Mount Alvernia Rites Of Passage

RELIGION

Ritual enables believers to receive a concrete and dramatic expression to beliefs within social and cultural settings. Rituals use signs, symbols, and vivid actions to raise feelings of belonging and transition. The Mount Alvernia College Diamond Jubilee Mass of 2016, enabled the Mt Alvernia community, Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC Sisters), parents and teachers to reflect on the 60 years that have passed since the opening of Mount Alvernia College. Unlike prior rituals, like the Build New Community mass from 2015 and monthly themed rituals, Mount Alvernia College amended many symbols, roles, and objects which reflects the ethos, beliefs, values, elements, structure and legacy of the college. The
(Ritual Thinking Tools, Eliade Mercia, Fried Martha, Gluckman Max, 2001). Rites of passage is organised by which the individual is moving on from one status to another. Rites of passage consists of 3 phases: the pre-liminal (separating from the previous life), the liminal (transitioning from one stage to another) and the post-liminal (the new status or state of life). (Investigating Religions Textbook, 2009, pg. 26-27). The pre-liminal phase is shown when the community enters the San Damiano and takes their seat and simply begins the mass. The liminal stage is displayed through receiving communion or alternatively sitting and reflecting and the post-liminal stage which was shown through the exiting of the mass and exiting songs. The calendrical rite is also part of this mass as it is an annual opening
(Investigating Religions Textbook, 2009, pg. 26-27). The Mount Alvernia Diamond Jubilee Mass was held in the San Damiano Centre on Thursday the 11th of February, to symbolize the 60th Anniversary of Mount Alvernia College opening. Within this divergent mass, one person played the role of the leader or expert. This person was the Arch Bishop. Mount Alvernia students, teachers, parents, Padua College Representatives, Saint Anthony Representatives, MFIC Sisters and Franciscan Fryers also attended this significant mass. This mass had a distinctive order of the ritual which consisted of three rites: Entrance rite, liturgy of the word, liturgy of the Eucharist, communion rite and concluding rite. To assist the ritual, symbols are used to show meaning in the mass. Some of these symbols include the chalice, alter cloth, San Damiano Cross, Eucharist and the mitre. The transforming power of the ritual allows the participants to partake in a ritual that only happens once a year and gives the believers a chance to reflect on the Mount Alvernia College