Buffalo, NY – Canisius University held its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit on Wednesday, September 18 in Christ the King Chapel, marking the beginning of a new academic year. The tradition, which dates back to 1548 at the first Jesuit school in Messina, Sicily, is celebrated to invoke the Holy Spirit’s gifts and wisdom for the upcoming academic year. Mass began at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Fred Betti, SJ, chaplain of mission and ministry and Rev. Jason Downer, SJ, superior of the Buffalo Jesuit community, serving as concelebrants.
“As a Catholic, Jesuit university, Canisius is dedicated to developing the minds and spirits of our students,” said Spencer Leichty, director of campus ministry. “The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a powerful reminder of our mission to educate the whole person.”
The inclusion of a special break in the academic calendar for the Mass enables the entire campus community - faculty, staff and students from various religious traditions – to come together as one. It provides an opportunity for reflection on the upcoming academic year and sets the tone for growth, learning and service in the Jesuit tradition.
The Mass of the Holy Spirit differs from a traditional Catholic Mass in that it incorporates prayers and readings specifically selected to inspire academic and spiritual growth. It also includes an increased number of Jesuit concelebrants, symbolizing unity within the Jesuit tradition. The red vestments worn by the Jesuits represent the fire of the Holy Spirit.
The Mass of the Holy Spirit was preceded by an academic procession through the Quad of Canisius University faculty dressed in full academic regalia.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
