A brand-new feast day, the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, was celebrated during an all-school Mass on May 21 at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland?s Old Brooklyn neighborhood.
Bishop Nelson Perez, who made his first visit to the parish and school, was the celebrant. Father Doug Brown, pastor, concelebrated.
?Tell me what?s great about your school,? the bishop asked students as he began his homily.
?A great priest,? one student said.
?Wow. You can go home and take the rest of the week off,? the bishop said, laughing. He recognized Father Brown, who is celebrating the 12th anniversary of his ordination and his seventh year as pastor. The bishop also noted that he marked the 29th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on May 20 and that day was the anniversary of his first Mass.
Other answers to his question about the school included music, gym, the teachers, the principal, making friends, lots of people are nice and being able to attend Mass. The bishop reminded the students that learning about God is one thing that makes their school different and very special.
?And we?re celebrating a special feast day for the first time today,? he said, telling the children that Mary has several titles, some of which are connected to miraculous events like her appearances at Guadalupe and Lourdes; some related to a country like Our Lady of Knock in Ireland or Our Lady of Charity in Cuba, where the bishop?s parents were born.
?Sometimes she?s dressed in native costumes, too,? he added.
?But two titles really sum it up: Mary, the mother of God, and mother of the Church,? he said. ?She was the mother of God so that?s a very special title. And when he died, Jesus gave his mother to the Church
