Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland

09/04/2026

The Parish of the Holy Eucharist would like to invite all Catholic men to attend its upcoming men's retreat on Friday, October 23 and Saturday October 24 at Holy Martyrs church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth. The theme will be “Getting Your House in Order.”

The featured keynote speaker, Devin Schadt, is the founder of the organization The Fathers of St. Joseph and frequent guest on The Catholic Gentleman. This two-day event will include talks such as "The Day of Battle," "Conviction and Conversion," "Tested and Perfected," as well as adoration and confession.

Register online at https://pothe.org/getyourhouseinorder

09/03/2026

Save the date! Join St. Paul the Apostle Parish for its monthly Holy Hour at St. Theresa Church, 425 South Main Street in Brewer, on Sunday, October 4 at 3 p.m. to venerate the “Poor Man of Assisi.” The parish will welcome the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to this Holy Hour, during which Sister Francesca Silver, FSE, will offer a reading and reflection in honor of St. Francis.

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

Through the Catholic Appeal, you help Campus Ministers provide a welcoming home for students and young adults across Maine. Your support helps these students grow spiritually, build community, and explore their vocations with purpose and joy — inspiring the next generation to live their Catholic faith with purpose.

Make your gift today at Share.PortlandDiocese.org

09/01/2026

Why should we listen to our parents? How does that relationship change over time? In this episode of Auspice Maria, Bishop James Ruggieri reflects on the Fourth Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.”

We learn love before we choose it. We are cared for before we can care. The family, he says, is the first school of love, the place where trust, gratitude, forgiveness, and sacrifice are learned. Bishop Ruggieri speaks to children still living that lesson, to grown children now caring for aging parents, and to families carrying real wounds, where honor does not mean pretending the hurt was never there.

From the domestic church, he widens the lens to teachers, employers, and civil authority to show how the fourth commandment shapes our society.

Stream this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Fio or on our website!

A full transcript is available on our website at ⁠https://portlanddiocese.org/news/auspice-maria-ep-64

09/01/2026

His Excellency Bishop James T. Ruggieri has announced the following new priest assignment, effective September 1, 2026.

Father Benito Sangombe, SMA, has been appointed as parochial vicar of Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish in Madawaska and Our Lady of the Valley Parish in St. Agatha.

Father Benito is a member of the Society of African Missions. He studied at the University of Bangui, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and later completed studies in education at the Institut Supérieur de Philosophie et des Sciences Humaines Don Bosco in Lomé, Togo. He also completed an international spiritual year in Benin, a canonical internship in Egypt, and theological studies at Tangaza University College in Nairobi, Kenya, where he earned a diploma in theology with a specialization in Islamic Studies.

Father Benito was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 2021, in Bangui, Central African Republic. Following ordination, he served in his first missionary appointment in the Republic of Benin from 2021 to 2025. In 2025, he began his second missionary appointment in the United States.

09/01/2026

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, October 4.

During this time, Christians are asked to join in prayer and work for the care of our common home. The theme for 2026, which was chosen by Pope Leo XVI, is "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks," drawn from Isaiah 2:4.

More information and resources can be found on our website at https://portlanddiocese.org/world-day-prayer-care-creation

08/31/2026

A beautiful grotto dedicated to Our Lady of the Lakes was blessed by Bishop James Ruggieri during a prayer service on August 28. The grotto, which was built through the efforts of parishioners and the Knights of Columbus, sits across the street from Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Oquossoc. It was inspired by Father Brittoraj Amalogam, HGN, parish administrator. Parishioners say the grotto has already drawn the attention of both residents and tourists, who have stopped to pray, in some cases using stones from the ground as beads. Read more about how the grotto came to be: https://portlanddiocese.org/news/new-our-lady-of-the-lakes-grotto-blessed-by-bishop-ruggieri

08/31/2026

The 2026 Latino Food Festival will be held Saturday, September 12, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception's Guild Hall.

Hosted by the Latino Community of the Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes and open to all, all are invited to enjoy Latin food, music, traditional costumes and more. The festival is a great way to celebrate the parish's rich Latino culture and benefits the church that brings us together in our faith. The festivities start at 11 a.m. and lasts until the food runs out.

08/30/2026

The St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Scarborough was the host of a 5K race on Saturday to benefit the South Portland Food Cupboard. FULL STORY ⬇️