Maine’s Catholic Bishop Shocks Parishioners with Details of Priest’s Affair with Employee
By Kelley Bouchard
Bishop Robert Deeley personally delivered shocking news over the weekend to Roman Catholic church members in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and South Portland, telling them that their longtime former pastor and a former parish administrator had started a relationship before he retired in July and are now living together. Formerly a high-ranking official in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Monsignor Michael Henchal had been pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth since 1997. As the diocese consolidated parishes in response to dwindling numbers of priests and active members, he took on additional duties as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough in 2006 and St. John and Holy Cross parishes in South Portland in 2008. Deeley spoke at the start of seven services Saturday through Sunday, sometimes racing from one church to another to accommodate the Mass schedule and staying to celebrate the Eucharist with congregants when possible. Reading from a prepared statement at the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Bart’s on Sunday, Deeley said that shortly after Monsignor Paul Stefanko took over as the new pastor of the cluster of churches, “a serious matter was brought to his attention” and he “immediately informed me.” Deeley said he was aware of “many stories and rumors circulating” about Henchal and that he was “here to share the facts as I know them.” “Since his retirement in July, Monsignor Henchal has been living with Kathy Jones, the former pastoral life coordinator for this cluster,” Deeley said. “It is now painfully apparent that this relationship began while they were working together here in the cluster.” “This situation is untenable and inconsistent with the promises Michael made at his ordination,” Deeley continued. “Retirement for a priest does not mean that he is absolved of the commitments and promises he made at ordination. As we all know, priesthood is a vocation, not simply a profession. This vocation includes perpetual celibacy.” LOCAL & STATE Posted December 3 Updated December 4 INCREASE FONT SIZEResize Font Maine’s Catholic bishop shocks parishioners with details of priest’s affair with employee Bishop Robert Deeley informs church members in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and South Portland that retired Monsignor Michael Henchal is living with a former church administrator. BY KELLEY BOUCHARDSTAFF WRITER Share facebook tweet email print Monsignor Michael Henchal in a 2013 photo taken at the St. Maximilian Church in Scarborough. Monsignor Michael Henchal in a 2013 photo taken at the St. Maximilian Church in Scarborough. Staff photo by John Patriquin Bishop Robert Deeley personally delivered shocking news over the weekend to Roman Catholic church members in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and South Portland, telling them that their longtime former pastor and a former parish administrator had started a relationship before he retired in July and are now living together. Formerly a high-ranking official in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Monsignor Michael Henchal had been pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth since 1997. As the diocese consolidated parishes in response to dwindling numbers of priests and active members, he took on additional duties as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough in 2006 and St. John and Holy Cross parishes in South Portland in 2008. Deeley spoke at the start of seven services Saturday through Sunday, sometimes racing from one church to another to accommodate the Mass schedule and staying to celebrate the Eucharist with congregants when possible. Reading from a prepared statement at the 9 a.m. Mass at St. Bart’s on Sunday, Deeley said that shortly after Monsignor Paul Stefanko took over as the new pastor of the cluster of churches, “a serious matter was brought to his attention” and he “immediately informed me.” Deeley said he was aware of “many stories and rumors circulating” about Henchal and that he was “here to share the facts as I know them.” “Since his retirement in July, Monsignor Henchal has been living with Kathy Jones, the former pastoral life coordinator for this cluster,” Deeley said. “It is now painfully apparent that this relationship began while they were working together here in the cluster.” “This situation is untenable and inconsistent with the promises Michael made at his ordination,” Deeley continued. “Retirement for a priest does not mean that he is absolved of the commitments and promises he made at ordination. As we all know, priesthood is a vocation, not simply a profession. This vocation includes perpetual celibacy.” Deeley said that while a priest is “freed” from administrative responsibilities when he retires, he continues to be a priest. With that in mind, Deeley said he reached out to Henchal and tried unsuccessfully “to convince him to change his decision.” “Given his present living situation, Michael cannot perform any priestly ministry or present himself as a priest,” Deeley said. “The gravity of this situation required that I speak with the bishop of the diocese where Michael lives to make him aware of this situation.” HOME IN TEXAS Diocesan staff members distributed a copy of Deeley’s statement at the end of each Mass and remained to answer questions from parishioners. Deeley didn’t indicate in his statement where Henchal and Jones are living or what church they attend.
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