Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Solemnity of Mary
Masses on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
December 31 and January 1

"Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time." (Catechism 721)

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Theotokos, "the God-bearer," who brings the Son of God into the world.

The solemnity, Pope Francis said, immerses us once more in the mystery of Christmas.

"It is indeed good for us to reflect on how Mary, the young woman of Nazareth, constantly brings us back to the mystery of Jesus, her Son. She reminds us that Jesus came in the flesh, and that we encounter him above all in our daily life, in our own frail humanity and that of all those whom we encounter each day. In praying to Our Lady as the Mother of God, we proclaim that Christ was begotten of the Father, yet also truly born of a woman. We proclaim that he is the Lord of time, yet dwells in our time, indeed this new year, with his loving presence. We proclaim that he is the Savior of the world, yet we are able to encounter him and are called to seek him in the face of every human being. If he, who is the Son, became so small as to be held in a mother’s arms, cared for and nursed, this means that today too he comes among us in all those who need similar care: in every sister and brother we meet, in everyone who needs our attention and tender care," the pope said.

The Solemnity of Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. A listing of Masses organized by city/town can be found below. Click here to view a listing of Masses by parish.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.