The celebration will include a presentation on St. Francis, a Transitus Service, Blessing of the Animals, and Mass.
Diocesan News
Parishioners who attend Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Windham donate healthy snacks to give to children in the community who need them.
The Blue Mass is celebrated annually to express gratitude and to pray for all those who work in public safety.
Father Wilfred Labbe joined with members of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish and students from St. Thomas School on Monday, September 11, to break ground for a new parish rectory, the first stage of an ambitious project that will include the building of a parish center.
Catholic men from around the state are invited to attend the retreat which will be led by Devin Schadt, a cofounder of the Fathers of St. Joseph
On September 15, the Catholic Church commemorates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, a day to reflect upon Mary’s sorrows as the mother of Christ
Father Bill Garrott, a Dominican preacher, will lead parish missions in Caribou, Houlton, and Millinocket
Bishop Robert Deeley joined with parishioners in celebrating improvements to the already beautiful sanctuary of St. Gregory the Great Church in Gray.
Bishop Robert Deeley will bless the mensa of a new altar at St. Gregory the Great Church in Gray, as well as a new statue of the church's patron.
Special Masses will be held September 8 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Presque Isle and St. Peter Church in East Millinocket.
The course surveys salvation history in the Old and New Testament, core doctrines, sacramental theology, prayer, and spiritual growth. The last part of the course delves into practical teaching techniques to build confidence in teaching and communicating the faith effectively.
Directors of music, cantors, and volunteer choir members from around New England will gather at Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth on October 12-14 for a three-day workshop that will offer an enriching and transformative experience including the fundamentals of singing, music theory and structure, cantor training, and even introduction to chant.
Members of Maine’s African community gather at the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul in Lewiston for a Mass celebrated in Kirundi, the primary language of Burundi, and featuring the Choir Notre Dame de la Paix, an experience that has created new bonds with the parish and each other.
The festival will include music, costumes, handmade crafts, and the opportunity to sample many Central and South American dishes like tacos, tamales, pupusas, arepas, rellenitos, chicken stew, flan, and much more.
People of all faiths are encouraged to gather at the Mass on September 17. Bishop Deeley will serve as the main celebrant.
The event will feature a variety of music, dancing, and foods from many African countries, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon, Sudan, and Angola.
The Harvest Mass is a tradition that dates back decades and offers an opportunity to pray for a good harvest for farmers, who have had a challenging year due to the abundance of rain.
The first day of September is celebrated by Christians around the world as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It also marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, which will conclude on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4.
The collection coincides with the feast day of St. Teresa of Calcutta on September 5.
The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation will host an evening of learning and reflection for older teens and adults focused on each person’s vital service in the community worship of Mass.
Each year, hundreds of people participate in this event by purchasing candles in honor of a loved one which are placed around Mizpah’s pond for the luminary walk.
The renovations are made possible by the successful “Rebuild His Church” capital campaign held by the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, of which the Newman Center is a part.
Please join in praying for the people of Maui, and if you would like to make a financial contribution to assist the residents, donations may be made through Catholic Charities Hawai'i or Catholic Charities USA, which pledges that 100% of your gift will be directed to where it is needed most.
Hispanic Ministry has also announced a special healing service in Lewiston on August 25.
Over 400 miles of travel was not enough to stop parishioners from sharing their expertise to benefit people in need.
This free event is for the whole family and will feature African dancers and music, guest speakers, kids’ games and activities, refreshments, and much more.
Parishioners in the Diocese of Portland combined to raise $44,968.89 for the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl program during the forty days of Lent in 2023.
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) is a holy day of obligation which celebrates Mary’s Assumption into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life.
The festival, a celebration of Italian heritage, faith, and community, included Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley, homemade Italian food, games, live music, and more.
All are welcome at any of the gatherings, which will include question and answer periods as well as the opportunity to speak privately to a canonist.
August 15 is both the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and National Acadian Day.
It will take over 120 dozen eggs, 200 pounds of sugar, and 350 pounds of flour to create the anise cookies, filled cookies, lemon cookies, cannoli, pizzelles, tiramisu, almond cream cake, and limoncello cake.
Bishop Robert Deeley, surrounded by over 40 priests and deacons, served as the main celebrant for the Memorial Mass remembering Bishop Joseph, who died on July 2 in Manchester, New Hampshire, at the age of 94.
A Maine retreat that aims to offer a “blueprint” for prayer to help people discern God’s presence in their lives will be offered virtually via Zoom starting this October and running through June 2024.
Bishop Robert Deeley joined with priests and parishioners in marking the centennial of St. Mary Church in Oxford, which opened on Easter Sunday in 1923.
The Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry Matthew 25 Award was given to the Social Justice and Peace Ministry of St. Anthony of Padua Parish for its work meeting the needs of the homeless and others in the community.
Bishop George Nkuo spent time meeting with the missionary priests he has sent to Maine, and he celebrated Mass with them at St. Joseph Church in Ellsworth.
Pax Christi Maine and the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, with support from St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor, invites all to participate in a novena for nuclear disarmament, including a special prayer vigil on August 5 in Bangor.
For years, Barbara Russell has served as director of the St. Thérèse Food Closet in Sanford which is located in St. Ignatius Gym on 25 Riverside Avenue. But offering help to those in need has never looked like this before.
Parishioners and community members in Benedicta gathered together to participate in a different centennial celebration of sorts, as a building that has hosted a parish school, faith formation classes, and countless other special events over the past century turned 100.
Dozens of parishioners filled the island church for the Mass marking the 100th anniversary since the founding of the parish. The bishop also blessed the new walkway leading to the chruch.
During a retreat at St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk last week, seminarians of the Diocese of Portland, along with Monsignor Andrew Dubois (diocesan director of the Office of Seminarians), joined in the jubilee celebration of Bishop Robert Deeley.
In an effort to do all they can to help Maine individuals and families in need, several Maine parishes operate thrift stores, with the assistance of many generous volunteers, to raise funds for parish and community initiatives, provide venues for giving, and to offer local people the opportunity to purchase quality goods at reasonable prices.
During weekend Masses, the Scapular of Mount Carmel was also imposed during special blessing services throughout St. Paul the Apostle Parish.
Mass on the Mountain will be held at Tumbledown Mountain on Byron Road.
This year’s beneficiary will be the newly established Family Promise of Mid-Coast Maine, a community-based organization that will shelter and support local families experiencing homelessness.
All are welcome at the supper and the outdoor celebration.
They will gather on Friday, July 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., just like the third Friday of every month, in the hall of St. John Church in Bangor to cut, iron, sew, and of course, chat.
Fr. Maurice Agbaw-Ebai, Ph.D., will offer special retreats on the Pope Benedict XVI’s rich teaching on the Eucharist at two Maine churches on July 22-23.
With the halls and walls at St. Benedict Church decorated by volunteers and staff, over 40 children in Benedicta were able to spend a week walking the “cobblestone streets” in Babylon, learn about Daniel’s courage, and grow on their own faith journeys during the Vacation Bible School on June 26-30.
