By Matt Greeley, Associate Director, Office of Communications, and EmmaLee Italia and Hal Brown, Correspondents

On Aug. 15, Catholics throughout the world joyfully observed the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a feast and Holy Day of Obligation commemorating Mary’s body and soul being assumed into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

Photo Gallery:  Feast of the Assumption of Mary in Point Pleasant Beach 

Photo Gallery:  Feast of the Assumption of Mary in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral

Faithful of the Diocese marked the day with Masses and processions scheduled from morning to night. For example, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., celebrated Mass in St. Dominic Church, Brick, a procession and Mass were held in Trenton’s Cathedral, and St. Peter Parish, Point Pleasant Beach, continued its Blessing of the Sea tradition.

Mary as a Model of Holiness

“Thank God that Mary is our greatest model of holiness, of fidelity to Christ, of sanctity,” said Conventual Franciscan Father Pedro DeOliviera, pastor of St. Peter Parish, Point Pleasant Beach, where the parish upheld its annual Assumption tradition with Mass celebrated in Jenkinson’s Pavilion, adjacent to the boardwalk.

“We live in a world that [wants] to remove God from the center of our life, so we as Christians and Catholics have a privilege to come out here to the seashore to give witness publicly to our Catholic faith,” Father DeOliviera expressed. “Mary became the sign [of] our future destiny as disciples of Christ … [unlike Mary,] when we die our bodies and souls will be separated … nonetheless, if you and I follow Jesus … at the end of time our bodies will be raised by Christ and joined to our souls.”

After the Mass, the congregation processed to the beach to witness the Blessing of the Sea, a tradition that dates back to 15th century Italy when a bishop traveling from Venice encountered a fierce storm at sea on the Feast of the Assumption. Praying for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the prelate tossed his pastoral ring into the waters, which immediately calmed.

After the blessing of the water, the congregation was invited to wade into the ocean and fill bottles with the blessed waters to transport it back home.

“I believe that we are called to pray in community; it draws us closer to Christ,” said Rosemarie House, past president of St. Peter’s Altar Rosary Society. Following her family’s tradition of attending the Blessing of the Sea, she said, “I’m here to get my feet wet, and here to be a witness.”

Carolyn Obaranec, St. Peter parishioner, attended the Mass and blessing with extended family – including her mother, a cancer survivor.

“Today is especially meaningful to my family because it’s the 40th anniversary of my mom’s breast cancer surgery,” Obaranec said. “I love coming here, because … we show all the visitors [that] we express our faith, and everyone can see our devotion to Our Lady.”

‘A Way to Give Witness’

In St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, preparations for the solemnity began months ago, said Msgr. Joseph Roldan, Cathedral rector. This year’s observance was held in the evening of the solemnity, and included people of all generations gathering to pray the Rosary and joining in an outdoor procession around the parish grounds with an image of St. Mary of the Assumption.

With hymns to Mary ringing out in the neighborhood, young children dressed in Guatemalan attire led the procession, followed by parishioners bearing flags representing their countries of origin.

“The procession is a way to give witness to the unchurched in the neighborhood of our very rich Church,” Msgr. Roldan said.

Linette Encarnación, coordinator of the parish ministry Daughters of Mary – a Cathedral ministry for girls and women from the ages of nine and 28 – coordinated the youth participation in the celebration.

“This experience teaches them that showing up, being present, is important,” Encarnacion said.

Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Roldan and concelebrated by Msgr. John K. Dermond, retired priest of the Diocese and former Cathedral rector. In his homily, Msgr. Roldan reflected on how Mary’s Assumption gives profound witness to what saying “Yes!” to the Lord means.

“When she said ‘yes,’ she said it faithfully,” he said. “She didn’t look back or hold herself back. We, like Mary, need to say ‘yes’ to God’s will, because we trust that it will also lead us to heaven with her son… like her.”

Intercessory prayer and the Presentation of the Gifts were punctuated by posters of images depicting great need, and prayers for separated families at the borders, immigrants, government officials and married couples.

At the end of Mass, lights were dimmed throughout the Cathedral, with a spotlight on a cloud-like structure representing the Blessed Mother. As Milady Gonzalez and the music ministry sang an a cappella arrangement of Ave Maria, the cloud structure began to rise as Johanna Reyes, who portrayed Mary, stretched out her hands.

Noting that it was her third year to portray Mary, Reyes shared, “When I began to open my arms and started going up, I felt honored to be there. I felt connected to Mary in a special way.”

Video taken by freelance photographer Hal Brown contributed to this report.