Funeral Arrangements for Fr. John Skehan

Reception of the Body

Sunday, September 4, 4 p.m.
St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta
Fr. Lou Phillips, Celebrant
Wake in the Church until 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass

Monday, September 5, 10 a.m.
St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta
Bishop Robert Deeley, celebrant
Msgr. Paul Stefanko, homilist

Burial

Following the funeral Mass
New St. Mary's Cemetery, Manchester
Bishop Robert Deeley, Celebrant

Following the burial, all are invited to a luncheon reception in the hall of St. Augustine Church.

Bishop Deeley sent the following message to the parishioners of St. Michael after the sudden passing of their pastor, Fr. John Skehan, on Wednesday, August 31.

My dear friends,

It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you of the sudden passing of Father John Skehan, 66, pastor of St. Michael Parish. Father Skehan died Wednesday in the late afternoon, unexpectedly, of natural causes at the home of friends while visiting them on his day off. As you can all imagine, this comes as a shock to all who know and love Father Skehan. Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. Please pray for the repose of his soul, and the consolation of his brother and sister, and all his family and friends.

Father Skehan had indicated his preference that his funeral would take place in the parish where he was serving when he died. The funeral will, therefore, be scheduled at St. Michael Parish. As soon as the arrangements are able to be made, you will be informed.

The loss of Father Skehan is a great sorrow for all who have known him. His family, his brother priests, as well as you, his parishioners, are all saddened by his sudden death. In this moment we rely on our faith to strengthen us. It is a time for us to remember that Jesus' coming among us was, and continues to be, God's assurance that he is with us in all things, and especially moments of difficulty such as this. Let us pray for each other, then, that we will know that Jesus walks with us in this time of loss.

Fr. John Skehan has served as pastor of St. Michael Parish (St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Augusta; St. Augustine Church, Augusta; St. Joseph Church, Gardiner; Sacred Heart Church, Hallowell; St. Denis Church, Whitefield; St. Francis Xavier Church, Winthrop) since June of 2018.

A native of Hampden, Fr. Skehan attended Hampden Academy and received his bachelor's degree in biology from Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Prior to entering seminary, he was the educational coordinator for "Up with People" (1978-1980) and a junior high science teacher in Oakland, Maine (1980-1982). Fr. Skehan completed his clerical studies at the Theological College in Washington, D.C. and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Edward C. O'Leary on May 24, 1986, at St. Matthew Church in Hampden.

During his ministry, Fr. Skehan served at parishes in Waterville, Portland, Houlton, South Berwick, Berwick, York, Kittery, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, Ellsworth, and Augusta.

He also served in campus ministry at Colby College and Union College, hospital ministry at Maine Medical Center, and as the director of the Office of Parish Planning for the Diocese of Portland.

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