Bishop's Letter to Parishioners
Bishop Deeley has developed a letter to parishioners in the Diocese regarding the unique times of COVID-19 in which we are living. For a copy of the letter, click here.
Churches Opened
Effective June 1, 2020 Maine churches will open with the following restrictions:
- No more than 50 persons at any one time
- Observe 6-foot social distancing
- Wear a mask
We will celebrate mass at TEMPORARY revised times:
- Saturdays at 4:30 pm
- Sundays at 11:45 am (NEW)
Parish Priority Plan
We have completed a comprehensive review and analysis of our parish goals and objectives to be implemented over the three years 2020-2023. The plan includes three Priorities:
Priority #1 Communicate
Priority #2 Inform and Educate
Priority #3 Engage
More detail, including measures of success are included in the Parish Priority Plan below.
Photo Albums
Welcome to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ellsworth, Maine! We are happy you found us online.
We are a Catholic Parish, inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel of faith, hope and love to our community.
We envision a parish family where adults, through continuing education and participation in the sacramental life, will understand what it means to be a Catholic disciple of Jesus Christ and who have a deep sense of faith, hope and love which will result in masses that are overflowing with parishioners who are actively engaged in the life of the Parish.
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Mass Times
Also Live Streamed and saved on Facebook
www.facebook.com/StJosephEllsworth/
Sunday: 11:45 AM (TEMPORARY)
Weekdays: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 AM
Confession: Sat 3:30 PM Parish Hall
Summer Missions Closed due to coronavirus
Check the bulletin (below) for changes
Office Hours
Mon-Thurs: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Fri, Sat & Sun: CLOSED
Please call 207-667-2342 before you come!
The Parish Office closes for major holidays.
Cluster Database
Click below to join our Cluster and your Parish database to receive updates and information.
WeShare Secure Online Giving
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Click to email (use format xxx-xxx-xxxx for phone):
- Fr. Emile Dube, Pastor
- Larry Fernald, Parish Manager
- Monica Giordano, Administrative Assistant
- Wendy Johnston, Cluster 11 Catechetical Coordinator
- Dan Conte, Music Director
- Joe Losquadro, Webmaster
Current Season
The Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time take us through the life of Christ. This is the time of conversion. This is living the life of Christ. Ordinary Time is a time for growth and maturation, a time in which the mystery of Christ is called to penetrate ever more deeply into history until all things are finally caught up in Christ. The goal, toward which all of history is directed, is represented by the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.
The word "ordinary" as used here comes from the ordinal numerals by which the weeks are identified or counted, from the 1st week of Ordinary Time in January to the 34th week that begins toward the end of November; Ordinary Time is interrupted by Lent and Eastertide.
The season celebrates the mysteries of Christ's life and death and looks forward to the salvation and eternal life that he brings. Green represents hope--like the hope we feel when we see the first buds in springtime--and it is thus fitting that green is the liturgical color that marks this season.
- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity on the Sunday immediately after Pentecost (liturgical color: white)
- Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ on Thursday or (if not a holyday of obligation) Sunday after Trinity Sunday (liturgical color: white)
- Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost (liturgical color: white)
- Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on 24 June (liturgical color: white)
- Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June (liturgical color: red)
- Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on 6 August (liturgical color: white)
- Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 15 August (liturgical color: white)
- Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September (liturgical color: red)
- Solemnity of All Saints on 1 November (liturgical color: white)
- Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome on 9 November (liturgical color: white).
- Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King of the Universe falls on what would otherwise be the last Sunday in Ordinary Time
Papal Prayer Intentions
November
Artificial Intelligence
We pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind.
Today's Scripture
Click for today's Scripture readings:
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Diocese of Portland Website
Cluster Website
Becoming Catholic
Committees & Commissions
Bible Search
Bulletins
Sun, Nov 29th
Sun, Nov 22nd
Sun, Nov 15th
Sun, Nov 8th
Sun, Nov 1st
Living the Eucharist
During Lent we experienced a program of spiritual renewal for everyone. Nearly 100 parishioners across the cluster signed up looking forward to becoming more immersed in the Eucharistic Celebration and the meaning of the Sunday Liturgies of Lent.
Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic exhortation, The Sacrament of Charity, inspired Living the Eucharist. This exhortation calls on all Catholics to renew our experience of the Sacrament of the Eucharist as a mystery to be believed, a mystery to be celebrated, and a mystery to be lived.
Living the Eucharist renews and heightens parishioner involvement in the Sunday Eucharist, helps parishioners connect the celebration of the Eucharist more closely with the mission of Jesus Christ and the Church, and inspires them to live more intentionally as missionary disciples of Jesus during the week.
Thirteen small groups from within our Cluster met to pray over the meaning of Lent, certain aspects of the Mass and the Sunday Readings. Through heartfelt faith sharing and discussion the participants found inspiration and an enriched Lenten Journey during these six weeks. We are sharing photos of those groups.
