About St. Matthew (St. Matthew Parish) · Limerick, Maine
St. Matthew Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the small mill town of Limerick, Maine, in York County. It belongs to the Diocese of Portland in Maine and is currently pastored by Rev. Wilfred P. Labbe (known to parishioners as Father Bill), who also serves St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Sanford/Springvale; the two parishes share a weekly bulletin. The parish traces its origin to Catholic families who moved to Limerick to work at the Limerick Yarn Mill in the early 1900s, and its present church building on Dora Lane was dedicated in 1991 after a fire destroyed the previous structure.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- St. Matthew the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Wilfred P. Labbe (Father Bill)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Portland in Maine (Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland)
Why belong here
St. Matthew is a warm, close-knit small-town parish where people know one another and many ministries invite participation—from daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration to a busy parish food pantry that served nearly 2,800 people last year. Worship is enriched by weekday devotions like the Miraculous Medal Novena and Benediction, and the parish shares a robust community life with St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Sanford through a combined bulletin, joint Vacation Bible School, and other events. Whether you come for the Saturday vigil, the Miraculous Medal novena on Wednesday morning, a holy hour of adoration, or to drop off food for the pantry, there are many ways to belong.
Mass times at St. Matthew (St. Matthew Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (in the old daily Mass chapel, between the sacristy and parish office); also by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM (Mass to follow)
- Tuesday 7:00 AM – 7:50 AM (Mass to follow)
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM (on First Fridays until 5:00 PM)
History & Heritage of St. Matthew Parish
Founded alongside the Limerick Yarn Mill community, St. Matthew's identity is rooted in the determination of working Catholic families who built their first church themselves. The parish's story includes a Christmas Day Mass in a mill shipping room in 1912, the dedication of its first church by Bishop Louis S. Walsh on October 21, 1921, and the rebuilding of the church twice in modern memory—after a 1980 fire and again after the December 7, 1989 fire that destroyed the building parishioners had moved into only two and a half years earlier. The parish marked its centennial in 2021 with 100 days of celebration leading up to a Mass with Bishop Robert P. Deeley.
- 1912 — First Masses in the Limerick Yarn Mill shipping room on Christmas Day
- 1921 (Oct 21) — First St. Matthew Church dedicated by Bishop Louis S. Walsh
- 1923 — Given Star of the Sea mission in York Beach (until 1961)
- 1939 — Church enlarged; convent later added for Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement
- 1940s–1967 — Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement serve the parish
- 1980 — Fire damages the sanctuary; Masses continue
- 1987 — New church dedicated
- 1989 (Dec 7) — Fire destroys the new church
- 1991 (June 2) — Present church dedicated by Bishop Joseph Gerry, OSB
- 2021 (Oct 16) — Centennial Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert P. Deeley
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Matthew offers one weekend Mass on Saturday evening and one on Sunday morning, plus two weekday Masses (Monday evening and Tuesday morning). All regularly scheduled Masses are in English and are livestreamed through the parish's livestream page. A Wednesday morning Miraculous Medal Novena and Benediction is celebrated with Deacon Paul, and there is no Mass that morning.
- Saturday Vigil — 6:00 PM (English, livestream)
- Sunday — 8:00 AM (English, livestream)
- Monday — 5:00 PM (English, livestream)
- Tuesday — 8:00 AM (English, livestream)
- Wednesday — 8:00 AM Miraculous Medal Novena & Benediction with Deacon Paul (no Mass)
Liturgy & Sacraments
The parish's Liturgy and Sacraments page reflects on the Catechism's teaching that the liturgy is "the source and heart" of Christian prayer. St. Matthew celebrates the seven sacraments and welcomes parishioners and visitors to participate actively in the Mass and devotional life of the parish.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Holy Communion (First Eucharist)
- Matrimony / Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Mondays and by appointment
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — through the diocesan Lifelong Faith Formation program
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Matthew is pastored by Rev. Wilfred P. Labbe, known to parishioners as Father Bill, who also serves as pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Sanford/Springvale; the two parishes share a weekly bulletin. The parish is also served by Deacon Paul (Lissandrello). Heather Silva is the parish's administrative assistant who helps coordinate parish life and large events such as the centennial.
