Prior to entering the edifice, Bishop Gerety offered a Special prayer of blessing on the church. Recitation of Psalms and recitation of Litany of Saints was given.
The Rev. John J. Harris Assembly, fourth degree Knights of Columbus, led the processional, followed by the altar boys, clergy and bishop. During the processional, the choir from St. Mary's Catholic Church, under the direction of Danny Ladner, organist and soloist, from Presque Isle, sang an entrance rite. The Bishop offered a prayer at the altar, after which he circled the church, and the congregation sang celebrated psalms.
Master of ceremonies, the Rev. Roger LaBrecque, secretary to the bishop, introduced Bishop Gerety.
Mass was celebrated by the bishop, assisted by the Rev. Francis Nelligan and the Rev. Royal Parent. The scripture was read by layman Richard Sperry.
The Claude Guerette family participated in the oftertory procession.
Bishop Gerety welcomed the Catholics and non-Catholics, and expressed his pleasure to attend this dedication. He commended his parishioners for their efforts to build the sanctuary. He paid special tribute to the Dr. H. D. McManus family, who in 1900 was the first family of Catholic faith to live in Washburn. Mass was held in their home until 1922, when the little church an Main Street was hauled across the frozen brook to become the first Catholic chapel in the community.
Having been outgrown by the increase of its membership, it has been replaced by the new St. Catherine's Church.
The Bishop expressed his thanks to A. E. Flewelling and Sons, Contractors and all who helped to make the church to become a reality.
The bishop stressed community spirit and neighborly love and expressed his desire to personally meet the people in the outside as they left the church.
The dedication closed with a prayer of blessing on the church and its members.
Prelude music was rendered by church organists, Mrs. Elden McPherson and Mrs. Edmund Tardie.
The choir numbers were selections from Biblical solos and Psalms by Father Lucien Deisa.
A buffet lunch was served in the church vestry dining room; the buffet table was decorated with a floral center piece presented by Miss Lillian McManus.
Visiting clergy and their wives attending were the Rev. and Mrs. Gerard Rubeno, Presque Isle; the Rev. and Mrs. Edward Allen, Presque Isle, the Rev. and Mrs. Raymond Murchie, Mapleton.
Also, Sisters Edith Casey and Catherine McCallan, Presque Isle.
Past assistant pastors of this parish: The Rev. Paul Archambault, Rockland, Rev. Raymond Gauthier, Millinocket and the Rev. Royal Parent, Auburn.
Others attending were the Revs. Normand Carrier, Mars Hill, Herve Carrier, Grand Isle; George Plante, Ashland, Germain Bureau, Hamlin, Captain Earl De Blieux, Chaplain at Loring; the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Armand Cyr, Caribou: the Revs. Renald Labarre, and John L. Audibert, Caribou, Francis Nelligan, Houlton, Claude Albert, Romeo Doiron, pastor of St. Catherine's and St. Mary's
churches, and Reginald Brissette of Presque Isle, and Gilman Chalout, Sinclair.
Approximately 300 people attended the dedication.
[June 1, 1969]