Loving Christ, Loving Others on Crystal Avenue
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church stands just off Route 102 in Derry, New Hampshire, its gothic brick and stained glass rising from a quiet corner of Crystal Avenue across from a wide parish parking lot. It is one of the older Catholic parishes in the state, a faith community of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester served by Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate from the Immaculate Conception Province. The parish is rooted in a simple Franciscan motto that it spells out in its mission statement: Loving Christ, Loving Others. The community describes itself as "dedicated to continuing the mission of Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic tradition," proclaiming the Good News through time, talent, and treasure, and seeking "a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus Christ as we passionately share Christ's love with all people."
What makes St. Thomas Aquinas recognizable in the wider Derry area is the breadth of its programming and the visibility of its Franciscan character. October is set aside every year as Franciscan Month, in tribute to St. Francis of Assisi, and the church building is filled with Francis's words. The parish sponsors three Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, a daily Mass, an active food pantry, three youth groups, an Alpha course for seekers, a Secular Franciscan fraternity, and an array of prayer and outreach ministries that meet weekly in the church, the church basement, the school building, and the Aquinas Center. Mass is livestreamed online, and giving is available through a secure online portal.
From Five Families to a Gothic Church
The Catholic population of Derry in June 1868 was five or six families, and Mass was first celebrated in the home of John Duffy. The parish's earliest priests, including the Reverend Maurice Galvin, the Reverend Andrew Timon, the Reverend John J. Lyons, and the Reverend E.D. Mackey, said Mass in private homes and later in Smith's Hall and Bell's Opera House. For seventeen years the town's Catholics gathered this way, until 1885, when St. Thomas Aquinas became a mission parish of St. Anne's in Manchester and was visited once a month by the pioneer priest Reverend William J. McDonald.
On August 15, 1888, Bishop Denis Mary Bradley formally created the parish and appointed its first resident pastor, Father William J. O'Connor, whose territory included Derry, Epping, Goffs Falls, Salem, Windham, Chester, and Sandown. Father O'Connor immediately organized for work, holding regular weekly Mass in Smith Hall and later in the Opera House. In April 1889, he purchased the present Crystal Avenue property from George S. Rollins for $3,000, and the architect Elsworth Martin was awarded the contract to build a church. Construction began in May 1889, the cross was placed in the steeple on September 20, and on November 28, 1889, Bishop Bradley dedicated the new church at a Solemn High Mass with fifteen priests concelebrating. Twelve pioneer parishioners donated the twelve stained glass windows, including gifts from Bishop Bradley, Father Timon, John Duffy, Daniel Owens, and James Madden, with two windows placed in memory of Michael and William Lane. By the time of the dedication the parish had grown to sixty families.
On August 2, 1914, fire destroyed the wooden church on Crystal Avenue. The Derry News headline read "Catholic Church Burned." Father Dunn shepherded the parish through reconstruction, and Mass moved temporarily to the Scenic Theater on Railroad Avenue. The rebuilt church, gothic in style and twice the size of the first, was dedicated on Sunday, November 11, 1917, before Bishop A. George Albert Guertin and twenty-one priests, with seating for 860 in the main church and another 860 in the basement. That 1917 building is the church the parish worships in today. In preparation for its 100th anniversary, the parish launched a four-phase capital campaign covering electrical and insulation upgrades, interior restoration, exterior repairs, and parking lot improvements.
A Franciscan Heart
The friars who staff St. Thomas Aquinas belong to the Order of Friars Minor, the Franciscan order founded by St. Francis of Assisi eight centuries ago. The parish makes that heritage visible. The friars include Father Joseph Powell, OFM, the pastor, and Br. Damian Johnson, OFM, the pastoral associate. The walls of the parish are decorated with Franciscan quotes that rotate through the seasons: "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible"; "No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm"; "We should seek not so much to pray but to become prayer"; and "All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle." The parish has also posted an extended reflection on Andrei Rublev's icon of the Holy Trinity, the festal icon of Pentecost in the Eastern Christian tradition, exploring the reverse-perspective technique and what it teaches about the three Persons of the Trinity.
For those drawn to the Franciscan way of life in the world, the parish hosts the Greccio Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), a secular religious order founded by St. Francis himself and open to lay Catholics and others who wish to bring the Gospel to life where they live and work. The fraternity is led by Diane Cunningham, OFS, and James Monteiro, OFS.
Mass, Reconciliation, and the Liturgy of the Hours
The rhythm of the week at St. Thomas Aquinas is built around the Eucharist. Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 4:30 PM, and three Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 6:00 PM. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM, with a 9:00 AM Mass on federal holidays. The friars pray Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours in the church at 7:30 AM on weekdays (8:30 AM on federal holidays), and the Rosary is prayed at 7:05 AM on Sunday. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays from 3:00 to 4:00 PM, or by appointment. The 6:00 PM Sunday Mass is especially well attended by younger adults and the parish's youth.
