The first celebration of the feast of Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, will be observed at the University of Notre Dame with a special conference titledA Great Cloud of Witnesses: Saints in the Catholic Traditionon Jan. 18 and 19 (Friday and Saturday).
Blessed Father Moreau was beatified in September at ceremonies in Le Mans, France.Notre Dame, which was born as a project of his congregation in 1842, continues to rely on Moreaus followers for its administration, inspiration and communion in the Catholic Church.
The conference, which will be held in the auditorium of McKenna Hall on campus, will explore the development of the canonization process and the significance of the saints in Catholic life and devotion.
Conference speakers include Lawrence Cunningham, Rev. John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology at Notre Dame, who will speak onThinking Seriously about the Saintsat 4 p.m. Jan. 18; Kenneth Woodward, former religion editor of Newsweek and author of the bookMaking Saints,who will speak on his work at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18; Ann Astell, professor of theology at Notre Dame, who will speak onAll Saints:The Universal Call to Holinessat 9 a.m. Jan. 19; Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik, rector of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, who will speak onA Great Cloud of Witnessesat 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19; Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., who will speak on Blessed Father Moreau at 2 p.m. Jan. 19; and Robert Ellsberg, editor of Orbis Books, who will speak onSaints in Everyday Lifeat 3:30 p.m. Jan 19.
Following the conference, Cardinal McCarrick will preside at Mass at 10 a.m. Jan. 20 (Sunday) in Notre Dames Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
All events are free and open to the public.
_ Contact: Timothy Matovina, professor of theology and director of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism at 574-631-5441 or_ " tmatovin@nd.edu ":mailto:tmatovin@nd.edu
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