St. Anne to celebrate 50th

Generations of parishioners from Gorham will gather Oct. 2, to celebrate the 50th year since St. Anne Church was built.

Bishop Robert Deeley will celebrate the anniversary Mass at 11 a.m. Fr. Lou Phillips, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, of which St. Anne Church is a part, will concelebrate.

A new St. Anne statue from France will be blessed and placed outside the church after the Mass. The ceremony will be followed by a reception that will include a  barbecue and family activities.

“We can’t wait to gather with our fellow parishioners to commemorate this significant milestone in our church’s history,” said Nancy Phillips Scott, who is a member of the anniversary committee.

The first parishioners worshipped in the basement of the church, which was completed in 1963 and seated 450 people. The church initially drew parishioners from Gorham, Buxton, Standish, Windham, East Baldwin and East Sebago.

After seven years, church leaders realized the basement was not adequate for the growing number of Catholics in Gorham. The roof of the basement had also started to leak, prompting the parish council to quickly raise funds and develop plans for an upper structure on the property.

Design consultant Rambusch Associates of from New York worked with Allied Engineering in Gorham and 4D Construction Company in Yarmouth to erect the church, and on April 9, 1972, Bishop Peter Gerety celebrated a dedication Mass.

For more information, contact the parish at 839-4857.

Little Leaguers lauded

Gorham’s Little League All Star softball team led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Sept. 6 Town Council meeting, where they were honored as state champions.

Members of the team are Camryn Allen, May Blackburn, Paige Charland, Lauren Drenski, Jacklyn Dunbar, Cameron Gagnon, Mia Johnson, Jazmyn King, Sophia Marquis, Kendra Poulin, Mollie Towns, Viannah Vercoe and Riley Young.

The team had five wins in the District 6 tournament and then won three games in state championship play. The team advanced to the regionals in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, but lost two games for an 8-2 record in tournament play.

“They represented Gorham with excellence,” Town Council Chairperson Lee Pratt said.

50 years ago

The American Journal reported Sept. 20, 1972, that the first Ecumenical Vacation Bible School in Gorham was held at St. Anne Catholic Church during the week of Aug. 28. Each morning, a worship service was led by a pastor from one of the Gorham churches.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported on Sept. 14 that the U.S. public debt was $30,885,840,414,162.26.