The Mother Cabrini Maine Catholic Education Initiative’s Homeschool Collaborative hosted its first Catholic Homeschooling Retreat and Conference on Saturday, June 27, bringing together homeschooling parents from around the state.

Inspired by the nation’s 250th birthday and the work of the National Eucharistic Revival (2022-2025), the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage came to Maine last week. Beginning on May 24 in St. Augustine, Florida, site of the first Mass to be celebrated on American soil, the pilgrimage will conclude in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of July. It is stopping in 18 dioceses along the way, and the Diocese of Portland was privileged to be among them.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And today I'll be talking about the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist. And before we do that, though, I'd like to offer a prayer in thanksgiving for this wonderful sacrament and asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to its inspiration.

This October, the Diocese of Portland will celebrate the ordination of seven men to the permanent diaconate. The deacon candidates have been called to orders and will be ordained by Bishop James Ruggieri on Saturday, October 17, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And we continue our series on the catechism, specifically this week talking about the sacrament of confirmation. And as always, I'd like to begin with a prayer, but especially this week invoking the Holy Spirit to inspire us, to help us, to open our hearts to the beauty of this faith that we are so privileged to share. Let us pray.

The Diocese of Portland celebrated the ordination of Vinh Nguyen to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, June 13, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. Transitional deacons are men who are discerning for the priesthood, but being ordained a deacon, the third rank of Holy Orders, is more than just a step on that journey.

On the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, which is celebrated annually on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the faithful gathered in the chapel of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland to pray for our priests, both living and deceased, as well as for those discerning vocations to the priesthood.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Rugiri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine, and we have begun part two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which talks about the sacraments primarily, but it's entitled The Celebration of the Christian Mystery. So today we continue and we focus particularly on baptism, the all-important sacrament of baptism.

Through the commitment and gifts of parishioners, the St. Monica Chapel in Augusta has been renovated and reborn as an adoration chapel. Bishop James Ruggieri joined with parishioners on Thursday, June 4, to celebrate the accomplishment and to bless the renovated chapel.

The Diocese of Portland has appointed Allison Eilers as the first headmaster of Frassati Classical Catholic High School in Brewer, which will open in September 2026. Eilers brings extensive experience in founding, managing, and advancing classical and faith-based schools, and will officially assume the role on July 1, 2026.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Rugiri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And we are continuing with our series on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We've moved now into the second part of the Catechism about worship, liturgy, sacraments.

Dr. Joseph McCleary, an experienced educational leader with more than 30 years of work in school administration, curriculum development, and community engagement, has been named the inaugural headmaster of Seton Classical Catholic High School in Brunswick, effective July 1, 2026. He will also serve as headmaster of Saint Dominic Academy, the diocese’s pre-K to grade 8 Catholic school in Auburn.

His Excellency Bishop James T. Ruggieri has announced the following new priest assignments, effective June 1, 2026.

Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, shared his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. It certainly addresses a timely topic—that of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—but, more importantly, the timelessness of Church teaching on human dignity.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland. And as we continue our podcast, we're moving now into a new part of the catechism of the Catholic Church.

It was a day of rejoicing for two dioceses on Saturday, May 23, as two priests were ordained at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland. Father Ezekiel B. Yisi and Father Evans B. Yongyee, both originally from Cameroon, were ordained by Bishop George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo, in the presence of Bishop James Ruggieri.

Michael Brough, a seasoned leader with extensive experience in pastoral planning, leadership development, evangelization, and church management, has been appointed director of pastoral planning, parish vitality, and mission integration for the Diocese of Portland, effective June 30, 2026.

On the eve of the ordination of Deacon Ezekiel Yisi and Deacon Evans Yongyee to the priesthood, the faithful gathered in the chapel of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland to pray for the two young men and to pray for vocations to the priesthood.

Welcome to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggeri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine, and today we resume our series on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, talking about these articles of the Creed, or these points of the Creed: the resurrection of the body, life everlasting, and the word Amen, which really brings us to a beautiful conclusion to the first part of the Catechism, which has expounded on the articles of the Creed.

Over 40 teens and young adults gathered at St. Joseph's Church in Brewer for the annual REV (Revitalization of the Eucharist and Vocations) Retreat on Saturday. The theme for this retreat was "Let it be Done to Me According to Your Word," in honor of our Blessed Mother's radical acceptance of God's plan.