May 2005 Archives

The not-so-biblical biblical baccalaureate

GetReligion, a blog dealing with religion in media, commented Tuesday on a story out of St. Louis that Lindbergh High School will be having two baccalaureates this year.

Baccalaureates, traditionally, are religious services held before graduation. After the division between church and state became more defined, school-sponsored baccalaureates overall disappeared. Some regions, including St. Louis apparently, continued to sponsor them but usually excluding religious content.

The students debated and disagreed on how to proceed with the services this year. The result: two baccalaureates. One a "biblical baccalaureate", the other included prayer and reflections but of a particular relgious standpoint.

Despite being in the Southern Bible Belt, my high school did not hold a baccalaureate and in my case, my parish held a baccalaureate Mass for all graduates of all levels from all schools in town.

The parties sponsoring the "biblical baccalaureate" did not want to hear readings out of the Quran or other texts during their service. They wished to include all students but did not want an interfaith service.

Except at religious-operated schools, I do not see the purpose of school-sponsored baccalaureates, except one that is willing to reflect all of the various relgious viewpoints of the students, if that's possible.

I'm looking through the June 2005 issue of GQ and the Letter from the Editor is all about our good ole' Holy Father.

I just knew Benedict would get that pope job. One look at the guy and you could smell the namked ambition. The way he was traipsing around the Vatican in long flowing robes, lighting everyone's incense and telling them how fabulous they looked in the fullness of God's grace, you just knew: total operator. That whole thing about being a "simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord"? That's Vatican talk for: I am here to crush you.

The editor, Jim Nelson, continues on. All in all, while it is very secular in scope, I found it respectful in a secular, modern, GQ way. Nelson, from his letter, mentions that he went to Catholic school and it didn't sound like it was the most enjoyable place. He makes references to popes who I have no idea if the reference makes sense or not. I'm not an expert on Church history, but after I finish packing, I'm going to be looking up a handful of things to figure out if GQ just dissed the Catholic faith or made a valid point on what Pope Benedict XVI could be like. I consider that a point in GQ's column.

To look at this from a broader point of view, it is important to look at the opinions of everyone regarding our religion. Not our faith, but our religion. As Nelson says, "I'm dimly afraid of the ones who look mean and grizzled, who appear half-annoyed by their own holiness- the ones who swat the crowds away from their windows." I would hope the Cardinals did not elect Benedict because he can pleases a crowd, but we should remember that our faith is based, to the outside world, on how we portray it. "Preach the Gospel at all times and when needed, use words."

Note: I try to make this site useful and interesting to the general public but every so often, I just want to have a personal post. This is one such post.

I have known for a good while that many people close to me would be leaving at the end of this semester. This reality is now coming home. Tonight, the remaining roommates met to discuss the final arrangements; I say remaining as our fifth guy moved out already. In a week, we'll all be gone.

Virtually all of the people close to me are moving on to the next stage of their lives. They will leave Austin leaving me inspired to be a better person; resolved in the knowledge that hard-working, faith-filled, intelligent, social, beautiful people exist who have nothing but a desire to see the world a better place; dedicated to figuring out who I am, who I want to be and how to keep advancing towards that.

A deep void will exist where the all-nighters, dinners, Good Stops, debates, late night 7-11 runs, weird e-mail exchanges, giving and receiving advice, Metro stops, sleeping on someone else's floor/couch, random road trips, planning road trips that never happened and whatever else we shared over the past three years. As with all things, we'll adapt to our new situations, but nevertheless, I will fondly remember the years I were blessed to share with all of them at The University.

I have always have trouble keeping in touch with people. I intend to examine that next year and figure out how to better myself in regards to that. People say that the friends you make in college are the friends you'll have for life- I intend to make that a personal truth.

I still have years left at The University and so this is not a de facto new beginning for me. It is no secret, however, that I wish to be in a different place than I am now and so I want to make this a new beginning.

This is something that has been a long time coming and what better time than now? I heard two speakers this weekend who further inspired me. The first was Roy Spence, President of GSD&M advertising agency. The second was Sara Martinez Tucker, President and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. At 5:30 in the morning, I can't recall what in their speeches called out to me, but they did. Roy Spence's speech made me excited about graduating with a degree from the College of Communications. I didn't graduate at all and I've never been a student in Communications before. Sara Martinez-Tucker's speech helped me to realize that I lack motivation.

How to rediscover motivation? I don't know but I'm going to find out.

Pictures are now online from all the various graduation ceremonies as well as the Lake House weekend following.

If you would like to add any of your own photos to the mix, let me know and I'll set you up.

Msgr. Kevin W. Vann of the clergy of the diocese of Springfield in Illinois, U.S.A., episcopal vicar for the clergy and pastor of the parish of the Blessed Sacrament, as coadjutor bishop of Fort Worth (area 62,007, population 2,770,961, Catholics 400,501, priests 115, permanent deacons 74, religious 160), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Springfield in 1951, and ordained a priest in 1981.

My home diocese of Fort Worth was assigned a new assistant bishop (with right of succession). I don't know too much about Bishop-Elect Vann yet but his current parish's website includes various homiles that he has given. I have meetings all day today followed by an overnight retreat so it'll be a few hours before I have a chance to read any of it.

Bishop Delaney has suffered from cancer for a few years now, undergoing experimental treatment. He's also rather advanced in age, approaching the 75-year old retirement age. Not to mention, he's been the bishop of Fort Worth longer than I've been alive.

Once I find out anything more, I'll post it up.

The Life of Jimmy trailer is a beautiful piece of art. See the full thing on Sunday night.