A Mass in honor of the feast of the Presentation of the Lord was celebrated by Bishop Earl Fernandes on Friday, Feb. 2 at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral.
The Mass was preceded by a holy hour for vocations with the bishop beginning at 4 p.m. The Holy Hour included the recitation of the Rosary and evening prayer, which is part of the Liturgy of the Hours prayed by the clergy as well as consecrated and lay faithful at specified times each day.
In addition to celebrating the Presentation of the Lord, when Christ was presented in the temple by his parents 40 days after His birth, Feb. 2 is also the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. The Church celebrates the gift of consecrated life and prays for men and women discerning a consecrated vocation.
Religious communities serving in the Diocese of Columbus attended the holy hour and Mass at the cathedral, including the superiors of four orders. Sisters from the various religious orders led the faithful in praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary during the holy hour.
Diane LeMay, a consecrated virgin in the diocese who was consecrated by the bishop in July, served as a lector during Mass.
Bishop Fernandes was joined by diocesan priests as well as priests from eight religious orders in the diocese for the Mass. In addition, deacons, seminarians and brothers from religious orders were in attendance.
Pope St. John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life in 1997. The annual celebration is attached to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Feb. 2 is also known as Candlemas Day, which commemorates Christ as the light of the world through the blessing and lighting of candles. All of the candles to be used in churches for the coming year are blessed on that day.
At St. Joseph Cathedral, the faithful held lit candles as Bishop Fernandes, priests, deacons and seminarians processed to the altar for Mass.
After the Mass, a dinner was held in the cathedral’s undercroft.