About Holy Family (Prince of Peace Parish) · Lewiston, Maine
Holy Family Church (607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, Maine) is one of five worship sites that together make up Prince of Peace Parish, a merged Catholic community in the Lewiston–Auburn area of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. The parish was formed in 2009 by combining Holy Family with the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Holy Cross, and later Holy Trinity (Lisbon Falls) and Our Lady of the Rosary (Sabattus). Holy Family itself was founded in 1923 by Lewiston's Franco-American Catholic community, and its striking Indiana-limestone upper church was completed in 1960. Today it serves a multilingual congregation with Mass in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and a long tradition of French-Canadian faith life, and is pastored from the Prince of Peace Parish Pastoral Center on Sabattus Street.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Daniel P. Greenleaf
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine
Why belong here
Holy Family is a multilingual, multi-generational Catholic community rooted in Lewiston's Franco-American heritage and now reaching out to English, Spanish, and Portuguese-speaking parishioners as well as African Catholic newcomers. Worship at 607 Sabattus Street includes daily 7:00 AM Masses, a Spanish Saturday vigil, a monthly Portuguese Mass, a Sunday evening Life Teen Mass, and a robust schedule of Confession and Eucharistic Adoration in the parish Adoration Chapel. The parish also runs Totus Tuus summer youth programs, Small Faith Sharing Groups, an African Catholic Community, and an outreach partnership through Prince of Peace — all served by a stable pastoral team and the parish school, St. Dominic Academy, just up the road on Baird Avenue.
Mass times at Holy Family (Prince of Peace Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus St.)
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus St.)
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus St.)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus St.)
Adoration times
- Sunday 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Prince of Peace Adoration Chapel, 607 Sabattus St., behind the church)
- Monday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (noon)
History of Holy Family Parish
Founded in 1923 by Lewiston's Franco-American Catholic community, Holy Family Parish grew from a Grange-hall Mass of 850 people into one of the cornerstone churches of the city's east side. A combination church and school opened in 1924–25, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon; a larger church was begun in 1949, with the basement blessed by Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Feeney in 1950 and the Indiana-limestone upper church completed in May 1960. In 2009 Holy Family joined the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Holy Cross, Holy Trinity (Lisbon Falls), and Our Lady of the Rosary (Sabattus) to form today's Prince of Peace Parish.
- Founded 1923; first Mass November 4, 1923 at Thorne's Corner Grange Hall
- First Mass in new building: Christmas Day 1924; church opened June 8, 1925 (Pentecost)
- Original school staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon
- Larger church begun 1949; basement blessed 1950; upper church completed May 1960
- Originally known as 'Paroisse Sainte-Famille' in the Franco-American community
- Joined Prince of Peace Parish in 2009
- 100th anniversary celebrated jointly with Holy Cross in October 2023
Devotions and Other Services
Beyond Mass and Confession, Holy Family hosts a regular Saturday Rosary before the vigil Mass, a monthly First Friday Mass for Life, and additional Lenten weekday Masses, and the parish also runs Small Faith Sharing Groups and Men's ACTS retreats at the parish-wide level.
- Saturday 3:25 PM Rosary before the 4:00 PM Mass
- First Fridays 6:00 PM Mass for Life
- Lenten 5:30 PM weekday Mass at Holy Family
- Small Faith Sharing Groups (men's, women's, teen, day and evening options)
- Men's ACTS retreats
Faith Formation, Youth, and Campus Ministry
Faith formation across Prince of Peace Parish is led by Director of Evangelization & Catechesis Tyler Nadeau, supported by Administrative Assistant Debra Charest and a Coordinator for faith formation with the immigrant population (Dancile Nshimirimana). The parish hosts the Totus Tuus Catholic summer youth program each June at Holy Family and Holy Trinity, runs Small Faith Sharing Groups for every age and schedule, and serves as the home of Catholic Campus Ministry at Bates College in Lewiston.
