About Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception · Portland, Maine
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the mother church (seat) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland in Maine, located at 307 Congress Street in Portland. Built in 1866–1869 in the Gothic Revival style to designs by the prolific Catholic architect Patrick C. Keely, it is a red-brick landmark distinguished by asymmetrical bell towers and elongated spires. The cathedral was designated a National Catholic Historical Site (2003), placed on the National Register of Historic Places (1985), and listed by Greater Portland Landmarks (1984). It anchors a city-block campus of parish, diocesan, and former school buildings and remains the spiritual and ceremonial heart of Catholicism in Maine.
- Established
- 1869
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception
- Rector
- Very Rev. Seamus P. Griesbach (Rector, since 2021)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Portland in Maine (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
The Cathedral is the spiritual heart of Catholicism in Maine — a diocesan mother church with a daily and Sunday schedule that is among the largest on the Portland peninsula, including a livestreamed daily Mass, an 8:00 AM Sunday liturgy in the main church, and evening devotions such as Sunday Vespers with catechetical teaching. It welcomes diverse communities under one roof, hosting both Hispanic and Arabic/Azande prayer gatherings each week in the chapel alongside the English schedule. Robust parish-school, faith-formation, young-adult (Casco Bay Catholics), college-outreach, and music programs (led by a full cathedral director of music) make the cathedral a center not just for worship but for catechesis and community across the diocese.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM
- Monday: 11:00 AM (in the chapel until noon)
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM (in the chapel until noon)
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM (in the chapel until noon)
- Thursday: 11:00 AM (in the chapel until noon)
- Friday: 11:00 AM (in the chapel until noon)
- Saturday: 2:00 PM (in the chapel until 3:30 PM)
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (ending with night prayer)
- Saturday: 8:30 AM (First Saturday of the month, following the 8:00 AM Mass in the chapel)
History of the Cathedral
Catholicism in Maine dates to the early 17th century; the Diocese of Portland was created by Pope Pius IX in 1853 (originally covering both Maine and New Hampshire). Bishop David W. Bacon, first bishop of Portland (1855), acquired the Cumberland Street site and laid the chapel cornerstone in May 1856. Construction of the main cathedral — designed by Patrick C. Keely — began in earnest in May 1866 but was nearly halted by the Great Fire of July 4, 1866, which destroyed everything on the site. Bacon's fundraising tour of the Northeast and Canada underwrote a swift reconstruction; the chapel was back in use by Christmas 1866, and the new cathedral was opened and dedicated on September 8, 1869. A storm toppled the original steeple that very night; it was rebuilt and remains.
- Diocese of Portland founded 1853 by Pope Pius IX.
- Bishop David W. Bacon — first bishop of Portland, motto 'Courage and Hope'.
- Chapel cornerstone laid May 1856; chapel completed December 1856.
- Main cathedral construction begins May 1866 under Patrick C. Keely.
- Great Fire of Portland (July 4, 1866) destroys chapel, school, convent, bishop's residence, and rising walls.
- Reconstruction funded by Bishop Bacon's fundraising tour of the Northeast and Canada.
- Cathedral dedicated September 8, 1869; steeple blown down that night and rebuilt.
Architecture
The cathedral is a Gothic Revival red-brick structure with sandstone trim and slate roof, designed by Patrick C. Keely. Its three asymmetrical steeples — the tallest 204 feet (62 m) — made it the tallest building in Portland until 2023. The interior (186 × 70 ft) seats nearly 1,000; the nave is articulated by seven arches on each side, rising 70 feet.
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Architect: Patrick C. Keely
- Materials: red brick, sandstone trim, slate roof
- Tallest steeple: 204 ft (62 m)
- Nave: 150 ft long, 70 ft high, seven-bay arcade
- Capacity: ~1,000 worshipers
Stained Glass, Art, and Furnishings
The cathedral houses an exceptional collection of stained glass from the Franz Mayer studios of Munich, installed in the early 20th century, depicting the Nativity, the Assumption, the Miracle at Cana, the Death of St. Joseph, the Crucifixion, and more. The great Immaculate Conception window behind the sanctuary was the gift of Bishop William O'Connell. The Stations of the Cross (1930) are handcrafted mosaics of about 6,000 quarter-inch pieces of Venetian glass each.
