Mount Angel Abbey Live Stream

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:26]Thank you.

[00:00:47]Yes.

[00:01:04]Hallelujah.

[00:01:49]Heat. Heat.

[00:02:17]Where are you?

[00:03:40]Hallelujah.

[00:04:07]together.

[00:04:27]Hallelujah.

[00:05:18]on behalf of Abbott Jeremy and the monastic seminary community. As President Recctor, I am honored to welcome you to this joyous celebration of our 137th anniversary balorate mass honoring the graduation class of 2026.

[00:05:36]As we gather as one community of faith, we are grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us.

[00:05:42]I especially want to thank Bishop Frank Schustster from the arch dascese of Seattle for being with us today. I also want to thank so many faculty, staff and students, monks, hilltop co-workers, priests, religious family and friends who are with us here are joining online.

[00:06:01]Your prayers and support help shape the journey that led us to this day.

[00:06:07]St. Benedict teaches, "Welcome all guests as Christ. Your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support have helped make this day possible and enriched this celebration.

[00:06:20]Thank you for celebrating with us today.

[00:06:23]May God bless the graduates of the class of 2026.

[00:08:21]are.

[00:08:23]Oh, bless the Lord our God for the praise to me.

[00:08:39]Heat. Heat.

[00:08:49]Heat. Heat. Heat.

[00:08:59]Heat. Heat.

[00:09:20]Shout to God for joy.

[00:09:26]Sing out his glorious name.

[00:09:32]Proclaim to all his wondous praise.

[00:09:51]of our Oh, bless the Lord our God for the praise to be.

[00:10:13]So we pray for Heat.

[00:10:24]Heat.

[00:10:34]Oh my praise to the Lord.

[00:10:54]All the world worships you, oh God.

[00:11:01]All the world sings praise to you, chanting him of praise to your name, Lord, Oh my.

[00:11:32]Oh, bless the Lord our God for the king and to be.

[00:11:48]Glory to God.

[00:12:12]Oh, praise God.

[00:12:33]In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[00:12:40]>> Peace be with you.

[00:12:41]>> And with your spirit.

[00:12:44]>> It's a joy to be here. So grateful uh to you, Abbott, Jeremy, Father Irvin. Uh and uh a shout out to all our Seattle guys. I see you out there. God bless you. There they are. And uh of course just a love and affection for your archbishop, Archbishop Sample, and your my brother, auxiliary bishop, and and Peter Smith. It is a joy to be here. But also a special way, I just saw Father uh Steve Rowan, Seattle's own who's celebrating his 56th anniversary of priesthood today. Uh which is amazing.

[00:13:18]God bless you, Father Rowan. See, there's hope ordinance. Those are going to be ordinance soon. You know, we got an example of uh perseverance in our midst. And so, it's a joy to be here with you. So, now let's open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. So often we come through doors, these doors, and and even on joyful occasions, we can come in with a lot of worries, anxieties, and even regrets.

[00:13:43]So let's open our hearts to the Holy Spirit that he may remove any obstacle that's keeping us from his grace to the full.

[00:13:56]I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and my words in what I have done and what I have failed to do through my fault through my fault through my most grievous fault.

[00:14:18]Therefore, I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

[00:14:37]>> Amen.

[00:14:44]So here Christ Here he is So she gave for Christ.

[00:15:54]We praise you. We bless you. We adore you. We glorify you. We give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God. Heavenly King.

[00:16:14]Oh God mighty father.

[00:16:22]We shall see for all who Jesus Christ only begotten son of God, son of the father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

[00:17:07]You take away the sins of the world.

[00:17:13]Receive our pray.

[00:17:17]You are seated at the right hand of the father.

[00:17:27]Have mercy on us.

[00:17:33]Glorious.

[00:17:44]who all you are the holy one. You alone are the Lord.

[00:18:02]You alone are the most high.

[00:18:07]Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Father, Let us pray.

[00:18:57]Oh God, who have taught the ministers of your church to seek not to be served but to serve their brothers and sisters.

[00:19:13]Grant we pray that they may be effective in action, gentle in ministry, and constant in prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

[00:19:55]A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

[00:20:00]Paul reached also Durb in Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer but his father was a Greek.

[00:20:13]The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him and Paul wanted him to come along with him.

[00:20:21]On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

[00:20:30]As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and prespits in Jerusalem.

[00:20:43]Day after day, the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.

[00:20:50]They traveled through the Friian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia.

[00:21:02]When they came to Misia, they tried to go into Bethnia, but the spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

[00:21:12]So they crossed through Misia and came down to Trrowas.

[00:21:17]During the night, Paul had a vision.

[00:21:20]A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words.

[00:21:26]"Come over to Macedonia and help us."

[00:21:30]When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

[00:21:42]The word of the Lord.

[00:21:44]Thanks be to God.

[00:22:18]to all the world to Oh, praise our Lord, all you nations.

[00:22:55]Exalt him all.

[00:23:05]to all the world.

[00:23:13]The good news toward us and hisity endures forever.

[00:23:38]to spread the good news.

[00:24:34]Hallelujah.

[00:24:36]Hallelujah.

[00:24:40]Hallelujah.

[00:24:45]Hallelujah.

[00:24:47]Hallelujah.

[00:24:50]Hallelujah.

[00:24:56]I am the bread of life.

[00:25:00]He who comes to me shall not hunger and heaves in me shall never thirst.

[00:25:15]Hallelujah.

[00:25:17]Hallelujah.

[00:25:21]Hallelujah.

[00:25:28]The Lord be with you.

[00:25:36]>> A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

[00:25:42]>> Glor Jesus said to his disciples, "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.

[00:26:12]If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own.

[00:26:17]But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.

[00:26:27]Remember the word I spoke to you. No slave is greater than his master.

[00:26:34]If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

[00:26:40]If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

[00:26:45]and they will do all these things to you on account of my name because they do not know the one who sent me.

[00:26:56]The gospel of the Lord.

[00:27:01]>> Praise to you Jesus Christ.

[00:27:25]Peace be with you.

