MIDCOAST -- Six Catholic parishes in the midcoast area will merge under the umbrella of one new parish beginning Jan. 1, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland announced yesterday.

The new St. Brendan the Navigator Parish will include the churches of St. James, Thomaston; St. Francis of Assisi, Belfast; Our Lady of Good Hope, Camden; St. Bernard, Rockland; St. Mary of the Isles, Islesboro; and Our Lady of Peace, North Haven (and Catholics who attend Union Church on Vinalhaven).

The plan has been in the works for about a year.

Bishop Richard J. Malone said Fr. Mark Reinhardt will be administrator of the parish and Fr. Joseph Koury will be parochial vicar. Fr. Reinhardt has been serving the Rockland area since 1999 and Fr. Koury has been serving the Belfast area since 2005.

A statement released by the diocese said the change will centralize the administrative organization. The churches will also share the priests due to the declining number of clergy.

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