About St. Maximilian Kolbe (St. John Paul II Parish) · Scarborough, Maine
St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, located at 150 Black Point Road in Scarborough, Maine, is one of three worship sites of St. John Paul II Parish, a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Portland serving the towns of Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, and South Portland. Erected by Bishop Edward C. O'Leary on July 1, 1988, St. Maximilian Kolbe was the first Roman Catholic parish in the town of Scarborough and grew rapidly, reaching about 1,600 registered families in its first dozen years. Since July 1, 2020 it has been united with St. Bartholomew Church (Cape Elizabeth) and Holy Cross Church (South Portland) under the patronage of St. John Paul II, sharing clergy, faith formation, and a common pastoral center that still operates from the Black Point Road campus.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe
- Rector
- V. Rev. John D. Dickinson, JV
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (Maine)
Why belong here
St. Maximilian Kolbe offers a full sacramental life for a growing southern Maine community, with daily and weekend Mass in English, weekly confession and a Thursday day of Eucharistic Adoration running from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Worship is supported by parish faith formation for all ages, a youth ministry and Catholic Youth Leadership Team, RCIA for adults, a Saturday morning Men's Group, a weekly Marian Cenacle with adoration, and a 'Ministry of Presence' that prays Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours each Wednesday. The parish also supports Holy Cross School (Pre-K through 8) in South Portland and partners with the Knights of Columbus Council #8144 on community charitable efforts.
Mass times at St. Maximilian Kolbe (St. John Paul II Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church)
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church)
- Also by appointment; Monday evening confessions are not held when the Parish Office is closed for holidays.
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church)
Parish History
Erected by Bishop Edward C. O'Leary on June 15, 1988, with an effective date of July 1, 1988, St. Maximilian Kolbe became the first Catholic parish in the town of Scarborough. The decree made the parish coterminous with the town and entrusted to it the former Mission Church of St. Jude at Pine Point. The new church was dedicated on May 27, 1990 after an $1.8 million fundraising campaign.
- Decree of erection: June 15, 1988 (effective July 1, 1988)
- Church dedicated: May 27, 1990
- Fundraising goal: $1.8 million; $1.2 million pledged by dedication
- Inherited St. Jude Mission, Pine Point, from St. Margaret Parish, Old Orchard Beach
Worship at St. Maximilian Kolbe
The Scarborough church offers Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM (livestreamed), Sunday Masses at 8:00 and 10:30 AM, and weekday Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings at 8:00 AM. Confessions are heard Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons, with Thursday devoted to a long block of Eucharistic Adoration.
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM (English, livestreamed)
- Sunday 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 AM daily Mass
- Monday 5:00–6:00 PM Confession
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM Confession
- Thursday 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM Adoration
Sacred Art & Architecture
Designed by architect David Lloyd of Archtellic (Portland, Bangor, Boston) — their first major church project — St. Maximilian Kolbe's 1990 building was shaped through extensive community input. The interior features a stepped ceiling (12–48 feet) cresting at 85 feet, 550 padded seats, and a 74-foot center aisle. Statuary throughout the church is original work by sculptor Arcangelo Cascieri.
- Stepped ceiling 12 ft → 48 ft, cresting at 85 ft
- 550-seat worship space, padded pews and kneelers, 74-foot aisle
- Cascieri statues: St. Joseph, Blessed Mother, crucifix, Stations of the Cross
- 2002 expansion: free-standing rectory, religious education wing, expanded hall, kitchen, parking, courtyard
Faith Formation
The cluster Faith Formation team, led by Michelle Valcourt (Director) with assistant Joanna Martel and administrative assistant Anne Marsh, coordinates parish faith formation for children, adolescents, and adults. Programs include Adolescent Catechesis, Sacrament Formation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), RCIA, and adult formation offerings such as the Opening the Word faith-sharing group and Lenten Scripture study.
- Cluster Faith Formation Director: Michelle Valcourt
- Assistant Faith Formation Director: Joanna Martel
- Adolescent Catechesis and Sacrament Formation
- Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
- Opening the Word Co-Ed Faith Sharing Group
Youth & Family
Youth Minister Sophie Ritchie coordinates the parish's youth programs and the Catholic Youth Leadership Team (CYLT). The parish also provides resources for middle- and high-school-aged young people, online formation tools, and a Children & Family Ministry role (currently vacant).
- Youth Minister: Sophie Ritchie
- Catholic Youth Leadership Team (CYLT)
- Middle School & High School youth resources
- Children & Family Ministry
Prayer Groups & Devotions
St. Maximilian Kolbe is home to several ongoing prayer gatherings. A weekly Marian Cenacle meets Monday afternoons with Eucharistic Adoration, the Men's Group meets Saturday mornings for teaching and fellowship, and the Ministry of Presence gathers Wednesdays to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
- Marian Cenacle – Mondays 2:00–3:15 PM (with Adoration)
- Men's Group – Saturdays 7:30–8:30 AM (coffee at 7:00 AM)
- Ministry of Presence – Wednesdays 8:30 AM (Morning Prayer, Liturgy of the Hours)
Outreach & Community
The parish partners with the Knights of Columbus Council #8144 on community fundraisers, including the annual Lenten Baked Haddock Dinners. Funeral Ministry is coordinated by Rita Thompson. Cluster-wide young adult ministry, Rachel's Vineyard retreat after-care, and other diocesan programs round out the parish's outreach.
- Knights of Columbus Council #8144 (Lenten Haddock Dinners and more)
- Funeral Coordinator: Rita Thompson
- Cluster Young Adult Ministry
- Diocesan Rachel's Vineyard Retreat After-Care
Parish School: Holy Cross
St. John Paul II Parish supports Holy Cross School, a Pre-K through Grade 8 Catholic school located at 436 Broadway in South Portland. The school is led by Principal William Ridge and is shared across the three worship communities.
- Holy Cross School (Pre-K through 8th grade)
- 436 Broadway, South Portland, ME 04106
- Phone: (207) 799-6661
- Principal: William Ridge
- Website: www.holycrossmaine.org
Visit & Contact
The pastoral center for St. John Paul II Parish, which serves as the parish office for St. Maximilian Kolbe, is located at 150 Black Point Road in Scarborough. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 8:30 AM–12:00 PM; the office is closed for lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM daily.
- Address: 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074-9394
- Phone: (207) 883-0334
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://jp2me.org
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Stephen (Steve) Concannon1988–1997
Founding pastor who organized fundraising for the $1.8 million church and oversaw its construction and 1990 dedication.
- Fr. Thomas Murphy1997–1998
Served one year as pastor.
- Fr. James Morrison1998–~2006
Led the 2002 church expansion including new rectory, religious education wing, parish hall and kitchen expansion, parking lot, and courtyard.
- Msgr. Paul Stefanko~2006–2020
Led the parish through the 2006 cluster consolidation and the July 2020 merger forming St. John Paul II Parish.
- V. Rev. John D. Dickinson, JV
Current pastor of St. John Paul II Parish per the Diocese of Portland's 2025 Cluster 22 listing.