Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum has finally come to a close. Many Old Collegians are on their way back from weekends with their families, while those who stayed are resting from a weekend filled with events both liturgical and fraternal. Every day of Holy Week the University Of Notre Dame offered events which culminated with our Lords Resurrection.
On Friday many of us participated in Holy Cross Colleges' first ever Living Stations of the Cross. It was organized and put together by one of our own, Andrew Lundquist. It was a great success and is sure to be a continuing tradition over at Holy Cross College. Fr. Stephen Koeth,CSC narrated the stations while his lowly sidekick described the scene (me). Brian Kennedy played our Lord, Bryan Williams and Mike Palmer were soldiers, Karl Romkema was John the Apostle, and Kyle Gruber was on the organ. Also, many dear friends to Old College participated in crucial roles to the production, you know who you are…and you are awesome.
After the Good Friday services everyone in Old College was extremely excited to welcome in the Lords' Resurrection at the Easter Vigil. Most of us attended the Vigil mass at Holy Cross College because a dear friend of the house, Karl Stuebe, was coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. Karl was also Pontius Pilate at the Living Stations, and displayed the meanest “Caravaggio” point any of us have ever seen. The mass was beautiful and was celebrated by our rector Fr. Kevin Russeau CSC and concelebrated by Fr. Neil Roy and Fr. Andrew Hofer OP. Meanwhile back over at Notre Dame Fr. Stephen CSC was delivering an “epic” homily at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Triduum has come and passed and has left its mark on all of here at Old College. We are excited to enter in, and give thanks for the gift of the mystery of Jesus returning in GLORY! In a reflection on the Resurrection by our founder Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau he writes on Mary’s experience of her Risen Son…
“Mary, dearest Mother, who would attempt to describe the joy of this first meeting with your risen Son? Your eyes, dimmed by wakefulness and tears, now flash with delight on beholding the brightness which announces the coming of Jesus. He calls you by name in tones of joy and love. He embraces you with the most tender filial affection. That body which only three days ago you saw dead and covered with blood is now radiant with life and shining with divinity. My good mother, obtain for me from Jesus a steadfast faith, courageous hope, and love that is ardent and selfless like yours.”
All of us at Old College pray that we too find in Christ’s Resurrection a renewal of faith, hope, and love.

In the Risen Lord,

Brendan McAleer