[00:27:29]>> What a perfect gospel reading for a baloran. You know, nothing like a gospel reading uh that says, "Hey, congratulations. The world hates you."

[00:27:42]Right?

[00:27:44]But look at the bright side. The degrees most of you are getting today qualify you to either flip burgers or become priests.

[00:27:58]And even though you won't be paid much, the benefits are out of this world, uh, so to speak. So no, our secular world for the most part does not and will not always value your achievements.

[00:28:16]However, the people of God do.

[00:28:22]the people of God do and so does Jesus.

[00:28:27]So at the end of the day, what could be better than that?

[00:28:34]My friends, we live in this world, but we are not of it.

[00:28:41]Last Wednesday, our office of readings gave us a wonderful excerpt from the letter of Diagnus, which unpacks all of this for us in a profound way and good advice for all of us, but especially a good reminder for our graduates. I'll condense it here. The author says, "Christians are indistinguishable from other men, either by nationality, language, or customs.

[00:29:18]Yet there is something extraordinary about their lives.

[00:29:24]They live in their own countries as though they are only passing through.

[00:29:31]Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country.

[00:29:43]They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory.

[00:29:49]They are defamed, but vindicated.

[00:29:54]A blessing is their answer to abuse.

[00:29:59]deference their response to insult.

[00:30:03]For the good they do, they receive the punishment of malifactors.

[00:30:09]But even when they rejoice as though receiving the gift of life.

[00:30:16]I mean, where do we sign up? Right? The author unpacks what he means by all this and what is expected of us.

[00:30:28]He says, "Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body's hatred.

[00:30:40]It is by the soul enclosed within the body that the body is held together.

[00:30:48]And similarly, it is by the Christians detained in the world as in a prison that the world is held together.

[00:31:02]The argument the author seems to be making is that although the world at times will hate us, the world cannot be saved without us.

[00:31:15]And what this means, my dear graduates, although the world at times will hate you, the world cannot be saved without you, or better put without Christ working through you.

[00:31:32]St. Teresa Avala said it best when she said, "Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.

[00:32:01]Yours are the hands with which he is to bless his people.

[00:32:08]This is what you've been trained to do.

[00:32:12]This is what you're being sent to do.

[00:32:16]However, what does that often look like in practice?

[00:32:22]I think you will find, as I have, that the very people you will be called to minister to have a way of shephering and forming us as well.

[00:32:37]Pope Leo recently said as much when he reminded the men he was about to ordain.

[00:32:45]In the communities where you'll be sent, remember that the risen one is already present and many have already followed him commendably.

[00:32:59]You will recognize his wounds and distinguish his voice.

[00:33:05]You will encounter people who will direct you towards him.

[00:33:11]These communities will also help you to become saints.

[00:33:18]for your part. Help them to walk together following Jesus, the good shepherd, so that they may become places, gardens of life that arise a new and share themselves with others.

[00:33:40]That's beautiful, wouldn't you say, my friends?

[00:33:46]Yes, we live in this world, but we are not of it. However, thanks be to God, we do not travel in this world alone.

[00:33:57]We travel together as one holy Catholic and apostolic church with Jesus Christ as our good shepherd.

[00:34:10]And this is why our readings this morning are perfect for a balorate mass.

[00:34:16]Like Paul and Timothy in our first reading, you are being sent into the world, a very complicated and troubled world, but also a world that is beautiful and a world that is worth saving.

[00:34:38]Yes, only Jesus can save the world. Only Jesus. Allelujah.

[00:34:46]And my dear graduates, may he do so through you with your hands, eyes, and feet. And the hands, eyes, and feet of the people we are so so very blessed to serve.

[00:35:07]Amen.

[00:35:10]>> Amen.

[00:36:00]Let us now offer our prayers to our good and gracious God.

[00:36:07]May God grant strength and courage to Pope Leo, Archbishop Alexander Sample, Bishop Schustster, and all the bishops.

[00:36:17]May they enliven their flocks with the light and hope of the gospel, serving as shepherds who build bridges, seek out sinners and unbelievers, and attend with care to the young throughout the world.

[00:36:32]We pray to the Lord.

[00:36:34]>> Lord, here our pray >> through the intercession of the blessed virgin Mary, may peace reign throughout the world and take root in the hearts of all men and women.

[00:36:46]We pray to the Lord.

[00:36:48]>> Lord, here our pray.

[00:36:50]>> May Father Irvin and all who live, pray, work, and study at St. at Mount Angel Seminary continue the mission of forming priests in the image of Christ the Lord.

[00:37:03]So that this seminary may remain a source of grace and hope in a world that is often confused, pessimistic, and searching.

[00:37:14]We pray to the Lord.

[00:37:16]>> Lord, here our pray.

[00:37:18]>> May all that the graduates of the class of 2026 have received at Mount Angel through spiritual, academic, human, and pastoral formation continue to shape their lives as priests, deacons, seminarians, and leaders in the church and in society.

[00:37:39]We pray to the Lord. Lord, here our pray.

[00:37:44]>> As our graduates face the challenges and opportunities of the years ahead, may they always seek to advance the kingdom of God through lives of holiness, prayer, self-giving service, and charity.

[00:38:00]We pray to the Lord. Lord here our pray >> in thanksgiving for the constant love and support of the families and friends of our graduates throughout these years.

[00:38:13]May God richly bless them for their generosity and faithful encouragement.

[00:38:19]We pray to the Lord.

[00:38:21]>> Lord here our pray. May the Lord reward the bishops, dasceses, religious superiors and communities represented here together with Abbott Jeremy and the monastic community with abundant blessings in this life and eternal joy in the life to come.

[00:38:42]We pray to the Lord.

[00:38:44]>> Lord, here our pray >> especially for the deceased alumni of this seminary and the monks of this monastery.

[00:38:53]May all the faithful departed be raised up by the power of God's spirit to the joy of everlasting life.

[00:39:02]We pray to the Lord.

[00:39:04]>> Lord, here our pray.

[00:39:06]>> Heavenly Father, you know our needs spoken and unspoken.

[00:39:12]Hear our prayers.

