About St. Luke the Evangelist Parish (Mary Mother of the Church location) · Newton, New Hampshire
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, formed on June 10, 2007 by the merger of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Newton (serving Catholics since 1967) and Holy Angels Parish in Plaistow (serving Catholics since 1892). The merged parish encompasses the towns of Atkinson, East Kingston, Kingston, Newton, Plaistow, and South Hampton, and continues to worship in both historic church buildings: Mary, Mother of the Church (12 Amesbury Road, Newton) and Holy Angels (8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow). The parish is led by Fr. Albert J. Tremblay, OBL. SB and offers weekend Masses at both sites, a robust faith formation program, a food pantry, adoration, and active outreach ministries.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Albert J. Tremblay, OBL. SB
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire
Why belong here
St. Luke the Evangelist offers a genuinely welcoming, intergenerational Catholic community in the heart of the Rockingham Deanery — a parish where two historic congregations have come together under one roof to worship, learn, and serve. Newcomers can join Sunday Mass at either the Newton or Plaistow church, enroll children in Sunday religious education, walk the RCIA journey to become Catholic, deepen their faith through adult Bible studies and Cursillo/Ultreya, spend a holy hour in Eucharistic Adoration, or volunteer with the food pantry or St. Luke's Outreach Ministry. With a Saturday vigil and multiple Sunday Masses, weekday Masses in both towns, and a wide network of ministries for every age and stage, the parish makes it easy for any family to plant roots and grow in their Catholic faith.
Mass times at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish (Mary Mother of the Church location)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM in Plaistow (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Thursdays 8:30 AM through 8:30 PM at the Newton church (Mary, Mother of the Church)
- Wednesdays: Holy Angels Church in Plaistow is open all day for prayer (no scheduled adoration)
About the Parish
Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish is a unified Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Manchester, formed in 2007 from the merger of two historic parishes — Mary, Mother of the Church in Newton (est. 1967) and Holy Angels in Plaistow (est. 1892). The parish spans six towns in southeastern New Hampshire and continues to worship in both original church buildings, linked by a single pastor, shared staff, and a common mission of proclaiming the Gospel and serving the local Church.
- Parish Office: 8 Atkinson Depot Road, Plaistow, NH 03865
- Newton worship site: 12 Amesbury Road, Newton, NH 03858
- Phone: (603) 382-8324
- Pastor: Fr. Albert J. Tremblay, OBL. SB
History & Origins
The story of St. Luke the Evangelist begins in 1892 with the founding of Holy Angels Parish in Plaistow and continues in 1967 with the establishment of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in Newton. After decades of shared ministry across neighboring towns, the Diocese of Manchester merged them in 2007 into a single territorial parish to strengthen evangelization, ensure parish vitality, and steward shared resources.
- 1892 — Holy Angels Parish founded in Plaistow
- 1967 — Mary, Mother of the Church Parish founded in Newton
- June 10, 2007 — Merger takes effect under the name Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish
- Territory includes Atkinson, East Kingston, Kingston, Newton, Plaistow, and South Hampton
Lifelong Faith Formation
The parish's Lifelong Faith Formation program is built around the principle that Sunday Liturgy is the source and summit of Christian life, connecting worship, learning, and service for every age. Children and youth gather on Sunday mornings for Religious Education, while adults participate in seasonal Bible studies, topic-based series, and a winter Prayer Breakfast.
- Children's Religious Education (Sunday mornings)
- Middle school and high school youth programs
- RCIA for adults seeking full initiation
- Adult Confirmation preparation
- 'Six Weeks with the Bible' Scripture series
- 'Disciples on the Journey' Lenten series
- Cursillo / Ultreya gatherings
- Winter Prayer Breakfast with a guest speaker
Sacraments
St. Luke the Evangelist prepares parishioners of all ages to celebrate the seven sacraments, with clear guidelines rooted in Canon Law. Parents attend a monthly Baptism preparation session, sponsors must be at least 16 and fully initiated Catholics, and adult inquirers are welcomed through the RCIA process.
- Baptism (monthly parent prep, 3-month active attendance required)
- Eucharist and First Communion through Religious Education
- Confirmation (youth and adult tracks)
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00–3:30 PM
- Matrimony: contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick: contact Fr. Albert
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a daily work at St. Luke the Evangelist. The parish food pantry feeds neighbors in need, a Vincentian ministry reaches out to those struggling, and a broader outreach ministry connects homebound parishioners with visits and the Prayer Line.
- St. Luke the Evangelist Food Pantry (Wednesdays 10 AM–12 noon, Thursdays 6:00–7:00 PM, Fridays 10 AM–12 noon)
- Food Pantry phone: 603-819-4949
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (ext. 315)
- St. Luke's Outreach Ministry
- Homebound visitation ministry
- Parish Prayer Line (ext. 314)
Music Ministry
Music ministry is led by Music Director Val Barczak and Choir Director Michaela Barczak, supporting sung prayer across weekend and holy day liturgies in both churches. Contact: [email protected] or (603) 382-8324 ext. 302.
- Music Director: Mrs. Val Barczak
- Choir Director: Ms. Michaela Barczak
- Rehearsals at the parish offices
- Open to new singers — contact the parish office
Parish Staff & Offices
A small but dedicated team of clergy, religious educators, musicians, and office staff keeps the parish running across both worship sites. The Pastoral Associate coordinates faith formation, RCIA, and adult programs, while the Director of Religious Education oversees Sunday classes for children and youth.
- Pastor: Fr. Albert J. Tremblay, OBL. SB (ext. 308)
- Pastoral Associate: Ms. Cathy Smith (ext. 305)
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Joyce Szczapa (ext. 303)
- Music Ministry: Mrs. Val Barczak (ext. 302)
- Office Manager / Bookkeeper: Ms. Jackie Tremblay (ext. 300)
- Custodial Services: Mr. Glenn Hughes
- RCIA Director: Ms. Nancy Ross
Facilities & Ministries
Beyond the two worship sites, the parish operates several additional facilities that support its Catholic life across the region — from early childhood education to a family center and a parish cemetery.
- Holy Angels Pre-school (603-382-9783)
- Saint Frederick Parish Family Center
- Holy Angels Cemetery
- St. Luke Outreach Food Pantry
- Parish Hall (used for Ultreya, faith formation, and events)
Visiting & Getting Involved
Whether you are a long-time Catholic, new to the faith, or simply curious about the parish, St. Luke's offers many ways to connect. Stop in for a Mass, register as a parishioner, sign up for an hour of Adoration, volunteer at the food pantry, or attend an upcoming Bible study. The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday (8:30 AM–12 noon and 1:00–4:30 PM) and is closed on Fridays.
- Register as a parishioner (registration form available online)
- Sign up for Eucharistic Adoration (one hour a week)
- Volunteer with the Food Pantry or Outreach Ministry
- Join a Bible study, Lenten series, or Ultreya
- Watch the weekly bulletin for updates and events