A Marian procession and May crowning will take place May 1 (Sunday) at the University of Notre Dame. The procession will begin at 1pm at the Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes and end at Geddes Hall with a crowning ceremony, blessing and reception.
“Mary is the most inculturated person in the Church because she is the the mother of all people,” said John Cavadini, McGrath-Cavadini Director of the Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame. “We are so happy to restore the gift of this beautiful tradition honoring Mary, the Mother of God, for whom this university was named.”
A statute of Mary will be blessed at the Grotto and processed through campus accompanied by prayer and song. The procession will travel to the Coleman-Morse Center and then pass by the Main Building on the way to the Geddes Hall Chapel where Mary will be crowned and enshrined. A final blessing will be offered by Fr. Terry Ehrman, C.SC. and a reception will follow on the 3rd floor of Geddes Hall.
“Events like this nourish the Catholic imagination,” said Cavadini. “A May crowning and procession is a beautiful way to participate in a devotional practice that makes the faith more accessible, and it offers an inspiring spectacle for those who want to know more.”
The event is free and open to the public. Those who are planning to attend are encouraged to register at maycrowning.nd.edu. The website also contains rare footage of a Marian procession at Notre Dame in the 1950s.
In the event of rain, the event will be moved indoors to Geddes Hall Chapel. Registered participants will receive updates via email regarding the weather and other important event details.
The Institute for Church Life connects the intellectual life of the academy to the pastoral needs of the Catholic Church. Dedicated to forming faithful Catholic leaders at all levels of Church life, the institute partners with dioceses, parishes and schools to offer programming and resources in theology education, faith formation and leadership development.
Contact: Brett Robinson, 574-631-6109 or brobins6@nd.edu