132 McKeen Street Brunswick, Maine 04011 207-725-2624 One of America's Best Catholic Parishes St. Charles Borromeo of Brunswick, Maine has been named one of America's outstanding Catholic parishes in a nationwide study. A team of researchers from the Parish/Congregation Study, based ast the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, spent two years searching for local church excellence. "St. Charles Borromeo was clearly the type of parish we were looking for," said the study's director, Paul Wilkes, an author and a professor at UNCW. "We looked for parishes that nurtured the spirit, welcomed and yet challenged, both preached and (more importantly) lived the Good News. St. Charles Borromeo is that kind of church." The Study, underwritten by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, combed the country for the best examples of local church excellence, both Catholic and Protestant. Size or location, denominational affiliation or lack of one were not important, but a certain "habit of being" was. "These parishes we found are simply wonderful places to be. They not only take care of their members and the newcomer, but reach out generously into the world. I am absolutely amazed with the abundance of goodness and greatness that was found," Wilkes, said. A Pastoral Summit was held in New Orleans in May, 2001, which honored the national recipients, including St. Charles. At that Summit, St. Charles Borromeo was the only Catholic parish in Maine to be named with the distinction.