St. Joseph Church Preservation Society

St. Joseph Church

Laconia, New Hampshire

Built in 1929 and dedicated in 1930, St. Joseph Church is still standing because a group of parishioners and neighbors refused to let it be demolished. The Preservation Society saved the church. Now we hope to help secure its future.

Read Our Story See the Windows

St. Joseph Church in Laconia, New Hampshire, an English Gothic stone church with a square bell tower

Formed in 2019

Organized by parishioners and neighbors when the church was slated for demolition.

Demolition application withdrawn

Rescinded in January 2025 after the Society raised $450,000.

Dedicated in 1930

An English Gothic church of granite and limestone, drawn in the Ralph Adams Cram office.

Our Story

From Saving a Historic Church to Finding Its Future

The St. Joseph Church Preservation Society was formed in 2019 with one primary goal: to save St. Joseph Church from demolition by the Diocese of Manchester. Today, we are proud to say that we achieved that goal. What follows is the story of the Society, the many years of work that went into preserving St. Joseph Church, and our continuing effort to find a meaningful future for this historic building.

Open any chapter below to read it.

The St. Joseph Preservation Society was originally formed by a group of six trustees who shared a common concern: to prevent the Diocese of Manchester from executing its plan to demolish St. Joseph Church. We engaged the assistance of a lawyer who specialized in Canon Law and had saved other churches from this same fate. He guided us through the process of appealing to the Vatican to halt the demolition and to maintain the church’s purpose as a sacred place of worship, or to be used for a purpose that complied with the approved uses of a closed Catholic church. Thanks to his efforts and the determination of Linda Normandin, we were successful in this endeavor.

After this was accomplished, we began to work with the Diocese of Manchester to support its efforts to make the necessary repairs to the structure so that it could once again be used. Our first objective was straightforward. We needed to raise the money necessary to make the repairs to the building, beginning with the most urgent problem, the exterior. The roof and exterior of the building needed significant work to prevent further water intrusion and deterioration. Once the exterior was secured, our plan was to address the extensive interior water damage and refurbish the building so that it could once again have a useful purpose.

After several meetings with representatives of the Diocese, it was agreed that the Preservation Society would undertake a fundraising effort to raise approximately $2 million, which we believed would be necessary to complete the exterior and interior work. The Diocese agreed that once we had raised approximately $450,000, it would withdraw its application to demolish the church. We achieved that goal. The application was rescinded.

During this same period, we worked with the Laconia Historical Society and were successful in having the church and the surrounding area recognized as a Historical Zone. This was another important accomplishment because it provided additional protection for the historic character of the building and made any future attempt to demolish or substantially alter the exterior much more difficult. At that point, our original mission, to prevent St. Joseph Church from being demolished, had essentially been accomplished. But we wanted to do more. The question became: what could this building become?

As we explored possible uses for the church, the idea of converting the building into a columbarium was presented and was initially embraced by the Diocese. The Preservation Society agreed that this would be an excellent use of the historic structure. The concept was to create approximately 2,000 niches within the building while preserving the front portion of the church as a chapel that could be available for services and personal prayer. We believed this would provide a dignified and practical alternative to traditional cemetery burial, particularly in New Hampshire, where harsh winters can make visiting gravesites difficult. We believed that families would appreciate being able to gather inside a beautiful, historic building for a small service and then place their loved one’s remains in a protected, permanent, sacred setting. We thought this was the perfect use for this beautiful building.

Over the years, however, the plans and expectations of the Diocese changed several times. At one point, a committee representing the Diocese met with us and told us that the Bishop did not want the building to remain open as a public chapel. This was a significant setback because the chapel component was an important part of our vision for the project. Nevertheless, we continued to try to find a way forward.

At the suggestion of the Diocese, the Society contracted with a professional fundraising company to help determine whether we could raise the money necessary to complete the project. The Society invested approximately $35,000 in that effort. The company conducted a feasibility study to determine the likelihood of raising the required amount. They focused their study solely on support from members of St. Andre Bessette Parish. The results indicated that raising that amount of money through traditional fundraising would be difficult. To complicate matters, another major fundraising effort was being contemplated for the needs of the broader parish campus associated with Sacred Heart Church. We recognized that our fundraising campaign could potentially be competing for many of the same donors. Even so, we were willing to move forward.

During this time we had several meetings with personnel from the Diocesan office to discuss this project, including the director of cemeteries, the superintendent of Diocesan buildings and financial administrators. Because of the length of time these negotiations took, the cost of repairing the building continued to skyrocket. Ultimately, because of rising costs and the apparent lack of interest from the parish in contributing to this effort based on the feasibility study, the Diocese withdrew its support for the project and informed us that it planned to sell the church. We were devastated. We had spent six years working on the project. Some trustees became so discouraged that they resigned from the Board.

