All are invited to the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola on Saturday, July 31, for a special 11 a.m. Mass at which the newly appointed Jesuit superior will be introduced, and new sacred artwork will be blessed.
As Jesuit communities around the world celebrate this Ignatian Year — marking the 500th anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s conversion from soldier to pilgrim — Fairfield University’s Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola will celebrate a special 11 a.m. Mass on Saturday, July 31 to commemorate the feast day of the founder of the Jesuit order.
"On this day, we join with our fellow Jesuit institutions in celebrating our Ignatian identity,” said Andrew Mountin, director of music and liturgy for Campus Ministry.
The Mass on the Feast Day of St. Ignatius will be the first celebrated at Egan Chapel by Rev. John Mulreany, S.J., the newly appointed superior of the Fairfield Jesuit community. A New York City native and graduate of Regis High School, Fr. Mulreany was ordained in 2010 at Fordham University Church in the Bronx. He most recently served as associate pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier in lower Manhattan.
The July 31 celebration will begin with 11 a.m. Mass, and lunch will follow on the chapel piazza. To mark this special occasion, three pieces of sacred art, newly commissioned and installed at Egan Chapel, will be blessed and dedicated. Mountin noted, “On the exterior of the building, flanking the main entrance to the chapel, we are introducing new images of St. Ignatius and St. Robert Bellarmine.” The former is the patron saint of the Jesuit order and the latter is the patron saint of Fairfield University.
“Inside the chapel,” continued Mountin, “we will be introducing a new depiction of Santa Maria della Strada (Our Lady of the Way).” Ignatius, while recovering from his battle injuries at Pamplona, developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, whom he credited with saving his life and spurring his conversion. The original fresco painting of Our Lady of the Way, now enshrined at the Church of the Gesù in Rome and recently restored, was central to St. Ignatius' spiritual life.
The Feast of St. Ignatius Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday July, 31 will be an in-person event, and all are invited to attend.
For those unable to make it to campus, the Mass will also be livestreamed (Zoom Meeting ID# 916 9363 8989).
