Bishop Ron Hicks to kick off academic year with Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 9

Bishop Ron Hicks will inaugurate the 2022-23 academic year by celebrating a Mass of the Holy Spirit on Fri., Sept. 9 at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet.

All students attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Joliet, along with their principals, teachers and school pastors, are invited to attend the 8 a.m. Mass.

“What better way to launch the new school year than by gathering our entire academic community to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit,” said Bishop Ron Hicks. “I am grateful to Superintendent of Catholic Schools Michael Boyle and his staff for their leadership with this liturgy.”

Catholic education institutions worldwide – particularly those led by the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits – have carried on this annual tradition since 1548, when the initial Mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated at the first Jesuit school in Messina, Sicily.

Participants pray to be brought into fuller communion with God through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear or awe of the Lord.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Joliet’s YouTube channel at 8 a.m. on Fri., Sept. 9 at the following link: https://youtu.be/CCO8jAU2Bc0.