Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

"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. Mass times listed by city/town may be found below. Mass times listed by parish may be found here. Prayers to Mary, the Immaculate Conception may be found here.

Holy Day Mass Times

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m.

St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 41 Western Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m. (Joint Mass with All Saints School students)

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Benedicta

St. Benedict Parish:

St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Monday, December 8, at Noon

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon

St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street - Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m.

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon and 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Monday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Monday, December 8, at 5 p.m.

Cherryfield

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Dexter

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Sunday, December 7, at 6 p.m.

Dover-Foxcroft

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - Monday, December 8, at 11 a.m.

East Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Peter Church, 58 Cedar Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street– Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - Monday, December 8, at Noon

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Island Falls

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Monday, December 8, at Noon

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Jay

St. Rose of Lima Parish:

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street, Jay - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road- Monday, December 8, at 9:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m. and Noon

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Lubec

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street - Monday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Machias

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish:

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street- Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m..

Millinocket

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish:

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street - Monday, December 8, at 4 p.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Oxford

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Mary Church, 276 King Street - Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 6:15 p.m.

Pittsfield

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Portland

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Monday, December 8, at 6:15 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Monday, December 8, at 7 a.m.

St. Joseph Oratory:

St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue - Latin Mass on Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m.

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - Monday, December 8, at 9 a.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Monday, December 8, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - Monday, December 8, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street – Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., and Monday, December 8, at 12:15 p.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail – Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., and Monday, December 8, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - Monday, December 8, at 6 p.m.