A new journey begins! Fr. Nathan opens the first door on his "unique" Advent Calendar and reflects on what he finds inside.

On Saturday, March 2, more than 60 gathered at Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours Church in Waterville for the annual Maine Catholic Men's Conference. The theme for the 2024 conference was Eucharist to Life: Sharing Our Faith on the Journey and the featured speaker was Father Alejandro Lopez-Cardinale of the Archdiocese of Boston. Throughout the day, participants were able to engage in both structured and unstructured discussions to foster education, prayer and camaraderie.

A proposed bill to create new rights for “gender-affirming care” and “reproductive health care” in Maine law is a direct attack on the beauty and truth of human life as embodied in the natural reality of the human family. It is both unconstitutional and immoral.

The diocese's 13th bishop will be ordained and installed on May 7, 2024.

A proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion into the Maine constitution is immoral and unnecessary. This is a political attempt to distract from the heinous law passed last June that eliminated any restrictions for abortion.

Matthew Valles said it’s hard to find the right words to describe what it was like to be ordained a deacon of the Catholic Church. “I’m so happy, so happy, so happy. I’m very, very grateful to be ordained. I can’t really describe it in words,” he said. Valles was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Robert Deeley at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on Sunday, January 7, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

On Wednesday, December 6, Bishop Robert Deeley traveled to Augusta, visiting 11 classrooms of students from pre-K through 8th grade at St. Michael School. Throughout the day, the bishop experienced the great commitment of teachers and administration, as well as the growth and joy displayed by students of all ages.

Three religious emblems were presented by the Portland Diocese's Catholic Committee on Scouting during the Sunday Mass, November 26, at St. Augustine Church including the St. George Award which was awarded to Father Nathan March who is an Eagle Scout as well as being Pastor of St. Michael Parish.

The experience of poverty takes many forms. It affects many of us. We might encounter it when we feel impoverished because of loneliness due to separation from family, friends, or our faith. Or, it may have been an experience of material poverty, when we have struggled to make ends meet and pay our bills.

An independent audit of safe environment procedures has found the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, which includes 48 parishes and 144 churches in Maine, in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

National Vocation Awareness Week (November 5–11) reminds us that we all have a role in encouraging vocations in the Church. While it is God who plants the seed of a vocation, he seeks our cooperation in nurturing and nourishing those seeds.

Expressing his deep concern and sorrow for the number of lives lost and destroyed, Bishop Robert Deeley encouraged Catholics across Maine to join Pope Francis and the faithful around the world in participating in a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in the Holy Land on Friday, October 27.

Bishop Robert Deeley has announced parish assignments, effective October 2, for four priests recently arrived from India, as well as a new assignment, effective October 16, for a priest of the Diocese of Portland.

All Maine Catholics are invited to participate in a novena for priests and vocations to the priesthood each evening starting on Thursday, July 27, and running through Friday, August 4, the feast day of St. John Vianney (patron saint of parish priests).

Calling Hours Wednesday, July 5 Noon through 9 p.m. (evening prayer at 5:35 p.m. with Compline at 7:30 p.m.) Saint Anselm Abbey, 100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester, New Hampshire

It is impossible to quantify the effect the Catholic Appeal has had on the lives of thousands and thousands of Maine people, Catholic and non-Catholic, through the years. The closest you can get is to listen to the ways in which the generosity of donors and a call to help others continue to change the lives of people the givers will never meet.

Bishop Robert Deeley celebrated annual Neophyte Mass, bringing together people from around the diocese who received the initiation sacraments during the Easter season.

Bishop Robert Deeley gathered with priests from across the Diocese of Portland to celebrate the annual jubilarian Mass, recognizing priests celebrating special anniversaries. This year, there are 10 jubilarians, who together have served the Church as priests for nearly 500 years.

All are welcome to learn more about prison ministry in the Diocese of Portland on Friday, June 9, at the annual Catholic prison ministry gathering in the hall of Sacred Heart Church on 7 Summer Street in Hallowell from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A remote option will also be offered.

The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is May 13, marking the first day in 1917 on which the Blessed Mother appeared to the three shepherd children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia, in Fatima in Portugal.