By KELLY KULTYS

NEWS EDITOR

Students packed the pews of the University Church at Rose Hill on Sunday, Dec. 16 for the annual celebration of Gaudete Sunday, held on the third Sunday of Advent. Mass was followed by a brief celebration of the last day of Hanukkah and a Christmas party, both in the McGinley Center.

This year, the Mass, which was celebrated by Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University and usually lives up to its name of “rejoice,” had a somber tone. McShane, after beginning the Mass joking about Gaudete Sunday being Rev. Phil Florio, S.J.’s “Christmas at Fordham,” drew upon the recent shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. during his homily.

“Six weeks ago, we were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, which wiped out a large part of the metropolitan area,” McShane said. “Then, just as we were digging ourselves up from that, there was tragic shooting last Friday in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, just a few miles to our north.”

McShane later called the tragedy “devastating, incomprehensible, haunting.” McShane reminded everyone that usually Gaudete Sunday is a time of festivities and cheer, but unfortunately he said, “not this year.”

Despite the somber tone, however, there were still some joyful parts of the mass. One of the most moving parts of the mass was the candle ceremony at the end. Members of the United Student Government (USG) passed the candlelight from the altar to all members of the congregation. The lights were dimmed as the choir and those in attendance sang the traditional Christmas hymn, “Silent Night.”

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, students were unable to gather around the Christmas tree for the lighting outside. Instead, the congregation turned around to face the back of the church and bless the tree.

“Only Fr. Florio would think of a remote blessing,” McShane said at the Mass. “Let’s turn around and face the back and pretend the back wall isn’t there so we can see the tree.”

USG and Campus Ministry, particularly Florio, helped put the celebration together. Students participated in the mass as altar servers, environmental ministers, lectors and as members of the choir. They also helped put together the Holiday Party held in the McGinley Center after Mass, complete with carols, decorations and food. The night was “a good break from the stress of finals and the Christmas season,” according to McShane.

“I thought the Mass was fantastic,” Dan Stracquadanio, FCRH ’15, said. “I thought Father McShane’s homily was amazing. I think the Christmas Party was great. I think it should also be noted that it was a Hanukkah celebration for the last night of Hanukkah in conjunction with the Jewish Student Organization, which I thought was fantastic.”

Additional reporting by Eddie Mikus.