RUMFORD – The Rev. Angelo LeVasseur hopes his relative youth can attract a generation that may feel the church has left them behind.

He began his new ministry earlier this month as pastor for St. Athanasius/St. John Church in Rumford, St. Theresa’s Church in Mexico, and St. Joseph’s Mission in Dixfield.

He, like his predecessor, the Rev. Al Jacques, is the only priest in the River Valley area.

And he, like so many other priests in Maine, is covering several churches/parishes because of a priest shortage.

LeVasseur, 51, originally from Grand Isle in Aroostook County, most recently served as pastor of churches in Sabattus, Richmond and Greene. But the number of families to be served in the River Valley churches, at 1,100, is double that of his most recent pastorate.

“This is an awesome responsibility,” he said. “But there are over 200 volunteers that help with the churches’ functions. This is a very tight community spiritually.”

While he hopes to bring back some of the younger parishioners, his first order of business is to stabilize all three parishes by getting more people involved. Once that is done, he’ll look at the parishes to determine what needs immediate attention.

Return trip

LeVasseur’s appointment to the three River Valley parishes is not the first time he has been in the area.

His first career was as a secondary English teacher at a high school in Mars Hill. After teaching for three years, he decided he wanted something more.

“At the time, I was searching to find a way to be more people-oriented, with a sense of spirituality. I wanted to be where God was touching the hands of people, in births, deaths, other events, and for them to know that God’s hand would be with them,” he said. “There was a whole world open to me, and there was a mystery I wanted to discover.”

He then attended seminary in Baltimore. His six-month internship was in Rumford/Mexico in 1983.

When he returned, people remembered him.

“I made some wonderful friendships during those six months, and they made a big impact on my life,” he said. “People have come up to me and asked if I remembered them.”

Since he was ordained in July 1983, he has pastored churches, served as chaplain for Bates and Bowdoin colleges, and worked at a Christian retreat in Aroostook County.

“I’ve enjoyed the variety,” he said.

When not attending to the many duties required of a pastor for three churches, LeVasseur likes to get outdoors.

He is often seen with his elderly Springer spaniel, Woody. He also likes to ski, snowshoe, hike and fish. He plays the 12-string guitar, something that he may or may not do in his new churches.