In a common and well-loved start of semester tradition, students gathered in the Finnegan Fieldhouse for the year’s Household Life Mass on the afternoon of Sept. 5. This Mass is the first and last official household commitment of each semester, and as such, the congregation is often far too large for the chapel. 

Beginning at 4:45 p.m., one of the more unique features of this event is a banner procession, in which all active households participate. Students clapped and cheered as a variety of colorful banners–and personalities–made their way down the aisle. 

Presiding over the Mass was Rev. Rufino Corona, TOR, who has done so several times before.  This Mass was unique, however, as it was Corona’s first Household Life Mass since stepping into the role of coordinator of household life. 

He began by reminiscing about how he came to join household life himself, speaking of his first weeks at Franciscan and the realization that he “wanted brothers who would be after the Lord.” 

On a similar note, and looking to the coming year, Corona spoke about this year’s theme: Jesus.  He highlighted a goal for households to live out that theme in the coming year, posing and answering the question, “What is household life about? We are about Jesus Christ who is our Lord.” 

After the previous year of celebrating household life’s 50th anniversary and reflecting on its roots, Corona encouraged all household members to look forward. “Praise God for household life,” he concluded, “I want to see fifty more years.” 

On the theme of looking forward to new things, it was also announced at the end of Mass that, in a break from tradition, Household Olympics would not take place this semester. Instead, household dodgeball would take place in the coming weeks A week-long Olympics, with a greater variety of events, is to be anticipated in the approaching spring semester.