April News: Mass Registration no longer required
Starting April 11 there will be no signups for Sunday Masses. Mass attendance will only be on a first come, first served basis. Read more about our Updated Mass Attendance Numbers and Protocols here
April News: St. Maximilian Kolbe Church and the Parish Office will be opening to the public on April 5th
After a long year, St. Maximilian Kolbe Church and the parish office will open their doors to all. In order to keep everyone safe, there are bottles of hand sanitizer and surface sanitizer at the entrance of the church. Please sanitize your hands when you arrive and sanitize the area you use (your pew, the pew in front of you, and the kneeler) before you leave. We are excited to welcome you back!
April News: View our monthly e-mail newsletter
The monthly e-mail newsletter for April should have arrived in your inbox by now. Here is an online version for your viewing
April News: Sacramental Preparation for Teens and Adults
Are you an adult or teen that never had the opportunity to receive your Confirmation? Our parish will be hosting the Confirmation and First Communion Ceremony for anyone baptized in the Catholic Church who is a teen or adult on May 14 at St. Maximilian Kolbe. Contact Michelle Valcourt for more information on how to prepare for the Sacraments.
April News: Join us for Adoration
We invite you to spend some time before our Lord Jesus in adoration of the Blessed Eucharist each week immediately following the 8:00 a.m. Thursday Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To help with our sanitizing process, please spray your seat area after leaving.
Starting May 7th and every first Friday of the month thereafter, Holy Hours are also being celebrated on a monthly basis after the First Friday 7:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Cross Church.
Friendly reminder: a face mask covering your nose and mouth must be worn at all times.
March News: Sacramental Preparation
Are you an adult or teen that never had the opportunity to receive your Confirmation? Our parish will be hosting the Confirmation and First Communion Ceremony for anyone baptized in the Catholic Church who is a teen or adult on May 14 at St. Maximilian Kolbe. Contact Michelle Valcourt for more information on how to prepare for the Sacraments.
March News: Consecration to St. Joseph
During this year of St. Joseph, St. John Paul II parish will be offering a chance to gather for the St. Joseph Consecration. You can join Fr. Peter and Michelle Valcourt for our virtual discussion each Monday evening at 6PM, you can read the consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald Calloway or you can do both. Contact Michelle Valcourt for the link to the virtual discussion. On May 1, we will gather in person at St. Maximilian Kolbe at 1PM to pray the prayers of consecration together or join us through the live stream.
March News: Check your e-mail
Check your e-mail inboxes (and spam folders) for a special edition of our new e-mail newsletter with breaking news about the increase in Mass attendance numbers beginning on Palm Sunday. If you'd like to view it online, you can also click this link: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/1760393/6a80 ceb955/543597811/255c4d4bb9/
March News: Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday Mass Registration
We will open registration for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday on 3/15/21. You can register by clicking here.
March News: Mass Attendance Increases to 50% Capacity
With the increase in capacity allowed by the state, we are able to seat more people at Mass.
Our Communion protocols have been updated as well.
March News: New E-Mail Newsletter
Did you receive the first volume of our newsletter? If not click here to view.
February News: First Saturday Rosary
Recitation of the Rosary in honor of Our Lady of Fatima will resume on the First Saturday of the month after the 4:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross Church. Those at
attendance at Mass are welcome to stay in their pew for this time of prayer. The next first Saturday is March 6.
If you are unable to attend in person, take part in the First Saturday Telephone Rosary at 8:00 a.m. The dialin number is 4254366399 and the access code is 2883277#.
February News: Availability of the Eucharist
We recognize that many in our community do not feel safe in attending Mass in person. We encourage those parishioners to watch our livestreamed Mass on our website or view a Mass on television. Unfortunately, a livestream Mass does not enable a person to receive the Eucharist. Those who would like to receive the Eucharist after viewing a Mass are invited to come to St. Maximilian Kolbe Church on Sundays, 11:45-12:15 p.m. A priest will be available in the church. All participants must wear masts and follow social distancing.
