Parishioners at two churches within Augusta-based St. Michael Parish are preparing to look for new places to worship as the plan to close the churches comes closer to being official.

A proposal to close St. Andrew Church on St. Andrew Street in Augusta and St. Leo Church on Route 126 in Litchfield and sell the two properties is being sent to the Roman Catholic Bishop today.

Additional Photos

A proposal to close St. Andrew Church on St. Andrew Street in Augusta, seen in this photo, and St. Leo Church on Route 126 in Litchfield and sell the two properties is being sent to the Roman Catholic Bishop today. Staff photo by Joe Phelan

“It’s painful and it’s disappointing, and it’s happening throughout the diocese,” said the Rev. Francis Morin, parish administrator.

He said said the closing and sale proposal will be reviewed by several councils, and the final decision is up to the bishop.

“We’re hoping (the decision) will happen before the next heating season begins,” Morin said.

The parish last month hosted informational meetings “concerning the proposed closings and sale” of both churches, according to the St. Michael Parish website.

Money is the driving force.

“It is the overall cost of running a parish of seven churches, and approximately 4,500 households,” Morin said. “The income stayed somewhat stagnant over the past two years.”

He said the spike in heating costs has proved particularly challenging.

This is the third year in a row the parish has ended the year in the red despite parishioners’ generosity, he said. The $140,000 deficit in the fiscal year that ended July 1 was partially offset by a $60,00 bequest received several months ago, Morin noted.

“We’re trying to do some proactive decision-making to ward off any worsening challenges,” Morin said. He said the planning also takes into account the increasing scarcity of available priests.

Parishioners contacted Thursday held out little hope of the churches remaining open beyond September.

Gary Burns, of Augusta, who has attended St. Andrew since 1973, said the closings were announced in a bulletin about a month ago.

“We’re hurt because it’s so close to us, but we saw it coming,” Burns said. “We’re not surprised this is happening. I’ve been expecting it for five years.”

Richard Smith of Litchfield, who has attended St. Leo for 34 years, said the dwindling number of parishioners and priests coupled with rising fuel costs made the closings inevitable.

Three priests serve all seven churches in the parish, Morin said, along with help from retired priests.

“I can’t change the facts,” Smith said. “I can’t argue against them, but I bemoan it all the same.”

Burns, who stressed the parish has been forthcoming about plans throughout the process, said parishioners have been told that money made from selling the property will remain with the Augusta parish and help pay for schools and maintenance of the remaining buildings.

“Nobody is saying otherwise,” Burns said.

Augusta city records show the 11-acre St. Andrew property has an assessed value of just more than $1 million.

According to Litchfield town records, the 4-acre St. Leo property is assessed at more than $230,000.

Lori Larrabee, who has attended St. Leo since marrying her husband 26 years ago, said she hopes the property will be used for public service. She believes the building would make an ideal community or senior center.

“We really don’t have a place for youth to go, and I know there are enough parents in town who would be willing to help,” Larrabee said.

Larrabee is not surprised the church building is being sold. But she said she is disappointed by the timing.

“I was hoping we’d have another year to try and persuade them,” she said. “I enjoy being there.”

Neither Larrabee nor Smith has decided where they will attend church after Sept. 1. Larrabee is leaning toward St. Joseph in Gardiner and Smith said he is considering churches in Sabattus and Winthrop.

Smith said moving to a new church will not be easy.

“My children were baptized there,” Smith said. “My first wife and I were married there, and she was buried there. My new wife and I were married there.”

When Smith first started attending St. Leo in the 1970s, there were three Masses every weekend. All of them were well attended, he said.

“We had a lot of kids, especially around the holidays,” Smith said. “We’ve had some wonderful pastors there over the years.”

Smith said the church typically draws about 50 people for its lone weekend Mass., on Saturday evening. That number swells in the summer time due to summer guests drawn by the nearby lakes.

“I’m a cradle Catholic,” Smith said. “Young people are not coming.”

Burns recalled his children having their first communion at St. Andrew and, later, holding his daughter’s funeral there.

“When that goes, it’s going to be tough,” he said.

Carolyn Burns was director of religious education at St. Andrew for seven years. She recalls forming a bond with a student who helped take attendance and staple papers.

“She now has two little girls and they’ve decided they’re going to cling to Gary,” Carolyn Burns said.

The Burnses often sit near the two girls, Kendra and Morgan Burgess, who serve every week on the altar just as the Burns’ daughter did.

“Every time I see them, it reminds me of my daughter,” Gary Burns said. “We’re very close to those two youngsters.”

Gary and Carolyn Burns will probably begin attending church at St. Mary of the Assumption, but they believe it is unlikely to ever feel like home.

“This was our home church,” Carolyn Burns said. “I will miss going there. I will miss the people. You sit in the same place all the time and you look (around) you and know who is there.

“That won’t happen the same way in another church. I’ll really miss that.”

Staff writer Betty Adams contributed to this report.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

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