- Rev. Wilfred P. Labbe — Pastor (Father Bill)
- Deacon Paul (Lissandrello) — assists at weekday devotions and liturgies
- Heather Silva — Administrative Assistant (centennial organizer)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Matthew is part of the Diocese of Portland's Lifelong Faith Formation program and is organized jointly with neighboring St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Sanford. Families with children participate in Vacation Bible School, which in 2026 is being held July 14–16 at St. Thomas School in Sanford under the theme 'Rainforest Falls.' Lifelong formation extends to adults as well, including Lenten retreats (e.g., evenings with retreat director Abbot Marc).
- Lifelong Faith Formation (diocesan program)
- Vacation Bible School — annual, hosted at St. Thomas School, Sanford
- Lenten Retreats (parish-wide)
- RCIA preparation through the diocesan program
Music Ministry
Music is part of the parish's long heritage—from the mill superintendent's parlor organ used in the very first Masses in 1912 to the choirs today. The Music Ministry supports Sunday liturgy and other celebrations of the parish.
- Music Ministry / choirs for Sunday and weekday liturgies
Outreach & Charity
Reaching beyond the walls of the church is central to St. Matthew's mission. The parish runs a robust food pantry that serves the surrounding rural communities, and a number of parish groups and ministries engage in charitable works.
- St. Matthew Food Pantry — open every Tuesday 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and on the 1st Monday 6:00 – 7:00 PM; serves Limerick, Newfield, Parsonfield and parishioners
- Armed Services Outreach Group (Veterans Day Mass and breakfast)
- Respect Life Committee
- Knights of Columbus Council
- Daughters of Isabella (Unity, Friendship, Charity)
Parish Groups & Organizations
St. Matthew's parish life is enriched by a number of long-standing Catholic organizations and parish committees. The Daughters of Isabella is a women's organization open to Catholic women age 16 and over, meeting on the second Thursday of each month (with the Rosary at 6:15 PM) at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Springvale. The Pilgrimage Committee organizes trips on alternating years to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec and the Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk.
- Daughters of Isabella — meets 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:15 PM (Rosary), Knights of Columbus Hall, Springvale
- Knights of Columbus Council
- Worship & Spirituality Commission
- Pilgrimage Committee — Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (Quebec) and Franciscan Monastery (Kennebunk)
- Carmelites (lay Carmelite group)
- Maine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (MDCCW)
Fundraising & Community Events
St. Matthew has long been known for its parish fundraisers, beginning with the Funshine Fair, which dates back to 1983. Other recurring events include bean suppers and craft fairs (highlighted during the centennial celebration), an Italy Pilgrimage that doubles as a fundraiser, and a Lenten Retreat held in cooperation with neighboring parishes.
- Funshine Fair (since 1983)
- Bean suppers and craft fairs
- Italy Pilgrimage (parish fundraiser)
- Lenten Retreats
- Movie nights and Rosary gatherings (centennial tradition continues)
St. Matthew Food Pantry
The St. Matthew Food Pantry is one of the most visible ministries of the parish. It serves residents of Limerick, Newfield, and Parsonfield, as well as parishioners of St. Matthew Church. The pantry operates weekly and in a recent year served 1,818 adults, 800 children, and 174 seniors—2,792 people total—which was 62 more than the prior year. Donations can be dropped off in the parish office during business hours or in the Narthex by the bulletin boards before and after Mass. Items especially needed include jellies, coffee, pancake mix, syrup, condiments, stuffing mix, pasta, flour, oil, tomato sauce, cranberry sauce, applesauce, canned pumpkin, sugar, spices, and baking items.
- Open every Tuesday, 10:00 AM – Noon
- Open 1st Monday of the month, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Serves Limerick, Newfield, Parsonfield and parishioners
- Drop-off: parish office, or Narthex by the bulletin boards before/after Mass
Partnership with St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Sanford)
St. Matthew shares its pastor and many activities with neighboring St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Sanford and Springvale, forming a tight-knit cluster of Catholic life in York County. The two parishes publish a single weekly bulletin and cooperate on faith formation, Vacation Bible School, and other events.
- Shared pastor: Rev. Wilfred P. Labbe
- Combined weekly bulletin
- Joint Vacation Bible School
- Joint Lifelong Faith Formation program
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
St. Matthew is located on Dora Lane in Limerick, Maine, with weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning and two weekday Masses (Monday evening and Tuesday morning). All Masses are in English and most are livestreamed. Confessions are heard Monday afternoons and by appointment; Eucharistic Adoration is offered multiple days a week.
- Address: 19 Dora Lane, Limerick, ME 04048
- Phone: (207) 793-2244
- Website: stmatthewlimerick.org
- Email: [email protected] (parish directory contact)