Obviously, this development was extremely disappointing, but a few of us decided that perhaps we had been looking at the project the wrong way. Instead of treating it primarily as a fundraising project, we began looking at it as a business venture.

The concept was relatively simple. If the building could accommodate approximately 2,000 niches, and those niches could be sold for approximately $3,000 each, the potential gross revenue would be approximately $6 million. Further research suggested that some niches could potentially command considerably more than $3,000, depending on their location and other factors. The potential revenue appeared to be more than sufficient to address the approximately $2 million in building repairs while also covering financing costs and providing a reasonable return to investors. Most importantly, it offered a potential path to preserve the building while creating a sustainable use for it.

We made several presentations to the Diocese outlining this concept. We were not asking the Diocese to provide us with money. We wanted a partnership. Our proposal was that the Preservation Society and its investors would take responsibility for developing and financing the project. Once the project was completed and operating successfully, we wanted the Diocese to agree to maintain the columbarium as part of its cemetery division.

We spoke with individuals within the Diocese’s cemetery operation who were very supportive of the concept. We believed there were significant advantages for the Diocese as well as for the community. The Diocese would eventually receive a functioning columbarium, a substantial number of remaining niches that could continue to be sold, and funds that could be used to establish perpetual care. At the same time, the historic church would be preserved and put to productive use.

The Diocese was not interested in this proposal. Its financial analysis suggested that it could take 80 to 100 years to recover the investment. We believe that conclusion was based on a fundamentally different model than the one we were proposing. The Diocese appeared to be looking primarily at selling niches on an as-needed basis, essentially waiting until people died before selling the available spaces. Our plan was to encourage people to purchase a permanent place for themselves or their families in advance, creating a very different business model. We believed that a well-organized marketing program could significantly accelerate the sale of the niches.

Based on the financial model we presented, we estimated that the sale of approximately 1,000 to 1,200 niches could generate enough revenue to cover the building investment, financing costs and a reasonable return for investors, which would still leave approximately 750 to 1,000 niches for the Diocese to sell after assuming ownership of the completed project. Those remaining niches could continue generating revenue for the Diocese for many years while also providing funds for perpetual care. This was an opportunity for everyone involved: the community, the Diocese, investors and, most importantly, the families who would use the facility as a final resting place for their loved ones.

After seven years of meetings and discussions, we were ultimately informed on August 30, 2026 that the Diocese had decided to move forward with listing St. Joseph Church for sale. We were heartbroken.

Selling the building to a conventional investor presents its own challenges. A potential buyer would have to recognize the substantial cost of repairing the interior and exterior, which we have estimated could approach $2 million or more. The buyer would also have to operate within the restrictions associated with the property’s former religious use and historic preservation requirements. Those realities could significantly diminish the building’s attractiveness to a conventional investor. We believe the right use could change that equation. A properly developed columbarium could provide the financial resources necessary to restore the building, preserve its historic character and create a meaningful community resource for generations.

The Preservation Society spent years working toward a solution that would preserve the building while creating a sustainable future for it. We continue to believe that the columbarium concept had significant potential, both financially and as a community resource. However, the Diocese ultimately decided not to pursue this option. For now, the St. Joseph Preservation Society will wait and see what happens with the property. We also believe it is appropriate to wait for the next Bishop before deciding whether there may be an opportunity to revisit the project and present our ideas again.

When the St. Joseph Preservation Society was created, our primary objective was to save St. Joseph Church from demolition. We accomplished that mission. The demolition application was withdrawn, and the building remains standing. That is something every member of the Preservation Society is proud of.

Our mission today is somewhat different. We now want to see that St. Joseph Church has a future that respects its history, benefits the community and, if possible, provides value to the Diocese as well. We remain convinced that this magnificent historic building has value beyond the real estate itself. Our hope is that someday the Diocese, the community and those who care about this historic building will recognize its potential and work together to give St. Joseph Church the future it deserves.

The Passion stained glass window in the sanctuary of St. Joseph Church

The Passion window in the sanctuary, above the main altar

In Summary

The St. Joseph Church Preservation Society is proud of what it has accomplished. We started with a simple goal: save St. Joseph Church from the wrecking ball. We raised the money necessary to demonstrate our commitment. We prevented the building’s demolition. We pursued historic preservation. We developed ideas for alternative uses. We invested our own resources in feasibility and fundraising efforts. We developed a detailed business concept and presented it repeatedly to the Diocese. Although we ultimately could not reach an agreement with the Diocese, we do not consider our efforts a failure. The church is still standing. And because it is still standing, there is still an opportunity to find the right future for St. Joseph’s.

