Commencement Demonstration Details
ND Response has received official permission to host a prayerful and constructive demonstration on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on the weekend of Commencement. As students of this University, we invite all those interested in respectfully and constructively standing alongside us as we give witness to Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and affirm the sanctity of life. We have posted below a schedule for Commencement weekend. Please stay tuned to this page for further details as we get closer to Commencement.
SATURDAY, MAY 16th
9:45 p.m.: Adoration Begins In On-Campus Chapel
Location: Alumni Hall Chapel
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place throughout the night in an on-campus chapel. Students, parents, alumni, church groups, Catholic clubs, and pro-life organizations will be asked to sponsor an hour of prayer during this all-night vigil. Bishop D’Arcy has confirmed that he will be in attendance at the beginning of this vigil. If you or your group would like to sponsor an hour, please sign up online or email adore@nd.edu with your name, contact information, and preferred times. We will respond with a confirmation prior to the rally.
10:00 p.m.: Meditation by Fr. Corapi
Location: Alumni Hall Chapel
Former cocaine addict and Hollywood playboy turned EWTN legend and Catholic heavyweight, Fr. Corapi has will be providing a meditation for the prayer vigil. He would like as many seniors and their parents as are able to attend his talk. All are encouraged to spend time in Adoration following Fr. Corapi's meditation.
SUNDAY, MAY 17th
10:45 a.m.: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Location: Alumni Hall Chapel
Those arriving on campus the morning of May 17th are encouraged to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the senior class, for the University of Notre Dame, and for a greater respect for life around the world. Eucharistic Adoration will come to an end with Benediction led by a Holy Cross priest.
11:15 a.m. : Sunday Mass
Location: South Quad (near the Rockne Memorial)
An outdoor Mass will be celebrated on-campus for all those who have traveled to Notre Dame for this weekend to stand alongside the University’s students. All priests, Bishops, and Cardinals who travel to Notre Dame for this weekend are invited to concelebrate this Mass. (If you are interested in concelebrating this Mass, please email NDResponse@gmail.com).
12:30 p.m.: Rally On The Quad
Location: South Quad (near the Rockne Memorial)
Following Sunday Mass, a rally affirming the uniquely Catholic and pro-life foundation of Notre Dame will take place on South Quad. This rally will feature speakers with strong connections to the University who embrace Notre Dame’s Catholic identity and hold it to a higher standard of conduct that demands defending the fundamental human right to life.
Speakers confirmed to address those gathered on South Quad include:
- Rev. John J. Raphael, SSJ; ND ’89, Principal of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, LA.
- Elizabeth Naquin Borger; ND ’78, Former Chairman of the Board of the Women’s Care Center.
- Dr. David Solomon; Associate Professor of Philosophy at University of Notre Dame; W.P. and H.B. White Director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics & Culture; Chair of the steering committee for the Notre Dame Fund to Protect Human Life.
- Rev. Wilson Miscamble, CSC; ND ’77 (M.A.), ’80 (Ph.D.), ’87 (M.Div.), Professor of History at University of Notre Dame.
- Lacy Dodd, ND ’99; Room at the Inn, Board of Directors, Charlotte, NC.
- Chris Godfrey, ND Law ’93; Life Athletes (Founder and President), starting offensive guard for Super Bowl XXI Champion New York Giants.
2:00 p.m.: Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life
Location: Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
At the conclusion of the Rally, those supporters in attendance will be urged to join seniors who have decided not to attend graduation at a prayer vigil on campus. Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, will be leading a Scriptural Rosary during this prayer vigil.
3:45 pm : Final Blessing And Departure of Travelers
6:00 p.m.: Post-Commencement Honor Ceremony and Party
Location: State Theatre in downtown South Bend
NDaffirmLife.org will host a post-commencement party at the State Theatre in downtown South Bend from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., to recognize the courageous students who stood for life and give them a send-off of support as they enter a new phase of their lives. Everyone is welcome to attend this family-friendly gathering.
Unable to be Here? Join us in Spirit.
Those groups and individuals unable to travel to Notre Dame are encouraged to join us in spirit by conducting a prayerful vigil or rally at home. This can mirror our rally schedule as much as desired:- 9:30pm Saturday - 10:45am Sunday: Eucharistic Adoration
- 10:45am Sunday: Benediction
- 11:15am Sunday: Mass
- 12:30pm Sunday: Spiritual or educational readings (such as William McGurn's talk, "A Notre Dame Witness for Life")
- 2:00pm Sunday: Rosary for the ND Response Rosary Campaign intentions
- 3:45pm Sunday: Closing prayer
Additional Details
Maps and Directions:
Directions to the University of Notre Dame and campus map
Parking and important campus locations (PDF)- Parking: White North lot at corner of Juniper Road and Pendle Road
- Passenger drop offs: D6 lot by WNDU Stations, on Dorr Road (just off of Michigan Ave)
- Class of 2009 Vigil for Life: Grotto
- Eucharistic Adoration: Alumni Hall Chapel (use West entrance on North side of Alumni Hall)
- Sunday Mass: In front of Rockne Memorial
- Food: LaFortune Student Center
- Restrooms: Basement of South Dining Hall
Accommodations:
ND Response is unfortunately unable to provide lodging, but we encourage you to consider one of the many inns and hotels in the South Bend area. If you would like more information about lodging in South Bend, please email NDResponse@gmail.com.
Parking:
Parking for adoration will be available until 7:30am on Sunday in the Bookstore parking lot (located at the corner of Notre Dame Avenue and Holy Cross Drive). All vehicles must exit the Bookstore parking lot by 7:30am on this day.
In an effort to reserve on-campus parking for seniors and the families attending Commencement, the students of ND Response are asking their supporters to park either in the White North Lot on Juniper Road or on the streets south of campus. The drop-off area for buses and private vehicles will be located in the D6 lot. After unloading passengers, all buses and vehicles will be directed to the White North Lot or the streets south of campus.
A limited amount of on-campus parking is available for those who may have difficulty walking from their vehicles to South Quad. If you are in need of assistance in locating on-campus parking, please email ndresponse@gmail.com with "Parking Assistance" in the subject line of your message.
Please leave yourself at least 30 minutes to find parking and walk from your vehicle to South Quad on Sunday.
Parking and important campus locations (PDF)
Seating:
Please bring your own chairs or blankets to sit on, if possible. Very limited seating will be available for those who require it for health reasons.
Dining:
You are welcome to bring food and (non-alcoholic) beverages to the rally. There are also several places to procure snacks and meals on campus.
Concerning Signs and Graphic Images:
Any person willing to respectfully and constructively demonstrate their disapproval of the University’s decision to honor President Obama at commencement is welcomed to stand alongside students at this rally. Graphic images and signs not in keeping with the tone of this rally will not be permitted on Notre Dame’s campus. ND Response reserves the right to have individuals who do not follow student requests escorted from campus by security personnel.