Intended for all ethnicities, Growing Up Franco-American (with no patent-leather shoes) is the intriguing story of courageous grandparent and parent immigrants who, at once, heartily embraced their new country, the United States, yet remained inherently true to their cherished Old World cultural traditions – all as transmitted to and perceived by - one of their first-generation American children, Lorraine Dutile Masure. Acting as a cultural tour guide, she here tells stories of what it was really like growing up with a rich Franco heritage across multiple venues of home, family, church, school, and other settings.

Lorraine Dutile Masure  has led senior college courses exploring Broadway Musicals, Music Genres and Eras, and Ethics for over a dozen years. It is within her stories about growing up as a first-generation American though, her formative years, when her philosophies and perspectives about living the past 90 years are transparently revealed. (Where did all those corny jokes come from?) Many seniors will see themselves in her stories. And younger people will be amazed at how quaint (quaint?) life was not so long ago. Informative and, as Lorraine reflects back through the rear-view mirror of her own life, some of it’s pretty comical too!

 One of the most amazing phenomena in history has been the two thousand plus years of a religion that has grown from an itinerant backwater preacher and his small band of followers to the world’s largest religion with over two billion followers world-wide. How did this happen? Well, the answer is not a simple one, nor a smooth one, but we will explore the people and movements and events that were all part and parcel of this tumultuous event. And our approach will not only be an historical one as we will also open up many of the cultural components of art, music, literature, and film that have been inspired by and further contributed to this incredible story. I hope whatever your background might be that you will join us to learn more about a force that has had untold influence on the world’s history…and which continues to do so.

Paul Doherty   I bring my overall 45 years of experience in education, broadcasting and ministry to my involvement in Maine’s Senior Colleges,  I have taught courses in Spirituality and Sustainability, particularly as the two work together. is an armchair theologian with experience in music, broadcasting, and ministry. 

Thursdays, October 2 to November 13,  from 1:00-2:30. 

 WITH NO CLASS ON OCTOBER 16

HYBRID PRESENTATION    (ZOOM AND IN PERSON) ZOOM Link will be sent 24 hours in advance. In person class will be held at York Chamber of Commerce.