Category: From the Pastor’s Desk (Page 1 of 95)

Dear Parishioners and Visitors of St. Joseph Parish:

I realize that the departure of Fr. John was upsetting to you. My prayers are with you. If you would like to send him a note, please send it to: Diocese of Manchester, 153 Ash Street, Manchester, NH 03104 until I can gain permission to provide a new address for where Fr. John will take up residence.

Bishop Libasci desires to have a new full-time pastor assigned to you, so in the meantime we will all make sacrifices to make something work. There will be no daily Masses at St. Joseph, however, please know that daily Masses are offered at St. Matthew in Plymouth on Monday and Friday at 8:00am, and at St. Rose in Littleton on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 8:30am, and Thursday at 6:00pm. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held in Plymouth on Wednesdays from 9:00am – 7:00pm, and in Littleton on Thursdays from 12 Noon – 5:50pm.

I will take on the role of Temporary Administrator of the parish. The Bishop’s office will find coverage for the weekend Masses. Fr. Ryan and Fr. Rory of Littleton/Woodsville will cover all weddings, funerals and emergencies.

Please keep me in your prayers, as well as your parish staff, committees and organizations.

In Christ,

Fr. Mark Dollard
revmarkus@outlook.com

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Just ten days ago, I learned that Bishop Libasci has accepted my request for retirement as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Lincoln, effective Sunday, November 1, 2026, due to reaching age 75 and with some health concerns. (In accord with the prescriptions of canon law, I submitted this requisite letter to him fourteen months ago!) I am ever grateful for your good and faithful Christian witness over the past six years, and wish you to know of my continued prayers for you and your families.

With prayerful best wishes,

Fr. John Mahoney

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

During the month of November– especially on All Saints Day
and All Souls Day –Catholics pray for the “Holy Souls” of
family members and friends who have died in God’s grace and have gone
before us marked with the sign of faith.
Please enter the names of those you would like to be remembered in our “Book of Remembrance, located beside the statue of Our Lady of Fatima
in the church nave.

“Sharing Resources” was the theme of the recent meeting of our Parish Outreach Committee. Proceeds from the church’s poor box
and other private donations earmarked for charitable use were awarded by the Committee to:
Haven Pregnancy Services, Vets Rest Stop, The Boston Garden of Peace, The Bridge Project, Linwood Ambulance, and the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive.

Committee members Nancy Sweeney, Jo-Ann Crowe, Pam
Holmlund and I agreed that a $3000 donation on behalf of the parishioners should be made again this year to the Linwood Rotary’s Community Chest Program. As you may know, the Community Chest has personnel available to
screen, to shop, and to deliver to deserving families in the Linwood area Thanksgiving meals and food baskets, as well as Christmas dinners
and gifts for children in our local neighborhoods.
Donations to the poor box are always appreciated.

With a sigh of relief, the church elevator has been
repaired and passed the annual inspection by the NH Board of Labor, the church and rectory boilers passed their annual review,
and last week the yearly inspection of the church’s fire alarm system was successfully accomplished!

Finally, please keep in your prayers the St. Joseph’s Faith Formation Program as our teachers and students continue with their lesson plans, and as they embark on their exercises of the Corporal Works of Mercy!

With prayerful best wishes,
Fr. John Mahoney

For those who requested the prayer read by Fr. John last weekend at the closing of his homily, here it is:

Almighty and eternal God, Lord of heaven
and earth, there is no other God besides
you. You have called us each by name
and sent us out on mission. Forgive us
when we place wealth, power, reputation,
comfort, or political loyalty above your
truth. Lord Jesus Christ, true image of
the invisible God and Lord of every nation,
restore in us any likeness of You we
may have dulled. Teach us to give to every
earthly authority what is its due, and to
You our whole heart, soul and mind. Amen.

Fr. Melroy Mascarenhas, SVD