From celebrating live-streamed Masses to empty pews to standing six feet away from friends and neighbors at the grocery store, encountering surreal situations on a daily basis has become the new normal. The sights of this pandemic’s effect are everywhere around us, including on Memorial Day. Since I was installed as bishop of our diocese in 2013, I have celebrated Mass at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Lewiston or Calvary Cemetery in South Portland each Memorial Day. During these gatherings in sacred spaces, we, together, cherished and honored those who have died in the service of our country. This Memorial Day, my celebration of Mass will take place indoors at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. COVID-19 and the subsequent guidance on large gatherings have forced a one-year move of venue, but remembering the sacrifice of these brave men and women and our shared gratitude for their selflessness is still at the heart of our prayer for them. Flags still adorn the gravesites at cemeteries across the country. I was touched to see families working together to complete this beautiful gesture at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery in Bangor earlier this week. It was a fitting tribute, and a comforting reminder that even in this time of crisis, the memory of the fallen will never be forgotten. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the ground of our hope. He shows us the Father’s love and mercy. In the hope that Jesus gives us, we believe that those we remember on Memorial Day live with the Lord. We pray for them and their families, and entrust them all to the loving embrace of God.

To spread the wealth of encouragement, guidance, and wisdom shared in the Holy Father’s pastoral document, Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”), the Diocese of Portland will relaunch the “Joy of the Family” initiative, a celebration of the gift and vocation of marriage and family life that debuted in 2017. To help families as they journey through this time of pandemic, the diocese will focus on a different theme featured in Amoris Laetitia each week. They will share prayers, Scripture passages, reflections, intercessions, and ideas for contemplating and acting upon the theme. The series will begin on May 8 and continue through mid-August. Go to the Joy of the Family section of our website to access this information.

The Diocese of Portland’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation has crafted a novena for Maine’s young adult community. The novena will begin on Friday, May 22, and will run through Saturday, May 30, with an optional prayer of thanksgiving on May 31 (Solemnity of Pentecost). Each day of the novena is focused on praying for a different young adult audience, including those who live alone, the unemployed, and those struggling with mental health issues. For more information click here.

Today is a day we honor our mothers. This year, it seems particularly appropriate as we marvel at the extraordinary effort that mothers have taken in this present coronavirus crisis. They have become 24/7 caregivers, organizers, and administrators of families and homes. They make sure that one of their children gets connected with a Zoom class while themselves being present at a work conference. And then there is the kitchen and the three meals a day to prepare. What we ask of mothers is heroic. Today, we can express our thanks to all of them including the adoptive moms, the foster moms, the grandmothers, and all those women who, by their care for others, help mothers in caring for their children and families. It is a lot to honor in a single day. I have always found it fitting that Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, the month of Mary, Mother of God, whose divine motherhood begins in her consent to God’s invitation to become the mother of Jesus, and also to all of his brothers and sisters in faith. In life, Mary knew in her heart that only in reflection, in prayer, in conversation with the God who had asked her to be the mother of his child, would she be able to carry on her mission to be faithful to what she had been called. We give thanks for the blessing in our lives of our mothers who, like Mary, have been faithful to their own calling of caring for us with the deepest love. A mother’s love, like all love, is of God. It models unselfish love and it is grounded in mercy and forgiveness. In their way of loving, mothers show their children what God’s love is like. Take a moment this weekend to say thank you to the woman in your life who loves you in that special way that only mothers do. Give thanks to God for the blessing she is to your life. Or, if your mother is deceased, take a moment, as I will, to remember gratefully the woman who gave you life, formed you, and nurtured you in faith with love. Say a prayer for her and give thanks for the generosity of her life. Pray as well, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, that the beauty and sacrifice of a mother’s love might be at the heart of the life of the Church and the respect and care we give to one another. Happy Mother’s Day!

Fr. Michael Sevigny, OFM Cap. will begin live-streaming Spanish Mass on Saturday, May 9. Masses will be streamed each Saturday at 5:30PM from the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul in Lewiston. All are welcome to participate in the Masses which will be live-streamed on the Prince of Peace Parish Facebook page, website, and YouTube channel. Click here for the Prince of Peace Parish website.

After much prayerful consideration and discussion with participating parishes and families, organizers of the 2020 Totus Tuus summer program in Maine have announced it has been cancelled. “Taking into account the social and relational nature of the program itself, we felt that the program would not be able to adhere to the social distancing protocols currently in place in Maine,” said Fr. Seamus Griesbach, director of vocations for the Diocese of Portland and program coordinator for Totus Tuus. Fr. Griesbach is happy to report, however, that the program will be back, stronger than ever, in 2021. For any families who have already registered their children online, fees will be refunded in full in the coming days. Any questions or concerns regarding reimbursement may be sent to vocations@portlanddiocese.org. Click here to read the full press release.

For centuries, May has been a month in which the Catholic Church honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Devotions are traditionally held in a tribute of faith, reverence, and love to our Blessed Mother. In a time of social distancing, young adult Catholics from around Maine are invited to come together virtually on Saturday, May 2, at 2:30 p.m. to pray the rosary and meditate on the Joyful Mysteries. If the gathering is popular enough, it will be a reoccurring event during the month of May and beyond. The event will be held via Zoom, and those interested in participating can email Hannah Gonneville in the diocese’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation at hannah.gonneville@portlanddiocese.org for the Zoom meeting details and password. For more information, visit the Maine Young Adult Catholics’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YoungAdultCatholicsMaine.

