About St. Joseph (Our Lady of Hope Parish) · Portland, Maine
St. Joseph Oratory is a Roman Catholic oratory located at 673 Stevens Avenue in Portland, Maine's historic Deering neighborhood, within the Diocese of Portland in Maine. Originally constructed between 1929 and 1931 as St. Joseph Church in a 14th-century English Gothic style, it was transferred to the Diocese of Portland on July 1, 2025, and reopened as an oratory in the fall of 2025 — a diocesan initiative designed to support ministries not tied to a specific parish. The oratory primarily serves Portland's growing Latin Mass community, drawing nearly 300 worshippers each Sunday, and provides a permanent home for ministries that previously had to rely on borrowed or rented space. Very Rev. Kyle L. Doustou, the diocese's Vicar General, serves as its rector and celebrates the Sunday Latin Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Joseph (Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Kyle L. Doustou (Rector; also Vicar General of the Diocese of Portland)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Portland in Maine
Why belong here
St. Joseph Oratory offers something distinctive in Maine: a permanent home for the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Roman Missal) drawing nearly 300 faithful each Sunday, celebrated by the diocese's own Vicar General, Fr. Kyle Doustou. The oratory also serves as a hub for diocesan ministries that previously had no fixed location, including the University of New England's Catholic campus ministry (which holds weekly Eucharistic adoration and confessions there) and St. Brigid School's weekly student Masses and music classes. With a freshly restored Gothic sanctuary and a full sacramental life open to all, the oratory is both a center for traditional Catholic worship and a launching point for new evangelization in Portland.
Mass times at St. Joseph (Our Lady of Hope Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:00 – 10:20 AM (before the 10:30 AM Latin Mass)
Adoration times
- Weekly Eucharistic adoration hosted by the University of New England Campus Ministry (schedule coordinated through UNE Campus Ministry)
About St. Joseph Oratory
St. Joseph Oratory is the new identity of the former St. Joseph Church at 673 Stevens Avenue in Portland, Maine. Originally constructed in 1929–1931 in a 14th-century English Gothic style, the building was transferred to the Diocese of Portland on July 1, 2025, and reopened as an oratory in the fall of 2025. It now serves as a diocesan initiative designed to support ministries not tied to a specific parish, offering a full sacramental life, community events, and opportunities for spiritual growth.
History
St. Joseph Church was built during a major construction wave under Bishop John Gregory Murray, the fifth Bishop of Portland (1925–1931). It served the Deering neighborhood for nearly a century before being merged into Our Lady of Hope Parish in 2011. In April 2025, parish leaders and Bishop James Ruggieri announced that the church would be transferred to the diocese effective July 1, 2025, and reopened as an oratory. The arrangement allows Our Lady of Hope to continue hosting weddings and funerals there, St. Brigid School to keep using the church for Mass and music classes, and the parish's Nativity set to remain under the Knights' care.
- Constructed 1929–1931 in 14th-century English Gothic style
- Merged into Our Lady of Hope Parish in 2011
- Transfer to Diocese of Portland announced April 2025, effective July 1, 2025
- Reopened as St. Joseph Oratory in fall 2025
- First Christmas Mass: Solemn High Latin Mass at Midnight, December 2025
Architecture & 2025 Restoration
The church was built between 1929 and 1931 in a 14th-century English Gothic style. Ahead of the oratory's 2025 reopening, the Diocese of Portland undertook a substantial restoration: masonry repairs, interior painting, lighting upgrades, refinished wood floors, and the installation of a new natural-gas heating system to keep the building safe, beautiful, and energy-efficient for generations to come.
- Style: 14th-century English Gothic
- Masonry repairs
- Interior painting
- Lighting upgrades
- Refinished wood floors
- New natural-gas heating system
Ministries Hosted at the Oratory
The oratory is designed as a hub for ministries that previously had no permanent home. Portland's growing Latin Mass community — nearly 300 faithful each Sunday — is its primary congregation. The University of New England's Catholic Campus Ministry holds weekly Eucharistic adoration and confessions in the church, and St. Brigid School uses the sanctuary for weekly student Masses and music classes. The parish's Nativity set remains in place and is cared for by the Knights of Columbus, continuing a long-standing tradition.
- Traditional Latin Mass community (~300 weekly attendees)
- University of New England Catholic Campus Ministry
- St. Brigid School weekly Mass & music classes
- Developing diocesan chaplaincies
- Our Lady of Hope weddings & funerals (subject to availability)
- Parish Nativity set (Knights of Columbus)
Clergy & Leadership
Very Rev. Kyle L. Doustou, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Portland, serves as rector of St. Joseph Oratory and is the principal celebrant of the Sunday Latin Mass. He continues to carry out his other diocesan responsibilities in addition to his role at the oratory. The oratory was established in close collaboration with Bishop James Ruggieri of Portland and the leadership of Our Lady of Hope Parish (pastor: Rev. Paul Sullivan, SJ).
- Very Rev. Kyle L. Doustou — Rector (also Vicar General, Diocese of Portland)
- Bishop James Ruggieri — Bishop of Portland (oversight)
- Rev. Paul Sullivan, SJ — Pastor, Our Lady of Hope Parish (partner parish)
The Latin Mass Community
Portland's Latin Mass community draws nearly 300 worshippers each Sunday to the 10:30 AM Mass. According to Fr. Doustou, 'For decades, ministries such as the Latin Mass have operated without a permanent home, often relying on borrowed or rented space. The Oratory now provides a dedicated place where faith and fellowship can take root and grow.'
- ~300 worshippers each Sunday
- Sunday Latin Mass at 10:30 AM (1962 Roman Missal)
- Coffee and refreshments after Mass in the hall next door or narthex, run by community volunteers
St. Brigid School at the Oratory
St. Brigid School continues to use the church for its weekly student Masses and music classes — one of the key reasons the building was preserved as an oratory when its parish status ended.
- Weekly student Mass
- Music classes
University of New England Campus Ministry
UNE's Catholic Campus Ministry hosts weekly Eucharistic adoration and confessions at the oratory, giving the university community a dedicated sacred space in Portland.
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration
- Weekly confessions
- Other campus ministry activities
Visiting & Contact
St. Joseph Oratory is located at 673 Stevens Avenue in Portland, Maine's historic Deering neighborhood (zip 04103). The oratory shares the Stevens Avenue corridor with St. Joseph's Convent at 605 Stevens Avenue (built 1909, formerly the mother-house of the Diocesan Sisters of Mercy). For more information, visit the official oratory website.
- Address: 673 Stevens Avenue, Portland, ME 04103
- Phone: 207-773-6471
- Website: https://stjosephoratoryme.org
- Facebook: /St-Joseph-Oratory-61578097662252