HOULTON, Maine — St. Mary of the Visitation church in Houlton will mark its 175th year of parish life beginning with a Mass and dinner on Oct. 9.
The present parish church building is the third to grace Military Street and has served as a landmark in Houlton all these years. The first building, erected in 1839, not only served the small congregation of Irish pioneer settlers, but also the soldiers of the second Infantry Regiment who kept sentinel over the border of Maine and New Brunswick during the years of the Bloodless Aroostook War.
This region of Maine was largely wilderness at the time. We find the words of W.J Thibadeau, in his book, “The Irishman, A Factor In The Development of Houlton” (1911),“It is in ‘the County’ in which one expects to see men hardy in body, healthy in mind, of large heart and wholesome expression. After the famine of ‘47 many Irish were glad to find a home …”
In the early years of the parish, priests were truly missionaries who had to frequently drive over rough terrain braving the bitter cold of winter. The geography of the parish included, and still does, Houlton, Littleton, Monticello, Hammond Plantation, Ludlow New Limerick, Linneus, Hodgdon and St. Monica’s Mission in Cary and Amity.
Thibadeau writes, “The labors of the Catholic priest in preserving the faith and guiding the youth in spiritual ways, and by their counsel and their charity, have aided many youth in achieving their ambitions … Where ever they [pioneers] went, their first care was to have a priest to bless their work, and comfort them with the sacrament.”
Families were large, which necessitated cooperation of each member and the mother was the glue of unity. Mothers in the pioneer period taught the children their prayers and values, helped clear the land, carded and spun wool and made clothes for the family. Those noble women even hoed fields and cradled the grain. It is faith and hard work that sustained the family unit.
The greatest challenge to face St. Mary was probably the 1958 fire, which destroyed the beautiful gothic church constructed entirely of wood in 1886. According to a BDN article on the fire, “In the small hours of the morning June 12, 1958 the old church was burned to the ground at a loss of $400.000.”
In two years, the new St. Mary’s church was dedicated. It featured a modern design and amenities typical of church construction immediately prior to Vatican II. “We have made many cost saving improvements to the building over the years,” said the Rev. David Raymond, pastor, “however, we felt that it was important to preserve the integrity of the original architecture.”
Today the parish is a beacon of Catholic faith in Southern Aroostook. “I am proud to be pastor at this time in St. Mary’s story. With faith, perseverance, work and a continued commitment to live the Gospel of Jesus and follow the counsels of the Church, I am confident that the next generation will celebrate its next milestone,” said Father Raymond.
The 175th Anniversary celebration will begin on Thursday, Oct. 9, and conclude with a Mass on Sunday, Oct. 12, followed by a community pig roast sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Invitations have been extended to former priests and sisters who have served St. Mary and St. Mary’s School.
A recently published book, titled, “The History of St. Mary’s Church,” will be available to all and can be ordered at www.Maryagnespaul.org.