Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated Mass in the Sacred Heart of
Mary Chapel on the campus of Marymount University in Arlington to kick off
inauguration events for Irma Becerra March 28.
Becerra was installed formally as the university’s seventh
president in a ceremony following Mass.
She began her tenure July 1, 2018, succeeding Matthew D. Shank.
During his homily, Bishop Burbidge said, “Dr. Becerra, you are
not being inaugurated as the new president of Marymount today by some sort of
chance or coincidence. From the very beginning, God has been preparing you for
today,” he said. “You are here because it is his holy will for you. We are
blessed that, with his grace, you have said ‘yes’ to his plan. As you know,
that ‘yes’ needs to be renewed each and every day.”
“We celebrate this Mass in honor of Our Blessed Mother, so dear
to this University since its founding,” said Bishop Burbidge. “Dr.
Becerra, what a model and inspiration you have in Mary. Just this week we were
reminded of the message she received from the angel and her privileged role in
salvation history as she was called to be the Mother of God. Although
mysterious, she said “yes” to his divine will.”
Susan Lace and Lita Treacy, co-chairs of the Inaugural Committee,
served as masters of ceremony. Bishop Burbidge delivered the invocation. Sister
Catherine Patten, provincial superior of the Eastern American Province of the
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary; Becerra’s children, Anthony and Nicole
Fernandez; Bishop Burbidge; and Ed Bersoff, chairman of the board of trustees;
were among those to speak following the invocation.
“United with all those in the Diocese of Arlington, I express
sincere congratulations to you on this joyful and historic day as you are
inaugurated as the seventh president of Marymount University,” said Bishop
Burbidge. “We know that you are here as part of God’s divine plan and we thank
you for your “yes” to his holy will. Be assured of my support and daily prayers
for you and the Marymount University community.”
“St. John Paul II taught us that a Catholic university has
several essential characteristics. A Catholic university must be a place where
persons come together to learn, research and serve others together, not simply
as a collection of individuals but as a true community,” he said. “A Catholic
university is a place where the light of Christ reveals the deep and true
meaning of our growing treasury of human knowledge. We do not hesitate to apply
the wisdom of our faith to the challenges that we face in the classroom, in the
laboratory, and in the world. This requires, of course, that we remain faithful
to the Lord and the truth of the Gospel. Finally, in a Catholic university, we
work together in service of one another and the whole human family for the
greater glory of God.”
“To Dr. Becerra: Through your leadership of service, promote the
community of this university and its Catholic identity. Always recognize that
the Lord has not given you a burden but a great privilege as you are entrusted
with advancing the mission of Marymount University. Your faith, zeal,
enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and joy are already known to us and you
clearly understand that in order to live out the many responsibilities
entrusted to you, you must turn daily to God for with him all things are
possible,” Bishop Burbidge said.
In her inaugural address, Becerra said, “While guided by the legacy
of Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Sister Magella Berg, we now look to
the future with the leadership of our board, faculty, staff and students.
Marymount is an aspirational university and in many ways the goals of this
campus match my own,” Becerra said.
“The idea to think big was first
established by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary when they decided
Marymount would provide young women practical education grounded in career
preparation and liberal arts. We, too, must adapt to meet the educational
demands of our time. Like Sister Magella, we must be fearless, forward-thinking
and willing to take risks while upholding outstanding educational standards.”
Becerra also introduced the implementation of the 2019-2024
Momentum: Strategic Plan, which she said would focus on four areas: distinctive
identity, transformative experiences, vibrant community and sustainable future.
It also includes a $250 million endowment. A rendition of the Marymount Alma
Mater followed her address. Sister Patten delivered the benediction.
A reception followed. An entire week of events surrounded the
inauguration, including lectures, sports, art openings and a student ball.
Becerra, a Cuban-born American, earned her bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Miami and
became the first woman to earn a doctorate in engineering from Florida
International University in Miami. She then worked as a professor there and
later led the school’s Entrepreneurship Center.
