The pews of St. John’s church were almost filled to capacity, the candles were lit and the smell of incense was strong as faculty, staff and students gathered together recently to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Creighton President Fr. Timothy Lannon, S.J., presided over the Sept. 12 mass and Creighton’s community of Jesuits accompanied him.
According to a pamphlet given out to attendees at the beginning of mass, The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition among Jesuit
academic institutions dating to 1548. The community gathers to thank God for the gifts of creation and salvation as well as to seek the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the coming year.
“We invoke the Holy Spirit at the beginning of our year together that what we do here— administration, faculty, staff, students—might be done in the Lord and for the Lord,” Fr. Charles Kestermeier, S.J. said.
Events like this one are what make Creighton stand out from other institutions.
“What makes Creighton different from most other universities is this taking our relationship to God as seriously as we can, in
every way and in every circumstance: building the Kingdom of God.”
Lannon stressed the uniqueness of Creighton and the impact it has on those in the community as a result of the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the celebration.
“Today and everyday we must ask the Holy Spirit to bless this university,” Lannon said during his homily.
Also during his homily, Lannon challenged the students to call on the Holy Spirit to help them to be the best people they can be.
“For you all, throughout your years and months here, remember to listen to yourself and
others. Become the person God wants you to be. Don’t become the person others expect you to be,” Lannon said.
Various community members enjoy going to the mass of the Holy Spirit for different reasons.
Kestermeier said he enjoys “hearing our president speak not as an administrator but as a religious leader.”
Some students also benefitted from the mass.
“I enjoy daily mass and if class is canceled and the majority of the Creighton student body was coming together for it, why not go?” Arts & Sciences sophomore Nicole Boyle said.