[00:39:14]Answer them according to your love, your mercy, and your wisdom.

[00:39:20]We ask this through Christ our Lord.

[00:39:23]Amen.

[00:39:45]in Christ our passion is the soul is filled with grad The future glory is given to us.

[00:40:09]Hallelu.

[00:40:16]The Lord is my sheer.

[00:40:22]There is nothing I want.

[00:40:30]We are the heavens our me of his passion is renewed.

[00:40:58]The soul is filled with grace and future glory is given to us.

[00:41:10]Hallelu he soul on the right is true to his Christ becomes our food.

[00:41:52]The memory of his passion is renewed.

[00:41:59]The soul is filled with Gra and the future glory is given to us.

[00:42:11]Hallelu people would I fear and you are there to comfort Oh, in Christ becomes our food.

[00:42:52]The me of his passion is renewed.

[00:42:59]The soul is filled with grace and the pledge of future glory is given to us.

[00:43:10]Halleluend in the sight of my foster.

[00:43:40]Earth flows in Christ our passion is the soul is filled of future glory is given to us.

[00:44:12]Hallelujah.

[00:45:05]Pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.

[00:45:12]acriy our church.

[00:45:20]>> Amen.

[00:45:23]>> Holy Father, whose son chose to wash the disciples feet and so set us an example.

[00:45:34]Accept, we pray, the oblations of our service, and grant that offering ourselves as a spiritual sacrifice, we may be filled with the spirit of humility and zeal through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[00:46:32]The Lord be with you.

[00:46:39]>> Lift up your hearts.

[00:46:43]We all to the >> Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

[00:46:51]It is right and >> it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation at all times to acclaim you, oh Lord, but in this time above all to love yet more gloriously when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

[00:47:16]By the ablation of his body, he brought the sacrifices of old to fulfillment in the reality of the cross.

[00:47:26]And by commending himself to you for our salvation, showed himself the priest, the altar, and the lamb of sacrifice.

[00:47:40]Therefore overcome with pascal joy, every land, every people exalts in your praise.

[00:47:49]And even the heavenly powers with the angelic host sing together the unending hymn of your glory as they acclaim.

[00:48:24]Oh god.

[00:48:43]They share.

[00:48:55]Glorana in Heaven in all heaven.

[00:49:58]You are indeed holy, O Lord, and all you've created rightly gives you praise.

[00:50:03]For through your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, you give life to all things and make them holy.

[00:50:15]And you never cease to gather a people to yourself, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting, a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name.

[00:50:27]Therefore, O Lord, we humbly implore you, by the same Spirit, graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration, that they may become the body and blood of your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we celebrate these mysteries.

[00:50:47]For on the night he was betrayed, he himself took bread and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take this all of you and eat of it, for this is my body which will be given up for you.

[00:51:25]In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and giving you thanks, he said the blessing, gave the chalice to his disciples, saying, "Take this all of you and drink from it. For this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

[00:52:10]The mystery of faith.

[00:52:27]Lord, until you come again.

[00:52:36]Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your son, his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice. Look, we pray upon the oblation of your church and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you will to reconcile us to yourself.

[00:53:03]Grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and filled with his holy spirit may become one body, one spirit in Christ.

[00:53:17]May he make of us an everlasting offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her spouse, with the blessed apostles and glorious martrs, and with all the saints, on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help.

[00:53:50]May this sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth. With your servant Leo, our pope, and Alexander, our bishop, the order of bishops, all the clergy, and the entire people you have gained for your home, Listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you. In your compassion, oh merciful father, gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world.

[00:54:34]to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who are pleasing to you at their passing from this life. Give kind admittance to your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through Christ our Lord.

[00:54:48]through whom you bestow on the world all that is good >> through him with him and oh God almighty father in the unity of the all glory and honor is yours forever and ever.

[00:55:21]Amen.

[00:55:26]Amen.

[00:55:28]Amen.

[00:55:34]Amen.

[00:55:39]Amen.

[00:55:56]At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say, together.

[00:56:12]Be thy name.

[00:56:15]Thy kingdom come.

[00:56:19]Thy will be done as it is in heaven.

[00:56:26]Give us this day our daily bread.

[00:56:32]and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tresass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

[00:56:58]Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil. Graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior Jesus Christ.

[00:57:22]and glory are yours now and forever.

[00:57:31]>> Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, "Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your church and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen."

[00:57:51]And the peace of the Lord be with you always.

[00:57:53]>> And with your spirit.

[00:57:55]>> Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

[00:58:26]You Great for his peace.

[00:58:57]before he said you praise holy Please share.

[00:59:56]Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

[01:00:01]Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

[01:00:57]I will sing my praise to you and offer praise to your holy name.

[01:01:13]There is a to faithful and so I will sing my praise to you all my You can visit the land you will have the praise.

[01:02:15]I will sing my praise to you and offer praise to your holy name.

[01:02:31]There is a to my thanks to you with all my heart.

[01:03:07]were shepherd.

[01:03:26]heart.

[01:03:29]I will sing my praise to you and all the praise to your holy name.

[01:03:45]There is so great and so I will sing my praise to you all my You have the year with your bounty in your pathway.

[01:04:48]I will sing my praise to you and unto your holy name.

[01:05:04]There is your love.

[01:05:15]And so my Take my praise to you with all my heart.

[01:05:33]You promise the earth with your trees of the Lord.

[01:05:49]the seeds of lemon which we planted with all my heart.

[01:06:05]I will sing my praise to you and offer praise unto your holy name.

[01:06:21]There is to your love and so my will sing my praise to you with all my Christ.

[01:07:36]Hallelujah.

[01:07:41]Hallelujah.

[01:07:57]Hallelujah.

[01:07:59]Hallelu.

[01:08:03]Hallelu.

[01:08:08]Hallelu.

[01:08:20]sing.

[01:08:24]Hallelu Hallelujah.

[01:08:33]Hallelujah.

[01:08:48]of the gloral Hallelujah.

[01:09:04]Halleluah.

[01:09:08]Hallelujah.

[01:09:09]Hallelu.

[01:09:11]Hallelu.