- Totus Tuus (summer youth catechesis & evangelization week)
- Each One Catch One parish evangelization initiative
- Small Faith Sharing Groups
- African Catholic Community / faith formation for immigrant populations
- Bates College Catholic Campus Ministry — Chaplain Fr. Daniel Greenleaf; Campus Minister Sr. Jacinta Coscia, FSE
Music and Liturgy
Music across the five Prince of Peace worship sites is coordinated by Director of Music Scott Vaillancourt. The 5:00 PM Sunday Mass at Holy Family is the parish's Life Teen liturgy.
- Director of Music: Scott Vaillancourt (parish-wide)
- Sunday 5:00 PM Mass designated as Life Teen liturgy
- Spanish-language and Portuguese-language Masses supported by parish music ministry
Parish School: St. Dominic Academy
The Catholic school serving Prince of Peace families is St. Dominic Academy, a Pre-K through Grade 12 school located at 17 Baird Avenue, Lewiston — just a short walk up the hill from Holy Family Church on Sabattus Street.
- St. Dominic Academy (Pre-K – 12)
- Address: 17 Baird Avenue, Lewiston, ME 04240
- Phone: (207) 783-9323 / Fax: (207) 783-9491
- Principal: Dawn Theriault
- Website: http://www.stdomsmaine.org/
Parish Staff and Clergy
Prince of Peace Parish is pastored from the Parish Pastoral Center at 607B Sabattus Street (rear unit), Lewiston. The leadership team includes a Pastor, two Parochial Vicars, two priests in residence, two hospital chaplains, a deacon, and a full lay administrative, communications, music, and faith-formation staff.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Daniel P. Greenleaf
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Elaiyaraja Thaniyel, HGN
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Divine Fossoh
- In Residence: Rev. Michael Sevigny, OFM Cap. (Holy Family Rectory)
- In Residence: Rev. Gabriel Odin, OP
- Hospital Chaplain: Rev. Arockiasamy Santhiyagu, HGN
- Hospital Chaplain at CMMC: Rev. Joseph A. Jum
- Deacon: Deacon Denis W. Mailhot
- Business Manager: Joline Laliberte
- Director of Communications: Jennifer Bussiere
- Director of Evangelization & Catechesis: Tyler Nadeau
- Director of Music: Scott Vaillancourt
- Faith Formation with Immigrant Population: Dancile Nshimirimana
- Catholic Chaplain @ Bates College: Sr. Jacinta Coscia, FSE
- Office Assistant: Samantha Ouellette
- Administrative Assistant, Evangelization & Catechesis: Debra Charest
Prince of Peace Parish: The Wider Cluster
Since 2009, Holy Family has been part of Prince of Peace Parish, a merged community of five worship sites across Lewiston, Lisbon Falls, and Sabattus. Together they share one pastor, one staff, and one budget, while retaining their individual church buildings, histories, and weekend Mass schedules.
- Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul (founded 1870) — 122 Ash Street, Lewiston — designated a Minor Basilica October 4, 2004
- Holy Cross Church (founded 1923) — 1080 Lisbon Street, Lewiston
- Holy Family Church (founded 1923) — 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston
- Holy Trinity Church (founded 1995) — 67 Frost Hill Avenue, Lisbon Falls
- Our Lady of the Rosary Church (founded 1975) — 131 High Street, Sabattus
- Formed as Prince of Peace Parish in 2009
Getting Involved and Pastoral Outreach
Father Greenleaf and the parish team have emphasized reaching out beyond the parish boundaries into the surrounding Lewiston neighborhoods. The 'Each One Catch One' initiative puts orange inquiry cards in the pews inviting anyone who has thought about becoming Catholic to connect, and Small Faith Sharing Groups are organized for men, women, teens, and various schedules.
- Each One Catch One evangelization outreach
- Small Faith Sharing Groups (Coordinator: Janet Viere)
- Safe Environment / Volunteer Resource page on parish website
- Online giving through the parish website
- Pastoral outreach to downtown Lewiston neighborhoods
Contact and Visiting Holy Family
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, and the parish's full Mass and Confession schedule, plus news and bulletins, are published online at princeofpeace.me.
- Parish Office: 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, ME 04240
- Phone: (207) 777-1200
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.princeofpeace.me
- Pastoral Center: 607B Sabattus Street, Rear Unit
- Adoration Chapel: 607 Sabattus Street (behind the church)