Students find faith and community at Log Chapel Mass and soirée

The Old College Undergraduate Seminary of the Congregation of Holy Cross hosts a weekly Mass and soirée every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Known as “Log Chapel Mass,” this event is held in the historic Log Chapel and regularly draws about 75 undergraduate students, causing many to stand in the middle aisle and overflow out the back door due to growing participation. 

Unlike many other nightly dorm Masses, Log Chapel Mass features a variety of music and many opportunities to sing. During the week leading up to Mass, several Old College members gather to prepare devotional music specifically for Log Chapel Mass, which span from well-known hymns to Gregorian chant. In addition to Latin Mass parts, these songs are sung during the Mass to create an atmosphere of reverence.

To accompany the sung parts of the liturgy, Log Chapel Mass utilizes its organ, frequently played by Carroll Hall junior August Berchelman. Commenting on his experience at Mass, Berchelman told the Rover, “Being the main Log Chapel organist has made an impact on my life as I have been able to serve the Old College community through my passion for music.” 

St. Mary’s College sophomore Audrey Litkowski explained, “I come to Log Chapel Mass because I love the community and the style of worship. It is definitely the most reverent of all the ‘dorm’ Masses and I really appreciate that aspect.”

The director of the Old College Undergraduate Seminary, Father Karl Romkema, C.S.C., is also the regular presider at Mass. In his work helping undergraduate men to discern a call to the priesthood and religious life in the Congregation of Holy Cross, he has seen first-hand how Log Chapel Mass has influenced both the men in his community as well as the broader campus. 

Fr. Romkema told the Rover that the weekly Log Chapel Masses “seek to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to connect deeply with their faith and one another. These Masses foster a sense of community and purpose, and provide students with a unique glimpse of seminary life.” In addition to Fr. Romkema, other Holy Cross priests are frequently invited to celebrate Log Chapel Mass.

Following the Mass, attendees gather in the nearby Old College building for light refreshments, providing time for conversation and community. Each week features a themed soirée, planned and prepared by the Old Collegians, with coordinating refreshments. Past themes include “Kahoot,” “movie theater,” and “school lunch.”

On October 1, the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Notre Dame Right to Life (RtL) co-hosted the weekly Log Chapel Mass and soirée with Old College as a part of RtL’s “Respect Life Week.” About 125 students attended the Mass, a record high for the semester. The following “St. Thérèse of Lisieux” soirée featured Raising Cane’s chicken, rose floral decorations, and an outdoor bonfire on the Old College porch.

Kari Teglia, a freshman in Flaherty Hall, commented to the Rover, “The themed soirées are always so fun and a great way to end the night in fellowship with other Catholic students.” 

Old College freshman Will Buyske also expressed his appreciation for the soirées, explaining, “The soirées are a unique formation opportunity for us Old Collegians. We gain experience planning, preparing, and hosting a community event.” 

Every soirée concludes with Night Prayer, a part of the Liturgy of the Hours that all priests and seminarians must pray. Reciting excerpts from the psalms and chanting a seasonal marian antiphon, the evening ends by uniting the community in prayer. 

Old Collegian Reynaldo Guillén further highlighted how soirees have helped him foster a deeper sense of community, telling the Rover, “I enjoy being able to host members of the tri-campus community in our home because it allows the men of Old College and me to meet students that come from a variety of backgrounds with similar and different interests. Our home becomes a place where the faith and cultures of our student communities can join together.”

The Old College Undergraduate Seminary will continue to host its weekly Log Chapel Mass and soirée every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. You can keep up to date with everything Old College and Log Chapel Mass related by following the Men of Old College on Instagram (@oldcollege). 

Nick Thuente is a sophomore with majors in neuroscience and behavior and philosophy. The current lack of snow saddens him, as he enjoyed last year’s snowy Halloween. You can contact Nick at nthuente@nd.edu.

Photo Credit: Old College

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