Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
"Hail Mary, full of grace..."
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception commemorates the day that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. The feast occurs on December 8, but in 2024, the celebration is transferred to December 9 because December 8 is a Sunday. It is the patronal feast of the United States and of the Diocese of Portland.
Although it was long believed by many Christians that Mary, who was to be the Mother of God, was conceived without sin, it wasn't until 1854 that Pope Pius IX declared it to be dogma of the Catholic Church. In Ineffabilis Deus, he wrote that "the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful."
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a holy day of obligation. Mass times listed by city/town may be found below. Mass times listed by parish may be found here. Prayers to Mary, the Immaculate Conception may be found here.
Holy Day Mass Times
Auburn
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:
Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Monday, December 8, at 7:45 a.m. and noon
St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Sunday, December 7, at 5 p.m.
Augusta
St. Michael Parish:
St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m.
St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
Baileyville
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:
St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
Bangor
St. Paul the Apostle Parish:
St. John Church, 217 York Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m. (Joint Mass with All Saints School students)
St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Bar Harbor
Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:
Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Bath
All Saints Parish:
St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Belfast
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:
St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Benedicta
St. Benedict Parish:
St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Bethel
Parish of the Holy Savior:
Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Biddeford
Good Shepherd Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Bingham
Christ the King Parish:
St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - Monday, December 8, at 2:30 p.m.
Boothbay Harbor
All Saints Parish:
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Bradley
Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:
St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Brewer
St. Paul the Apostle Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon
St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m.
Bridgton
St. Joseph Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Brunswick
All Saints Parish:
St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon and 6:30 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Bucksport
Stella Maris Parish:
St. Vincent de Paul Church, 64 Franklin Street - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m.
Calais
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:
Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Camden
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:
Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Monday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Cape Elizabeth
St. John Paul II Parish:
St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Monday, December 8, at 5 p.m.
Caribou
Parish of the Precious Blood:
Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Castine
Stella Maris Parish:
Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 137 Perkins Street - Monday, December 8, at 4 p.m.
Cherryfield
St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:
St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Dexter
Our Lady of the Snows Parish:
St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Sunday, December 7, at 6 p.m.
Dover-Foxcroft
Our Lady of the Snows Parish:
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Eagle Lake
St. John Vianney Parish:
St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Monday, December 8, at 11 a.m.
East Millinocket
Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:
St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Eastport
St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street, Eastport - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Ellsworth
St. Joseph Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Falmouth
Parish of the Holy Eucharist:
Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Sunday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. and Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Fort Fairfield
Parish of the Precious Blood:
St. Denis Church, 147 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Fort Kent
St. John Vianney Parish:
St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m.
Freeport
Parish of the Holy Eucharist:
St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Fryeburg
St. Joseph Parish:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Gardiner
St. Michael Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Gorham
St. Anthony of Padua Parish:
St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street– Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Gray
Parish of the Holy Eucharist:
St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Greenville
Holy Family Parish:
Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Hampden
St. Paul the Apostle Parish:
St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Houlton
St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Howland
Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish:
St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Street - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Island Falls
St. Agnes Parish:
St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Jackman
St. Anthony of Padua Parish:
St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Jay
St. Rose of Lima Parish:
St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street, Jay - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Kennebunk
Holy Spirit Parish:
St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road- Monday, December 8, at 9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Kittery
Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:
St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Lewiston
Prince of Peace Parish:
Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m. and Noon
Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Limerick
St. Matthew Parish:
St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Limestone
Parish of the Precious Blood:
St. Louis Church, 106 Main Street - Monday, December 8 at 10 a.m.
Lincoln
Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish:
St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Lisbon Falls
Prince of Peace Parish:
Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Lubec
St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:
Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Lyman
Good Shepherd Parish:
St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
Machias
St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:
Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street- Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Madawaska
Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish:
St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Madison
Christ the King Parish:
St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Manset (Southwest Harbor)
Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:
St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road - Sunday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m.
Mechanic Falls
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:
Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m..
Millinocket
Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:
St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Monday, December 8, at 4 p.m.
Newcastle
All Saints Parish:
St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
North Caribou
Parish of the Precious Blood:
Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Norway
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:
St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Old Orchard Beach
Good Shepherd Parish:
St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Old Town
Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:
Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Orono
Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:
Our Lady of Wisdom Church - Monday, December 8, at Noon - Mass held in the Bangor Room in the Student Union at the University of Maine.
Oxford
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:
St. Mary Church, 276 King Street - Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.
Peaks Island
St. Christopher Parish:
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 6:15 p.m.
Pittsfield
St. Agnes Parish:
St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Portage
Parish of the Precious Blood:
Our Lady of the Lake Church, 2111 Portage Road- Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Portland
Our Lady of Hope Parish:
St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Monday, December 8, at 6:15 p.m.
St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m.
St. Joseph Oratory:
St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue - Latin Mass on Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Presque Isle
Parish of the Precious Blood:
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Rangeley
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:
St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
Richmond
All Saints Parish:
St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m.
Rockland
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:
St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Rumford
Parish of the Holy Savior:
St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Sunday, December 7, at 6 p.m. and Monday, December 8, at 8:15 a.m.
Saco
Good Shepherd Parish:
Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Saint Agatha
Our Lady of the Valley Parish:
St. Agatha Church, 379 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Saint Francis
St. John Vianney Parish:
St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
Sanford
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:
Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Scarborough
St. John Paul II Parish:
St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Skowhegan
Christ the King Parish:
Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)
St. John Vianney Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
South Berwick
Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:
Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
South Portland
St. John Paul II Parish:
Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Southwest Harbor
Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:
St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road - Sunday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m.
Stonington
Stella Maris Parish:
St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
Stratton
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:
St. John Church, 76 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Van Buren
St. Peter Chanel Parish:
St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Wallagrass
St. John Vianney Parish:
St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Washburn
Parish of the Precious Blood:
St. Catherine Church, 24 McManus Street - Monday, December 8, at 4 p.m.
Waterville
Corpus Christi Parish:
Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street - Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.
Wells
Holy Spirit Parish:
St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Westbrook
St. Anthony of Padua Parish:
St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street – Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., and Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.
Windham
St. Anthony of Padua Parish:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail – Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., and Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Winslow
Corpus Christi Parish:
St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Winthrop
St. Michael Parish:
St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Yarmouth
Parish of the Holy Eucharist:
Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
York
Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:
St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Sunday, December 7, at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
