Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Thursday, May 14, 2026

On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we celebrate Christ's bodily ascension into heaven, which occurred in the presence of his apostles. We hear in St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians that Christ took his seat at the right hand of his Father, "far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion."

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord occurs 40 days after Christ's resurrection. It is the important, final piece of the Paschal Mystery, which began with Christ's Passion and death. Because Christ ascended, we, as members of the body of Christ, also look forward to ascending into heaven after our bodily resurrection.

On the solemnity, we are also reminded of our evangelizing mission. Before Christ ascends, he gives his disciples final instructions, telling them to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit and then "go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).  We will celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost Sunday, May 24,2026.

During the days between the Solemnity of the Ascension and the Solemnity of Pentecost, we are called to intense prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This time of prayer comprises a novena, during which we pray that we may receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

While some ecclesiastical provinces have transferred the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, that is not the case in the province of Boston, of which the Diocese of Portland is a part. Here, the celebration remains on the proper Thursday. In addition to participating in Mass on the holy day, another wonderful way to celebrate is through lectio divina, a contemplative prayer of the Scriptures.

Masses will be Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14.  A listing by parish can be found below and a listing by city/town can be found here. 

All Saints Parish, Brunswick

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 82 Atlantic Avenue, Boothbay Harbor -  Thursday, May 14, at noon

St. Ambrose Church, 29 Kimball Street, Richmond - Thursday, May 14, at 10 a.m.

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick - Thursday, May 14, at noon and 6:30 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 39 Pleasant Street, Brunswick - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 144 Lincoln Street, Bath - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Patrick Church, 380 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland - Thursday, May 14, at 12:15 p.m. (Bishop Ruggieri presiding), 6 p.m. and  7:30 p.m.

Christ the Divine Mercy Parish, East Millinocket

St. Martin of Tours Church, 19 Colby Street, Millinocket - Thursday, May 14, at 4:30 p.m.

Christ the King Parish, Skowhegan

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church, 273 Water Street, Skowhegan - Thursday, May 14, at noon

St. Peter Church, 27 Owens Street, Bingham - Thursday, May 14, at 2:30 p.m.

St. Sebastian Church, 161 Main Street, Madison - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

Corpus Christi Parish, Winslow

Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville - Thursday, May 14, at 12:15 p.m.

St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street, Winslow - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Good Shepherd Parish, Saco

Most Holy Trinity Church, 271 Main Street, Saco - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, 178 Elm Street, Biddeford - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

St. Margaret Church, 6 Saco Avenue, Old Orchard Beach - Thursday, May 14, at noon

St. Philip Church, 404 Goodwins Mills Road, Lyman - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

Holy Family Parish, Greenville

Holy Family Church, 145 Pritham Avenue, Greenville - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

Holy Spirit Parish, Wells

St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 9:15 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells - Wednesday, May 13, at 4 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Auburn

Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place, Auburn - Thursday, May 14, at 7:45 a.m. and noon

St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road, Auburn - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

Our Lady of Hope Parish, Portland

St. Pius X Church, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland - Wednesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 14 at 9 a.m. and 12:10 p.m.

Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish, Lincoln

St. Leo the Great Church, 16 River Road, Howland - Thursday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary of Lourdes Church, 142 Main Street, Lincoln - Thursday, May 14, at Noon

Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Oquossoc

St. John Church, 76 Main Street, Stratton - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Luke Church, 19 Lake Street, Rangeley - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Dexter

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 43 High Street, Dover-Foxcroft - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Francis Xavier & St. Paul the Apostle Church, 128 Riverside Street, Milo - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Saint Agatha

St. Luce Church, 441 U.S. Route One, Frenchville - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Ascension of the Lord, Kittery

Our Lady of the Angels Church, 4 Angels' Way, South Berwick - Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m.

St. Christopher Church, 4 Barrell Lane, York - Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

St. Raphael Church, 6 Whipple Road, Kittery - Thursday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m.

Parish of the Holy Eucharist, Falmouth

Holy Martyrs of North America Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth - Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 326 Main Street, Yarmouth - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

St. Gregory the Great Church, 24 North Raymond Road, Gray - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

St. Jude Church, 134 Main Street, Freeport - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Holy Savior, Mexico

Our Lady of the Snows Church, 265 Walker's Mills Road, Bethel - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Athanasius & St. John Church, 126 Maine Avenue, Rumford - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 8:15 a.m.

Parish of the Precious Blood, Caribou

Holy Rosary Church, 34 Vaughn Street, Caribou - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 333 Main Street, Presque Isle - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 1141 Van Buren Road, North Caribou - Thursday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Denis Church, 147 Main Street, Fort Fairfield - Thursday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m.

st. Louis Church, 106 Main Street, Limestone - Thurdsay, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Mark Church, 13 Allen Farm Road, Ashland - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, Old Town

Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street, Old Town - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., preceded by eucharistic adoration and confessions at 5 p.m.

Our Lady of Wisdom Church, 83 College Avenue, Orono - Thursday, May 14, at Noon

St. Ann Church, 84 Main Street, Bradley - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

Parish of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Bar Harbor

Holy Redeemer Church, 56 Mount Desert, Bar Harbor - Thursday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Peter Church, 5 Ocean House Hill Road, Southwest Harbor - Thursday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m.

