About St. Peter (St. Mary's Parish) · Farmington, New Hampshire
St. Peter Church is one of two worship sites of the merged St. Mary & St. Peter Parish Community, a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire. Located at 88–90 Central Street in Farmington, NH, St. Peter offers Sunday Mass at 9:15 am, weekly Tuesday evening devotions, and Eucharistic Adoration on the first Wednesday of each month. The parish shares its pastor, staff, and family faith formation program with St. Mary Church in nearby Rochester, and together the two sites serve the Strafford County community with Mass in English and Spanish, confession, formation for families, food pantry outreach, and a variety of prayer and fellowship ministries.
- Established
- 1919 (mission) / 1920 (parish)
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Duston
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Peter offers a warm, traditional Catholic community rooted in Farmington for more than a century. Weekly Mass at 9:15 am on Sunday, a regular Tuesday evening devotion with confession, and first-Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration give parishioners a steady rhythm of prayer. The parish shares a robust Family Faith Formation program ('A Family of Faith') with St. Mary in Rochester, runs a monthly St. Peter Food Pantry, and gathers men and women through the Knights of Columbus, Ladies' Guild, Prayer Warriors, and Prayer Shawl ministries — making it easy for newcomers and longtime residents alike to find both a pew and a place to serve.
Mass times at St. Peter (St. Mary's Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st and 3rd Tuesdays: 6:30 – 7:00 pm (St. Peter)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Wednesdays: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (St. Peter)
Welcome & Visitor Information
St. Peter is one half of the St. Mary & St. Peter Parish Community, a merged Catholic parish in the Diocese of Manchester that worships at two sites: St. Mary Church in Rochester (the parish office site) and St. Peter Church in Farmington. Visitors are warmly welcomed; the parish website invites newcomers to attend Mass, sign up for Faith Formation, and connect with the parish office by email at [email protected]. Church doors typically open 30 minutes before each Mass.
- Parish office: 71 Lowell Street, Rochester, NH 03867
- St. Peter Church: 88–90 Central Street, Farmington, NH 03835
- General inquiries: [email protected]
- Bulletin submissions: [email protected]
History of St. Peter Parish
St. Peter Parish traces its beginnings to the French-Canadian immigrant community in Farmington. According to the Diocese of Manchester and the Farmington Historical Society, the Catholic community in Farmington began meeting around 1916, was organized as a mission in 1919, and was formally established as St. Peter Parish in 1920. In 1924, the original 'barn church' was moved back on the property and a new, proper church was built on site. By the mid-20th century the building could no longer hold the growing congregation and was eventually replaced; the current church sanctuary was dedicated in 1965. The parish is now joined with St. Mary in Rochester under one pastor and staff while retaining its own Sunday worship schedule.
- Founded as a mission in 1919 for French-Canadian immigrants
- Became a parish in 1920
- Original 'barn church' built 1924, replaced mid-20th century
- Current church dedicated in 1965
- Rev. Arthur Dufour served as pastor 1947–1964
Mass & Worship Schedule
At St. Peter Church in Farmington, the principal weekly worship is Sunday Mass at 9:15 am. On the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, an evening Mass is celebrated at 6:30 pm, followed by Adoration until about 6:00 pm (per the parish bulletin) and Confession from 6:30–7:00 pm. The parish's sister site, St. Mary in Rochester, offers additional Masses including a Sunday 2:00 pm Mass in Spanish, weekday Masses Monday through Thursday, and Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 pm.
- Sunday Mass: 9:15 am (English) at St. Peter
- 1st & 3rd Tuesday Mass: 6:30 pm at St. Peter
- St. Mary Masses: Sat 4:00 pm Vigil; Sun 7:15 am, 11:30 am, 2:00 pm (Spanish)
- Weekday Masses at St. Mary: Mon/Tue/Thu 8:00 am; Wed 5:00 pm
Family Faith Formation
Family Faith Formation is the parish's family-based catechetical program, built around the vision 'A Family of Faith' — strong Catholic families in which children learn the joys of following Jesus Christ and the truths of their Faith through the witness of Christian life given by their parents. The program has four explicit goals: to encourage and equip parents to fulfill their God-given duty and privilege of educating their children in the Catholic Faith; to support and nurture strong Catholic families who image the Blessed Trinity; to provide parents the opportunity for continued growth in the Faith; and to build community and celebrate Catholic life together through common prayer, services to others, social activities and liturgical celebrations. Registration materials for the 2025–2026 program year are posted on the parish website, with an August 15 registration deadline. The program is coordinated parish-wide by Faith Formation Coordinator Michele Halligan-Foley.
