About St. Patrick · Milford, New Hampshire
St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church is a welcoming Roman Catholic parish in Milford, New Hampshire, in the Diocese of Manchester. The parish — established in 1895 with the church building on Amherst Street — describes itself as a community rooted in tradition and the Eucharist, centered on prayer, service, and lifelong faith formation in the values and teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church. From its Amherst Street campus it serves Catholics in Milford and surrounding Souhegan Valley towns with weekend and daily Mass, faith formation for children and adults, RCIA, a parish school (St. Patrick Preschool), a Health Ministry, the Knights of Columbus, and a parish cemetery.
- Established
- 1895
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Dennis Audet
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Deanery: Souhegan)
Why belong here
St. Patrick describes itself as a small, welcoming parish where 'no matter your present status in the Catholic Church, no matter your family or marital status, no matter where you are in the practice of faith, you are always welcome.' Weekly life centers on the Eucharist (Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, plus three weekday Masses), First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confession, and a Knights of Columbus–led Rosary on solemnities. Parishioners of all ages are served through Family Faith Formation (K–5) and Confirmation preparation, the RCIA process (coordinated by Sue Pasquale), a parish Health Ministry (with twice-monthly blood pressure screenings and prayer shawls), St. Patrick's Helpers service projects, and St. Patrick Preschool. The parish actively registers new families and offers online giving and a Formed account subscription for at-home faith formation.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (Reconciliation Room at St. Patrick Church)
- By appointment with the pastor during the week
Adoration times
- First Friday 6:00–7:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration, per diocesan directory)
Parish Mission & Welcome
St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church states its mission as 'a welcoming community in a traditional and Eucharistic setting focused on prayer, service, and life-long faith formation on the values and teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church.' The parish bulletin publishes a standing welcome: 'No matter your present status in the Catholic Church; no matter your family or marital status; no matter where you are in the practice of faith; you are always welcomed here at St. Patrick.' The community gathers for Mass, the sacraments, faith formation, and service in the Souhegan Valley.
- Mission statement published on website, bulletin cover, and diocesan directory
- Weekly bulletin available through the parish website and Parishes Online
- Online registration as parishioner; online giving via the website
- Formed subscription offered for at-home faith formation
History of St. Patrick Parish, Milford
Catholic life in Milford began with layman Patrick O'Connor in 1848, and the first priestly visit to the town came in November 1853 from the Rev. William McDonald of Manchester. The first St. Patrick's church was erected in 1859 on Souhegan Street on land donated by John Finerty and Patrick O'Connor; it was enlarged in 1864 and dedicated in 1867. Because the membership outgrew the building, a new 100-by-50-foot church seating about 800 was built in 1890 on Amherst Street — the building from which the present parish's 1895 founding date derives (per the Diocese of Manchester directory and GCatholic). The wooden Souhegan Street church was destroyed by fire on June 27, 1902.
- 1848 — Catholic community started by Patrick O'Connor
- Nov. 1853 — first priestly visit to Milford (Rev. William McDonald of Manchester)
- 1859 — first St. Patrick's church built on Souhegan Street (land of John Finerty & Patrick O'Connor)
- 1864 — enlarged to twice its original size; dedicated 1867
- 1890 — new larger church built on Amherst Street (100 x 50 ft, ~800 seats)
- June 27, 1902 — fire destroys the old Souhegan Street church
- 1895 — founding year recorded by Diocese of Manchester and GCatholic
Pastoral Team & Staff
St. Patrick is led by Rev. Dennis Audet as Pastor, with a small lay staff supporting parish operations, faith formation, music, finance, and the cemetery. Names and roles are printed in the weekly bulletin so parishioners can reach the right person directly.
- Rev. Dennis Audet — Pastor ([email protected])
- Diane Bergeron — Secretary ([email protected])
- Abby Buchholz — Pastoral & Faith Formation Associate ([email protected])
- Jonathan Cote — Director of Sacred Music ([email protected])
- Jay Duffy — Cemetery Sexton (808-389-6576)
- Pauline Nepveu — Accountant / Business Manager ([email protected])
- Sue Pasquale — RCIA Coordinator ([email protected])
Pastoral Council
A Pastoral Council supports the pastor in parish governance and planning. Membership is published in the bulletin.
