About St. John the Baptist (All Saints Parish) · Brunswick, Maine
St. John the Baptist Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Brunswick, Maine, founded in 1877 by French-Canadian mill workers and their families who wanted their own French-speaking priest. It is one of the seven worship sites of All Saints Parish, a midcoast Maine cluster established on July 1, 2009 that brought together more than 200 years of parish histories under one pastor, Rev. Philip A. Tracy. The current church on Pleasant Street, completed in 1886, still anchors a thriving Catholic community that today includes St. John's Catholic School (PreK–8), a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at the St. John's Community Center, and a wide range of faith-formation and youth ministries serving the greater Brunswick area.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Philip A. Tracy
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist offers Sunday and weekday Mass in English in the heart of Brunswick, with a daily 8 AM Mass on Tuesdays and two Sunday Masses (8:00 AM and 11:00 AM) celebrated in its 1886 church on Pleasant Street. Parishioners also have access to a dedicated Adoration Chapel at the St. John's Community Center (43 Pleasant Street) open throughout the week, and to All Saints Parish's cluster-wide faith formation, youth ministry, marriage preparation, and RCIA programs. Families with school-age children are served by St. John's Catholic School (PreK–8) right on Pleasant Street, and the wider parish community is anchored by two local Knights of Columbus councils (Brunswick and Bath), Catholic Charities Maine partnerships, and a strong tradition of Catholic life on the midcoast going back to 1877.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist (All Saints Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment only at St. John the Baptist Church — please call 207-725-2624
- Confessions are also heard at other All Saints Parish churches: Tuesday and Thursday 11:15–11:45 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace (Boothbay Harbor); Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM at St. Mary's (Bath) and St. Patrick's (Newcastle); Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM at St. Charles Borromeo (Brunswick).
Adoration times
- Sunday: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (chapel at St. John's Community Center, 43 Pleasant Street, Brunswick)
- Monday: 5:00 AM – 4:00 PM (chapel)
- Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 4:00 PM (chapel)
- Wednesday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM (chapel)
All Saints Parish: A Cluster of Seven Churches
All Saints Parish, established on July 1, 2009, is a Roman Catholic cluster of seven churches on the coast of Maine that grew out of six former parishes plus one mission — together representing more than 200 years of parish history. The cluster was set in motion by the 2005 diocesan task force report "Telling Anew the Story of Jesus Christ," commissioned by Bishop Malone. Today All Saints Parish is one faith community with one pastor, Rev. Philip A. Tracy, sharing worship sites, staff, faith formation, and sacramental records across the midcoast.
- Our Lady Queen of Peace, Boothbay Harbor
- St. Ambrose Church, Richmond (1889)
- St. Charles Borromeo Church, Brunswick (1930)
- St. John the Baptist Church, Brunswick (1877)
- St. John's Catholic School, Brunswick (PreK–8)
- St. Katharine Drexel Summer Chapel, Harpswell (2001, seasonal)
- St. Mary's Church, Bath (1849)
- St. Patrick's Church, Newcastle (1798)
Parish Mission Statement
All Saints Parish describes itself as a Roman Catholic faith community on the coast of Maine, called to become the saints of today as disciples, evangelists, and stewards of Jesus Christ — empowered by the Holy Spirit, formed by His Word, and nourished by the Eucharist.
History of St. John the Baptist Church
Catholics in Brunswick were served as a mission from the 1840s onward, with monthly Mass in homes until 1866, then regular Mass in a purchased Methodist church on Federal and Franklin Streets. The mission was formally established as a parish on January 1, 1877 and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. After a new church was built on Pleasant Street (cornerstone 1882, completed 1886), the Marist Fathers took charge in 1911 and led the parish for 98 years. St. John the Baptist joined All Saints Parish in 2009 and is looking forward to its 150th Anniversary in 2027.
- 1840s: Catholic mission of Brunswick served by visiting priests from Augusta, Newfield, and Bath.
- 1866: Mission buys a former Methodist church at Federal and Franklin Streets.
- January 1, 1877: Parish formally established for French-Canadian families; old church rededicated to St. John the Baptist.
- 1882: Cornerstone of the present larger church laid at Pleasant and Union Streets.
- 1883: Church basement first used for worship; becomes St. John's School.
- 1886: Current church completed at a cost of $25,000.
- 1894: Dames de Sion begin teaching at the school.
- 1904: Sisters of Mercy take over the school.
- 1911: Bishop David Bacon places the parish under the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary).
- 1915–1998: Ursuline Nuns run St. John's School.
- 1997–2006: Rev. Walter Gaudreau, S.M. launches 1999 capital campaign for church repairs.
- 2002: 125th Anniversary celebrated; parish museum and Sacred Heart Chapel of Adoration established.
- 2006–2009: Rev. Stephen Concannon serves as Administrator.
- July 1, 2009: St. John the Baptist becomes part of All Saints Parish.
