Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of spiritual renewal which helps us prepare for the celebration of the paschal mystery of Christ, his passion, death and resurrection.

The ashes we receive on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday are both a reminder of our earthly mortality and a call to repentance.

The ashes are made by burning the palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday. The ashes are blessed by the priest, who then dips his thumb in them and makes the Sign of the Cross on each person’s forehead, while saying these words: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19) or "Repent and believe in the Gospel." 

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and a day of abstinence from meat. Fasting applies to Catholics between the ages of 18 and 60 and means you should only eat one full meal and two smaller meals if needed. All Catholics age 14 and above should abstain from eating meat on the day.

Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, but Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass to begin their Lenten journey. All Mass times below are for Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

A special collection taken up in all churches on Ash Wednesday will jointly benefit the Church in Central and Eastern Europe and the Solidarity Fund for Africa. The collection supports pastoral, educational and construction projects in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which were formerly under Soviet control.  It also supports projects that benefit family life, women, and children in Africa.

Click here for Ash Wednesday Mass times listed by parish.

Ash Wednesday Mass Times and Distribution of Ashes

(This list is still being updated. Please check back if you do not see your city/town listed)

Ashland

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

Auburn

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Masses at 7 a.m. and Noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - Mass at 7:30 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 41 Western Avenue - Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes at Noon and Mass at 6 p.m.

Baileyville

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street - Mass at 9 a.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - Mass at Noon

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Masses at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Bar Harbor

Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:

Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Masses at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Benedicta

St. Benedict Parish:

St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - Mass at 9 a.m.

Bethel

Holy Savior Parish:

Our Lady of the Snows, 265 Walker’s Mills Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

Biddeford

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Masses at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Bingham

Christ the King Parish:

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - Mass at 2:30 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Mass at noon

Bradley

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street – Mass at 6 p.m.

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 521 North Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Masses at noon and 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Bucksport

Stella Maris Parish:

St. Vincent de Paul Church, 60 Franklin Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Calais

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes at Noon and Mass at 5 p.m.

Caribou

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Mass at Noon

Castine

Stella Maris Parish:

Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 137 Perkins Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Cherryfield

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Dexter

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Anne Church, 54 Free Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Mass at noon

East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Eastport

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street - Mass at noon

Ellsworth

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Masses at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Road – Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Farmington

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Fort Fairfield

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Denis Church, 147 Main Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Masses at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Freeport

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street – Mass at 6 p.m.

Frenchville

Christian Life Center, 444 U.S. Route One - Mass at 11 a.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street, Gorham - Masses at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street, Westbrook - Mass at 7:30 a.m. and Service with Distribution of Ashes at 12:15 p.m.

Grand Isle

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish:

St. Gerard - Mt. Carmel Church, 363 Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Gray

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 N. Raymond Road – Mass at 8 a.m.

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Mass at Noon

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue- Mass at 6 p.m.

Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Howland

Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish:

St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Road- Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Indian Island

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 6 Down Street – Mass at 7 a.m.

Island Falls

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street, Island Falls - Mass at noon

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Jay

St. Rose of Lima Parish:

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Masses at 12:15 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Masses at 9:15 and 6 p.m.

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Masses at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Kittery

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road - Mass at 9 a.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Mass at Noon

Holy Cross Church, 1080 Lisbon Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. (School Mass) and 5 p.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Mass at 7 a.m.

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Mass at 7:30 a.m., Liturgy & Distribution of Ashes at Noon, and Mass at 4 p.m.

Limestone

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Louis Church, 106 Main Street - Mass at Noon

Lincoln

Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish:

St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Lubec

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Lyman

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Mass at 9 a.m.

Machias

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Mass at 8 a.m. followed by adoration for the people of Syria and Turkey and Mass at 12:10 p.m.

Madawaska

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish:

St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 337 St. Thomas Street - Mass at 6 p.m. (Also livestreamed)

Madison

Christ the King Parish:

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Mars Hill

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Joseph Church, 17 Main Street - Mass at Noon

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

North Caribou

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Mass at Noon

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church 32 Paris Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Old Orchard Beach

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Mass at noon

Old Town

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street – Mass at 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Orono

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Bangor Room at the Student Union of the University of Maine – Mass at noon

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Pittsfield

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Mass at 9 a.m.

Portland

Our Lady of Hope Parish:

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Mass at 9 a.m., Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes from 12:10 p.m. - 12:40 p.m., and Mass at 7 p.m.

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Latin Mass at 8 a.m., Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley at 12:15 p.m., and Mass at 6 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street - Trilingual Mass (English/French/Spanish) at 5:30 p.m.

St. Christopher, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street - Mass at 7 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Mass at 7 a.m.

Presque Isle

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 331 Main Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Rangeley

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:

St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Mass at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Rumford

Holy Savior Parish:

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Mass at 8:15 a.m.

Sabattus

Prince of Peace Parish:

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 131 High Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Saco

Good Shepherd Parish:

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Saint Agatha

Our Lady of the Valley Parish:

St. Agatha Church, 379 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street, St. Francis - Mass at 9 a.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Mass at 9 a.m., Liturgy & Distribution of Ashes at Noon, and Mass at 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes at Noon and Mass at 6 p.m.

Sinclair

Our Lady of the Valley Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 413 Shore Road - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Skowhegan

Christ the King Parish:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Mass at Noon

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

South Berwick

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

Our Lady of the Angels Church, 162 Agamenticus Road - Masses at 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Church of the Holy Cross, 124 Cottage Road - Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Stonington

Stella Maris Parish:

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Stratton

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:

St. John Church, 76 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Van Buren

St. Peter Chanel Parish:

St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Waterville

Corpus Christi Parish:

Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street- Mass at 12:15 p.m.

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Masses at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street - Mass at 7:30 a.m. and Service with Distribution of Ashes at 12:15 p.m.

Whitefield

St. Michael Parish:

St. Denis Church, 298 Grand Army Road - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church - Masses at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. 

Winslow

Corpus Christi Parish:

St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street - Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes at 7 am. and Mass at 6 p.m.

Winterport

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Gabriel Church, 435 South Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 US Route 133 - Mass at 8:30 a.m. and Liturgy of the Word with Distribution of Ashes at 6 p.m.

Yarmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth – Mass at 8 a.m.

York

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane, York - Mass at 6:30 p.m.