At Divine Mercy University’s commencement ceremonies at St. John Neumann Church in Reston May 10, faculty, family, and friends came together to celebrate the 141 graduates who successfully completed doctoral and master’s degree programs in psychology and counseling.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated the opening Mass, noting in his homily the providential and historic nature of the moment — a jubilee year of hope in the global church, the university’s 25th anniversary, and the election of a new pope. Bishop Burbidge called DMU a “jewel and treasure of the diocese,” and noted how its graduates continue Jesus’ ministry of love by healing both minds and souls. No one is beyond God’s mercy, Bishop Burbidge said, and because of that DMU graduates serve as a beacon of hope to the world.
This year’s graduation keynote speaker, Arthur Brooks, teaches at Harvard University. He is well known for his research and publications on happiness and how to lead a fulfilling life. In 2023, he published a book with Oprah Winfrey titled, “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier.” Father Charles Sikorsky, DMU president, gifted copies of the book to the class of 2025.
In his speech, Brooks encouraged graduates to view their work as part of a new missionary impulse emerging in our society. If the clergy are the uniformed soldiers, the laity are the plainclothes missionaries evangelizing the world behind the scenes. He gave the graduates three rules to follow: first, be public with your private faith. Do not hide it under a bushel basket but proclaim it. Second, let your faith be natural and normal. Remember that religion is the natural state of man — secularism is unnatural — so it shouldn’t feel forced. Finally, make your faith magnetic. Even when supposed enemies of the faith persecute you, do not adopt their tactics lest you become like them. Instead, love as Jesus loved, and your faith will stand as a sign of contradiction in a cynical world.
Sister of Life Mother Mary Concepta Yates was recognized as DMU’s alumna of the year. She joined the order in 2003, and later completed a master’s in clinical psychology from the school, then known as the Institute for the Psychological Sciences. Mother Mary was elected as the second superior general of the Sisters of Life in 2023.
In her acceptance speech, Mother Mary invited everyone to emulate Mary sitting at the foot of the cross, cradling the crucified Jesus. Just as Mary saw his great wounds but also foresaw his coming glory, so too DMU graduates should view the wounds of the people to whom they minister. These wounds are not the final word or what defines each person, but instead point to the dignity they have and the glory to which they can enter.
DMU also celebrated its 25th anniversary May 8 by bestowing Lifetime Achievement Awards on three of its founding leaders — Dr. Gladys Sweeney, foundress and first dean; Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde, 25-year board member; and Dr. Bill Nordling, longest-serving faculty member, also for 25 years. This included the establishment of the Bishop Paul S. Loverde Scholarship Fund.
