Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Masses on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
December 31 and January 1

"Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time." (Catechism 721)

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God honors the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Theotokos, "the God-bearer," who brings the Son of God into the world.

The solemnity, Pope Francis said, immerses us once more in the mystery of Christmas.

"It is indeed good for us to reflect on how Mary, the young woman of Nazareth, constantly brings us back to the mystery of Jesus, her Son. She reminds us that Jesus came in the flesh, and that we encounter him above all in our daily life, in our own frail humanity and that of all those whom we encounter each day. In praying to Our Lady as the Mother of God, we proclaim that Christ was begotten of the Father, yet also truly born of a woman. We proclaim that he is the Lord of time, yet dwells in our time, indeed this new year, with his loving presence. We proclaim that he is the Savior of the world, yet we are able to encounter him and are called to seek him in the face of every human being. If he, who is the Son, became so small as to be held in a mother’s arms, cared for and nursed, this means that today too he comes among us in all those who need similar care: in every sister and brother we meet, in everyone who needs our attention and tender care," the pope said.

The Solemnity of Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. A listing of Masses organized by city/town can be found below. Click here to view a listing of Masses by parish.

Augusta

St. Michael Parish:

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue - New Year's Day at 7:30 a.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. John Church, 217 York Street - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - New Year's Day at 9:30 a.m.

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of Good Hope, 7 Union Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 11 a.m.

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - New  Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Eagle Lake

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Fort Kent

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Gardiner

St. Michael Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street - New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street – New Year’s Day at 8 a.m.

Greenville

Holy Family Parish:

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Hampden

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue - New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m.

Jackman

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street - New Year's Day at 11 a.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - New  Year's Day at 7 a.m.

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8 a.m.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - New Year's Eve at 5:30 p.m. and New Year's Day at 9:30 a.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - New Year's Day at 10:30 a.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - New Year's Day at 8:30 a.m.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - New Year's Day at 6:15 p.m.

Portland

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - New Year's Day at 12:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street - New Year's Day at Midnight and 10:30 a.m.

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - New Year's Day at 6:15 p.m.

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - New Year's Day at 7 a.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - New Year's Day at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Saint Francis

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - New Year's Day at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - New Year's Eve at 5 p.m. and New Year's Day at 8 a.m.

Soldier Pond (Wallagrass)

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - New Year's Eve at 4 p.m.

Wallagrass

St. John Vianney Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street - New Year's Eve at 6 p.m.

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street – New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year’s Day at 9:30 a.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail – New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m. and New Year’s Day at 8 a.m.

Winthrop

St. Michael Parish:

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133 - New Year's Day at 8 a.m.