Salt Lake City Newman Center celebrates baccalaureate Mass for graduating seniors

Friday, May. 13, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic students of the Class of 2016 from the University of Utah, Westminster College and Salt Lake City Community College were honored with a baccalaureate Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center on May 1.

Baccalaureate is a centuries-old religious graduation tradition that started in England;  in the United States, it usually refers to a ceremony held a few days before high school or college graduation. 

The baccalaureate Mass at the Newman Center offers a quieter, more intimate opportunity “to pause and reflect on this rite of passage, hear faculty members offer advice to the graduating class and enjoy students’ musical talents,” said Dominican Father Lukasz Misko, pastor.

Presiding at the Mass was  Dominican Fr. Peter Hannah, associate pastor. The speaker was Mauricio J. Mixco, PhD, professor emeritus of linguistics at the University of Utah.

The Mass was celebrated on the  sixth Sunday of Easter, “and as we are coming to the end of the school year, we thank God for these graduates and for this end and new beginning, and we pray for them,” said Fr. Hannah as he greeted those present.

Fr. Misko gave the homily. He reflected on the fact that sometimes in life it is good to have debates.

“Sometimes it is good to have a little bit of peace and quiet … but debate is the way to establish who we are,” said Fr. Misko. “Sometimes people, we just love the simple ways of doing stuff, but sometimes the simple ways are not the best. We should sit and debate whether this is the best way of doing things.”

Underlining that respect is the key to success in everything, Fr. Misko wished the graduates well in their new chapter of life.

Mixco’s speech was also based on respect and gratitude and the effort that the graduates have made to make it to this point in their lives.