The Preservation Society saved the church. Now we hope to help secure its future.

Who We Are

Our Trustees

Parishioners and neighbors who value the historical, spiritual, and cultural significance of St. Joseph Church.

Hon. James J. Barry

James (Jim) Barry, originally from Manchester, has been a property owner and seasonal resident of Gilford since 1989 and a permanent resident since 2012.

He graduated from Saint Anselm College and Suffolk University Law School and is admitted to the bars of both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Jim is a former Major in the United States Marine Corps and a Vietnam Veteran. His distinguished public and legal service includes serving as Prosecutor for the City of Manchester; a member of the Governor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery; Director, Secretary and Treasurer of New Hampshire Legal Assistance; Legal Counsel to Governor Meldrim Thomson; Commissioner of the Manchester Police Commission; and Director of the Farnum Center.

Jim also served as a Military Judge in the Marine Corps for two years, Presiding Justice of the Pittsfield District Court for two years, and as a New Hampshire Superior Court Justice for twenty-two years.

Following his retirement from the Superior Court, Jim became a full-time resident of Gilford and a parishioner of Saint André Bessette Parish.

Dianne Castrucci

Chief Executive Officer, NH Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association. Parishioner for over 25 years.

Dianne Castrucci has been a parishioner of St. Joseph Church for over 25 years where she was an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister and, for several years, served as coordinator of the adoration volunteers. Residents of Laconia, NH, Dianne and her husband, Richard Castrucci, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church for over 60 years, met each other and later married in St. Joseph Church. Passionate about the Catholic faith, in 2015, Dianne started the 6-year formation process in the Order of Carmelites Discalced Secular (OCDS). In October 2021, she made her definitive promise to the OCDS canonically established community of Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph in Concord, NH, where she is also a Council Member. Additionally, she lived her Cursillo weekend in Spring 2014 and upon invitation returned as a leader in Fall 2015. Professionally, Dianne is the Chief Executive Officer of the NH Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association and is credentialed as a Master Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor. She brings seventeen years of nonprofit leadership to the Society.

Dianne and Richard live in Laconia, NH.

Cindy Hemeon-Plessner

Senior Vice President, Meredith Village Savings Bank. Laconia native with generations of family ties to St. Joseph.

Cindy Hemeon-Plessner is Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer at Meredith Village Savings Bank. A native of Laconia who returned to the Lakes Region after college and several years as an educator and corporate business person throughout the country, Cindy has dedicated both her professional and volunteer efforts to strengthening our local communities.

Cindy’s community involvement has included nonprofit board service, mentoring as a Big Sister, grant review for charitable organizations, the New England Financial Marketing Association, and interviewing candidates for Leadership New Hampshire and St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program.

Cindy’s connection to St. Joseph Church spans multiple generations of her family. Her grandparents and parents were married there. Cindy, her son and several prior generations were baptized there. She believes St. Joseph’s is far more than a historic building. It is a place woven into the personal histories of countless community members and an important symbol of the region’s Catholic heritage. Cindy is passionate about preserving the church’s architectural beauty, historical significance, and enduring role as a gathering place for generations past, present, and future.

Donna Gaudet Hosmer, trustee of the St. Joseph Church Preservation Society

Donna Gaudet Hosmer, Esq.

Founding member. Attorney and partner in PAK Solutions, LLC.

Donna Gaudet Hosmer, Esq., is a founding trustee of the St. Joseph Church Preservation Society. A Gilford resident, attorney, business owner, and philanthropist, she is a partner and general counsel of PAK Solutions USA, a New Hampshire manufacturer. She graduated from Merrimack College and Suffolk University Law School cum laude, and is admitted to the bars of both New Hampshire and Maine. Donna’s community service has focused on children, education, and the Lakes Region. She helped establish the Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region Endowment Trust and co-founded the Sakowich Foundation. She served on the Holy Trinity Catholic School board from 2009 to 2021, including as chair; the Granite State Children’s Alliance board from 2017 to 2021; the Laconia Airport Authority from 2008 to 2014; and the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association board from 1999 to 2016. She has also served on the Colonial Theatre Advisory Board and is helping form a new non-profit, the Friends of the Colonial Theatre. Her current commitments also include the Holy Trinity School Endowment Board and the Difonzo Scholarship Fund. Donna and her husband, former Laconia Mayor Andrew Hosmer, Esq., have four children, all of whom were baptized at St. Joseph Church.

