ND prayer service

So today I participated in the ecumenical prayer service at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of Notre Dame. It was a pretty awesome experience. For as much as I disagree with some elements of Catholicism, they sure know how to do pomp and circumstance.

It was the 150th anniversary of the Ft. Wayne - South Bend Diocese; the 25th year anniversary of Bishop D'Arcy becoming the bishop; his 50th anniversary of his becoming a priest, and his 75th birthday. The Basilica was packed and overflowing. The Archbishop from Indianapolis was there. President Jenkins of ND gave the opening remarks. I was in the processional that went to the platform with about 12 others (including some prominent pastors in the area, the Mayor of South Bend, a dean from Notre Dame).

During the intercessory prayer part of the service, we each had a line to pray, to which the audience responded in song, "Lord hear our prayer". My prayer/line was, "For people of all faiths, we pray that they would have freedom to worship according to the dictates of their conscience; this we humbly pray..."