The annual Mass opening the University of Notre Dame’s 2009-10 academic year will be celebrated Aug. 25 (Tuesday) at 5:30 p.m. in the Joyce Center fieldhouse (north dome).
Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., will preside and preach at the Mass, which will be preceded by an academic procession of Notre Dame faculty and followed by the traditional University picnic for students, faculty, staff and their families on the Hesburgh Library mall.
Musical entertainment for the picnic will be provided by the Oblates of Blues, a blues band comprised of Notre Dame theology professors, graduates and graduate students. There also will be children’s entertainment provided by various balloon artists, stilt walkers and others.
Faculty should enter through Gate 2 to participate in the procession that will begin at 5:20 p.m. All others should enter through Gate 3.