The ceremonial opening of the 2007-08 academic year at the University of Notre Dame will take place with the opening Mass at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 28) in the Joyce Center arena. A procession of faculty and student representatives will precede the Mass beginning at 5:20 p.m.
The opening Mass is the one time each year when all members of the community join together to welcome new members. Notre Dames president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., will celebrate the Mass and deliver the homily.
All students, faculty and staff and their family members are invited to the Mass and a picnic dinner that will follow the liturgy.
Unique to this academic year, the Notre Dame communitys attention is turning to the beatification of the Venerable Basil Moreau, C.S.C., the founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, whose members founded and continue to serve Notre Dame.
An eight-minute video on the Venerable Father Moreaus life and influence will be shown during the Mass. The beatification is to take place in LeMans, France, in ceremonies Sept. 13 to 16.
After Mass, the annual all-community picnic will take place on the DeBartolo Quad. The Minneapolis-based band Catchpenny will provide music and children will be entertained by balloon artists, stilt walkers and magicians. Organizers recommend that picnickers approach the event from the south end of the quad to avoid construction at the north end.
The North and South dining halls will not open for dinner service Aug. 28 so that all students can attend the picnic.
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