The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

A Franco-American Landmark in Lewiston

Founded in 1871, Saints Peter and Paul Parish was established to serve the growing number of French-Canadian immigrants coming to Lewiston. Over time, the parish became one of the most significant Catholic communities in Maine and a lasting symbol of Franco-American faith, culture, and perseverance.

From a Small Parish to Maine’s Largest Catholic Community

The first St. Peter’s Church stood at Ash and Bartlett Streets and was built of brick with a single spire. As the Catholic population rapidly expanded, the original church became too small. Even with additional balconies and chapel-schools in Little Canada and New Auburn, the parish had outgrown the building by the turn of the century.

In 1881, the Bishop of Maine entrusted the parish to the Dominican Order from France. Under the leadership of Rev. Alexandre Louis Mothon, the parish flourished. Schools, orphanages, a hospital, and other religious and social institutions were established, helping shape both the Catholic and civic life of Lewiston.

The Building of the Present Church

The original church was demolished in 1905 to make way for a larger and more ambitious structure. Construction began, but the full church would take decades to complete. For many years, the basement served as the parish’s place of worship while funds were raised for the upper church.

In the 1930s, construction resumed in earnest, and the church gradually took on the form recognized today, with its twin spires rising above the city. Saints Peter and Paul was completed in 1935 and dedicated in 1938.

A Parish That Shaped the Community

Even while raising funds to complete the church, the parish continued to invest in education and community life. St. Peter’s School, once the largest elementary school in Maine, was completed in 1925.

Later, under Father François Drouin, the parish further expanded its influence through education, labor advocacy, social services, and the founding of what became St. Dominic Regional High School.

Father Drouin also left a spiritual mark on the church itself. The stained glass windows installed in 1948 were chosen to reflect the joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries of salvation, revealing the deep devotional life of the parish.

Preservation and Restoration

By the late twentieth century, the future of the church was uncertain. Harsh winters, declining numbers, and the immense cost of maintaining such a large structure brought the parish to a difficult crossroads: demolition or restoration.

The community chose restoration. A major campaign revived the church’s spires, updated its systems, and restored the interior to its former beauty.

A Minor Basilica

In 2004, the Vatican designated Saints Peter and Paul a minor basilica in recognition of its historic, social, and cultural significance. Its inauguration as a basilica was celebrated on May 22, 2005.

With that designation came its own papal coat of arms, including the crossed keys of Saint Peter, the ombrellino, and the fleur-de-lys honoring the French-Canadian heritage of the people who built it.

Today, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul remains one of Lewiston’s defining landmarks — a witness to faith, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of the Franco-American Catholic community.

First St. Peter's Church, Lewiston, ca. 1900

Construction of Saints Peter and Paul Church.  September 22, 1935.

Rev. Francois Drouin, Lewiston, ca. 1950

The Blue Mass Honoring First Responders.  September 2024

3 Men ordained to the Priesthood. 
May 31, 2025