ADDRESS: 29 Kimball St.

DENOMINATION/AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic

HISTORY: St. Ambrose Church was a mission of St. Mary’s Parish in Bath beginning in 1866, and later became a mission of St. Joseph’s Parish in Gardiner in 1889.

Mass was held in individual homes until increased numbers required a larger space. Mass was then moved to the local Masonic Hall. In 1889, construction of the church was completed at a cost of $3,500. It had a capacity of 120 people. Some Protestants from the Richmond area gave $200 of the pledges. The mural of angels over the sanctuary was a gift from the Russian Orthodox Church.

The dedication Mass was held on Dec. 15, 1889. It was attended by all religious denominations.

Due to the failing health of the pastor of St. Joseph’s in Gardiner in 1924, the mission was attached to Sacred Heart Parish in Hallowell. Mass had been said once a month up to that time, but the Hallowell pastor generously began weekly Masses for the parish.

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In 1926, St. Ambrose became a separate parish and was given the mission church in Pejepscot as well. The house next to the church was purchased as a rectory at that time. Pejepscot remained part of the parish until 1935, when it was attached to St. Cyril in Lisbon Falls. St. Leo mission was built under the direction of Pastor F. Lionel McKeone in 1966 and remained attached to St. Ambrose until 2001. In July 2001, St. Ambrose became a sister parish of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sabattus and its mission, St. Francis in Greene.

In July 2002, ground was broken on an addition. Design and construction oversight were provided by parishioner John Hurley Sr. The addition, dedicated to Father Paul Pare, was financed and built by the parishioners of St. Ambrose.

In 2005, Bishop Richard J. Malone’s Pastoral Letter “Telling Anew the Story of Jesus Christ” set the stage for the former parishes of Cluster 15 to plan a new future together. After much work, communication, compromise and planning, the historical “joining” day of July 1, 2009, happened.

More than 200 years of parish histories came together. St. Ambrose Parish became part of the new All Saints Parish comprising St. John the Baptist Church, St. Mary Church, St. Charles Borromeo Church, St. Ambrose Church, St. Patrick Church, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church and St. Katharine Drexel Summer Chapel.

WORSHIP: Masses are at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. ®®®®Thursday. Contact the parish office for the time of Holy Day Masses.

The All Saints Parish Ultreya meets at St. Ambrose at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. Anyone who has attended a Cursillo weekend or is interested in finding out more about the Cursillo is invited. Call 737-4713 for more information.

CONTACT: Call 737-4713 or visit www.Allsaintsmaine.com. The parish office is at 132 McKeen St., Brunswick, 725-2624.

 


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