Light is On - Advent

Opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the third week of Advent

The season of Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Our Lord's birth. It is a time to celebrate the way in which the Lord comes into our lives every day, and it is a time to look forward in hope to the second coming of Jesus in his glory.  Advent, like Lent, is also a time of heightened prayer, penance, and preparation so that we may be truly ready for the Lord's coming.

It is why during the third week of Advent, December 15 - 21, 2024, parishes across the Diocese of Portland will offer the Light is On, additional opportunities to receive the grace of the sacrament of reconciliation. Through the sacrament, we experience God's mercy, our sins are forgiven, and we are healed. 

You will find times listed by county below, or you will find a listing by parish here.

Before participating in the sacrament of reconciliation, it may be useful to reflect upon your thoughts and actions. To assist you, the U.S. bishops put together “A Brief Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments."

Androscoggin County

Auburn - Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Wednesday, December 18, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Auburn - St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Tuesday, December 17, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lewiston - Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday - Thursday, December 18-21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mechanic Falls - Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Thursday, December 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Aroostook County

Ashland - St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road - Friday, December 20, 9 a.m. to noon

Caribou - Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Sunday, December 15, at 2 p.m.; Tuesday, December 17, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday, December 19, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Eagle Lake - St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Sunday, December 22, following the 11 a.m. Mass

Fort Kent - St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Tuesday, December 17, 10 a.m. to noon and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, December 18, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, December 19, 10 a.m. to noon and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Frenchville - St. Luce Church, 441 U.S. Route One - Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Houlton - St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, December 16, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, December 19, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Friday, December 20, 6:30 p.m. go 7:30 p.m.

Island Falls - St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Saturday, December 14 and Saturday December 21, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Madawaska - St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Presque Isle - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street - Monday, December 16, and Wednesday, December 18, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Francis - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Saturday, December 21, following the 6 p.m. Mass.

Van Buren - St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Saturday, December 14, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wallagrass - St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Sunday, December 22, following the 8 a.m. Mass.

Cumberland County

Bridgton - St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Tuesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, December 21, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Brunswick - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street – Thursday, December 19, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Brunswick - St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street – Saturday, December 21, at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 22, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth - St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Monday, December 16, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Tuesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, December 20, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Falmouth - Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Freeport - St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Wednesday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Gorham - St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street - Monday, December 16, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Tuesday, December 17, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Gray - St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Monday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Portland - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Monday-Friday, December 16-20, 11 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Confessions will also be heard on Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 15 and 22, 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Portland - St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Saturday, December 21, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Portland - St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Monday and Tuesday, December 16 & 17, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, December 18, following the 9 a.m. Mass; Thursday, December 19, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Scarborough - St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Monday, December 16, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, December 17-19, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

South Portland - Church of the Holy Cross, 124 Cottage Road- Wednesday, December 18, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday, December 20, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Westbrook - St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street - Tuesday, December 17, Noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, December 18, 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and Friday, December 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Windham - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail - Monday, December 16, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, December 19, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; and Friday, December 19, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Yarmouth - Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Tuesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Franklin County

Farmington - St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Monday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Jay - St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Tuesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Rangeley - St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Thursday, December 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stratton - St. John Church, 76 Maine Street - Wednesday, December 18, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Hancock County

Bar Harbor - Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Tuesday, December 17, at 6 p.m.

Bucksport - St. Vincent de Paul Church, 64 Franklin Street - Thursday, December 19, at 6 p.m.

Ellsworth - St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Wednesday, December 18, at 6 p.m.

Kennebec County

Augusta - St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - Monday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Augusta - St. Mary of the Assumption Church - Monday-Friday, December 16-20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, December 19, 3:30 p.m.

Gardiner - St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Wednesday and Friday, December 18 and 20, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Winthrop - St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 -Tuesday, December 17, and Thursday, December 19, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Knox County

Camden - Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Monday, December 16, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass.

Rockland - St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Penitential Service on Thursday, December 19, at 5:30 p.m. (Advent preparation reflection followed by confession)

Lincoln County

Boothbay Harbor - Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue – Tuesday, December 17, and Thursday, December 19, before and after the noon Mass

Newcastle - St. Patrick Church, 380 academy Hill Road – Wednesday, December 18, and Friday, December 20, before and after the noon Mass an on Saturday, December 21, at 2:30 p.m.

Oxford County

Bethel - Our Lady of the Snows, 265 Walker's Mills Road - Wednesday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fryeburg - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church - Monday, December 16, penance service from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Norway - St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Wednesday, December 18, penance service from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 21, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Rumford - St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Thursday, December 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, December 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Penobscot County

Bangor - St. John Church, 207 York Street - Saturday, December 21, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Bangor - St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, December 16, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, December 17, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bradley - St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Monday, December 16, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brewer - St. Joseph Church, 531 North Man Street - Saturday, December 21, 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Brewer - St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Sunday, December 15, 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Dexter - St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Wednesday, December 18, at 5 p.m.

Hampden - St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Wednesday and Thursday, December 18 and 19, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Howland - St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Road - A penitential service will be held on Tuesday, December 17, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln - St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - A penitential service will be held on Friday, December 20, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Old Town - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Tuesday, December 17, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, December 18, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, December 19, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Friday, December 20, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Piscataquis County

Dover-Foxcroft - St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Thursday, December 19, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Greenville - Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, December 21, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sagadahoc County

Bath - St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street – Monday, December 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, December 20, at 2:30 p.m.

Richmond - St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street – Thursday, December 19, before and after the 10 a.m. Mass

Somerset County

Jackman - St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Sunday, December 15, Noon to 1 p.m., Monday, December 16, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday, December 17, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Pittsfield - St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Thursday, December 19, at 10:30 a.m.

Waldo County

Belfast - St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Wednesday, December 18, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass.

Washington County

Cherryfield - St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Friday, December 13, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Lubec - Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Wednesday, December 11, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Machias - Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Thursday, December 12, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

York County

Kennebunk - St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Tuesday, December 17, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, December 18, at 10 a.m.

Kittery - St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road - Monday, December 16, at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, December 20, at 7 p.m.

Limerick - St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, December 16, 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 17, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Lyman - St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Longer if needed)

Old Orchard Beach - St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Longer if needed)

Sanford - Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Thursday, December 18, 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Friday, December 19, 6:30 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., and Saturday, December 20, 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

South Berwick - Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Tuesday, December 17, at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, December 20, at 1 p.m.

Wells - St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Monday, December 16, at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, December 17, at 9 a.m.

York - St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Monday, December 16, at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, December 17, at 1 p.m.