The annual African Festival, a celebration of the beauty of African culture and community, will be held at the Guild Hall of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, located on 307 Congress Street in Portland, on Saturday, August 23, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The festival will be preceded by a Mass at the Cathedral at 4 p.m.

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish will hold a Blessing of the Animals prayer service, sponsored by the Heart of St. Francis Secular Franciscan Fraternity, on Saturday, October 4, at 1 p.m. in the parking lot of St. Mary of the Visitation Church in Houlton.

Our Lady of Hope Parish will hold a Season of Creation Prayer Service on Thursday, September 26 , at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 673 Stevens Avenue in Portland. The Season of Creation, which started September 1 and concludes on October 4, is a monthlong prayerful observance that calls upon Catholics to pray and care for God’s creation. It’s a time of reflection on our relationship with the environment, how we live, and how our lifestyles impact the natural world.

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish will hold its annual Blessing of Pets on Friday, October 4, the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi.

In celebration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paul the Apostle Parish will hold a Blessing of the Animals prayer service outside St. Mary Church in Bangor at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 4.

In commemoration of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish will hold a Blessing of the Animals prayer service at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norway on Saturday, October 4, a 10 a.m.

All are invited to join Bishop James Ruggieri as he celebrates the first Mass at a newly dedicated altar of the Prince of Peace at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston.