Ascension Day celebrates Jesus ascension to heaven after he was resurrected on Easter Day.
On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross. On Easter Sunday, he came back to life. During the forty days which followed that first Easter, he kept appearing to his followers. Ascension Day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter.
The name ‘ascension’ comes from the accounts in the Bible in Mark’s Gospel and Luke’s Gospel that tell of Jesus being taken up into heaven – he ascended. Jesus told his disciples that he would always be with them, and promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost). At Ascension, Christians celebrate the kingship of Jesus.
Ascension Day is the 40th day after Easter Sunday and always falls on a Thursday (its other name is Holy Thursday).
Ten days after Ascension Day is Pentecost, which marks the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples.
ASCENSION THURSDAY MASS SCEDULE AT ST. PAUL CHURCH
Thursday, June 2, is the Ascension of the Lord. It is a holyday of obligation. The following Masses will be offered at St. Paul’s -
Wednesday, June 1st: 5:00 pm (Vigil Mass)
Thursday, June 2nd: 7 am, 9 am, and 5:30 pm Masses.
Please note that there will be NO 5 pm Mass on Thursday, but rather a 5:30 pm Mass.