Worship at St. Thomas Aquinas is traditional and liturgical, in keeping with Roman Catholic practice. Mass is celebrated in English, with readings drawn from the RSV-CE translation. The parish identifies the Mass as the "source and summit" of Catholic life and teaches the doctrine of transubstantiation, by which the bread and wine become the true Body and Blood of Christ.
Adoration Around the Week
Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the church on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Nocturnal Adoration, a longstanding Franciscan tradition, is held on the third Friday of each month from 10:00 PM through 7:00 AM Saturday. First Friday Adoration runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A weekly Holy Hour with Confessions is held on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM. The parish's First Friday and First Saturday Adoration reflect the traditional First Friday and First Saturday devotions observed widely in Catholic parishes.
Healing and the Charismatic Prayer Group
St. Thomas Aquinas maintains an unusual concentration of healing prayer. The Healing Ministry, led by Nick DiGiandiomenico, shares what the parish calls God's promise of healing and wholeness "by allowing His love to flow through us to others." A weekly Charismatic Prayer Group, coordinated by Peggy Fox, gathers as a prayer community to seek Jesus in union with the Holy Spirit, praising the Lord and welcoming the gifts of the Spirit, including prophecy and healing. The Children of Mary Prayer Group, led by Jeanne Alizio, meets during Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM to pray the Rosary and offer intercessory prayer.
The parish also points visitors to a wider network of Catholic healing resources, including the Unbound model of deliverance and healing prayer developed by Neal Lozano, Encounter Ministries, the Abba House of Mercy and Prayer in Laconia, NH, and the John Paul II Healing Center. A recommended reading list runs from Dr. Mary Healy's Healing: Bringing the Gift of God's Mercy to the World to Neal Lozano's Unbound: A Practical Guide to Deliverance and Fr. Richard McAlear's The Power of Healing Prayer.
Faith Formation for Every Age
Faith Formation at St. Thomas Aquinas is led by Kristen Sweet, who also serves as the parish's Office Manager. The program is built around the parish's Whole Community model, a Family Faith Formation Program that meets on Fridays once a month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, in which students attend grade-level classes while parents stay for an adult presentation. A homeschool option is also available, with St. Thomas providing the approved curriculum and parents responsible for teaching the lessons at home.
Sacramental preparation is built into the program. Second graders prepare for First Reconciliation, while third graders prepare for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. These classes are offered in addition to grade-level Faith Formation, on Sunday afternoons once a month: First Reconciliation from 3:00 to 4:15 PM, and First Communion and Confirmation from 4:30 to 5:45 PM. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, with children dismissed before the Liturgy of the Word to break open the readings, sing, and participate in activities downstairs before returning for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Adult Confirmation is offered for those who have not yet received the sacrament.
Three Youth Groups, One Mission
The parish runs three youth groups that meet in the church basement and parish buildings throughout the month.
- Youth Group Junior (4th and 5th grade) gathers for faith-building and service. The Junior calendar runs through the school year with monthly activities.
- Middle School Youth Group (grades 6 to 8) meets two Tuesdays a month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM under the leadership of Jen Ciarla and a team of adult volunteers. The program combines faith formation, service projects, and parish and community events.
- High School Youth Group (grades 9 to 12) meets two Wednesdays a month from 6:30 to 8:00 PM under the leadership of Jillien Klok. Each summer the high schoolers have the opportunity to participate in a week-long mission trip in July.
Parents and students can register through the parish's online registration forms, and separate calendars are kept for each group.
Alpha and Alpha Connect
Alpha is one of the most visible programs at St. Thomas Aquinas. The 10-week course is led by Deacon Joe and Lisa Anthony and meets on Mondays from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the Aquinas Center. Each evening opens with a free meal, dessert, and refreshments, followed by a short video on an aspect of life and the Christian faith, then a small-group discussion that the parish describes as "relaxed, friendly, and judgment-free." Alpha is open to anyone, whether they are new to Christianity, returning to church, or simply curious about faith. The parish's Alpha team says: "We invite you to come as you are - we'd love to welcome you."
For those who want to keep going after the ten weeks, Alpha Connect meets on Mondays at 6:00 PM in the church basement, beginning each fall after Alpha has launched. Alpha Connect goes deeper into the Christian faith through movies, video series, book studies, and conversation, with the explicit aim of continuing the friendships formed during Alpha and "discovering what it means to follow Jesus in our everyday lives."
Becoming Catholic, OCIA, and Returning Catholics
Adults who wish to become Catholic, complete their sacraments, or simply learn more about the faith are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Sessions are held on Sunday mornings in the school building's Classroom 1, and the parish emphasizes that OCIA is a process with no fixed length: "The length of time of the process varies according to individual need, experience, readiness, and commitment." The OCIA team includes sponsors from the parish who walk with inquirers through the catechumenate, the Rite of Election, and reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
The parish also offers a clear welcome home for returning Catholics, pointing them to the work of Catholics Come Home. Deacon Joe can be reached at deaconjoe@stthomasderry.org for OCIA inquiries.