- Franz Mayer & Company (Munich) stained glass — early 20th c.
- Immaculate Conception window — gift of Bishop William O'Connell
- Mosaic Stations of the Cross — 1930, Venetian glass
- Pietrasanta-inspired baptismal font, with statue of the Risen Christ
- Bronze font door — replica of Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
The Organ
The cathedral organ dates to 1869 and was built by the Henry Erben Company of New York; it contains 3,336 pipes and was among the largest in the United States at the time.
- Builder: Henry Erben Company (New York)
- Year: 1869
- Pipes: 3,336
- Status: one of the largest in the U.S. at the time of installation
Sanctuary and Liturgical Furnishings
The cathedral sanctuary is unique among Keely's churches in having no walls; it is incorporated into the arcade of columns encircling the building. Behind the sanctuary stand the Sacred Heart Altar (which houses the tabernacle) and two side altars incorporating angels once part of the original high altar.
- Open-plan sanctuary within the arcade
- Sacred Heart Altar with tabernacle
- Two side altars reusing elements of the original high altar
Renovations and Restorations
Three major restoration campaigns have shaped the cathedral's current appearance. In 1921 the cathedral received early-20th-century stained glass and devotional upgrades. Following Vatican II (post-1965), the sanctuary was reconfigured with a freestanding altar facing the people, the cathedra and concelebrant seating relocated, and the choir and organ console moved to the nave floor for full congregational participation.
- 1921 — Restoration
- 1969 — Post-Vatican II reordering (altar facing the people, choir relocated)
- 2000 — Millennium Restoration: altar/pulpit/reredos from old St. Dominic repurposed, original mosaic floors uncovered, baptismal font reinstalled with immersion pool, new carillon in bell tower, Healy heritage vestibule
Millennium Restoration (1999–2000)
Marking the Great Jubilee of 2000, the cathedral received pieces of the altar, pulpit, and reredos from St. Dominic Church for its sanctuary. Original mosaic-tile floors were uncovered, and the baptismal font was brought back to the main cathedral with a discreet immersion pool added. A new carillon was installed in the bell tower, and a vestibule was added to display artifacts of Bishop James A. Healy, the first African-American bishop in the United States.
Vatican II Renovations
Following the close of the Second Vatican Council in 1965, an altar facing the assembly was erected, the bishop's cathedra placed at the head of the sanctuary, and seating created for concelebrating priests. The organ console and choir stalls were moved to the nave floor so that choir and people could sing together. Three marble panels from the original high altar were moved to the back wall.
Devotions and Other Services
Sunday Vespers with catechetical teaching is chanted every Sunday evening from 5:30–6:30 PM (Cathedral Chapel). The Arabic/Azande prayer community gathers in the chapel on Sunday afternoons, and First Saturday Mass with adoration is a regular devotion of the cathedral.
- Sunday Vespers and Teaching: Sundays 5:30–6:30 PM
- Arabic/Azande Prayer Service: Sundays 2:00 PM (Chapel)
- First Saturday Mass with Adoration
- Spanish-language weekday Masses
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The Cathedral is pastored by the Very Rev. Seamus P. Griesbach (rector since 2021), with a parochial vicar (Rev. Sylvester Nwaokolo, OP), a part-time parochial vicar and hospital chaplain (Rev. Paul Marquis), and Deacon Michael Augustino. Lay staff include a director of the Portland Catholic Center (Faith Abrey Feliccia), director of finance & administration (Cheryl Magalski), office manager (Rebecca Jensen), director of communications (Kerrilyn Ciccomancini), director of buildings and grounds (Joey Bolduc), pastoral associate (Carolyn Mitchell), college outreach minister (Lisa Foster), pastoral administration & liturgy coordinator (James Sidelinger), faith formation assistant (Kelly Roussel), and director of music at the Cathedral (Bridgette Wargovich).
