News - April 2026 RSS Feed

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine.

A second-grade teacher at St. Michael School in Augusta has been honored as the Maine Catholic School Teacher of the Year.

Bishop James Ruggieri presided at the annual Neophyte Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Saying that Jesus sends us into the world not as prisoners of fear or division but as peacemakers, Bishop James Ruggieri presided over a Holy Hour of Peace and Reconciliation on April 24 in the chapel of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

How are Catholic Charities agencies around the United States and here in Maine providing hope to our neighbors in need?

Well, welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And we continue with our series on the catechism, this time coming to the article, I believe in the Holy Catholic Church

“God is not finished writing our book." That was the message of encouragement that keynote speaker Christine Eberle shared with more than 200 women gathered for the annual Maine Catholic Women’s Conference held April 18 at the St. John’s Community Center in Brunswick.

His Excellency Bishop James T. Ruggieri has announced the following new priest assignments effective in April and May 2026.

Well, welcome to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And today we continue with our series on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

“In Jesus, we see what love looks like—faithful, sacrificial, merciful, and complete.”

Hundreds were in attendance as Bishop James Ruggieri led the Good Friday service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on April 3. This most solemn day for the Church, in remembrance of the Passion of Christ, prepares the faithful for the glory of His Resurrection.

Carrying on a longtime tradition in the Diocese of Portland, Bishop James Ruggieri traveled to Aroostook County on the Wednesday of Holy Week to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Oils.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was filled with worshipers on Tuesday afternoon for the Chrism Mass, one of the most solemn liturgies of the Church year. Bishop James Ruggieri presided over the Mass, celebrated annually on the Tuesday of Holy Week.

Bishop Emeritus, the homilist for the Mass, told the faithful the best way to celebrate the saint was to live as he lived.

Suzanne Lafreniere will assume this new role on July 1, 2026.

Bishop Ruggieri urges students to trust in the Lord, saying "truth allows us to bring our real lives before him."

The largest men's conference in recent years attracted participants across two locations.