An email that led with “here’s a crazy idea,” soon turned into a profound experience for the Notre Dame community. It garnered international attention, fostered community and nostalgia, and above all, provided thousands with the opportunity to worship.
On a frigid Monday night, students forwent the comforts of their warm dorms to stand in packed snow. On Feb. 2, St. Olaf’s Ice Chapel fostered a congregation of 2,000 for a special celebration of Candlemas.
The Ice Chapel was constructed by two Coyle Hall seniors, Martin Soros and Wesley Buonerba, who decided to use their free time to create the chapel. They began their project just days after Coyle Hall sophomore Liam Devine built an igloo. At the same time they were constructing the chapel, they began taking their next steps with Campus Ministry to hold a mass upon the chapel’s completion. The process began on Thursday to hold mass the following Monday. The Fort Wayne Diocese has outdoor mass guidelines, which St. Olaf was well within.
Before mass began, students trickled onto North Quad. The atmosphere was electrified by excitement and wonder. Laughter f illed the air as chunks of snow were lobbed at unsuspecting friends. Friends and family from across the country were greeted on video calls. Cameras f lashed at the flickering candles illuminating the newly-erected ice chapel. Soon, a sort of reverence settled over the crowd. The crowd, mostly tri-campus students, also included faculty, staff and community members drawn to the icy spectacle.
Father Pete McCormick, C.S.C., preached at the mass. His homily described the significant emotion Mary experienced when presenting Jesus in the temple.
“There are so many miracles, seemingly in a sea of miracles,” Father Pete said to the frigid sea of miracles right in front of him. “But I do believe, that after I have just given this homily, espousing the greatness of the faithfulness of Mary, that the only fitting conclusion, is that together, we sing, ‘Notre Dame our Mother.’ ”
The Alma Mater is most famously sung after victories on the turf or hardwood. That night, the real victory wasn’t the result of physicality or resilience; it was the result of faithfulness and hope. In that moment, 2,000 people were connected physically and spiritually in the most profound way. This time, it wasn’t after a win in Notre Dame Stadium or Purcell Pavillion – it was after students came together to celebrate the mystery of God’s love.
As the mass was ending, an announcement was made: the entire congregation couldn’t receive communion, despite 1,600 consecrated hosts being prepared for the mass. “I was trying my darndest not to run out,” Father Pete said. “You just kinda get surrounded by a mob of people,” he said of the challenges of orchestrating the Eucharist.
“I was looking around, thinking, ‘I do not have enough for all the people here’” Father Pete said. So, his effort to deliver the host to as many attendees as possible began. He began breaking the hosts into halves, then quarters, then those into even smaller pieces. “I had the smallest morsel,” he said, “it was really quite beautiful, that God provides in generous ways.”
God was able to provide for many that night. He provided warmth to the 2,000 in front of the chapel, connection to those a part of the 200 watching from the Coyle Hall livestream on Instagram, and hope to those consuming the national media coverage. Thanks to the free time that only college life can lend itself to, God provided warmth to the hearts and souls of those that gathered.
Photos by Ambrose Weidmann:
