The stained-glass windows were replaced by a sunset and the pews by lawn chairs, but Sunday night’s “Mass on the Grass” was nothing new for Tom Klag, lay campus minister.
“Being outside just excites people…it kicks off the school year for us,” Klag said.
For the sixth year, St. Catherine’s Catholic Newman Center held its “Mass on the Grass” service.
But, for the first time, the event occurred away from the familiar setting of the Newman Center’s front yard.
“The U was gracious enough to let us use President’s Circle for our Mass this year,” Klag said.
The Newman Center is undergoing a $3 million expansion and renovation project, thus creating the need to relocate the service across the street, on campus.
The 7 p.m. Mass, delivered by the Rev. James Thompson, was aimed at “consecrating the new school year and to call on the Holy Spirit to aid students in their schoolwork and studies,” Klag said.
Though he anticipated about 250 people showing up for this year’s event, holding the service outside always attracts an outside crowd-at least for a little while, Klag said.
“We get a lot of people who stand around wondering what in God’s name is going on, and that’s great,” he said.
In addition to serving as the first official Mass of the school year for the Newman Center, “Mass on the Grass” serves another purpose as well.
The event also allows the U Catholic community to “show off who we are and what we do, and that’s an important thing for us. It really comes together very nicely,” Klag said.
Klag, also a public relations major, said this year’s service was better promoted than in years past, most likely adding to the number of participants and observers at Sunday night’s event.
“We’ve been promoting it heavily this year, and they let me do it my way, so the word really got out,” Klag said.
Though Klag was excited for the Mass’ change of atmosphere on campus, attendee and U medical student Bill Roper had a different opinion.
“It’s always easier to hold things in your own front yard, so we were out of our comfort zone a little, but it worked just as well as it has in years past,” he said.
However, Roper said, it’s events like Sunday night’s “Mass on the Grass” that keep things vibrant for members.
“Anything the Newman Center can do to mix things up is a good thing…it’s a great way to keep a church young,” he said.
Veteran Newman Center parishioner Tracy Arlen agreed, furthering Roper’s point.
“I love being out here. When you’re in church, you’re proclaiming your faith to yourself, but out here, you’re proclaiming it to everyone else,” she said.