VASJ Opening Mass welcomes Holy Spirit
Bishop Roger Gries celebrates the Opening Mass at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School.
As the school year for Villa Angela-St. Joseph begins, it also means that it is time for the opening school Mass. This Mass was very special because Bishop Gries joined us in the celebration. Bishop Gries’ homily tied into the theme of the Mass, which was “Come, Holy Spirit." He talked to the students about how they can bring the spirit of the Viking Village, “Faith, Family, Future,” out into the world.
The school Mass took a lot of preparation, and the new Director of Campus Ministry, Brianna Wilson, and Assistant Director, Christin Van Atta, met the task head on with the assistance of their new Campus Ministry Leadership team composed of 14 junior and senior VASJ students.
Senior China Williams worked on promoting the Mass by posting a before-and-after picture on the school’s Instagram. Senior LaShonda Bailey and junior Clarke Moore organized the gym for the Mass, which included placing flowers and suspending a new, brightly colored banner with the symbol of the Holy Spirit over the altar. These girls worked hard to create a new design so that the students could feel more engaged with the Mass while giving the space a new atmosphere. Juniors Mark Ballard coordinated the lectors and Eucharisitic Ministers. Finally, Junior Jasmine Riddle and Senior Rhiannan Edwards designed the worship aid.
Overall the entire Mass was a huge success with lots of positive feedback from students, staff and the surrounding community. Wilson and Van Atta helped push all members of the Campus Ministry Leadership Team to help make the school’s opening Mass one that is surely to be remembered.