Big Changes Ahead: Two Catholic Churches in Maine Set to Close

In a major change for Maine, it’s sad to hear that not one but two Catholic churches are set to close their doors forever, next spring.

According to Sun Journal, this decision has been made due to fewer parishioners attending services and the high costs of maintaining old buildings. Many people have moved away, and younger generations are not staying in the area.

I know this may surprise many of you but the rumors are true, Holy Cross at 1080 Lisbon Street is one of the churches on the list to close.

I live in Lewiston, and Holy Cross has been a fixture for everyone since the early 1900s. They even celebrated their 100th year this past June.

It’s not just a place to attend services, but the building itself is something we’ve all come to recognize and love while driving down Lisbon Street.

Even if you are not Catholic you appreciate this building. With all of the Christmas Eve services, weddings, baptisms, and so many other moments we've shared there will make it super hard to say goodbye.

Lewiston just isn't Lewiston without Holy Cross.

Rev. Daniel Greenleaf of the Prince of Peace Parish said in the October newsletter,

“many Catholics have moved from the area and their children are no longer raising their families here. A significant number of young people have left for an education or better job opportunities.” 

“This coupled with very small family sizes, not to mention the number of fallen away Catholics, results in fewer Catholics in the area to maintain the number of churches we currently have."

Holy Cross is just one of the churches that make up the Prince of Peace Parish.

The second church to close is Our Lady of the Rosary in Sabattus. Our Lady, located at 131 High St has been operating for at least a century.

According to the article, the Diocese of Portland is facing similar challenges throughout the state, which will make them look at all the churches.

Rev. Greenleaf also noted to the SJ,

“We all know that demographics in this area of the state has changed dramatically from the days when the mills were going strong, and Catholics came to work,”

What will happen to Maine parishioners after their places of worship close?

Greenleaf is holding meetings with folks to discuss the closures and how it will affect them. He talked about how the goal is to make sure there is still growth of the faith, even though the changes are coming.

The Diocese plans to focus resources on the remaining churches to better serve the community, but it will definitely be a difficult transition for those who have deep connections to the closed churches.

The closure of Holy Cross and Our Lady of the Rosary is a significant moment for so many local worshipers.

These looming closures will most definitely bring sadness but at the same time will show the community’s strength. Many Mainers are looking for new ways to connect with their faith and support each other during the transition.