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A Mass was held at Fenway Park Saturday to launch Boston College's three-semester celebration of its 150th anniversary.

barry chin/globe staff

Boston College President William P. Leahy celebrated the special Saturday Mass.

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Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, left, spoke at the Mass.

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About 20,000 Boston College and Boston College High School students and alumni attended the Mass.

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Boston College has survived two wartime enrollment crises and a near-bankruptcy in its 150 years.

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More than 34,000 students applied to be undergraduates in 2011.