Immaculate Conception: America’s Feast

The Pontifical North American College always celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception with great joy.  The Immaculate Conception holds a special place in the College both as patroness of the United States and the namesake of the chapel in which the community daily celebrates Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.  The dogma of the Immaculate Conception, too, was defined 159 years ago by Bl. Pope Pius IX, the founder of the North American College. 

On the evening of December 8, the community joined with many guests to celebrate solemn Evening Prayer, presided by His Eminence Edwin Cardinal O’Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and former rector of the College.  Following the liturgy, all joined in the annual Immaculate Conception Banquet. 

The banquet itself has many traditions, particularly the triple toast to conclude the evening.  Father Peter Harmon, Director of Pastoral Formation, delivered the first toast to our Holy Father, Pope Francis.  Father John Cush of the Diocese of Brooklyn, an alumnus of the College in residence at Casa Santa Maria, offered a toast to our native land, the United States.  Concluding the series, Tony Hollowell, a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, toasted to our beloved College itself.  Not forgetting the most important person of the evening, the banquet concluded as all turned to sing the traditional Marian antiphon of Advent and Christmas, Alma Redemptoris Mater, in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Following the banquet, NAC faculty and guests enjoyed a reception in the red room.

Check the PNAC Photo Page for more pictures of the event.