By Julie A. Miller
Catholic Herald

Jubilee Mass celebrates 2000 years
of Christ's presence

SUPERIOR -- With a spirit of joy and anticipation, people came from all parts of the Superior diocese to worship and celebrate Jubilee Mass. Held Sunday, Sept. 24 at Superior Senior High School, diocesan officials estimate total attendance at about 2,000.

There was a festive atmosphere as people greeted friends and made their way inside. Most came early. The limited amount of general seating on the main floor was filled by about 2 p.m. Ushers directed people to the two balconies where there was much more seating. The balconies, too, were filled by about 2:45 p.m.

A few people stood at the ends of the balconies and according to Ernest Swartz, who was in charge of the ushers, about 75 to 100 others found places in the adjacent performing arts center where they watched the Mass on a large television screen. Swartz is coordinator of religious education at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Superior.

Colorful banners hung from the balconies and pots of flowers and plants surrounded the altar platform and the statue of the Blessed Virgin. As they entered the gymnasium, people were greeted by music that began at 2:10 p.m. A pipe organ piece was followed by performances by St. Anthony Youth Choir from Cumberland, the St. Francis Xavier Family and Gospel Choirs from Merrill and the diocesan chorale. A hymn sung by all the choirs concluded the preludes.

As the focal point of the liturgy, the altar was placed on a platform in the center of the gymnasium. "The altar is the symbol of Christ, and it was dead center. It was the whole focus of the millennium," said Fr. Gabriel Baltes, a Benedictine who is director of the Office of Worship. "It is the place that gathered us together and the place from which we were all fed," he added. There were two additional platforms in the gymnasium. One served as the presider's platform. The other held the ambo.

At precisely 3 p.m. the procession with Bishop Raphael M. Fliss and the priests and deacons of the diocese began. In pairs, the priests and deacons mounted the platform in the center of the floor, kissed the altar and made their way to chairs reserved for them on the main floor. They were followed by Fliss and Deacon Timothy J. Kuehn who took their seats on the presider's platform.

Kuehn, who is director of the diaconate office, served as deacon of the altar. Also seated on the presider's platform was Deacon Michael D. Cullen, who as deacon of the word had entered earlier in the procession carrying the Book of Gospels.

Also in the procession were representatives of each parish carrying their outreach baskets. They entered the gymnasium and walked in two lines around the altar and presider's platform to place their baskets on tables along the walls. Each basket contained a symbol chosen by the parish to reflect the use of its many gifts to reach out and proclaim the Good News. Later in the Mass Fliss blessed the baskets, which remained on the tables so those in attendance could view them after Mass.

After the processional Superior Mayor Sharon Kotter read a proclamation that congratulated the diocese on the Jubilee celebration and proclaimed Sept. 23 and 24 as Jubilee weekend.

In his homily, Fliss spoke of uniting in Eucharist. "Members of our church family have come together this day from every parish, every corner of the diocese, and I believe that all of us hold in great esteem the liturgical life of our church. I trust also that each one of us is convinced that the preeminent manifestation of 'church' is present in the full active participation of all of God's holy people in these liturgical celebrations. Especially on a day like today, when we unite in the same Eucharist, in a single prayer at one altar at which the bishop presides surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers.

"Our jubilee celebration ... commemorates and celebrates 2000 years of Christ's presence in human history," said Fliss. "God wants us to embrace the Paschal mystery, the redemption that was bought at great price, and to remind and respond in faith to God who reveals himself to us," he said.

Fliss also noted the sacrifices and love that built the church in the area and how the diocese could carry on that tradition. "We need to help build the kingdom of God among us. Our diocesan jubilee outreach project is a terrific example, an indication of the many ways all of our parishes ... here will carry out this mission in weeks and months and the years ahead," he said.

The collection taken at the Mass was to benefit Catholic Relief Services, which helps the poor and disaster victims around the world. Those attending the Mass gave a total of $5,438.72.

During the preparation of the gifts there was a special intercultural offertory procession featuring students from St. Francis Solanus School in Reserve. While a boy played a melody on an Indian flute, two boys and two girls entered wearing traditional Ojibwe regalia. Carrying bowls of burning sweet grass, sage and cedar they stood before the presider's platform and faced the four directions. As they waved the smoke with feathers, Fliss, Kuehn and Cullen used their hands to fan the smoke toward themselves. A jingle dress dance by six Ojibwe girls followed.

According to Sr. M. Felissa Zander, a School Sister of St. Francis and principal of St. Francis Solanus School, the students stood in a circle facing the four directions to represent uniting of the four races. The smoke was an offering to the Great Spirit from all people. She also explained that the jingle dress dance was named for the 365 jingles that decorate each dress.

The gifts of bread, wine and money were carried in the offertory procession by two men and four women in Ojibwe dress. (One of the women wore a jingle dress.) They were from St. Francis Solanus Parish in Reserve and St. Ignatius Parish in New Post.

At Communion time priests (with the hosts) and deacons (with the cups) stood on the main floor and in each balcony to distribute Communion.

The Mass ended at approximately 4:20 p.m. and people made their way to the nearby school cafeteria for a buffet that included cheese, fruit, hors d'oeuvres and desserts.

The Mass was videotaped by Pro Video Productions of Duluth, Minn. Tapes will be available for a nominal fee through order forms obtainable from all parishes.

Those who attended and those who organized it were pleased with the Mass. "I think it was a beautiful expression of the church as it was assembled under its bishop, its shepherd with his priests, deacons and the people of God all celebrating its oneness in Christ Jesus," Baltes said.

Fr. Philip J. Heslin, moderator of the diocesan curia said,"I thought it was one of the first times I've ever seen such an extensive representation from all the parishes in the diocese, and what an experience it was seeing people from all over ... participating."

Kuehn expressed a similar thought. "I loved to see all the people there from all parts of the diocese. It really shows our unity," he said.

Referring to the outreach baskets, chancellor of the diocese Sr. Eileen Lang, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration said: "I think the biggest thing to me is that the event is not over. Through their projects this will go forth to the larger church as they continue their missions."

One of the basket carriers was Mary Foster from St. Mary in Tomahawk. She and her husband James came on a bus with 46 people. "Wonderful, just a wonderful experience," said James. Mary added, "We just came through a mission at our church. It was such a wonderful mission and we thought that was great. This is better."

Joan Goulee of St. Augustine Parish in Harrison also carried a basket in the procession. She said the Mass showed "a real sense of community with people from all of the diocese." Michele Rein, parish director at St. Augustine and St. John the Baptist Parish in Bloomville, said, "I think it was a wonderful liturgy. To see people coming together with all the baskets was nice."

Anthony, Bob and Sharon Valois from St. Mary Parish in Minong also attended. Sharon Valois described the Mass as "Wonderful, very inspiring to see this many people ... I saw a lot of familiar faces."

Dennis and Lillian Gouge from St. Ignatius Parish in New Post were with their children Daniel and Jillian. Dennis Gouge, who carried wine in the offertory procession, said he was a little apprehensive about bringing up the gifts and wasn't sure what to do, but it worked out all right.

Friends Katherine Slancik from St. Peter Parish in Dauby and Barbara Brandis from St. Florian in Ino were pleased with the Mass. "It was wonderful. I'm really overwhelmed. Well planned," said Slancik.

Eucharistic Vigil precedes Mass

Symbols turn gym into place of worship

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2000