Pictured with Bishop Lucia (l-r): Sister Suzanne Dunn, Assistant Principal for the Junior High; Brother Gabe Fiumano ’47, President Brother Joseph Jozwiak, and Principal Matt Keough.
The CBA student body, staff and faculty joined newly ordained Bishop Douglas Lucia to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Lynch Gymnasium on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
The Mass was the first of the new school year for the student body.
The Peer Ministers, led by student coordinators and seniors Sophie Schultz and Chris Catalano introduced this year’s theme, “Break Down Barriers, based on Ephesians 2:14 which says, “For He Himself is our peace, who broke down the barrier of the dividing wall…”
“When we recognize the barriers, we build around our own hearts as well as the barriers which society puts up, we can start to break them down, little by little,” Schultz said. “Every crack in the wall contributes to its destruction. As we start chipping away at the barriers, we allow love to enter in and we build relationships based on God’s love offered to each one of us”
“Today’s liturgy is a Mass of the Holy Spirit,” Catalano said. “God’s Spirit will help us recognize the walls we have built around our hearts. As long as we are open to God’s Spirit, the walls can be replaced with a new openness and our lives can be transformed for the good.”
Peer Minister leaders Sophie Schultz and Chris Catalano.
Many students participated in Mass including seniors Michael Fallon and Gia Anthony who did the readings, and juniors Rena Steele and Maddie Savicki who read the general intercessions. Juniors Emma Mulherin and Annie Toole were altar servers. Gift bearers were homeroom teachers representing each grade. They included: Mrs. Cariseo (7thgrade); Mr. Parris (8thgrade); Mrs. Weidner (9thgrade); Mr. Harmon (10thgrade); Mr. Mullaney (11thgrade) and Mr. Roache (12thgrade).
Bishop Lucia urged the students to apply themselves to the passion that grows with their relationships with God and to let that be what drives them. He noted that the red color of the vestments he wore that day symbolizes martyrdom, and the Holy Spirit.
“That is the flame of God, the power of God that is available to you and me every day,” Bishop Lucia said.
“The Holy Spirit is the one gift that Jesus said would be with us all of our days, and yet it’s probably the one gift we don’t unwrap,” he added. “Today is the day, tomorrow is the day, next week is the day for all of us to unwrap that gift, that gift of God, and as we unwrap that gift, just like John the Baptist, it will give us all that we need to show our passion for God and to pass it on to others.”
The Jubilee Chorus, which includes both students and faculty, along with some instrumental and vocal soloists, provided the music for the Mass.
Sam Johnston and Janelle Little (front) and the Jubilee Chorus.
Brothers Joseph Jozwiak and Gabe Fiumano ’47, and Sister Suzanne Dunn renewed their vows. Principal Matt Keough commissioned the senior class. The seniors were seated with their seventh-grade buddy at Mass.
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