St. Anne’s Catholic Church will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the completion of their church on lower Main Street with a Mass on October 2 at 11 a.m. led by Bishop Robert Deeley and concelebrated with Father Lou Phillips of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, to which St. Anne belongs.
Following Mass, a reception will be held to place and bless a new St. Anne statue from France, A barbeque and family activities for parishioners to celebrate this milestone anniversary will be held afterwards.
Photo credit: St. Anne’s ChurchThe history of the Parish dates back to 1944 when the first Mass took place in Gorham’s Grange Hall, with seven people in attendance. Over the next 19 years, the growing Mission held services in several venues, including the Town Hall and a local movie theater which seated about 300 worshipers, before the basement of the current church was completed in 1963. With a seating capacity of 450 people, it served the towns of Gorham, Buxton, Standish, Windham, East Baldwin and East Sebago.
In 1967, the mission became a parish, and within seven years, the basement was no longer adequate in size or in spiritual dignity for its growing congregation. When the basement roof began to leak, a Building Committee was formed, fundraising began, and parishioner’s ideas were sought for plans to complete the upper structure.
St. Anne’s Church was built in a contemporary and casual style which was thought to be appropriate for its rural setting. Natural cedar siding used outside was carried inside to demonstrate the importance of spirituality to the inner and outer lives of its parishioners. The interior is spacious, welcoming, and inspirational, filled with light from its beautiful stained glass and mirrored windows. The seating was carefully designed so that the congregation is gathered around the sanctuary, like a family.
The basement is still in use and houses a Thrift shop, a fully equipped kitchen, classrooms, and a large hall for group activities such as suppers and socials. The Gorham Food Pantry operated out of St. Anne’s church for a number of years but had outgrown its space. In 2008 the Gorham Food Pantry found a permanent home in a donated portable building located in a corner of the parking lot at St. Anne’s.
For more information about the celebration on October 2, contact the parish at (207) 839-4857.