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Saint David Catholic Church

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St. David Catholic Church, Madawaska, Maine.
This church is in St. David parish, Madawaska, Maine, on property adjacent to the Tante Blanche Museum complex of the Madawaska Historical Society. It was built in 1911ñ13 from designs by Chickering and OíConnell, a Boston architectural firm. The overall plan of the structure incorporates a large sanctuary and a two-story facade with a central tower. Its form and details are derived from Renaissance and Baroque Italian architecture.

St. David Catholic Church is significant to local people for a number of reasons. The original church at this location, built in 1871, marked the successful conclusion of Madawaska residentsí long struggle for their own parish and priest. Prior to the completion of the church, they were members of a parish in Saint-Basile, New Brunswick. Therefore, the church is regarded as a memorial to those who created a parish on the south bank of the St. John River.

The "Acadian Mass" at St. David Catholic Church, an event held annually during Acadian Festival week. Members of each family which has previously held a reunion during the Acadian Festival carry in their family banner and lay it at the foot of the altar. Many activities at St. David Catholic Church are important to the identity of Maine Acadians. For example, St. David is among the Catholic churches on the Maine side of the river that regularly hold services in French. During the 1991 Acadian Festival, St. David Catholic Church was the scene of a blend of religious and civic activities. A traditional Acadian meal, sponsored by the Madawaska Chamber of Commerce, was held in the basement of the church, and an "Acadian Mass" was held in the church.

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Ray Morin of St. David shows how a barrel is assembled.  American Folklife Center photograph by David Whitman, 1991.

 

 
Ray Morin of St. David shows how a barrel is assembled.  American Folklife Center photograph by David Whitman, 1991.
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