Ste. Marie Endowment Fund

the mission of the ste. marie endowment fund is to ensure the preservation and maintenance of a beautiful and fitting environment for worship and ministries that take place within the sainte marie parish and local community in west manchester, new hampshire. the fund raises and invests donations to provide ongoing annual support to the parish and preservation of its eight campus buildings which are listed on the state and national register of historic places. ste. marie was founded in 1880 to serve the large number of french canadians who, fleeing poverty and political repression, immigrated to jobs in manchester's textile factories. through the years the parish has served the community by establishing a hospital (now catholic medical center), the first credit union in the united states (now st. marys bank), orphanages, schools, a cemetery, and a child care center.