Verona’s Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit will hold a Celtic Mass on Sunday, October 26 at 9:30 a.m. This version of the Mass is adapted from the Northumbria Community and reflects the beauty and rhythms of the ancient Celtic Church.
“The Celtic Church survived in Ireland and the north of England much longer than in other places. This Mass is very personal, spiritual and prayerful and recalls the sacredness of all creation” said the Reverend Dr. Ronnie T. Stout-Kopp. As a scholar of Irish history and spirituality, she added “the rhythms of speech will be familiar to those with roots in Ireland.”
Of Irish ancestry from County Cork, she emphasized that the Celtic Church was the indigenous Church of Ireland and that Halloween, the eve of All Hallows or All Saints Day, is the Christianized version of the Celtic quarter feast of Samhain which marked the beginning of Winter in the Celtic lands and was a “thin time” when the souls of the dead returned to the home hearth for warmth.
“When the Christians came to Ireland, they incorporated and overlaid the ancient ways with the new Christian teachings resulting in a rich tradition that honors the soul” said Reverend Stout-Kopp. She emphasized that Samhain became known as All Saints Day.
All are welcome to come in costume and experience the Celtic Mass.
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit is a Christ-centered church that welcomes and includes all people; worships and learns as a community; encourages individual growth and participation; and shares its gifts with others. The church is located at 36 Gould Street in Verona and draws members from many diverse communities. For more information, contact the church at 973-239-2850 or [email protected].
