I grew up being a practicing Catholic my whole life. From attending a Catholic elementary school to going to Mass every Sunday with my family, my faith was always very at the forefront of my life. As a matter of fact, one of the main reasons my mom wanted me to apply to Notre Dame was because it was a Catholic institution. I personally had never considered the role that faith would play in my life after high school. Up until that point it was something that I did because my family practiced it. Coming to Notre Dame and given the “choice” of what to do with my faith was a big task that I was to handle and I was unsure as to what I would do.
The first order of business was committing to a Mass time. That was the easiest thing to do right? I could dedicate one hour a week and once I built it into my schedule it was all about sticking with it. I tried a variety of mass locations and times around campus. Lyons Mass, Basilica Mass at 10am, then noon, sometimes friends’ dorm masses. After a few tries, Basilica Mass at Noon became my go-to every week. It’s not that I didn’t like any of the other masses I went to, but this one felt like the perfect time and place for me every week (and who doesn’t love to pray in the gorgeous basilica we have on campus). This exploration of locations and times was a really cool thing for me to do. I got to experience a wide variety of communities, interact with different people, and get to see many of the beautiful chapels that this campus has to offer. While I didn’t dabble in weekday mass, each dorm and the basilica holds a weekly Mass which are themed to a specific snack to share in fellowship with your peers. Whether you go to the most iconic Milkshake Mass at Dillon Hall or Donut Mass at Duncan Hall, each greet you with open arms to join their community of prayer for the evening.
Rather quickly, advent rolls around on campus at the end of the fall semester. Amidst the whirlwind of finals, the cold winter weather, and the holiday season, Campus Ministry provides a wide variety of events and prayer groups to help recenter us to our faith during this time of year. One of my favorite traditions from home that I was happy to be able to experience on campus was the Latinx Posadas. Posadas were such a special time for my family and my church back home and Notre Dame’s version lived up to that feeling of community and bonding that I had. Walking around the various dorms and singing the posada carols, helps bring back the spirit of preparation for Christmas. Of course, the night ends with Mexican sweet bread, hot chocolate, and other yummy Mexican food that we all indulge as a reminder of our culture and traditions built with our families.
Lent and Easter are probably my favorite times on campus, religiously speaking. It is the one the only times that we get to experience this religious season fully. My junior year, I got the honor of reading the narrator role for Palm Sunday and also lectoring on Easter Sunday. I think this was the first time that I fully indulged in the text of the Gospel for this day because I knew that what I said and how I read it would affect those listening that Sunday at Mass. Practicing this reading brought me so much closer to my faith as I read and reread each line, fully grasping the message of the Gospel. Lent always comes at the time I am struggling the most on campus whether it’s because I am over the weather or classes are starting to pick up on workload. My faith always is present in the most perfect moment of struggle and even happiness. I truly have Notre Dame to thank for making me realize this key aspect.
I fully committed myself to practicing my faith and getting involved with these past four years. As a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and Mass Coordinator for my favorite mass, the Basilica Noon, I have been able to keep practicing my faith on a deeper and more personal level. Along the way, I got to meet wonderful parishioners and Notre Dame grads that still give back their time to our church and to its students. The 30 minutes before the mass starts where Patty, Fenian and I, my fellow Mass Coordinators for this time, will always hold a fond place in my heart. Whether we were scrambling to find EMHC to fill in spots or we were trying to figure out whether we were going to have more concelebrants, it gave me a very meaningful and special community of people that are focused on growing in their faith.
I will miss going to the Basilica every Sunday for church. There is truly no other feeling of awe that you experience when you walk in every weekend and see it in all its glory. There is no other feeling like singing the Alma Mater after every home football game. I know I leave Notre Dame with a stronger foundation in my faith and the morals it taught me.