About St. Mary · Rollinsford, New Hampshire
St. Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, established in 1856 and now part of the Diocese of Manchester. Since June 2006 it has been 'twinned' with St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish (Somersworth) and Holy Trinity Parish (Somersworth) under one pastor — formerly Fr. Andrew K. Nelson — who leads three local church buildings from a shared office at 27 Saint Martin Way, Somersworth. The parish's own church building, St. Mary Church, stands at 411 Church Street, Rollinsford, and hosts a Sunday 11:00 am Mass along with a Thursday 8:15 am weekday Mass, daily rosary, and shared faith-formation, youth, music, and outreach programs.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew K. Nelson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Mary welcomes parishioners into a small-town New Hampshire Catholic community rooted in the Eucharist and the teachings of the Church and twinned with sister parishes in neighboring Somersworth. Visitors can worship at St. Mary Church's Sunday 11:00 am Mass and Thursday 8:15 am Mass, join one of more than a dozen active ministries (from the St. Anne's Guild and Prayer Shawl Ministry to Chosen Generation Youth Ministry, the Christmas Fair, and Music Ministry), and participate in shared faith formation for children and adults through the OCIA (formerly RCIA) program.
Mass times at St. Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm at St. Martin Church, Somersworth
Adoration times
- Friday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at St. Martin Church, Somersworth (year-round)
- Wednesday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm at St. Martin Church (summer)
About St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish (est. 1856) is the Catholic parish of Rollinsford, New Hampshire. Since 2006 it has been twinned with Saint Martin Parish and Holy Trinity Parish in neighboring Somersworth, forming one pastoral family served from a single office. The official site says the two parishes are 'united in one mission: to walk together with Christ and lead others to Him. Rooted in the Eucharist and the teachings of the Church, we are blessed to be a joyful, faithful community where prayer, service, and fellowship flourish.'
- Parish: St. Mary, Rollinsford, NH
- Established: 1856
- Diocese: Manchester
- Deanery: Seacoast
- Pastoral grouping: Twinned with St. Ignatius of Loyola (Somersworth), Holy Trinity (Somersworth), and St. Martin (Somersworth)
History
St. Mary was founded in 1856 to serve the growing Catholic population of Rollinsford; diocesan archives preserve its sacramental records back to that year. On June 6, 2006, Bishop John McCormack of Manchester issued a decree twinning St. Mary with St. Martin and Holy Trinity parishes in Somersworth 'in an effort to strengthen the preaching of the Gospel and to ensure the vitality of parish life,' effective June 18, 2006. Each parish kept its own juridic personality, property, staff, and records, while sharing one pastor and many programs.
- 1856 — Parish founded; sacramental records begin.
- 2006 (June 18) — Twinned with St. Martin and Holy Trinity parishes, Somersworth.
- St. Mary Rollinsford Marriages 1856–1972 held in the Diocese of Manchester Archives.
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Rev. Andrew K. Nelson and Deacon David Divins, supported by a deep lay staff who keep the office, churches, and cemeteries running.
- Pastor — Rev. Andrew K. Nelson (Pastor of St. Ignatius of Loyola & St. Mary Parishes since Jan 2017); pastorate fellowship includes parochial vicar work at Good Shepherd & Holy Family and a Licentiate in Systematic Theology from St. Mary's Seminary & University.
- Deacon — David Divins ([email protected])
- Office Manager & Funeral Coordinator — Denise Gauthier (lifelong parishioner, former 42-year Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee)
- Director of Religious Education & OCIA — Janet Jacobson (lifelong St. Martin parishioner, 20+ years on staff, oversees OCIA, Walking with Purpose, Vacation Bible School)
- Director of Music — Chris Sands (lifelong St. Mary parishioner who began singing with the St. Mary Christmas Choir at age 6)
- Director of Evangelization & Middle School Youth Minister — Ileana Hoeing (grew up in Puerto Rico; Providence College alum)
- High School Youth Minister — Nick Winter (Franciscan University of Steubenville, Theology/Philosophy/Evangelization)
- Communications & Media Coordinator — Olivia Bailey (handles bulletin, website, social, baptism & wedding intake)
- Cemetery & Facilities Manager — Ben Messier (third-generation holder of the position; oversees Terry, Derek, and Marty)
- Maintenance — Terry Gower (12 years on staff; doubles as a state tollbooth supervisor and ex-baseball coach)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation is shared across the twinned parishes. Janet Jacobson heads the program that introduced the 'Restored Order' of sacraments, while St. Mary's own religious education contact is Laurie Lambert.
