Our Lady Queen of Peace Church

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Boothbay Harbor is dedicated to serving the spiritual needs of both year-round parishioners and Catholics who visit during the summer months. Please join us at Mass and you are invited to participate in our events and activities throughout the year.
Mass Schedule
Tuesdays and Thursday at noon.
Sunday 9 am 

 

 
Maine is the only New England state with a Catholic history rooted deep into the first days of European exploration and colonization. Her forests, seacoasts and rivers from the St. Croix to the Piscataqua are filled with memories of Franciscans, Capuchins, Jesuits, priests of the Foreign Missions and priests of the Diocese of Quebec, ministering to the spiritual needs of the Abenaki tribe and the French traders. The history of Maine is replete with reminders of the remarkable fidelity of these native Americans to the doctrines of Christianity taught them through the great patience and many sacrifices of these missionaries.

The four Colonial Wars between England and France began in 1690 and most of northern New England and Canada were embroiled in warfare that made any English settlement in Maine impossible. The Treaty of Paris which was signed in 1763 ceded Eastern Canada to England and opened Maine up to settlement by the English. For over seventy years the only Catholic presence in Maine was in the hearts of the Abenaki. The Penobscot and the Passamaquoddy never forgot the French missionaries and kept the Faith alive in their villages.

With the signing of the treaty of Paris, Maine was opened to settlement and families from England and Scotland began to arrive. There were very few Catholics among these immigrants and the Abenaki remained true to their faith even though they had no priest.

Since the Treaty of Paris, Maine became part of Massachusetts. With the outbreak of the American Revolution it became imperative that the English colonists take steps to secure the aid of the Abenaki or to at least insure their neutrality and promised to provide a resident priest. The Abenaki insisted that Massachusetts abide by its promise and Massachusetts arranged for the visit of a French Naval Chaplain, Father H. de la Motte, who spent a few months with the Passamaquoddy in the summer of 1779.

The Abenaki, valued allies during the Revolution, maintained that Massachusetts should live up to its promise of a priest. Fortunately priests fleeing from the excesses of the French Revolution came to the United States seeking asylum. The first of them, Fr. Francois R. Ciquard, arrived during President Washington’s first term first term and Bishop John Carroll assigned him to Maine to minister to the Abnaki.

By 1790 there were two more French priests assigned to Maine, Fr. John Cheverus and Fr. James R. Romagné. This was the true beginnings of a permanent Catholic presence in Maine. After his service with the Abenaki, Fr. Cheverus returned to Boston where he was named its first bishop in 1808.

After the Revolution immigrants from the British Isles and the Continent crossed the Atlantic to build a new life in the United States. Among these immigrants were considerable numbers of Irish Catholics. While most stayed in or near the large cities like Boston and New York, many came to Maine. Two young Irish immigrants from County Waterford, James Kavanagh and Matthew Cotrill, came to what is now Newcastle about 1790 and built a sawmill in Damariscotta Mills. Their business prospered and an Irish Catholic community grew around the mills.

In 1798 Father Cheverus began to visit the Catholics in Newcastle every summer on his way to minister to the Abnenaki and to provide the Irish with priestly attention for the next seventeen summers. In the winter of 1798 the Irish immigrants built a small wooden chapel called St. Mary of the Mills. during these years Fr. Matignon and Fr. Romagné would spend their winters with the Kavanaghs after working with the Passamaquoddy and the Penobscot during the rest of the year.

The Catholics in Newcastle had daily prayers and Sunday devotions and this small group of lay people kept the faith alive on the banks of the Damariscotta. A brick church, St. Patrick’s, was built by them and it was blessed by Fr. Cheverus, the newly appointed Bishop of Boston on July 17, 1808. There was no resident pastor appointed until Irish born Fr. Dennis Ryan, the first priest to be ordained in New England, was appointed pastor in 1818.

The Irish Catholic population farming the fertile fields of Whitefield was growing and soon surpassed that of Newcastle. Fr. Ryan left Newcastle and moved to Whitefield in 1819 where he constructed a small wooden church that became the center of Catholic activity in this area. A larger brick church, St. Dennis was dedicated in 1838 to serve the over 1200 parishioners in Whitefield. From Whitefield Fr. Ryan also served the Catholic communities in Augusta, Gardiner, Bath, Wiscasset, Waldoboro, Thomaston, Belfast and Damariscotta. If there were any Catholics in Boothbay Harbor they could find a church only thirty miles away.

History had brought many changes in the years since the building of St.Patrick’s. New developments in Maine’s economy put the mother church of the Boothbay Region, St. Denis in North Whitefield, in eclipse. However the spirit and faith of those early days lives on in the vigorous parishes that have grown in the area. Sometime around 1910 the priest from North Whitefield began to celebrate Holy Mass in various halls in the Boothbay Region when Catholics from away began to frequent the Region.

When Fr. McCabe was named pastor in North Whitefield, the Boothbay Region was made a mission of St. Denis Parish and served by him.

The need for a Catholic presence in Boothbay Harbor became apparent and in November of 1916, the foundation of the church of Our Lady Queen of Peace was laid. The new church was ready for services in 1917. The belfry and steeple were added in 1924.

