About St. Joseph · Northwood, New Hampshire
St. Joseph Mission Church is a Catholic mission church located at 844 1st New Hampshire Turnpike in Northwood, New Hampshire. It is a mission of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in nearby Pittsfield, with both churches sharing one pastor and one parish staff. The combined parish is part of the Diocese of Manchester and serves Catholics in the Pittsfield–Northwood area of central New Hampshire with daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and parish ministries including a women's club, Moms in Prayer, and Knights of Columbus. In 2026, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is celebrating its centennial (1926–2026), an occasion marked jointly with St. Joseph Mission.
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. John B. MacKenzie
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
St. Joseph Mission Church offers small-mission warmth with the full sacramental life of a parish: a Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM, weekday Masses on Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 AM, and a Saturday evening Mass in summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day at 5:30 PM at the Pittsfield church). Parishioners can grow in prayer through two weekly Eucharistic Adoration hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00–8:00 PM) and a Moms in Prayer group that meets the first Thursday of the month at the mission church. Practical fellowship is strong too, with an active Women's Club, Knights of Columbus council, parish council, RMA Advisory Board, and a Building Committee all working together across both worship sites. The parish's combined centennial year with Our Lady of Lourdes (1926–2026) is a particular invitation to engage with the community's long Catholic heritage in the Pittsfield–Northwood area.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 AM (during Advent and Lent)
- Sunday 11:00 AM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00–8:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
- Thursday 6:00–8:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
About the Combined Parish
St. Joseph Mission Church in Northwood, NH is a mission site of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Pittsfield. The two churches share a single pastor — Rev. John B. MacKenzie — and one unified parish staff, ministries, bulletin, and pastoral plan. The parish office is at the rectory at 20 River Road, Pittsfield, NH 03263, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The combined parish is part of the Diocese of Manchester and is currently observing the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Centennial (1926–2026).
- Parish: Our Lady of Lourdes & St. Joseph Mission, Pittsfield/Northwood, NH
- Diocese: Diocese of Manchester
- Canonical type: Mission Church (St. Joseph) of a Parish (Our Lady of Lourdes)
Clergy & Staff
The pastor of both Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph Mission is Rev. John B. MacKenzie, who also serves as Dean of the Capital Deanery of the Diocese of Manchester. He was appointed effective July 27, 2016, succeeding Rev. John B. Loughnane (who was reassigned to All Saints Parish, Charlestown, in July 2016). Parish staff supporting both worship sites includes a Religious Education Coordinator, a Parish Bookkeeper, and other lay staff.
- Rev. John B. MacKenzie — Pastor — (603) 435-5531
- Kathy Thoms — Religious Education Coordinator
- Debora Wheeler — Parish Bookkeeper
- Sue Bosiak
- Michael Anderson — Evangelical Logistics Manager
Devotions & Prayer Groups
Beyond weekly adoration, the parish supports Bible studies, retreats, and prayer groups across both worship sites. A Moms in Prayer group specifically meets at St. Joseph Mission Church on the first Thursday of each month from 8:00 to 10:00 AM. This is a Christian-based prayer group of mothers praying for school-age children from kindergarten through college.
- Bible Studies, Retreats & Prayer Groups
- Moms in Prayer — first Thursday, 8:00–10:00 AM, at St. Joseph Church
Parish Ministries
Parishioners are invited to sign up on Flocknote to learn more about any ministry. The Women's Club is a shared ministry of Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph whose members devote their time and skills to enriching parish life through spiritual and corporal works of mercy — they host craft sessions, a monthly meeting, and additional gatherings. Other active ministries include the Knights of Columbus, the Parish Council, the RMA Advisory Board, and a Building Committee.
- Women's Club (monthly meetings & craft sessions)
- Knights of Columbus (monthly meeting)
- Parish Council (monthly meeting)
- RMA Advisory Board
- Building Committee
- Religious Education (K-formation of children)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education across both worship sites is coordinated by Kathy Thoms. The parish bulletin and website publish formation updates and family-faith news. Families are encouraged to use Flocknote to receive Religious Education announcements.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Kathy Thoms
Bulletin & Communications
A combined parish bulletin is published regularly and archives dating back through 2024 and 2025 are available on the parish website. The parish uses Flocknote for newsletters, ministry sign-ups, and schedule updates; it also maintains Facebook and Instagram pages linked from the website.
- Weekly bulletin (online archive)
- Flocknote email/SMS news
- Facebook and Instagram social channels
Centennial (1926–2026)
On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish held a centennial Mass marking 100 years since the parish's founding in 1926. The diocese directory notes the centennial year as a time of devotion, fellowship, and celebration, with details, updates, and photos shared monthly — events are jointly celebrated with St. Joseph Mission.
- Parish founded: 1926
- Centennial Mass: February 11, 2026
- Joint observance with St. Joseph Mission
Locations, Contact & Visiting
St. Joseph Mission Church is located at 844 1st New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, NH 03261. The associated Parish Center is at 842 First N.H. Turnpike, Northwood, NH 03261. The combined parish office (rectory) is at 20 River Road, Pittsfield, NH 03263, and is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The published parish phone is (603) 435-6242, and the listed parish email is [email protected].
- St. Joseph Mission Church: 844 1st NH Turnpike, Northwood, NH 03261
- Parish Center: 842 First N.H. Turnpike, Northwood, NH 03261
- Parish Rectory (Our Lady of Lourdes): 20 River Road, Pittsfield, NH 03263
- Phone: (603) 435-6242
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John B. Loughnaneuntil July 13, 2016
Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish with its mission of St. Joseph, Northwood; reassigned to All Saints Parish, Charlestown.
- Rev. John B. MacKenzieeffective July 27, 2016
Appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pittsfield, with its Mission of St. Joseph; also serves as Dean of the Capital Deanery (Diocese of Manchester).