Mass of the Holy Spirit welcomes new year
Amy Smith, Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: News
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All ARE WELCOME: The Mass of the Holy Spirit was held last Thursday in the St. John Francis Regis Chapel. The ceremony celebrated diversity, with various parts of the mass spoken in Spanish, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Palauan. Colors of red, orange, and yellow represented the "Tongues of the Holy Spirit," resonating with the Mass' emphasis on diversity.
As a senior at Regis, Anna Hacker vividly remembers her first experience with attending Mass of the Holy Spirit. Because the St. John Francis Regis Chapel was under construction at the time, students and faculty gathered on the Quad to hold the service. Anna was strolling to Ranger Grille to buy a smoothie when she spotted some friends and chose to attend spur of the moment.
Hacker grew up in a Protestant environment, which consisted of weekly church visits, family bible studies, and daily prayer ritual. Because of her Protestant upbringing, Hacker recalls feeling uncomfortable and unfamiliar with Catholic traditions when she first came to Regis. "Although I knew nothing about the Mass of the Holy Spirit, I was naturally drawn to the positive environment the service created," says Hacker.
Since Hacker's freshman year, she has grown more familiar with diverse religious traditions and gotten involved with numerous interfaith organizations on campus. Hacker currently lives in the Romero House, which houses students who emphasize social justice, simplicity, spirituality and community in their daily lives.
Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, once said, "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness," says Hacker, "I believe it is important for communities to unite despite their outward differences, because on the inside we all share a common humanity, or oneness."
Hacker has attended the Mass of the Holy Spirit for the past three years and attended again this year. She appreciated the different elements of diversity that were integrated into the Mass and found the whole atmosphere uplifting.
"When Father Kinerk spoke about utilizing our gifts for the greater glory of God, I felt enlightened. It helped me re-establish my purpose in life," she said. When she walked out of the Chapel, Hacker felt "energized and motivated to take on life's challenges with a selfless spirit."
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