“It’s not just our personal connection or faith that draws me to defend St. Joseph Church. The building has historic, artistic, and architectural significance. It’s our community’s ‘Notre Dame Cathedral’—far too beautiful to destroy or neglect.”

Paul Gaudet Sr.

Founding member. Founder of AutoServ Dealerships.

Paul Gaudet Sr. is a founding member of the St. Joseph Church Preservation Society. Paul founded AutoServ Dealerships, central NH’s largest retail automobile dealership chain, which he recently sold after 30 years. He helped to found several nonprofit organizations including the Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region and the Sakowich Foundation. He also serves on the Holy Trinity Endowment Trust. Paul and his wife Brigid live in Gilford.

Karen Sullivan

Founding member. Retired Holy Trinity School teacher.

Karen Sullivan is a founding member of the St. Joseph Church Preservation Society. She retired in 2018 after teaching at Holy Trinity School for 23 years. She was honored to be named the NH National History Day Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2013, and the American Daughters of the Revolution NH History Teacher of the Year in 2016. She has been a communicant of St. Joseph Church and St. Andre Bessette Parish for over 40 years. Karen also serves on the Holy Trinity Regional School Advisory Board, the Holy Trinity Endowment Trust and the Difonzo Scholarship Fund. Karen lives in Laconia.

History of St. Joseph

A Timeline of the Parish and the Church

Updated September 2026. Choose an era to see its events.

2017 to Today
1975 to 2016
1915 to 1975
1845 to 1911

Closure and Preservation

January 31, 2017
A letter is distributed to parishioners and an announcement is made at weekend Masses that St. Joseph Church will close. The church is to remain open until renovations to the school and church are completed at the Sacred Heart campus. The property will be listed for sale for a minimum of six months and, if it does not sell, could be razed.

May 5, 2019
Parishioners are made aware of a pending sale of the church property and the decision to raze the church, which leads to outrage from the community at large and the creation of the St. Joseph Church Preservation Society.

June 9, 2019
Parishioners are informed that the sale has been cancelled and that the three parcels on the campus will be subdivided so they can be sold separately. The church will remain open for worship while renovations are completed at Sacred Heart. The demolition permit remains in place.

February 19, 2020
The last weekend Masses are celebrated at St. Joseph Church. The church is to remain open for daily private prayer.

August 2020
Parishioners are informed that the Busiel House and Holy Trinity School have been sold to the City of Laconia for $1.14 million.

March 2021
The City of Laconia announces that the Busiel House has been sold to Ian and Mandy Hagan, who intend to restore it as their residence.

May 2021
The City of Laconia announces that the Holy Trinity School building has been sold to Kevin Morrissette of KNM Holdings, who plans to convert it into luxury apartments.

December 9, 2022
Father Marc explains in a letter to parishioners that he has had to close the church for private prayer because of deteriorating conditions, including a significant mold problem.

March 18, 2023
A letter at weekend Masses informs parishioners that the Bishop has approved a plan to convert St. Joseph Church to a columbarium and chapel. Funds will need to be raised for repairs, and the Preservation Society will assist with fundraising.

May 29, 2024
Ownership of the church is transferred from the parish to the Diocese of Manchester.

January 31, 2025
A letter to parishioners announces that because the Preservation Society has met its obligation to raise $450,000, the demolition permit has been rescinded.

April 2025
Work to restore the exterior of the building begins, with costs assumed by the Diocese of Manchester.

October 2025
The Diocese informs the Preservation Society that it is no longer interested in the columbarium project and intends to sell the church, based mainly on concerns about the ability to raise the necessary funds.

August 31, 2026
St. Joseph Church is listed for sale at a price of $750,000.

A Changing Parish

1975 to 1976
Father Arthur Sullivan is pastor.

1976 to 1982
Father Robert J. Kemmery is pastor.

1977
The Andover Organ Co. of Methuen, MA is contracted to rebuild and restore the organ, with John Morlock and Peter Cameron doing the major work. At this time the Baptismal font is placed in a niche to the right of the Blessed Sacrament altar, the Reconciliation room is created, and the bas relief of the Last Supper that was part of the main altar is placed by the entrance door to the left of the sanctuary.

1982 to 1992
Father Michael Griffin is pastor and creates the Holy Trinity Foundation Trust.

1992 to 1996
Father William Quirk is pastor.

1994
Through the efforts of Father Quirk and the Historical Society of Laconia, the Busiel House, built in 1866, is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1996 to 2009
Father Gary Kosmowski is pastor. Through his efforts the Busiel property is restored.

