Ascension Thursday, the 40th day of Easter, commemorates Christ’s Ascension into Heaven from Mount Olivet 40 days after He rose from the dead (St. Mark 16:14-20). After the Gospel is sung, the Paschal Candle, lit from the New Fire of the Easter Vigil, is extinguished to symbolise the departure of Christ.

High Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 pm.

[The image above shows the Ascension of Our Lord painted by Pietro Perugino between 1496 and 1498, for the church of San Pietro in Perugia, central Italy.]