St. Joseph Parish in Ellsworth Exceeds $15,000 Matching Advent Challenge

Great news for parishoners of St. Joseph Parish in Ellsworth as they have exceeded the $15,000 matching Advent Challenge and raised over $30,000 to close the budget gap.

There is no denying the fact that COVID-19 had impacted thousands of businesses in Maine, but the impact on non-profits has been devastating. Many of these non-profits typically hold fundraisers in the summer and fall, and because of COVID-19 restrictions,

St. Joseph Parish in Ellsworth has been impacted severely because of COVID-19. For most of the summer they were limited to 50 people per Mass, and then were able to have 100 people attend in the Church before the Governor reduced the attendance in late November back to 50 people. This has reduced the weekly collection.

“We were very blessed that this donor pledged to match, dollar for dollar, up to $15,000 as part of an Advent fundraising campaign,” said Fr. Emile H. Dubé, pastor of St. Joseph Parish. “Parishioners and community members donated nearly $18,000, allowing us to surpass our goal and receive the full $15,000 in additional matching funds from our donor!”

The Advent Challenge ran through Christmas Day.

St. Joseph Parish was established in 1862 and includes St. Joseph Church, Ellsworth; Blue Hill Mission, Blue Hill; Our Lady of the Lake Church, Dedham; and St. Margaret Church, Winter Harbor.