Bishop Robert Deeley presided over the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion at three churches during the first weekend of Lent.
Diocesan News
The retreat was entitled “Men Need the Eucharist” and was presented by the priests of Prince of Peace Parish.
Young people collected money at several Maine parishes with all donations going to local charities that help tackle hunger.
Registration is being done through the national organizing committee, and Bishop Deeley was able to reserve a limited number of discounted passes for purchase by Maine Catholics.
Parishioners share memories and look to the future as they celebrate together for the final time at Notre Dame de Lourdes Church.
The social justice and peace commission at St. Joseph Parish in Bridgton is sponsoring a chocolate tasting event featuring Equal Exchange Fair-Trade chocolate at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Fryeburg.
This month, St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Houlton and St. Brendan the Navigator Parish in Camden are holding baby bottle drives to provide practical help and support for women and men served at local pregnancy care centers.
All engaged couples getting ready for marriage are encouraged to participate.
“Love Our Library” Campaign at Holy Cross in South Portland to Honor Memory of Beloved Second Grader
The “Love Our Library” campaign at the school begins on February 1 and will run through the month, offering several ways for the community to help keep the Kathleen A. Wittmer Memorial Library at Holy Cross flourishing.
Prayer shawls have been made for centuries to offer physical and spiritual warmth and serve as a tangible reminder of God’s care, encouragement, and inspiration.
The cuddly teddy bears are donated by members of the community, and children are invited to send one to any person they know to be ill and in need, regardless of whether the person is Catholic or even from Maine.
It’s a family friendly event, with people of all ages encouraged to attend.
Students at St. Brigid School in Portland will participate in a special three-day music residence with professional Gospel singer and The Voice contender Delvin Choice on January 23-25.
The bishop visited each classroom at the school, taking time to see what the students were working on, enjoying musical performances, and even participating.
Over the course of time, parishioners have donated thousands and thousands of pairs of socks for community members in need.
What started as a series of discussions about caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's has evolved into a program that brings warmth, support, and caring for participants.
“Seeing the many ways in which they are learning that each of us is called to be holy in life is beautiful.”
Bishop Robert Deeley said, for us, the encounter of the Magi with Jesus is not something in the past but something we experience every time we come together for Mass.
The “Jolly Gifts” program collected over 1,000 new toys and clothing items as well as many gift cards.
A new endowment established through the Catholic Foundation of Maine will provide a scholarship to a Maine high school senior who plans to enter a science-related field, most especially one focused on cancer research.
Honoring the life of a man of faith and charity was a personal experience for Bishop Deeley, who worked with Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Vatican City nearly 20 years ago.
The event is being hosted by Casco Bay Catholics, a ministry of and for young adults (18-35) in Maine.
Monsignor Marc Caron, vicar general of the Diocese of Portland, visited the Christian Life Center (CLC) in Frenchville to bless its new dining hall on December 29.
Those gathered will sing traditional Christmas carols for 15 minutes, and all are welcome to attend. This is a family-friendly event. Organizers will provide the lyrics.
This important feast commemorates Mary being conceived without the stain of original sin and created full of grace, making her a fitting mother for Jesus.
Thanks to generous parishioners and community members from around York County, hundreds of mission children will receive presents at Christmas.
Bishop Robert Deeley celebrated the Rite of Candidacy during which 11 men publicly resolved to continue their preparation for the permanent diaconate.
Maine Catholic Cemeteries is offering new cost-effective packages for four local cemeteries: St. Peter Cemetery in Lewiston, St. Joseph Cemetery in Biddeford, St. Mary Cemetery in Biddeford, and St. Ignatius Cemetery in Sanford.
Every cent collected will go towards helping neighbors who face difficult situations in the coming months.
Prior to the pandemic, the CLC offered a wide range of retreats, marriage preparation, and other programs designed to strengthen the faith of participants and increase their participation in parish life.
Now in its 16th year, the Esther Residence is a transitional program for women who are leaving incarceration and/or treatment programs. It provides a safe, nurturing community based on safety, respect, and dignity. The home is a bridge that promotes healthy connections to family and the larger community.
This year, the donations totaled 334 pairs of sneakers, 1,506 pairs of socks, and monetary donations of $2,567 for local children in need.
In commemoration of All Souls' Day, Bishop Robert Deeley celebrated a Mass of Remembrance at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.
Many Maine parishes are planning special Masses, services, and commemorations for All Souls’ Day (Wednesday, November 2) as Catholics pray for the souls of those who have died and are still in purgatory, being prepared for eternal life in heaven. All Souls’ Day is not a holy day of obligation.
The long-admired artwork of Fr. Paul Plante, which connects you with the beauty of God’s creation, is available for purchase on a website (www.paulplante.com) that serves as both a canvas of his immense talent and a tribute to his indelible legacy.
Our Lady of Hope Parish (St. Pius X Church, St. Joseph Church, and St. Brigid School, all in Portland) invite all to gather for a major fundraiser for the parish that will also include the opportunity to participate from home.
St. John Vianney Parish in Fort Kent is offering the opportunity for those with deceased loved ones in 10 parish cemeteries to purchase a solar lit “wreath of remembrance” in advance of All Souls’ Day (November 2), Advent, and Christmas.
Praying the Rosary is a powerful way to strengthen the Church and remind all of the love of God and the need to serve each other.
Parishioners gathered with Bishop Deeley for a Mass commemorating the church’s golden anniversary.
The Latino Food Festival draws hundreds to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland
A garage sale held at St. Louis Church raised $13,376 for St. John Vianney Parish.
Play a round of mini-golf at one of three courses and raise money for CourageLIVES.
The Project Linus Group at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Bangor sews handmade blankets for children in need.
After the completion of a yearlong investigation, Fr. Robert Vaillancourt will be returned to active ministry, effective immediately. Two allegations of sexual abuse of minor girls in the 1980s were determined to be unfounded
The St. Thérèse Food Closet in Sanford was the 2022 recipient of Catholic Charities Maine Parish Social Ministry's Matthew 25 Award, given to support social ministry programs.
The Catholic Foundation of Maine distributed more than $1 million in dividends from endowment funds.
Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, the head of the Church in Rwanda, celebrates Mass with Maine's Rwandan community
The Rivier Adoration Chapel in Lewiston is open for longer periods of time, an invitation for people to come and adore Jesus.
An unplanned pregnancy support group is offering women from a variety of backgrounds with the opportunity to hear and learn from people who have already walked the path they are traveling.
