Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, which is celebrated on March 29, 2026, marks the beginning of Holy Week and the celebration of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery. The day gets its name from the palm branches placed at Jesus’ feet as he made his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. During Palm Sunday Masses, parishioners receive palm fronds to take home and keep until the following Lent. The palms are then burned, with the ashes used on Ash Wednesday.
The vestments for Palm Sunday are red, the color of blood, reflecting the ultimate redemptive sacrifice that Christ was entering the city to fulfill: his Passion, death, and resurrection. On Palm Sunday, which is also known as Passion Sunday, the faithful hear an account of the Lord’s Passion so that they may reflect on it during the week in preparation for the celebration of the sacred triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday and concludes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.
Palm Sunday Masses
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - Saturday at 4 p.m., Sunday at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m. (celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri), 2 p.m. (Azande prayer service), and 7:30 p.m.
Holy Spirit Parish, Wells
St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk - Saturday, 4 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells - Saturday 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Oquossoc
Bell Chapel, 5085 Access Road, Carrabassett Valley - Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
St. John Church, 76 Main Street, Stratton - Saturday at 6 p.m.
St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street, Rangeley - Sunday at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.
Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Bar Harbor
Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor - Sunday at 10 a.m.
St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road, Southwest Harbor - Saturday at 4 p.m.
Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland
Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - Sunday at 10:30 a.m. (French/English) and 1 p.m. (Spanish)
St. Christopher Parish, Peaks Island
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
St. Joseph Parish, Ellsworth
St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street, Ellsworth - Saturday 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.
St. Louis Parish, Portland
St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street - Sunday at 11 a.m. (Polish/English)
St. Peter Parish, Portland
St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Saturday at 5:15 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