[01:09:14]Hallelu.

[01:09:17]Hallelu.

[01:09:42]Let us pray.

[01:09:50]Grant, O Lord, to your servants whom you have replenished with heavenly food and drink, that for the sake of your glory and the salvation of believers, they may be found faithful as ministers of the gospel, of the sacraments, and of charity.

[01:10:17]through Christ our Lord.

[01:10:31]>> The Lord be with you.

[01:10:32]>> And with your spirit.

[01:10:39]>> May almighty God bless you. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

[01:10:45]Amen.

[01:10:52]>> Thanks be to God.

[01:11:14]Glor to all the earth.

[01:11:19]All the Christle Hallelu Hallelu to the world to every praise World Graallelu.

[01:12:27]Hallelu to the world.

[01:12:38]sus Christle.

[01:13:05]Yeah.

[01:13:15]Heat.

[01:13:25]Heat. Heat.

[01:13:36]Yeah.

[01:13:40]Heat.

[01:13:55]Hallelujah.

[01:14:13]Heat. Heat.

[01:14:32]Heat. Heat.

[01:14:51]Heat. Heat.

[01:15:27]Heat up here.

[01:15:39]Yeah.

[01:15:48]Heat.

[01:16:00]Heat.

[01:16:14]Heat.

[01:16:34]Heat.

[01:16:36]Heat.

[01:16:56]Heat. Heat.

[01:17:05]Heat.

[01:17:21]Heat.

[01:18:21]There we go.

[01:19:23]You're No way.

[01:20:05]Hello.

[01:20:59]Hold on.

[01:22:18]There you go.

[01:22:31]Nice Come on.

[01:24:42]protect Heat.

[01:26:04]Heat.

[01:26:21]One more.

[01:26:58]Here we are.

[01:27:24]Heat.

[01:27:43]Heat.

[01:27:58]Heat. Heat.

[01:28:49]Happy birthday.

[01:29:05]Listen.

[01:29:37]Hallelujah.

[01:30:31]That's where you are.

[01:31:33]What's wrong?

[01:32:00]Isn't that beautiful?

[02:00:21]I still can't see any of them.

[02:00:38]Maybe.

[02:02:00]Heat. Heat.

[02:02:05]Heat.

[02:02:17]Heat.

[02:02:25]Hallelujah.

[02:02:55]Hallelujah.

[02:03:37]Hallelujah.

[02:04:01]Another Oh, heat.

[02:05:55]That's right.

[02:06:40]Heat. Heat.

[02:07:26]Here's my Wow.

[02:09:17]Good morning.

[02:09:18]>> Morning, Father. I am Father Jeff Irvin, President Reirector of Mount Angel Seminary, together with our chancellor, the Right Reverend Jeremy Driscoll, the monastic community of Mount Angel Abbey, the seminary board of directors, and all our faculty, staff, and students. I extend to you a heartfelt and prayerful welcome to our 137th commencement exercises.

[02:09:45]I also want to extend a special thanks to the most reverend Frank Schuster, auxiliary bishop of the arch dasis of Seattle and regional bishop serving the southern dineries of the arch dascese.

[02:09:58]Your presence among us is a true blessing and we're honored to welcome you here.

[02:10:04]So let us lift up our hearts to God, father, son, and holy spirit who has called us and guides us daily. Trusting in him, we ask that he bless this day of celebration.

[02:10:16]Let us pray.

[02:10:18]In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[02:10:24]>> Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day and for gathering us here at Mount Angel and Seminary, a place of thoughtful prayer, rigorous study, and the forming of hearts and minds for your service.

[02:10:40]We give you thanks for your son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has called these graduates to follow him more closely and to serve the Catholic Church with faithful hearts.

[02:10:52]Send forth your Holy Spirit upon us this special day. Inspire these graduates whom you have formed in this community of faith.

[02:11:02]Bless this Abby and seminary and all who contribute to the faithful formation of these graduates.

[02:11:09]Guide them as they go forth from this place, fulfilling your sacred plan, that in all things they may seek your will, serve with humility, and proclaim Christ with courage and joy.

[02:11:23]We ask all of this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[02:11:30]Amen. Please be seated.

[02:11:45]It is a joy this morning to welcome and introduce this year's commencement speaker, Bishop Frank Schuster.

[02:11:53]Appointed auxiliary bishop of Seattle by Pope Francis and ordained to the Episcopy in 2022.

[02:11:59]Bishop Schustster serves as a regional bishop Sharon and Archbishop Han's pastoral care of the local church.

[02:12:07]In his ministry, he walks closely with parishes, faith communities, clergy, and lay ministers and all the faithful with a heart devoted to accompanyment and attentive pastoral care.

[02:12:19]In the spirit of celebration, we are deeply honored to have him with us today. So, please join me in warmly welcoming our 2026 commencement speaker, Bishop Frank Schuster.

[02:12:40]Thank you for inviting me. This is a great honor uh to be here and uh be able to speak with you today. What a great day. You know, some of our graduates have more studies ahead of them from what I understand, right? And and some of them are about to be ordained.

[02:13:00]Wherever you are right now, all of us here, especially your family and friends, want you to go forth today and find joy wherever the Lord leads you.

[02:13:16]I don't think anyone here wants you to go forth and be miserable.

[02:13:22]However, how often is joy a choice?

[02:13:29]My friends, how often is joy a choice?

[02:13:34]This is what I want to talk about today.

[02:13:37]Because wherever God is leading you next in life, I think it is a good reminder that much of our happiness or unhappiness in life can be traced back to our operating fundamental theology.

[02:13:58]We all have one.

[02:14:00]To illustrate, here's a story from my seminary days back in the 90s when my classmates and I from Mundeline in Chicago made a pilgrimage to Rome. I recently shared this story in Northwest Catholic magazine. And that was a shameless plug.

[02:14:19]You see, the highlight of our pilgrimage to Rome was when we were invited by surprise to attend a daily mass with Pope John Paul II.

[02:14:31]I will never forget that day. We were greeted by the Swiss guard at the bronze gates near the entrance of St. Peter's and ushered through the labyrinth of the Vatican.

