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University Community Celebrates Mass of the Holy Spirit

by Maggie Rotermund

Students, staff, faculty and administrators packed St. Francis Xavier College Church on Thursday, Aug. 30, to celebrate the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit. 

Classes were canceled for the duration of the service to ensure all could attend.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

Singers and musicians at the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit. Photo by Danielle Lacey. 

Rev. Christopher Collins, S.J., assistant to the president for Mission and Identity, presided over the Mass, which began with a procession, an invocation of the Holy Spirit’s guidance over the new academic year and a blessing with holy water.

Rev. Ronald O’Dwyer, S.J., assistant clinical professor of Educational Studies and director of the Billiken Teacher Corps, delivered the homily as the University marks the inauguration of the 2018-2019 academic year.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition at Jesuit schools and universities throughout the world dating back to 1548, when the initial Mass was celebrated at the first Jesuit school in Messina, Sicily.

Alter

Rev. Christopher Collins, S.J., Assistant to the President for Mission and Identity, presided over the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit. Photo by Danielle Lacey.