- Director of Religious Education & OCIA — Janet Jacobson ([email protected])
- St. Mary Parish Religious Education contact — Laurie Lambert, (603) 742-3996
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for adults seeking to enter the Church
- Walking with Purpose — women's Bible study
- Sacred Scholars — children's faith-formation program
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
Youth Ministry — Chosen Generation Ministries (CGM)
Chosen Generation Ministries invites teens in grades 7–12 'to strengthen their relationship with Jesus and his Church by building relationships, praying and serving others.' The middle-school track is led by Ileana Hoeing and the high-school track by Nick Winter, with weekly Tuesday Youth Nights and a first-Wednesday Adoration & Mass.
- Mission: 'To know and love Jesus. To become strong Catholic adults.'
- Middle School Youth Ministry (grades 7–8): Ileana Hoeing, [email protected]
- High School Youth Ministry (grades 9–12): Nick Winter, [email protected]
- Weekly Youth Nights on Tuesdays; Adoration & Mass on first Wednesdays
- Service projects and fun outings throughout the year
Music and Liturgy
Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Chris Sands, a lifelong St. Mary parishioner who began at age 6 in the St. Mary Christmas Choir. The program 'provides prayerful music for Mass' and seasonal concerts and programs that enrich the spiritual life of both parishes, drawing on St. Augustine's words: 'the one who sings, prays twice.'
- Director of Music — Chris Sands
- St. Mary Christmas Choir (longstanding tradition)
- Seasonal concerts and programs
- Volunteer opportunities for choir members and instrumentalists
Parish Ministries and Groups
The parish lists more than a dozen active ministries — from the long-running St. Anne's Guild and Christmas Fair to newer groups like the Parish Walking Club and Frozen Meal Ministry — and invites new members to reach out to the contact person for each.
- St. Anne's Guild
- St. Joseph's Helpers
- St. Isidore's Farmers
- Christmas Fair Committee
- Mardi Gras Cookie Festival
- Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Walking with Purpose — Women's Bible Study
- Young Adult Ministry
- Young Couples Ministry
- Frozen Meal Ministry
- Martha's Helpers
- Parish Walking Club
- Prayer Partners
- Ski Team
- Natural Family Planning (Brandi Glover)
Sacramental Life
All sacramental preparation and coordination runs through the shared parish office, with Olivia Bailey serving as the contact for baptisms and weddings, Janet Jacobson leading OCIA, and Denise Gauthier handling funeral and cemetery arrangements.
- Baptism — contact Olivia Bailey, [email protected]
- Marriage — contact Olivia Bailey
- OCIA (RCIA) — Janet Jacobson, [email protected]
- Religious Education — Laurie Lambert, (603) 742-3996
- Anointing of the Sick & Funerals — Denise Gauthier, (603) 692-0524
- Confession — Saturday 1:00–2:00 pm at St. Martin Church
Cemeteries and Facilities
The parish maintains its own parish cemeteries, with Cemetery Manager Ben Messier (a third-generation cemetery man) and a small crew (Terry, Derek, Marty) handling grounds care and upkeep of all six parish church buildings year-round.
- Cemetery Office — (603) 692-0524
- Cemetery email — [email protected]
- Facilities Manager — Ben Messier
- Maintenance — Terry Gower, Derek, Marty
- Faithful upkeep of six parish church buildings across the twinned parishes