The University of Notre Dame hosted the Sixth Annual Eucharistic Procession on Our Lady’s campus last weekend on the third Sunday of the Easter Season. The Procession began immediately following the 11:45 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and moved across God Quad.
Notre Dame, St. Mary’s, and Holy Cross students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, other religious, and members of local community, attended the Procession. The email sent out to the Notre Dame community invited all to join others giving “public witness to their faith and devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.” The four priests who presided were Fr. Peter Rocca, C.S.C., Fr. Thomas Eckert, C.S.C., Fr. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C., and Fr. Jim Gallagher.
Those in attendence stopped and knelt for the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at four different adorned altars set up on campus. The first altar, sponsored by Holy Cross College, was placed in front of the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In addition to readings from the Gospel and the Meditations of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C.., a student group, Coro Primavera de Nuestra Señora, provided the music for meditation.
The University of Notre Dame sponsored the second altar in front of the statue of Our Lady of the University at Main Circle. There, the Glee Club sang Biebl’s “Ave Maria.” The third altar, in front of the statue of Father Sorin, was sponsored by Saint Mary’s College and the student group Totus Tuus provided the music. As the Procession moved to the final altar atop the stairs of the Main Building, the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir sang Saint-Saëns’ “Ave Verum Corpus.” The Congregation of the Holy Cross Vocations Office sponsored this final altar.
According to the email sent out by Notre Dame’s Campus Ministry, in addition to the praise and honor offered to Jesus Christ through this procession, participants prayed for three special intentions: a greater respect for and protection of all human life, from conception to natural death; an increase in vocations to the religious life and priesthood, especially in the Congregation of Holy Cross; and blessings upon the students, faculty, administration, and staff of Holy Cross College, Saint Mary’s College, and the University of Notre Dame.
For the sixth year in a row, Notre Dame was blessed with a beautiful sunny day. Following the procession, the Notre Dame Knights of Columbus Council #1477 provided their famous steak sandwiches as a part of a free picnic lunch for all who came. The knights served 550 steak sandwiches.
Additionally, in order to prepare for the Sunday Procession, a campus-wide 40 Hours Devotion was held in the Coleman-Morse Center chapel from Friday, April 16 at 6:00pm until 10:00am Sunday, April 18. The beautiful devotion of 40 uninterrupted hours of Eucharistic Adoration, in honor of the 40 hours Our Lord spent in the tomb from Good Friday until Easter Sunday, was well attended by the Notre Dame community. The excellent attendance at both events reflects the devotion of students, alumni, and faculty to the Holy Eucharist.
Elliott Argue is a junior Theology/Philosophy major in McGlinn. Contact her at eargue@nd.edu.
