Unsuccessfully Trying to Get Into Mass at Peoria Notre Dame High School


Photo from Catholic Post

The Catholic Diocese of Peoria welcomed a coadjutor bishop this summer, Bishop Lou Tylka. Yesterday, he celebrated the first all school at Peoria Notre Dame, where Luke is a senior. Only the seniors and the freshman were in the gym. The sophs and juniors watched the Mass in their classrooms.

Luke was serving the Mass. Above he processes in, on the left, carrying a candle.

Luke, along with several other students and staff, were commissioned Eucharistic Ministers by the Bishop at the Mass. Above, they receive their blessing.

Because of all of this, I thought it would be nice to attend the Mass. I drove out to Peoria Notre Dame, rang the bell, was admitted to the commons, went to the office window, and was promptly told, "No," when I asked if I could go to Mass. There was no hesitation. 

Given the times, I knew it was a long shot. But I figured, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So, like about 55 other people, I watched the Mass on Facebook and grabbed these screenshots.

Above Bishop Lou gives a blessing to the masked and socially distanced students as he recesses out of the gym. He told a nice story during his homily about a visit to an ice cream shop in Peoria this summer, where a PND student was working and warmly welcomed him to his new home. 

Watching a livestream isn't the same as being there, but it is better than nothing. To be honest, my motivations for attending the Mass weren't the greatest, mainly to see Luke serve and receive his commission and to see our new Bishop for the first time and not so much the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass. So I guess it worked out the way it was supposed to. 


Wishing the students at PND and all of our schools a good year and Bishop Lou a good tenure in Peoria and special blessings to them all as they navigate this challenging time.

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