About St Mary (St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish) · Oxford, Maine
St. Mary Church in Oxford, Maine, is a seasonal mission church of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish (Cluster 30, Western Maine Lakes and Foothills), part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine. The small, wood-built church first opened on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1923, after John and Mary Quinn donated land next to their Oxford home and the local Catholic community raised the building funds through bazaars, concerts, and box suppers. After a century of continuous use, St. Mary is now open only seasonally (Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October), with one Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:45 PM, and was extensively renovated in 2023 in time for its 100th anniversary celebration led by Bishop Robert Deeley.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Aquinas Giragori Chinnappan, HGN
- Diocese
- Diocese of Portland in Maine
Why belong here
St. Mary is a small, lovingly maintained summer chapel that has welcomed Catholics in Oxford for a hundred years. Parishioners return faithfully each Memorial Day Weekend for the seasonal Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:45 PM, and the 2023 centennial renovation — new heat pumps, roof, steeple cross, freshly painted tin ceiling and walls, and newly exposed maple floors — shows a community committed to keeping this historic mission alive. Worshipping here connects you to a tight-knit parish family that, together with sister churches Our Lady of Ransom in Mechanic Falls and St. Catherine of Sienna in Norway, makes up St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in the Western Maine Lakes and Foothills region.
Mass times at St Mary (St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Mary Mission
St. Mary Church at 276 King Street in Oxford, Maine, is a seasonal mission church of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in the Diocese of Portland in Maine. It is one of three worship sites in the parish, alongside St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norway (the parish's pastoral center) and Our Lady of Ransom Church in Mechanic Falls. St. Mary itself is open only from Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October, with a single Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:45 PM in English.
- Type: Mission church (seasonal)
- Parish: St. Teresa of Calcutta (Cluster 30, Western Maine Lakes and Foothills)
- Diocese: Diocese of Portland in Maine
- Address: 276 King Street, Oxford, ME 04270
- Season: Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October
History of St. Mary
St. Mary was born of the devotion of Oxford's small Catholic community in the early 1920s. After a priest from Yarmouth had traveled 30 miles monthly to celebrate Mass in the home of John and Mary Quinn — and later in the local fire house — the Quinns donated a parcel of land next to their home in 1922. Fundraisers (bazaars, concerts, box suppers) raised the building money, and within about a year of the foundation being dug (with a team of horses), the church opened. The first Mass was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1923.
- 1922: Quinns donate land for a new church next to their Oxford home
- Building funded by bazaars, concerts, and box suppers
- Foundation dug with a team of horses
- April 1, 1923 (Easter Sunday): First Mass celebrated
- Originally served by a Yarmouth priest who traveled monthly
St. Mary's Place in the Parish
Over the decades St. Mary has been cared for by several parishes in succession. It was a mission of Christ the King Parish in Hebron until 1956, then a mission of Our Lady of Ransom Church in Mechanic Falls, and today is part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Norway.
- Mission of Christ the King Parish, Hebron (until 1956)
- Mission of Our Lady of Ransom, Mechanic Falls
- Currently part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Norway
Centennial Renovation (2023)
Just in time for its 100th anniversary, St. Mary underwent extensive summer 2023 renovations funded by St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish's "Alive in Hope" capital campaign and additional parishioner donations. Improvements included new electrical wiring, new heat pumps, a new roof, a new steeple cross, repainting of the tin ceiling and walls, removal of old carpeting to expose the original maple hardwood floors, and replacement of the pews with shorter ones salvaged from the former St. James Church in Thomaston — creating side aisles that the church had never before had.
- New electrical wiring
- New heat pumps
- New roof
- New steeple cross
- Repainted tin ceiling and walls
- Old carpet removed; original maple hardwood floors exposed
- New pews from former St. James Church, Thomaston (creating new side aisles)
- Funded by the "Alive in Hope" capital campaign
100th Anniversary Celebration (July 29, 2023)
Bishop Robert Deeley celebrated the centennial Mass at St. Mary at 5:45 PM on Saturday, July 29, 2023, joined by members of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish. During the Mass the bishop blessed a chalice and paten gifted to the parish by summer residents Stephen and Catherine Bravo in memory of Catherine's parents. The church was decorated with 100 red roses donated by Bob and Janis Rose. A reception with historical photos and memorabilia was held at the Oxford Community Center immediately after Mass, and a 1923 Ford Model T was used to carry the bishop from the church to the reception.
- Saturday, July 29, 2023, 5:45 PM — Anniversary Mass with Bishop Robert Deeley
- Centennial chalice and paten gifted by Stephen and Catherine Bravo
- 100 red roses donated by Bob and Janis Rose
- Reception at the Oxford Community Center
- 1923 Ford Model T used to transport the bishop
Pastoral Leadership & Cluster
St. Mary is pastored as part of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish within Cluster 30 of the Diocese of Portland. The cluster's pastoral center is at 32 Paris Street, Norway, ME 04268.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas Aquinas Giragori Chinnappan, HGN
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. A.N. Prabu Magimaidass, HGN
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Antonidass Amirthanathan, HGN
- Cluster Business Coordinator: Kristen Short
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Joanne Fortier
- Cluster Secretary: Gloria Vaznis
- Administrative Assistant: Sharon Rogers
- Campus Minister: Kylie O'Brien
- Parish Office Phone: (207) 743-2606
- Parish Email: [email protected]
- Cluster Website: www.cluster30.org
Sister Churches of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish
St. Mary shares parish life with two sister worship sites, all part of the Western Maine Lakes and Foothills Cluster (Cluster 30) of the Diocese of Portland.
- St. Catherine of Sienna Church, Norway (parish seat — 32 Paris Street, Norway, ME 04268; founded 1914)
- Our Lady of Ransom Church, Mechanic Falls (founded 1930; 117 Elm Street, Mechanic Falls, ME)
Visiting St. Mary
St. Mary is a small, intimate seasonal chapel best suited to the summer and early-fall months. Visitors are encouraged to confirm schedules with the parish office, since Mass and access are limited to the open season.
- Open Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October
- Address: 276 King Street, Oxford, ME 04270
- Parish phone: (207) 743-2606
- Website: www.cluster30.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ed Cliffordas of 2023 centennial
Pastor of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish at the time of St. Mary's 100th anniversary celebration in July 2023.
- Rev. Thomas Aquinas Giragori Chinnappan, HGNcurrent (listed by Diocese of Portland and Cluster 30 directory)
Current pastor of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish (which includes St. Mary Mission, Oxford).