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.
Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland
Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 4 p.m.
St. Christopher Parish, Portland
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Peter Parish, Portland
St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 7 a.m.
