St. Mary’s Local History

The story of the Catholic Presence in Houlton begins at a time etched in the greater history of Aroostook County. In 1828, during the border dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain, Brevet-Brigadier General Brady, colonel of the 2 regiment of Infantry of the U.S. requested the presence of Father McMahon of Eastport to administer the Sacred Sacraments to the soldiers at Hancock barracks in Houlton. Then at the close of the “Bloodless Aroostook War” it became evident that a resident pastor was needed to care for the growing Catholic population. In 1839, the Bishop of Boston answered the people’s prayers by sending Father Daugherty to Houlton as the first pastor of St. Mary of the Visitation.

Many people today remember the beautiful white wooden church constructed by the sacrificial gifts of the good people back in 1885. Father Lonergan, pastor of St. Mary for 15 years, led the building campaign. Also at this time, St. Monica’s mission was constructed which nurtured the faith of the people in Cary until demographics and time closed the mission in 1958. The history of St. Mary and the story of Houlton are very much integrated. Madigan Hospital, the sisters of Mercy, and St. Mary’s Academy and School, for instance, frame the lives of so many of Houlton’s past and present generation.

St. Mary’s church in which people gather for daily celebration of the Eucharist today dates from 1960. It grew out of the ashes of Fr. Lonergan’s 1885 church which was victim to a horrible fire during the night of January 12, 1958. Credit for building the new church must be given to the vision and generosity of the people of the parish. Fr. Tierney led a campaign along with lifelong resident Paul McGillicuddy as campaign chairman. The design of the new church building came from the work of the nationally known architect Rambusch which incorporated several features to become commonplace only during the years following Vatican II. The spacious sanctuary and the baptismal font are two examples of architectural appointments visioning post Vatican II ecclesiology. Today, St. Mary remains proud of its property which includes a beautiful parish center completed in 1998.

St. Mary's church is proud to be the flagship of Catholic presence in Southern Aroostook County. St. Mary’s faith community supports many vital programs and ministries to meet the spiritual and many temporal needs for the good of its parishioners and those beyond Military and Main Streets. For example, each year St. Mary invites anyone needing a Thanksgiving meal to come to St. Anthony’s Hall for a free hot turkey dinner. St. Mary serves the needy of the entire community and beyond by its support of St. Mary’s food pantry cared for by the dedicated efforts of Mildred Madigan and other volunteers. Dedicated individuals give unselfishly of their time, talent and treasure to bring Christ to the sick, the poor and people of all ages. We are presently looking forward to Lent when we initiate our Disciples in program. Each year this spiritual program brings the Gospels alive into the hearts and homes of people in a special way. Houlton has a strong Catholic identity, a strong history and a Catholic Christian mission that points to a bright future.