Diocesan News

Suzanne Lafreniere has been with the diocese for nearly 15 years.

A fundraiser for Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, the festival featured homemade dishes from six Latin American countries.

St. Cecilia’s Circle 428 of the Daughters of Isabella, located in Old Town, recently presented Ruth Deshane with her 75-year pin.

The retreat will offer a “blueprint” for prayer to help people discern God’s presence in their lives.

The celebration included a Mass at St. Margaret Church in Saco that was celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri and concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus Robert Deeley.

Nearly 1,200 Irish Catholics are buried in the cemetery.

Three new hospital chaplains are named in the diocese.

The St. Peter's Grotto will include an area honoring the Blessed Mother, a courtyard dedicated to St. Peter, and Stations of the Cross dedicated to St. Rocco.

The festival, which kicked off with a Mass celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri, is a celebration of St. Peter Parish's Italian Heritage.

Brother James will join the diocese on September 1, 2024.

Bishop James Ruggieri ordained Deacon Matthew Valles to the priesthood during a Mass celebrated at St. John Church in Bangor. Approximately 600 people attended the ordination Mass.

Bishop James Ruggieri, who is fluent in Spanish, celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Portland for members of the Hispanic community

Tien Hoa Nguyen, Thanh Duc Pham, and Erin Michael Donlon are ordained during a Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

The announcement includes nine priest assignments, four retirements from active ministry and one departure in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

Bishop James Ruggieri celebrated Mass on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, his first Mass since being ordained and installed as the Bishop of Portland

During a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap., in the presence of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Bishop James Ruggieri is ordained and installed as bishop of the Diocese of Portland.

Bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and family and friends gathered at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough to pray for and with Bishop-elect Ruggieri.

Parishioners of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston will hold a eucharistic procession from Holy Family Church to the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Clergy, religious, and lay faithful from across the diocese gathered to pray with and for Bishop Deeley as he prepares to transition to a new role as bishop emeritus.

The adults and teens from more than 10 parishes received the sacrament of confirmation and in some cases first Holy Communion. The individuals had all been baptized Catholic but had not received one or both of the other initiation sacraments.

Adults are invited to gather in a casual setting to build fellowship and learn about the Catholic faith.

Bishop Robert Deeley celebrates the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

The Easter Vigil is considered the greatest of all the Catholic Church's solemnities, beginning in darkness but then celebrating the Light coming into the world.

St. Louis Parish in Portland has held the Easter basket blessing for years, while St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor started a ceremony this year, with plans to make it an annual tradition.

On Good Friday, the faithful gather to remember and reflect upon the Passion and death of Christ. It is the only day of the year on which no Mass is celebrated.

During the Mass of the Holy Oils, the oils that were blessed and consecrated the night before at the Chrism Mass are distributed to the priests of northern Maine, who also renew their priestly promises during the Mass.

Celebrated on the Tuesday of Holy Week, the Chrism Mass brings together clergy, religious, and lay faithful from around the Diocese of Portland. During the Mass, oils that will be used in the sacraments in the coming year are blessed and consecrated by the bishop.

Celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Mass recalls Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem but also recalls what would transpire next - his suffering and death on the cross.

St. Pius X Church in Portland has installed the new system helping parishioners hear better, which will be available in early spring

The conference, featuring keynote speaker Danielle Bean and Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley, focused on the theme "Loved as I am."

A procession outside Holy Martyrs of North America Church will precede the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the church.

One hundred fifty-eight people are preparing to be baptized and/or receive the initiation sacraments of confirmation and first Eucharist at Easter. It is the highest number of people preparing to be baptized in the diocese in 17 years.

Members of Corpus Christi Parish donated more than $10,000 and 66 boxes of food to help area food organizations hit hard by recent flooding.

Bishop-Elect Ruggieri appeared at a news conference alongside Bishop Robert Deeley, expressing his gratitude to Pope Francis and saying he will let the Holy Spirit be his guide in his new ministry.

During the Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the bishop also wished parishioners a Happy Valentine's Day, saying that it is not contradictory to have Ash Wednesday fall on this day because it is really all about God's love.

The diocese's 13th bishop will be ordained and installed on May 7, 2024.

All Saints Parish in Brunswick, Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville, St. Dominic Academy in Lewiston, and St. John Paul II Parish in Scarborough will participate in the national effort to tackle hunger.

The “Revitalization of the Eucharist and Vocations” Retreat, held at St. Joseph Church in Brewer, sought to help teens connect with the Eucharist and to discover where God is calling them in life.

The award, which was presented by Bishop Robert Deeley and Catholic Charities Maine CEO Stephen Letourneau, includes a monetary grant and a stained-glass plaque.

The MLK Day of Service, held in the hall of St. Hyacinth Church, aimed to bring together members of the community in support and fellowship to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Seminarian Matthew Valles, who is in formation for the priesthood, was ordained tot he transitional diaconate during a Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Bishop Robert Deeley will ordain to Matthew Valles to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Bishop Deeley celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on January 1, a day on which the Church observes both the World Day of Peace and the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

Bishop Robert Deeley presided at the Festivals of Lessons & Carols, a tradition that dates to 19th century England.

The move will assist the aging sisters in Waterville and allow their mission of eucharistic adoration to continue.

Members of the Hispanic community from across Maine came together for the celebration at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

A special collection will be held during Masses in Maine churches for the Retirement Fund for Religious.

It was a joyous occasion for parishioners who were able to celebrate Mass for the first time since the church was vandalized in October.

Children from the faith formation class at St. James the Greater Church in Baileyville donated several bags of food to the pantry.