Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of spiritual renewal which helps us prepare for the celebration of the paschal mystery of Christ, his Passion, death and resurrection.

The ashes we receive on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday are both a reminder of our earthly mortality and a call to repentance.

The ashes are made by burning the palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday. The ashes are blessed by the priest, who then dips his thumb in them and makes the Sign of the Cross on each person’s forehead, while saying these words: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19) or "Repent and believe in the Gospel." 

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and a day of abstinence from meat. Fasting applies to Catholics between the ages of 18 and 60 and means you should only eat one full meal and two smaller meals if needed. All Catholics age 14 and above should abstain from eating meat on the day.

Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, but Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass to begin their Lenten journey. All Mass times below are for Wednesday, February 18, 2026

A special collection taken up in all churches on Ash Wednesday will jointly benefit the Church in Central and Eastern Europe and the Solidarity Fund for Africa. The collection supports pastoral, educational and construction projects in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which were formerly under Soviet control.  It also supports projects that benefit family life, women, and children in Africa.

Click here for Ash Wednesday Mass times listed by parish.

Ash Wednesday Mass Times and Distribution of Ashes

Ashland

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road - Mass at 9 a.m.

Auburn

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Masses at 7:45 a.m. and noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - Mass at Noon

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Masses at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Masses at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

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

Benedicta

St. Benedict Parish:

St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

Bethel

Parish of the Holy Savior:

Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road (Route 26) - Mass at 9 a.m.

Bingham

Christ the King Parish:

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - Mass at 2:30 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Mass at noon

Bradley

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Confessions fro 5 to 5:45 p.m., followed by Mass and distribution of ashes at 6 p.m.

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Masses at noon and 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Caribou

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street- Mass at 6 p.m.

Cherryfield

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Mass at 5 p.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Mass at 11 a.m.

East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - Mass at 9 a.m.

Falmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Farmington

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m. and distribution of ashes outside the church at 6 p.m.

Fort Fairfield

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Denis Church, 147 Main Street - Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Masses at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Freeport

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Gray

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Mass at 8 a.m.

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Mass at Noon

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue, Hampden - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Masses at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Indian Island (Penobscot Nation)

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 6 Down Street - Mass and distribution of ashes at 7 a.m.

Island Falls

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Mass at Noon

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Jay

St. Rose of Lima Parish:

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Masses at 12:15 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Masses at 7 a.m. and noon. Traditional Latin Mass at 8:30 a.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Masses at 4 p.m. and  6 p.m., and at 7:15 p.m. in Spanish

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Masses with distribution of ashes at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.; Distribution of ashes only at noon.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue, Lisbon Falls - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Lubec

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Mass at 5 p.m.

Machias

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Madison

Christ the King Parish:

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Mars Hill

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Joseph Church, 17 Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Mass at 4:30 p.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Mass at 6 p.m.

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Mass at 8 a.m.

Old Town

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Confessions from 7 to 7:45 a.m., followed by Mass and distribution of ashes at 8 a.m.

Orono

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

University of Maine, Bangor Room of Memorial Union - Mass and distribution of ashes at noon.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Mass at 11:15 a.m.

Penobscot Nation

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 6 Down Street - Mass and distribution of ashes at 7 a.m.

Portland

Our Lady of Hope Parish:

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Mass with distribution of ashes at 9 a.m.; Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes at 12:10 p.m., and Mass with distribution of ashes at 6:30 p.m.

St. Joseph Oratory:

St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue - Traditional Latin Mass at 6 p.m.

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Masses at 12:15 p.m. (Celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri), 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street - Mass at 6 p.m. (English/French/Spanish)

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Mass at 11:15 a.m.

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Mass at 7 a.m.

Presque Isle

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Mass at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland - Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Rumford

Parish of the Holy Savior:

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Mass at 6 p.m.

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Mass at 9 a.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Masses with distribution of ashes at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Distribution of Ashes only at noon.

Skowhegan

Christ the King Parish:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street- Mass at Noon

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Mass at 6 p.m.

Washburn

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Catherine Church, 24 McManus Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Waterville

Corpus Christi Parish:

Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street - Mass at 12:15 p.m.

Winslow

Corpus Christi Parish:

St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street - Distribution of ashes at 7 a.m., Masses with Ashes at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Winterport

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Gabriel Church, 435 South Main Street - Mass at 4 p.m.

Yarmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Mass at 8 a.m. and Liturgy of the Word with distribution of ashes at 12:15 p.m.