The St. Thomas More Society invites members of the legal and faith communities to the annual Red Mass on Sunday, October 5, at 4:00 p.m. at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church, a solemn tradition invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit at the start of the judicial year. Since its inception in the Diocese of Wilmington in 1988, the Red Mass has remained the central and most enduring event of the Society.

This year’s Red Mass will be celebrated by Bishop William E. Koenig, and the homilist will be Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D. , of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass will be followed by a complimentary dinner in the church’s Family Center, sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society and provided courtesy of the law firm Morris James LLP.

The Red Mass is held annually on the first Sunday in October, marking the opening of the new term of the U.S. Supreme Court. By tradition, the Red Mass is the Solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated generally near the beginning of the judicial year and is attended by judges, lawyers, and public officials of all faiths to invoke God’s blessing and guidance in the administration of justice. Its traditional name is derived from the color of the vestments worn by the celebrants of the Mass reminiscent of tongues of fire symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the robes of the attending judicial officers were, in ancient days, bright scarlet.

All are welcome. For further information, please contact Denise Nordheimer at dnordheimer@foxrothschild.com.