Candlemas Day: The Feast of the Presentation
Tuesday, February 2nd
Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after Christmas, when Saints Joseph and Mary processed to the Jerusalem Temple and obediently presented Jesus to His Heavenly Father, ritually proclaiming: “With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of a house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of human being and beast alike. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD every male that opens the womb, and why I ransom every firstborn of my sons.” During the Candlemas procession, the faithful carry blessed candles, because Christ is “the light to enlighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2).
6:30 am Mass on Candlemas Day: This Mass will begin in the foyer of the church. The faithful should bring candles to be blessed for use at home during the coming year, and should gather in the foyer with these candles before Mass begins. Please do not wait until 6:30 to gather in the foyer! After the benediction of the candles, reverently follow the clergy in procession into the church, where the Mass will continue as usual, but without the Introductory Rites.
8 am Mass on Candlemas Day: This Mass will begin in the vestibule between the gymnasium and the school. A representative from each class in the school will participate in the procession, which will move through the school hallway as other students stand by their classroom doors and along the walls. Non-students should bring candles to be blessed for use at home during the coming year, and gather in the Holy Family Courtyard before 8 am, holding candles to be blessed. In order to maintain social distancing, non-students will participate in the procession by walking outside the school as the clergy process inside the school. Non-students will meet the clergy and students in the Marian Courtyard, and then follow them into the church, where the Mass continues as usual, but without the Introductory Rites.
6 pm Mass in Spanish for Candelaria: This Mass will begin in the foyer of the church. The faithful should bring candles to be blessed for use at home during the coming year, and should gather in the foyer with these candles before Mass begins. Please do not wait until six o’clock to gather in the foyer! After the benediction of the candles, reverently follow the clergy in procession into the church, where the Mass will continue as usual, but without the Introductory Rites.