South Bend, Ind., Apr 23, 2009 / 03:57 am
The procession will be led by Fr. Kevin Russeau, director of Notre Dame’s Old College undergraduate seminary. It is co-sponsored by many different groups from Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Organizers describe the event as a revival of an old university tradition.
The procession will begin on the Notre Dame Campus at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart after the 11:45 a.m. Mass.
According to an announcement for the procession, it is intended to pray for a greater respect for and protection of human life from conception until natural death; for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Congregation of Holy Cross; and for blessings upon the students, faculty, administration and staff of Holy Cross College, St. Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame.
Fr. Basil Moreau, the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, set up a program of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration for the entire congregation which went on continuously for 27 years. He called Adoration “the richest source of divine blessings for us and for our houses.”
The group Children of Mary is also organizing a 40 Hour Devotion providing Eucharistic Adoration for 40 hours before the procession in the Log Chapel on campus.
More information on the procession is available at http://www.notredameprocession.com/
At the Notre Dame Commencement on May 17, President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary law degree. The invitation of the president has generated significant controversy, evidenced by over 330,000 signatures to the Cardinal Newman Society’s on-line petition, in part because of the president’s extreme support for abortion.
ND Response, a coalition of student groups opposed to the invitation, has launched a “One Million Rosaries” campaign to pray for President Obama’s “change of heart,” especially on the “sanctity of life.” Their prayer intentions also include prayers for the Catholic character of Notre Dame and for a greater respect for life around the world.