Church, and neighbor.
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful serve the parish through liturgical roles that require at least six months of registered and active parish membership.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — distribute Communion to the hospitalized, homebound, and those in assisted living or nursing facilities
- Lectors — proclaim the Scripture lessons at Mass
- Ushers — welcome visitors, take up the collection, and organize the offertory procession at every weekend and holy day Mass
- Altar Servers (Guild for Altar Servers of Saint John the Beloved) — boys and young men who have made their First Communion and been confirmed, up through college age, may serve
Faith Formation
Saint Patrick Parish provides formation for children and adults, including sacramental preparation and inquiry into the Catholic faith.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — atrium-based children's faith formation
- Introduction to Catholicism (RCIA) — runs September through Easter each year for catechumens, candidates, and the simply curious
- Sacred Heart Homeschoolers — homeschooling families with young children meet on First Fridays for the 8:30 AM Mass, then gather for fellowship in Assumption Hall
Fraternal and Men's Organizations
Men's fellowship and Catholic fraternity are central to parish life at Saint Patrick's, with several active groups meeting regularly.
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic men's fraternal organization on Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism; meets second Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in Assumption Hall
- Columbian Squires Circle #5896 — for boys ages 10-18, focused on physical, spiritual, intellectual, and civic development
- Men of St. Joseph — Christian men who meet to pray and encourage one another as spiritual leaders of their families; meets third Saturdays at 7:00 AM in Assumption Hall
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry is led by the parish choir, which sings at the 8:00 AM Solemn Mass on Sunday mornings at Saint Patrick's Church. Katherine Yost serves as Principal Organist and Daniel Klucinec as Choir Director.
- Parish Choir — sings at 8 AM Solemn Mass at St. Patrick's Church
- Principal Organist — Mrs. Katherine Yost
- Choir Director — Mr. Daniel Klucinec
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. John A. McCarthy1952-1953 (construction)
Built the present St. Joachim Mission during his pastorate; the church was completed and dedicated in 1953.