About St. Ambrose (All Saints Parish) · Richmond, Maine
St. Ambrose Church is a Roman Catholic parish church located at 29 Kimball Street in Richmond, Maine. Founded in 1889 as a mission of St. Mary's in Bath and later St. Joseph's in Gardiner, it became its own parish in 1926 and grew with surrounding mission chapels. Since July 1, 2009, St. Ambrose has been one of seven worship sites of All Saints Parish in the midcoast Maine cluster, served today by Pastor Rev. Philip A. Tracy. The church is notable for a sanctuary mural painted by members of the Russian Orthodox Church and for an addition built entirely by parishioner labor and dedicated to Father Paul Pare.
- Established
- 1889
- Patron
- St. Ambrose of Milan
- Rector
- Rev. Philip A. Tracy
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine
Why belong here
St. Ambrose offers an intimate, weekly-Mass Catholic presence in Richmond — a place where the original 1889 church was literally raised by the hands of neighbors of every denomination, and that legacy of close community continues today. As one of seven worship sites in the larger All Saints Parish midcoast cluster, St. Ambrose combines small-town fellowship with the wider resources, faith formation, and sacramental life of one of the largest parish communities in the Diocese of Portland. Sunday and weekday Masses are offered in English with regular Confession before Thursday Mass.
Mass times at St. Ambrose (All Saints Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 9:30–9:50 AM (at St. Ambrose Church, before 10 AM Mass)
- By appointment — 207-725-2624 (St. Charles Borromeo parish office)
- Tuesday 11:15–11:45 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace (parish-wide)
- Thursday 11:15–11:45 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace (parish-wide)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM at St. Mary's (parish-wide)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM at St. Patrick's (parish-wide)
- Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM at St. Charles Borromeo (parish-wide)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's Church followed by Adoration until 9:30 AM (parish-wide)
History of St. Ambrose Church
St. Ambrose Church began in 1866 as a mission of St. Mary's Parish in Bath, then passed under St. Joseph's in Gardiner in 1889. Early Masses were held in private homes and later in the local Masonic Hall. The present church was built in 1889 by a community effort at a cost of $3,500, dedicated on December 15, 1889.
- 1866: Mission of St. Mary's Parish, Bath
- 1889: Construction completed; dedicated December 15, 1889 (architect E. D. Lewis of Gardiner; built like an old-fashioned barn raising by townspeople of all faiths)
- 1924: Attached to Sacred Heart Parish, Hallowell; weekly Masses begin
- 1926: Becomes a separate parish; receives Pejepscot mission; house next door purchased as rectory
- 1935: Pejepscot mission attached to St. Cyril, Lisbon Falls
- 1966: St. Leo Mission built under Pastor F. Lionel McKeone
- 2001: Becomes a sister parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Sabattus / St. Francis, Greene
- 2001: Handicapped ramp and automatic door built entirely by parishioner labor; designed by parishioner and civil engineer Kathy Gustin-Williams
- 2002: Parish addition begun, overseen by parishioner John Hurley Sr., dedicated to Father Paul Pare, financed and built by parishioners
- 2005: Bishop Richard J. Malone publishes 'Telling Anew the Story of Jesus Christ'
- 2009 (July 1): Becomes part of the new All Saints Parish under founding pastor Rev. Frank J. Murray
All Saints Parish Today
Since July 1, 2009, St. Ambrose has worshiped as one of seven sites of All Saints Parish, which spans the midcoast of Maine. The parish mission states: 'All Saints Parish is a Roman Catholic faith community on the coast of Maine. Our common mission is to become the saints of today as disciples, evangelists, and stewards of Jesus Christ.' Pastor is Rev. Philip A. Tracy, with parochial vicars Rev. Patrick Machayi, SMA and Rev. Amandus Sway, AJ.
- Our Lady Queen of Peace, Boothbay Harbor
- St. Ambrose Church, Richmond
- St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brunswick
- St. John the Baptist Church, Brunswick
- St. John's Catholic School, Brunswick (Pre K–8)
- St. Katharine Drexel Summer Chapel, Harpswell
- St. Mary's Church, Bath
- St. Patrick's Church, Newcastle
Parish Faith and School
All Saints Parish also operates St. John's Catholic School in Brunswick, a Pre-K through Grade 8 Catholic school serving families across the midcoast, including those worshiping at St. Ambrose.
- St. John's Catholic School, Brunswick — Pre K–8
- Faith formation and sacramental preparation are coordinated across All Saints Parish worship sites
Clergy of All Saints Parish
St. Ambrose is shepherded by Pastor Rev. Philip A. Tracy together with parochial vicars Rev. Patrick Machayi, SMA and Rev. Amandus Sway, AJ; Rev. Peter Shaba, SMA is listed in current weekend Mass assignments. Three deacons serve the parish — Deacon John Murphy, Deacon Thomas Blatz, and Deacon Robert Curtis.
- Rev. Philip A. Tracy — Pastor
- Rev. Patrick Machayi, SMA — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Amandus Sway, AJ — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Peter Shaba, SMA
- Deacon John Murphy
- Deacon Thomas Blatz
- Deacon Robert Curtis
Media and Live Streams
All Saints Parish live streams Sunday Masses on Facebook and YouTube. Previous weekend Masses also air on local TV — Bath TV at 8 AM Sundays, Brunswick TV at 9:01 AM Sundays, Harpswell (Lincoln County TV) at 9 AM and 11 AM Sundays. Cancellations are announced via parish email, Facebook, Channel 13/Channel 6 news, and the parish website.
- Live stream of 10:30 or 11 AM Sunday Mass on Facebook and YouTube
- Bath TV — 8 AM Sundays
- Brunswick TV — 9:01 AM Sundays
- Harpswell / Lincoln County TV — 9 AM and 11 AM Sundays
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Lionel McKeone
Built St. Leo Mission under his direction in 1966; remained attached to St. Ambrose until 2001.
- Fr. Paul Pare
Honored by dedication of the 2002 parish addition.
- Rev. Frank J. Murray2009-
Founding pastor of the new All Saints Parish on July 1, 2009.