Effective June 1, 2015, Bishop Robert P. Deeley is appointing Fr. Louis J. Phillips, current interim superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools, as pastor of St. Anne Parish, Gorham; St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Windham. In addition, Bishop Deeley is announcing the retirements of Fr. Joseph J. Koury, administrator of St. Anne Parish and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, and Fr. Reginald R. Brissette, senior priest at St. Anthony of Padua Parish. Both retirements are also effective on June 1, 2015 (pictures/captions below).

A 1975 summa cum laude graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania (B.S., Speech Pathology and Audiology), Fr. Phillips completed his theological studies with an M.A. in Theology from the Catholic University of America in 1981, the year he was ordained to the priesthood for the Pallottines, a society of apostolic life. He furthered his education at Boston College, earning a M.Ed. in Educational Administration (1989) and a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction and Administration (1992). Prior to arriving in Maine, Fr. Phillips was a theology teacher and principal at schools in New Jersey; an assistant professor of education at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio; a coordinator of faith development at Iona College in New York; and an assistant professor of education at Notre Dame of Maryland University. In 1999, Fr. Phillips, while serving as director of the St. Paul Center in Augusta, was named temporary administrator of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Augusta. A year later, he was assigned as parochial vicar of St. Philip, St. Louis, and Sacred Heart Parishes in Auburn in 2000. In 2002, he was appointed administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Ellsworth. In January 2003, Fr. Phillips was incardinated into the presbyterate of the Diocese of Portland. From 2004 to 2008, Fr. Phillips served as pastor of parishes in Augusta during which time he was also named administrator of St. Denis Parish, Whitefield, and St. Francis Xavier Parish, Winthrop. In 2009, he was appointed rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland and administrator of the Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes. He was named interim superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools in May of 2014.

A Rhode Island native, Fr. Koury earned an AB degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a Master of Divinity degree from the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before being ordained to the priesthood for the New England Province of the Society of Jesus in 1977. Prior to arriving in Maine, he served as the associate pastor of Holy Family Parish in Kirkland, Washington; the associate director of the marriage tribunal for the Archdiocese of Seattle; and a teacher of Canon Law at the Weston School of Theology and Boston College. He began his Canon Law work in the Diocese of Portland in 1983, just a few months before the revised Code of Canon Law took effect. In 1992, he was appointed chaplain of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish. In 1994, Fr. Koury was incardinated into the Diocese of Portland and named coordinator of campus ministry. One year later, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom Parish, Orono, in addition to his campus ministry duties. In 1997, he was named pastor of St. Mary Parish, also in Orono. In 2005, Fr. Koury was appointed administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belfast, where he would serve until 2009 when he was named administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Windham, and St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton. A year later, in addition to his assignments in Windham and Bridgton, Fr. Koury was appointed administrator at St. Anne Parish, Gorham, and St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook. Along with his various parish duties, Fr. Koury has served as judge on the tribunal of the Diocese of Portland since 1983.

A native of Caribou, Fr. Brissette completed his clerical studies at the Grand Seminary of St. Sulpice in Montreal, earning baccalaureate degrees in philosophy and theology. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Daniel J. Feeney at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland in 1963. From 1963 until 1979, Fr. Brissette served as assistant pastor at St. Joseph Parish, Eastport; Sacred Heart Parish, Auburn; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Presque Isle; and Holy Family Parish, Lewiston. In 1980, after several months of specialized studies at North American College in Rome, he was appointed chaplain of Saint Joseph’s College in Standish where he served until being named pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Farmington in 1981. In 1989, Fr. Brissette was appointed pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Berwick, and, in 1995, was named pastor of St. Andre Parish in Biddeford. In 2005, he was appointed administrator of St. Anthony of Padua in Westbrook. Fr. Brissette will remain in residence at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, where he will continue to be active in ministry during his retirement.

Pictured (L to R): Fr. Louis J. Phillips, Fr. Joseph J. Koury, Fr. Reginald R. Brissette