Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Masses on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
December 31 and January 1

"Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time." (Catechism 721)

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Theotokos, "the God-bearer," who brings the Son of God into the world.

The solemnity, Pope Francis said, immerses us once more in the mystery of Christmas.

"It is indeed good for us to reflect on how Mary, the young woman of Nazareth, constantly brings us back to the mystery of Jesus, her Son. She reminds us that Jesus came in the flesh, and that we encounter him above all in our daily life, in our own frail humanity and that of all those whom we encounter each day. In praying to Our Lady as the Mother of God, we proclaim that Christ was begotten of the Father, yet also truly born of a woman. We proclaim that he is the Lord of time, yet dwells in our time, indeed this new year, with his loving presence. We proclaim that he is the Savior of the world, yet we are able to encounter him and are called to seek him in the face of every human being. If he, who is the Son, became so small as to be held in a mother’s arms, cared for and nursed, this means that today too he comes among us in all those who need similar care: in every sister and brother we meet, in everyone who needs our attention and tender care," the pope said.

The Solemnity of Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. A listing of Masses organized by city/town can be found below. Click here to view a listing of Masses by parish.

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - New Year's Day at 7:30 a.m.

Baileyville

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Benedicta

St. Benedict Parish:

St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Bethel

Parish of the Holy Savior:

Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

Biddeford

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - New Year's Day at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Bingham

Christ the King Parish:

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - New Year's Day at 2:30 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Bradley

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Wednesday, December 31, at 6 p.m.

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - New Year's Day at 9:30 a.m.

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Calais

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue - New Year's Day at 5:30 p.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope, 7 Union Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 11 a.m.

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - New  Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Dexter

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m. and New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Dover-Foxcroft

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Eastport

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street - New Year's Day at Noon

Ellsworth

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street – New Year’s Day at 8 a.m.

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m.

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - New Year's Day at 11 a.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - New  Year's Day at 7 a.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8 a.m.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m. and New Year's Day at 9:30 a.m.

Lyman

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Madison

Christ the King Parish:

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - New Year's Day at 8 a.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Milo

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Francis Xavier & St. Paul the Apostle Church, 128 Riverside Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Old Orchard Beach

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - New Year's Day at noon

Old Town

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Thursday, January 1, at 8 a.m.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - New Year's Day at 6:15 p.m.

Pittsfield

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. (Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest) and New Year's Day at 8 a.m.

Portland

Our Lady of Hope Parish:

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - New Year's Eve at 5 p.m. and New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - New Year's Day at 12:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street - New Year's Day at Midnight and 10:30 a.m.

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - New Year's Day at 6:15 p.m.

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - New Year's Day at 7 a.m.

Saint Joseph Oratory:

St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Rumford

Parish of the Holy Savior:

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 9:30 a.m.

Saco

Good Shepherd Parish:

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - New Year's Day at 6 p.m.

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - New Year's Day at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - New Year's Eve at 5 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8 a.m.

Skowhegan

Christ the King Parish:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - New Year's Day at Noon

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street – New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year’s Day at 9:30 a.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail – New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year’s Day at 8 a.m.

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - New Year's Day at 8 a.m.