This retreat looks at the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection not as individual events but rather, as a continuum that fulfills God’s salvific plan. Through art, poetry and prayerful reflection we will journey with Christ from his passion to his glory and discover the transformative power of these events.

Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025

Time: 9 am – noon (doors open at 8:30 am; program begins promptly at 9)

Location: Our Lady of Hope Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME

Cost: This event is free, but please register so we will know that you are coming and have enough materials on hand. Registration deadline is February 28.

Thank you for your interest. This event has reached capacity; registrations are no longer being accepted. Please check our website for future events.

On this night, we recognize that this season can be very difficult for many people: those grieving a loss, those separated from friends or families, those not always welcomed by families or church communities. 

We gather to acknowledge this pain and to join voices past and present calling upon God for hope and healing.  All are welcome.

When: Thursday, December 18, 7- 8 pm

Where: St. Pius Church, 492 Ocean Avenue

No cost. No need to RSVP. Just come! Feel free to bring a friend.

Note: This service is not Mass. It will be LIVESTREAMED from St. Pius X Church

Merle Marie Troeger will be the spiritual director for Group Spiritual Direction Shaped by Ignatian Practices. The group will meet by Zoom from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of each month from October 2024 through June 2025.

This group is designed for people who have prayed the Spiritual Exercises in any format. It is also for people who have experience in small faith-sharing groups and/or spiritual direction. Some familiarity with Ignatian spirituality centered in “finding God in all things” will be very helpful.

Click HERE for more info and to register.

This 8-week directed retreat follows the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. We will use First Belong to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis, a guide based on the Pope’s writings and compiled by Austen Ivereigh, the Pope’s biographer.

Frs. John Michalowski, SJ and Paul Sullivan, SJ are the retreat directors. 

This 8-week directed retreat follows the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. We will use First Belong to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis, a guide based on the Pope’s writings and compiled by Austen Ivereigh, the Pope’s biographer.

Frs. John Michalowski, SJ and Paul Sullivan, SJ are the retreat directors. 

A monthly opportunity for faith sharing.

Together we share a Gospel passage or prayer or poem or painting; after some time for reflection, everyone is invited to share what we notice, wonder & appreciate. As we practice listening to each other, we will also reflect on what happened in the group and “gather the graces” by sharing what our time together has meant. The group will be facilitated by Jennifer Hansen.

For more information or to register, click HERE.

An invitation 

to anyone who has completed the Ignatian Exercises 

(at any time, with us or elsewhere!): 

Join us for beverages, appetizers and conversation:

June 17, 2024

4:30 - 5:30 pm

492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Let us know you are coming at ignatianme@gmail.com

A monthly opportunity for fellowship and faith sharing.

All are welcome. No experience necessary. Each meeting stands on its own.

7- 8 PM (come early at 6:30 for social time)

OLH Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Click HERE to let us know you are coming.

A monthly opportunity for fellowship and faith sharing.

All are welcome. No experience necessary. Each meeting stands on its own; all materials will be provided at the meeting.

7- 8 PM (come early at 6:30 for social time)

OLH Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Click HERE to let us know you are coming.

Every Gospel contains a report of the woman who breaks into a dinner party to anoint Jesus with expensive perfumed oil, an act of astonishing intimacy and generosity. Who is this woman and what can she teach us? Come, spend a quiet morning learning from her fidelity, courage, intimacy, and extravagance.

Date: Wednesday, March 6th

Time: arrive at 9:30; begins promptly at 9:45 am and runs until 12:30 pm

Location: in person at OLH Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland

Suggested Contribution: $10

Facilitated by Merle Marie Troeger

Click HERE for more information or to register.

Wednesday evening, February 28th

A monthly opportunity for fellowship and faith sharing.

7- 8 PM (come early at 6:30 for social time)

OLH Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Click HERE to let us know you are coming.

This 6 - week Prayer Experience is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Participants are invited to

• pray daily with a suggested scripture passage,

• briefly journal about their prayer,

• and meet weekly (via Zoom) to process their experience and share with others in a small group setting. 

The retreat invites you to become more aware of God in your family, workplace, community, and yourself. All are welcome!

