The Light is On - Lent

“With God, nothing is impossible; life triumphs over death and grace over sin: let us live the sacrament of reconciliation intensely so that our relationship with him may be alive beyond our betrayals."  - Pope Leo XIV

The Season of Lent is a time of penance and spiritual renewal that helps us prepare for the celebrating of Christ's paschal mystery. The sacrament of reconciliation opens our hearts to receive him, which is why it is such a wonderful gift to experience as Holy Week approaches. Through the sacrament, we experience God's mercy, our sins are forgiven, and we are healed.

During the fifth week of Lent, from Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27, parishes across our diocese will offer additional confession times to allow more people to experience the grace of the sacrament. As parish determine times, they will be listed by below. 

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."

Click here to view a listing by parish. 

Androscoggin County

Auburn - Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Monday, March 23, 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Auburn - St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Monday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Lewiston  Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mechanic Falls - Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Penance Service on Wednesday, March 25, at 6 p.m. 

Aroostook County

Ashland - St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road - Thursday, March 25, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Benedicta - St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - Friday, March 20, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Caribou - Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Monday, March 23, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Eagle Lake - St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Monday, March 23, following the 9 a.m. Mass

Fort Kent - St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, March 23, 24, 26 & 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Frenchville - St. Luce Church, 441 U.S. Route One - Saturday, March 21, at 3:15 p.m. and Thursday, March 26, 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Grand Isle - St. Gerard-Mt Carmel Church, 363 Main Street - Saturday, March 21, at 5:15 p.m.

Houlton - St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Sunday, March 22, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Monday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, March 25, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Island Falls - St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Saturdays, March 21 and March 28, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Limestone - St. Louis Church, 106 Main Street - Wednesday, March 25, following the 9 a.m. Mass

Madawaska - St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Sunday, March 22, at 8:15 a.m.; Monday, March 23, 30 minutes before or after the 8:30 a.m. Mass

Madawaska - St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 309 St. Thomas Street - Saturday, March 21, at 3:15 p.m.; Tuesday, March 24, 30 minutes before or after the 6 p.m. Mass

Mars Hill - St. Joseph Church, 17 Main Street - Friday, March 27, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

North Caribou - Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Tuesday, March 24, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass

Presque Isle - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Marcy Church, 333 Main Street - Tuesday, March 24, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by Mass

Saint Agatha - St. Agatha Church, 379 Main Street, St. - Sunday, March 22, at 7:45 a.m. and Friday, March 27, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Francis - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Tuesday, March 24, following the 9 a.m. Mass

Sinclair - St. Joseph Church, 413 Shore Road - Sunday, March 22, at 9:45 a.m. and Tuesday, March 24, Thirty minutes before or after the 8:30 a.m. Mass.

Cumberland County

Bridgton - St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Penance Service on Monday, March 23, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m.

Brunswick - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Thursday, March 26, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth - St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Monday, March 23, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, March 27, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Falmouth - Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.. and Saturday, March 28, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Freeport - St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Wednesday, March 25, at 6 p.m.

Gray - St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Monday, March 23, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Portland - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Monday, March 23 - Thursday, March 26, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Portland - St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Monday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 24, at 9:30 a.m.; Wednesday March 25 at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 26, at 9:30 a.m.; and Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m.

Scarborough - St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Monday, March 23, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, March 24-26, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Saturday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

South Portland - Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - Monday, March 23, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Wednesday, March 25, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 26, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, March 27, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; and Saturday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Standish - St. Joseph's College Healy Chapel, 278 White's Bridge Road - Monday, March 23, and Thursday, March 26, at 7 p.m.

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street -  Wednesday, March 25, at noon

Windham - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail - Tuesday, March 24, and Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m.

Yarmouth - Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, at 8:45 a.m.

Franklin County

Farmington - St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Monday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and  Wednesday, March 25, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Jay - St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Tuesday, March 24, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, March 26, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, March 27, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Rangeley - St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Thursday, March 26, at 8 a.m. and Friday, March 27, at 7 a.m.

Stratton - St. John Church, 76 Main Street - Wednesday, March 25, at 5 p.m.

Hancock County

Bar Harbor - Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Tuesday, March 24 - Thursday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m.

Ellsworth - St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Monday, March 23, Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m.

Stonington - St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street - Saturday, March 28, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Kennebec County.

Augusta - St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Monday-Friday, March 23 - 26, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Gardiner - St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Wednesday, March 25, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Waterville - Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street - Wednesday, March 25, and Friday, March 27, at 1 p.m.

Winslow -  St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street - Tuesday, March 24, and Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m.

Winthrop - St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - Thursday, March 26, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Knox County

Camden - Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Monday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m.

Rockland - St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway- Thursday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln County

Boothbay Harbor - Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Tuesday, March 24, and Thursday, March 26, before or after the noon Mass

Newcastle - St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Friday, March 27, before or after the noon Mass

Oxford County

Bethel - Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road - Tuesday, March 24, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Fryeburg - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Tuesday, March 24, at 6 p.m.

Norway - St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, at 3 p.m.

Rumford - St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Monday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Thursday, March 26, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, March 27, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Penobscot County

Bangor - St. John Church, 217 York Street- Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Bangor - St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, March 23, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, March 24, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bradley - St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Thursday, March 26, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brewer - St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Saturday, March 28, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Brewer - St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Sunday, March 22, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Dexter - St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Wednesday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m.

East Millinocket - St. Peter Church, 19 Colby Street - Tuesday, March 24, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hampden - St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Wednesday and Thursday, March 25 & 26, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Howland - St. Leo the Great Church, 18 River Road - Tuesday, March 24, at 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln - St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - Thursday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m.

Millinocket - St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Thursday, March 26, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Old Town - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, March 23, 25, & 27, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Orono - Our Lady of Wisdom Church, 83 College Avenue - Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Piscataquis County

Dover-Foxcroft - St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Friday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m.

Greenville - Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Thursday, March 26, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Friday, March 27, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Saturday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sagadahoc County

Bath - St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Monday, March 23, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Richmond - St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Thursday, March 26, before or after the 10 a.m. Mass

Somerset County

Jackman - St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Pittsfield - St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Thursday, March 26, at 10:40 a.m.

Skowhegan - Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Saturday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Waldo County

Belfast - St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m.

Washington County

Baileyville - St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street - Wednesday, March 25, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Thursday, March 26, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Calais - Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue - Monday, March 23, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Thursday, March 26, 5:30 pm. to 6:30 p.m.

Cherryfield - St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Thursday, March 25, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Eastport - St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street - Tuesday, March 24, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Thursday, March 26, noon to 1 p.m.

Lubec - Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Friday, March 27, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Machias - Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Wednesday, March 25, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

York County

Biddeford - St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kennebunk - St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Tuesday, March 24, and Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m.

Kittery - St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road - Monday, March 23, at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, March 25, at 7 p.m.

Limerick - St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, March 23, 4 to 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 24, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Friday, March 27, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Lyman - St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road- Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Old Orchard Beach - St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Monday, March 23, and Friday, March 27, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saco - Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Thursday, March 26, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sanford - Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 26, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m..; Friday, March 27, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.; and Saturday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

South Berwick - Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 25, at 1 p.m.

Wells - St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Wednesday, March 25, at 6 p.m.

York - St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, March 24, at 1 p.m.