A Mass, celebrated in Spanish, will be offered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland on Sunday, May 3, at 8AM. Click here for details.

One of the things I treasure in this time of pandemic is the opportunity to take a daily walk. It is renewing. These days of uncertainty and dislocation have somehow been busier than our normal routines and are taking more out of us. Getting outside, breathing in the fresh air, and observing the beautiful world around us is that much more important now. Whether you live on the coast, in the mountains, in a river town, Down East, or the County, I encourage you to join together with me, while apart, and enjoy the beautiful gift of nature that God has given us, particularly in Maine, a special place unmatched in its natural beauty that flows from the love of God. On this Earth Day, I am reminded that the care of the mystery and glory of nature has been placed in our hands. We show our respect for God by our stewardship of that creation, living our faith through the protection of our environment. May the Lord guide us in maintaining our home for now, and may our concern for the earth always include those who live on it with us.

Fr. Paul Marquis sits in his office at Mercy Hospital, waiting. He often notices how the usually busy corridors outside have grown quiet recently. Strict visitor regulations are in place, and staff schedules have been drastically altered to cover any possibility of a surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. To read the full article click here.

Drive-thru Confessions with Fr. Patrick will be available on Fridays from 11AM-12noon in the parking lot at Notre Dame Church and Saturdays from 3-4PM in the parking lot at St. John Church.

Until we can celebrate Mass again in our churches, Sunday Mass will continue to be live-streamed at 9AM on our parish Facebook page. Also, beginning Mon., Apr. 20, daily Mass will be live-streamed on Mon., Wed., Thurs., and Fri. at 12:15PM. Mass Intentions for the Dead from March 19-April 17 will be celebrated in the order in which they were originally scheduled. Moving forward intentions will be honored as requested. On days when the live-stream is not available, our priests will celebrate Mass privately for the intention listed. To see a list of the Mass Intentions please view our parish bulletin by clicking of the About Our Parish tab above.

In preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday, drive-thru Confessions with Fr. Patrick will be available in the parking lot at St. John Church on Wednesday, April 15 & Friday, April 17 from 3-4PM and Saturday, April 18 from 11AM-12noon.

Easter is a beautiful feast that recalls for us the truth that is the heart of our faith: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and we, sharing in that resurrection, have been saved and given the gift of hope. I think we all realize we are living in a unique time with a historically challenging crisis in this pandemic. We wonder where this will go and how it will come to an end. Our anxieties are real, but the human spirit is strong, and with the help of God, we will move through this crisis. Signs of the hope that brightens our days are around us. Adaptation and ingenuity, inventiveness and creativity, these are the things I have seen in the dedication of our priests, deacons, teachers, and professionals over this time of crisis. Families decorating their doors with colorful crosses, children hanging a pine branch instead of a palm branch this year, and Catholics throughout our state shopping for and checking in on their elders in a time of fear. And thousands of people praying together virtually. Our connection remains strong. We have been there for each other when we cannot be with each other. These are the bright lights in our diocese during a dark moment in time. On Easter Sunday evening, when Jesus appears to His disciples, His first gift to them is His greeting, “Peace.” The peace He gives us is the assurance that God is with us. And the care that so many people have shown to each other in this crisis truly shows us that Christ’s peace is alive in those who follow Him in our diocese. May you and your loved ones have a blessed, joyful, and safe Easter season!

The Diocese of Portland is encouraging all Catholic churches in Maine that have bells to ring them on Easter Sunday, April 12, at noon. The ringing of the bells is to celebrate Christ’s victory over death and the promise of eternal life as well as offer the community of faithful a shared experience after spending Holy Week apart due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The idea came from a faith-filled woman in Hartford, Maine, who had grown tired of watching traditions being forced to take a year off. “It’s like the children’s cartoon with the Grinch. Even though he took one thing after another away, the townspeople still came together and had Christmas,” said Sybilla Pettengill. “Well, this year, COVID-19 is the Grinch, but we can still have the beauty and joy of Easter.” Each church will decide the length of the bell ringing, and other denominations and churches are encouraged to join the initiative by ringing their bells as well.

A month ago our world as we know it changed. During this time let us reflect on the important things in our lives: love of God, family, friends and community. People have lost jobs, experienced anxiety, perhaps saddened by the death of a loved one, and we practice social distancing. However, we need to keep in touch spiritually and emotionally. If you or someone you know are alone during this pandemic and might need a happy “How are you doing?” phone call, please contact the Parish Office at cmoffice@gwi.net or 872-2281. If you do know of someone to whom we can “reach out” please ask their permission to share their contact information with parish volunteers. We want to respect their personal information. They do not have to be a member of the parish. We are community – all of us!

Fr. Patrick will be available today 9AM-noon and 1PM-6PM for drive-thru Confessions in the parking lot at St. John. Please enter by the school and drive thru next to the grotto.

Although everyone recognizes the significance of palms as a beloved sacramental for the faithful, to ensure the safety of all, the distribution of palms is suspended this year.

The deadline for the completion of the Disciple Maker Index survey has been extended. If you still want to participate you can do so by returning a paper copy to the Parish Office by Thurs., Apr. 2 or by completing the survey online by clicking here. Thank you to all who have been part of this important process.

Another suggestion in the Books for Catholic Kids series is now on our Faith Formation Blog. For parents who wonder how they can possibly teach their children about the beauty…the grandeur…the mystery of Holy Mass--The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith is the book for you! Click here to read the Blog Post.