- Chairperson: Chris Conard
- Members: Peter Arnoldy, MaryGrace Duncan, Jerry Guthrie, Jude Lorman, Will McGrath, Irene Prunier
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, with policies and contact instructions published in the bulletin.
- Baptism — Call the Parish Office (603-673-1311) for pre-baptism instruction; preparation ideally before the child's birth
- First Communion & Confirmation — Prepared through Faith Formation
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM and by appointment
- Marriage — Contact the pastor 6–12 months before the desired date; book a reception venue only after the first meeting
- Anointing of the Sick — By personal appointment with the pastor
- RCIA — Process for adults becoming Catholic or completing initiation
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Patrick supports parish families in passing on the Catholic faith to children and teens, and provides RCIA for adults. Classes meet during the program year and use a family-based model alongside parish Sacramental preparation.
- Pastoral & Faith Formation Associate: Abby Buchholz ([email protected], 603-673-4794)
- Family Faith Formation classes for grades K–5 (12:15–1:45 PM on class days)
- Confirmation preparation for teens
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated by Sue Pasquale
- Adult faith formation via Formed subscription (linked from parish website)
- Faith Formation office line: 603-673-4797
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music and a vibrant corps of liturgical volunteers support the parish's weekend and holy day Masses. Volunteer ministers are scheduled each week in the bulletin.
- Director of Sacred Music: Jonathan Cote ([email protected])
- Choir / Cantor program for the Sunday Mass
- Altar Servers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Greeters
- Gift Bearers
Parish Outreach & Health Ministry
St. Patrick runs an active Health Ministry that combines practical wellness checks with spiritual care, and supports broader parish service through St. Patrick's Helpers and the Knights of Columbus. The bulletin publishes ongoing second-collection and SHARE-folder drives for Catholic and humanitarian causes.
- Health Ministry — Blood Pressure Readings twice a month 9:00–10:15 AM
- Prayer Shawls (distributed to parishioners in need)
- Nurse volunteers needed (call the parish office to help)
- St. Patrick's Helpers — parish service project group (resources posted to the website)
- Knights of Columbus — leads the Rosary after certain Masses
- Annual SHARE collections (e.g., feminine hygiene products, diapers, toothbrushes, etc.)
St. Patrick Preschool
St. Patrick Preschool is the parish's early-childhood program housed within the parish campus, giving young families a Catholic educational option in Milford. Parent sessions and registration are coordinated through the parish office.
- Parish-based preschool program
- Registration through the parish office
Parish Cemetery
St. Patrick maintains its own Catholic cemetery in Milford. A Cemetery Sexton oversees grounds and arrangements, and the parish celebrates a Memorial Mass at the cemetery on the Ascension of the Lord (weather permitting).
- Cemetery Sexton: Jay Duffy — 808-389-6576
- Annual Mass at the Cemetery on the Ascension, 8:30 AM
- Burial arrangements coordinated through the parish office
Office & Contact Information
The parish is located on Amherst Street in downtown Milford, with offices, the Parish Center (for daily Mass), and the church all sharing the Amherst Street campus. Office hours are posted in the bulletin and on the website.
- Address — 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH 03055
- Parish Office — (603) 673-1311
- Faith Formation — (603) 673-4797
- Fax — (603) 673-3687
- Office Hours — Monday–Thursday 9 AM–Noon and 1–5 PM; Friday 9 AM–Noon
Stepping Into Our Future — Feasibility Study
The parish has engaged in pastoral planning under the heading 'Stepping Into Our Future,' publishing a feasibility study final report linked from the parish homepage. The report and supporting documents are made available to parishioners as part of the parish's planning process.
- Stepping Into Our Future webpage on the parish site
- St. Patrick Feasibility Study Final Report (PDF)
- Linked under 'Resources' on the parish website