Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Thursday, May 29, 2025

On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate Christ's bodily ascension into heaven, which occurred in the presence of his apostles. We hear in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians that Christ took his seat at the right hand of his Father, "far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion."

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord occurs 40 days after Christ's resurrection. It is the important, final piece of the Paschal Mystery, which began with Christ's Passion and death. Because Christ ascended, we, as members of the body of Christ, also look forward to ascending into heaven after our bodily resurrection.

On the solemnity, we are also reminded of our evangelizing mission. Before Christ ascends, he gives his disciples final instructions, telling them to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit and then "go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).  We will celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025.

During the days between the Solemnity of the Ascension and the Solemnity of Pentecost, we are called to intense prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This time of prayer comprises a novena, during which we pray that we may receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

While some ecclesiastical provinces have transferred the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, that is not the case in the province of Boston, of which the Diocese of Portland is a part. Here, the celebration remains on the proper Thursday. In addition to participating in Mass on the holy day, another wonderful way to celebrate is through lectio divina, a contemplative prayer of the Scriptures.

Masses will be Wednesday, May 28, and Thursday, May 29.  A listing by parish can be found below and a listing by city/town can be found here. 

All Saints Parish, Brunswick

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at Noon

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street, Richmond - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m.

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at noon and 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street, Bath - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at  6 p.m.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m. in the chapel (Latin), 2:15 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, East Millinocket

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street, Millinocket - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 7 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street, East Millinocket - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 4 p.m.

Christ the King Parish, Skowhegan

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street, Skowhegan - Thursday, May 29, at Noon

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street, Bingham - Thursday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m.

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street, Madison - Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

Good Shepherd Parish, Saco

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street, Saco - Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street, Biddeford - Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 29, at 9 a.m.

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue, Old Orchard Beach - Thursday, May 29, at Noon

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road, Lyman - Thursday, May 29, at 9 a.m.

Holy Family Parish, Greenville

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue, Greenville - Mass on Thursday at 8 a.m.

Holy Spirit Parish, Wells

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk - Masses on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 29, at 9:15 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells - Masses on Wednesday, May 28, at 4 p.m. and Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Auburn

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 7:45 a.m. and noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road, Auburn - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Holy Eucharist, Falmouth

Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth - Masses on Wednesday, May 28, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 29, at 5:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

St. Gregory Church, 24 North Raymond Road, Gray - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street, Freeport - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Holy Savior, Rumford

Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker’s Mills Road (Route 26), Bethel – Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue, Rumford - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. and on Thursday, May 29, at 8:15 a.m.

Parish of the Precious Blood, Caribou

Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street, Caribou - Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street, Presque Isle - Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. Denis Church, 147 Main Street, Fort Fairfield - Thursday, May 29, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road, Ashland - Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Bar Harbor

Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor - Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 29, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road, Southwest Harbor - Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

Prince of Peace Parish, Lewiston

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street, Lewiston - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 7 a.m.

Holy Cross Church, 1080 Lisbon Street, Lewiston - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 5:30 p.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m. (Spanish) and on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue, Lisbon Falls - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8:30 a.m.

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 131 High Street, Sabattus  - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m.

Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 4 p.m.

St. Agnes Parish, Island Falls

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street, Island Falls - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 5:30 p.m.

St. Paul Church, 34 Katahdin Street, Patten - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 4 p.m.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Jackman

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street, Jackman - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6  p.m.

St. Benedict Parish, Benedicta

St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road, Benedicta - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 9 a.m.

St. Christopher Parish, Portland

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m.

St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough

Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland -  Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 5 p.m.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. John Vianney Parish, Fort Kent

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street, St. Francis - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street, Wallagrass - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street, Fort Kent - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 4 p.m. and Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 7 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road, Eagle Lake - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 11 a.m.

St. Joseph Parish, Ellsworth

St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street, Ellsworth - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street, Houlton - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Matthew Parish, Limerick

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane, Limerick - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m.

St. Michael Parish, Augusta

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Summer Street, Hallowell - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 7:30 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133, Winthrop - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street, Gardiner - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue, Augusta - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 9 a.m.

St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor

St. Gabriel Church, 435 South Main Street, Winterport - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 5:30 p.m.

St. John Church, 217 York Street, Bangor - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street, Brewer - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at Noon

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue, Hampden - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 5:30 p.m.

St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street, Brewer - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 6 p.m.

St. Peter Parish, Portland

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 7 a.m.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Sanford

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue, Sanford - Masses on Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Stella Maris Parish, Bucksport

Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 137 Perkins Street, Castine - Wednesday, May 28, at 4 p.m.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street, Stonington - Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

St. Vincent de Paul Church, 64 Franklin Street, Bucksport - Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m.