Diocesan News

Ordained to the priesthood in 2006, Fr. Justin has served as a college chaplain, parish priest, and school principal.

All engaged couples getting ready for marriage are encouraged to participate.

All are welcome to swing by the hall of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fryeburg for a massive giveaway of free baby items on Saturday, February 4.

The “Love Our Library” campaign at the school begins on February 1 and will run through the month, offering several ways for the community to help keep the Kathleen A. Wittmer Memorial Library at Holy Cross flourishing.

Prayer shawls have been made for centuries to offer physical and spiritual warmth and serve as a tangible reminder of God’s care, encouragement, and inspiration.

Talks will follow the life of Jesus through the eyes of St. John the Apostle.

“Candlemas,” another name for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, occurs 40 days after Christmas on February 2, marking the first time Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the rites of purification and dedication as prescribed by Jewish law.

The cuddly teddy bears are donated by members of the community, and children are invited to send one to any person they know to be ill and in need, regardless of whether the person is Catholic or even from Maine.

A national speaker, Mass with Bishop Deeley, and activities inspiring faith and fellowship are among the many moving experiences awaiting participants on March 18 in Brunswick.

The event serves as a moment to celebrate the gift of consecrated life by thanking women religious in the diocese, all of whom are being invited to attend.

It’s a family friendly event, with people of all ages encouraged to attend.

Women of any faith or no faith are welcome to receive support and assistance.

All proceeds will support evangelization, catechesis, marriage and family ministry, pro-life work, vocations, youth ministry, prison ministry, pastoral outreach, formation for clergy, religious, and lay leaders, and disaster response.

“9 Days for Life” will run from Thursday, January 19, through Friday, January 27, and is a novena for the protection of life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life.

Students at St. Brigid School in Portland will participate in a special three-day music residence with professional Gospel singer and The Voice contender Delvin Choice on January 23-25.

Parishioners and community members in the Brunswick area are being asked to pitch in to help local residents stay warm through the cold winter months.

The bishop visited each classroom at the school, taking time to see what the students were working on, enjoying musical performances, and even participating.

Over the course of time, parishioners have donated thousands and thousands of pairs of socks for community members in need.

What started as a series of discussions about caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's has evolved into a program that brings warmth, support, and caring for participants.

The service project, which included bake sales, pork pie sales, and “Angel tags” raised over $20,000.

“Seeing the many ways in which they are learning that each of us is called to be holy in life is beautiful.”

The event will include a pancake breakfast, haircuts, health and dental screenings, COVID-19 and flu shots, and fun for children, including educational activities and games. There will also be new and gently used clothes available for those who need it as well as referrals to services offered in the community like dental care, legal aid, and financial assistance.

Bishop Robert Deeley said, for us, the encounter of the Magi with Jesus is not something in the past but something we experience every time we come together for Mass.

The “Jolly Gifts” program collected over 1,000 new toys and clothing items as well as many gift cards.

A new endowment established through the Catholic Foundation of Maine will provide a scholarship to a Maine high school senior who plans to enter a science-related field, most especially one focused on cancer research.

Honoring the life of a man of faith and charity was a personal experience for Bishop Deeley, who worked with Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Vatican City nearly 20 years ago.

Masses honoring the life and memory of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have been announced for Bangor, Caribou, East Millinocket, Ellsworth, Gray, Greenville, Lewiston, Machias, Portland, Rumford, Sanford, and Scarborough.

Fr. Brian Clary of the Archdiocese of Boston will present “Eucharist: The True Presence” at St. Matthew Church on 19 Dora Lane in Limerick.

The meals are served on the second Tuesday of the month and will now be offered in the cafeteria at St. Thomas School on 69 North Avenue in Sanford from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome to enjoy a delicious pasta dinner, fresh bread, salad, beverages, and even dessert. Previously, the meals were served at St. Ignatius Gym.

Monsignor Marc Caron, vicar general of the Diocese of Portland, visited the Christian Life Center (CLC) in Frenchville to bless its new dining hall on December 29.

To honor the memory of Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Robert Deeley will preside at a special Mass on Wednesday, January 4, at 12:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on 307 Congress Street in Portland.

Bishop Robert Deeley celebrates Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, saying the new year will be better if we let God be our guide. The bishop also reflected on the life of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, calling him a "great man, priest, and leader."

Grief ministry programs are being planned for churches in Portland, Brunswick, and Newcastle, where participants will find friendly, caring groups who will walk alongside them offering support, comfort, and guidance as they struggle through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

Seminarian Vinh Nguyen publicly expresses his desire to pursue holy orders during the Rite of Candidacy celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley.

During the Mass, Fr. Greenleaf will stop to explain the various parts of the Mass.

Prince of Peace Parish is offering a divorce ministry for men and women who have suffered from or are going through the difficulty of divorce.

From live broadcasts in Vatican City to special programs designed to enhance your Christmas experience, EWTN, CatholicTV, and Relevant Radio have released their schedules for the week of December 19-25.

The Social Justice and Peace Commission of St. Joseph Parish in Bridgton covered the parish's Prince of Peace tree with blue and yellow lights, the colors of the Ukranian flag.

All are welcome to attend this fun blend of Scripture, prayer, and Christmas carols chosen to tie into the themes of the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Those gathered will sing traditional Christmas carols for 15 minutes, and all are welcome to attend. This is a family-friendly event. Organizers will provide the lyrics.

Blue Christmas is a gentle and reflective liturgy of hope for all who are carrying the burden of loss, pain, or loneliness.

The feast day celebration at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston commemorated the Blessed Mother's appearance to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531.

This important feast commemorates Mary being conceived without the stain of original sin and created full of grace, making her a fitting mother for Jesus.