April 11, 2013
Students, faculty, and staff at The Catholic University of America crowded the ground floor of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center on April 10, the University's Founders Day, for a ceremony to launch a new Community Pledge that calls on signers to build a campus atmosphere of justice, love, and peace.
The new initiative was created by President John Garvey; Rev. Jude DeAngelo, O.F.M. Conv., director of Campus Ministry and University chaplain; student life administrators; and a student committee. The pledge was inspired by the Prayer of St. Francis.
During Lent, the Office of Campus Ministry encouraged students to reflect on victims of violence and discrimination and challenged them to apply the actions described in the prayer to their lives.
"Our Easter celebration is an especially fitting moment to renew our commitment to building a culture of love," said President Garvey at the ceremony.
"Easter is the time of year when we recall that there is no darkness - not even in the darkness of death - that cannot be overcome by love. As a Catholic community, we bear witness to the power of love by recognizing that all people are made in God's image and likeness and are deserving of our respect."
During a prayer to lead the ceremony, Father Jude described the pledge not as something new but rather as "the law of love."
The pledge begins, "Our shield bears our motto: ' Deus Lux Mea Est - God Is My Light.' The psalmist's words remind each of us that God is the light and life of our University Community." It calls on the University's "sons and daughters to create a culture of light and love on our campus and in our lives."
After Garvey read the preamble of the pledge to the crowd, students stepped on stage to read each of the eight ideals signers agree to accept and uphold.
Garvey and his wife, Jeanne, were the first to sign the pledge.
In the future, the Community Pledge will be sent to new students, who will be invited to sign it during Orientation.
"It is our hope that the pledge will be a sign to this generation of students, and to future generations, of the love Catholic University has for all who come here," Garvey said.
The pledge will be on display and available for signing in the Pryzbyla Center's Atrium through Friday, April 19. Students, faculty, and staff also have the option of signing the pledge online .