Ave Maria University |
|||||||||||
|
Latest News
Ceremonial laying of oratory cornerstone provides blessed end to Annunciation Mass
March 28, 2006
Approximately 800 members of the Ave Maria University and surrounding community enjoyed the Southwest Florida sunshine Saturday, March 25, 2006, for the third annual celebration of the Annunciation Mass at the site of the future town of Ave Maria, Fla. This year's event was capped by the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone for the Oratory of Ave Maria.
University students, faculty, staff, founders, volunteers, and benefactors, as well as supportive members of the community gathered about one mile from the actual site of the Oratory and town center to begin the morning with the celebration of the university's patronal feast of the Annunciation. AMU Provost Father Joseph Fessio, S.J., Chaplain Father Robert Garrity and six other priests from AMU and the Diocese of Venice concelebrated the Mass, which featured the AMU choir and men's and women's scholae.
After Mass, Fessio and his concelebrants lead a procession to the site of the Oratory itself, bearing the consecrated Host in a monstrance down approximately one mile of dusty road. The large crowd followed, reciting the rosary and other prayers to the Blessed Virgin. At the place where the Oratory is expected to stand, Father Garrity blessed the cornerstone, and a Grove lift lowered it to the ground in a brief ceremony. Chancellor and Founder Thomas S. Monaghan and President Nicholas J. Healy, Jr. guided the stone down into place.
"Today is an important step on the slow, patient road to a great Catholic university," Monaghan said. "While the oratory will be a symbol of the university, it is not the building itself, but what will go on inside it, that is most important."
Monaghan stated that he hopes the Oratory will offer the university community and residences of Ave Maria, Fla., numerous daily Masses, on-going opportunities for confession and perpetual Eucharistic adoration.