[02:14:44]Soon we were in the papal library being led single file down a hallway at the other end of the room. Once we were in the Pope's private chapel, there he was kneeling in prayer before the blessed sacrament, the source of his joy.

[02:15:04]After about five minutes of prayer, he stood up slowly as his Parkinson's disease was fairly advanced by then and shuffled around to fa face us. He greeted us with the smile and then the sign of the cross. Daily mass had begun.

[02:15:23]Afterwards, we were lined up back in the papal library. Soon the pope appeared to meet us and began by smiling and waving his hands in the air saying Chicago.

[02:15:37]His joy was contagious and it was his joy in the midst of his Parkinson's disease that struck me most. That and his sky blue eyes. He had remarkable light blue eyes and big hands. Really big hands.

[02:15:59]Huge mitts. It was like shaking hands with a pillow. All right.

[02:16:04]You know, he made his way down the line uh to meet each one of us, giving us a rosary, which I still have today. It's treasure.

[02:16:14]And uh when he came up to me, he shook my hand and asked me, "Are you the superior?" like that which made us all laugh. I wanted to say yes I am but I was speechless completely speechless. My mom always said that if the pope was ever in need of a miracle for canonization the fact that I was speechless should count for two.

[02:16:38]Thank you mom. All right. You know, the funniest moment was when one of our classmates tried to impress the pope by saying, "Good morning, holy father." in Polish.

[02:16:53]I do not know what came out of his mouth. You know, it could have been good morning, holy mother, for all we knew.

[02:16:59]But whatever it was, the pope laughed and laughed, gave him a friendly pat on the cheek and said, "Stip the English."

[02:17:09]True story.

[02:17:10]True story. And it was a wonderful day and a wonderful memory uh that I will always always cherish.

[02:17:20]But what made Pope John Paul II a saint?

[02:17:25]Well, for me, what made him a saint was his joy in the midst of being profoundly disabled from Parkinson's disease. His joy not only lit up the room I met him in, his joy lit up the world. Lit up the world. He did not use his infirmity as an excuse to become depressed.

[02:17:53]He instead chose to be joyful, you might say defiantly joyful, and used his infirmity as a tool to spread the gospel.

[02:18:07]To this day I think of him and that experience I had often you know with him often because Pope John Paul II's life helped me form a hermeneutic a lens through which I could view my faith. It is underlying philosophy that I try my best to live not always perfectly but has helped me immensely over the years. especially during moments when I was tempted to burn out or let depression get the better of me.

[02:18:46]It may happen to you someday. So, I thought it would be good to share it with you today. I call it defiant joy.

[02:18:58]Defiant joy. We could call it stubborn joy, but defiant joy sounds better. You know, it would look better on t-shirts or bumper stickers, right? I have no pride.

[02:19:09]But let's break it open a little. To begin with, the idea of defiant joy can be easily, you know, easy to under misunderstand and quickly dismissed.

[02:19:21]It is not about never being sad or like a called to see the world like an infant embracing naive as a virtue. Not that divine joy can also sound like there's no place for sorrow or for the dark night of the soul and that spirituality is all about consolations without room for desolations. That's not what I mean by it. Defiant joy is more of an attitude rooted in faith that tethers us in our ups and downs in this roller coaster called life.

[02:19:59]Defiant joy is rooted in the idea that being a fundamentally joyful person isn't about how dark it is or by the news channel or by any other current event in our lives.

[02:20:16]It is about refusing to define our joy on what is happening outside in the world around us. Because our joy is a joy that comes from within.

[02:20:30]It comes from within. Born of faith. It of course recognizes that joy is a grace from God. It is a gift we can ask for.

[02:20:42]However, joy is also fundamentally a choice, sometimes a defiant one depending on the day.

[02:20:54]brass tax. Some of the most miserable people I know are miserable because they choose to be. Some of the most joyful people I know are joyful because they work at it.

[02:21:10]To get at the roots of what I'm trying to say here, Henry Nen explored in his book, Here and Now, that it was best to differentiate between the words happiness and joy. Happiness and joy.

[02:21:28]They're often used interchangeably.

[02:21:31]However, having been a pastor for over 20 years myself, I have accompanied hundreds, if not thousands of people while they are going through difficult times.

[02:21:44]When we lose a loved one, for example, this is not a happy time.

[02:21:51]However, and I wonder if you've ever noticed it, there are some people who go through unhappy times, not in a desparing way, as if they have no hope, but even through their tears, you can still feel joy in them. I'm not talking about a happy in the moment way way, but in a way that's more basic to their personhood rooted in faith that comes with a relationship with Jesus.

[02:22:24]Pope Leo I 14th said as much at a general audience last October. He said, "There is an obstacle that often prevents us from recognizing Christ's presence in our daily lives.

[02:22:40]the assumption that joy must be free from suffering. He went on to say, "Brothers and sisters, Christ's resurrection teaches us that no history is so marked by disappointment or sin that it cannot be visited by hope."

[02:23:02]Amen.

[02:23:05]Indeed, this instinct to be joyful even in dark times is showcased during the Easter season which we are in now, but most especially during the Easter vigil. I love that powerful symbol of following the pascal candle into the darkened church and soon all our candles are lit and the church is illuminated because of the light of faith given to us in baptism.

[02:23:32]For me, that moment of the candle light illuminating the church is a powerful display for me of defying joy. Because of Jesus, we refuse to let the darkness win.

[02:23:49]It's a fundamental attitude we can strive for each day. And the liturgy of the hours agrees with me, of course.

[02:23:58]Notice how the divine office has us praying the canacles of Zechariah, Mary, and Simeon every day. They're all canacles spread throughout the day that remind us to be joyful.

[02:24:14]Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.

[02:24:20]My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Now you may let your servant go in peace for your word has been fulfilled. The liturgy of the hours reminds us to rejoice several times every day regardless of what we might be personally feeling that day.

[02:24:43]There are obviously countless reminders to remain joyful in the Bible. A couple of my favorites. Of course, Jesus says in the Gospel of John that he wants us to have joy and to have it completely a relationship with him does that.

