The Cathedral High School community was privileged to gather in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross with Seán Patrick Cardinal O’Malley, OFM, Cap., Archbishop of Boston, to celebrate Mass on December 8 for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
The holyday and feast celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary and also gave the school the opportunity to mark the season of Advent together. Students and faculty who are part of the Tuesday hybrid learning cohort were able to attend in-person observing social distancing and other precautions while the rest of the school joined virtually through a livestream.
His Eminence greeted the community warmly, saying, “all of you wonderful students from Cathedral High welcome to your Cathedral.” Cardinal Seán added, “It’s a great joy to have you here for this Mass.” The Cardinal’s homily to the school community focused on the fiat, or the “yes” with which the Blessed Virgin Mary responded at the Annunciation and how her positive response to God changed history. Cardinal Seán implored the students to “be a people of yes” and to find ways to respond positively to God in our lives.
“The Old Testament begins with the story of Eve which we heard today in the first reading. Eve says ‘no’ to God. The New Testament begins with Mary which we heard in the gospel where she is saying ‘yes’ to God. And that ‘yes,’ like the ‘no’ of Eve, does change the course of history. When God was knocking on the door of humanity it is Mary who opens that door and allows Christ to come into our world,” said Cardinal Seán.
Three students assisted at the Mass by proclaiming Sacred Scripture and reading the prayers of intercession: Hasley Calderon Tapia ’25, Preston Daley ’25, and MaryerLin Soler Then ’24.
The Thursday hybrid learning cohort was also able to come together to mark the season of Advent in prayer and thanksgiving. Monsignor Kevin J. O’Leary, Rector of the Cathedral, celebrated Mass for the other cohort the following Thursday.
Watch the Cathedral High School Mass with Cardinal Seán via Facebook >
