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

Ashland

Parish of the Precious Blood:.

St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Auburn

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Monday, December 9, at 7:45 a.m. and Noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Sunday, December 8, at 5 p.m.

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

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

St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Monday, December 9, at 9 a.m.

Baileyville

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street - Monday, December 9, at 9 a.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - Monday, December 9, at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, December 9, 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 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

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

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Bethel

Parish of the Holy Savior:

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

Biddeford

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Monday, December 9, at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Bingham

Christ the King Parish:

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

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Bradley

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street, Brewer - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Monday, December 9 at 8:30 a.m. (Mass) with adoration from noon to 1 p.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

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

St. John the  aptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Bucksport

Stella Maris Parish:

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

Calais

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue - Monday, December 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street- Monday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road -  Monday, December 9, at 5 p.m.

Caribou

Parish of the Precious Blood:

Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Castine

Stella Maris Parish:

Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:

Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 237 Perkins Street - Monday, December 9, at 4 p.m.

Cherryfield

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Dexter

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Sunday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Dover-Foxcroft

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Eastport

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Ellsworth

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Monday, December 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 - Sunday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m. and Monday, December 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Farmington

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Monday, December 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Fort Fairfield

Parish of the Precious Blood:

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

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street, Fort Kent - Monday, December 9, at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Freeport

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

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

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:.

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.

Gray

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

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

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:

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

Howland

Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish:

St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Road - Monday, December 9, at 4 p.m.

Island Falls

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Jay

St. Rose of Lima Parish:

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Monday, December 9, at 12:15 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Monday, December 9, 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 9, at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Monday, December 9, at Noon

Holy Cross Church, 1080 Lisbon Road - Monday, December 9, at 1:15 a.m. (With St. Dominic Academy students) and 5:30 p.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday, December 9, at 7 a.m. 

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, December 9, at 5 p.m.

Lincoln

Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish:

St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at Noon.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

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

Lubec

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

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

Lyman

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Monday, December 9, at 9 a.m.

Machias

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Monday, December 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Madawaska

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish:

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 309 St. Thomas Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Madison

Christ the King Parish:

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 11 a.m.

Manset (Southwest Harbor)

Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord:

St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road - Sunday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Monday, December 9, at 5:30 p.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Old Orchard Beach

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Monday, December 9, at noon

Old Town

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Orono

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

University of Maine, Bangor Room - Monday, December 9, at noon

Oxford

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Mary Church, 276 King Street - Monday, December 9, at 12:15 p.m.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Monday, December 9, at 6:15 p.m.

Pittsfield

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Portland

Our Lady of Hope Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 673 Stevens Avenue - Monday, December 9, at 7 p.m.

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Monday, December 9, at 9 a.m.

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

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

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Monday, December 9, at 6:15 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Monday, December 9, at 7 a.m.

Presque Isle

Parish of the Precious Blood:

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

Rangeley

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:

St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Monday, December 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Monday, December 9, at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Rumford

Parish of the Holy Savior:

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Sunday, December 8, at 6 p.m. and Monday, December 9, at 8:15 a.m.

Sabattus

Prince of Peace Parish:

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 131 High Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Saco

Good Shepherd Parish:

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Saint Agatha

Our Lady of the Valley Parish:

Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish:

St. Agatha Church, 379 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

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

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish

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

Sinclair

Our Lady of the Valley Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 413 Shore Road - Sunday, December 8, at 4 p.m.

Skowhegan

Christ the King Parish:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Monday, December 9, at Noon

South Berwick

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Sunday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m. And Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Church of the Holy Cross, 124 Cottage Road - Monday, December 9, 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 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Stonington

Stella Maris Parish:

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

Stratton

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish:

St. John Church, 76 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Van Buren

St. Peter Chanel Parish:

St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Waterville

Corpus Christi Parish:

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

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street- Sunday, December 8, at 5 p.m. and Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail - Sunday, December 8, at 5 p.m. and Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

Winslow

Corpus Christi Parish:

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

Winterport

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Gabriel Church, 435 South Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 6 p.m.

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

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

Yarmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Monday, December 9, at 8 a.m.

York

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord:

St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Sunday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 9, at 8 a.m.