Photos from September 16, 2007

Father John Jenkins at Cathedral Sainte-Julian, where the Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the newly declared Blessed Basil Moreau was held on Sunday, September 16, 2007.
The Chapel of Saint Michael provides a dramatic backdrop as Rev. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C., and Rev. Jim McDonald, C.S.C., prepare for the Mass of Thanksgiving in the Cathedral Sainte-Julian.
Prior to the start of Mass, Rev. Father John Jenkins, C.S.C, confers with other Holy Cross priests Ð Rev. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., Vice President for Student Affairs; Rev. Hugh Cleary, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross; and Father Richard Warner, C.S.C., Director of Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame.
More than 200 priests from the Congregation of Holy Cross were present during the Beatification celebrations throughout the weekend.
At the beginning of Mass, a banner of Blessed Basil Moreau was raised in the sanctuary at Cathedral Sainte-Julian. The Cathedral was filled to capacity.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick greets the Holy Cross bishops at the conclusion of Mass. Cardinal McCarrick presided at the Mass of Thanksgiving and called on the Holy Cross community to continue their ministries throughout the world.

Mass of Thanksgiving

A Mass of Thanksgiving on the occasion of the beatification of Blessed Father Basil Moreau was celebrated today at 4 p.m. in the Cathedral Sainte-Julian in Le Mans, France. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., presided. Bishop Jacques Faivre, bishop of Le Mans, offered welcoming remarks.

The Rite of Beatification on Saturday and the Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday gave a poignant glimpse of Holy Cross ministries from throughout the world. Both services included the many languages of Holy Cross apostolates, including French, English, Spanish, Creole, Bangla and Portuguese.

During his homily, Cardinal McCarrick encouraged members of the Holy Cross family to unite in their common mission to serve those most in need through education and apostolic zeal. He said that the beatification offers an opportunity to rediscover Father Moreau's role in the past, present and future of Holy Cross.

The Mass concluded with a spirited version of the hymn for Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau and remarks acknowledging the unprecedented effort in the coordination of these celebrations, the first beatification to occur outside of Rome.

Let us glory in the Cross, our one and only hope.
As we honor one who walked God's ways.
Let us glory in the Cross, our one and only hope,
As we sing his praise --
Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau.

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