The University of Notre Dame’s fourth annual celebration of the feast of Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau, C.S.C., the 19th century French churchman who founded the Congregation of Holy Cross, will be observed this month during Holy Cross Week, a series of events collectively titled “Holy Cross: Faith in Our Future.”
Blessed Basil Moreau’s feast day was established in September 2007 during a ceremony in Le Mans, France, when Father Moreau, whose religious order founded Notre Dame in 1842, was beatified by the Catholic Church. Beatification is a significant formal advancement toward “canonization,” the status of being officially and solemnly proclaimed a saint. The feast day falls on Jan. 20, the date of Father Moreau’s death in Le Mans in 1873.
The events also will celebrate the witness of Saint André Bessette, the humble doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal and the first member of the Congregation of Holy Cross to be proclaimed a saint. Canonization ceremonies for Saint André were held in Rome last October.
The series of events will begin with Mass for the feast of Blessed Basil Moreau, which will be celebrated Jan. 20 (Thursday) at 5:15 p.m. in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C., provincial superior of the Indiana Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross, will preside and give the homily.
The liturgy of Vespers will be celebrated on Jan. 23 (Sunday) at 7:15 p.m. in the Lady Chapel of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The liturgy will include prayers reflecting the spirituality of Blessed Basil Moreau as well as prayers for vocations to Holy Cross.
Cyril O’Regan, Notre Dame’s Catherine Huisking Professor of Catholic Theology, will give the third annual Blessed Basil Moreau Lecture Jan. 24 (Monday) at 7:30 p.m. in the Andrews Auditorium of Geddes Hall. O’Regan’s lecture, “John Henry Newman: The Validity of Holiness in the Modern World,” will be introduced by Rev. Daniel Groody, C.S.C., associate professor of theology at Notre Dame.
A documentary film, “God’s Doorkeeper: Saint André of Montreal,” the story of Brother André Bessette, C.S.C., will be screened Jan. 25 (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m. in the Andrews Auditorium of Geddes Hall. The screening will include a question and answer session with Rev. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., executive producer of the film and chief executive officer of Salt and Light Television, Canada’s first national Catholic television network and producer of the film.
An opening reception for an exhibition of photographs by Steven Scardina concerning the life and witness of Saint André will be held Jan. 26 (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m. in the rotunda of Notre Dame’s Main Building. Scardina will introduce the exhibition with remarks on his work.