As the number of individuals in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults program at Notre Dame hit record highs this year, extra precautions were put in place to regulate the attendance of outsiders for the Easter Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. In the end, there was room for everyone, plus seats to spare.
The Saturday Mass brought 36 catechumens to be baptized into the Catholic faith. They and their loved ones received priority seating, limiting availability for others.
Yet this didn’t stop students from staking it out to get seats. The line for the Basilica officially opened at 9 a.m., though freshman George Saliga said he and his friends arrived 30 minutes early.
“If we saw anyone get close to the Basilica, we were going to start moving over there and try to get to the front of the line. Sure enough, there were a bunch of people who were waiting by nearby lampposts and other places,” he said.
Sean Parkes, a freshman in Keenan Hall, said the wait in the morning hours was fine, but those in line faced inclement weather in the early afternoon.
“It got bad with rain, and it was windy and cold,” he said.
Saliga explained that he took turns with friends. He had the first shift getting off around noon, affording him a six-hour break before he had to return.
Junior Joe Robuck said, “I was told by many people not to even try to go see Easter Vigil, because it would be so full with OCIA, so I was not considering it.” He said he eventually checked his phone and saw people saying there were open seats.
“I texted in there and said, ‘If I were to make it to the Basilica in five minutes, what is the likelihood I would get a seat?’ And I was told 100%, so I threw on a suit and sprinted over from St. Edwards Hall,” Robuck said.
Despite plans for Washington Hall to serve as overflow with a livestream of the Basilica and distribution of Holy Communion, The Observer confirmed that Washington Hall was closed.
Parkes estimated there were a maximum of 20 seats left open at the back of the Basilica.
Parkes and Saliga expressed their satisfaction with the views that their seats provided within the Basilica.
Drawing a parallel between the situation and the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, Robuck said that if he had waited and felt indigent, he would have reminded himself that “some start early and then some join late, and they all get the same kind of reward.”
Saliga said he was glad he waited in line this year but will wait to see about doing it again next year.
Parkes, meanwhile, said the experience was worth his wait.
“It was one of the most beautiful liturgies I have been to anywhere ever,” he said. “I would actually wait 12 hours for that again if I had to.”
Editor's Note: Parkes' last name was misspelled in a previous version of this article.
