About St. Leo · Gonic, New Hampshire
St. Leo Parish is a small Catholic community rooted in the village of Gonic, New Hampshire, founded in the late 19th century by French-Canadian families. Today it is linked in ministry with Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in neighboring Rochester, sharing a pastor, staff, and most ministries, while preserving its own distinct Sunday worship at the historic St. Leo Church on Pickering Road. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Manchester (Seacoast Deanery) and is currently pastored by Very Rev. Fr. Patrick N. Gilbert, V.F., who also serves as Dean of the Seacoast Deanery.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Leo (the Great)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Fr. Patrick N. Gilbert, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Seacoast Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Leo offers a personal, small-parish atmosphere where the French-Canadian Catholic heritage of Gonic is still felt in Sunday Mass and parish gatherings. The church is connected to a larger worship, formation and outreach family through Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, so a new parishioner finds weekly Mass, faith formation for all ages, RCIA, youth ministry, music ministry, a children's center, and perpetual adoration at Holy Rosary's Merciful Heart of Jesus chapel, plus local ministries like the Knights of Columbus, the Men of St. Joseph, the Mercy of Jesus Charismatic Prayer Group, and a Healing Mass in honor of St. John Paul II. With a cemetery at Mount Calvary in Gonic and ties to many decades of faithful families, St. Leo is a place to belong, serve, and pray together.
Mass times at St. Leo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church (Rochester)
- Monday 8:30 AM after Holy Mass at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
- Tuesday 8:30 AM after Holy Mass at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
- Wednesday 8:30 AM after Holy Mass at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
- Thursday 8:30 AM after Holy Mass at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
- 1st Saturday 8:30 AM after Holy Mass at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at the Merciful Heart of Jesus Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Rochester (St. Leo itself has no adoration chapel on site)
Parish Identity & History
St. Leo Parish is the Catholic faith community of Gonic, New Hampshire, founded by French-Canadian families who first gathered for Mass at the Gonic Town Hall in 1888. The parish was formally established on October 19, 1892, and the small congregation has worshipped on Pickering Road (Main Street) since 1920, when the church building was moved to its present site. Though small in size, the parish retains a deep heritage of faith, family, and Francophone Catholic roots.
- Founded by French-Canadian families in 1888; officially a parish on October 19, 1892.
- First resident priest: Rev. Louis Laroque.
- Original church moved to its current Main Street/Pickering Road site in 1920.
- Parish School run by the Sisters of Holy Cross opened in 1921; closed in 1971 after 50 years of service.
- 1966: church and school completely refurbished.
- 1990s: revitalized under Father Paul Montminy, with Fathers Bill Deschamps and Sisters Lucille and Loretta Monette.
- Celebrated 100th anniversary (1992) with 235 registered families.
Mass and Liturgy
St. Leo's principal weekly liturgy is the Sunday 11:00 AM English Mass, the only Sunday Mass for the Gonic community. Holy Days of Obligation also carry a dedicated 12:00 PM Mass at St. Leo Church. Daily Masses — plus the additional vigil, Sunday, Holy Day, First Friday and First Saturday Masses — are celebrated at neighboring Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Rochester, the parish's sister church.
- Sunday Mass at St. Leo: 11:00 AM (English).
- Holy Day Mass at St. Leo: 12:00 PM.
- Holy Rosary Mass times: Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM, Sunday 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM, Weekdays Mon–Thu 8:00 AM.
- First Friday Mass 6:00 PM and First Saturday Mass 8:00 AM at Holy Rosary.
- Healing Mass in honor of Pope St. John Paul II on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM at Holy Rosary.
Faith Formation, RCIA & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation runs parish-wide across the Holy Rosary / St. Leo family, providing catechesis for children and teens. The RCIA program welcomes adults preparing to enter or complete initiation into the Catholic Church. Youth Ministry offers dedicated programming for teens, and the parish encourages participation across both worship sites.
- Faith Formation & R.C.I.A. Coordinator: Brittany Molda ([email protected]).
- Youth Ministry: Lauren Cronshaw ([email protected]).
- Family-friendly ministry includes the St. Leo Catholic Children's Center (Kindercare).
St. Leo Catholic Children's Center
Housed in the former parish-school wing of St. Leo Church, the Children's Center is a full week-day Kindercare and early-childhood ministry run by parish staff. It serves roughly 40 children with a team of five adults and exists to meet a real need for young families in the parish, complementing the educational and sacramental catechesis that the parish itself offers.
- Director: Rebecca Croteau ([email protected]).
- Located in the school wing of St. Leo Church on Pickering Road, Gonic.
- Program serves approximately 40 children with five staff.
Music Ministry
A shared parish Director of Music leads the liturgical music program across both worship sites, supporting the Sunday 11:00 AM Mass at St. Leo and the full schedule at Holy Rosary. Volunteers — singers, cantors, and instrumentalists — serve the liturgical life of both parishes.
- Director of Music: Kaethe Houst ([email protected]).
Outreach, Prayer Groups & Parish Life
Across the parish family, lay-led groups gather for formation, fellowship, and spiritual support. The Knights of Columbus, the Men of St. Joseph, a Men's Group, the Mercy of Jesus Charismatic Prayer Group, and the Triumphant Hearts Ministry (Devotion to the Holy Face) all meet on a regular cadence. A monthly Healing Mass with relic veneration and trained prayer teams follows the celebration. Volunteers can also sign up for altar-linen care, Christmas Fair leadership, and other parish committees.
- Knights of Columbus — meets regularly (Tuesday evenings).
- Men of St. Joseph — third Sunday, 11:00 AM at the Holy Rosary parish library (contact Michael Johnson, 603-833-3718).
- Mercy of Jesus Charismatic Prayer Group — weekly meetings in the St. Joan of Arc room.
- Triumphant Hearts Ministry — Friday Devotion to the Holy Face.
- Volunteer opportunities: altar linens (Frances DiTursi, 603-664-5127), Christmas Fair chair (Kathie Bystrek).
Cemetery — Mount Calvary, Gonic
St. Leo Parish maintains Mount Calvary Cemetery in Gonic as a ministry to its families. The cemetery is one of two parish cemeteries (the other being Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Rochester). Families wishing to purchase a lot should contact the parish office; the on-site Cemetery Manager assists with arrangements.
- Cemetery Manager: Norbert Hamann ([email protected]).
- Lots purchased through the parish office.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Urbain Lamy1888–?
Celebrated first Mass in Gonic in spring 1888 and oversaw the original church construction.
- Rev. Louis Laroque1892–
First resident priest of the parish (established Oct. 19, 1892).
- Father Bill Deschamps1990s
Associate pastor who worked with Father Montminy and the Monette sisters to renew parish life.
- Sister Lucille Monette1990s
Pastoral associate.
- Sister Loretta Monette1990s
Pastoral associate.
- Rev. Matthew J. Schultzuntil July 2023
Left for a Leave of Absence in July 2023.
- Very Rev. Fr. Patrick N. Gilbert, V.F.effective October 11, 2023
Appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Rochester, and St. Leo, Gonic, continuing as Dean of the Seacoast Deanery.