From games to delicious food to a crowd that was double the size of expectations, the 2023 Holy Spirit Family Fest, held in the parking lot of St. Mary Church in Wells, exceeded the wildest of expectations on Sunday, May 21.
Diocesan News
Bishop Robert Deeley and nine priests of the diocese were honored for their years of priestly ministry during the Jubilarian Mass celebrated at Holy Redeemer Church in Bar Harbor.
“Coming to our group can maybe put them at ease.”
In addition to welcoming the faithful to hundreds of Masses offered in parish churches each day, priests also make time to journey to those who cannot come to them for the celebration of Mass, including those living in nursing homes.
Fr. Richard Rice will lead a special healing service at St. Patrick Church, located on 380 Academy Hill Road in Newcastle, on Sunday, June 11, at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome to gather at the service, which will also include prayer teams to assist those in need.
The conference aims to offer confidence for participants to engage seekers, ways for parishes to make their catechumenate ministry a source of joy and not stress, proven pillars of creating “intentional disciples,” and practical actions parishes can take to make themselves “communities of calling forth disciples.”
With a capacity for around 200 people and its beautiful location, the chapel is a popular site for residents, summer visitors, and those getting married, and remains open through Labor Day Weekend.
Mizpah is a non-profit organization that is open to the general public, free of charge. The retreat features 15 buildings, beautiful viewing sites, and nature walks through trails winding through 109 acres.
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord occurs 40 days after Christ's resurrection. It is the important, final piece of the Paschal Mystery, which began with Christ's Passion and death. Because Christ ascended, we, as members of the body of Christ, also look forward to ascending into heaven after our bodily resurrection.
More than 150 members of the Hispanic community gathered for a retreat at Cathedral's Guild Hall in Portland.
In an effort to help the women served by Mother Seton House in Fryeburg, St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough and St. Hyacinth Church in Westbrook are holding a pair of special fundraisers in the coming weeks.
In an effort to help local women and families in need, Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord will hold a personal care items drive at churches in Old Town, Bradley, and Indian Island on Mother’s Day Weekend (May 13-14).
Sister Judy has been the leader of the Maine sector of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon since 2017, but her time as a Sister began 39 years ago.
The 10th Maine Catholic Women's Conference, held May 6 in Portland, drew 170 women from cities and towns across Maine, as well as Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Bishop Robert Deeley has announced seven priest assignments and two priest retirements, all effective on July 5, 2023.
From raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase ultrasounds for pregnancy centers across Maine to holding collections to support future mothers in need, parishioners at Maine Catholic churches have a long history of offering assistance to new and expecting moms.
A presentation that aims to help people become effective agents of compassion and to speak mercy, empathy, and love to post-abortive men and women is set for Lewiston on Saturday, May 13.
Over 200 Gather at Turkey Pot Pie Fundraiser in East Millinocket to Raise Money for Capital Campaign
Launched in October, the capital campaign has already raised over $105,000 to fund several necessary building improvements at the parish.
A celebratory brunch is held in Wells to recognize and thank the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec for more than a century of service to the people of Maine.
Father Kevin Upham led a Blessing of the Tools and Equipment prayer service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Anyone who uses tools, equipment, and other implements or utensils in their work were encouraged to bring a tool of their trade to the service for blessing.
Bishop Deeley invites teenagers and adults from around Maine who already have been baptized in the Catholic Church to receive the sacrament of confirmation at either of two different Masses.
In celebration of 100 years of life and ministry on Peaks Island, the St. Christopher centennial is being marked and commemorated in a number of ways with joyful reverence and an eye to the future.
For centuries, the month of May has been dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. During this month, Christians offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially loving homage of prayer and veneration. We turn to Mary in prayer because she helps us to say “yes” to God in our daily lives.
Participants grew deeper in their knowledge of the Eucharist while building community, making new friends, and sharing about their own faith journeys.
The doors opened at the St. Bridget Center in 2018 and has since been a home for charitable initiatives like “Sew for a Cause,” weekly community cribbage on Thursday nights, and wedding receptions, graduation parties, and other special events to offset maintenance costs.
St. Joseph is the patron of many things, including carpenters, craftsmen, engineers, and workers in general.
The motto of “Making Music, Praying Twice” at Holy Martyrs Church in Falmouth serves as an invitation for parents, grandparents, and children who seek the experience of integrating music, prayer, and Catholic culture into daily family life.
Prayers will be offered on Sunday that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord’s call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes.
Parishioners at St. John Paul II Parish (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, Scarborough; Holy Cross Church, South Portland; St. Bartholomew Church, Cape Elizabeth) set out to help neighbors in need during Lent and help them they did.
The center, located on 10 Evans Road, has offered spiritual nurturance to guests from across the country and world through programs, days of recollection, preached and directed retreats, and other interdenominational groups. Multiple factors led to the difficult and heartbreaking decision.
Anyone who uses tools, equipment, and other implements or utensils in their work are encouraged to gather for this grace-filled benediction.
Recognizing the power of art to inspire change and the creative energy of youth, Catholic Charities Maine’s Parish Social Ministry program is sponsoring an art activity for teens entitled “Poster Power.”
The assignments take effect immediately.
he seminars provide information about planning a Catholic funeral, details on Catholic cemeteries in Maine, Church teaching on cremation, and the many benefits of pre-planning.
The Masses will each be followed by the offering of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and will include prayers to God for physical, spiritual, or emotional healing for all in need.
Bishop Robert Deeley Celebrates Easter Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland
Bishop Robert Deeley celebrated Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.
The Living Stations of the Cross, following the path Jesus took to Calvary, was presented in three languages at Sacred Heart Church in Portland
“Tonight, we begin a celebration which culminates with the Vigil of Easter. This is a unity. It is a continuous celebration of light, darkness, happiness, suffering, and ends with joy, and mission.”
The bishop celebrated the Mass in Houlton on Wednesday night gathered with priests, deacons, and parishioners from northern and eastern Maine parishes.
With every pew of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland filled by a capacity assembly, Bishop Robert Deeley joyfully welcomed priests and deacons, religious, and faithful from around Maine to the annual Chrism Mass, one of the most significant and solemn liturgies of the Catholic Church, held on the Tuesday of Holy Week.
The Mass of the Oils includes the distribution of the blessed and consecrated oils to parishes located in northern and eastern Maine.
Men, women, and children of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish reenacted Christ’s journey to the cross, from his condemnation at the hands of Pontius Pilate to his crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
The Mass will be celebrated in English, Azande, and Arabic, and will feature traditional music and dancing. More than 200 people, most of them members of the Sudanese community, gather in the Cathedral for the Easter Sunday Mass each year.
Bishop Deeley officially began Holy Week by blessing palms at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Participants will find friendly, caring people who will walk alongside them offering support, comfort, and guidance as they struggle through one of life’s most difficult experiences.
Bishop Robert Deeley ordained Daniel Mahoney to the permanent diaconate during a Mass celebrated at St. Martha Church in Kennebunk.
A presentation that aims to help people become effective agents of compassion and to speak mercy, empathy, and love to post-abortive men and women is set for March 22.
Thanks to the generosity of parishioners, over 1,250 winter hats, scarves, mitten pairs, and other clothing items were donated during Corpus Christi Parish’s “Clotheslines of Comfort” initiative.
