OUR CLERGY

 

Rev. Thomas F. Butler

 

Fr. Butler was born on August 15, 1846, and was ordained for the diocese of Portland on May 22, 1880.  He served as assistant at the Cathedral and at St. Dominic’s, Portland, and was appointed pastor of Ellsworth and Missions at Mt. Desert Island on May 14th, 1881.  Fr. Butler was transferred to St. Joseph’s Church in Lewiston on November 4, 1894, where he became permanent pastor until his death November 18, 1917.

 

 

Rev. James J. O’Brien

 

 

Fr. O’Brien was born in Ireland on May 24th, 1862.  He was ordained a priest on March 25th, 1887, by Most Rev. James A Healy, Bishop of Portland.  After having served as an assistant at St. Mary’s Church in Bangor, Fr. O’Brien was a Rector of the Parish in Winn.  He was made Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Ellsworth in 1894 and, in 1907, was appointed Pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Bar Harbor where he remained until the time of his death.

 

For 31 years, Fr. O’Brien labored between Ellsworth and Mt. Desert Island, a ceaseless toiler for the advance of Christ Kingdom and the building of Holy Redeemer Parish.  On October 6, 1925, Fr. O’Brien, after a short illness passed into the hands of his Maker whom he loved, for whom he labored.  He was succeeded by Rev. Patrick F. Flanagan.

 

 

Rev. Patrick F. Flanagan

 

Fr. Flanagan was born in East Cambridge, Mass., on April 1, 1866.  He served as Pastor in Ellsworth and Rumford and of St. Patrick’s of Portland and served as Pastor of Holy Redeemer in 1927, succeeding Fr. O’Brien.  He was Pastor of St. Raphael’s, Kittery, until his death.  He was succeeded by Rev. Edward F. Fitzpatrick. 

 

 

Rev. Edward F. Fitzpatrick

 

Fr. Fitzpatrick, youngest of 11 boys, was born in Armagh, Ireland, March 7, 1879.  Two years later the family moved to Providence, R.I., and there Father was ordained to the priesthood on July 2, 1907.
  

In 1912, he was loaned to the diocese of Portland, Me., where he was assistant at St. Patrick’s, Lewiston.  Four years later, his first pastorate was at Benedicta where in eight years he had been responsible for the erection of a new high school.  He served as Pastor of South Berwick and Peaks Island churches.

 

Fr. Fitzpatrick succeeded Fr. Flanagan on April 8, 1927, as Pastor of Holy Redeemer and remained until his death December 3, 1958.  Father completed 30 years of faithful teaching and spiritual leadership to residents and visitors alike.  He was widely known as “Fr. Fitz” with much affection and respect.  Among his achievements were the acquisition of a Parish Hall, the organizing of the Daughters of Isabella and Knights of Columbus, the installation of chimes in the Belfry, the obtaining of a property for the Oblate Fathers and the encouragement of the Shrine of Our Lady of Faitma. Many Bar Harbor residents remember his devotion to the town’s people during and after the 1947 forest fire.  A staff member of the Oblate Seminary was heard to have said, “Nearly every day we have knocked at his door to hear his cheery greeting.  By his side we have lived as devoted younger brothers, or rather affectionate sons.  Listening to his stories, laughing at his Irish wit, witnessing his concern for the sick and for all his people, seeing his blue eyes sparkle and jaws set at the mention of injustice or uncharitableness, we have learned to love him.”  Upon his death, untold sadness was felt by his beloved parishioners and town residents.  It was said of him at his funeral, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

 

 

Rev. John J Kenny

 

    

    Father Kenny was born in New York City, July 1906, and ordained there May 30, 1931.  He was loaned to the Maine Diocese and remained to serve as assistant at Holy Cross, South Portland; St. Patrick, Lewiston; and St Mary’s in Rockland, Houlton and Biddeford.  In 1936, he was made a Chaplain on special duty with the Civilian Conservation Corp. of Maine.  After an appointment as Pastor of St. Ignatius, Northeast Harbor, he served at St. Thomas, Dover Foxcroft.  He came to Holy Redeemer February 14, 1959. 

     Father Kenny was the first Pastor of Holy Redeemer, under the direction of the Diocese of Portland, to use the altar of sacrifice facing the people and to say the Mass in the Vernacular.  A parish center was established in the basement of the church.  That is where our parish meetings and activities are held now.

     Father Kenny retired September 30, 1976, and now resides at Mount Saint Joseph’s, Priest retirement home in Waterville.  He continues to serve Parishioners of our Diocese.  He often assists saying Mass at St. Joseph’s, Ellsworth.

     Father Kenny is held with deep respect and affection by his parishioners who wish him good health and many happy years of retirement.

 

 

 

 

Very Rev. Father Richard P. Rice

 

Very Rev. Father Richard P. Rice, Vicar Forane, Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish, Bar Harbor, was born December 11, 1933, in Biddeford, Me., the son of John Edward and Mary Margaret O’Brien Rice.

 

He is a graduate of St Mary’s Parochial School, Biddeford, Cheverus High School, Portland, attended Boston College and St. Francis College, Biddeford, before entering St. Paul’s Seminary, Ottawa, Canada.

 

He was ordained May 21, 1960, by the Most Rev. Daniel Feeney at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland, Maine.  He served as an Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish, Portland and St. Joseph’s Parish, Brewer.  While in Brewer, Father Rice was the first Catholic Priest to be named president of the Bangor-Brewer Ministerial Association.  In 1970-’72, Sacred Heart Parish, Waterville; 1972-’74, St Mary’s Parish, Augusta.  His first pastorate was Holy Name Parish, Machias, with a mission church, St. Michael’s, in Cherryfield.  During his pastorate, he served as a Priest Senator from Washington County; an Auxiliary Chaplain to the Air Force radar site at Buck’s Harbor; Chaplain at the University of Maine, Machias campus.  He served the Navy Radio Station at Cutler and the Coast Guard at Jonesport.  He hosted a weekly radio program in classical music appreciation.

 

On July 14, 1976, Fr. Rice came to Mount Desert Island as Pastor of St. Ignatius Parish, Northeast Harbor, and its mission churches of St. Peter’s, Manset; Our Lady Star of the Sea, Islesford; and Holy Family, Seal Harbor.  He was administrator of Holy Redeemer Parish, Bar Harbor, until September 1976 when he became it’s present pastor.  He serves as the Bishop’s representative to the Catholic parishes of Hancock County as a Dean.

 

He has served as president of the M.D.I. Council of Churches.  He was one of the founding members of the board of directors, for three years, of the M.D.I. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Group.