Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"From now on, will all ages call me blessed.^" (Luke 1:48-49)

On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we celebrate the Blessed Mother's assumption into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. Although it is the oldest of the feasts celebrating Mary, dating back to the fourth - sixth centuries, it wasn't until 1950 that Pope Pius XII formally defined it as a dogma of the Catholic Church.

"This feast shows not only that the dead body of the Blessed Virgin Mary remained incorrupt, but that she gained a triumph out of death, her heavenly glorification after the example of her only begotten Son, Jesus Christ," Pope Pius XII wrote in his apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus.

The dogma of the Blessed Mother's assumption, the pope wrote, "is contained in the deposit of Christian faith entrusted to the Church." The proof, he said, can we found in early sacred writings, in the wisdom of theologians and doctors of the Church, and in the minds of the faithful.

"Since our Redeemer is the Son of Mary, he could not do otherwise, as the perfect observer of God's law, than to honor not only his eternal Father but also his most beloved Mother. And, since it was within his power to grant her this great honor, to preserve her from the corruption of the tomb, we must believe that he really acted in this way."

It is not known on which day Mary's Assumption actually took place, but the solemnity is celebrated on August 15 and is a holy day of obligation.

Mass times by city/town are listed below.  To find a listing by parish name, click here.

Auburn

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish:

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place - Friday, August 14, at 7:45 a.m. and noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m.

Bangor

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. preceded by a Marian procession around the parking lot at 5:30 p.m. (Procession will be held in the church if it rains) and Friday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m.

St. John Church, 217 York Street - Friday, August 15, at 5:30 p.m.

Bath

All Saints Parish:

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Belfast

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street - Thursday, August 14, at 8 a.m.

Bethel

Parish of the Holy Savior:

Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Biddeford

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Brendan Church, 40 Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard - Friday, August 15 at 9 a.m.

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street - Friday, August 15, at 9 a.m.

Biddeford Pool

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Brendan Church, 40 Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard - Friday, August 15 at 9 a.m.

Bingham

Christ the King Parish:

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street - Friday, August 15, at 2:30 p.m.

Boothbay Harbor

All Saints Parish:

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue - Friday, August 15, at noon

Bradley

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street - Thursday, August 14 at 6 p.m., preceded by eucharistic adoration and confessions at 5 p.m.

Brewer

St. Paul the Apostle Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street - Friday, August 15, at Noon

Bridgton

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m.

Brunswick

All Saints Parish:

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street - Friday, August 15, at noon

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Camden

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

Our Lady of good Hope Church, 7 Union Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Cape Elizabeth

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road - Friday, August 15, at 5 p.m. celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri

Dexter

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Anne Church, 64 Free Street - Friday, August 15, at noon

Dover-Foxcroft

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m.

Falmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road - Thursday, August 14, at 5:30 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 5:30 p.m.

Farmington

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Freeport

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Fryeburg

St. Joseph Parish:

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Gorham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Family Mass)

Gray

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish:

St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 110 Military Street - Friday, August 15, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Island Falls

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street - Friday, August 15, at Noon

Jay

St. Rose of Lima Parish:

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 12:15 p.m.

Kennebunk

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 9:15 a.m.

Lewiston

Prince of Peace Parish:

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street - Friday, August 15, at 7 a.m. and noon

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street - Thursday, August 14, at 5:30 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Limerick

St. Matthew Parish:

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Lisbon Falls

Prince of Peace Parish:

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue - Friday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m.

Lyman

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road - Friday, August 15 at 9 a.m.

Madison

Christ the King Parish:

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Mechanic Falls

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street - Friday, August 14, at 5:30 p.m.

Milo

Our Lady of the Snows Parish:

St. Francis Xavier & St. Paul the Apostle Church, 128 Riverside Street - Friday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m.

Newcastle

All Saints Parish:

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Norway

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street - Friday, August 15, at 8:30 a.m.

Ogunquit

Holy Spirit Parish:

All Saints Church, 45 School Street - Friday, August 15, at 9 a.m.

Old Orchard Beach

Good Shepherd Parish:

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue - Friday, August 15, at Noon

OId Town

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord:

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street - Friday, August 15, Mass at 8 a.m. preceded by confessions from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., eucharistic adoration from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the chapel, and Mass at 6 p.m.

Oxford

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish:

St. Mary Church, 276 King Street - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m.

Peaks Island

St. Christopher Parish:

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue - Thursday, August 15, at 6:15 p.m.

Pittsfield

St. Agnes Parish:

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Portland

Our Lady of Hope Parish;

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue - Thursday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 9 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.

Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes:

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m. (Latin Mass in the chapel), 12:15 p.m. celebrated by Bishop James Ruggieri, 6 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Thursday, August 15, at 6:15 p.m.

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street - Wednesday, August 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street - Friday, August 15, at 7 a.m.

Richmond

All Saints Parish:

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street - Friday, August 15, at 10 a.m.

Rockland

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish:

St. Bernard Church, 150 Broadway - Thursday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m.

Rumford

Parish of the Holy Savior:

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue - Thursday, August 14, at 6 p.m. and Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Saco

Good Shepherd Parish:

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Sanford

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish:

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue - Friday, August 15, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Scarborough

St. John Paul II Parish:

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

South Portland

St. John Paul II Parish:

Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road - Friday, August 15, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Skowhegan

Christ the King Parish:

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street - Friday, August 15, at Noon

Van Buren

St. Peter Chanel Parish:

St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 6 p.m.

Wells

Holy Spirit Parish:

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road - Thursday, August 14, at 4 p.m. and Thursday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Westbrook

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street - Friday, August 15, at 12:15 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Windham

St. Anthony of Padua Parish:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.

Yarmouth

Parish of the Holy Eucharist:

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street - Friday, August 15, at 8 a.m.