Fr. Steve saying mass in the Grotto shortly after midnight on Nov. 12, 2025
Photo courtesy of Chris Doody
BY: CHRIS DOODY, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
St. Bonaventure University students gathered for Snow Mass (Midnight Mass) in the Grotto, celebrating the season’s first snow fall, shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.
“Snow Mass was an old tradition at Bonaventure that I brought back to the community for the community to enjoy together,” Holden Turek, a sophomore political science major, said. “It brought in over a hundred people Wednesday night.”
Snow Mass was started by Fr. Jud Weiksnar, Director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern, during his time at St. Bonaventure University.
“Snow Mass was first started in 1999 by Fr. Jud and went until 2003,” said Turek. “I just wanted to bring back the tradition, to help keep Catholic traditions on campus going. To keep something cool and unique to St. Bonaventure.”
For some students, the return of Snow Mass was more than just a revival—it was an opportunity to share a unique campus tradition with others.
“The Mass was a different, special atmosphere,” said Wyatt Weaver, a freshman sports media major.
In Fr. Steve’s homily he spoke on how we are a small school yet we make a large impact, how significant it is when we come together as a community to do such big things. Connecting his amazement with our community to St. Francis’ amazement towards the incarnation.
“It was really neat seeing how Fr. Steve connected the Franciscan values to the first snowfall,” said Weaver. “It’s not something I thought of before.”
After Mass students were invited back to The McGinley-Carney Center to warm up after Mass with hot chocolate.
“I enjoyed going back to UMin (The McGinley Carney Center) with my friends after Mass for some hot chocolate,” said Weaver.
The Grotto is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
According to the SBU archives, in 1924 the clerics of St. Bonaventure decided to drain a swamp which was located on campus, and turn it into a grotto. With the help of the students at St. Bonaventure began collecting rocks from all over campus, and built the Grotto piece by piece. The construction of the Grotto was completed in 1925.