Orientation: Tuesday, February 13 from 10-11 am

Meeting dates: Tuesdays, February 20, 27 & March 5, 12, 19, 26 from 10-11 am

Via Zoom

Suggested contribution: $50

Facilitated by Jennifer Hansen.

Click HERE for more information or to register.

Friends & Faith

A monthly opportunity for fellowship and faith sharing.

Starting Wednesday evening, January 24th

7- 8 PM (come as early as 6:30 for social time)

OLH Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Click HERE to let us know you are coming!

On this night of winter solstice, we recognize that this season can be very difficult for many people: those grieving a loss, those separated from friends or families, those not always welcomed by families or church communities. 

We gather to acknowledge this pain and to join voices past and present calling upon God for hope and healing.  All are welcome.

When: Thursday, December 21, 7- 8 pm

Where: St. Pius Church, 492 Ocean Avenue

No cost. No need to RSVP. Just come! Feel free to bring a friend.

Note: This service is not Mass. It will be LIVESTREAMED from St. Pius X Church

On this night, we recognize that this season can be very difficult for many people: those grieving a loss, those separated from friends or families, those not always welcomed by families or church communities. 

We gather to acknowledge this pain and to join voices past and present calling upon God for hope and healing.  All are welcome.

When: Thursday, December 21, 7- 8 pm

Where: St. Pius Church, 492 Ocean Avenue

No cost. No need to RSVP. Just come! Feel free to bring a friend.

Note: This service is not Mass. It will be LIVESTREAMED from St. Pius X Church

How do Matthew and Luke announce the Good News of the Birth of Christ to two very different audiences?

How might their efforts help us to speak of God’s love to people who do not speak “church language?” 

When: Tuesday, December 12 from 7-8 pm

Where: OLH Parish Hall, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland

Free event, but please let us know you are coming so we can set up enough chairs! The parking lot is well lit! All are welcome.

Call 797-7026 or submit this contact form. 

We invite you to a Gathering of the Ignatian Family of Maine

To Celebrate the North American Martyrs & to Join in Solidarity WIth the Ignatian Family Teach-In: 

October 25

7-8:30 PM

Our Lady of Hope Parish Hall

492 Ocean Avenue, Portland, ME 04103

Sr. Norma Pimental, MJ is one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Ignatian Family Teach In For Justice - the theme of which is Boundless and Beloved.  Sr. Pimental has worked with refugees at the Southern US border and was instrumental in setting up humanitarian respite centers in McAllen Texas. We will listen to a brief talk given by Sr. Pimental about her experiences on the border, spend time in silent prayer, and share in small groups about how the talk has moved us.  

Please join us for this evening of celebration and reflection. 

Come give yourself a day to seek God more deeply and receive blessings from God’s infinite and personal Love. All are welcome!

St. Pius Parish Hall

492 Ocean Ave

Portland

Wednesday, August 23rd from 9

9:45 am -2:30 pm (please bring a bag lunch)

Suggested Offering $10.00

Those involved in the retreat are invited and welcomed to attend the parish 9 AM Mass at St. Pius X Church.

Reserve your space by calling the Parish Office . Reservations will be accepted until Monday, August 21st .    

Telephone 797-7026

Gini Grommes is an Ignatian Spiritual Director and a summer parishioner of OLH. She has offered day retreats for the past 5 years. The focus for this retreat is “Listening to God is an Art”. She is looking forward to praying and sharing with you!

Come give yourself a day to seek God more deeply and receive blessings from God’s infinite and personal Love. All are welcome!

St. Pius Parish Hall

492 Ocean Ave

Portland

Wednesday, August 23rd from 9

9:45 am -2:30 pm (please bring a bag lunch)

Suggested Offering $10.00

Those involved in the retreat are invited and welcomed to attend the parish 9 AM Mass at St. Pius X Church.

Reserve your space by calling the Parish Office . Reservations will be accepted until Monday, August 21st .    

Telephone 797-7026

Gini Grommes is an Ignatian Spiritual Director and a summer parishioner of OLH. She has offered day retreats for the past 5 years. The focus for this retreat is “Listening to God is an Art”. She is looking forward to praying and sharing with you!