February News: St. Patrick's Day Take Out Lunch
A St. Patrick’s Day Take Out Lunch is being held at St. Bartholomew on March 14, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Contact Angela Best (2334216, bestn92@gmail.com) to order.
February News: 40 Cans of Lent
During this time and due to COVID, many people are finding themselves struggling to feed their families and pay their rent. One way we can help is through "40 Cans of Lent." Go here to learn more
February News:
The Diocese of Portland’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation will partner with William H. Sadlier, Inc., to offer a free webinar for parents, guardians, catechists, and parish leaders. Learn more here
February News: Snow Day Reminders:
1.) Daily Mass and Snow Days
When there is a snow storm which causes South Portland to cancel school for the day and when a daily/weekday Mass was scheduled for that day at Holy Cross Church, the scheduled morning Mass will automatically be cancelled.
By making this “rule”, we avoid the difficulty of trying to notify daily Mass goers at Holy Cross in the event of a storm when the priest may be unable to get there.
In this event, the priest will celebrate a private Mass for the Mass Intention of that day. Daily Masses are never cancelled at St. Maximilian Kolbe or St. Bartholomew Churches since a priest lives at those rectories and can always get to Mass.
2.) Parish Office and Snow Days
When there is a snow storm which causes Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, or Scarborough schools to close, the parish office will also be closed.
February News: World Marriage Day Parishioner Video
Today is World Marriage Day, the conclusion of National Marriage Week! Please view a video of our parishioners on their wedding day and anniversary celebrations.
February News: Lent information is available on the website
Learn about Lenten parish programming, observances and COVID regulations on our website.
February News: Deacon Mark wraps up class 5 of his Bible Study
We welcome you to join us for Deacon Mark's last class on the Book of Jeremiah. Thank you for joining us each week and we look forward to offering you more opportunities to join us through Lent.
February News: Generator Generosity Keeps Power On at Holy Cross School During South Portland Outage on Thursday
“Due to a major CMP power outage, the South Portland School Department canceled classes for Thursday, January 28, but Holy Cross was able to stay open for in-person learning,” said Cindy Elwood, principal of Holy Cross, located on 436 Broadway.
The generator was donated to Holy Cross by SHP and installed by Gowen Power, which donated the labor, transfer switch, gas connection, and installation materials. The entire project came at no cost to the school. Read more here
February News: "Souper" Bowl Weekend
Due to the pandemic, parishes in Maine are taking different approaches to this year’s “Souper” Bowl of Caring. The annual event, always held on Super Bowl Weekend, is a weekend of giving and serving during which 100% of the monetary and food donations collected will be given to local charities to help tackle hunger in the community.
At St. John Paul II Parish, the youth of the parish will have soup pots set up in the narthexes of the three parish churches (St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, Scarborough; St. Bartholomew Church, Cape Elizabeth; Holy Cross Church, South Portland) at the end of every weekend Mass for parishioners to donate. The parish is also offering an opportunity for those unable to attend weekend Mass to participate by mailing a check made out to St. John Paul II Parish with “Souper Bowl” written on the envelope or in the subject line to: St. John Paul II Parish, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough, ME 04074. Every dollar donated will go to help feed the hungry in the three communities.
February News: Parish Retreat Scheduled
Women of our parish are invited to gather virtually to experience a retreat based on "Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-it-yourself Retreat Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius" by Michael Gaitley.
The retreat is a blend of traditions including Ignatian Spirituality, saints, & Divine Mercy. The goal is to help us bring our hearts closer to Christ. It includes short weekly readings in advance. The group will watch the videos together as part of the weekly session and then discuss.
The 10 week retreat uses a book, workbook, and videos (available on FORMED through our parish subscription). We will begin on Thursday, February 25th and continue to meet on March 4, 11,18, 25 & April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6 from 9:30-11am. Participants can contact Jennifer Hansen at wwpmaine@gmail.com to receive the meeting link. The book can be found online or through the Abbey Bookstore.
January News: Funerals Scheduled
To see a list of currently scheduled funerals, click here.
