PORTLAND — Early registration will end on Tuesday, March 31, for the muchanticipated Catholic Youth Convention set for April 17- 19 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

More than 250 teens (grades 9-12) are expected to attend the convention, which will feature a “Take Off the Mask, Put on Christ” theme.

The weekend event will include workshops focused on learning about God in a fun, faith-filled and comfortable environment, as well as countless opportunities for teens from different Maine towns and cities to get to know each other.

Bishop Robert P. Deeley will celebrate the closing Mass at the convention on Sunday, April 19, at 10 a.m., and Connor Flanagan, whose album “Close to You” reached No. 9 on the iTunes charts, will serve as the convention’s keynote speaker and musician.

A banquet dinner and dance will be held on Saturday evening, including an evening prayer service based on the convention’s masquerade theme. The banquet will also feature award presentations honoring teens for living as disciples of Christ by setting examples for others to follow and recognizing adults serving in youth ministry for their excellence, commitment and leadership.

Early registration begins at $200. To register, or for information, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/ youthconvention or contact Joe Mailhot, the youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Portland, at 321-7813 or joe.mailhot@portlanddiocese.org.