PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Aug. 15 to honor Mary’s Assumption into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life and the expectation that one day, our earthly bodies, too, will raise from the ground and be joined to our souls in heaven.
To celebrate on Assumption Thursday, over 75 people gathered outside of, fittingly, St. Mary’s Church in Presque Isle for an outdoor Mass, celebrated by Fr. Nehru Stephen Savarayia, HGN, parochial vicar of Parish of the Precious Blood, of which St. Mary Church is a part.
“His homily was very powerful and moving,” said Stella Carlstrom, parish catechetical leader at the Parish of the Precious Blood. “He spoke of Mary’s life, suffering, and sacrifice, of her great love for Jesus, and, because we are also her children, how great her love for us is.”
The outdoor Mass was the culmination of a parish initiative held over the period of nine nights.
“The sharing group at St. Mary’s started a novena that went to a different home for nine consecutive nights,” said Carlstrom. “Each home had been given a blessed candle with the image of Mary that was lit while we prayed. At the Mass, all the candles were lit and placed before the large statue of Mary that stands watch over her garden where the Mass was held.”
County weather is predictably unpredictable, but the rain held off on Thursday evening.
Aided by large speakers, the liturgy was audible for blocks. Cars driving by slowed down to hear, passersby stopped and stayed for the Mass, and even a man walking his dog remained for the Mass. Carlstrom says she is still receiving emails and messages from people describing how special the experience was for them.
“Many of the passersby were not Catholic, but they said it was beautiful and they wanted to be part of it,” said Carlstrom. “It was special to all in many different ways but what they all felt was Mary’s love.”
Submitted by the Communications Office of the Diocese of Portland.