January News: Consoling the Heart of Jesus Retreat Announced
Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-it-yourself Retreat starts on Thursday, April 29, 2021, 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM and repeats every Thursday until May 6, 2021. Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-it-yourself Retreat Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. by Michael Gaitley. Women of our parish will be gathering virtually to experience this retreat which is a blend of traditions including Ignatian Spirituality, saints, & Divine Mercy. The goal is to help us bring our hearts closer to Christ. It includes short weekly readings in advance. The group will watch the videos together as part of the weekly session and then discuss. The 10 week retreat uses a book, workbook, and videos (available on FORMED through our parish subscription). We will begin on Thursday, February 25th and continue to meet on March 4, 11,18, 25 & April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6 from 9:30-11am.
Participants can contact Jennifer Hansen at wwpmaine@gmail.com to receive the meeting link. The book can be found online or through the Abbey Bookstore.
January News: Let us Dream Book Discussion Announced
The Let Us Dream Book Discussion starts February 24, 2021, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM and repeats every Wednesday until March 17, 2021. This Lent, Barbara Smith will be leading a book discussion on Let Us Dream, the Path to a Better Future by Pope Francis. In this uplifting and practical book, written in collaboration with his biographer, Austen Ivereigh, Pope Francis explains why we must—and how we can—make the world safer, fairer, and healthier for all people now. This will be an online discussion that will be meeting on Wednesdays from February 24- March 17 from 10-11AM.
This book is published by Simon & Schuster and available on Amazon but can also be ordered through the Abbey Bookstore in Scarborough. Contact Michelle Valcourt at the parish office for more information.
January News: Join us for a St. Joseph 7 Sunday Devotion
The St. Joseph 7 Sunday Devotion starts on Sunday, January 31, 2021 and Repeats every Sunday until March 14, 2021
Begun by the Franciscans, is the Seven Sundays Devotion, this devotion meditates on the seven sorrows and the seven joys of St. Joseph. This devotion is prayed on the seven Sundays leading up to the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin on March 19. To learn more about the Devotion, please visit here
You can find the prayers themselves on this website
January News: Join us for a St. Joseph Event
On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter, Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), for the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the pope proclaimed a year dedicated to Mary’s husband, Joseph, foster father to Jesus. The special “Year of St. Joseph” will be held through December 8, 2021.
Our parish will holding our first celebration of the Year of St. Joseph on January 28 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM at St. Maximilian Kolbe. We will also be livestreaming this event. Join us to learn more about the Year of St. Joseph with an opportunity for prayer and meditation. In person attendance will be on a first come, first serve basis.
January News: Steeple Construction Completed
The construction on the steeple has been completed. Daily Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe at 8 AM will return on Wednesday January 27. Eucharistic Adoration will also return to St. Maximilian on Thursdays from 8:30- 9:30 AM.
January News: Holy Cross School Enrollment
Holy Cross School will begin accepting applications for new student enrollment February 1.
You may request an application packet by calling Casie Hitchcock at (207) 799-6661, emailing casie.hitchcock@portlanddiocese.org or by visiting our website: http://holycrossmaine.org/
We look forward to hearing from you!
January News: Funerals Scheduled
To see a list of currently scheduled funerals, click here.
December News: Phone Bank Update
VIRTUAL PHONE BANK
Volunteers from throughout St. John Paul II Catholic Parish’s three churches began calling their fellow parishioners this week in an effort to connect with those especially affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Because they are members of all 3 of our churches, they come from different parts of Southern Maine and as a result may be calling from unfamiliar phone numbers. We are not asking for money or anything other than to see how you are doing, and to ensure that your information is up to date in our database.
Those interested in helping from the safety of their own home should contact Communications Associate Ryan Bilodeau at ryan.bilodeau@portlanddiocese.org
December News: Steeple Update
WEEKDAY MASS UPDATE
Until further notice, Wednesday and Thursday daily Mass will be held temporarily at 7:30 AM at Holy Cross in South Portland. This change will remain while work on the St. Maximilian steeple continues.
Weekend Masses remain the same with the regular Saturday and Sunday Masses at St. Maximilian.