Jesuit High School of New Orleans

Mass of the Holy Spirit a Solemn Occasion for Blue Jays to Reflect

Posted August 30, 2014 / Last updated September 5, 2014

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The Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday in the Chapel of the North American Martys is a solemn and spiritual event that is steeped in history and tradition.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs is a solemn and spiritual event that is steeped in history and tradition.

The first Mass of the new school year is the Mass of the Holy Spirit, a solemn and significant spiritual event that is as old as the Society of Jesus. The Mass has a revered place in the history of the Jesuits and Jesuit High School. All one has to do is look through some old issues of Jesuit’s student newspaper.

Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., president of Jesuit High School, was the main celebrant at the 2014 Mass of the Holy Spirit. His homily described the 4 Lies at Jesuit High School and how the Holy Spirit can help us recognize the truth.

Fr. McGinn’s homily described the “4 Lies” at Jesuit High School and how the Holy Spirit can help us recognize the truth and understand God’s plan for us.

The Sept. 29, 1928 issue of The Blue Jay carried a brief article about the large attendance at that year’s Mass, which was held on a Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Church on Canal Street. It was impossible to hold the Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Baronne Street because the Jesuit church had been “condemned and demolished.”

The article stated: “According to long-established custom at the Jesuit High School the first students’ Mass at every school year is dedicated to the Holy Ghost, in order to obtain His gifts to help the students in their work. The Church was packed with boys, all of whom received Communion… Fr. Walsh… exhorted the boys to pray to the Holy Ghost for courage, love, and faith, as the apostles had.”

The 1,422 Blue Jays who filled the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on Friday were encouraged by Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. to pray to be open to God’s Holy Spirit.

“Let us always remember the truth is our best friend, our advocate, the one called to stand beside us in challenging times to give us the advice that we need,” Fr. McGinn said in his homily, which also revealed to Blue Jays the “four biggest lies at Jesuit High School.”

What are the four biggest lies?

Watch the Video of Fr. McGinn’s Homily at the Mass of the Holy Spirit.

View the Photo Gallery of the Mass.

Videos

Galleries

Mass of the Holy Spirit; Friday, August 29, 2014

  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_01
    Moments before the start of the procession up the center aisle of the Chapel of the North American Martyrs...
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_02
    ... The choir prepares to sing.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_03
    Seniors Patrick LaCour, Dillon Knight, and Michael McMahon serve as Eucharistic Ministers.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_04
    Senior Chris Caldarera
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_05
    Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., president of Jesuit High School, was the main celebrant at the 2014 Mass of the Holy Spirit. His homily described the "4 Lies" at Jesuit and how the Holy Spirit can help us recognize the truth.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_06
    Senior Ben Ainsworth
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_07
    The gifts are brought to the altar by juniors Zack Robert and Nolan Stone, accompanied by altar servers, senior Clay LoCoco and junior Andre Nguyen,
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_08
    The Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs is a solemn and spiritual event that is steeped in history and tradition.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_09
    Sophomore Jonathan Vegh
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_10
    Fr. McGinn gives the final blessing.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_11
    Junior Joseph Stagni is the cross-bearer.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_12
    The Mass of the Holy Spirit was concelebrated by Jesuit Fathers Frank Reale, Raymond Fitzgerald, Donald Saunders, John Brown, and Anthony McGinn.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_13
    Seniors Noah Mouton and Taylor Giorlando; juniors Baasel Syed and Darren Ruiz; and senior Cameron Coker.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_14
    Pre-freshmen Preston Bordes, Ross Champagne, and Scott Hawkins.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_15
    Sophomores Connor Thurston, Richi Fernando, and Travis Huizar; freshman Johnny Williams; and junior Ethan Gilberti.
  • mass-of-the-holy-spirit_08292014_16
    Seniors Francis Plough, Jack Marzullo, Thomas Gallagher, Dominic Carmello, and August Vanlangendonck.