“On the Dominican Campus, we want to provide meaningful faith opportunities for our families who desire to pass the faith on to their children, and this was one way to support our families in that effort,” said Sister Dominic, O.P., President of Overbrook Catholic School and St. Cecilia Academy. “Worshipping God at Mass and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament are not just ways of demonstrating our faith, but of deepening it for us individually and communally.”

Father Luke Wilgenbusch presided at the Mass with Father Rhodes Bolster serving as master of ceremonies and seminarians from the Nashville Diocese attending. During his homily, Father Luke Wilgenbusch invited all to deepen their faith through participation in the Eucharist.

Following the Mass, gatherers walked in a Eucharistic procession through the Dominican Campus, ending on the White House lawn. As Father Wilgenbusch processed with Jesus in the monstrance throughout campus, a group of altar servers held candles lighting the way. Flower girls covered the ground in flower petals, paving the way for Jesus, the Bridegroom.

There was time for personal prayer once the monstrance was placed on the altar of the White House front porch, where Father Wilgenbusch gave the benediction. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed live music and a picnic dinner brought from home, or they took advantage of food trucks from Hoss' Loaded Burger Truck, Roscoe's BBQ, Salsa Franklin Taco, and The Pink Truck.

“I hope people felt renewed in zeal and love for the gift of the Eucharist,” said Sister Dominic, O.P. “I hope that our families felt that picnicking together on the lawn and enjoying a ‘concert in the park’ somehow carried with it a deeper joy for having it all rooted in our relationship with Christ.”

This year's celebration built on the Eucharistic Procession held on the Dominican Campus in 2023, which was a cherished gathering for campus families. Both celebrations fostered a profound sense of spiritual community and devotion among participants.

Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Nashville.