- 2027: Parish to celebrate its 150th Anniversary.
St. John's Catholic School
Catholic education has been part of St. John the Baptist since the basement of the new church first opened as a school in 1883. Today St. John's Catholic School (PreK–8) is located at 37 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, on the same block as the church, and is served by Principal John Patrick Yorkey. The school has been a vital part of the parish's identity across lay teachers, the Dames de Sion, the Sisters of Mercy, and — for 83 years — the French-speaking Ursuline Nuns.
- St. John's Catholic School (PreK–8), 37 Pleasant Street, Brunswick, ME 04011
- Phone: 207-725-5507
- Principal: John Patrick Yorkey
- School alumni remain closely tied to the parish community.
Faith Formation, Youth & Family Life
All Saints Parish runs a full Lifelong Faith Formation program with coordinators assigned to each worship site. Amy Ford coordinates faith formation for St. Mary, St. John, and St. Charles, while dedicated staff lead Junior High, High School, and general Youth Ministry. The parish also supports the Catholic Youth Leadership Team (CYLT) and RCIA for adults.
- Faith Formation (St. Mary, St. John, St. Charles) — Amy Ford
- Faith Formation (St. Patrick) — Sarah Buchwalder
- Faith Formation at Our Lady Queen of Peace — Rebecca Alley
- Junior High Youth Ministry — Debbie Poulton
- High School Youth Ministry — Abigail Valliere
- Youth Ministry — Jared Martin
- Catholic Youth Leadership Team (CYLT)
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
- Marriage Preparation, Enrichment, and Natural Family Planning resources
Music & Liturgy
Leon Griesbach serves as Music & Choir Director at St. John the Baptist Church. Music is an integral part of the parish's worship at its 8 AM and 11 AM Sunday Masses and its Tuesday morning Mass.
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
St. John the Baptist is served by the All Saints Parish clergy team, led by Pastor Rev. Philip A. Tracy and supported by two Marist Parochial Vicars, a third Parochial Vicar (Rev. Amandus Sway, AJ), three Deacons, and a retired priest in residence. A full lay pastoral team coordinates faith formation, youth ministry, business, music, and parish administration.
- Pastor — Rev. Philip A. Tracy (725-2624)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Patrick Machayi, SMA (563-3240)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Peter Shaba, SMA (725-2624 / 443-3423)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Amandus Sway, AJ
- In Residence at Our Lady Queen of Peace — Rev. Fredrick H. Morse (671-0453)
- Deacon John M. Murphy
- Deacon Thomas J. Blatz
- Deacon Robert Curtis
- Pastoral Associate — Angela Boivin
- Business Coordinator — Charleen Foley
- Principal — John Patrick Yorkey
- Parish Secretaries — Ann Carlton, Sheila Finamore, Janet Bolduc
- Music & Choir Director (St. John the Baptist) — Leon Griesbach
- Technology Support — Julia Wilkins
Sacraments & Parish Records
Sacramental records for All Saints Parish — including those of St. John the Baptist — are kept at the Pastoral Center in Brunswick. The parish website hosts a Funeral Planning Guide and Cemetery Rules, and provides an Online Donation Authorization Form along with a step-by-step guide to online giving.
- Pastoral Center: 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick, ME 04011
- Additional office: 144 Lincoln Street, Bath, ME 04530
- Cemetery Rules & Funeral Planning Guide published online
- Online giving available through the parish website
Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors can keep up with All Saints Parish through Sunday Mass live-streams on Facebook and YouTube, regular email updates, and Sunday Mass rebroadcasts on local cable channels. Mass or event cancellations are communicated via email to registered parishioners, on Channel 13 and Channel 6 news, on Facebook, and on the homepage of allsaintsmaine.com.
- Live-stream Sunday Mass on Facebook and YouTube
- Register for the All Saints Parish email list to receive weekly updates
- TV rebroadcasts on Bath TV, Brunswick TV, Harpswell TV, and Lincoln County TV
- Follow All Saints Parish on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram
- Links to the Vatican, USCCB, Diocese of Portland, Catholic Charities Maine, Knights of Columbus (Brunswick and Bath councils), and Protecting God's Children
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Diocesan priests (first three pastors)1877–1911
Founded and led the parish through the construction of the present church (1882–1886).
- Marist Fathers (Society of Mary)1911–2009
Fifteen successive Marist pastors served St. John the Baptist for 98 years, ending when the parish joined All Saints Parish.
- Rev. Walter Gaudreau, S.M.1997–2006
Launched the 1999 capital campaign for church repairs; oversaw the parish's 125th Anniversary in 2002 and the founding of the Sacred Heart Chapel of Adoration and parish museum.
- Rev. Stephen Concannon2006–2009
Administrator of the parish in its final independent years before it joined All Saints Parish on July 1, 2009.
- Rev. Philip A. Tracy2009–present
First pastor of the clustered All Saints Parish, which includes St. John the Baptist Church.