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“Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our mother: May she help us to find peace; all of us are her children! Help us, Mary, to overcome this most difficult moment and to dedicate ourselves each day to building in every situation an authentic culture of encounter and peace. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!” — Pope Francis, Angelus address on Sept. 1 (Sunday)
The University of Notre Dame community of faith will join Pope Francis and people of faith around the world for a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in Syria, the Middle East and the World on Saturday (Sept. 7). Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns, Campus Ministry, Student Government Association, Peace Fellowship, Militia of the Immaculata and other student organizations have planned a series of events and liturgies to mark the day of fasting and prayer, and they welcome participation in person or in spirit.
Rev. Paul V. Kollman, C.S.C., executive director for the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame, said, “It is only fitting that this community of faith here at our Lady’s University stand in solidarity with Pope Francis and Catholics around the world in a day of fasting and prayer on the afternoon of Sept. 7, the vigil of a holy day honoring the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace.”
The Holy Father called the world’s Catholics to the day of fasting and prayer for peace during the Angelus address on Sunday, in which he decried war and the use of chemical weapons and emphatically appealed for peace and access for humanitarian workers helping to alleviate the suffering of so many people impacted by the civil war. (Read the full text of the address by Pope Francis, and view a short video summary of his words.)
The complete series of events to be held on the campus of Notre Dame can be found here.
Friday (Sept. 6)
- 11:30 a.m., Basilica of the Sacred Heart: Mass including special intention for Syria and day of prayer and fasting on Saturday with Father David Scheidler, C.S.C., presiding.
- noon-5 p.m.: Lady Chapel, Basilica of the Sacred Heart: Eucharistic Adoration.
- 5:15 p.m., Basilica of the Sacred Heart: Mass with special prayer intention for peace with Father John Santone, C.S.C., presiding.
Saturday (Sept. 7)
- 10 a.m., in front of the Main Building (rain location Geddes Hall Chapel): Peace Fellowship and student-led morning prayer; fasting during the day.
- 11 a.m.-noon, Morrissey Hall Chapel: Vigil.
- noon-1 p.m., Sorin Hall Chapel: Adoration organized by Militia of the Immaculata.
- 4:30 p.m., Grotto: Prayer to break the fast.
- 5 p.m., Basilica of the Sacred Heart: Vigil Mass with special intention for peace with Father Scheidler presiding.
Students will break their fast by eating together in the dining halls. On Sunday (Sept. 8), campus residence halls will offer evening hall Masses with special prayer intention for peace.
Contact: John M. Guimond, director of communications, Center for Social Concerns, 574-631-3209, John.Guimond.2@nd.edu