News - January 2025 RSS Feed

The Christian Life Center (CLC) in Frenchville and St. John Paul II Parish in Scarborough each hosted gatherings this month to commemorate the Jubilee Year of 2025. Dating back to the 13th century, ordinary jubilees are celebrated by the Catholic Church every 25 years and are a time of special grace, forgiveness and renewal. The theme of this year's jubilee is "Pilgrims of Hope."

Today, the Maine Law Court invalidated the 2021 law removing the statute of limitations on allegations of past sexual abuse. In the first eight months of my ministry here in the state of Maine, I have made it a priority to understand this matter and engage in discussions on its potential outcomes.

I participated in the 2025 March for Life liturgies, rally, and march event on Thursday and Friday of last week. Maine also had a bus delegation that traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday. On Thursday evening, at the Vigil for Life opening Mass held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Catholic News Agency reported over 5,000 attendees at the Mass. On Friday, there are no accurate estimates for the number of people who attended the rally and March for Life.

This year, the National Catholic Educational Association sponsors “Celebrate Catholic Schools Week” from January 26th to February 3rd. If you are a Catholic school educator or parent in the Diocese of Portland, you know the schedule and how your school will celebrate this upcoming week. As a local Church preparing for the week, I would like to highlight some important aspects of Catholic Education, referring specifically to the recently published pastoral letter, “The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education,” by Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Catholics from across the country are invited to join together in prayer for the protection of life and human dignity beginning today, January 16, when the "9 Days for Life" novena begins. In its 13th year, the campaign, sponsored by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, concludes on Friday, January 24, the day of the March for Life in Washington, DC.

I would like to share with you this week some thoughts that came from prayer and reflection about the baptism of Jesus. You may have already entertained the question: Why did Jesus have to be baptized if John’s baptism was a preparation for the coming of the Messiah? Jesus is the Messiah, so it’s confusing. If you are not pondering this question, please bear with me for a moment.

“A nice little project.” That is how Father Seamus Griesbach described the simple, yet beautiful wooden cross he handcrafted for the celebration of the opening of the Jubilee Year of Hope.

Bishop James T. Ruggieri has announced two new priest assignments in the Diocese of Portland effective January 30, 2025.

From those experiencing their very first new year to those who have seen many come and go, hundreds joined Bishop James Ruggieri for a New Year’s Day Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.