About St. Raphael · Manchester, New Hampshire
Saint Raphael Parish is a Roman Catholic parish on the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire, entrusted to the care of the Benedictine monks of Saint Anselm Abbey. Founded in 1888 as the first Benedictine foundation in New England, it was established to serve the German and Irish immigrant populations working in the Manchester mills. The parish community today of more than 500 families and roughly 2,500 individuals lives out its core Benedictine values of faith, humility, healing, hospitality, community and worship, and identifies itself as a tithing community that gives ten percent of its gifts to outside charities. The current church building was dedicated in 1965, and the parish also operates Saint Benedict Academy, an elementary school on its campus.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- Saint Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Anselm Smedile, O.S.B.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Manchester (New Hampshire)
Why belong here
Saint Raphael offers a faithful, traditional Benedictine Catholic community on Manchester's West Side, with daily and weekend Masses shaped by the rhythm of the Rule of Saint Benedict and the hospitality of the monks of Saint Anselm Abbey. The parish is home to Saint Benedict Academy, a thriving faith-formation program for children, a parish food pantry that has served West Side neighbors weekly since 1989, and a choir and music ministry that combine traditional hymns with organ and contemporary offerings. As a tithing community, Saint Raphael commits ten percent of its gifts to outside charities, making belonging here a tangible participation in the wider mission of the Church.
Mass times at St. Raphael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
- Sundays 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
- By appointment — call the parish office at 603-623-2604
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month, following the 12:00 pm Mass (begins approximately 12:30 pm)
Welcome to Saint Raphael Parish
Saint Raphael Parish is a Catholic community located on the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire. A parish entrusted to the care of the Benedictine monks of Saint Anselm Abbey, its core values are faith, humility, healing, hospitality, community and worship. The pastor invites newcomers to introduce themselves and to join the parish for any weekday or weekend Mass, with a downloadable Parish Registration Form available online.
- Parish Registration Form available on the parish website
- Pastoral staff contactable at (603) 623-2604 or [email protected]
Parish History
Saint Raphael is the first Benedictine foundation in New England, established in 1888 at the request of the Diocese of Manchester to serve German and Irish immigrants working in the Manchester mills. The first public parish Mass was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1888 in the Harrington Hose Company building on Clinton Street, and the first monastic community took shape the following year under founding pastor the Rev. Sylvester Joerg, O.S.B.
- 1888 — Four Benedictine monks arrive from Saint Mary's Abbey, Newark, NJ
- 1888 — First parish Mass celebrated Easter Sunday in the Harrington Hose Co. building on Clinton Street
- 1889 — Monastic community and groundwork for Saint Anselm College established
- 1907 — Present parish rectory built
- 1964 — Current Saint Raphael Church constructed and Saint Raphael School opened
- 1965 — Main altar dedicated June 14 by Abbot Gerald F. McCarthy, O.S.B.; church blessed and dedicated August 1 by Bishop Ernest J. Primeau
- 1970s — School joins diocesan system as West Side Catholic Regional School
- 2003 — School renamed Saint Benedict Academy
Parish Buildings and Architecture
The parish complex today consists of Saint Raphael Church (1964), the parish rectory (1907), Saint Benedict Academy (1964), and a religious education center housed in the lower level of the original church building. The contemporary Italianate-style church, designed by architects Andrew and Nicholas Isaak of Manchester, includes a belfry, baptistery, daily Mass worship space in the Saint Benedict Chapel, and a fully fitted kitchen, hall and classrooms for religious education in the basement.
- Architects: Andrew and Nicholas Isaak of Manchester (also designed Saint Anselm Abbey Church)
- Rectory built 1907
- Church built 1964; dedicated 1965
- Original 'all-in-one' building designed by P. W. Ford of Boston
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Anselm Smedile, O.S.B., a Benedictine monk and priest of Saint Anselm Abbey and alumnus of Saint Anselm College (Class of 1993). Before being named pastor of Saint Raphael, Fr. Anselm served as prior of the monastery and formation director for monks in first vows, and on the staff of the Office of Campus Ministry and the Office of College Advancement. He also serves as a trustee of Saint Anselm College.
