While preaching about the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., developed his thought by referencing a favorite Scripture verse, Hebrews 11:1, that reflects a definition of faith: “Confident assurance about what we hope for and conviction about what we do not see.”
The Assumption of Mary “is one such mystery of our faith,” he said during the Aug. 15 Mass he celebrated in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Noting that the Church has celebrated the Assumption from its earliest days, he continued that “Mary was so closely associated with the Lord Jesus from his birth and throughout his life, it is hard to believe that he would leave her behind in any way,” he said. The gift that the Father gave to the Son, the Son, in turn, gave to his Mother, the Bishop said, and “In her glorious Assumption, Mary leads us still, now and at the hour of our death.”
Photo Gallery: Bishop’s Mass for the Assumption in Cathedral
Clergy and faithful in attendance at the 10:30 a.m. Mass were heartened to hear the Bishop make special mention that the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, under that title, serves as patroness of both the Diocese of Trenton and the Cathedral. They were also interested to learn that the Diocese is marking the 140th anniversary of its establishment this year.
After extending appreciation to Bishop O’Connell for celebrating the feast day Mass in the Diocese’s Mother Church, Msgr. Joseph Roldan, Cathedral Rector, said, “It’s always wonderful to have him here but especially today, for the Assumption.”
Msgr. Roldan shared that when he reflects on the significance of the Assumption, he always comes away with a renewed sense of hope.
“I look at the Assumption as our hope, our promise of eternal life,” he said. “Because if the Blessed Mother was taken to heaven body and soul by God, then that gives us the expectation and the hope that one day we too will get to go to heaven.”
Parishioner Jesus Zayas said the feast day Mass brought to mind his personal devotion to the Blessed Mother and how he believes that “she is watching over me.
“I can’t help but think of where would we be without her,” he said.
Zayas’ sister, Crystal Zayas, spoke of how meaningful it was not only to witness the Bishop celebrating Mass on a day that’s dedicated to the Blessed Mother, but she was also privileged for the opportunity to serve as a reader for the Mass.
“I feel like I have a strong connection with her,” she said, adding that she regularly prays to the Blessed Mother and asks her to “take my prayers to Jesus.”
Along with Msgr. Roldan, the Bishop was joined at the altar by concelebrants Father Marcin Kania, parochial vicar, and Father Tony Ramos, an assistant. Deacon Luis Ramos and Deacon Benito de Jesus Torres assisted at the Mass; Father Carlo Calisin was the Bishop’s master of ceremonies, and the Cathedral’s Guardians of the Altar functioned as Mass servers.
Before he gave the final blessing, the Bishop invited the faithful to pray for the victims of the massive earthquake in Haiti and, if possible, to consider a contribution to Catholic Relief Services to help meet their needs at this difficult time.
Video interviews by Monitor freelance photographer Rich Hundley contributed to this story.