About St. Bartholomew (St. John Paul II Parish) · Cape Elizabeth, Maine
St. Bartholomew Church is the Cape Elizabeth worship site of St. John Paul II Parish, a tri-site Roman Catholic parish in southern Maine that also includes Holy Cross Church in South Portland and St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough. The parish was formed on July 1, 2020, when St. Bartholomew Parish, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, and St. John and Holy Cross Parish merged under the common patronage of St. John Paul II, with each church retaining its individual name and identity. St. Bartholomew itself was commissioned in September 1968 by Bishop Peter L. Gerety to serve the Catholic community of Cape Elizabeth, and its current modern church complex was dedicated on December 12, 1999, by Bishop Joseph J. Gerry. The parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and supports Holy Cross School (Pre-K through 8) in South Portland.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Bartholomew (church); St. John Paul II (merged parish)
- Rector
- V. Rev. John D. Dickinson, JV
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Why belong here
St. Bartholomew Church offers a smaller, neighborhood-sized Catholic community at the southern tip of Cape Elizabeth, near Two Lights State Park, with a manageable Sunday schedule (9:00 AM Mass), Monday and Wednesday daily Mass, and a Monday morning confession window right after Mass. As part of St. John Paul II Parish, Cape Elizabeth Catholics share in three worship sites, a unified faith-formation program, Holy Cross School (Pre-K–8), and a full pastoral staff including a faith-formation director, youth minister, and family-ministry coordinator. It is a parish that explicitly defines itself by Bishop Gerry's rededication words: "You are the church… to carry on his work here in Cape Elizabeth, for today, tomorrow, and the generations to come."
Mass times at St. Bartholomew (St. John Paul II Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM at St. Bartholomew Church (following the 8:00 AM Mass)
- 1st Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM at St. Bartholomew Church
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM at Holy Cross Church (parish-wide)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church (parish-wide)
- Monday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church (parish-wide; not held on holidays when Parish Office is closed)
- Available at other times by appointment or request
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Holy Cross Church (parish-wide)
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church (parish-wide)
- 1st Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at Holy Cross Church (parish-wide)
About St. John Paul II Parish
St. John Paul II Parish is a tri-site Roman Catholic parish serving Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, and South Portland, Maine. The parish worships at three churches — St. Bartholomew Church in Cape Elizabeth, Holy Cross Church in South Portland, and St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough — and supports Holy Cross School (Pre-K through 8) in South Portland. The Parish Office is located at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074.
- St. Bartholomew Church — 8 Two Lights Rd., Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
- Holy Cross Church — 124 Cottage Rd., South Portland, ME 04106
- St. Maximilian Kolbe Church — 150 Black Point Rd., Scarborough, ME 04074
- Holy Cross School (Pre-K–8) — 436 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106; (207) 799-6661
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM daily)
- Phone: (207) 883-0334 — Email: [email protected]
St. Bartholomew Church (Cape Elizabeth)
St. Bartholomew Church is the Cape Elizabeth worship site of St. John Paul II Parish, set at the southern end of Cape Elizabeth near Two Lights State Park, just off Route 77. The parish was commissioned in September 1968 by Bishop Peter L. Gerety to serve the Catholic community of Cape Elizabeth, which until then had been part of Holy Cross Parish in South Portland.
- Address: 8 Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
- Sunday Mass: 9:00 AM (English)
- Monday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Wednesday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- 1st Saturday Mass: 8:00 AM (English)
- Confession: Monday 8:30–9:00 AM and 1st Saturday 8:30–9:00 AM
Parish History
Commissioned in September 1968 by Bishop Peter L. Gerety for the Cape Elizabeth Catholic community, the parish began with about 500 families under founding pastor Father R. Michael McGarrigle. The first Masses were held in the High School gymnasium and religious education was taught in teachers' homes. In February 1970 plans began for a modern, "functional" church on the corner of Route 77 and Broad Cove Road, designed by John Leasure of Leasure, Tuttle & Lee. The building was blessed by Bishop Gerety on December 19, 1971. By 1997 the parish had grown to about 800 registered families, and a major renovation was planned and executed over 1999–2000.
