Parish Lenten Prayer Opportunities
During Lent, parishes offer special opportunities for prayer, whether through reflection groups, additional adoration times, the opening of churches for private prayer, etc. You will find a list of some of those opportunities below. If you don't see your parish listed, please check back. New listings will continue to be added.
In addition to special Lenten opportunities, most parishes have regularly scheduled eucharistic adoration. You can find times here.
Lenten Prayer Opportunities
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
Sunday Vespers
Sunday Vespers (Evening Prayer) and teachings takes place weekly from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, The Psalms are chanted in the Gregorian tones - the ancient and beautiful musical tradition of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.
Following Vespers, from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., a brief teaching is offered in the Cathedral chapel on some aspect of the Catholic faith.
Good Shepherd Parish, Saco
Laetare Sung Evening Prayer and Choral Meditations
Laetare Sung Evening Prayer and Choral Meditations will be held on Saturday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street in Biddeford and on Sunday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street in Jay.
Vespers is the beautiful evening prayer of the Church which includes chanted psalms, a reading from sacred Scripture, and peaceful silence. Vespers lasts approximately 30 minutes and will be followed by a period of choral music for meditation presented by the Psalterium Institute’s Ensemble Praecentores, under the direction of Leon Griesbach.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Auburn
Sunday Evening Prayer
Sunday evening prayer with adoration and Benediction will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place in Auburn, at 4 p.m.
Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish, Madawaska
Lenten Prayer Service with Our Lady of Fatima Statue
On Thursdays during Lent, the Rosary will be recited along with other prayers at 6 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 337 St. Thomas Street in Madawaska. The prayer services feature a traveling statue of Our Lady of Fatima and are presented by Knights of Columbus Council 2638.
Prince of Peace Parish, Lewiston
Adoration
The Holy Cross Church Rivier Adoration Chapel invites you to join in special prayer times during Lent. The Rosary is prayed at 10 a.m. and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m.
Laetare Sunday Prayer and Song
All are invited to come together for Prayer and Song on Laetare Sunday, March 19, at 3:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Church, 1080 Lisbon Street in Lewiston. The prayer and song will be led by the Holy Cross Choir and the Prince of Peace Hand Bell Choir. Gift yourself with these "holy moments" during this Lenten season, joining with other parishioners to listen to Scripture, to pray for the needs of our church and our world, and to worship God in song.
Night Prayer
Join the priests of Prince of Peace Parish in Lewiston at their rectory every night during Lent at 9:00 PM to pray Night Prayer. Night Prayer, also called Compline, is the prayer of the Church before one retires for the night. During Lent, may you make the commitment to join us as a way to increase the prayer time during this holy season. You can view on the parish's website or on its Facebook and YouTube pages
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, Camden
12-Hour Eucharistic Adoration
12-Hour Eucharistic Adoration will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street in Belfast, beginning following the 8 a.m. Mass on Friday, March 3, until 9 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration & Stations of the Cross
Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street, Camden - A soup and bread meal will be served on the Fridays of Lent at 4 pm., followed by eucharistic adoration at 6 p.m. and Stations of the Cross at 6:30 p.m.
Lenten Penitential Service
A Lenten penitential service will be held on Tuesday, March 28, at 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Good Hope Church, located on 7 Union Street in Camden. The service leads those who are baptized to prepare for the sacrament of penance and
helps all to prepare for Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum. Confessions will be offered. Penitential services do not replace the sacrament of penance, but they do serve to: foster the spirit of penance within the Christian community, help the faithful to prepare for an individual confession that can be made later that evening or a another convenient time, help children gradually form their conscience about sin in human life and about freedom from sin through Christ, and help catechumens during their conversion.
Taizé Prayer Service
The prayer service will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, located on 81 Court Street in Belfast, on Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. Originating in a community of Catholic and Protestant brothers in the 1940’s in Taizé, France, Taizé prayer is most notable for its meditative chanting. Short, repeated songs give it a meditative character and express a basic reality of faith. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being. Meditative singing thus becomes a way of listening to God. It allows everyone to take part in a time of prayer together and to dwell deeply on Christ's presence around and within us. Mantra songs (like "Jesus, Remember Me"), prayerful silence, and short readings guide the focus of Taizé services, which are generally conducted in the evening in the glow of candlelight, allowing all to rest in the Lord as the day draws to a close.
St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough
Evening Prayer with Adoration and Benediction
Fr. Jack Dickinson, Father Alex Boucher, and Deacon Mark Tuttle will lead Evening Prayer with adoration and Benediction on the Sundays of Lent at 5 p.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road in Scarborough. Evening Prayer (or Vespers) consists of psalms and canticles, a short Scripture reading, the Canticle of Mary (Magnifcat), intercessory petitions, and the Lord’s Prayer.
St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton
The Rosary
Join in praying the Rosary on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street in Bridgton.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Calais
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held on the Mondays of Lent, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue in Calais, on the Tuesdays of Lent, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street in Eastport, on the Wednesdays of Lent, 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. at St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street in Baileyville, and on Friday, March 3, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue in Calais.
St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton
Private Prayer
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street in Houlton, will be open for private prayer Mondays-Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please use the elevator entrance.
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Jay
Laetare Sung Evening Prayer and Choral Meditations
Laetare Sung Evening Prayer and Choral Meditations will be held on Saturday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street in Biddeford and on Sunday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street in Jay.
Vespers is the beautiful evening prayer of the Church which includes chanted psalms, a reading from sacred Scripture, and peaceful silence. Vespers lasts approximately 30 minutes and will be followed by a period of choral music for meditation presented by the Psalterium Institute’s Ensemble Praecentores, under the direction of Leon Griesbach.
Contact [email protected] for more information.
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Norway
The Rosary
Join in praying the Rosary on Tuesday mornings after the 8 a.m. Mass at St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street in Norway and on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street in Mechanic Falls.
Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon, Waterville
Lenten Prayer via Zoom
Deepen your Lenten journey with 15 minutes of Lenten prayer through Zoom with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon. The prayer opportunities are Tuesdays and Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. through April 6. Join in when every you can or every time.
FMI or to register, visit www.csjmaine.org or call 207-873-4512.
