News & Updates | February 2026 | | | |
“I keep asking you to be closer to me, so I can follow you better.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Then why don’t you seem closer?”
“Why do you think?”
“Why are you asking me? You’re the Almighty! I’m just me!”
“Why should I do all the heavy lifting? I’m always here.”
“Then why don’t you seem closer?”
“You just asked that. Think.”
Josh awoke, agitated from what he had been calling his recurring “circle dream,” because the question never got resolved. That afternoon, Josh’s neighbor, Paul, stopped by. Paul was excited that things had turned a corner with Andy, his 14-year-old son, who had been drifting away over several months.
“Andy had been spending less time around the house,” Paul confided, “About a week ago, he sat down in the living room and told me he missed our father-son times together, from working the garden to talking local sports. He said he’d been feeling more distant, but he didn’t know what to do so he just let the distance grow. Over time, he realized he had to change the dynamic. I reminded him that I’m always around for him, but out of respect for his boundaries I wouldn’t push myself on him. That conversation cleared the air, and lately Andy has been around more. It wasn’t enough for him to simply want closeness; he needed to take active steps to make it happen. The bond between us has grown stronger and we’re closer than ever. I am so grateful that I stayed constant and was there when Andy was ready to reach out.”
Later, Paul’s explanation led Josh to ponder his circle dream and its meaning. He concluded that it wasn’t enough to simply want to follow his Father more closely. He needed to do some of the heavy lifting.
After that, Josh started greeting his Father each morning. He took time to notice and acknowledge His presence in mundane daily activities. He added prayer time to his daily calendar. He spent time weekly at the adoration chapel. Over time, Josh came to know his Father better.
An amazing thing happened. He felt closer to Him. He was better able to follow Him. Life changed through the small moments of togetherness.
And his circle dream stopped recurring.
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Spike Brimmer
Spiritual Director
| | Prayer for the Lenten Season | | |
As we begin the Lenten Season, let’s pause and reflect on where we want to be in 40 days in the words of Pope Francis:
Let us pray that as we begin the season of lent we embrace the opportunity to:
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and have trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill our hearts with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so we can listen.
We pray that
our only desire
and our one choice
is to choose
what better leads
to the deepening
of God's life in us.
We ask the lord to guide our decisions today and to bless us with His peace, His joy, His love.
Amen.
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Please join the entire Ignatian Maine community as we continue to pray for our Retreatants journeying through the Spiritual Exercises and for each other throughout Lent.
We send you our heartfelt prayers.
From the Members of the Ignatian Partnership of Maine
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With a mission to keep you connected with the Spirit and each other, Ignatian Maine works to be a clearing house for opportunities to be together. See below for our current list of happenings.
Join us as you can and please invite those who need to share the joy with us.
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| Lenten Read-along with Loyola Press | | |
You’re invited to join the annual Lenten read-along with Loyola Press. Read Becky Eldredge’s Encounter Grace at a relaxed pace during the weeks of Lent.
About the Book
With warmth and clarity, bestselling author and Ignatian spiritual director Becky Eldredge guides you into your inner chapel. There God is always present, and you will Encounter Grace through short readings, simple prayer practices, and reflection prompts. Becky offers gentle, heartfelt reflections grounded in Ignatian spirituality, each one a reminder that God longs to be in relationship with you.
How to Participate
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Purchase your copy of Encounter Grace by Becky Eldredge.
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Download the read-along schedule.
- Post your thoughts, favorite quotes, or reactions with #lentreadalong on social media.
Special Offer
Save 30% on your purchase of Encounter Grace! Enter the promo code 10101 when ordering.
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Evening Mass at St. Pius X Church, OLH
Tuesdays, 6:30 PM
Our Lady of Hope Parish (St. Pius X Church)
492 Ocean Ave., Portland
Attending a weekday mass can be a beautiful way to continue the Sunday celebration and bring the joy and blessings and community of the liturgy into our everyday lives. In response to parishioners unable to fit the 9:00 a.m. Mass into their schedules, OLH has added an evening mass on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Join us!
