The Franco-American Heritage Center will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of St. Mary’s Parish with food, music and drama Sunday, June 24. The celebration will open with lunch in Heritage Hall served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by entertainment in the Performance Hall.
The celebration will recognize the institution of the parish in June of 1917 by decree of Bishop Walsh of Portland and announced by the Reverend Dellaire, pastor of St. Peter’s. After the meal, there will be a brief dramatic presentation of the founding of St. Mary’s, interviews with former parishioners, a small St. John the Baptist Parade with the St. John Float and young St. John the Baptist, and music by Don and Cindy Roy.
For the celebration, a special focus will be made on the annual parade. A stuffed sheep was used yearly in the annual Franco-American celebration of St-Jean-Baptiste Day. Each year, a young boy played the young St-Jean-Baptiste, posing with a sheep. The Franco-American Heritage will replicate the parade float with the original “sheep,” provided courtesy of the Franco American Collection at the University of Southern Maine, with a young St. John the Baptist in costume. In 1953, Roger Bouffard had the honor of being the young St. John the Baptist. He will be present at the June 24 event to recall his experience in the annual parade.
The duo of champion fiddler Don and Cindy Roy has long entertained audiences in the southern Maine area and beyond. Hailing from roots deep in the Maritimes and Quebec, the Roys’ musical passion lies with the French-Canadian tradition, followed closely by Celtic music.
The cost of the meal is $6.50. Reservations can be made by calling 689-2000. Admission for the entertainment is free and will start after the meal at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.francoamericanheritage.org.
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