- Rector: Very Rev. Seamus P. Griesbach (since 2021)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Sylvester Nwaokolo, OP
- Part-Time Parochial Vicar & Hospital Chaplain: Rev. Paul Marquis
- Deacon: Michael Augustino
- Director of Music @ Cathedral: Bridgette Wargovich
Ministries and Faith Formation
The Cathedral hosts several diocesan-wide and parish-level ministries: Becoming Catholic (RCIA), the Casco Bay Catholics young-adult community, the Sequitur catechetical formation program, the College Outreach Ministry, the St. Margaret Ministry, and ongoing faith formation for all ages. The Pastoral Corner carries weekly reflections from Father Seamus.
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
- Casco Bay Catholics (young adults)
- Sequitur
- College Outreach Ministry
- St. Margaret Ministry
- Faith Formation (Kelly Roussel, Faith Formation Assistant)
- Pastoral Corner (weekly reflections from Fr. Seamus)
Cathedral Complex and Adjacent Buildings
The Roman Catholic diocesan complex occupies most of a city block, bounded by Cumberland Avenue, Locust Street, Congress Street, and Franklin Street. The main cathedral faces Cumberland Avenue. A parish hall extends northeast from the rear; the bishop's residence stands southeast facing Congress Street; and a two-story former school building (south of the residence) — formerly the parish K-8 school, Kavanagh — has housed Portland Adult Education (the largest adult-education institution in Maine) since 2013.
- Cathedral (northwest, facing Cumberland Avenue)
- Parish hall (northeast)
- Bishop's residence (southeast, facing Congress Street)
- Former Kavanagh K-8 School building (south) — Portland Adult Education since 2013
- All secondary buildings share Gothic Revival features
Heritage Listings and Significance
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is recognized at the local, state, and national levels for its architectural and historical importance.
- National Register of Historic Places (1985; NRHP #85001257)
- Greater Portland Landmarks (1984)
- National Catholic Historical Site — International Order of Alhambra (2003)
- Tallest building in Portland until 2023 (when surpassed by 201 Federal Street)
Pastoral Center and Parish Cluster
The Cathedral is the hub of the Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes cluster (Cluster 21), a unified pastoral grouping that shares a Pastoral Center at 307 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3695. The other parishes in the cluster are St. Peter (1911), Sacred Heart/St. Dominic (1997 — merged from Sacred Heart 1896 and St. Dominic 1830), St. Louis (1915), St. Christopher (1923 — Peaks Island), and the seasonal Our Lady Star of the Sea on Long Island. Sacramental records for all parishes are kept at the Pastoral Center.
- Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1856)
- St. Peter (1911)
- Sacred Heart/St. Dominic (1997)
- St. Louis (1915)
- St. Christopher (1923)
- Our Lady Star of the Sea (seasonal)
Visiting and Contact
Visitors can attend any scheduled Mass, confession, or adoration at the cathedral or in the chapel. The Pastoral Center staff can answer questions about sacraments, baptism and marriage preparation, parish registration, and bulletin information. Daily Mass schedules are subject to change due to funerals and priest availability; visitors are encouraged to confirm via the parish bulletins or website.
- Pastoral Center: 307 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3695
- Phone: (207) 773-7746
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.portlandcatholic.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop David W. Bacon1855–1874 (as first Bishop of Portland, the cathedral's pastor by virtue of office)
Acquired the cathedral site, laid the cornerstone for the chapel (1856), and shepherded the rebuilding after the Great Fire of 1866; dedicated the cathedral in 1869.
- Bishop James A. Healy1875–1900
Second Bishop of Portland and the first African-American bishop ordained in the United States; commemorated in the cathedral vestibule.
- Bishop William O'Connell1901–1906
Third Bishop of Portland; donor of the great Immaculate Conception window behind the sanctuary; later became Cardinal Archbishop of Boston.
- Very Rev. Seamus P. Griesbach2021–present
Current Rector of the Cathedral.
