I love being a “church hopper”!  So, it has been my great joy in getting to know my Parish of the Resurrection family at all the churches.  Being a part of this faith community has seen me through some difficult times, even if you did not know it! I would not be the person I am today without attending Mass at each one of the Parish of the Resurrection churches. It is difficult to imagine one of these locations not active and is the reason I am sharing my story with you. I strongly believe that rebuilding our churches is the single most important thing we can do right now to keep our faith alive.  It is in faith that we pledge the money we earn (which is ultimately his money) for the good of this faith filled community!  I hope and pray the Rosary every day for this campaign to be successful and for our priests who work to bring us the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.  Please join me in praying for the success of the Rebuild His Church campaign.

Yours in Christ, Mary Beth Willett

When Charlie and I moved here in 1975 from Lewiston, my mom was living with us because she needed nursing care while recovering from an auto accident in which my father had died. I was her primary care giver.  I called St. Joe’s looking for a priest to come and visit and give my mom communion and was told they couldn’t do that. I then called St. Mary’s and Fr. Anderson was more than willing to visit.  When my children were born I raised them in the only faith I knew.  I went through the motions bringing them and me to church, living the faith but never really had a personal relationship with Jesus and the Blessed Mother until my oldest son died from a drowning accident in 1989.  I felt a special kinship with the Blessed Mother at that point.  The Stations of the Cross meant so much more to me then and they still do.  In my faith I found consolation for the loss of my son.  The family I have here at church means so much to me because now I have no relatives here.  They all live away.  Since I have been retired I have more time to be involved with church activities, prayer groups and faith sharing groups. They have helped me to grow even more in my faith. 
We have these churches because of the generosity of those who came before us. Please pray that we can make this available to those generations who come after us.

Love and Peace of Christ, Catherine Martinage 

St. Ann's in Bradley has been part of my life since I have been born.  It's where I was Baptized, made my First Communion and Confirmation.  Many of my life events have happened here from family and friend weddings,  funerals and social events.  I received my first knowledge about who God is through Religious Education and Catholic Youth Ministry.  The people in this parish taught me how to live your faith by their actions, words, and care of others.  Their generous spirit and love influenced me to make the decision to pursue a degree in Theology at St. Joseph's College so that I could give back to our loving and dedicated parish community. Like the Catholic students at the Newman center, I too was involved with Campus Ministry.  The campus ministers encouraged,  supported, and helped me grow in my faith at a time when I needed direction as a young adult. This is a very much needed ministry for college students.  As a parish it is   important to support our young adults. I thoroughly enjoy volunteering and helping in our church. We are blessed to have such a loving, caring, and faith filled community.

-Kelly Roy

I was in the middle of a divorce, one of my part-time jobs was causing me distress of conscience, and I was hoping to go to UMaine for graduate school, except that after moving to Bangor to be closer to Orono, I didn't get into the program that year. I was reading the bulletin after Mass at St. John's in Bangor when I glimpsed a job posting for a Campus Minister at the Newman Center. I knew I was hardly qualified, but God winked and said "Apply anyways." This coming academic year will be my fifth as Campus Minister, and I LOVE my job. I have the privilege of being surrounded by young people of great faith, showing me God's face every day. My job never feels like work! My role expanded to include RCIA a couple years ago, and I began to know others in the parish outside of the Newman Center. I continue to be amazed at how much I learn by sharing with others what it means to to me to be Catholic. This parish has been a haven of faith for me, not only in my work, but in weathering some of the stormiest days of my life. I hope you will join me in prayerfully considering your support in the Rebuild His Church Capital Campaign.

With love, Audrey Aylmer

The Newman Center is an essential part of our Catholic youth community. It provides a home away from home for many of our Catholic students. It also provides space and guidance for students considering joining the Catholic community to share different philosophies and develop knowledge about our faith. The Newman Center offers our students easy access to a wide variety of catholic activities, including mass, Bible studies, retreats, discernment groups, youth ministry, and various study, social, and service activities. Some opportunities students are given include participating in sacramental preparation, music ministry, Catholic devotions, and Eucharistic adoration. In addition, the Newman Center houses the FOCUS Ministry which has been vital to evangelization. Each year, four graduate students dedicate two years to the Center to help students know and grow in their faith. As a result of this ministry, the organization has grown 20% per year and has spread faith throughout the country. It has also brought more religious orders and vocations to the Priesthood. Our Catholic youth are the future of our church. We the parishioners of all ages should provide support and guidance as well as prayers for the Newman Center and its FOCUS Ministry.

-Bernie LaBree