[02:25:01]And St. Paul tells us in Philippians, rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice.

[02:25:09]Recall that these early Christians faced a lot of persecution and at times even martyrdom and St. Paul is telling them to rejoice always.

[02:25:23]How can he say that?

[02:25:26]I think Pope Benedict in his encyclical space salv gave a good answer. He said that our hope in the future, that we have a future has an immediate effect on how we live in the present moment in a way that's distinct from those who do not have that hope.

[02:25:51]Again, much of our happiness or unhappiness in life can be traced back to our operating fundamental theology.

[02:26:02]You know, bringing all of this back home, one of the greatest prophets I've ever listened to about this topic was not a noted author, philosopher, or theologian.

[02:26:16]He was a parishioner of mine about 20 years ago in Bellingham, Washington. His name was Stony Lockdale, the town schizophrenic.

[02:26:28]Stay with me. His name wasn't truth Richard, but he said that he went by that the name of Stony on account of his stony heart. Of course, there was nothing stony about it. You see, Stony went to a lot of churches and he was kicked out of a lot of churches, but he went to church.

[02:26:56]Even if he experienced rejection, he would go away for a while, but then he would always come back.

[02:27:05]Therefore, every congregation, every religion in Bellingham knew Stony.

[02:27:12]The very mention of his name among the clergy of Bellingham would bring a smile on the face and sometimes a shake of the head. You know, in the end, Sacred Heart Parish became his spiritual home and we were very blessed by that and at times quite entertained.

[02:27:33]The good news is that he was not homeless. He was blessed with family and healthc care. He had meds and a steady flow of cigarettes which helped him a little. I think he was in his late 60s when I first met him. As I got to know him better, I discovered a bit of his background.

[02:27:55]He first started showing signs of schizophrenia when he was a young adult in his early 20s. He was in seminary at the time studying to be a Lutheran pastor.

[02:28:08]He was clearly paying attention in those years because faith was the central narrative of how his illness would play out. To give you some examples, I always kept my cell phone public for emergencies during my priesthood. I obviously can't do that anymore.

[02:28:28]However, one night I got a phone call like around 3:00 a.m. Sure enough, it was Stony. I was a little impatient. Why are you calling me Stony? Stony responded, "God spoke to me, Father. God spoke to me, and it's important that I speak with you." Okay. I rubbed my eyes.

[02:28:48]Uh, but I couldn't help but be curious as to where this was going. Okay. Wow, Stony. What did God say to you? He responded, "God told me that George W.

[02:28:59]Bush is the Antichrist. You must let me into the office to use the facts. We seem to got to let the world know." And so I'm dying now. Okay, I'm crying. And the best I could come up with was, "Sony, listen to me carefully. George W.

[02:29:12]Bush is not the Antichrist. He's the president. Good night. Click." That's all I could do. And then there was that time he decided to become a bishop.

[02:29:23]He attended a confirmation mass and I think it was Archbishop George Thomas if memory serves uh back when he was an auxiliary bishop for Seattle. During the mass, Stony was fascinated by his proure as well and the jar crism that was processed up. So, it wasn't that long afterwards that he started showing up to mass with a makeshift croer of his own that somehow he attached an amber glass ball to the top of the stick. Um, you know, representing the crisis, you see.

[02:29:56]And this sets the stage of my most favorite memory of Stony. It was Sunday during the Easter season. The church was packed. Stony was sitting in the front pew. It was a beautiful day like today.

[02:30:12]The mass was celebrated as normal until we got to the consecration in the eukaristic prayer. And you know how it is at that point. Everyone is kneeling, praying silently and reverently.

[02:30:28]The moment after the consecration was over, Stony jumps up from the pew with his staff and starts dancing in the circle, belting out allelujah.

[02:30:40]And the expression on the faces of the congregation were priceless.

[02:30:45]Those who did not stony well, their expressions ranged from uncomfortable to frightened.

[02:30:52]Those who did, well, they just smiled in amusement. I knew I could not just power through the eukaristic prayer. So I I went down to Stony and I told him with the whole church listening obviously captivated you know hi Stony you know I love you and I'm glad that you're here and and we all want you to be able to stay you know however you know this is the the quiet part of mass and could you please sit down and pray quietly with us? We'd love that. And his response was classic. He said in a loud booming voice for everyone to hear. But father, but father, if you believed what was happening on that altar was real, you'd be dancing, too.

[02:31:47]Everybody lost it. It was so funny and brought tears to my eyes. All I could say in response was, "Sony, I agree. Sit down." And he did.

[02:31:58]He did.

[02:32:02]Sadly, he passed away a few years later.

[02:32:05]However, I was privileged to celebrate his funeral. I think of him often. I mean, how often do the people we try to minister to day in and day out end up ministering to us?

[02:32:22]My friends, once we trust the Lord with everything that I am, everything that we are, everything that the future holds, if we can just trust the Lord with all of it, with open childlike hearts, how can that not bring us a feeling of liberation? How can that not bring us joy?

[02:32:47]The song that captures that feeling for me is, "How can I keep from singing?"

[02:32:52]Right? That song. In that song, there's that great line, "No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I'm clinging. Since love is Lord of heaven and earth, shout it out."

[02:33:12]>> That is defiant joy.

[02:33:16]Amen.

[02:33:18]>> Amen.

[02:33:19]>> Amen. Congratulations, beloved graduates. Thank you again and God bless.

[02:33:42]Thank you, Bishop Schustster, for your encouraging words and the reminder for all of us to find our joy in the risen Christ. And thank you for your prayers and your ongoing support.

[02:33:53]So, I now invite Dr. Andrew Cummings, our associate dean for the college, Reverend Deacon Justin Coyle, our associate dean for the graduate school, and Dr. Sha Kio, our academic dean, to come forward to present our graduates from the college of liberal arts, the graduate school of theology, and our doctor of ministry program respectively, and to confer their degree their degrees upon them.

