COMMISSIONING OF CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

An Ordination to Daily Work

INTRODUCTION

Faculty: My dear Michaelinians:

Before we send you across the stage to receive your diploma on

graduation day, and then on out into the world, let us first look back
at our journey together this year and beg God for the courage and
generosity to always bring the light of Christ to all that we meet.

We want you, our dear students, to recognize that — regardless of

what field of work, sphere of society, or corner of the world you are
heading to — God will be there, and wants to use you in some
intentional ways as He pleases.

And so, today, we send you forth with love and with our prayers.

MESSAGE (from one of the Program Heads/Deans)

GIVING OF THE KEY AND ACCEPTANCE BY THE GRADUATING CLASS

The graduating class stands. One representative goes to the center and faces the School
President as he gives the words of bequeathal.

School President: Dearly beloved Michaelinians, after your stay in Saint Michael
College, your mission, your apostolate is to be the Lord’s
witnesses of the fullness of life which is in Him, of the love He
share with us and He wishes us to spread.

And so, we give you this KEY – symbol of that responsibility

that you take. Be communicators of faith, hope and love in the
midst of daily events, in a society that is resigned to
incredulity, in this world that is tempted to despair. Bring
bread where there is hunger in the human heart. Enable
others to see the Word of Life. Reflect the light of Christ in the
darkness of mere existence. You are Christ’s witnesses.
The School Presidents hands in the Key to the representative of the graduating class. Then they
take their seats.

MESSAGE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GRADUATING CLASS

PRAYER OF BLESSING

Everybody stands. The School President, with hands extended, begins the following prayer of
blessing:

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth. (Psalm 8:1)

We stand in awe and humility, O God our Creator,

of the good gifts you have given us in these students.

You have instilled in them an insatiable curiosity

about your world, your people and your earth.
This curiosity, this thirst for truth
has led them here to this place,
and we are so grateful for the privileged years of friendship,
of diligence and struggle, of new insight and discovery.

With hands extended over the graduating class, the priest continues:

And now, as they go from here

we ask that you would graciously continue to fill them
with a deep and abiding knowledge of your love for them.

And we ask that, by your Spirit,

they may tend to the world and help set it right once again.
Give them open hearts to feel its pain,
and courage enough not to be overwhelmed by its suffering.
May they taste the joy of seeing your kingdom come
in every corner of this world.

And we ask that, by your Spirit,

they would add to the beauty in your world.
Fuel them with an imagination as artisans of word, song and deed,
that comes to terms with both the wounds of the world
and the promise of the resurrection.

And we ask that, by your Spirit,

they may be nourished and renewed by hope,
the good news that God is God, that Jesus is Lord,
and that the powers of evil have been defeated,
and that God’s new world has begun.

May mercy, beauty and hope be theirs, in this world for your glory.

And may the Lord bless you and keep you;

May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace,
the Father, + and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All: AMEN.

SONG – In Omnibus Amare (sung by College Faculty & Staff)