Katahdin area Catholic churches take part in ‘Gather Us In’ mission

16 years ago

Three local Catholic worship sites will be among the first Catholic Churches throughout Maine to hold “Gather Us In” missions. “Gather Us In” missions are to be held throughout Maine in each of the 29 clusters between September and November. The first will take place in Houlton, Sept. 7, at St. Mary’s Parish.‘ The three local churches, St. Benedict’s of Benedicta, St. Peter’s of East Millinocket, and St. Martin of Tours of Millinocket, all members of the diocese’s Cluster 5, will participate in the local mission beginning Sept. 13 through Sept. 17. The mission will rotate within Cluster 5’s three worship sites during that period.
Parishioners who are members of the Cluster 6 worship sites have been invited by Cluster 5 to participate in this mission. Cluster 6 includes the following worship sites: Lincoln, Howland, Kingman, Winn and Danforth. In addition, those who may be attending the Sept. 13-14 Trail’s End Festival in Millinocket, are welcome to attend also.
The statewide missions were planned by the Diocesan Office of Parish Planning for Evangelization and are intended to complement the goals and objectives of Disciples in Mission as the Maine Catholic Churches move toward their evangelizing mission.
The mission has been described as “…an occasion of healing and reconciliation for our parish and people.”
Two Redemptorist priests, Rev. John Kuehner, a late vocation, and Rev. Gan Nguyen, who came to America as a Vietnam boat person, will conducted the four-day mission. The order of Redemptorist Fathers is known for “…possessing a rich legacy of preaching the healing redemption of Jesus Christ”.
Fr. Kuehner was ordained a priest in the Redemptorist congregation four years ago at the age of 41. Since then he has been traveling throughout the United States preaching Parish Missions as part of the Redemptorist Parish Mission Team. Before entering religious life he co-directed a hermitage retreat center. In the secular life he worked as as architectural renderer, independent designer and head creative director of an entire division of the largest advertising agency in the world at the time.
Fr. Nguyen was born in Vietnam and came to the U.S. in 1980. He became a Redemptorist in 1986 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1992. During the 15 years of his ministry, with specialties in literature, music and liturgy, he gave many retreats, served as parish priest, was a music director for a multi-cultural parish, led many liturgical workshops, and was a formation director for the philosophy students in the Denver Province. He joined the mission team this year and indicated he was looking forward to beginning his mission preaching.
Both priests are from St. Michael’s Rectory in the Old Town section of Chicago, Ill.
The Cluster 5 parish mission conducted by Reverends Kuehner and Nguyer is a series of presentation of the word of God with each session different from another.
Symbols for each of the evening services include: the Bible, the Crucifix, the Paschal Candle, the Bread and the Altar.
Topics include: God’s plan of salvation; Who is Jesus for us?; Sin reconciliation and healing; Jesus as nourishment for the journey of faith; and Our mission to share in the work of Jesus and the church. (For the full mission schedule see information printed elsewhere in this issue.)
Rev. Joel Cyr, pastor for Cluster 5’s three worship sites, is enthusiastic regarding the mission. “My hope is it will be a Catholic Katahdin Pentecostal experience,” he declared.
Each services will last approximately one hour and 15 minutes. The mission is open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Invitations to attend the mission will be extended to members of other area churches.
Struck by the important of making the services accessible to parishioners at all three worship sites, the churches are working on making transportation services available to those who might not otherwise be able to attend. Persons needing rides should call the appropriate parish office: St. Benedict, 365-4294; Christ the Divine Mercy – East Millinocket, 746-3333; and Millinocket, 723-5902.
To make it easier for entire families to attend the mission services, there will be children’s retreat activities every session. Parents are asked to contact the appropriate worship site parish office to let that person know how many children they will be bringing and their ages. Quiet places for the children to participate in retreat activities are being set up making it important to know how many children there will be.
“It is important at this time for the three worship sites to grow together as a cluster,” observed Judy Page, East Millinocket Mission Chairperson, who shares overall mission planning and mission duties with the Benedicta Chair Cathy Cyr, and David and Mary Labun, the Millinocket chairpersons. These chairmen view the mission as an excellent opportunity to “renew us…spark us, get us going…bring people back (to the church).”
The three chairpersons seek worship site growth as one of the goals of the mission. Out migration, low birth rates and deaths have resulted in reduced parishioner numbers at each site. Parishioner count at each of the worship sites is as follows: St. Benedicta – 118; East Millinocket – 381; and Millinocket – 700. These figures represent a sharp decline in membership over recent years. For example, it is estimated that just in the last decade 100 Catholic families moved out of the area.
Planning for the mission began back in June. Currently more than 30 people are involved in the planning and execution of the mission. They include the following committees: refreshments, youth groups (high school and middle school) children’s activities, banners, phone calls, music, transportation, liturgy, promotion and mailings.
Anywhere from 12 to 14 different people, plus the various choirs from all three churches, will join together to play active roles in the mission services whether it be as: greeters, music people, people for bible veneration, censer and bible bearers, the presider (the pastor), bearer of Bread and Wine, acolytes, lector and deacon.
Saturday evening’s service will include adoration after Mass as well as a slow Eucharistic Procession (similar to Holy Thursday) involving the youth. “Jesus goes right by you – it’s an amazing experience,” notes Julie Fiske, who works with the youth of the Christ The Divine Mercy Parish worship sites.
Parishioners will be able to take advantage of the sacrament of confession during the mission.
An opportunity for socializing over refreshments will occur after most of the  mission services. This event will give the Redemptorist Fathers an opportunity to mingle and talk with people.
A big finale to the mission will be held Thursday night. Members of the local Knights of Columbus Council, in full dress, will participate in Thursday’s service.
It is hoped that all 196,000 registered Catholic in the diocese will take part in the missions held throughout Maine.