Father Brendan Harnett

Please pray for the repose of Reverend Brendan G. Harnett, 64, a priest of the Diocese of Portland. Father Brendan, who fought a courageous and faith-filled battle against cancer for several years, died peacefully at the home of friends who had been caring for him these past few months.

Father Harnett was born on December 19, 1948, in North Adelaide, South Australia, to William and Gladys Harnett. On September 1, 1973, after completing his clerical studies, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Adelaide by Archbishop James W. Gleeson at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. While in Australia, Fr. Brendan served in various parish assignments as a parochial vicar, administrator, and pastor. In addition, he served as Chaplain to the Deaf Communities, fluent in various dialects of sign language.

After a period of advanced studies at Emmanuel College, Boston, MA (1993-1994) and helping in the Archdiocese of Boston, he returned to Australia to serve as pastor of St. Mary Parish in South Australia (1995-1997).

In 1997, with permission of his ordinary, Fr. Brendan came to minister in the Diocese of Portland; he served in the following parish assignments:

Parochial Vicar (1997-1998) – St. Joseph & St. Teresa Parishes, Brewer
• Added Administrator @ St. Andrew Parish, Augusta (1997)

Administrator (1998-2005) – St. Mary Parish, Biddeford
• Added Administrator @ St. Philip Parish, Lyman (2002)

Parochial Vicar (2005-2011)
• Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish (before and after the canonical merger)

Fr. Brendan, who held dual citizenship in the United States and Australia, was incardinated into the presbyterate of the Diocese of Portland in 2012.

The Chancery has been informed of the following funeral arrangements for Fr. Brendan Harnett:

• Reception of the Body & Evening Prayer – Monday, March 11, 6:30 p.m., St. Mary Church (Holy Spirit Parish), 236 Eldridge Road, Wells
• Wake/Vigil – Monday, March 11, after the Reception of the Body until 8:30 p.m., St. Mary Church, Wells
• Mass of Christian Burial – Tuesday, March 12, 11:00 a.m., St. Mary Church, Wells
• Funeral Luncheon – Immediately following the Mass @ St. Mary Church Hall, Wells
• Committal/Burial – Following the luncheon, burial will take place in Biddeford (St. Mary’s Cemetery)

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Brendan, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Msgr. Paul D. Gleason

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend Monsignor Paul D. Gleason, 91, who died in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 27, 2013, in New Hampshire. Msgr. Gleason was an incardinated and retired priest of the Diocese of Portland.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

• Wake/Visitation – No visitation
• Mass of Christian Burial – On Tuesday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
• Committal/Burial – Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor (departure for Bangor immediately following funeral Mass)

Born on May 9, 1921, Paul Gleason completed his clerical studies at St. Augustine’s Seminary, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1947, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland, by the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney, Seventh Bishop of Portland. In 1969, he was named an “Honorary Prelate of His Holiness Pope Paul VI.”

During his active years of ministry, Msgr. Gleason served in the following parishes:

• St. Joseph Parish, Lewiston – Parochial Vicar (1947-1961)
• St. Ambrose Parish, Richmond – Pastor (1961-1964)
• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – Rector (1964-1971)
• St. Patrick Parish, Lewiston – Pastor (1971-1991)

In addition, Msgr. Gleason served in the followings ministries:

• Spiritual Director to the Legion of Mary, Lewiston
• Regional Director of CCD, Brunswick Region
• Vicar Forane of St. Athanasius Deanery (Cumberland County)
• Chaplain to: Diocesan Bureau of Human Relations Services; Stella Maris Circle #456 of the Daughters of Isabella, Lewiston;
• Clergy Benefit Plan (Member/Director/Trustee), College of Consultors (Consultor), Diocesan Task Force on Education (Member & Chair), Diocesan Finance Committee (Member)

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Sister Pauline Dionne, SCIM

Sister Pauline Dionne, a member of the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, died at the age of 92. Sister had been a teacher, a missionary in Brazil for many years and, upon her return to Maine, taught adults.

She is survived by one sister, Sr. Elena Dionne, SCIM, and many nieces and nephews.