[02:34:47]By the power vested in me by the right Reverend Jeremy Driscoll, Chancellor of Mount Angel Seminary, the board of directors, and the very reverend Jeff Irvin, President Recctor, it is my pleasure and honor as associate dean to present The degree candidates for the college of liberal arts.

[02:35:06]Would those who are to be promoted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Please come forward as your name is called.

[02:35:13]Caleb Peltzer, Dasis of Fresno, philosophy.

[02:35:27]Ralph Antonio Tranchi, Dasis of Sacramento, Philosophy and Spanish Studies.

[02:35:43]We congratulate our Bachelor of Arts degree recipients.

[02:36:04]with those who are to be awarded the certificate in philosophy. Please come forward as your name is called.

[02:36:12]Robert James Maxmillian Coral, Arch Dasis of Seattle.

[02:36:28]Shane Michael David Duffy, Dasis of Orange.

[02:36:41]We congratulate our certificate in philosophy recipients.

[02:36:46]Would those who are to be awarded the master of arts philosophy? Please come forward as your name is called.

[02:37:09]Mauricio Duran, Arch Dasis of Portland in Oregon.

[02:37:23]Gino Espazito, Arch Dasis of Las Vegas.

[02:37:27]Honors Daniel Kemper, Arch Dasis of Anchorage, Juno. honors.

[02:37:55]Jacob Thomas means Dasis of Reno.

[02:38:09]Brother Damian Joseph Rapun, Order of St. Benedict St. Martin's Abby Ernesto Jose Huarez Oria Arch Dasis of Las Vegas. Honors Michael Wait, Dasis of Salt Lake City.

[02:38:54]We congratulate our master of arts, philosophy of sickness.

[02:39:20]And let us recognize and congratulate again all of our graduates from the College of Liberal Arts.

[02:39:39]By the power vested in me by the right Reverend Jeremy Driscoll, Chancellor of Mount Angel Seminary, the board of directors, the very reverend Jeff Irvin, President Recctor, it is my pleasure and honor as associate dean to present the degree candidates for the Graduate School of Theology. Would those who are to be promoted to the degree of master of divinity please come forward as your name is called.

[02:40:04]Reverend Mr. Sha Raymond Daniel, Arch Dascese of Portland in Oregon.

[02:40:13]Reverend Mr. Joseé Louise Gomez Diaz, Dascese of Salt Lake City. Honors, Reverend Mr. John Paul Langfeld, Arch Dascese of Santa Fe.

[02:40:38]Reverend Mr. Jose Francisco Orosco Cardinas, Dascese of Fresno.

[02:40:51]Brother Damian Joseph Rapun, Order of St. Benedict, St. Martin's Abbey, Reverend Mr. Haimeme Zoiso, Dascese of Salt Lake City honors.

[02:41:18]We congratulate our Master Divinity degree recipients.

[02:41:35]Would those who are to be promoted to the degree of master of arts theology please come forward as your name is called.

[02:41:56]Sean Kawashima Acroid.

[02:42:09]We congratulate our Master of Arts Theology degree recipient.

[02:42:28]We now recognize those whose studies at Mount Angel Seminary have also earned them the degree of balorate and sacred theology from the Pontipical Athanam of Sanmo. Please come forward as your name is called.

[02:42:42]Reverend Anom Flores, Order of St. Benedict on Angel Abbey.

[02:42:57]Reverend Maximilliano Munoz, Arch Dascese of Seattle.

[02:43:03]Brody Stewart, Reverend Michael Shrum, Order of St. Benedict, Mount Angel.

[02:43:31]Reverend Anthony Shamway, Dascese of Salt Lake City.

[02:43:36]We congratulate our Balorian sacred Theology degree recipients.

[02:44:04]By the power vested in me by the right Reverend Jeremy Driscoll, Chancellor of Mount Angel Seminary, the board of directors, and the very reverend Jeff Urban, President Recctor, It is my pleasure and honor as the dean of Mount Angel Seminary and the director of the mount the doctor of ministry program to present the doctoral degree candidates of Mount Angel Seminary.

[02:44:25]With those of you who are to be promoted to the degree of doctor of ministry, please come forward as your name is called.

[02:44:33]Reverend Alex Depalis, Dascese of San Diego.

[02:44:39]Linda Lee Sander Olsen.

[02:45:00]>> Let us congratulate our Doctor of Ministry degree recipients.

[02:45:18]And now let us congratulate again all of the graduates from this seminar's class of 2026.

[02:45:59]At this time as we give thanks for this special day, I invite Deacon Shaun Daniel of the Arch Dasis of Portland and Oregon to come forward and share a farewell message on behalf of his fellow graduates.

[02:46:26]Well, good morning everyone and Abbott Jeremy, Father Jeff, Bishop Schustster, the formation team, the faculty, the staff, brother, seminarians, family, friends, and all who are joining us today both in person and virtually.

[02:46:43]Welcome and thank you for being with us today.

[02:46:48]Once again, we have reached the close of another year of seminary formation. And wow, does time fly. It seems like only yesterday that we were arriving on this hill tip hilltop to begin the fall semester.

[02:47:03]And yet here we are standing together at a moment toward which we have all worked, prayed, and persevered.

[02:47:11]During our time at Mount Angel, we have studied, prayed, grown, and persevered through this process of priestly formation. A process that does not end with seminary but continues through a lifetime of service to Christ and his church. We have also formed friendships that will remain with us long after we leave this place. Friendships here on the hilltop with our brother seminarians, monks, faculty, formators and staff, but also friendships beyond the hilltop with parishioners and members of the wider community whom we have had the honor to serve through our off-campus ministries.

[02:47:49]For me personally, I am especially blessed today to be accompanied by Father Jeff Irvin, the man who first helped usher me into this process of priestly formation as my vocation director many years ago.

[02:48:05]And who is now president director of this seminary and helped send me forth now to continue this journey toward the priesthood.

[02:48:12]The guidance I have received from Father Jeff over the year over these past nine years actually is not unique to me.

[02:48:19]It is reflected in the experiences of many of my brother seminarians and in the generous work of so many members of the formation team here at Mount Angel.

