Rev. James P. Brewer of Old Orchard Beach, ME returned home to His Lord and the warm embrace of his beloved parents Maurice B. Brewer, Sr. and Rita A (Clark) Brewer, brother’s Robert J. Brewer and Maurice B. Brewer Jr., sister-in-law’s Deborah Brewer, Barbara Brewer, and Marianne Brewer, and his nephew Maurice Brewer 3
rd on February 14, 2019.
He is survived by his sister Ann and her husband William Fitzpatrick, sister-in-law Diana Brewer, brother Richard Brewer and his wife Elizabeth, brothers Jude Brewer and Joseph Brewer and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and beloved friends.
Fr. Brewer (aka “Jamie,” “Jimbo” or “Rube” as he was fondly known) was born in New York City on March 3, 1948, the second oldest of seven children. Fr. Brewer graduated from Sacred Heart School in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, New York. From there he went on to complete High school studies at Epiphany Apostolic College High School in Newburgh, New York. Attending the University of Dallas, Irving TX, Fr. Brewer earned his BA in History with a minor in Philosophy. He entered St. Paul University Seminary in Ottawa, Canada where he obtained degrees in Theology and Canon Law. Fr. Brewer was ordained for the Priesthood for the Diocese of Portland, Maine on June 18, 1977 at his family’s home parish of Our Lady of the Snows in North Floral Park, NY. His assignments in Maine included: St. Joseph’s, Lewiston; St. Mary’s, Presque Isle; St. Mary’s, Augusta; St. Charles Borromeo, Brunswick; after which Fr. Brewer was granted permission to serve as a Chaplain in the U.S. Navy where he was stationed at Philadelphia Naval Base and Governor’s Island, New York Harbor. Lieutenant Commander Brewer was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation medal. After active Naval duty, Fr. Brewer returned to the Diocese and was assigned to St. Mary’s, Eagle Lake where he had served previously for two summers as a seminarian, followed by St. John’s, Bangor; St. Hyacinth , Westbrook; St. Philip, Lyman and the Cluster Churches of Sacred Heart, Yarmouth; Holy Martyr’s, Falmouth; St. Jude’s, Freeport; and St. Gregory, Gray. Fr. Brewer retired from full-time parish ministry January 2013. In his retirement he continued his priestly ministry serving as a chaplain to the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center and assisted in parish ministry.
Reception of the Body and Prayers for the Dead will be held at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, on Thursday, February 21, at 3:00pm followed by Visitation until 5:00pm. Additional opportunity for Visitation will be held Friday, February 22, from 9:00am to 9:45am prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am, which will be con-celebrated with the Most Reverent Robert Deeley, J.C.D. at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church, 268 Brown St., Westbrook, Maine. Interment will be held in the Spring. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hope Village, “Free the Kids” Les Cayes, Haiti c/o Free the Kids 5704 West Market St. #8947, Greensboro, NC 27419 or online at www.freethekids.org. Arrangements made by Dolby, Blais & Segee Funeral Home, Westbrook, ME.