New Priest Coming to Ellsworth,Bucksport and Bar Harbor

It's that time of the year, when the Diocese of Portland begins to announce the reassignment of priests, and Bishop Robert Deeley has made an announcement which affects the Roman Catholic Churches in Ellsworth, Bucksport, Bar Harbor, Blue Hill and Winter Harbor.

Effective August 4, Fr. John R. Skehan has been appointed pastor of Stella Maris Parish (St. Vincent de Paul Church, Bucksport; Our Lady of Holy Hope, Castine; St. Mary Star of the Sea, Stonington) and St. Joseph Parish (St. Joseph Church, Ellsworth; Blue Hill Mission, Blue Hill; Our Lady of the Lake Mission, Green Lake; St. Margaret Chapel, Winter Harbor). Effective October 1, Fr. Skehan will also become pastor of the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord (Holy Redeemer Church, Bar Harbor; St. Peter Church, Manset; St. Ignatius Church, Northeast Harbor). Fr. John F. O’Hara, Jr., current administrator of the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, will retire, also effective October 1.

Effective August 4, Fr. Scott M. Mower has been appointed pastor of the Parish of the Ascension of the Lord (St. Christopher Church, York; St. Raphael Church, Kittery; Our Lady of the Angels, South Berwick; Star of the Sea Church, York Beach).

Born in Bangor, Fr. Skehan attended Hampden Academy and received his B.A. in biology from Bowdoin College. Prior to entering the priesthood, he was the educational coordinator for “Up with People” (1978-1980) and a junior high science teacher in Oakland, Maine (1980-1982). Fr. Skehan completed his clerical studies at the Theological College in Washington, D.C. and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Edward C. O’Leary on May 24, 1986, at St. Matthew Church in Hampden. He has served at parishes in Waterville, Houlton, and currently, as pastor of the Parish of the Ascension of the Lord (churches comprising the parish listed above). In addition, Fr. Skehan has served as the diocesan director for parish planning, as a hospital chaplain at Maine Medical Center, and as a campus minister at several Maine colleges.

A native of Orono, Fr. Mower attended Orono High School and received his B.S. in child development from the University of Maine in Orono. Prior to entering the priesthood, he was a third-grade teacher at Indian Island School on the Penobscot Indian Reservation in Old Town, Maine (1982-1991). Fr. Mower completed his clerical studies at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland, the nation’s first and oldest seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph J. Gerry on June 15, 1997, at St. Mary Church in Bangor. Since his ordination, he has served at parishes in Waterville, Ashland, Portage, Washburn, and currently, as pastor of St. Joseph Parish (churches comprising the parish listed above) and as administrator of Stella Maris Parish (churches comprising the parish listed above).

Fr. O’Hara attended Boston Latin High School and studied at two seminaries in Boston, Cardinal O’Connell Seminary and St. John Seminary, before completing his theology studies at the Saint Paul University Seminary in Ottawa. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1971, by Bishop Peter L. Gerety at St. Angela Church in Mattapan, Massachusetts. In addition to his current role as administrator of the Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Fr. O’Hara has served at parishes in Rumford, Bangor, South Portland, Benedicta, Machias and Bucksport during his 43 years of active ministry. He has also served as chaplain for Maine Maritime Academy and was a valued contributor as a moderator for the Maine Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.