H istory of St. Bartholomew's Parish
In September 1968, the Most Rev. Peter L. Gerety, then Bishop of Portland
commissioned Saint Bartholomew Parish to serve the Catholic community of
Cape Elizabeth.
Prior to this date, Cape Elizabeth Catholics were members of Holy Cross Parish in
South Portland. At that time the parish numbered approximately 500 families.
Father R. Michael McGarrigle, living in a house in Brentwood,
was the first pastor of St. Bartholomew. Mass was held in the High School gymnasium (what is now the Middle School
gym) and religious education classes were taught in the teachers’ homes. In February 1970, plans began for a new
church to be built on the corner of Rt. 77 and Broad Cove Rd.
The design was that of a modern, “functional” church which could be used as church, hall, and meeting and social
space. The architect was John Leasure of Leasure, Tuttle & Lee. The contractor was Everett N. Dobson & Sons.
The cost of construction was approximately $500,000. A fund drive was initiated in September 1970, to raise $200,000
toward the cost of the new church. The fund drive was headed by Tom Fee and Joe Foley. Stephen Parker was the
President of the Building Committee and Leroy Rand was the President of the Pastoral Council.
On December 19, 1971, Bishop Gerety blessed the new
building.
After Father McGarrigle’s tenure was completed, the parish was served by a succession of pastors: Father Roland Normandeau, Father Harold W. Nicknair, Father Francis J. Kane, and Father John J. Feeney. During these years the
parish grew substantially in number of parishioners, but also in activities and programs. By 1997, there were
approximately 800 registered families. Parishioners in concert with Father John J. Feeney determined that the
facility was no longer fully adequate to the many needs of an active parish on the verge of a new millennium.
In 1996, the Facilities and Planning Committee, under the chairmanship of John Deckro, had already been established
to consider the desirability and feasibility of a significant renovation of the complex. A conceptual plan of this
renovation and new construction was presented to the parish in June 1997, after receiving the approval of the Parish
Pastoral Council, then chaired by James Walsh. Harriman Associates of Auburn were hired as the architectural firm.
On July 1, 1997, Father Michael J. Henchal was
appointed the new pastor of Saint Bartholomew Parish. The firm of Community Counseling Service Co., Inc. was
engaged as fund raising consultants for the capital campaign in December 1997. With the ongoing advice of the
Facilities and Planning Committee, the Parish Pastoral Council, then chaired by Mary Arnold, and Father Feeney,
the pastor emeritus, Father Henchal oversaw the completion of the construction plans. Langford and Low was hired
in April 1999, as general contractor for the new complex. The Most Rev. Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B. Bishop of
Portland, broke ground for the new hall on
April 20, 1999 and work began almost immediately.
The final Mass in the former church was held on Sunday, April 25, 1999. During the construction, weekend Masses
were celebrated at the Pond
Cove School cafetorium.
Daily Masses took place in the living room of the rectory. The church was dedicated on
Sunday, December 12, 1999, by Bishop Joseph.
Completion and occupation of the offices, the meeting rooms and the hall took place in stages through the months
of January and February 2000.
At the Mass of Dedication of the new church, the Bishop quoted the words of Father Michael McGarrigle, the founding
pastor, from an interview Father had given in Church World, the diocesan newspaper, at the time of the blessing of
the original building: “You are the church. This is our facility to help us, with the grace of God, to carry on his
work here in Cape
Elizabeth, for today, tomorrow, and the generations to come.”
Bishop Joseph affirmed those words and added, “As lovely as this building is, it will become even more beautiful
as you create its beauty from the holiness of your lives… Today, you dedicate not only a new sacred space, you
rededicate yourselves to be faithful stewards of the gifts of God, to be bearers of God’s presence to your homes
and to the world. May you continue the good work which has already been begun here. Beautify this place as you did
the former one with the generosity and holiness of your lives. In this way, men and women who may never step foot
within this church or any other, will have an opportunity to encounter the living God in your lives, in the church
which you are, the living sign of the ever present Lord.” As a relatively young parish, St. Bartholomew does not
have the legacies of older parishes, but because of the dedication of the Catholic community of
Cape Elizabeth,
this parish is rich in the values of the Church teachings and practices.
A bout St. Bartholomew the Apostle
The patron saint of our parish, St. Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, came from Cana in Galilee.
He was first introduced to Jesus by his friend, Philip. When Bartholomew heard that Jesus was from
Nazareth, he was doubtful and asked, “Can anything good come from
Nazareth?”
Jesus described him as a “true Israelite, free from all deceit.” Bartholomew
was the first among the Apostles to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, when he
cried out, "Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel." Nathanael was one of those
who went fishing with St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection.
The risen Savior appeared to them on the beach and prepared a breakfast for them. Bartholomew preached the Gospel in
Persia, India
and finally in Armenia, where he
suffered a gruesome martyrdom by being flayed alive. We celebrate St. Bartholomew’s feast day on August 24.
He is the patron saint of surgeons, butchers, tanners and bookbinders.
