National Eucharistic Pilgrimage 2026

Inspired by the nation’s 250th birthday and the work of the National Eucharistic Revival (2022-2025), a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will be held May 24-July 5 and will include stops in 18 dioceses, including Maine from June 23-26. The theme of the pilgrimage is "One Nation Under God."

Registration will be open on March 18 and linked on this page.

The route, which has been dedicated to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, starts at Our Lady of Leche Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida, site of the first Mass to be celebrated on American soil, and concludes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The pilgrimage begins Memorial Day weekend and ends Fourth of July weekend. 

Public events in the Diocese of Portland can be found below. Registration will be through the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage site and linked here.

Maine Schedule

Tuesday, June 23

Welcome to Maine Car Procession - Begins at 2 p.m. at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, N.H.

Join us to welcome the National Eucharistic pilgrims to Maine as Bishop James Ruggieri receives our Eucharistic Lord from Bishop Peter Libasci of the Diocese of Manchester at 2 p.m. Bishop Ruggieri will lead a car procession beginning at approximately 2:15 p.m. to St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road in Kennebunk, for Eucharistic Adoration and an opening Mass. To join the car procession, park in Prescott Park, 105 Marcy Street in Portsmouth and wait for directions for joining the procession.

Eucharistic Adoration - 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at St. Martha Church in Kennebunk

Prior to the opening Mass, all are invited to join in Eucharistic Adoration at St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road in Kennebunk.

Opening Mass - 5 p.m. at St. Martha Church in Kennebunk

To welcome the pilgrims to Maine, Bishop James Ruggieri will celebrate an opening Mass at St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road in Kennebunk.

Dinner Social - 6 p.m. at St. Martha Church in Kennebunk

Following the opening Mass, a dinner / social will be held in the hall of St. Martha Church in Kennebunk. All are invited to join in this time of fellowship and in welcoming the pilgrims to Maine.

Overnight Eucharistic Adoration - 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. at St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk

Sit with our Eucharistic Lord at St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery, 28 Beach Avenue in Kennebunk. Adoration will begin with a brief witness talk given by one of the perpetual pilgrims and then continue in silence until the next morning. The monastery is a jubilee site for Special Year of St. Francis to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint's death. During this time of grace, the faithful are granted the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to a jubilee site. The faithful can obtain this grace under the usual conditions - sacramental confession, Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope. The opportunity for confession will be available for a time after adoration begins.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Morning Mass - 8 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Brunswick

In celebration of the Feast Day St. John the Baptist, a secondary patron of the Diocese of Portland, Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street in Brunswick. When visiting a shrine or church on the feast day of its namesake, the faithful are granted a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions. Please join the pilgrims for this morning Mass. 

Eucharistic Procession - 9 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Brunswick

Help us to make Jesus known in the streets of Brunswick! Following Mass, all are invited to join us in a eucharistic procession, which will begin at approximately 9 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street in Brunswick, and continue around the block as we raise our voices in sung prayer.

Sacred Music Concert - 2 p.m. at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston

Take in the beautiful music of the Casavant organ, as played by Prince of Peace Parish organists, at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 122 Ash Street in Lewiston. The concert will be held in the upper church.

Shroud of Turin Exhibit - 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston

A traveling exhibit of the Shroud of Turin, which includes a replica of the shroud, will be open to visitors in the lower church of the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street in Lewiston. Two experts on the shroud will give presentations about it.

Eucharistic Adoration - 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in Lewiston

Eucharistic Adoration will be held in the upper church of the Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street in Lewiston, concluding with Benediction.

Thursday, June 25, 2026 

Eucharistic Procession - 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. - St. Peter Church to Sacred Heart Church in Portland

A eucharistic procession will begin at 9 a.m. at St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street in Portland, process to Hampshire Street, then along Congress Street, down Mellen Street to Sacred Heart Church, located at 65 Mellen St. The distance is about 1.3 miles. Park in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception parking lot at 307 Congress Street and walk over to nearby St. Peter Church for the start of the procession.

Eucharistic Adoration - 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. - Sacred Heart Church in Portland

An hour of Eucharistic Adoration will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street in Portland, beginning with a witness talk by one of the perpetual pilgrims. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Hispanic Ministry chorus of Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish.

Eucharistic Procession - 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Sacred Heart Church to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland

The procession leaves Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street in Portland, proceeds to Sherman Street, up State Street to Cumberland Avenue and then to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street. The distance is approximately one mile.

Daily Mass - 12:15 p.m. - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland

Midday Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland.

Eucharistic Procession - 1:45 p.m. - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to Casco Bay Lines Terminal in Portland

A eucharistic procession will be held from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland to the Casco Bay Lines terminal at 56 Commercial Street in Portland. The distance is about .3 miles.

Ferry to Peaks Island - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Trip is 15 Minutes)

Ride the ferry to Peaks Island while adoring our Eucharistic Lord. The Diocese of Portland chartered a ferry from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Seating is limited to 290 passengers, but the ferry will make multiple trips to accommodate those who wish to make the trip. Once on the island, join in a 2:45 p.m. eucharistic procession to St. Christopher Church or, if arriving later, proceed to St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue. When you are ready to travel back, take the chartered ferry or any regularly scheduled ferry. There is no cost for return trips.

Eucharistic Procession - 2:45 p.m. - Peaks Island Ferry Landing to St. Christopher Parish on Peaks Island

Join in a eucharistic procession from the Casco Bay Lines Peaks Island ferry landing to St. Christopher Church, located at 15 Central Avenue. The route begins at Welch Street, continues onto Island Avenue, and ends at the church on Central Avenue. The distance is approximately .3 miles, including a small hill.

Eucharistic Adoration - 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - St. Christopher Church on Peaks Island

Come adore our Lord and hear a witness talk from one of the perpetual pilgrims describing a personal encounter with Christ and the life-changing effects of it. The brief talk will be held at the beginning of Adoration, which will be held at St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue on Peaks Island.

Cookout and Social - 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - St. Christopher Church on Peaks Island

Enjoy fellowship and an outdoor meal provided by the parishioners of St. Christopher Church. Capacity for dinner is limited (see registration), but there are several restaurants and a grocery store on the island. Ferries leave Peaks Island after dinner for Portland at 7:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. There is no charge to ride the ferry back to the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal. Participants are on their own after leaving Peaks Island. The cathedral parking lot is a walkable .3 mile from the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal.

Friday, June 26, 2026

Closing Mass - 10 a.m. - St. Christopher Church in York

A Mass concluding our time with the perpetual pilgrims will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane in York.