For Richard Ezell of Amity, Easter Vigil will mark the culmination of one journey and the beginning of another. “It’s like starting anew,” he says. “It’s like I am a new creature.” Ezell is among 59 people around the state who will be baptized, confirmed, and receive first Eucharist during the Easter Vigil Mass. Another 45 candidates, those previously baptized in other Christian faiths, will be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church through the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist.

National speakers, Masses with Bishop Robert Deeley, and offerings of faith and fellowship are all waiting for participants at three major conferences set for Maine in the coming months.

A national speaker, Mass with Bishop Robert Deeley, and activities inspiring faith and fellowship are among the many moving experiences awaiting participants at the 2023 Maine Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday, March 18.

All are welcome to gather for an evening of prayer, Scripture, and reflection focused on our shared responsibility to care for our common home. The “Care for God’s Creation” prayer service will be held on Tuesday, October 25, at 7 p.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church on 41 Western Avenue in Augusta.

An award-winning author and speaker and Mass with Bishop Robert Deeley are among the many highlights planned for the 2022 Maine Catholic Women’s Conference set for Saturday, April 2, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

All Maine Catholic men are welcome to gather at a special ACTS Retreat being co-organized by the Parish of the Holy Eucharist (Falmouth, Yarmouth, Gray, Freeport) and Our Lady of Hope Parish in Portland.

The 2021 Maine Catholic Men’s Conference will feature a nationally renowned speaker and best-selling author as well as Mass with Bishop Robert Deeley on Saturday, November 13, at the St. John’s Community Center, located on 43 Pleasant Street in Brunswick. Catholic men are invited to attend the conference which will dive deeply into the concept of living and leading with “courageous humility.” The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and also includes local presenters, lunch, the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, and eucharistic adoration.

A Lakota version of the Stations of the Cross is being shared on the Thursdays of Lent at 3 p.m., and all are invited to participate through the use of Zoom. The stations, a popular Lenten devotion dating back centuries, take the Christian faithful on a spiritual pilgrimage through Christ’s Passion and death.

In a time of decreased opportunities for gathering together to discuss their common faith, young adult Catholics in Maine are invited to join each other for the first “Holy Hangout” on Wednesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine invites all Maine Catholics to a free online presentation set for Tuesday, March 23, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sadly, due to the pandemic, the Maine Catholic Women’s Conference will not be held in person for the second consecutive year. The event, which drew close to 400 participants in 2019, is simply too large to ensure safety at this time.

A free, virtual Advent reflection evening for young adults entitled “Advent at the Intersections” will be held on Friday, December 11, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Major Free and Virtual Retreat Set for September

A private showing of the movie Unplanned has been scheduled for Smitty’s Cinema, located on 1327 Main Street in Sanford, on Tuesday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m.

With a theme of “God Will Provide,” a range of emotions were on display during the conference that was held at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks. From witness stories that drew tears to calls to action that brought cheers, the conference was a memorable gathering for speakers, participants, and attendees alike.