Eight Knights of Columbus in full regalia led the entrance procession and a dozen priests concelebrated the Mass. The bishop asked everyone to pray for the university and for the success of the students' studies and all their endeavors. He said that he regretted that he was unable to celebrate Mass at the start of the fall term.
The Mass was the Mass of the Virgin Mary, which Bishop Dewane selected for the start of the term at Ave Maria University. He reminded students that each is uniquely called and said that as they learned, they should remember that the more important part is "how you live life with that knowledge." (At right, Deacon Forrest Wallace incenses Bishop Dewane during Mass.)
After Mass, the bishop lingered with the students, faculty and town residents, talking and posing for pictures.