LISBON FALLS — Current and former parishioners, community members, and others plan to gather Sunday, Sept. 12 in Lisbon Falls to pay tribute to Fr. Lionel Chouinard, former pastor of Holy Trinity Church, who died in 2019.

A memorial dedication and celebration is to begin with a 10:30 a.m. Mass, celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley, followed by a light meal and the dedication. Guests from throughout Chouinard’s time in Lisbon Falls are scheduled to participate in the event, to be held at Holy Trinity, located on 67 Frost Hill Ave.

Born in Lewiston, Chouinard completed his clerical studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Daniel Feeney in 1965, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

For more than 50 years of active ministry, Chouinard served in parishes in Augusta, Machias, Madawaska, Mexico, Lewiston, Peaks Island, and Sabattus, as well as Lisbon Falls, where he spent over 17 years and oversaw the construction of a new parish center.

In addition to his work in parishes, Chouinard served as president of the Diocesan Senate of Priests (now known as the Presbyteral Council), a member of the College of Consultors, Vicar Forane of the then Oxford-Franklin Deanery, chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and the Daughters of Isabella, a chaplain at Saint Dominic Academy, and an auxiliary chaplain for the U.S. Air Force Base in Bucks Harbor.

Those who plan to attend the gathering are asked to call Prince of Peace Parish, of which Holy Trinity is a part, at 207-777-1200 so the parish can get an idea of the number of meals that will be required.