- Fr. Anselm Smedile, O.S.B. — Pastor
- Elizabeth Mikulski — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Carol LaBarre — Business Manager
- Kathryn McGrath — Pastoral Associate ([email protected])
- Lyle Hamel — Choir Director & Principal Organist
- Food Pantry Coordinator ([email protected])
- Ray Clement — Facilities Manager ([email protected])
Music Ministry
Masses at Saint Raphael are traditional in their use of hymns accompanied by organ or piano. The parish choir, directed by Lyle Hamel (Choir Director and Principal Organist), sings at the 9:30 am Sunday Mass as well as on special feast days and solemnities. On every third Sunday at the 5:00 pm Mass, the mixed singing group Catholic Basics Choir leads the congregation with a blend of contemporary, traditional and ancient music.
- Parish Choir (9:30 am Sunday Mass and feast days)
- Catholic Basics Choir (every third Sunday at 5:00 pm Mass)
- Cantors and parish musicians
Faith Formation
Saint Raphael's Faith Formation program is family-centered, recognizing and encouraging the involvement of parents, grandparents, guardians and other family members. The program runs from November through April and includes Mass, parent/child meetings, and assigned activities to do at home. Teaching Catholic doctrine and practice is treated as both a parental and parish responsibility.
- Family-centered model
- Program runs November through April
- Faith Formation Registration Form available online
- Deadline for 2025-2026 registration: Sunday, November 9
Saint Benedict Academy
Saint Benedict Academy is the parish elementary school, opened in 1964 as Saint Raphael School for grades K-8 and renamed in 2003. Originally staffed by the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and later by the Religious Sisters of Mercy and lay teachers, the school today operates on a pre-K through Grade 6 model serving roughly 140–150 students on the parish campus.
- Opened 1964 as Saint Raphael School
- Renamed Saint Benedict Academy in 2003
- Pre-K through Grade 6 model
- Approximately 140–150 students
- Originally taught by Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, NJ, then Religious Sisters of Mercy and lay teachers
Saint Raphael Food Pantry
Since 1989, the Saint Raphael Food Pantry and Hope Chest has been one of the parish's largest ministries, providing groceries, information and encouragement to West Side neighbors each week. Between 40 and 60 individuals and families receive assistance each Monday evening, including longtime local residents and newcomers to Manchester from Nigeria, Congo, Somalia, Bhutan, Nepal, Romania, India, Pakistan and Brazil. The pantry partners with the New Hampshire Food Bank (a Catholic Charities agency in the Diocese of Manchester), the Community Action Program of Belknap-Merrimack Counties Inc., and Hannaford's supermarket.
- Founded in 1989 under pastor Father Simon J. O'Donnell, O.S.B., as a Lenten almsgiving ministry
- 40–60 individuals and families served weekly
- Partnerships with NH Food Bank, Community Action Program of Belknap-Merrimack Counties, and Hannaford's
- Earlier coordinators include Jackie Bessette, Diane Desjardins, Therese Dame, Dorene Turner, Elaine Lucci, Annette Gray, Anne Duplessis, Terry and Chuck Langton, Bob Ackerson, and David and Kathy Yee
- Developed under pastor Father Bede G. Camera, O.S.B.
Parish Food Pantry Volunteers and Operations
The food pantry is run by rotating teams of volunteers who gather before opening for a brief prayer service led by the week's team captain. Two office workers check identification and paperwork; others distribute bread and pantry items, often helping carry bags to cars or across the street. Five bagging teams prepare sixty bags each week, and sixth-grade students from Saint Benedict Academy bring down the weekend Mass collections on Monday mornings during the school year.
- Brief prayer service before each distribution
- Five rotating bagging teams; five rotating Monday-night teams
- Saint Benedict Academy sixth graders assist on Monday mornings during the school year
- Three teams rotate picking up donations from Hannaford's each Monday morning
Live Stream and Online Giving
The parish live-streams Masses and special events through its Facebook page and YouTube channel, and maintains an online stewardship presence on Spotify and Parish Giving. Memorial donations may be directed to the food pantry in honor of deceased loved ones, a practice many parishioners have requested.
- Live-stream events via Facebook page (facebook.com/SaintRaphaelParish)
- Parish YouTube channel
- Parish Giving online platform
- Memorial donations accepted through the food pantry
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Sylvester Joerg, O.S.B.1888 (founding pastor)
First pastor; led the four Benedictine monks who came from Saint Mary's Abbey, Newark, NJ, at the request of the Diocese of Manchester to serve German and Irish immigrants.
- Father Simon J. O'Donnell, O.S.B.
Pastor when the Saint Raphael Food Pantry was begun as a Lenten almsgiving ministry.
- Father Bede G. Camera, O.S.B.
Succeeded Father Simon O'Donnell and continued to develop the food pantry into a major parish ministry.