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WINTHROP — Past and current parishioners, clergy, and community members will gather in Winthrop on Sunday, Sept. 10, to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the St. Francis Xavier worship site at 130 Route 133.
The 9 a.m. Mass at brunch celebration that will follow in the church hall are open to the public.
The first St. Francis Xavier church was built on the site in 1887, under the direction of the Rev. Edward Hurley, who was the pastor in Winthrop and Farmington at the time. The original church burned down in February 1911. The cross, however, did not catch fire and when the building collapsed, the cross fell clear of the blaze. It was repaired and placed atop the new church.
In 1930, during the Great Depression, the Charity Crusade was organized and conducted by the parish. Many families in need in the Winthrop area received assistance regardless of their faith affiliation. One of the greatest achievements of the Charity Crusade was a hot lunch program for children. The program was so successful that government officials visited the parish to study it in advance of establishing a national school lunch program.
The Rev. John Donavan was appointed pastor of St. Francis Xavier by Bishop Daniel J. Feeney in 1962. A new parish hall, rectory, and parking lot were built during his pastorate. In the mid-1980s, a two-story, 4,700-square-foot faith formation building was built and connected with the parish hall.
Today, the Rev. Francis Morin is pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church, which is part of St. Michael Parish (Sacred Heart Church, Hallowell; St. Augustine Church, Augusta; St. Denis Church, Whitefield; St. Joseph Church, Gardiner; St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Augusta).
For more information about the anniversary celebration, contact St. Michael Parish at 207-623-8823. Organizers request that those planning to attend the reception contact the parish office so the proper amount of food can be ordered.
