HISTORY?SAINT TERESA PARISH
For many years before 1896, the Catholics of South Brewer had been parishioners of St. John's, Bangor where their spiritual needs were served by the priests when the people attended Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
While some of the parishioners had the luxury of a carriage or wagon, most had to negotiate the distance on foot. Their faith was strong, and although a considerable amount of time and effort was expended in their journeys to Bangor, attendance at Mass was the paramount issue of the Lord's Day. Their lot was made easier when electric - car service began, in September 1890.
In 1894, the building of St. Teresa church in South Brewer began under the direction of Monsignor Edward McSweeney, pastor of St. John's Church, Bangor. A contractor was hired to supervise the work, done for the most part by the willing hands of the future parishioners of St. Teresa Church. At first, the basement was used for services; when the upper church was ready, the lower was adapted into a parish-hall. The Rev. James O'Brian celebrated the first Mass. The church was dedicated by Bishop Healy, 1896.
The parish was formed on November 10, 1896 under patronage of St. Teresa of Avila with the Rev. Hamakers as the first resident Pastor. At the time there were slightly less than 100 families in the parish.
The following priests succeeded Hamakers as pastors of St. Teresa's: Rev. James P. Gorman, 1904 - 1911; Rev. Frederick A. Karpe, 1911 - 1914; and Monsignor Charles Collins, 1914 - 1915.
The Rev. Matthew Reilly was appointed pastor in July 1915. During his pastorate, St. Teresa School and rectory were built.
In 1922 the Sisters of Mercy moved into the original rectory which became their convent. The school, which was the gift of Louis Mutty (Mothe), in memory of his parents, a brother of SS M. Louis and M. Delores, opened the same year. From 1920 to 1969, the Sisters of Mercy taught at St. Teresa's School. In their years of service, the Sisters made an impact upon the parish and community.
Other pastors over the succeeding years were: Rev. John A. Driscoll, 1926 - 1934; Rev. Maurice Griffin, 1934 - 1936. Also, in 1937 Rev. John Francis Murphy was made Pastor of this parish, in January. In 1938 Father Murphy died, September 4, and his funeral was held on the 7th, a Wednesday. 1939 - Rev. John J. Sullivan assumed the duties of Pastor, February 10. The parish had been vacant since Father Murphy's death.
Rev. Maurice V. Goan, assistant here, leaves to assume a similar position at St. Peter's in Portland. The pastor, Rev. John J. Sullivan, died on the morning of June 18, 1940; the funeral was held, June 21. 1940 - In June, Rev. Maurice H. Carroll was made pastor, in succession to Father Sullivan who had died.
On November 6, 1945, St. Teresa's Church was completely destroyed by fire bringing great sorrow to Fr. Carroll and all the parishioners. The magnitude of this loss was reflected by the many expressions of sympathy from far and wide.
On April 23, 1946, the building of a new church commenced across the street from the site of the disastrous fire. Carroll's untiring zeal coupled with the wholehearted support of the parishioners and the generous assistance of those outside of the parish made possible the present St. Teresa Church.
Following the death of Father Carroll in 1951, Rev. James H. Sullivan became pastor until 1959 when he was succeeded by Father Joseph Houlihan who was pastor until 1968. Father John E. Carlson, then assistant to Father Houlihan, was appointed pastor in 1968. In 1969, Father Donald Jacques became administrator of the parish. Father Thomas J. Joyce was appointed pastor in 1969 and he was succeeded in 1972 by Father Harold Moreshead who was succeeded in 1974 by Father Joseph Whitlock.
In 1976 major renovations of the church were undertaken to comply with the decree of the second Vatican Council. Since its founding, St. Teresa's Parish has had a steady growth. Its latest census lists more than 500 families. The parish boundaries extends from what was known as Dyer Brook in Brewer, now I-395, to Bucksport on the south and to Holden on the east.
Active organizations in the parish are: Parish Council, Women's Sodality, Folk Group Music Ministry and Adult Choir. Originally there were active groups such as: Knights of Columbus, Ladies' Aid Society, and PTA. In 1981, a St. Teresa School reunion was held welcoming many past graduates for a week-end, open house celebration.
In 1977 the Sisters of Mercy returned to St. Teresa's in the presence of Sister Catherine Green who was hired as a Religious Education Coordinator.
Rev. Renald D. Labarre was appointed pastor July 1, 1977 and he was succeeded by Rev. Royal J. Parent on September 1, 1983.
The Rev. Rudolph J. Leveille was appointed as pastor July 1, 1987. Early in the administration of Fr. Leveille, the St. Teresa School building was sold to C.E.S. (Civil Engineering Services, Inc.) and a fund raising campaign was begun to build a new Parish Center on the site of the original Church next to the Rectory. The Parish Center was completed and dedicated on June 4, 1989 at a cost of over $600,000. The Parish Center debt was completely paid in June 1994, and the following Spring, 1995, the Church Renovation debt (from the 1985 major Church renovation) was paid off, now leaving the Parish free of all indebtedness. A refurbishing of the Church interior was undertaken in the Summer of 1996 in preparation for the Centenary Celebrations.
Rev. Joel Cyr was appointed Administrator of St. Teresa's and St. Joseph's Parishes on July 1, 1997, with Rev. Brendan Harnett as Parochial Vicar. Father Harnett left on June 2, 1998 to become Administrator of St. Mary's Parish in Biddeford. Father Joel Cyr was appointed Pastor of both Parishes on July 1, 1998.
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