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 15-19, 2025, 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

Lewiston - Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday-Thursday, December 15-18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mechanic Falls - Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Aroostook County

Benedicta - St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - Friday, December 12, at 5 p.m.

Frenchville - St. Luce Church, 441 U.S. Route One - Sunday, December 20, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Houlton - St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Sunday, December 14, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, December 15, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, December 18, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 20, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Island Falls - St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Saturday, December 13, and Saturday, December 20, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Madawaska - St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Sunday, December 21, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Madawaska - St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 309 St. Thomas Street - Saturday, December 20, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, December 23, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saint Agatha - St. Agatha Church, 379 Main Street - Sunday, December 14, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday, December 22, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cumberland County

Bridgton - St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Tuesday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Brunswick - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Thursday, December 18, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth - St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Monday, December 15, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Tuesday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, December 19, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Freeport - St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Wednesday, December 17, beginning at 6 p.m.

Gorham - St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street - Monday, December 15, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Tuesday, December 16, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Gray - St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Monday, December 15, beginning at 6 p.m.

Peaks Island - St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Monday, December 15, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Portland - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Monday-Thursday, December 15-18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Portland - St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Monday, December 15, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 16, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, December 17, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, December 18, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 20, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Scarborough - St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Monday, December 15, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, December 16-18, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

South Portland - Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - Monday, December 15, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, December 19, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Westbrook - St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street - Tuesday, December 16, noon to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, December 17, 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 15, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, December 18, 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 16, beginning at 6 p.m.

Franklin County

Farmington - St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Monday, December 15, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Jay - St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Tuesday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hancock County

Bar Harbor - Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Tuesday, December 16, and Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bucksport - St. Vincent de Paul Church, 60 Franklin Street - Monday, December 22, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Castine - Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 137 Perkins Street - Friday, December 19, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Ellsworth - St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, December 15, 17, and 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the chapel in the parish hall.

Southwest Harbor - St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road - Wednesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stonington - St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street - Tuesday, December 16, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Kennebec County

Augusta - St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Monday-Friday, December 15 to 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Gardiner - St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Wednesday, December 17, 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Waterville - Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street - Wednesday, December 17, and Friday, December 19, 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Winslow - St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street - Tuesday, December 16, and Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Winthrop - St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - Thursday, December 18, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Knox County

Camden - Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Monday, December 15, at 5:30 p.m. - Penance Service with several priests available for confession. Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m.

Rockland - St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway -Thursday, December 18, at 5:30 p.m. - Penance Service with several priests available for confession. Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. 

Lincoln County

Boothbay Harbor - Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Tuesday, December 16, and Thursday, December 18, before and after the noon Masses

Newcastle - St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Wednesday, December 17, and Friday, December 19, before and after the noon Masses

Oxford County

Bethel - Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road - Tuesday, December 16, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fryeburg - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church - Monday, December 15, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Norway - St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Wednesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Rumford - St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Monday, December 15, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Penobscot County

Bangor - St. John Church, 217 York Street - Saturday, December 20, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Bangor - St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, December 15, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, December 16, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bradley - St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Thursday, December 18, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brewer - St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Saturday, December 20, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Brewer - St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Sunday, December 21, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

East Millinocket - St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - Wednesday, December 10, at 4 p.m.

Hampden - St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Wednesday and Thursday, December 17 & 18, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Howland - St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Street - Monday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln - St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - Thursday, December 18, at 6 p.m.

Millinocket - St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Thursday, December 11, at 3 p.m.

Old Town - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, December 15, 17, and 19 from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Saturday, December 20, 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Orono - Our Lady of Wisdom Church, 83 College Avenue - Tuesday, December 16, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, December 20, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Piscataquis County

Greenville - Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Thursday, December 18 and Friday, December 19, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Saturday, December 20, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sagadahoc County

Bath - St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Monday, December 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Richmond - St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Thursday, December 18, before and after the 10 a.m. Mass

Somerset County

Jackman - St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Sunday, December 14, noon to 1 p.m.; Monday, December 15, and Tuesday, December 16, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Waldo County

Belfast - St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Wednesday, December 17, at 5:30 p.m. - Penance Service with several priests available for confession. Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m.

Washington County

Cherryfield - St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Thursday, December 11, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Lubec - Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Friday, December 12, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Machias - Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Tuesday, December 10, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

York County

Biddeford - St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Wednesday, December 17, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kennebunk - St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Monday, December 15, 9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. penance service with opportunity for confessions from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, December 17, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Kittery - St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road - Monday, December 15 at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, December 17, at 7 p.m.

Limerick - St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, December 14, at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 16, at 8:30 a.m.

Lyman -  St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Tuesday, December 16, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Old Orchard Beach - St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Monday, December 15, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saco - Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Thursday, December 18, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sanford - Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Tuesday, December 16, at 6 p.m.; Thursday, December 18, 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Friday, December 19, at 6:30 a.m., and Saturday, December 20, at 3 p.m.

South Berwick - Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Tuesday, December 16, at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, December 17, at 1 p.m.

Wells - St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Tuesday, December 16, and Thursday, December 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

York - St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Monday, December 15, at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, December 16, at 1 p.m.