Region's oldest Catholic church marks bicentennial

NEWCASTLE, Maine—A Roman Catholic church that touts itself as the oldest in New England is preparing for a bicentennial celebration in Maine.

St. Patrick Catholic Church will hold activities this weekend to mark the completion of its first church building in 1808. Festivities begin Saturday with a ringing of the church bell, one of the last church bells cast by Paul Revere before his death.

Bishop Richard Malone will celebrate Mass in the modern $2 million building completed in 2004 and there will be a Latin Mass in the original building, which still stands. The original small brick church sits on a hill and overlooks the Damariscotta River.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com