Diocesan News

Transitus services will be held on October 3rd in Belfast, Lewiston, and Kennebunk to recall the passage of St. Francis from this life to eternal life.

St. Paul the Apostle Parish will welcome Lisa Cotter, a nationally acclaimed Catholic speaker and author, will offer a presentation to Catholic teens and young adults on November 11.

In celebration of the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi, animal lovers are invited to bring their pets and have them blessed.

The celebration will include a presentation on St. Francis, a Transitus Service, Blessing of the Animals, and Mass.

Parishioners who attend Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Windham donate healthy snacks to give to children in the community who need them.

The golf benefit will be held Saturday, September 23, at Pirate's Cove in Old Orchard Beach.

The Blue Mass is celebrated annually to express gratitude and to pray for all those who work in public safety.

Father Wilfred Labbe joined with members of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish and students from St. Thomas School on Monday, September 11, to break ground for a new parish rectory, the first stage of an ambitious project that will include the building of a parish center.

Catholic men from around the state are invited to attend the retreat which will be led by Devin Schadt, a cofounder of the Fathers of St. Joseph

The celebration will include an afternoon of Marian trivia and an outdoor Living Rosary.

On September 15, the Catholic Church commemorates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, a day to reflect upon Mary’s sorrows as the mother of Christ

Father Bill Garrott, a Dominican preacher, will lead parish missions in Caribou, Houlton, and Millinocket

Parishioners and friends are invited to walk from booth to booth, sampling different foods.

Bishop Robert Deeley joined with parishioners in celebrating improvements to the already beautiful sanctuary of St. Gregory the Great Church in Gray.

Bishop Robert Deeley will bless the mensa of a new altar at St. Gregory the Great Church in Gray, as well as a new statue of the church's patron.

Special Masses will be held September 8 at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Presque Isle and St. Peter Church in East Millinocket.

Father Nsame Venantius has been appointed parochial vicar of Holy Spirit Parish in Wells and Father Augustine Foka Kifon has been appointed parochial vicar of the Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes.

The course surveys salvation history in the Old and New Testament, core doctrines, sacramental theology, prayer, and spiritual growth. The last part of the course delves into practical teaching techniques to build confidence in teaching and communicating the faith effectively.

Directors of music, cantors, and volunteer choir members from around New England will gather at Sacred Heart Church in Yarmouth on October 12-14 for a three-day workshop that will offer an enriching and transformative experience including the fundamentals of singing, music theory and structure, cantor training, and even introduction to chant.

The festival will include music, costumes, handmade crafts, and the opportunity to sample many Central and South American dishes like tacos, tamales, pupusas, arepas, rellenitos, chicken stew, flan, and much more.

People of all faiths are encouraged to gather at the Mass on September 17. Bishop Deeley will serve as the main celebrant.

The event will feature a variety of music, dancing, and foods from many African countries, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon, Sudan, and Angola.

The Harvest Mass is a tradition that dates back decades and offers an opportunity to pray for a good harvest for farmers, who have had a challenging year due to the abundance of rain.

The first day of September is celebrated by Christians around the world as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It also marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, which will conclude on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4.

The collection coincides with the feast day of St. Teresa of Calcutta on September 5.

For five decades, the Christian Life Center (CLC) has offered a wide range of programs, retreats, and events for people of all ages, as well as eucharistic adoration and Mass. The center draws people from throughout Aroostook County and beyond.

The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation will host an evening of learning and reflection for older teens and adults focused on each person’s vital service in the community worship of Mass.

Each year, hundreds of people participate in this event by purchasing candles in honor of a loved one which are placed around Mizpah’s pond for the luminary walk.

The renovations are made possible by the successful “Rebuild His Church” capital campaign held by the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, of which the Newman Center is a part.

Please join in praying for the people of Maui, and if you would like to make a financial contribution to assist the residents, donations may be made through Catholic Charities Hawai'i or Catholic Charities USA, which pledges that 100% of your gift will be directed to where it is needed most.

Hispanic Ministry has also announced a special healing service in Lewiston on August 25.

This free event is for the whole family and will feature African dancers and music, guest speakers, kids’ games and activities, refreshments, and much more.

Parishioners in the Diocese of Portland combined to raise $44,968.89 for the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl program during the forty days of Lent in 2023.

​​​​​​​The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15) is a holy day of obligation which celebrates Mary’s Assumption into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life.

The festival, a celebration of Italian heritage, faith, and community, included Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley, homemade Italian food, games, live music, and more.

Bishop Robert Deeley was among those who participated in a Rosary procession from Gorham High School to St. Anne Church in Gorham, where a Rosary rally was held.

All are welcome at any of the gatherings, which will include question and answer periods as well as the opportunity to speak privately to a canonist.

Volunteers in Portland baked, decorated, and packaged a record number of Italian cookies, over 12,600, on Tuesday and Wednesday in advance of this weekend’s St. Peter Italian Bazaar.

August 15 is both the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and National Acadian Day.

A custom that dates back to the tenth century will be renewed at a special vigil Mass in Jay on Monday, August 14, in celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)

Proceeds from the ball’s ticket sales and silent auction support the evangelizing mission of Harvest, the magazine of the Diocese of Portland, which is sent free of charge to thousands in Maine, serving as an instrument of teaching, community building, and joy.

It will take over 120 dozen eggs, 200 pounds of sugar, and 350 pounds of flour to create the anise cookies, filled cookies, lemon cookies, cannoli, pizzelles, tiramisu, almond cream cake, and limoncello cake.

Bishop Robert Deeley, surrounded by over 40 priests and deacons, served as the main celebrant for the Memorial Mass remembering Bishop Joseph, who died on July 2 in Manchester, New Hampshire, at the age of 94.

A Maine retreat that aims to offer a “blueprint” for prayer to help people discern God’s presence in their lives will be offered virtually via Zoom starting this October and running through June 2024.

During the Mass, participants will join in praying for God's blessing upon the harvest season for farmers. The Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Kevin Martin, pastor of St. Mary of the Visitation Parish as well as St. Agnes Parish in Island Falls.

The Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry Matthew 25 Award was given to the Social Justice and Peace Ministry of St. Anthony of Padua Parish for its work meeting the needs of the homeless and others in the community.