Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Mass Times

Thursday, May 9, 2024

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, May 19, 2024.

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 8, and Thursday, May 9. A listing of Masses by city/town can be found below. A listing by parish can be found here.

Ashland

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Auburn

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Thursday, May 9, at 7 a.m. and Noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 a.m.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m. (school Mass) and 4 p.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - Thursday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. (With All Saints Catholic School students)

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Thursday, May 9, at 7 a.m. and 8:30 am.

Bar Harbor

Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:

Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Wednesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.

Benedicta

St. Benedict Parish:

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

Bethel

Parish of the Holy Savior:

Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Biddeford

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m.

Bingham

Christ the King Parish:

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - Thursday, May 9, at 2:30 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at noon

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at Noon

St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Thursday, May 9, at Noon and 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Bucksport

Stella Maris Parish:

St. Vincent de Paul Church, 64 Franklin Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Thursday, May 8, at 8 a.m.

Cape Elizabeth

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Thursday, May 9, at 5 p.m.

Caribou

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m. 

Castine

Stella Maris Parish:

Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 137 Perkins Street - Thursday, May 9 at 4 p.m.

Cherryfield

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Dexter

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Thursday, May 9, at 11 a.m.

East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - Thursday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m.

Ellsworth

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Farmington

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Fort Fairfield

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Denis Church, 147 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Wednesday, at 4 p.m.

Freeport

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Frenchville

Our Lady of the Valley Parish:

St. Luce Church, 441 U.S. Route One - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. 

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Gray

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Thursday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Island Falls

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Thursday, May 9, at Noon

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Jay

St. Rose of Lima Parish:

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 12:15 p.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 9:15 a.m. 

Kittery

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road -Thursday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Thursday, May 9, at 7 a.m.

Bates College Chapel, College Street - Thursday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Holy Cross Church, 1080 Lisbon Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. (Spanish)

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Limestone

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Louis Church, 106 Main Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Lubec

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Lyman

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Thursday, March 9, at 9 a.m.

Machias

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m., preceded by the Rosary at 5 p.m.

Madawaska

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish:

St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 309 St. Thomas Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Madison

Christ the King Parish:

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Mars Hill

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Joseph Church, 17 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

North Caribou

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Thursday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m. 

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Thursday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Old Orchard Beach

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Thursday, March 9, at Noon

Old Town

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Oxford

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Mary Church, 276 King Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.

Pittsfield

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m.

Portland

Our Lady of Hope Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 673 Stevens Avenue - Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m.

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m.

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. (Latin Mass in the chapel), 12:15 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street - Thursday, May 9, at 4 p.m.

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Thursday, May 9, at 7 a.m.

Presque Isle

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Rangeley

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:

St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Wednesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.

Rumford

Parish of the Holy Savior:

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8:15 a.m.

Sabattus

Prince of Peace Parish:

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 131 High Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Saco

Good Shepherd Parish:

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Skowhegan

Christ the King Parish:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Thursday, May 9, at Noon

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

South Berwick

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Wednesday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Church of the Holy Cross, 124 Cottage Road - Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Stonington

Stella Maris Parish:

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Stratton

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:

St. John Church, 76 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m.

Van Buren

St. Peter Chanel Parish:

St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.

Washburn

Parish of the Precious Blood:

St. Catherine Church, 24 McManus Street - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Waterville

Corpus Christi Parish:

Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street - Thursday, May 9, at 12:15 p.m.

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells - Wednesday, May 8, at 4 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street - Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 5 p.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Winslow

Corpus Christi Parish:

St. John the Baptist Church. 26 Monument Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Winterport

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Gabriel Church, 435 South Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

Yarmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.

York

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Wednesday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.