The Light is On - Lent

"The Sacrament of Reconciliation calls us back to God and embraces us with his infinite mercy & joy." - Pope Francis

The Season of Lent is a time of penance and spiritual renewal that helps us prepare for the celebrating of Christ's paschal mystery. The sacrament of reconciliation opens our hearts to receive him, which is why it is such a wonderful gift to experience as Holy Week approaches. Through the sacrament, we experience God's mercy, our sins are forgiven, and we are healed.

During the fifth week of Lent, from Monday, March 18 through Friday, March 22, parishes across our diocese will offer additional confession times to allow more people to experience the grace of the sacrament. As parish determine times, they will be listed by county below. Click here to view a listing by parish. 

Before participating in the sacrament of reconciliation, it may be useful to reflect upon your thoughts and actions. To assist you, the U.S. bishops put together “A Brief Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments."

Androscoggin County

Auburn - Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Monday, March 18, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday, March 21, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Auburn - St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Wednesday, March 20, 9 a.m. to 11 am. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Lewiston - Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday- Thursday, March 18-21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mechanic Falls - Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Monday, March 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Penance Service with confessions.

Aroostook County

Benedicta – St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road – Thursday March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Caribou - Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street - Monday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 20, at 6 p.m.

Eagle Lake - St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Sunday, March 24, following the 11 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass.

Fort Kent - St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Thursday March 21, and Friday, March 22, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 24, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Frenchville - St. Luce Church, 441 U.S. Route One - Saturday, March 23, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Houlton - St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Sunday, March 17, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Monday, March 18, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Island Falls - St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Saturday, March 16, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, March 23, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Madawaska - St. David Church, 774 Main Street - Sunday, March 17, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Presque Isle - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street - Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m.

Saint Francis - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Saturday, March 23, following 6 p.m. Palm Sunday Mass.

Van Buren - St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Saturday, March 16, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Wallagrass - St. Joseph Church, 7 Church street - Sunday, March 24, following the 8 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass

Cumberland County

Bridgton - St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Penance Service with confessions.

Brunswick - St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Thursday, March 21, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Brunswick - St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Sunday, March 17, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth - St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Monday, March 18, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, March 22, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Falmouth - Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Tuesday, March 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Freeport - St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Wednesday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Gorham - St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street - Wednesday, March 29, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday, March 30, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Gray - St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Monday, March 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Portland - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Monday, March 18 - Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the chapel.

Portland - St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Monday, March 11, 6:30 p.m. - A short prayer for the gift of forgiveness will be followed by the sacrament of reconciliation; Tuesday, March 12, 6:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the Novena of grace; Wednesday, March 13, following the 9 a.m. Mass, and Thursday, March 14, following the 9 a.m. Mass

Scarborough - St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Monday, March 18, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, March 18 - Thursday, March 21, 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

South Portland - Church of the Holy Cross, 124 Cottage Road - Monday, March 18, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Wednesday, March 20, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, March 22, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Westbrook - St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street - Tuesday, March 28, and Thursday, March 30, noon to 1 p.m.

Windham Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail - Friday, March 31, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Yarmouth - Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Franklin County

Rangeley - St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street - Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, March 22, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Stratton - St. John Church, 76 Main Street - Wednesday, March 20, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Hancock County

Bar Harbor - Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert Street - Monday, March 18, at 6 p.m.

Bucksport - St. Vincent de Paul Church, 64 Franklin Street, Bucksport - Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m.

Ellsworth - St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street - Wednesday, March 20, at 6 p.m.

Kennebec County

Augusta - St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m.

Augusta - St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Monday-Friday, March 18-March 22 at 6 pm. On Tuesday, March 19, confessions will be part of a penance service.

Gardiner - St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Wednesday, March 20, at 6 p.m.

Waterville - Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street - Sunday, March 17, reconciliation service at 1 p.m.; Wednesday, March 20, 1 p.m. and Firday, March 22, 1 p.m.

Winslow - St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street - Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m.

Winthrop - St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m.

Knox County

Camden - Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Monday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m. during eucharistic adoration, followed by Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Rockland - St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Thursday, March 30, at 5:30 p.m. during eucharistic adoration, followed by the Mass of Our Lord's Supper at 6:30 p.m.

Lincoln County

Boothbay Harbor - Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, before or after noon Masses.

Newcastle - St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Wednesday, March 20, and Friday, March 22, before and after noon Masses.

Oxford County

Bethel - Our Lady of the Snows, 265 Walker's Mills Road (Route 26) - Monday, March 18, at 6 p.m.

Fryeburg - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Norway - St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Wednesday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Rumford - St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m. Penance Service; Thursday and Friday, March 21 & 22, at 6 p.m.

Penobscot County

Bangor - St. John Church, 217 York Street - Saturday, March 23, from 1 pm. to 3 p.m. 

Bangor - St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, March 18, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, March 18, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bradley - St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Brewer - St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Dexter - St. Anne Church, 64 Free street - Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

East Millinocket – St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street – Wednesday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Hampden - St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Wednesday, March 20, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and Thursday, March 21, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Howland - St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Road - Wednesday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m.

Lincoln - St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street - Thursday, March 21, at 5:30 p.m.

Millinocket – St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street – Thursday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Old Town - Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Tuesday, March 19, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, March 20, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 21, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Friday, March 22, 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Penobscot Nation - St Ann Church, 6 Down Street - Saturday, March 23, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Piscataquis County

Dover-Foxcroft - St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Monday, March 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Greenville - Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Saturday, March 16, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Sagadahoc County

Bath - St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Monday, March 18, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Somerset County

Bingham - St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - Thursday, March 21, following 3 p.m. Stations of the Cross

Jackman - St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Sunday, March 17, Noon to 1 p.m.; Monday, March 18, and Tuesday, March 19, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Madison - St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Monday, March 18, following the 8 a.m. Mass and Friday, March 22, following 8:30 a.m. Stations of the Cross

Pittsfield - St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Thursday, March 21, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Skowhegan - Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20, following the 8 a.m. Masses and Friday, March 22, following 6 p.m. Stations of the Cross.

Waldo County

Belfast - St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Penitential Serve at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.

Washington County

Baileyville - St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street - Monday, March 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Calais - Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue - Friday, March 22, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Cherryfield - St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Thursday, March 21, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., preceded by Stations of the Cross at 5 p.m.

Eastport - St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street - Wednesday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Lubec - Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., preceded by Stations of the Cross at 5 p.m.

Machias - Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street - Friday, March 22, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. during Stations of the Cross. A soup and bread meal will follow.

Peter Dana Point - St. Ann Church, Peter Dana Point Road - Tuesday March 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

York County

Biddeford - St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kennebunk - St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Tuesday, March 19, at 9:45 a.m. and Thursday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m.

Kittery - St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road - Monday, March 18, at 1 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m.

Limerick - St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 19, at 8:30 a.m.

Lyman - St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Old Orchard Beach - St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Monday, March 18, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saco - Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sanford - Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Tuesday, March 19, 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, March 21, 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; and Friday, March 22, at 6:30 a.m.

South Berwick - Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way - Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20, at 1 p.m.

Wells - St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Monday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 20, at 8:45 a.m.

York - St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane - Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, March 19, at 1 p.m.