- Founded: September 1968
- First pastor: Father R. Michael McGarrigle
- Architect (1971): John Leasure, Leasure, Tuttle & Lee
- Contractor (1971): Everett N. Dobson & Sons
- Original construction cost: ~$500,000
- Original church blessed: December 19, 1971
- Fund drive chairs (1970): Tom Fee and Joe Foley
- Building Committee President (1970): Stephen Parker
- Pastoral Council President (1970): Leroy Rand
The 1999 Renovation and Rededication
A Facilities and Planning Committee, chaired by John Deckro, was established in 1996 to study the renovation. A conceptual plan was presented in June 1997 with approval of the Parish Pastoral Council (chaired by James Walsh). Harriman Associates of Auburn served as architect; Community Counseling Service Co., Inc. was the fundraising consultant (engaged December 1997); Langford and Low was hired in April 1999 as general contractor. Bishop Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B., broke ground on April 20, 1999; the last Mass in the former church was April 25, 1999; the new church was dedicated Sunday, December 12, 1999. During construction, weekend Masses moved to the Pond Cove School cafetorium and daily Masses were held in the rectory living room.
- Facilities & Planning Committee chair: John Deckro
- Parish Pastoral Council chairs (during project): James Walsh, then Mary Arnold
- Architect: Harriman Associates (Auburn, ME)
- Fundraising consultant: Community Counseling Service Co., Inc.
- General contractor: Langford and Low
- Groundbreaking: April 20, 1999 — Dedication: December 12, 1999
- Bishop Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B., presided over the dedication
The 2020 Merger into St. John Paul II Parish
On July 1, 2020, St. Bartholomew Parish (Cape Elizabeth), St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish (Scarborough), and St. John and Holy Cross Parish (South Portland) merged to form the new St. John Paul II Parish under the common patronage of St. John Paul II. Each church kept its individual name. Monsignor Paul Stefanko, already pastor of the three parishes, became the first pastor of the merged parish. Bishop Robert Deeley approved the canonical steps. The new website address is www.jp2me.org.
- Merger effective: July 1, 2020
- First pastor of merged parish: Monsignor Paul Stefanko
- Approval by Bishop Robert Deeley after canonical review (Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors, Finance Council)
- Common patronage: St. John Paul II
- Each church retains its individual name
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The current pastoral leadership of St. John Paul II Parish, drawn from the parish's published Cluster 22 directory and the Diocese of Portland parish page.
- Pastor — V. Rev. John D. Dickinson, JV (Ext. 1203)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Alexander R. Boucher (Ext. 1202)
- Parochial Vicar — Father Evans B. Yongyee
- In Residence — V. Rev. Kyle L. Doustou
- Deacon — Deacon Mark B. Tuttle (450-3554)
- Pastoral Life Coordinator — Kris Benson (Ext. 1206)
- Business Manager — Carrie Flanagan (Ext. 1204)
- Principal (Holy Cross School) — William Ridge (799-6661)
- Cluster Faith Formation Director — Michelle Valcourt (Ext. 1210)
- Assistant Faith Formation Director — Joanna Martel
- Administrative Assistant, Faith Formation — Anne Marsh
- Youth Minister — Sophie Ritchie (Ext. 1211)
- Children & Family Ministry — Vacant
- Funeral Coordinator — Rita Thompson (799-8431)
- Administrative Assistant — Jennifer Pallotta (Ext. 1201)
- Bookkeeper — Diane Embry (Ext. 1205)
- Facilities — Joey Kneeland (233-4060)
Faith Formation, Youth, and Family Ministry
The cluster-wide Faith Formation program is led by Director Michelle Valcourt, with Assistant Director Joanna Martel and Administrative Assistant Anne Marsh. Youth Ministry is led by Sophie Ritchie. A Children & Family Ministry position is currently vacant. Adult Faith Formation, including RCIA, is supported through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
- Cluster Faith Formation Director: Michelle Valcourt
- Assistant Faith Formation Director: Joanna Martel
- Administrative Assistant (Faith Formation): Anne Marsh
- Youth Minister: Sophie Ritchie
- Children & Family Ministry: currently vacant
- Diocesan RCIA / Adult Faith Formation resources available
Holy Cross School
St. John Paul II Parish supports Holy Cross School, a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school located at 436 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106. The principal is William Ridge.
- Holy Cross School — 436 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106-2916
- Phone: (207) 799-6661
- Website: www.holycrossmaine.org
- Principal: William Ridge
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father R. Michael McGarrigle1968 – (first pastor)
Founding pastor of St. Bartholomew; lived in a house in Brentwood; said the first Masses in the High School gymnasium.
- Father Roland Normandeau
Successor pastor during the parish's growth years.
- Father Harold W. Nicknair
Successor pastor during the parish's growth years.
- Father Francis J. Kane
Successor pastor during the parish's growth years.
- Father John J. Feeneythrough ~1999
Led the major 1999 renovation/rededication; named pastor emeritus.
- Monsignor Paul Stefanko2020 –
First pastor of the merged St. John Paul II Parish (formed July 1, 2020).
- V. Rev. John D. Dickinson, JV
Current pastor of St. John Paul II Parish.