University President William P. Leahy, S.J., will celebrate the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit with homilist Rev. Henry Shea, S.J., on September 8 at noon in the Plaza at ONeill Library. In the case of inclement weather, the Mass will be held in Conte Forum.

All members of the University community are invited to attend the Mass, a tradition for the opening of the academic year at Jesuit institutions dating back to the first Jesuit school in Messina, Sicily, in 1548.

Classes are canceled that day from noon to 1:15 p.m.

The festive liturgy serves to welcome new members into the Boston College community, renew friendships, and invoke the presence of the Holy Spirit for the year to come.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is one of my highlights of the Boston College calendar, said Associate Vice President and Director of Campus Ministry Fr. Tony Penna. Students, faculty, administrators, and priests from the Jesuit communities will join together to center themselves and ask for Gods blessings on everything the University does throughout the new academic year.

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is organized by the Office of Campus Ministry.

University Communications / September 2022