Holy Cross Church in Kernersville celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or Candlemas, on Feb. 2. The evening began with the blessing and distribution of candles followed by a candlelit procession and a Solemn High Mass, offered by Father Joseph Wasswa, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro. Father Noah Carter, pastor of Holy Cross, and Father Jacob Mlakar, parochial vicar, concelebrated the Mass.
St. Francis Church in Mocksville also celebrated the feast with a blessing of the candles followed by a procession and bilingual Mass offered by Father Eric Kowalski, pastor. Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro held a similar celebration of the feast with Mass celebrated by Father Casey Coleman, pastor.
At Our Lady of the Assumption, students and parishioners brought candles and figures of the Infant Jesus for a blessing on Candlemas. Father Peter Pham of St. John Neumann Church celebrated the Mass and was assisted by Deacon David Reiser and Deacon Peter Duca. Father Pham reminded the congregation to “be the light of Jesus in the world.”
Candlemas is celebrated 40 days after the birth of Jesus and commemorates when Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem to present Jesus in the temple to fulfill Mosaic law. The candles used in the day’s liturgy symbolize Christ as the light of the nations.
— Catholic News Herald. Photos by Steven Sheppard and provided by Kathleen Spado and Sister Martha Hoyle
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