News - July 2026 RSS Feed

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

I am writing today to share an update on an important matter affecting our diocesan community. While this situation involves legal developments, it also involves deep personal pain.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And this week our podcast will be on the sacramentals and Christian funerals: holiness in life and hope in death.

The Diocese of Portland is pleased to announce the appointment of Edward Short as director of advancement for the Mother Cabrini Maine Catholic Education Initiative, the mission of which is “to proclaim the Gospel, bring others to Jesus Christ, and build the Reign of God through Catholic education.”

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. We're finishing up the sacraments.

In light of several recent immigration enforcement encounters resulting in the loss of life, Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, and Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chairman of the Committee on Migration, issued the following pastoral reflection:

As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gathered for their Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, the bishops issued a Special Message addressing their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States. It marked the first time in twelve years the USCCB invoked this particularly urgent way of speaking as a body of bishops. The last one issued in 2013 was in response to the federal government’s contraceptive mandate.

Welcome back to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggeri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine. And this week, we'll be talking about the sacrament of holy orders in service for the communion of the church.

In response to the tragic death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, the Diocese of Portland's Hispanic Ministry is providing pastoral support to his family and community. We pray that all those affected by his death may experience God's loving comfort, strength, and peace.

As the sun was rising on Monday, July 13, five bicyclists headed out from St. Anne Church in Gorham, beginning a journey aimed at raising awareness about the value of human life, while helping young adults grow in holiness.

Welcome to the Auspice Maria podcast. I'm Bishop James Ruggieri of the Diocese of Portland in Maine, and this week we'll be talking about the second sacrament of healing, the anointing of the sick.

From June 23 to June 26, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage visited Maine. These were extraordinary days for our diocese and for all who took part. We were blessed to participate in a pilgrimage that began in Florida and will conclude in Philadelphia this weekend as part of the commemoration of our nation’s 250th anniversary.