A Food Pantry and a Meal Ministry
St. Thomas Aquinas is a visible presence in Derry's social safety net. The parish Food Pantry is open to anyone in need every Wednesday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the church building is handicap accessible. The St. Martha Meal Ministry, led by Christine Hall, provides comforting homemade meals to parishioners facing significant life changes; a request form is available on the parish's Meal Ministry page.
A used clothing donation shed, located across the street from the church at the rear of the parking lot near Sal's Pizza, accepts clothing, coats, shoes, and stuffed animals in tied plastic bags. St. Pauly's Textiles collects them regularly and pays the parish four cents a pound, turning donations into a small but reliable fundraiser. Catholic Charities of New Hampshire is listed among the parish's community resources.
Music and the Liturgical Ministries
Two music ministries serve the parish. The Traditional Choir, directed by Diane Harper, sings at the principal Sunday Masses and rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM. The Contemporary Music Group, led by Frank Howard, rehearses on Wednesday evenings and supports the worship of the parish with a more contemporary sound. The Youth Choir, for children in grades K through 8 under Amy DiGiandomenico, sings at Christmas and other times of the liturgical year, with no auditions required.
The liturgical ministries reflect the wide variety of ways the faithful support the Mass. Altar servers and Masters of Ceremonaries assist the priest at the altar under Amy DiGiandomenico's coordination. Lectors, coordinated by Bob D'Entremont, proclaim the Old and New Testament readings at Sunday Mass, and lead the Prayers of the Faithful when Deacon Joe is not present. Eucharistic Ministers, scheduled by Julia Mandeville, help distribute Holy Communion. Ushers and Greeters, under Steve Murphy, welcome worshippers at the doors, and the Tabernacle Society, under Diane Brown, cares for the altar linens and sacred vessels. The STA Stitchers, under Brenda Modrak, sew and repair the parish's fabric needs.
Parish Life and Cultural Events
St. Thomas Aquinas has the calendar of a parish that likes to gather. Photo galleries on the parish's site record annual traditions and one-off celebrations: the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi on October 3, the Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis, the parish picnic with its Father Joe and Father Victor dunk tanks, the Wine Festival, the Family Dance, the Easter Egg Hunt, the parish Christmas Concert, the Christmas Market, the Annual STA Friars' Fall Festival and Craft Fair (where the Jewelry Ministry sells pre-owned jewelry as a fundraiser), the St. Patrick's Day Dinner, parish Bingo nights, and Confirmation and First Communion celebrations. The parish also sends its teens to the Steubenville East youth conference and hosts middle and high school retreats each winter.
For Men, Women, Seniors, and Young Adults
The parish has organized groups for almost every season of life. The COR Men's Faith Formation group meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the school building. The Moms and Toddlers Group, led by Rachael Armstrong, meets on Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM in the church basement for socializing and play. The Young Adult Group, led by Gene Kenney, meets on Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM. GriefShare, a bereavement support group, meets on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Aquinas Center and is open to any adult grieving the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or friend. The Secular Franciscans of the Greccio Fraternity meet regularly under the leadership of Diane Cunningham, OFS, and James Monteiro, OFS.
What Catholics Believe
The parish devotes a substantial portion of its site to laying out the Catholic faith. It teaches that God is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that the seven sacraments were instituted by Christ and through them God's grace is communicated, that the Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine through transubstantiation, and that the Pope, as successor of Peter, is the chief pastor and shepherd of the whole Church. The parish lists the four marks of the Church as One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, and explains the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation), Healing (Penance, Anointing of the Sick), and Vocation (Marriage, Holy Orders). It also walks visitors through the Ten Commandments, the Two Greatest Commandments, the Eight Beatitudes, the 14 Stations of the Cross, the 7 Last Words of Christ, the Fruits and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and the Precepts of the Church.
Giving, Visiting, and Staying in Touch
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with a one-hour lunch closure from noon to 1:00 PM, and is closed on Fridays. The main number is 603-432-5000 and the general email is staderry@stthomasderry.org. Online giving is available through WeShare, and Mass is livestreamed on a dedicated streaming page. The parish maintains an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube, and posts a weekly bulletin, photo galleries, and a regular calendar of events. Visitors are encouraged to find the "big open parking lot" off Route 102 on Crystal Avenue and "come join us."
The Pastoral Team
St. Thomas Aquinas is served by a small full-time and part-time staff. Father Joseph Powell, OFM, is the pastor. Br. Damian Johnson, OFM, serves as pastoral associate. Deacon Joseph Dion assists at Mass, preaches, leads OCIA, coordinates the Liturgical Committee, and is widely present across the parish's ministries. Kristen Sweet is the office manager and faith formation coordinator; she can be reached at 603-260-6818. Sandy Sherman serves as the parish's outreach director, Frank Howard directs contemporary music, and Diane Harper directs the traditional choir. Karen Kenney is the parish secretary, and Richard Kallelis oversees maintenance. The parish also maintains the St. Thomas Aquinas Religious Gifts shop, open after weekend Masses or by appointment.