A present for parishioners

WESTBROOK After a nearly seven-year process to consolidate Westbrooks Catholic churches into a single parish St. Anthony of Padua roughly $4 million in renovations to St. Hyacinth Church on Brown Street have been completed, allowing for regular Masses to resume just in time for Christmas.

Each phase of the renovation, beginning on whats known as the mezzanine level, and culminating in a complete overhaul of the main worship level, was funded by the sale of Westbrooks St. Edmund and St. Marys churches, as well as buildings owned by St. Hyacinth. The move was part of a strategic plan formulated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland to consolidate in the face of a dwindling parish base and rising costs.

The reconfigured space allows for an attendance of 612, plus 12 handicapped spaces. During times of overflow attendance, such as Christmas and Easter, there are also 50 seats in the newly renovated balcony.

In 2006, Paul Concannon was named chairman of the projects building commission, which directed the planning and coordination for each phase of the construction, which began in the fall of 2008.

We had factions who wanted to keep the church the same, and factions who wanted to change it, he said last week. It was my job to bring everyone together.

Concannon estimates that about 1,000 families belong to the new parish.

He said that although there might have been initial hard feelings between members and staff of the parishes after the consolidation began, the new combined parish has been successful.

There was a long process to decide where we would build the new church, he said. At one time, it looked like it was going to be at St. Marys.

However, Concannon said that in the end, the decision to use St. Hyacinth was based on its large size, able to accommodate the most people, and granite structure, which would have been more difficult to sell.

St. Edmunds, off Route 302, was sold in 2006, while St. Marys, on Main Street, was sold in 2009, along with its adjoining school building. The convent, school building, and Walker Field, previously owned by St. Hyacinth, were also sold in 2012. This year, the sale of the rectory at 295 Brown St. was finalized.

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A present for parishioners