Notre Dame Commencement

Notre Dame invited Pres. Obama to speak and be honored at their 2009 commencement. His pro-choice view riled up some of the conservative alumni, students and locals and NDResponse.com set-up alternative commencement activities.

I covered this alternative portion of commencement for the Catholic News Service. Thankfully only one person detected my lutheran aura, but as I was told - I speak catholic pretty well.


Julie Mauro, center, and Joseph Lehner, both of Indianapolis, Indiana, pray the rosary during Eucharistic Adoration in Alumni Hall at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana

Worshippers pack the chapel in Alumni Hall during Eucharistic Adoration at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

Sunday Mass participants pray during Sunday Mass on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

Rev. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C., director of Notre Dame’s Old College undergraduate seminary, blesses the holy sacraments during Sunday Mass on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

Richard Mahoney accepts the communion host during Sunday Mass on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.


I (and a lot of media) shifted over to the Grotto where the "alternative commencement" occured. About 30 students participiated in the commencement by the Grotto.


Students who did not attend graduation talk before the start of the Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

As Father Frank Pavone preaches the Scriptural Rosary, students who chose not to attend graduation, including Juris Doctorate John Bales holds his four-month-old son Jack during the Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

Nine-month pregnant senior Morgan Caudle sits during the scriptural rosary while being comforted by her husband Joseph during the Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

Media members document the closing prayer for the graduating students who chose not to attend graduation during the Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.

Graduating students who who chose not to attend their graduation toss their caps after "graduating" during the Class Of 2009 Vigil For Life in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at the University of Notre Dame Sunday, May 17, 2009, in South Bend, Indiana.




I did not have to go over to the gate where the Pro-Life activists were pushing bloody babies in the stroller. Only down side is that I missed them planning and then executing their mission to get arrested. However, while walking around the south quad, I found these little infants scattered on a lawn.




Thanks for looking.