About St. Lawrence · Goffstown, New Hampshire
Saint Lawrence Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Goffstown, New Hampshire, within the Diocese of Manchester. Founded in 1955, the parish serves the communities of Goffstown, Weare, New Boston, and Dunbarton, gathering parishioners around the Eucharist and the example of its patron, Saint Lawrence. Its mission statement centers the community on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and witness through worship, charity, and faith formation. The current church stands at 1 East Union Street, with daily and weekend Masses offered in English and a wide range of parish ministries for families, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Saint Lawrence
- Rector
- Reverend Agapit H. Jean, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester
Why belong here
Saint Lawrence is a welcoming Eucharistic community rooted in small-town New Hampshire, serving Goffstown, Weare, New Boston, and Dunbarton from a single church campus at 1 East Union Street. Newcomers are personally greeted by Father Agapit and Deacon Geoff after Mass and invited to register, with a printable form mailed to the parish office. With daily and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a Live Rosary after the Saturday Vigil, OCIA for adults, Family Faith Formation, a Youth Group, Knights of Columbus, Mary's Daughters, a Respect Life Ministry, a Parish Prayer Line, and fellowship events like Coffee and Donuts, Saint Lawrence offers the rhythms of a traditional Catholic parish with strong lay leadership in faith formation, music, and outreach.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
Saint Lawrence Roman Catholic Church describes itself as a welcoming Catholic community centered in the living presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by the Word of God, the parish commits itself to the spiritual growth and faith formation of all the community, coming together under Christ, His Blessed Mother Mary, and the parish's patron, Saint Lawrence, to promote the Truths of the Faith, to sanctify the faithful through the sacraments, and to serve God and one another through worship, witness, and works of charity.
- Patron: Saint Lawrence (feast day August 10)
- Founded: 1955
- Diocese: Diocese of Manchester (Hillsborough County, Amoskeag Deanery)
- Serves Goffstown, Weare, New Boston, and Dunbarton
Becoming a Parishioner
The parish invites newcomers to introduce themselves to Father Agapit or Deacon Geoff after Mass, and registration can be completed online or via a downloadable printable form. Completed forms may be mailed to the parish office at 1 East Union Street, dropped in the Offertory collection, or delivered in person.
- Online and printable registration forms available
- Newcomers personally greeted by clergy after Mass
- Office located at 1 East Union Street, Goffstown, NH 03045
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Council
The parish is served by a pastor, a permanent deacon, a retired priest in residence, and a full lay staff supporting administration, faith formation, music, outreach, and facilities. Pastoral and financial governance is provided by the Parish Council and Finance Council, both with elected lay chairs.
- Pastor: Reverend Agapit H. Jean, Jr. ([email protected] mailbox retained for transition)
- Deacon: Geoffrey Ashman — [email protected]
- Retired Priest: Reverend Guy Sciacca
- Business Manager & Safe Environment Coordinator: Megan Thellen
- Administrative Assistant: Sandy Bernard
- Parish Secretary: Jo-Ann Miller
- Property Manager: Andy Herbert
- Outreach Coordinator: Gerry Bergeron
- Director of Religious Education / Family Faith Formation: Andrea Riley — [email protected]
- Music Ministry: Linda Bissonnette (Sat 4 PM) and Carolyn Trachim (Sun 8:30 & 10:30 AM)
- Parish Council Chair: Chris Sweeney
- Finance Council Chair: Kenneth Sommerer
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Saint Lawrence runs a coordinated Family Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation program for children and an OCIA process (the restored name for the adult initiation catechumenate) overseen by Coordinator Todd Charette. The parish also offers an annual summer Adult Faith Formation book study and consecration retreat held in the downstairs Parish Library.
- Family Faith Formation / Religious Education (DRE Andrea Riley)
- Sacramental Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation, with rehearsal/retreat after the 10:30 AM Mass
- OCIA for Adults — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Annual Summer Consecration Book Study using Fr. Donald Calloway's 33 Days to the Holy Family, Wednesdays 6:45–8:00 PM
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music at Saint Lawrence is coordinated by two directors who rehearse with their respective choirs and lead sung liturgy at each weekend Mass. Additional liturgical volunteers assist with church cleaning, gardening, and event coordination.
- Saturday 4 PM Music Director: Linda Bissonnette (rehearsals resume September)
- Sunday 8:30 & 10:30 AM Music Director: Carolyn Trachim (Wednesday 6:45 PM rehearsals)
- Parish Event Coordinator: Monica Cousins
- Volunteer Church Cleaning & Gardening: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 9–10 AM
Parish Groups, Outreach & Devotions
A broad network of lay-led groups animates the parish's devotional, charitable, and fellowship life, ranging from the men's Knights of Columbus council to the women's Mary's Daughters devotion, the Respect Life Ministry, a Bereavement Support Group, a Knitting & Crochet Circle, and a parish Prayer Line carried at every Mass.
- Knights of Columbus — Arthur J. O'Neil Council (founded 1940), Grand Knight Chris Sweeney; meetings rotate between Saint Lawrence Parish Hall and Saint Raphael Parish, Manchester
- Mary's Daughters — first Saturday of each month, 9:15–10:30 AM
- Respect Life Ministry — Sarah Rondeau
- Bereavement Support Group — resumes in September after summer break
- Knitting & Crochet Circle — resumes in September
- Parish Prayer Line — names submitted by email or phone, listed in the bulletin for four weeks and prayed at every Mass
- Funeral Luncheons — Alice Raymond
- Coffee and Donuts after Mass — rotating Sundays
Office, Facilities & Getting Involved
The parish office is staffed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and the parish campus includes the church, a downstairs Parish Hall used for fellowship and Knights of Columbus meetings, and a Parish Library downstairs that hosts adult faith-formation gatherings. The Rectory is located at 51 Main Street, Goffstown, NH 03045-1644.
- Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Parish phone: (603) 497-2651
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Prayer Line email: [email protected]
- Rectory: 51 Main Street, Goffstown, NH 03045-1644
- Volunteer cleaning & gardening opportunities listed in the bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Gerard L. Bertinuntil August 7, 2019 (retirement accepted by the Bishop)
Retired from Saint Lawrence Parish in August 2019 after an extended pastorate, as announced by the Diocese of Manchester.
- Reverend David L. KneelandAugust 7, 2019 – January 28, 2026 (about six years)
Came from Saint Joseph Parish, Lincoln. Ordained in 2006. Reassigned by Bishop Libasci to become pastor of Saint Matthew Parish, Windham, in late January 2026.
- Reverend Agapit H. Jean, Jr.Effective June/July 2026 – present
Transferred by Bishop Peter A. Libasci from the Parish of the Assumption, Dover. Welcomed at Saint Lawrence with a parish reception and known affectionately as 'Fr. Aggie.'