Centennial Celebration

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1 THE CHURCH OF SAINT JOSEPH PORTLAND, MAINE SUNDAY, 04 OCTOBER 2009

2 Blessing of the Animals CHURCH OF SAINT JOSEPH-PORTLAND, MAINE Sunday, 04 October :00 p.m. Clockwise: [Top] Gathering reading; Pastor Peter Kaseta; [below] Peter with Affiliate Judy Olsen and husband Wally; [center-bottom] Don Bosco Duquette, Peter, Jim Hammer [right of statue] page two

3 CHURCH OF SAINT JOSEPH-PORTLAND, MAINE Sunday, 04 October :00 p.m. Bishop Richard Malone Presider page three

The Church of Saint Joseph Parish Centennial A Parish History by Peter Sullivan To passersby on Stevens Avenue, Saint Joseph s Church presents a stately English-Gothic landmark, a monument to the

4 The Church of Saint Joseph Parish Centennial A Parish History by Peter Sullivan To passersby on Stevens Avenue, Saint Joseph s Church presents a stately English-Gothic landmark, a monument to the Catholic faith of Portland s Irish immigrants and many other working class populations. A rich history hides behind the construction of this church a story that is connected to important turn of the century events in Portland: the expansion of the city; the introduction of the modern trolley system; and the movement of the working class Irish community to the suburbs. In the mid-nineteenth century, the area west of Portland what we currently call Deering was part of Westbrook and called Stevens Plains. Stevens Plains was a sparsely settled pastoral and farming community. The area s only cultural facility was Westbrook Seminary for young ladies, established in 1831 on Stevens Avenue. By 1852, Evergreen Cemetery, adjacent to Westbrook Seminary, opened. And in 1867, the Universalist Church, now part of Westbrook College s campus, was built. A race track, called the Presumpscot Trotting Park, was located behind the present Deering High School; and Stevens Avenue and Forest Avenue were lined with mansions and Victorian homes. The plains to the south and west of Stevens Avenue were the site of annual militia musters, where the old militia engaged in sham fights involving a great waste of gunpowder, though no loss of blood. During the years of the Civil War, the bucolic setting of Deering Plains was dramatically changed by the construction of a horsedrawn trolley line. In 1864, the tracks were installed down Stevens Avenue and reached to Morrill s Corner. The trolley line opened up the Deering area for settlement by working people, anxious to escape the crowding of the congested city. By 1895, the trolleys were electrified. By 1909, the then current Bishop, the Most Rev. Louis S. Walsh, formally established a parish in Deering and called it Saint Joseph. The new parish covered all of the Deering section, embracing a very large area. However, the parish grew slowly since Portland had trolley lines running out from the center of the city like spokes from a hub, with few tangential lines connecting the spokes; an exception was the trolley line on Allen Street. Consequently, people found it easier to ride back and forth to the city to worship rather than take another trolley back out to Deering Center and attend Mass at the new parish. Meanwhile, Bishop Walsh was confronted with a considerable problem when it came time to select the pastor of his new parish. The position required the zeal of a missionary along with the piety and concern for people that is expected from a clergyman. Besides, the new pastor would have to fit into the predominantly Irish community that made up Saint Joseph s. After careful consideration, in 1909, the bishop selected the Rev. John W. Houlihan, who was the pastor of Saint Ann Church in Dexter, about thirty miles northwest of Bangor. [Above] Monument Square-Portland-Maine circa: 1909 In the early part of the twentieth century, it was not unusual for the pastor to choose the architect and specific church style and materials. While Fr. Houlihan was require to seek and obtain permission from the bishop to build a new church and submit a general outline, once approval was granted, the pastor was on his own. Construction of the new Saint Joseph Church began in The Most Rev. John G. Murray, Bishop of Portland, presided at the formal ceremony of laying the cornerstone; the inscription was written in Latin and reads The Sacred Stone of this Church in honor of Saint Joseph was set in the Year On Sunday, September 6, 1931, the Church was dedicated by Bishop Murray. Both construction and dedication were an act of faith since the nation was soon gripped in a Great Depression. [Below] Representatives from the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse Saint Joseph parish had only forty adult parishioners during Father Houlihan s first year as pastor, and Sunday collections averaged three dollars and sixty five cents. By 1914, improvements and additions to the trolley lines were made and transportation problems in the Deering area were eased. Saint Joseph parish prospered and increased to over 500 adult members. It had outgrown its small chapel. Fr. Houlihan purchased several lots on the north side of Stevens Avenue and in 1915 began construction of a utilitarian building that was to serve both as a church and a parish school. The structure was considerably set back from Stevens Avenue and was built as a plain functional building, constructed of brick. In 1935, the building was completely renovated; it is still in use today. page four

Capuchin Pastors 1977-present First Capuchin pastor Bernard Smith 1977-1981

Peter Kaseta 2002-present [A Parish History by Peter Sullivan continued from

most beautiful examples of English-Gothic architecture found in the United

It is clad with variegated Indiana limestone, the stones of which are finished

Besides the school and church, two other structures make up the plant of St.

Don Bosco Duquette Parochial service James Hammer Parochial vicar 1909-2009 THE

Parish is currently part of a cluster, which includes neighboring parishes of

Pius X; the cluster is the result of Bishop Richard Malone s re-organization of

One of the blessings of the cluster arrangement is the new Saint Brigid School,

Saint Joseph had been staffed by the diocese of Portland from its beginning

It is currently administrated by the Capuchin Franciscans who began residency

The first Capuchin pastor was Father Bernard Smith, followed by Fathers Paul

Father Peter Kaseta is the current pastor.

5 Capuchin Pastors 1977-present First Capuchin pastor Bernard Smith Paul Steffan Frederick Nickle Theodosius Corley Peter Kaseta 2002-present [A Parish History by Peter Sullivan continued from previous page] The exterior of Saint Joseph Church has been called one of the most beautiful examples of English-Gothic architecture found in the United States. It is clad with variegated Indiana limestone, the stones of which are finished in several different textures. Besides the school and church, two other structures make up the plant of St. Joseph parish: the rectory and the Fr. Hayes Center. Don Bosco Duquette Parochial service James Hammer Parochial vicar THE CHURCH OF SAINT JOSEPH PORTLAND, MAINE SUNDAY, 04 OCTOBER 2009 Saint Joseph Parish is currently part of a cluster, which includes neighboring parishes of St. Patrick and St. Pius X; the cluster is the result of Bishop Richard Malone s re-organization of the Diocese of Portland due to the severe shortage of priests. One of the blessings of the cluster arrangement is the new Saint Brigid School, which combined St. Patrick with St. Joseph Schools. Saint Joseph had been staffed by the diocese of Portland from its beginning until It is currently administrated by the Capuchin Franciscans who began residency in The first Capuchin pastor was Father Bernard Smith, followed by Fathers Paul Steffan, Frederick Nickle and Theodosius Corley. Father Peter Kaseta is the current pastor. There are almost two thousand adult members of the parish, a remarkable growth since the original territory of Saint Joseph Parish has been divided into several other parishes. On a sad note, after much discussion, the Capuchin friars will relinquish parochial administration of Saint Joseph Parish, which will be assumed by the Jesuits at the end of the summer of We have been fortunate to have had our spiritual needs served by such godly men as the priests of the Diocese of Portland and the Capuchins, with the Jesuits coming in the future. page five

Heritage Register - Building

2414 Columbia Avenue - Sacred Heart Catholic Church Sacred Heart Catholic Church 2009 Heritage Register - Building 1) Historical Name: Sacred Heart Catholic Church 2) Common Name: 3) Address: 2414 Columbia