 | Father Moe Larochelle, Pastor (603-622-4615) Why in the world would I want to be called "Fr."Moe"? - For the children, it's easier to pronounce than "Fr. Maurice" or "Fr. Larochelle". As for the adults, my mom called me "Maurice" when she was angry at me and my football coach called me "Larochelle" when he wanted me to run in a play, but my family has always called me "Moe". I would feel very much like family if this were how you referred to me. I was born just next door to Ste. Marie parish at "Notre Dame Hospital" (now CMC), the second of five children to Annette Daneault and Romeo Larochelle. My Godparents, Joseph Maurice and Pauline Daneault took me to Ste. Marie Church where I was baptized. So, in a sense, when Bishop McCormick assigned me here, he was sending me home. Somewhere around the age of three, my parents moved across town to Somerville Street in St. Anthony Parish, where I attended Catholic school through 6th grade. After giving the Holy Cross Sisters many gray hairs, my parents placed me in public school at South Side JH, then on to attend and graduate from Manchester Memorial High. While there I lettered in track and football. My experience in high school sports has kept me interested in exercise and fitness -- at least to justify my passion for eating! After working as a mover, construction laborer, sheet-rocker, roofer, truck driver, and for the Manchester Police department, I became interested in the priesthood (after all, I had tried everything else!). I began studies for my BA at St. Anselm College. While there I worked as a detective in a department store to pay for tuition and keep my car on the road. During that time, I continued to attend daily Mass while discerning my calling. After graduation from "St. A's" the Diocese accepted me for studies and the Bishop sent me to Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, where I received the proper education and degrees for ordination to the priesthood. Up to this point I have not given any dates so that you can keep guessing my age. Guess low and you will be my new best friend! I was ordained June 6th, 1987. I served as associate pastor of St. Marie parish for six years and was named pastor of All Saints parish in Lancaster/Jefferson from 1993 to 2000. If you ever went to "Santa's Village" during those years, you may have passed the mission church called St. Agnes in Jefferson where I also said Mass. It was there that acquired the dubious distinction of being "Santa's Pastor." From 2000 to 2002 I served as pastor at St. Mark the Evangelist parish in Londonderry, NH. From June of 2002 to June of 2009, I served as pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Hampton and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Mission, Seabrook Beach. In a sense, I have returned home to Sainte Marie and Sacred Heart parishes. Yet any place where God’s people gather to raise up Jesus as Lord in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is home. For indeed, I pray that through the Holy Mysteries of our Catholic Faith, we will seek Jesus’ kingdom and His way of holiness, (Mt.6:33) until we have finally embraced it fully in our eternal home of heaven.
Please feel welcome and at home here at our web site. Please feel most welcome to join us for daily and weekend Masses as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist; the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. For Jesus is the pearl of great price. It is in Him that your search for wealth will be fully realized and every joy made complete.
And may Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Fr. Moe |
