LEWISTON- The churches of “Cluster 17,” Holy Cross, Holy Family, Holy Trinity, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Francis, St. Joseph, St. Patrick and Saints Peter and Paul Basilica, will host a parish mission with a Dominican teaching team from the Chicago area on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 29, 30 and 31, at Holy Cross Church, Lisbon Street. The preachers will be The Rev. James Marchionda, OP, and Sister Ann Willits, OP.

Marchionda is a Dominican priest, composer, conductor, singer and woodwind instrumentalist who offers parish missions, concerts, workshops and presentations throughout the United States and abroad.

A member of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, he served nine years as vicar provincial and is now a member of the provincial council. Composer of more than 200 sacred music pieces, his work is published by World Library Publications, a division of J.S. Paluch Co. Inc. of Franklin Park, Ill. Marchionda’s ministry combines the Dominican charism with a professional career in sacred music.

Willits is a member of the Sinsinawa, Wis., Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary. In 2003, she completed 21 years as co-director of the PARABLE Conference for Dominican Life and Mission, a national retreat program that made the contribution of men and women preaching together.

Willits has also served as a member of her congregation’s general council, as vicaress general of the Sinsinawa Dominicans, as a high school principal and teacher for many years. An author, poet and expert storyteller, Willits incorporates the gifts into her ministry of full-time preaching.

The pair’s preaching will be lectionary-based, where the church’s weekly readings will serve as the foundation. On Sunday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. there will be prayer with preaching. On Monday, Oct. 30, there will be a 9 a.m. Eucharist with preaching and a 7 p.m. healing service followed by reconciliation.

On Tuesday, Oct. 31, a 9 a.m. Eucharist celebration will be followed by preaching. At 7 p.m. a prayer concert will feature a special choir of music ministers from Cluster 17, with preaching followed by a reception at the Holy Cross Church Hall, catered by the Knights of Columbus.

All are invited to the free events.