2009
Father Marc Drouin becomes pastor and, under the direction of Bishop John McCormack, combines the three parishes in the Laconia area.

June 2010
The joint parish becomes known as Blessed Andre Bessette Parish, later Saint Andre Bessette Parish in the fall of 2010 when he is declared a saint.

August 2010
Our Lady of the Lakes holds its closing ritual. The property is sold to the Southern Baptist Church in November 2011.

April 2012
Under the guidance of Father Marc Drouin, the backdrop of the altar is built by Mo Gouin and the Tabernacle is returned to the center of the sanctuary.

2012 to 2016
The parish continues to face a financial picture of one parish with two church campuses a half mile apart and a deficit of $150,000. Because Holy Trinity School is located on the St. Joseph campus, closing that church is difficult.

2016
The TD Bank building becomes available, giving the parish the opportunity to consolidate on one campus and relocate the school. This is done in consultation with the Pastoral Council, the Finance Council and the Building Committee.

A New Church on the Busiel Property

1915 to 1926
Father James F. Freeden is pastor.

1926 to 1944
Father Thomas Redden is pastor and sees the needs of the parish growing.

May 1929
Father Redden announces an anonymous gift of $9,750. Ground is broken for the new church on the property Father Hennon purchased. Drawings by James O’Shaughnessy of the Ralph Adams Cram office in Boston are sent to the Walsh Brothers of Cambridge, MA, and the present English Gothic structure of granite and limestone is built. The organ from Messer Street is moved to the new church. The contract for the stained glass windows is awarded to Reynolds, Francis and Rohnstock of Boston, one of only four stained glass companies to have their records placed permanently in the Smithsonian Institution.

September 12, 1930
Bishop George Guertin of Manchester dedicates the new church.

1944
Father Redden dies.

1945 to 1956
Monsignor John W. Sliney is pastor and completes an addition to St. John’s School.

1957 to 1966
Monsignor John Boyd is pastor.

1966 to 1975
Father J. Desmond O’Connor is pastor.

December 12, 1971
The centennial of St. Joseph Parish is celebrated with the installation and consecration of a new granite altar. The Gothic columns on the main altar are removed, the Tabernacle is moved to the right, and the Blessed Sacrament altar is created.

From House Masses to Messer Street

1845 to 1856
Irish Catholics celebrate Masses in private homes with visiting priests.

1856 to 1866
Reverend Isadore Noisseux of Lancaster, NH is in charge of the faithful and celebrates Mass in Folsom’s Hall, a tavern in the center of town.

1866
Land is purchased on the corner of Lyford and Messer Streets.

1867 to 1869
Construction of a new church is begun and completed.

1871
Bishop David Bacon of Portland, Maine dedicates the new church. Reverend John Murphy is the first pastor.

1872 to 1877
Father Michael J. Goodwin becomes pastor.

1877
Lightning strikes and destroys the church. The entire Laconia community rallies to raise money to build a new church.

1877 to 1895
Father J. Lambert Schakers of Holland becomes pastor and sees to the rebuilding of the church.

1890
A pipe organ containing 1,052 pipes and 24 registers is purchased from George Stevens and Co. of Cambridge. In April 1890 it is dedicated with two concerts by professional artists from abroad: Mme. Rosa D’Erina, billed as the greatest lady organist in the world, and Professor G.R. Vontom, a famous tenor.

1895 to 1898
Father John Powers is pastor. He was in poor health and died in October 1898.

1899
Father Charles R. Hennon becomes pastor but dreams of moving from the Messer Street site.

1903
Father Hennon is said to have thrown a statue of St. Joseph over the fence of the Busiel property, saying, “I’ll be in to get you later,” because he wanted to purchase it for a new church building. His competition for the property was his good friend, Rev. Richard Swain, the rector of the Congregational Church.

1904
Father Hennon purchases the Busiel property, which includes the land from the Gale Memorial Library to the corner of Messer Street.

1911
Father Hennon dies.

The Windows

The Stained Glass Windows of St. Joseph Church

Created from the ideas of Father Thomas Redden, pastor of St. Joseph from 1926 to 1944, by the Reynolds, Francis and Rohnstock Co. of Boston, MA, between 1931 and 1935.

The windows of St. Joseph Church follow the historical purpose of church windows. They were teaching tools to help the faithful learn more about Jesus and his mission. These windows explore early-church legends from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine, as well as the life of Jesus and Mary. Throughout the windows, we see stories of the early life of Jesus and Mary, His ministry, and His teachings through parables, miracles, and His interaction with people.