On Friday, Aug. 22, Jesuit High School Sacramento held its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit to welcome new and returning students to campus. 

Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Adam McGrew recognizes how the mass gives an opportunity for the community to come together and kick off the new school year.

“The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition that takes place at Jesuit high schools and colleges all over the world at the beginning of the year,” Mr. McGrew said. “The central focus is praying that the Holy Spirit descends upon our community here, fills the hearts of each member of our community and blesses us as we embark on a school year and all the ups, the downs that come along with that.”

The work that goes into preparing for Jesuit’s masses has many components that are managed by the Liturgy Workshop Team.

“Preparing for Masses such as the Mass of the Holy Spirit takes a group effort from the priest(s) and the Liturgy Workshop team,” said Liturgy Workshop member Matthew Ielati ’26. “Specifically, the Liturgy Workshop team will use 3 class periods throughout the week of Mass to prepare the songs, readings, and altar serving duties. There are many moving parts to the Mass, and if something happens differently from what was expected, the team will improvise on the spot.”

Mr. McGrew believes that the Mass has a positive spiritual effect on the Jesuit community. 

“Mass is great in the sense that it’s a check-in or reminder that we’re all on that shared journey together […] And that at the end of mass, we are sent out in the world to recommit ourselves to practicing what we preach, to practicing those gospel values,” Mr. McGrew said. “Mass is just a great opportunity to be reminded of that call, to be a good Christian, to walk towards Jesus, and also to recognize that we’re all in this together and responding to that common call.”