Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Masses - By Parish
"Hail Mary, full of grace..."
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception commemorates the day that Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. The feast occurs on December 8, but in 2024, the celebration is transferred to December 9 because December 8 is a Sunday.
It is the patronal feast of the United States and of the Diocese of Portland.
Although it was long believed by many Christians that Mary, who was to be the Mother of God, was conceived without sin, it wasn't until 1854 that Pope Pius IX declared it to be dogma of the Catholic Church. In Ineffabilis Deus, he wrote that "the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful."
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a holy day of obligation. A list of Masses by parish is found below. A listing by city/town may be found here.
Holy Day Mass Times
All Saints Parish, Brunswick
Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor - Monday, December 8, at Noon
St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street, Richmond - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m.
St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick - Monday, December 8, at Noon and 6:30 p.m.
St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street, Bath - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - Monday, December 8, at 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 - Monday, December 8, at 4 p.m.
St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street, East Millinocket - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
Holy Family Parish, Greenville
Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue, Greenville - Monday, December 8, at Noon
Holy Spirit Parish, Wells
St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk - Monday, December 8, at 9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Dexter
St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street, Dexter - Sunday, December 7, at 6 p.m.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street, Dover-Foxcroft - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Prince of Peace Parish, Lewiston
Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street, Lewiston - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m. and Noon
Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue, Lisbon Falls - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
St. Agnes Parish, Island Falls
St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street, Island Falls - Monday, December 8, at Noon
St. Agnes Parish, Pittsfield
St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street, Pittsfield - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Jackman
St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street, Jackman - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham – Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., and Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street, Gorham – Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street, Westbrook – Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., and Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.
St. Benedict Parish, Benedicta
St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road, Benedicta - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, Camden
Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street, Camden - Monday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m.
St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street, Belfast - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Christopher Parish, Peaks Island
St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Monday, December 8, at 6:15 p.m.
St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough
Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.
St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth - Monday, December 8, at 5 p.m.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. John Vianney Parish, Fort Kent
St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street, Saint Francis - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street, Wallagrass - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street, Fort Kent - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m.
St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road, Eagle Lake - Monday, December 8, at 11 a.m.
St. Joseph Oratory, Portland
St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue, Portland - Latin Mass on Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street, Fryeburg - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street, Bridgton - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street, Houlton - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
St. Matthew Parish, Limerick
St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane, Limerick - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Michael Parish, Augusta
St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m.
St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue, Augusta - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.
St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133, Winthrop - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street, Gardiner - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor
St. John Church, 207 York Street, Bangor - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m. (Joint Mass with All Saints School students)
St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street, Brewer - Monday, December 8, at Noon
St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue, Hampden - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street, Brewer - Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m.
St. Peter Parish, Portland
St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m.
St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Machias
Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street, Machias - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street, Lubec - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.
St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street, Cherryfield - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Rose of Lima Parish, Jay
St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street, Jay - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.
St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Norway
Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street, Mechanic Falls - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.
St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street, Norway - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.
St. Mary Church, 276 King Street, Oxford - Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Sanford
Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue, Sanford - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