Prince of Peace Parish, Lewiston

Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, 122 Ash Street, Lewiston - Thursday, May 14, at 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m. (Traditional Latin Mass), and noon

Holy Family Church, 607 Sabattus Street, Lewiston - Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

Holy Trinity Church, 67 Frost Hill Avenue, Lisbon Falls - Thursday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m.

Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish, Portland

Sacred Heart Church, 65 Mellen Street, Portland - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Agnes Parish, Island Falls

St. Agnes Church, 76 Sewall Street, Island Falls - Thursday, May 14, at noon

St. Agnes Parish, Pittsfield

St. Agnes Church, 238 Detroit Street, Pittsfield - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 10 a.m.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Jackman

St. Faustina Church, 370 Main Street, Jackman - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Westbrook

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 919 Roosevelt Trail, Windham - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Anne Church, 299 Main Street, Gorham - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Family Mass)

St. Hyacinth Church, 268 Brown Street, Westbrook - Wednesday, May 13, at 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 12:15 p.m.

St. Benedict Parish, Benedicta

St. Benedict Church, 1063 Benedicta Road, Benedicta - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

St. Brendan the Navigator Parish, Camden

Our Lady of Good Hope Church, 7 Union Street, Camden - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

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

St. Francis of Assisi Church, 81 Court Street, Belfast - Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m.

St. Christopher Parish, Peaks Island

St. Christopher Church, 15 Central Avenue, Peaks Island - Thursday, May 14, at 6:15 p.m.

St. John Paul II Parish, Scarborough

Holy Cross Church, 124 Cottage Road, South Portland - Thursday, May 14, at 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

St. Bartholomew Church, 8 Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth - Thursday, May 14, at 5 p.m.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. John Vianney Parish, Fort Kent

St. Charles Borromeo Church, 912 Main Street, St. Francis - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, 7 Church Street, Wallagrass - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Louis Church, 26 East Main Street, Fort Kent - Wednesday, May 13, at 4 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 7 a.m.

St. Mary Church, 3451 Aroostook Road, Eagle Lake - Thursday, May 14, at 11 a.m.

St. Joseph Oratory, Portland

St. Joseph Oratory, 673 Stevens Avenue, Portland - Wednesay, May 13, at 6 p.m. (Traditional Latin Mass)

St. Joseph Parish, Bridgton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street, Fryeburg - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, 225 South High Street, Bridgton - Thursday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Parish, Ellsworth

St. Joseph Church, 231 Main Street, Ellsworth - Wednesday, May 13, at 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 12:10 p.m.

St. Joseph Parish, Farmington

St. Joseph Church, 133 Middle Street, Farmington - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Calais

Immaculate Conception Church, 31 Calais Avenue, Calais - Thursday, May 14, at 5 p.m.

St. James the Greater Church, 15 Hillside Street, Baileyville - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

St. Joseph Church, 51 Washington Street, Eastport - Thursday, May 14, at Noon

St. Louis Parish, Portland

St. Louis Church, 279 Danforth Street, Portland - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, Houlton

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 110 Military Street, Houlton - Thursday, May 14, at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

St. Matthew Parish, Limerick

St. Matthew Church, 19 Dora Lane, Limerick - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Michael Parish, Augusta

St. Augustine Church, 75 Northern Avenue, Augusta - Thursday, May 14, at 7:30 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier Church, 130 U.S. Route 133, Winthrop - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

St. Joseph Church, 110 School Street, Gardiner - Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary of the Visitation Church, 41 Western Avenue, Augusta -  Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m.

St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Bangor

St. John Church, 217 York Street, Bangor - Thursday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Church, 531 North Main Street, Brewer - Thursday, May 14, at noon

St. Mary Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor - Thursday, May 14, at 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

St. Matthew Church, 70 Western Avenue, Hampden - Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30 p.m.

St. Teresa Church, 425 South Main Street, Brewer - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Peter Parish, Portland

St. Peter Church, 72 Federal Street, Portland - Thursday, May 14, at 7 a.m.

St. Peter Chanel Parish, Van Buren

St. Bruno-St. Remi Church, 174 Main Street, Van Buren - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Machias

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 8 Free Street, Machias - Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m., preceded by the Rosary at 5 p.m.

Sacred Heart Church, 14 Hamilton Street, Lubec - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m., preceded by the Rosary at 5:30 p.m.

St. Michael Church, 51 Elm Street, Cherryfield - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m., preceded by the Rosary at 5:30 p.m.

St. Rose of Lima Parish, Jay

St. Rose of Lima Church, 1 Church Street, Jay - Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. and Thursday, May 14, at 12:15 p.m.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Norway

Our Lady of Ransom Church, 117 Elm Street, Mechanic Falls - Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m.

St. Catherine of Sienna Church, 32 Paris Street, Norway - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Sanford

Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue, Sanford - Thursday, May 14, at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Stella Maris Parish, Bucksport

Our Lady of Holy Hope Church, 137 Perkins Street, Castine - Thursday, May 14, at 4 p.m.

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 8 Granite Street, Stonington - Thursday, May 14, at 10 a.m.

St. Vincent de Paul Church, 64 Franklin Street, Bucksport - Thursday, May 14, at 8 a.m.