About Our Lady of the Snows (Parish of the Holy Savior) · Bethel, Maine
Our Lady of the Snows Church is a Roman Catholic mission church in Bethel, Maine, one of two worship sites of the Parish of the Holy Savior, which also includes St. Athanasius & St. John Church in Rumford. The parish is part of the Diocese of Portland and serves Catholics in the western Maine foothills, with the mission's mission statement describing a community that follows 'Jesus in the foothills' and shares faith to encourage people on the journey toward the Kingdom of God. Our Lady of the Snows sits on Route 26 (Walker's Mills Road), directly across from Telstar High School, and offers Saturday evening and Tuesday morning Masses plus Saturday confession.
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Snows (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of the Snows)
- Rector
- Rev. Aaron L. Damboise
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Snows is a small, mission-style Catholic community in the western Maine foothills where Sunday obligations are fulfilled with a Saturday-evening Vigil Mass and weekday worship continues on Tuesday mornings. The Parish of the Holy Savior gathers for parish breakfasts sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella, family fun nights, youth Bible study, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a weekly Rosary — giving parishioners and visitors multiple ways to grow in faith together.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Snows (Parish of the Holy Savior)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:30–5:50 PM (Our Lady of the Snows, Bethel)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM–10:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration at Our Lady of the Snows, Bethel)
Parish of the Holy Savior
Our Lady of the Snows is part of the Parish of the Holy Savior, a Roman Catholic community serving western Maine. The parish unites the Bethel mission with St. Athanasius & St. John Church in Rumford (126 Maine Avenue), and is pastored from the parish office at 7 Brown Street, Mexico, ME 04257. Its stated purpose is to 'follow Jesus in the foothills' — sharing faith to inspire, support and encourage people on the journey toward the realization of the Kingdom of God.
- Worship sites: Our Lady of the Snows (Bethel) and St. Athanasius & St. John (Rumford)
- Pastor: Rev. Aaron L. Damboise
- Deacon: Deacon Rodney Kuhl
- Parish office: 7 Brown St., Mexico, ME 04257
- Phone: 207-364-4556
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (closed Fridays and holidays)
Prayer Life & Devotions
Beyond Sunday and weekday Mass, Our Lady of the Snows hosts a morning of Eucharistic Adoration followed by a Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion and the Rosary each Wednesday. The parish's other site, St. Athanasius & St. John in Rumford, also gathers for a Friday-morning Rosary. These devotions give parishioners regular weekday opportunities for prayer and quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament.
- Wednesday Adoration — 9:00–10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Snows
- Wednesday 10:00 AM — Liturgy of the Word with Communion, followed by the Rosary
- Friday Rosary — 9:00 AM at St. A & J (Rumford); cancelled if there is a funeral
Parish Life & Fellowship
The Parish of the Holy Savior builds community through Family Fun Nights, Youth Bible Study, and a monthly Parish Breakfast that gathers after Mass at the Rumford church. The Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella co-sponsor parish breakfasts and other events, connecting the Bethel and Rumford worship sites socially as well as liturgically.
- Parish Breakfast — first Sunday of the month after Mass at St. A & J, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella (resumes in September)
- Family Fun Nights — parish-wide fellowship events
- Youth Bible Study — approximately every other Saturday at 10:00 AM, Parish Hall (sessions resume in the fall)
- Knights of Columbus — parish council
- Daughters of Isabella — parish circle
Sacraments
Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through the Parish of the Holy Savior, in keeping with the norms of the Diocese of Portland. Adults seeking initiation into the Catholic Church are referred to the diocesan Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program.
- Baptism — infant and adult preparation available
- First Holy Communion & Confirmation — Sacrament Formation
- Marriage — Marriage Preparation and norms per diocesan policy
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Funerals — coordinated with the parish
- RCIA — adult initiation through the Diocese of Portland
Clergy & Staff
The Parish of the Holy Savior is led by Father Aaron L. Damboise, who was appointed pastor effective July 30, 2021. Deacon Rodney Kuhl assists in the parish's pastoral ministry. Both Our Lady of the Snows in Bethel and St. Athanasius & St. John in Rumford fall under Father Damboise's pastoral care.
- Rev. Aaron L. Damboise — Pastor (ordained June 7, 2008, at St. Mary of the Assumption, Augusta; appointed July 30, 2021)
- Deacon Rodney Kuhl
Visiting Our Lady of the Snows
Our Lady of the Snows is located on Route 26 (Walker's Mills Road) in Bethel, directly across the street from Telstar High School, making it easy to find for visitors traveling through the western Maine foothills. The parish office, which serves both worship sites, is open Monday through Thursday mornings and is closed Fridays and holidays.
- Address: 265 Walker's Mills Road (Rte 26), Bethel, ME 04217
- Landmark: across from Telstar High School
- Parish phone: 207-364-4556
- Parish office: 7 Brown St., Mexico, ME 04257
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Aaron L. Damboise2021–present
Appointed pastor of Holy Savior Parish (St. Athanasius and St. John, Rumford; Our Lady of the Snows, Bethel) effective July 30, 2021, by Bishop Robert Deeley. Born in Caribou, raised in Augusta; ordained to the priesthood June 7, 2008, at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Augusta; previously parochial vicar of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston (2012–2015).