Religio Magazine covered CUA's Baccalaureate Mass and the Homily by Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. See the article below.
From: Religio Date: May 17, 2014Angelic voices echoed throughout the sparkling gold domes, and the smell of rustic incense permeated through the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in the United States. But today's mass is not the regular.
Celebrating the graduating class of 2014, students from the Catholic University of America walked in a progression to begin today's Baccalaureate Mass. The historic arches, groin vaults, and the Romanesque-Byzantine structure are all too familiar to them. The traditional songs and chants recall the memories from the past four years, all of which are planted deeply and engraved in their hearts. The quiet whispers fill the air with both excitement and anxiety for they know that today, though seemingly ordinary to the naked eye, signifies a moment in time that will be relived for years to come.Seats fill quickly as family and friends reserve entire pews for their loved ones, following the rule of first come, first serve basis. But the space is not enough as mothers, uncles, and siblings line against the massive, thick walls. Today's mass not only congratulates the graduating seniors but also welcomes a special guest of honor.
Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, has flown in from the Philippines to speak to the graduating class. "There's a buzz in the Filipino community. We see people who aren't necessarily students but are coming for this event," senior Nicholas Shields said. "It shows the universal church and how mass can be celebrated all over the world."