The Catholic University of America in Washington celebrated the beginning of the academic year last month at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, an annual tradition where the community gathers to pray for guidance and grace from God.
University Marshal and Law Professor Regina Jefferson led a noon procession of faculty to the Great Upper Church. Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, university chancellor, celebrated the Mass. He prayed that “God’s spirit fills this university” with wisdom, joy and reverence for the divine truth.
“The pursuit of higher Catholic education must include a person’s entire heart, his or her very self. We pray that the heart of each student, staffer, faculty member, and administrator will constantly beat with intense love and kindness throughout this upcoming year,” said Cardinal Gregory.
In his remarks after Mass, University President Peter K. Kilpatrick encouraged all those present to pray about how we can all “be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit to draw more closely together as one community.”
Kilpatrick emphasized that unity does not mean sameness, but, “It is precisely your distinctiveness that is your unique contribution to the community.” He said Masses celebrated on campus that incorporate the traditions of the diverse student body serve as an example of our inclusive identity as the nation’s Catholic university.
After the homily, new philosophy faculty Steven Waldorf, Dominican Father Bonaventure Chapman and Msgr. William King of the School of Canon Law received canonical authorization from Cardinal Gregory to teach in the name of the church.
Father Chapman said taking the Oath of Fidelity during the Mass served as a reminder that he needs God’s grace and mercy to help him fulfill his mission to teach for the sake of Christ and his church.
Msgr. King said it is “humbling, a little intimidating, and at the same exciting” to return to his alma mater with such a unique opportunity and responsibility to share Christ’s teaching.
“Walking around campus and especially standing in the same classrooms where my love for the church was inspired, I want to do the same for this generation of students,” said King.
Waldorf said after the Mass that he is “deeply humbled by the trust placed in me to teach the truth in the name of the church” and that he “prays for God’s grace to carry out this task well.”
“Whenever I look at the letter of canonical mission, which now sits in my office, I am reminded of this trust and feel encouraged in my vocation as a Catholic academic,” he said.
The liturgy was broadcast live via EWTN, CatholicTV, Facebook and YouTube.
