AGS Mass of the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are "much loved" by God
27 Aug 2024
The Ateneo de Manila Grade School (AGS) celebrated its Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit – a.k.a. the Red Mass – in the AGS Covered Courts the morning of 22 August 2024. The celebration was the first large community gathering of the new school year and was attended by administrators, teachers, workers, and students from Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6. The presider/homilist was Vice President for Basic Education Fr Jonjee Sumpaico SJ. Concelebrating with him were AGS Chaplain Fr Vic de Jesus SJ, Ateneo de Manila Junior High School Chaplain Fr Mamert Mañus SJ, and Ateneo College Chaplain Fr Munching de Guzman SJ.
The Red Mass is a Jesuit school tradition during which the community gathers to thank the Holy Spirit for His gifts (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord), and to seek His guidance and wisdom during the coming academic year. The Red Mass is named as such because the color red symbolizes the “tongues of fire” that descended on the apostles during Pentecost and filled them with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).
In his homily, Fr Jonjee shared that since much has been given to us by God through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, much is also expected of us. He explained that since the effects of these gifts are external growth and growth within, we should therefore be moved to express our gratitude for these gifts by sharing them with others and serving others. “Finding our minds more ready and open, finding our hearts more loving, and our hands being able to give more service to God, to others, and to our very selves... (would result in) a grace-filled year filled with life and confidence …in a God who continues to remind us that we are much loved,” Fr Jonjee emphasized.
Later in the Mass, a Prayer of Blessing for Students was also held during which the priest celebrants went around the covered courts sprinkling the students with holy water as a reminder of their Baptism, when they first received the Spirit of God.
Just before the celebration ended, the Rite of Commissioning of AGS teachers, administrators, and workers took place, which had the formators praying for the graces they would need in their mission to shape their learners according to God’s will. At one point, the students were requested to stretch out their right hand for their teachers and pray for them too.
May God fill us all with the joy of Heaven’s blessing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen.
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