About St. Matthew [Gate of Heaven Parish] · Whitefield, New Hampshire
St. Matthew Church is one of five worship sites of Gate of Heaven Parish, a Roman Catholic territorial parish serving the North Country of New Hampshire. Located at 9 Jefferson Road in Whitefield, NH, it sits at the corner of Routes 3 and 116, next to the Whitefield Town Hall and across from the Post Office. Gate of Heaven Parish was formed in 2009 by merging the former All Saints Parish of Lancaster (est. 1856) and Saint Matthew Parish of Whitefield (est. 1886), bringing together the mission churches of St. Agnes in Jefferson, St. Patrick in Carroll/Twin Mountain, and Our Lady of the Mountains in Bretton Woods under a single pastorate. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Manchester (White Mountain Deanery) and currently hosts a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM and a Friday daily Mass at 9:00 AM at St. Matthew, alongside regular confession, Eucharistic adoration, and a livestream of the Sunday Mass from All Saints in Lancaster.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Matthew (Apostle and Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, H.G.N. (Administrator, appointed May 15, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (White Mountain Deanery)
Why belong here
Gate of Heaven Parish is a small but welcoming Catholic family spread across five historic churches in the beautiful North Country of New Hampshire, including St. Matthew in Whitefield. The parish actively gathers for daily and Sunday Mass in multiple locations, livestreams the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass from All Saints in Lancaster, and offers regular opportunities for Confession and Eucharistic Adoration. Ministries like the Knights of Columbus Council #1624, the Catholic Women's Group, the Visitation of Elders, and the intercessory Cenacle of St. Monica give parishioners concrete ways to pray together, serve neighbors in need, and care for the sick, the homebound, and those who have drifted from the Church. Whether you are a long-time local, a visitor to the White Mountains, or returning to the faith, the parish invites you to 'deepen your friendship with Jesus Christ and to live the beauty of our Catholic faith.'
Mass times at St. Matthew [Gate of Heaven Parish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (at St. Matthew, Whitefield)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (November 1 – Memorial Day, per Diocese of Manchester directory)
Parish Identity and History
Gate of Heaven Parish serves the Catholic faithful of the White Mountains region of New Hampshire from five historic church buildings. The parish was canonically established by the Diocese of Manchester on July 5, 2009, through the merger of All Saints Parish of Lancaster (founded 1856) and Saint Matthew Parish of Whitefield (founded 1886), together with the missions of Saint Agnes (Jefferson), Saint Patrick (Carroll/Twin Mountain), and Our Lady of the Mountains (Bretton Woods). The merger decree was issued by Bishop John McCormack on June 24, 2009, and explicitly retained each existing church edifice as a site of worship for the merged community. The new parish belongs to the White Mountain Deanery of the Diocese of Manchester, and St. Matthew continues its 1886 ministry to Whitefield, Bretton Woods, Carroll, and Dalton.
- Founded 1886 as Saint Matthew Parish, Whitefield
- Merged into Gate of Heaven Parish effective July 5, 2009
- Part of the White Mountain Deanery, Diocese of Manchester
Worship Sites of Gate of Heaven Parish
Rather than a single building, Gate of Heaven Parish worships in five distinct churches spread across Coos County. All Saints Church in Lancaster serves as the principal church and the location of the parish office and rectory (163 Main Street). St. Matthew Church in Whitefield hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass and a Friday daily Mass. St. Agnes Mission sits on Presidential Highway in Jefferson; St. Patrick Mission is on St. Patrick Church Road in Twin Mountain (Carroll); and Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine is at 2470 Route 302 in Bretton Woods, the highest-elevation site of the parish.
- All Saints Church, 161 Main Street, Lancaster (principal parish church)
- St. Matthew Church, 9 Jefferson Road, Whitefield
- St. Agnes Mission, 769 Presidential Highway, Jefferson
- St. Patrick Mission, 65 St. Patrick Church Road, Twin Mountain (Carroll)
- Our Lady of the Mountains Shrine, 2470 Route 302, Bretton Woods
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Gate of Heaven Parish is currently led by Rev. Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, H.G.N., who was appointed Administrator of the parish effective May 15, 2025 by Bishop Peter A. Libasci of Manchester. He is assisted by Rev. Jaykumar Thangaraj, H.G.N., who was appointed Parochial Vicar effective June 18, 2025 (having previously served at Sacred Heart Parish, Lebanon, and Saint Helena Parish). From February 25, 2025 to May 15, 2025, Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton — also Dean of the White Mountain Deanery and Pastor of Good Shepherd, Holy Family, and North American Martyrs Parishes — served as Temporary Administrator of Gate of Heaven in addition to those duties.
- Rev. Zevier Hirudayaraj Arockiam, H.G.N. – Administrator (since May 15, 2025)
- Rev. Jaykumar Thangaraj, H.G.N. – Parochial Vicar (since June 18, 2025)
- Very Rev. Kyle F. Stanton – former Temporary Administrator (Feb. 25 – May 15, 2025) and Dean, White Mountain Deanery
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish fosters a small but active network of ministries that bind its five worship sites together. The Knights of Columbus Council #1624 meets for regular business meetings and supports parish life through works of charity, unity, and fraternity. The Catholic Women's Group provides fellowship and service opportunities for the women of the parish. The Visitation of Elders ministry brings the Eucharist and companionship to homebound parishioners. The Cenacle of St. Monica is an intercessory prayer group that meets in the sacristy of St. Matthew's church on the 2nd and last Thursday of each month from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, praying especially for those who have separated themselves from the Church, for priests, and for the sick and dying.
- Knights of Columbus Council #1624
- Catholic Women's Group
- Visitation of Elders
- Cenacle of St. Monica (2nd and last Thursday, 3:00–5:00 PM, St. Matthew sacristy)
Stewardship and Giving
The parish asks its family to support its five churches so that they remain places of worship and sacramental life for future generations. Online giving is available through the parish's eGive system, and the parish office at (603) 788-2083 can assist parishioners in signing up or using the platform. Stewardship is described as a shared responsibility of feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, counseling, bearing one another's burdens, and other works of mercy.
- Online eGive donations
- Parish office assistance for giving: (603) 788-2083
Contact, Location, and Visiting
St. Matthew Church is located at 9 Jefferson Road, Whitefield, NH 03598, at the corner of Route 3 and Route 116, immediately next to the Whitefield Town Hall and across from the Post Office. The parish office (Gate of Heaven Parish) and rectory are reached at 163 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584-3032. The shared phone line for all five worship sites is (603) 788-2083. Visitors to the area are warmly welcomed to any Mass, and Sunday worship can also be joined remotely via the parish's Sunday Mass livestream.
- Address: 9 Jefferson Road, Whitefield, NH 03598
- Parish office: 163 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584-3032
- Phone: (603) 788-2083
- Sunday Mass livestream available online