With the tunes of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” fading away, seated students fell into silence; the prayer bowl’s ring echoed around the Burns Gym to signal the start of the liturgy. The Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 10 signified the start of the school year, a long-standing tradition celebrated by Catholic schools across the globe.
The altar and cross were decorated with red cloth, and red banners were placed on either side of the altar to symbolize the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The school called upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit to prepare for the journey that the next few months would bring. “This was like us asking the Holy Spirit to take charge of the year for us and to grant us those beautiful gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel to help the students and educators,” Fr. Ukeme Bassey said.
For this liturgy in particular, it was not only the first liturgy for new students, but it was also Fr. Ukeme’s first liturgy as the presider. “I looked forward to seeing how that was gonna go. It seemed like a trial,” he reflected, “And I was happy about it.”
In preparation for the liturgy, Fr. Ukeme worked closely with the readers, altar servers, and others who contributed to the celebration of the Mass. Mr. Narciso Bernardo, who helped with the altar servers, said, “It’s been awesome working with someone new and someone who is excited to celebrate Mass with young people. It was a lot of fun getting to know Fr. Ukeme, his liturgical style, and his vision for how we as a Holy Cross family are called to encounter Jesus.”
Presiding meant Fr. Ukeme had a responsibility to unite the student body in a variety of ways, so that all participants would feel a sense of belonging. “Fr. Ukeme did a really good job of just reminding everyone that the Mass is for everyone,” Mr. Bernardo said. “That—whether you’re Catholic or not—the reason why we come to this space is that we start with our spirituality, with our values. And that everyone is welcome here.”
The congregation got to experience the welcoming community of Saint Francis through songs such as “All Are Welcome” and “I Send You Out,” as well as the incorporation of other languages. “My favorite part is seeing the students connect to what we’re doing,” Fr. Ukeme said. “They connect in so many ways. In coming up there to pray in different languages, in the singing, in the sharing—that was beautiful to see.”
Ultimately, the liturgy provided a meaningful chance for students to connect with both faith and culture, and celebrate the aspects that bring this community together. “I want the students to know that the liturgy is theirs,” Fr. Ukeme said. “If they were not there, we would not be having a liturgy. So it’s all about the students. We want the students to be at the center of it. In singing, in reading, in playing instruments, in doing everything and responding, whatever you can contribute to make it your liturgy, bring it on. We want to see the students shine forth.”