The present church of Our Lady Queen of Peace with seating capacity of 600, was dedicated by the Bishop of Portland, John G. Murray, in 1926. This church was built to accommodate the summer visitors and Fr. McCabe continued to serve this mission from the mother church in North Whitefield during the summer months.

In 1928, the mission church of Our Lady Queen of Peace became a parish and Fr. John Sullivan was named pastor. Although there was a large summer congregation, there were only twelve Catholic families in year round residence. A small chapel was built in the basement which met the needs of the small winter congregation. The parish then, as now, covered an area of 30 square miles, including the towns of Southport, Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, Edgecomb and Wiscasset.

Father Sullivan was named pastor in Eastport in 1933. He was succeeded by Father C. Martin O’Toole. During Fr. O’Toole’s 16 years as pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace the Catholic population of the Region grew slowly but steadily. In 1959 he left Boothbay harbor and was named pastor of St.Dominc’s in Portland.

In 1949 Father Francis A. Manette was named pastor. The parish continued to grow in both the winter and summer. Under his leadership the changes in the physical plant were many. The exterior walls of the church were painted white and floodlights were installed. The building had now become, not only the most prominent landmark in the region, but also a navigation aid at night. The small chapel under the main church was expanded to three times its original size. The parish hall with its six class rooms and spacious meeting room stands as a memorial to Father Manette’s 22 years in the Boothbay Region.

Father Manette began a long deserved retirement in 1971 and Father Thomas M. Lee was named pastor. As the numbers of year round parishioners grew, it became apparent that the Chapel in the basement was too small and Mass had to be celebrated in the parish hall. In 1980 it was decided to expand the chapel which involved extensive structural changes to the church. The present chapel with its blue and white decor and white oak appointments now holds up to 250 people.

In 1983 a parcel of land across Atlantic Avenue from the church was donated to the Fisherman’s Memorial Committee who in turn cast the bronze fishing dory which was dedicated to the memory of the over 229 fishermen from the Boothbay Region who were lost at sea during the last two centuries. At this time Father Lee began the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet after the memorial service that is now an important part of the Annual Fisherman’s Festival every spring.

After 14 years in Boothbay Harbor Father Lee was transferred to a new parish in Lyman and Father Marcel G. Chouinard became Pastor in 1985.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish kept on growing and more space and facilities were needed. During his pastorate the Annex between the Parish Hall and the Church was expanded and an elevator was installed to permit easy access for the elderly or disabled.

Father Chouinard’s tenure was marked by a spirit of openness and bonhomie which was characteristic of him and the Boothbay Region. He always looked forward to the arrival of the summer visitors and was greatly appreciated by them and the year round parishioners. He left the Region to be pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes in Skowhegan in 1993.

On July 1, 1993 the Very Rev. Royal J. Parent V.F. was named pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace and it was decided that the upper Church needed a thorough refurbushing. Under his direction plans were made to remove the pews and have them refinished. While the pews were out of the church, the floors were repaired, then refinished and the aisle and sanctuary were carpeted. When the upper church was reopened on Memorial Day weekend there was a striking change in the church’s interior and its furnishings . The refurbished upper church stands as a testimonial to the vision, good taste, and dedication of Fr. Parent.
Reverend Raymond Picard, Administrator 2000-2005. He was born in the Biddeford-Saco area, the oldest of 10, studies at St. Hyacinthe P.Q and St. Paul’s Seminary, Ottawa, Ontarrio. From 1965 on served in parishes across Maine in Rumford, Waterville, Old Town, Sanford, Peter Dana Point, Sinclair-Daigle and Newcastle with the addition of Boothbay Harbor upon the retirement of Fr. Parent. Fr. Picard now serves as Administrator of Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth, Maine and St. Jude in Freeport.
John Kreppein, Deacon 2000-2007. Deacon John was born in Bronx, NY, raised in Flushing, NY and attended Xavier High School and Fordham University. He served itne U.S. Army for three years and as a Federal Narcotics Agent for 25 years. He was ordained a Deacon on June 13, 1992 in the Diocese of Pensacola, Tallahassee, Florida. He served as Deacon at St. John the Evangelist, Panama City, Florida before serving at St. Patrick’s, Newcastle and Our Lady Queen of Peace.
The rich heritage and spirituality of Our Lady Queen of Peace continues with our present Administrator, Reverend Alfred Irving, Administrator, 2005 – present. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, one of 10 children. Studied at Trois Rivierres, Quebec, Canada. Ordained on June 5, 1971 in Warren, Rhode Island and was assigned that year to Bale-Comeau, Quebec. Father served in several parishes in New Brunswick, Canada from 1980 – 1996 before returning to the United States. Father served in several parishes in Maine including Old Town, Perry, Waterville, Benedicta, Carbou and Presue Isle before his assignment to serve at Our Lady Queen of Peace and St. Patrick’s, Newcastle.
 
It is now beyond the year 2000 and the purpose of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Boothbay Harbor remains unchanged since 1928 when it ceased being a mission of St. Denis in North Whitefield and became the parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace. This is a parish dedicated to serving the spiritual needs of both year round parishioners and Catholics who visit during the summer months. With God’s help we will continue to do so in the future