Drawing lessons of hope from the Lord’s Ascension, Bishop Timothy Senior shared a message of trust and solidarity with students at Resurrection Catholic School in Lancaster as they gathered for their final school-wide liturgy on Thursday, May 29.
“We must always have hope. Hope can never be taken from us. That’s the message of the Ascension,” Bishop Senior said during the holy day Mass, celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Lancaster.
Jesus’ ascension into heaven assures us that we will share in His glory, the bishop told students, faculty, staff and parishioners. “When we’re down, when we’re concerned, when we’re worried, we know that Jesus is with us. We glimpse that glory in the assurance that He is with us and we know He has a plan for each of us,” he said.
The Mass was a poignant occasion during the school’s final days. Last month, three Lancaster city parishes, in partnership with the Diocese, announced they are combining resources to continue offering Catholic education to city students. Resurrection, which is supported by St. Anthony of Padua, Assumption BVM and St. Joseph parishes, will cease operation at the end of the school year.
“I very much wanted to be with your community these days, especially as the end of the school year approaches at Resurrection School and in preparation for the closing of the school,” Bishop Senior told the congregation, with students and faculty seated in the front pews.
“I want to acknowledge this is a difficult time. Whenever a ministry of the Church is set aside and comes to a conclusion, there is a sense of loss and sadness,” he continued. “As Bishop, I need to be with you to assure you of my love and presence, but also to be here in gratitude – gratitude for the years that Resurrection School has formed children in the faith and for the dedication of the many people who have made it possible, especially the great sacrifice, diligence, effort to ensure this ministry might be able to continue.”
“In God’s providential care, we trust that yes, although the school is coming to a close this year, God has a greater plan. He will not abandon us. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised ‘I will be with you always,’” the bishop said.
Several students from the PreK through eighth-grade school served at the altar for the Mass, which was concelebrated by Father Matthew Morelli, pastor of St. Anthony’s and head pastor of the school. Members of the faculty served as lectors and brought forward the gifts of bread and wine. During the Offertory, the angelic voices of the students in the pews captured the attention of parishioners and visitors as the children sang “Pilgrims of Hope,” the hymn of the Jubilee Year of Hope.
“On this Ascension Day, let us call to mind the Lord’s promise when the apostles realized that change was happening,” he continued. “We see there is a hope there. We trust that He is still with us. To the end of the age, He is always with us. We can focus on how we are going to be His witnesses to live our faith, and to trust in the promise and the hope of the Ascension of the Lord.”
At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Morelli expressed his gratitude for Bishop Senior’s celebration of the Mass.
“We are blessed that bishop came to celebrate a regular weekly school Mass for us today. These Masses are, in a way, so much more important than Masses on special occasions. This Mass is for our students, and they are the most important to us,” he said. “We are so in need of Bishop’s prayers during this sad time. But you [students] have shown us so beautifully as you sing that Jubilee Year hymn of hope, that we can still have joy in the midst of sadness.”
Father Morelli celebrated the school’s closing Mass two days later, on Saturday, May 31, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In his homily, he told the congregation of students, staff, families, alumni and parishioners that “In the middle of apparent struggle, Mary sang for joy because Jesus was with her. Just like Jesus was with Mary on her journey to Elizabeth, He is also with you. There is nowhere you go where He won’t find you, nothing you face that He can’t defeat, and no matter the challenge, you can face it joyfully because just like he promised, He will be with you always, until the end of the age.”
(Photos by Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness. Closing Mass and reception photos by Ann Valuch, Resurrection Catholic School.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
