May 28: Celebration of Endings and Hope for New Beginnings

Commencement: May 28

            Not all endings are dismal occasions. We reflect on this time of endings with a sense of celebration, for all the joy that we have experienced this year. We are giving thanks for another year of learning and progress or perhaps for our undergraduate careers as a whole. Whatever we celebrate, we honor this ending with the hope for new beginnings. We pray we can build upon the gifts and accomplishments of this time as we move into the future. May we learn from the mistakes of the past and transform ourselves for whatever lies ahead. May we reflect on the past with affection and look forward to new beginnings with excitement.

Photo by author

September 14: Discovery of New Friendships

            The beginning of a new semester is filled with excitement and anxiety over the potential of new friendships. May God guide us towards those who will love and support us. May we learn compassion and generosity from Jesus’ example and practice this towards our friends, new and old. We ask God to grant us friendships that not only ease the weight of our struggles, but that challenge us to lead better lives. Ultimately, we place our trust in God to ensure the discovery of new friends in our dorms, our classrooms, our workplaces, and our communities.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 6: Collaboration Between Students & Professors

First Day of Fall Classes

     We recognize that the relationship between students and professors is a rewarding and challenging balance between respect and collaboration. We give thanks to God for the teachers who nurture and encourage us. We also ask God to grant us patience during periods of conflict with our professors. May we practice grace and understanding during these periods, and may our professors practice the same towards us. May our community be one of harmony and growth between students and professors, so that all may accomplish their goals of discovery.

Photo by Ellen Kneeskern '18

September 4: Roommate Harmony

            Whether we are living with old friends or new strangers, we naturally feel anxiety when beginning cohabitation with our roommates. We acknowledge that living together can magnify once minor imperfections. Because of this, we ask for grace for ourselves and commit to practicing forgiveness towards our roommates. We ask God to bless the space we inhabit with others and to give us the strength to show love and compassion even in difficulty. May our dorms, apartments, and homes always remain safe spaces where we can create a base for growth and learning on our campus.

Photo by author

September 2: New Beginnings on Campus

            God created us in God’s image, and we in turn can consider ourselves as creators. We stand before a new academic year considering how we will shape and mold our lives. At this time we thank God for all the opportunities that lie before us and recognize God’s presence in all events in the past and in the future. We ask for God’s blessing of new dorm rooms, new classes, new classmates, and new friendships. May God heal us of the pain and regrets of the past so that we may transform this new beginning on campus into a period of great discovery and inquiry.

Image by Ellen Kneeskern '18