Quick Links

Welcome to the New Hampshire young adults’ Web page! We are thankful and grateful to Bishop McCormack for supporting this revitalized effort.

We are excited to launch these new Web pages which contain information on young adult groups in New Hampshire, events going on across the state, and links to on-line resources.

As the Diocesan Young Adult Core Team, we serve all Catholic young adults ages 18-39 in New Hampshire. We are committed to connecting you with other Catholic young adults through hosting Theology on Tap events once a month and an Annual Young Adult Retreat and by keeping you informed about events around the state. We also encourage all young adults to take seriously the call to solidarity and give time and energy to volunteering.

Please feel free to contact us with questions, ideas, and input. Please pray for us and our efforts. We will keep you in our prayers!

In Christ,

Sarah Jane, Paul, Nick, Marika, Mike, Audrey, Angie, & Natalie
Members of the Diocesan Young Adult Core Team

Are you interested in helping out with young adult ministry in New Hampshire?

Every year the Young Adult Core Team accepts nominations from young adults who want to serve on the Core Team for a two-year term. A person must nominate themselves and submit a Nomination Form by October 15.

To request a copy of the Core Team Description of Responsibilities or if you have any questions, contact Shawn Gregory, Diocesan Liaison to Young Adults, at sgregory@rcbm.org or 603-669-3100, Ext. 133.

Who is on the Diocesan Young Adult Core Team?

Nick Boudreau
(reitinvestor@aol.com)

“As a young adult I am excited to take part in the spiritual and personal growth of New Hampshire Catholic young adults and hope all young adults take advantage of this great resource.”

Nick lives in one of New Hampshire’s few seacoast towns Hampton and works in Portsmouth for the public relations and marketing firm Calypso Communications. He is a young adult group leader at St. Kathryn Parish in Hudson. Nick grew up in Merrimack and attended Saint Anselm College in Goffstown. He enjoys the beach, mountain climbing, and camping.

Articles by Nick:
Because He’s There

Marika Donders
Campus Ministry Representative
(ksc.newman.ctr@gmail.com)

Marika is the Director of the Newman Center for Keene State College and a parishioner at St. Bernard in Keene. Originally from Holland, Marika grew up in Atlanta and arrived at her present position via an eclectic path through architecture and facilities management, campus planning and student affairs, and four years of formation with the Daughters of St. Paul, but has always been involved in college campus ministry. She is currently studying for a Masters of Arts in Ministry at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton.

Articles by Marika:
Getting involved shouldn't be this hard!
What's on your MP3 player?

Mike Hippert
(telsa@rocketmail.com)

“When you come to a young adult event I am the guy that will harass you until you promise to come to another event!”

Mike is a parishioner at Ste. Marie Parish in Manchester. For the last two years he has been the leader of the Young Adult Ministry (SMYAM) as well as being a core adult member of the youth group, a member of the Pastoral Parish Council and the core team for the Community of Living Waters. Outside of Ste. Marie’s he spearheads Theology on Tap and helps run 40 Days for Life in Manchester. Mike’s day job is an Electromagnetic Interference Test Tech (measures radio waves out of electronic equipment). He loves hiking, camping, being outside, and hanging out with friends, especially when playing Rockband.

Articles by Mike:
You are interested in young adult ministry, so where do you go from here?

Paul McAvoy, Co-Chair

Paul McAvoy is a parishioner at St. Pius X Parish in Manchester. He is the Director of Communications for New Hampshire Catholic Charities, serves on the advisory board of a local non-profit school, and is interested in hiking, skiing, sailing, camping, and numerous other outdoor activities. Paul lives in Manchester with his wife Rose, and can often be found barbequing in his backyard or working on his house.

Articles by Paul:
Community Service — Not Just for Speeding Tickets

Audrey Smith

“I am looking forward to generating ideas with how to help young adults continue to grow on their spiritual journey as they transition into professional life!”

Audrey graduated from Salve Regina University in May 2009 with her B.S.N. in nursing. She is currently working as a full-time registered nurse. Throughout high school, college, and now entering into the working world, she has been involved with various church ministries. Currently, Audrey is helping to lead a group called Handmaids for teenage girls at St. Michael Parish in Exeter. There she is also involved in the young adult group YACK (Young Adult Catholics Kicking-it), RCIA, and the Dead Theologians Society. For fun Audrey enjoys going to the beach, taking Zumba classes, hanging out with friends and family, traveling, and going to TOT of course!

Angie Raddin

“I look forward to serving the young adults of our diocese and, more importantly, helping them to serve our universal Church.”

Angie lives in Concord and is a member of St. Peter Parish. In addition to her full-time job as manager of a modular home sales office, she serves as the Youth Minister and member of the Pastoral Council for her parish. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she is currently in her second year of the Called to Servant Leadership Program through the diocese. A new-found passion for home improvement joins her other favorite activities of dancing, traveling, and enthusiastic discussion.

Articles by Angie:
Called to Serve as a Young Adult Leader

Sarah Jane von Haack, Chair
(caya@rcbm.org)

“We look forward to seeing you at young adult events!”

Sarah Jane is the editor of Parable, the Magazine of the Diocese of Manchester. She is a native of Wisconsin and moved to New Hampshire to attend Magdalen College. She is now happy to call New Hampshire her home. Along with her work at the diocese, Sarah Jane is involved in youth ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Concord, sings with the Schuler Singers and the Cathedral Choir, and does volunteer work across the state.

Articles by Sarah Jane:
Tell Me Something Good

Natalie Walsh

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘Plans prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Natalie is a CPA who works as a Senior Auditor for a public accounting firm in Manchester. Originally from Philadelphia suburbs, she moved up to New Hampshire after attending college to join her mom and three sisters. She enjoys kayaking, photography, reading, and spending time with other Catholic Young Adults!

Shawn Gregory
Diocesan Liason to Young Adults
(sgregory@rcbm.org)

Shawn began working for the Diocese of Manchester in April 2007 as the Diocesan Liason to Young Adults. Prior Shawn worked at St. Michael Parish in Exeter where he served as the Director of Youth Ministry and at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Walpole, Massachusetts.

Our mission as the Diocesan Young Adult Core Team is to help bring about a greater awareness of young adult activity and to assist those who facilitate young adult ministry in the Catholic Church in New Hampshire. We look to do this through prayer, promoting events, providing resources, supporting priests and young adults, and participating in young adult events. It is our prayer that all young adults in the Church find their place among God’s people.

We, as Catholic young adults, adhere to the teachings of the Church including the teachings on the sacraments, contraception, the sanctity of life, and papal infallibility. As Core Team members, we strive to live holy and fulfilling lives.