Navigating through our increasingly complex world can indeed be challenging. But some of the most effective strategies for steering through the turbulent waters of the 21st century can be found in the 500-year-old wisdom of St. Ignatius Loyola. We’ve gathered a panel of experts in Ignatian spirituality for a webinar to discuss timeless Ignatian tools for spiritually healthy living. Our panelists are:

• Fr. Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ

• Eric A. Clayton

• Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ

• Vinita Hampton Wright

• Fr. Michael Rossmann, SJ

Watch ONLINE on your own. Register HERE

OR

Join others at Our Lady of Hope Parish, 492 Ocean Ave, Portland for a viewing party. Call the parish office at 207-797-7026 to let them know you are coming.

An invitation 

to anyone who has completed the Ignatian Exercises 

(at any time, with us or elsewhere!): 

Join us for beverages, appetizers and conversation:

June 22

4:30 - 5:30 pm

492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Let us know you are coming at ignatianme@gmail.com

This retreat will look at the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous through the lens of St. Ignatius of Loyola and his way of praying, The Spiritual Exercises. The similarities between the two led Fr. Dowling to travel from St. Louis to New York City to meet Bill Wilson and their spiritual friendship grew from there. 

We begin Holy Week with Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The crowds acclaimed him, shouting blest is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.  A few days later Pilate asks him what sort of king are you?  Using Scripture and other resources, we will be invited to reflect on the questions what sort of King is Jesus? and What is he asking his followers to do? Join Fr. Paul Sullivan for a day retreat at Marie Joseph Spiritual Center.

You are invited to Come & See, an opportunity for faith sharing and meditating on scripture. This small group (max 8) will meet on Tuesdays at 10 am starting Jan 24 (via Zoom). We will focus on one Gospel passage each week. At home, we’ll read the passage 5 days in a row, reflecting on a different question each day. When we gather, we’ll revisit the passage together and share our observations and insights. The group will be facilitated by Jennifer Hansen. All are welcome.

Click HERE for more information and to register.

You are invited to take “A Break from Busy” this Advent on this retreat in daily life, which will focus on the themes of hope, peace, love, and joy. With the weekday Scriptures as a starting point, you will pray 15 minutes per day using meditation or contemplation. Then, once each week, you will share your prayer alternately through small groups and individual spiritual direction. Meetings take place via Zoom starting November 28th.

Click here for more information and to register…

Kevin Concannon will share selected highlights of Maine public policy history over a fifty year period. He will focus on public program changes that were influenced and directed by individual Catholic persons, and several particular Catholic institutions, during a time of major changes brought about by The Great Society and the Second Vatican Council.

Where: Our Lady of Hope Parish hall, 492 Ocean Avenue, Portland

Click here for more information.

Sr. Ann Boyle will be the spiritual guide for Rooted in Love: Integrating Ignatian spirituality into daily life, which will meet from from October 2022 through June 2023.

Each month we will draw inspiration from the book Rooted in Love: Integrating Ignatian spirituality into everyday life by Margaret Blackie. Our journey will progress through a series of themes, including Who is God, Finding God in All Things, Desire, Grace, and several more. For each theme, there will be insightful questions to open you to reflecting on your own life.

Click here for more info and to register.

Merle Marie Troeger will be the spiritual director for Group Spiritual Direction Shaped by Ignatian Practices. The group will meet by Zoom from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of each month from October 2022 through June 2023.

This group is designed for people who have prayed the Spiritual Exercises in any format. It is also for people who have experience in small faith-sharing groups and/or spiritual direction. Some familiarity with Ignatian spirituality centered in “finding God in all things” will be very helpful.

Click here for more info and to register…

We're excited to invite you to An Evening with Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, on Tuesday, May 24, at 7:00 PM, at Cheverus High School.

We know that for some among us the joy of the Christmas season may be difficult, even painful. Recognizing this reality we invite you, particularly if you haven’t always been invited or felt invited, to gather on December 21, at 7 PM at St Pius Church, 492 Ocean Ave., Portland.