Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Thursday, May 9, 2024
On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate Christ's bodily ascension into heaven, which occurred in the presence of his apostles. We hear in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians that Christ took his seat at the right hand of his Father, "far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion."
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord occurs 40 days after Christ's resurrection. It is the important, final piece of the Paschal Mystery, which began with Christ's Passion and death. Because Christ ascended, we, as members of the body of Christ, also look forward to ascending into heaven after our bodily resurrection.
On the solemnity, we are also reminded of our evangelizing mission. Before Christ ascends, he gives his disciples final instructions, telling them to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit and then "go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). We will celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024.
During the days between the Solemnity of the Ascension and the Solemnity of Pentecost, we are called to intense prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This time of prayer comprises a novena, during which we pray that we may receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
While some ecclesiastical provinces have transferred the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, that is not the case in the province of Boston, of which the Diocese of Portland is a part. Here, the celebration remains on the proper Thursday. In addition to participating in Mass on the holy day, another wonderful way to celebrate is through lectio divina, a contemplative prayer of the Scriptures.
Masses will be Wednesday, May 8, and Thursday, May 9. A listing by parish can be found below and a listing by city/town can be found here.
All Saints Parish, Brunswick
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor - Thursday, May 9, at noon
St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street, Richmond - Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m.
St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick - Thursday, May 9, at Noon and 6:30 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.
St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street, Bath - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. (Latin Mass in the chapel), 12:15 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, East Millinocket
St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street, Millinocket - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m.
St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street, East Millinocket - Thursday, May 9, at 4:30 p.m.
Christ the King Parish, Skowhegan
Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street, Skowhegan - Thursday, May 9, at Noon
St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street, Bingham - Thursday, May 9, at 2:30 p.m.
St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street, Madison - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.
Good Shepherd Parish, Saco
Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street, Saco - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street, Biddeford - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m.
St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue, Old Orchard Beach - Thursday, March 9, at Noon
St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road, Lyman - Thursday, March 9, at 9 a.m.
Holy Spirit Parish, Wells
St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 9:15 a.m.
St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells - Wednesday, May 8, at 4 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.
Parish of the Holy Eucharist, Falmouth
Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth - Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 5:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.
St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road, Gray - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m.
St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street, Freeport - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.
Parish of the Holy Savior, Rumford
Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road, Bethel - Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.
St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue, Rumford - Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 8:15 a.m.
Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, Old Town
Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street, Old Town - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland
Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - Thursday, May 9, at 4 p.m.
St. Agnes Parish, Island Falls
St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street, Island Falls - Thursday, May 9, at Noon
St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham - Thursday, May 9, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street, Gorham - Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.
St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street, Westbrook - Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 5 p.m.
St. Benedict Parish, Benedicta
St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road, Benedicta - Thursday, May 9, at 9 a.m.
St. Christopher Parish, Peaks Island
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Thursday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street, Houlton - Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Peter Parish, Portland
St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - Thursday, May 9, at 7 a.m.
