On 20 and 21 July St Mary’s University, Twickenham, hosted their first graduation ceremony in Westminster Cathedral, as a university, with over 1,000 students being awarded degrees in Education, Humanities, Arts and Sciences amongst others.
The ceremony included speeches given by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Bishop John Sherrington as well as Francis Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of St Mary’s.
The graduation ceremony provided a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the richness and fullness of Catholic education. Bishop John focused on this in his address to the education graduands saying: ‘Catholic education helps students not only to be experts in their subjects, but also to develop a multidimensional understanding of the human person and variety of gifts’.
Cardinal Vincent, who spoke at the Arts and Humanities graduation, also reminded those present that Arts and Humanities centred on training critical minds and developing creative expression, which are essential freedoms underpinning the dignity of the human person.
With this basis, the Cardinal said, the lives of each graduate would yield much fruit in their own lives and in those around them for the glory of God.
Photographs of the ceremony are available on Flickr
Bishop John Sherrington's homily is available to read here.
