Ateneo de Davao University celebrated the feast day of the solemnity of the Our Lady of the Assumption through a holy mass at the university chapel August 15, Thursday, 12 noon.
The principal celebrant of the mass was Fr. William J. Malley, S.J., who was also celebrating his 60th year as a Jesuit priest, together with Fr. Joel E. Tabora S.J., Fr. Daniel J. MacNamara S.J., and Fr. Renato C. Ocampo S.J.
Fr. Malley’s homily focused on the five joyful mysteries in Saint Luke’s gospel and how, in those mysteries, Mary was a listener of the word and kept it.
First was the Annunciation wherein Mary heard from an angel that she would bear a child and said, “Let it be, as you have said it.”
Second was the Visitation. Mary went to the home of her cousin, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard her greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.
Elizabeth then said, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
Fr. Malley explained how Mary listened not only to the angel and the advice of her cousin, but most especially to the word of God.
Third was the Nativity wherein an angel appeared before the shepherds and told them that the savior, Jesus Christ, was born.
“There, the shepherds received a message and they came to understand the word of God,” Fr. Malley said.
Fourth was when Mary responded to the word of God when she and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple.
Fifth was when Mary and Joseph went looking for Jesus and found him at the temple. Jesus said to Mary, “You should have known I was in my Father’s house.” Mary fell silent and they returned to their home.
After the communion, Fr. Ocampo thanked everyone who attended the mass and the people who made it possible. He also congratulated Fr. Malley for his 60t years as a Jesuit priest and wished everyone a happy and peaceful Kadayawan.
At the end of the mass, Fr. Malley blessed and reminded everyone to “always listen to the word of God and keep it.”