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THE A NGELUS April 2008 The Voice of Progress for Ave Maria University and Town Volume 4 No. 4 Inside This Issue (Continued on page 10) L a Piazza breathed with quiet excite- ment. Golf carts whizzed around, news vans raised satellite transmitters and security officers blocking off roads for parking all were doing their best to accommodate the Faithful. More than 2,200 people took part in the Dedication Mass of the Par- ish of Ave Maria Oratory on Monday, March 31, 2008, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Bishop Frank Dewane presided at the Rite of Dedication and named Fr. Robert Tatman administrator of the parish. People gathered throughout the morning. The earliest arriving around 8:00 a.m. Greeters handed out free tickets for the open seating section to those who came earliest. Tickets ran out at about 10:00 a.m. Those who could not fit into the Oratory itself were seated in a white tent just out- side the main doors with three video screens. La Piazza store owners each cel- ebrated in their own way. Jeanne Rush of The Secret Ingredient had Annun- ciation Holy Cards printed for her guests. Renee Beckner displayed Ave Maria University pendants, watches and earrings outside her shop. She even had dated commemorative paper weights for the occasion. Monica and Daniel Dix, owners of The Bean of Ave Maria, provided an outdoor sandwich More than 2,200 attend oratory dedication! stand where patrons could get a nice lunch without waiting in long lines. University students walked about with a look of awe. Jacob Pride mar- veled at how a recent retreat, his Medi- eval Literature class, Divine Mercy Sun- day and the Feast of the Annunciation all coincided to keep him immersed in contemplating Gods mercy. Terry and Linda Paganes of Michigan/Naples arrived about 11:45 a.m. and sat waiting in front of the doors. Were leaving for home on Wednesday, so this is a blessing that were here for this today. She enthusi- astically added, Just to be here today is enough even if we dont go inside the Oratory. Weve seen it many times. Just to be here is the best! After the announcement that the Oratory had been filled to capacity, people with blue waiting list tickets quickly headed into the huge white tent to see and participate in the Mass via the live video. Staff walkie-talkies announced the distance of the Bishop to the Ora- tory 20, 10 and 5 miles off. Bishop Dewane was on a tight schedule, but arrived right on time. The bishop processed to the main doors, where he began the Rite of Ded- ication. The doors were opened and a solemn line of altar servers, acolytes, Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of Venice in Florida, begins the Rite of Dedica- tion at the doors of Ave Maria Oratory Dedication Photos 10-11 Mass Schedule 12 WDEO Radio Guide 18 Red Letter Dates 19 x ANOINTING OF THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH The anointing of the church signifies that it is given over entirely and perpetually to Christian worship. In keeping with liturgical tradition, there are anointings, as a symbol that the church is an image of the holy city of Jerusalem. x INCENSATION OF THE CHURCH Incense is burned on the altar to signify that Christs sacrifice, there perpetuated in mystery, ascends to God as an odor of sweetness and also to signify that the peoples prayers rise up pleasing and acceptable, reaching the throne of God. x COVERING OF THE ALTAR The covering of the altar signifies that it is the Lords table at which all Gods people joyously meet to be refreshed with divine food, namely, the body and blood of Christ sacrificed. x LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR & CHURCH The lighting of the altar, which is followed by the lighting of the church, reminds us that Christ is a light to enlighten the nations, his brightness shines out in the Church and through it in the whole human family. rites of dedication University News 2 April 2008 THE A NGELUS Oratory Dedication 1 Plans for Oratory 2 Pre-Theologate 3 St. Patricks Day Photos 5 Latin American Campus 6 World Youth Day 7 Annual Naples Founders Dinner 8 AMU at Harvard Model UN 9 Dedication Mass Photos 10-11 AMU Athletics: Two New Coaches 13
Festival of the Arts 15 Jane Seymour Luncheon 16 I t was a profound Easter blessing to have found a way for Bishop Frank Dewane to dedicate the Ave Maria Oratory. Officially there will be a quasi- parish at the Oratory under a pastor or administrator appointed by the bishop. The term quasi-parish takes account of the special circumstances pertaining to the town and university, but the full range of sacramental life will be offered. (The first wedding in the Oratory will take place at the Oratory in May!) Thousands of visitors have already been inside the building, even though it is not yet complete. The wooden al- tar is temporary, as eventually will be replaced by an altar of limestone or red sandstone blocks. The large crucifix which will hang over the altar will be a bronze corpus on a wood cross. It is in the final stages of completion and will be delivered in a matter of weeks. So, too, the wooden confessionals and the stations of the cross will be installed in the coming weeks. Over the tabernacle will be a beautiful baldacchino, a canopy or cov- ering symbolizing the protection of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Behind the tabernacle, on what is now a bare wall, will be a reredosa large decorative wooden structurewhich will have panels and niches for statues. What is envisioned is at least 24 stat- ues of saints, including Marian saints, such as St. Louis de Montfort. These furnishings await donors. Another major feature of the in- terior will be the organ. We recently learned of the development of virtual organs, which feature a standard key- board but reproduce sound digitally. Technological advances have made it possible to produce a sound almost indistinguishable from a traditional organ. Indeed, even the famous Trin- ity Church at the foot of Wall Street in New York now has a virtual organ. And not only are initial costs far less, but the high cost of maintenance is abated. This provides huge savings over time, and also averts the disruptions that occur when an organ needs to be retuned. On the exterior, the major feature will be a scene of the Annunciation in the large (30 x 30) niche over the bronze doors on the west side. Various sculptors were invited to submit pro- posals. Finally selected was a bas relief by Martin Varo, a Hungarian sculptor whose best know work is the 40 angels on the exterior of the Ft. Worth Per- forming Arts Center. Mr. Varo has lo- cated the origin of the marble Michae- langelo used for his Pieta, and plans to us white marble from the same quarry in Italy. He will begin the work in Italy, but the finishing work will be done on site at Ave Maria. No doubt this will be a thrilling spectacle along with the engineering feat of securing tons of marble to the fa

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