in the convent. The sisters taught in the convent until
1951 when it was deemed not up to code for a school.
The town of Frenchville stepped in and built the Bailey
School (renamed the Dr. Lévesque Elementary School)
across the street next to the church. Originally, staff and
student lunches were served in the St. Luce parish hall.
When the hall burned in 1965, the town added a wing
to the school to serve as a gymnasium and cafeteria. The
sisters continued teaching at the school until 1980 when
the convent closed. Despite the sisters’ departure from the
parish, the school’s elementary students are still afforded
an opportunity for religious education during the school
day. Students wishing to are excused from classes for an
hour each week to attend religious instruction at the
church. Stubbornness and adaptability once again prevail.
The former convent is now the Christian Life Center.
Even though you may not want to attend a retreat, you
should stop by the CLC, the church and the adjoining
cemetery. The CLC gift shop and chapel are open to
the public and Judy Lavoie, the center’s secretary, will
welcome you with enthusiasm and charm. It is hard to
resist her gentle push to consider a retreat. A visit to the
parish will not disappoint you. The drive is beautiful, the
people are friendly and your visit will reward you with an
appreciation of Aroostook County’s resilience.
The Christian Life Center is open on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. St. Luce Catholic Church is open every day.
Established in the early 1970’s as part of the Portland
diocese’s attempt to reach out to Catholics, the original
Christian Life Center, commonly known at the CLC, was
located in Caribou; by 1980 the Caribou space was no
longer adequate for the program’s needs. When Father
George Adams learned the convent in Upper Frenchville
was for sale, he obtained permission from the bishop to
move the CLC to the former convent. Thirty-five years
later, the Christian Life Center continues its mission.
Programs at the CLC range from retreats for youth to
marriage encounter weekends. Each year the center offers
at least six retreats: two women’s, two men’s, a marriage
retreat and a teen retreat. They range from one day to
several days, depending on the program. Although based
on the Catholic faith, one does not have to be Catholic
to attend a retreat. In fact, several women at the ACTS
retreat I recently attended are not Catholic. Not unique
to Frenchville, other parishes in Maine and other states
have similar programs. However, most of them do not
have a dedicated building and therefore must conduct
their retreats at hotels. While a hotel with all the amenities
may sound more luxurious than staying in an early
20th century convent, a dedicated space away from the
distractions of the world is much more beneficial for the
retreatants. The location and atmosphere of the CLC
make it an inimitable venue for reflection and learning.
Everything you need is there – beds, showers, great meals,
a chapel, meeting rooms, and scenic views. The CLC in
Frenchville accords retreatants an opportunity to reflect,
grow, and learn.
SUMMER 2015
17