FORT KENT, Maine — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland has reassigned Rev. James L. Nadeau to serve as the new pastor at Christ the King Parish, located in the Skowhegan area. Nadeau has been the pastor at St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent since 2005.
According to a statement from the Diocese, Nadeau’s new assignment will be effective July 1. St. John Vianney Parish includes local churches in Fort Kent, Eagle Lake, St. Francis, Wallagrass, Allagash and St John.
Rev. Kent Ouellette (Contributed)
Nadeau’s was one of several clergy reassignments and one retirement announced Monday, all of which are effective July 1.
“It’s sad to see him go,” said Fort Kent parishioner and chair of the parish’s Family Life Commission, Luis Sanclemente. “He has been such a pillar for the community. Personally, he’s had a deep, deep impact in my life.”
“The diocese understands the emotional attachment that many parishioners have to our wonderful, hard-working priests, including Rev. Nadeau,” said Diocese spokesperson David Guthro, in an email, Monday. “But, when these changes happen, they present new opportunities and beginnings, all of which can yield growth for everyone.”
“He is an incredibly gifted individual,” Sanclemente said of Nadeau, Monday. “We have been very fortunate to have him as long as we have. Skowhegan will be just as fortunate to have him.”
Guthro did not cite any specific reasons why Nadeau or the other priests were being reassigned. According to him, the Diocese looks at the “bigger picture” when planning its clergy assignments.
“When the bishop assigns priests and deacons to particular parishes or ministries, he is attentive to the needs of the parish, ministry, and the individual, utilizing each person’s strengths to benefit the people he will serve,” Guthro said.
Rev. Jim Nadeau (Contributed)
“In some cases, a priest is assigned to a parish or ministry to fill a vacancy, in others, it is an assignment that follows a long period serving a particular parish, like Rev. Nadeau, who has been a wonderful pastor to the faithful in the Fort Kent area since 2005,” said Guthro.
“We are the Easter people,” Sanclemente commented. “We are always hopeful. We are looking forward to working with Father Labrie and building on with Father Nadeau has help build.”
Nadeau came to Fort Kent just as the diocese was moving toward consolidating smaller parishes into administrative clusters, something Sanclemente said was difficult on its own. Then, in 2008, the community of Fort Kent was struck by a flood that inundated St. Louis Catholic Church. With the church flooded up to the first floor, services had to held for weeks inside the nearby Knights of Columbus hall.
Nadeau oversaw the large scale repairs and renovations at the church, along with his ministry and administrative duties.
“That was one of the most challenging times in his time here and for the parish,” said Sanclemente.
Rev. Nadeau was born in Caribou and earned bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1983. He completed his clerical studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained by Bishop Edward C. O’Leary on July 9, 1988, at Holy Rosary Church in Caribou.
Rev. Nadeau served briefly at St. Louis in Fort Kent in the late 1980s before moving on to Biddeford and Portland. In 2014, Rev. Nadeau was named the recipient of the Maine Educational Opportunity Association Achiever Award.
Replacing Nadeau this summer at the Fort Kent-based parish will be Rev. Jean-Paul Labrie. Since July of 2009, Rev. Labrie has served as pastor of the Parish of the Precious Blood, which includes churches in Caribou, Presque Isle, Portage, Washburn, Fort Fairfield, Mars Hill, Limestone, Ashland and Stockholm.
“I know that Rev. Labrie is excited to meet the faithful at St. John Vianney Parish and become part of that remarkable parish community,” Guthro said.
Rev. Jean Paul Labrie (Contributed photo)
Born in Frenchville, Rev. Labre served as pastor at St. Louis in Fort Kent and Holy Family in Daigle from 1989 to 1998 and has previously served in Winterport, Biddeford, Lewiston, Fort Fairfield and Limestone. He completed his clerical studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore and St. Paul Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario. He was ordained by Bishop Amédée W. Proulx on May 23, 1982, at St. Luce Church in Frenchville.
The Portland Diocese also reassigned Rev. Kent R. Ouellette as pastor of St. Agnes Parish, which includes Island Falls and Patten, and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton. He is currently parochial vicar at Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish, which includes Madawaska and Grand Isle, and at Our Lady of the Valley Parish, which includes, St. Agatha, Sinclair, Frenchville, and at St. Peter Chanel Parish, which includes, Van Buren and Hamlin.
Rev. David Raymond (Contributed)
Fr. James Plourde will remain as pastor at Madawaska, Grand Isle, St. Agatha, Hamlin and Van Buren.
A native of St. Francis, Rev. Ouellette was ordained by Bishop Richard J. Malone on June 4, 2005, at St. Charles Borromeo Church in St. Francis.
In other diocese changes, Fort Kent native Rev. David R. Raymond has been appointed pastor of the Parish of the Precious Blood. Currently, he serves as the pastor of St. Agnes Parish and St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton. Rev. Raymond was ordained by Bishop Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B., on June 7, 2003, at St. Luce Church in Frenchville.
Monsignor Paul F. Stefanko has been appointed pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough, St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth, and St. John and Holy Cross Parish in South Portland. Rev. Edward R. Clifford has been appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish, which includes Bridgton and Fryeburg, and St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, which includes Norway, Mechanic Falls and Oxford.
Monsignor Michael J. Henchal will retire from active ministry. Monsignor Henchal currently serves as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough, St. Bartholomew Parish and St. John and Holy Cross Parish.
“A priest’s vocation is not to a particular parish but to the diocesan Church as a whole,” commented Guthro. “His ordination is a call to service for the Church; a call that stretches beyond any parish or assignment. In the end, the needs of the Church must always come first.”
“I’m certain the parishioners will welcome their new pastor, who is dedicated to doing the same work in the spirit of Jesus, with open arms,” said Guthro.