The Mass is also available online via our livestream on the parish website: ladyofhopemaine.org. (Just scroll down until you see the video player and press the PLAY button.)
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Novena of Grace (Begins March 4)
March 4-12, 6:30 PM
The Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier is prayed each year from March 4 to March 12. It is said to have first been prayed in Goa, India in 1615, and grew in popularity after Francis was named a Saint in 1622.
Novena is derived from the Latin word for nine, or “novem.” Typically, a novena refers to nine days of prayer, asking God for a specific intention often through a Saint’s intercession. We may pray for our own need, for a need of family members or friends, or the needs of our world. Novenas are a beautiful way to grow purposeful, consistent, and persistent in daily prayer. Because so many people experienced blessings through these days of prayer, it has come to be called “the Novena of Grace.”
St. Francis Xavier, pray for us!
The novena prayers will be on the website for Our Lady of Hope Parish in Portland (www.LadyOfHopeMaine.org) and prayed at all scheduled Masses of the parish March 4-12. Each weekday evening at 6:30 PM there will be a brief prayer service for the novena, also available online. On Tuesday, March 10, there will be Mass at 6:30 PM. Join us.
You may also find the following link useful (https://ignatianspiritualitycenter.org/novena-of-grace-2026/). Each day a new video will be available at this site as you pray the novena.
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Service of Prayers for Healing
March 18, 6:30 PM
Our Lady of Hope Parish (St. Pius X Church)
492 Ocean Ave., Portland
This service, inspired by a weekly service held at Iona Abbey in Scotland, reflects our belief that God’s purpose for us all is a life of wholeness, as expressed in the life and teaching of Jesus. The prayers reflect our awareness of the need all of us have for individual healing but also recognize the need of healing of communities, nations, and the earth itself.
If you have prayer intentions you wish included, please send them to Our Lady of Hope Parish: ourladyofhope@portlanddiocese.org. The service will be available online (livestream) at the parish website and we welcome your attendance in person.
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Showing the Way to God
A Conference for Practitioners of the Spiritual Exercises: clergy, women religious and others who are offering the exercises in various formats and settings
June 13-15, 2026
Fairfield University
In response to the need for deeper formation in the Spiritual Exercises, the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality of Fairfield University, will host a two-night, three-day conference for practitioners of the Spiritual Exercises on June 13-15, 2026, at Fairfield University. Showing the Way to God: A Conference for Practitioners of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, promises to be a stimulating few days of sharing new perspectives, best practices, and creating networks of support.
Keynote Speakers
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Rev. Kevin O’Brien, SJ - Vice Provost, Executive Director, Fairfield University Bellarmine
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Erin Cline, PhD - Paul J. and Chandler M. Tagliabue Distinguished Professor of Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, Georgetown University
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Damian Zynda, ThD - Assistant PASE, Executive Ignatian Formation, UEA Province of the Society of Jesus
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Rev. Brian O. McDermott, SJ - Special Assistant to the President, Georgetown University
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Sr. Joan McCarthy, CSJ - Spiritual Director, Gonzaga Retreat House
Please consider joining us for this formative conference! To find out more and to register, please click here.
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Eastern Point Retreat House
Welcoming people of many faith traditions; giving them a place to pray, to step away from the distractions of daily life, and have an encounter with Jesus Christ.
Lenten Schedule of Events:
The retreats below offer you the opportunity to deepen your relationship with God during your Lenten journey.
We pray that your journey through Lent, Holy Week and the Easter Season will be filled with blessings and rich encounters with the mystery of God's incarnate love for you in Jesus Christ.
Eastern Point is also currently offering the full, 30-day Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius; numerous shorter silent, directed retreat opportunities (for 3, 5, or 8 days); days of reflection; and guided retreats.
| | If you know someone who might be interested in any of our offerings, please share! | | This message was sent by the Jesuits East Office of Ignatian Spirituality (OIS) on behalf of the Ignatian Spirituality Partnership of Maine. OIS is pleased to provide communications support to Ignatian Maine. | | | | |
