Thank you to all who generously gave to this year's Catholic Appeal, helping to fund the church of Maine. We recently exceeded our goal with 493 pledges totaling $165,484!

Click here to see the offerings from the Parish and other groups for the Advent season.

In an effort to help countless children and families in need, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and Corpus Christi Parish will host “Jolly Gifts,” an initiative that aims to warm hearts and offer support to community members as they prepare for Christmas. All are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or gift to the “Jolly Gifts” displays at the locations listed below. The gifts will be distributed to young children up through early teens. Popular items include board games, arts and crafts kits, model cars, sports items, and dolls. Cash donations are also accepted. Donations will be accepted from Saturday, November 26, through Sunday, December 11. Collection bins can be found at: Sacred Heart Church, 8 Sacred Heart Place in Auburn; St. Philip Church, 2365 Turner Road in Auburn; Notre Dame du Perpetual Secours Church, 116 Silver Street in Waterville; St. John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street in Winslow All the families that receive Jolly Gifts live locally. Organizers suggest a gift of around $10 or less, and there is always a particular need for older youth, ages 12 and up. Participants can also drop off their donations or a financial contribution during business hours at the offices of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on 24 Sacred Heart Place in Auburn (Monday through Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to noon) or the offices of Corpus Christi Parish on 17 South Garand Street in Winslow (Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to noon). For more information, call (207) 956-1457.

The Parish Office will be closed on Fri., Nov. 11 for Veteran's Day. Thank you to all of our Veteran's for their service.

Parish Masses for the Solemnity of All Saints are: 12;15PM at Notre Dame in Waterville and 6:00PM at St. John in Winslow.

Please note--there will be no weekday Masses this week at either Notre Dame or St. John churches.

Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn will host a special conference that aims to help both students and parents around Maine to understand how online activity impacts safety, both on the screen and off of it. Click here for more details.

The move inside did not stop the fun. Click here to see the pictures from the event.

THE COLD AND RAIN WON'T DAMPEN OUR SPIRITS!! The events for Sun., Sept. 18 will be moved indoors. The 10:30AM Mass will be held inside St. John Church and the Taste of Corpus Christi Parish will be held in St. John hall--same delicious food and music, just a different location. Please join us!

HOW IT WORKS: Each ticket costs $100 (Tickers can be split among any number of employees who are willing to share the winnings! (Four employees at $25, five at $20, ten at $10.00, etc.) The numbered balls will be dropped into a lottery drum following the Golf Classic tournament on September 19. When the balls are spun and one is drawn, the holder(s) of the winning ball number will receive $5,000!!! You do not need to be present to win. Friends and family can purchase tickets, as well. Your chances are great! Only 150 balls will be sold. Don’t wait and don’t miss out on this fun way to raise funds for our Put Children First Scholarship Fund – now celebrating 20 years of helping working families. Click here to buy tickets.

Celebrations with family and friends give us natural opportunities to invite someone who has not been to Mass for a while to attend. Click here to check out these tips for reaching out to those you care about most:

Of course, there is no question that the spiritual benefits far outweigh any practical benefits that children may receive when they attend Mass and that the reason we attend Mass is to be with and worship Our Lord, but here are some of the practical lessons that kids learn when they attend Mass. Kindergarten teachers often distribute a list of things that children should be able to do before they start school. The abilities to listen to instructions and sit still for a few minutes at a time are often at the top of that list. Mass is a wonderful environment to learn some of these important skills and put them into practice. I know that it is not an easy job to bring children, especially toddlers, to Mass, but God provides so many graces and blessings because of our obedience in fulfilling our Sunday obligation that we would be remiss to keep our families from it. Remember, it is well worth your struggle to be there. Click here for the full article from Catholic-Link.org

While some Sundays come and go with an air of absolute dog-tiredness, Sunday Worship isn’t meant to just be another obligation to fulfill in the rigamarole of Christianity. NO! Sunday Worship in the form of the Most Holy Mass is meant to invigorate and revitalize not only our hearts and minds but also our bodies and souls. It is not just something nice we do, but absolutely necessary to the health of our Christian lives. Click here to read the LifeTeen blog titled "Why Mass?

Today’s decision reaffirms the truth that every life is sacred, and it promotes protection for women and children from the grave injustice of abortion. We welcome the possibility of saving the lives of countless unborn children as well as sparing many women and families from pain. The Diocese of Portland will continue to accompany any woman, regardless of faith, who is experiencing difficulties in pregnancy through our various Catholic agencies in Maine, including pregnancy help centers and parish-based initiatives like Walking with Moms in Need. As well, we will support and assist those who have been involved in an abortion through our Project Rachel program. God is merciful, and it is of paramount importance that people who experience distress grow in understanding of this truth and are guided on a path to emotional and spiritual healing. To learn more about programs and initiatives in the Diocese of Portland and across the country that care for and promote healing for women and families in need, click here.

Twenty-five couples, who have been married for a combined 1,119 years, registered to attend the Silver & Gold Mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Robert Deeley at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Windham. Click here for the whole story with pictures from the Mass.

The Catholic Church will celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests on Friday, June 24. Established by Saint John Paul II in 2002, the celebration occurs annually on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this day, the Church encourages priests to prayerfully reflect upon the gift of their vocation. To read the full text from the Diocese of Portland click here.

It is not too late to register for Totus Tuus. Any child in grades 1-12 is welcome to attend. Click here for more information or to register.