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In November 1920, the Rev. Thomas J. Nelligan, pastor of St. John’s Parish in Bangor, bought the “Russell Hospital” (later known as the Penobscot Valley Hospital) on Holyoke Street. The hospital was bought to be used as a rectory for the new parish, which was a mission of St. John’s in Bangor. Catholics of North Brewer raised funds for the new parish largely by giving house parties. In 1922, the Brewer women of St. John’s parish organized a Catholic Ladies Guild to fundraise for a future church in Brewer.
In April 1924, Father Nelligan purchased the Glover Block in Penobscot Square for use of a parish hall. The last meeting as a mission of St. John’s Parish took place on January 10, 1926. Rev. Thomas Moriarty was appointed the first pastor of St. Joseph’s.
On January 17, 1926, two Masses were celebrated by Father Moriarty in the parish hall in Penobscot Square. In May 1926, the Harlow House was bought and made into a rectory. Construction of the new church began. The church was completed October 1926 at the corner of Holyoke and North Main Streets. It was a Quonset hut, a wooden structure that was transported on flatcars from Old Town where it was built. It was set on a foundation that had been constructed for it. Bishop John G. Murray dedicated the new parish on October 31, 1926.
Rev. Richard Harvey was appointed Pastor on October 1, 1970. It was during his pastorate, that the present church and parish complex was constructed. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new St. Joseph’s Church took place on April 7, 1974. There were many clergy and parishioners in attendance. The four and one half acres of land were given to the parish by Thomas T. Walsh of Brewer in 1964, in memory of his father, Frank Patrick Walsh of Bangor who died in 1963. Alonzo J. Harriman Associates, Inc. of Auburn was the architect and Down-East Associates of Bangor, the general contractor.
It took almost 50 years but the 600 families of St. Joseph’s Church were richly rewarded for their patience, hard work and generosity when the first Mass was celebrated in the new St. Joseph’s Church, on June 21, 1975, by Father Harvey. On December 8, 1990, the new religious education wing was dedicated.
Some of the more remarkable features of the new church are artifacts which were transferred from the church built in 1926 on Holyoke Street, including the Tabernacle, the Holy Water Font, the Oak Vestment Case and the matching Chalice and Ciborium. The altar stone set into the altar contains a relic of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the church.
“A new chime for an older time” describes the bell and tower. Rev. Richard Harvey purchased the 100-year-old bell from the Archdiocese of New York City in 1981. Parishioner Mike Eremita designed and constructed the bell tower.
The blend of the past and present is now calling the parishioners and friends to worship at St. Joseph’s in Brewer. -