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LTE – Facilitators & Coordinators |
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| Monday – Bar Harbor Group Joan Sheridan, Kathy Perrine, Edith Lyman, Carol Stabinsky, Sue Seavey |
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| Saturday – Brooklin Group John & Sandy Rossomondo, Diane & Frank Bianco, Marcia & John Diamond |
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| Sunday – Blue Hill Group Jim Ford, Glenna Ford, Rick Seger David Putnam, and Rita Seger (Kit Lane taking photo – see reflection |
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| Tuesday – Ellsworth Group John Lynch, Fr. Cahill, Jill Jameson, Dale Worthen, Trish Worthen, Joe Losquadro (Judy Losquadro not in photo) |
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Wednesday – Ellsworth Group |
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| Thursday – Corea Group Vickie Brochu, Rose Arnett, Kate McLoud, Rose Ann Schultz, John Primeau |
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Castine Group |
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Stella Maris – Monday, Wednesday and Thursday Groups
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Stonington Group |
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Bar Harbor – Tuesday Evening Group |
Budget for Year Ending 6/30/2021
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St. Joseph Parish - Ellsworth |
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| REVENUE | |||
| Offertory | $182,000 | ||
| Fundraising | $500 | ||
| Other Unrestricted Revenue | $38,500 | ||
| Total Revenue | $221,000 | ||
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| EXPENSES | |||
| WORSHIP and SPIRITUALITY This section covers our expenses associated with our liturgy and ministry programs | |||
| - Liturgy (External priest fees & mileage) | $6,000 | ||
| - Music Ministry | $24,500 | ||
| - Clergy Salaries & Benefits | $44,600 | ||
| - Supplies | $6,500 | ||
| - Advertising | $1,000 | ||
| - Other | $2,317 | ||
| Total Worship & Spirituality | $84,917 | ||
| FAITH FORMATION This section covers our expenses associated with the faith formation of our parish community | |||
| - Children Faith Formation | $1,500 | ||
| - Youth Ministry | $1,000 | ||
| - Adult Education | $3,000 | ||
| - Lay Salaries & Benefits | $4,514 | ||
| Total Faith Formation | $10,014 | ||
| CHARITY and OUTREACH This section covers our expenses for communication to the parish community and donation solicitation costs | |||
| Total Charity/Outreach | $5,000 | ||
| OTHER PROGRAMS | |||
| Total Other Programs | $500 | ||
| GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE This section covers our expenses for office and parish administrative support | |||
| - Diocesan Assessment | $23,478 | ||
| - Lay Employees Salaries & Benefits | $50,343 | ||
| - Contracted Services | $1,500 | ||
| - Equipment Rentals | $5,500 | ||
| - Property Insurance | $9,500 | ||
| - Office Supplies & Postage | $2,000 | ||
| - Online Giving Fees | $1,000 | ||
| - Other | $5,640 | ||
| Total General & Administrative | $98,961 | ||
| FACILITIES This section covers the expenses to support the parish buildings | |||
| - Parish Office | $11,170 | ||
| - Church | $23,500 | ||
| - Rectory (Hurley House) | $9,740 | ||
| - Parish Hall | $10,120 | ||
| Some of these expenses include: | |||
| - Lawn Care & Snow Removal | $5,500 | ||
| - Utilities | $25,600 | ||
| - Janitorial Services & Supplies | $5,500 | ||
| - Equipment Repairs & Servicing | $3,700 | ||
| - Building & Site Mainenance | $5,400 | ||
| Total Facilities | $54,530 | ||
| Total Expenses | $253,922 | ||
| Total Net Income (Loss) | ($32,922) | ||
| *This is a summary of the revenue and expenses. Parishioners are most welcome to view a fully detailed budget description in the Sant Joseph Sacristy corridor after July 3, 2020.* | |||
Parish Priority Plan
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Purpose Statement We are a Catholic Parish, inspired by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel of faith, hope and love to our community. |
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Vision Statement We envision a parish family where adults, through continuing education and participation in the sacramental life, will understand what it means to be a Catholic disciple of Jesus Christ and who have a deep sense of faith, hope and love which will result in masses that are overflowing with parishioners who are actively engaged in the life of the Parish. |
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Priority #1 |
Priority #2 |
Priority #3 |
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Create an up to date, comprehensive database of all currently registered parishioners. Complete by 6/30/20 |
With the participation and assistance of the Cluster Catechetical Leader and Diocesan educational resources, develop a three-year plan for an enriched adult continuing education program and reinvigorate the children’s religious education program. Complete by 12/31/20 |
Conduct an “Opportunity for Service Fair” outside on the grounds and/or in the parish hall with church & community groups. Complete by 5/31/2021
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Communicate with registered parishioners and then to returning/prospective Catholics to encourage mass attendance. Complete by 12/31/20 |
Develop a communication plan that will consider and use multiple means of communicating to and recruiting participants – including social media, like FORMED. Complete by 6/30/21
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Educate parishioners on corporal and spiritual works of mercy and how they may be practiced. Provide suggestions on how to become engaged. Complete by 5/31/21 |
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Make the church property more welcoming by replacing overgrown cedar trees, removing ivy from the buildings, and updating the sign. Complete by 12/31/20 |
Develop materials to promote adult education programs. Complete by 12/31/21 |
Encourage parishioners to join (or even start) programs to share their faith. Complete by 12/31/21 |
Measures of Success. We will consider that we have succeeded in our endeavors to achieve the elements of our vision statement if:
- We have developed a communication vehicle that allows us to communicate with all those who consider themselves parishioners of St. Joseph Ellsworth parish
- We have developed a three-year plan for enriched adult education and participation by 40-50 parishioners in the first year and 10% increases each year thereafter
- We have established regular periodic communication with parishioners via a parish newsletter published monthly
- We have held an opportunity fair that resulted in increases of 20-25 parishioners in church and community groups.
- We have documented the changes to the church property with photographs.