Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Mass Times

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 of Masses by city/town can be found below. A listing by parish can be found here.

Auburn

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:

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

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

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

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

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

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

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

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

Bath

All Saints Parish:

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

Benedicta

St. Benedict Parish:

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

Biddeford

Good Shepherd Parish:

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

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

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

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

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

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

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

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

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

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

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

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

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

East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:m.

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

Falmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

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

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church,2 6 East Main Street - Mass on Wednesday, May 28, at 4 p.m. and Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 7 a.m.

Freeport

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

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

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:

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

Gray

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

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

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at 8 a.m.

Hallowell

St. Michael Parish:

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

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

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

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

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

Lyman

Good Shepherd Parish:

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

Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

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

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

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

Old Orchard Beach

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Mass on Thursday, May 29, at Noon

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

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

Portland

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - 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.

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

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

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

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

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

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

Saco

Good Shepherd Parish:

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

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

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

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

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

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

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

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

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

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

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

Winterport

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

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

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

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

Yarmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

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