- Program name: A Family of Faith
- Coordinator: Michele Halligan-Foley
- Annual registration (deadline August 15)
- Family-based model: parents are primary educators of their children
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Mary & St. Peter Parish is led by Pastor Rev. Thomas Duston, who is the pastor of record for both St. Mary Parish and St. Peter Parish according to the Diocese of Manchester directory. The parish office is staffed by a Faith Formation Coordinator, an Interim Office Manager, a Bookkeeper, a Receptionist, and a Communications staffer. The parish office is located at 71 Lowell Street, Rochester, NH 03867, and serves both worship sites.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas Duston (ordained 1992)
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Michele Halligan-Foley
- Interim Office Manager: Louise LaMarca-Gay
- Bookkeeper: Anita Couture
- Receptionist: Cheryl Black
- Communications: Jessica Greco
Ministries, Outreach & Fellowship
The parish supports a wide range of ministries for men, women, youth, and those in need. Outreach is centered on two food pantries — the St. Peter Food Pantry and the St. Mary Food Pantry — which operate on rotating weekends to serve local families. Spiritual and fellowship ministries include Prayer Warriors (intercessory prayer), the Prayer Shawl Ministry (knitted/crocheted shawls for the sick and bereaved), the Marian Society, Secular Franciscans, the Ladies' Guild, the Knights of Columbus (Rochester Council #2048), and the Rivers of Living Water Healing Ministry, which offers hands-on prayer after the 4:00 pm Mass on second Saturdays at St. Mary. The Morning Glory Café provides weekly fellowship after weekday Masses at St. Mary.
- St. Peter Food Pantry (monthly)
- St. Mary Food Pantry (monthly)
- Knights of Columbus – Rochester Council #2048
- Ladies' Guild
- Prayer Warriors
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Secular Franciscans
- Marian Society
- Rivers of Living Water Healing Ministry
- Morning Glory Café (weekly fellowship)
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The parish celebrates the Sacraments on a regular weekly and monthly schedule across both worship sites. Mass is offered daily Monday through Thursday at St. Mary and on Sundays at both St. Mary and St. Peter. Confession is heard on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at St. Peter (6:30–7:00 pm), on Saturdays at St. Mary, and by appointment at either church. Eucharistic Adoration is offered on First Wednesdays at St. Peter (10:00 am–5:00 pm) and on Tuesdays after Mass. Healing Prayer is available through the Rivers of Living Water ministry on second Saturdays at St. Mary, and a quarterly Prayer Service for Our Nation is held at St. Mary.
- Sunday & weekday Mass schedule across both sites
- Confession: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at St. Peter, Saturdays at St. Mary, or by appointment
- First Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Peter
- Healing Prayer Ministry at St. Mary
Bulletin, Calendar & News
The parish website publishes a current weekly bulletin and an online parish calendar that lists Mass times, Confession, Adoration, ministry meetings (Morning Glory Café, Marian Society, Knights of Columbus, Prayer Warriors, Prayer Shawl, Ladies' Guild, Secular Franciscans), and food pantry weekends. A 'Saint of the Week' and 'This Week's Gospel' reflection are featured alongside bulletin announcements. Pastors and parishioners are encouraged to submit bulletin items to [email protected].
- Online weekly bulletin
- Online parish calendar (June 2026 listings visible on the site)
- Saint of the Week feature
- This Week's Gospel reflection
Visiting St. Peter Church
St. Peter Church sits in the heart of downtown Farmington on Central Street. From Route 11, visitors are directed to turn at the blinking light by Rite Aid and the State Liquor Store, cross the small bridge, and turn left into the parking area. The church doors are generally opened about 30 minutes before each Mass. The parish office (for mail, registrations, and administrative contact) is located separately at 71 Lowell Street, Rochester, NH 03867, and can be reached at (603) 332-1869 or [email protected].
- St. Peter address: 88–90 Central Street, Farmington, NH 03835
- Parish office: 71 Lowell Street, Rochester, NH 03867
- Phone: (603) 332-1869
- Email: [email protected]
- Directions: Off Route 11 at the blinking light by Rite Aid; cross the small bridge and turn left into the parking area
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Arthur Dufour1947–1964
Pastor during the period of major parish growth; the older church building was later replaced under subsequent pastors with the current sanctuary dedicated in 1965.