About Sacred Heart (Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish) · Auburn, Maine
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Auburn, Maine, part of the Diocese of Portland. The parish is served through two worship sites: Sacred Heart Church (8 Sacred Heart Place) and St. Philip Church (2365 Turner Road). It is led by pastor Rev. Robert Lupo and offers weekend Masses in English, with weekday Masses at both churches. The parish grew out of the 2008 merger of Sacred Heart Parish (founded 1923), St. Louis Parish, and St. Philip Parish (founded 1968), and continues a century-old tradition of Catholic faith in the Lewiston-Auburn mill-and-factory community originally settled by Irish and French-Canadian immigrants.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus / Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Robert L. Lupo
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (Maine)
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish welcomes Catholics of Auburn and the surrounding Lewiston-Auburn area with two accessible worship sites — historic Sacred Heart Church (built 1938, renovated in the 1990s) and St. Philip Church — and a full weekly schedule of English Masses, weekday and weekend, plus Saturday confessions. A century-old community that grew with the Irish and French-Canadian mill workers of the Twin Cities, the parish carries forward the faith of generations while serving today's families through its schools and sacramental life.
Mass times at Sacred Heart (Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM (Sacred Heart Church)
Parish History
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish was formed in 2008 from the merger of three Auburn parishes: Sacred Heart (founded 1923), St. Louis (founded 1891/1902), and St. Philip (founded 1968). Sacred Heart Parish itself was established by Bishop Louis Walsh in 1923 to serve a Lewiston-Auburn community growing with Irish and French-Canadian immigrants working in local mills. The first Masses were held in a converted stable — leading the bishop to remark it felt 'like Christmas in Auburn' — and that stable served as the church for 15 years before the new Sacred Heart Church opened in 1938. The parish grew from 215 founding families to 600 by the end of World War II. Sacred Heart Church was extensively renovated in the early 1990s, including a reversal of the nave's direction. St. Louis Church closed in 2013, while Sacred Heart and St. Philip continue as the parish's two worship sites today.
- Founded 1923 by Bishop Louis Walsh
- Stable-church used 1923–1938
- Current Sacred Heart Church opened 1938
- Merger of Sacred Heart, St. Louis, and St. Philip in 2008
- St. Louis Church closed 2013
- Centennial celebrated October 22, 2023 with Bishop Robert Deeley
Sacred Heart School
In response to its rapid post-war growth, the parish opened its own school in 1952, staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon. A convent for the sisters was added in 1957. The original school building continues in educational use today as the home of St. Mary's Renaissance School.
- School opened 1952
- Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon as teachers
- Convent added 1957
- Building now houses St. Mary's Renaissance School
Worship Sites
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish worships at two historic Auburn churches. Sacred Heart Church (8 Sacred Heart Place) is the parish's main church, opened in 1938 and renovated in the 1990s. St. Philip Church (2365 Turner Road) was founded in 1968 and continues as the parish's second worship site.
- Sacred Heart Church — 8 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn, ME 04210
- St. Philip Church — 2365 Turner Road, Auburn, ME 04210
- Parish Office — 30 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn, ME
Clergy & Leadership
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is led by Rev. Robert L. Lupo, who was appointed pastor effective July 1, 2024 by Bishop James Ruggieri. He succeeds Rev. Robert C. Vaillancourt, a Lewiston native who retired from active ministry on the same date after serving the parish and many other Maine communities. Fr. Lupo previously served as pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dexter and St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield (since 2018), and earlier was parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary itself, giving him direct familiarity with the parish he now leads.
- Pastor: Rev. Robert L. Lupo (since July 1, 2024)
- Former Pastor: Rev. Robert C. Vaillancourt (retired July 1, 2024)
Diocese of Portland
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, the Latin-rite diocese serving the entire state of Maine. The parish's official diocesan listing lists its pastor, clergy, Mass times, and worship sites at portlanddiocese.org.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (Maine)
- Current diocesan bishop: Bishop James Ruggieri (as of 2024); Bishop Robert Deeley led the 2023 centennial celebration
Visitor Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (207) 782-8096. The parish office is located at 30 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn, ME. Mass times, confession schedule, and Holy Day information are published on the parish website and on the diocesan parish finder.
- Phone: (207) 782-8096
- Parish Office: 30 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn, ME
- Website: ihm-auburn.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert C. Vaillancourtuntil July 1, 2024
Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish who retired from active ministry effective July 1, 2024. Native of Lewiston, Maine; graduate of St. Dominic Regional High School, University of Maine at Orono (BA psychology) and St. Paul University, Ottawa (BA theology). Also served as director of vocations for the Diocese of Portland and in hospital ministry, and at parishes in Biddeford, Brewer, Bridgton, Camden, East Millinocket, Falmouth, Hampden, Madawaska, Old Town, Peaks Island, Portland, Rumford, and Winterport.
- Rev. Robert L. LupoJuly 1, 2024 – present
Appointed pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn effective July 1, 2024. Previously pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Dexter and St. Agnes Parish in Pittsfield (since 2018); also served as pastor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Calais, parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Auburn, parochial vicar at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Norway, parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Saco, parochial vicar at All Saints Parish in Brunswick, and chaplain at Maine Medical Center in Portland.