The wake will be on Thursday, February 14, 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph Convent in Biddeford and the funeral at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 15, also at the convent chapel.

In your prayers remember to pray for the consolation of her natural and religious families as well as her friends. May her soul and the soul of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen

Sister Marie-Marc Cantin, OSU

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Marie-Marc Cantin who died December 21. Sister was a member of the Ursulines of the Roman Union and died at the age of 91.

Sister taught the primary grades, mostly second, for many years and was a well-loved teacher. She spent most of her teaching years in the Diocese of Portland.

Sister is survived by her sister, also a member of the Ursuline community, Sister Clemente Cantin.

May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Our prayers and sympathies go to her religious family and her natural family and many friends.

Read Sister Marie-Marc Cantin's obituary.

Sister Therese MacDonnell, APB

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sr. Therese MacDonnell who passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 18. She was a member of the Adorers of the Precious Blood and a member of the Portland Monastery since 1952.

Sister Therese was raised in Toronto and entered the Adorers of the Precious Blood there in 1947. In the early 50ies when help was needed in Portland Sr. Therese and a postulant were sent. Sister made Portland her home from that time on and even became an American citizen.

A gentle soul with a winning smile, Sister was loved by all who met her. Her many gifts were put to good use in the monastery, and she served as superior as well as directress of novices. She was an artist and her paintings are part of some of the cards available at the monastery.

Sister is survived by one sister and nieces and nephews.

The Most Reverend Joseph J. Gerry, OSB, bishop emeritus of Portland will be the main celebrant and Fr. Claude Gendreau the homilist at a funeral Mass to be celebrated in the Chapel of the Monastery of the Precious Blood at 11:00 a.m. on Friday December 21. The wake will be just before the funeral Mass in the chapel beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery.

Please pray for the consolation of Sr. Therese’s religious family and her natural family.

May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

Rev. James M. Gower

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend James M. Gower, 90, who died in the early morning hours of today, Monday, December 17, 2012.

James Gower was born in Noank, Connecticut, on August 17, 1922, the son of Earl and Mary (Barnes) Gower. He attended Notre Dame University, Indiana (philosophy), and later completed his clerical studies at St. Augustine Seminary, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was ordained by the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney on May 30, 1953, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland. He retired from full-time active ministry in 1992.

During his years of active ministry, Fr. Gower served in the following assignments:

• Parochial Vicar — St. Ignatius, Northeast Harbor (Summer 1953); St. Dominic Parish, Portland (Fall 1953); and Sacred Heart Parish, Waterville (1953-68)

• Pastor, Chaplain and/or Administrator — St. Ignatius, Northeast Harbor (1968-1973); Holy Redeemer, Bar Harbor (1973-1976); College Chaplain at Husson College, Bangor and University of Maine at Bangor (1976-1978); Civilian Auxiliary Chaplain of Bangor International Airport (1976-78); Pastor of the Personal Campus Parish (1978-1981); Notre Dame Parish, Springvale (1983); St. Joseph Parish & Bates College, Lewiston (Summer 1983); St. Vincent de Paul, Bucksport (1983-1990); St. Mary Star of the Sea, Stonington & Our Lady of Holy Hope, Castine (1990-1992); in addition, Fr. Gower, who was well known and respected for his lifetime commitment to social justice and peace ministries, was released fro work with PAX CHRISTI for two years (June 1981-June 1983)

Post-Retirement Temporary Assignments — St. Anne, Dexter (2000) and St. Joseph, Ellsworth (2002)

Extra-parochial and Diocesan Ministries — Include being a Chaplain to the St. Theresa Circle of the Daughters of Isabella and Fr. G. Dandaneau Council of the Knights of Columbus; Consultor-at-Large to the Diocesan Office of Ecumenism; Vicar Forane of Hancock Deanery

Fr. Gower’s family provided the Diocese with the following information relative to funeral arrangements

• Mass of Christian Burial — Scheduled for June 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Holy Redeemer Church, Parish of the Transfiguration, Bar Harbor, Maine

• Post-Funeral Reception — Immediately following at the College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor

Please pray also for the consolation of his family and friends. “And may Jim’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

“Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.”
(Mass of Christian Burial)