[02:48:31]As a member of this seminary community, I've been greatly enriched spiritually, academically, and pastorally over these past six years here. Personally, I have been just as enriched by my ministry assignments offampus as I have been by my classes and formation activities on campus. And I think that is as it should be because most of us who have entered this process of priestly formation have done so with a desire to spend our lives serving God's people in our local parishes.

[02:49:04]In my own case, I have formed close and lasting friendships with many people at my pastoral assignments and seminary ministries, staff members and parishioners whom I remain close to these many years later. And I think I can speak on behalf of my graduate diacinet brothers when I say that the pastoral dimension of our formation here rooted in the communion ecclesiology of the second Vatican council and so deeply emphasized at this seminary has helped instill in us a deeper sense of communion. Communion with one another, communion with the whole church and communion with our triune God. Our eyes have been open to the wider community around us and also to the truth that the church is not merely a human institution or social organization. The church is rooted in God, called together by God and sent forth by God.

[02:50:00]Through prayer, study, fraternity, formation, correction, encouragement, pastoral ministry, and a daily celebration of the Eucharist. We have been drawn deeper into relationship with him.

[02:50:14]He has shaped us, stretched us, and purified us. He has taught us to rely less on ourselves and more on him.

[02:50:24]We have all been transformed by our experiences here. We do not usually see that transformation while it is happening. More often, we only see it in the rearview mirror of our lives after some time has passed.

[02:50:38]Formation is usually a slow, gradual, and often hidden process. But in time, we begin to see what life what God has been doing during our lives.

[02:50:50]And this transformation is not for ourselves alone. At the conclusion of each mass, after we have received the body and blood of Christ, we are sent forth. Go in peace glorifying the Lord by your life.

[02:51:05]In the same way we are sent forth today, we have been formed and transformed here. And now we are commissioned to bring Christ to the world by our own words and our actions.

[02:51:18]For those of us graduating today marks not only an ending but also a beginning.

[02:51:24]To our college graduates, you now prepare to enter the next stage of theology studies. To my brother deacons, we look ahead with gratitude and awe as we prepare, God willing, to be ordained to the ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ.

[02:51:40]So on behalf of the graduating class, thank you the formation team, thank you to the monastic community, thank you to the faculty, staff, family, friends, the benefactors, our parish communities and our brother seminarians who have walked with us, prayed for us, challenged us, encouraged us, and helped form us.

[02:52:04]You have helped us keep our eyes fixed on Christ who has transformed us and who will continue to transform us.

[02:52:13]And now as we go forth, let us remain mindful of the words of Pope Leo I 14th which he offered in his homaly to the priest he ordained for the dascese of Rome last April.

[02:52:25]He said, "Today, more than ever, especially when statistics seem to indicate a divide between people in the church, keep the door open. Let people in and be prepared to go out. This is another secret for your life. You are a channel, not a filter."

[02:52:47]That call is echoed in the words of Pope St. John Paul II in Pastor's Deavobos where he taught that the priest should mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ, the redeemer of humanity.

[02:53:08]As we leave Mount Angel, may we carry these words with us. May we struggle to be bridges and not obstacles.

[02:53:17]May we be channels and not filters.

[02:53:21]May our lives, our ministry, and our future priesthood always help others encounter Christ who alone is the source of salvation and everlasting life. Thank you.

[02:53:48]Thank you, Deacon Sha, for your inspiring words offered on behalf of this year's graduating class. As St. Paul reminds us, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing. Thank you again, Deacon Sha.

[02:54:06]As President Recctor of Mount Angel Seminary, I've been blessed and honored to walk alongside so many of you, witnessing your growth in faith and love as you have generously responded to the Lord's call. It fills me with gratitude and joy to see the work he has begun in you continue to unfold so completely.

[02:54:29]And yet, this path is not linear. Unlike the classroom, at times there will now be a landscape of real peaks and valleys, moments of clarity and consolation, and challenging and uncertain moments.

[02:54:42]Do not let yourself be discouraged.

[02:54:45]It is often in those moments that the Lord does his deepest work within us, improving our abilities and shining his light in and through us.

[02:54:55]In moments like this, I'm reminded of the sailor's prayer. Oh God, be good to me. The sea is so wide and my boat is so small.

[02:55:07]As you leave Mount Angel Seminary, you will feel the vastness of the mission before you. Take comfort in those moments because during those difficult times, the Lord meets you and guides you. You carry the support of my angel community as you answer the call to serve.

[02:55:25]Go with confidence, but also with humility, trusting in the promise. The one who began the good work in you will bring it to completion.

[02:55:37]Though you depart from this place, you are never alone on your journey. As scripture assures us, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

[02:55:47]We at Mount Angel Seminary will always support you.

[02:55:52]In his homaly on good sheeperd Sunday during holy mass for priestly ordinations, Pope Leo offered a profound insight into the heart of priestly life stating, "You are called to a specific, delicate, and difficult way of loving and even more so of allowing yourselves to be loved in that freedom.

[02:56:14]This will make you not only good priests but also honest, helpful citizens, builders of peace and social friendship.

[02:56:23]Pope Leo's words to new priests inspire inspires this community.

[02:56:28]You have much work ahead but are reminded to move forward without losing sight of the Lord's goodness and his guidance.

[02:56:36]Even amid challenges and demands of the ministry, we are called to pause, to give thanks, and to cherish the Lord's grace in the moment.

[02:56:47]And in that same spirit, I'm humbled and deeply grateful for each of today's graduates as you are called forth into the Lord's vineyard.

[02:56:56]And thank you for your witness to me.

[02:57:02]And now, as I conclude my remarks, I am honored to present the Lumen Jensenium Award to a member of our community.

[02:57:12]Mount Angel Seminary honors those who have contributed significantly to the pastoral mission and theological work of the church and has shown by their life and work that they are a light for the nations.

[02:57:26]Established in in 1989, the lumenum award is the most distinguished award given to those involved in priestly formation and education here at Mount Angel Seminary.

[02:57:39]So with deep with deep gratitude for his 11 years of dedicated service to Mount Angel Seminary as seminary board member and his eight years of leadership excellence as seminary board chair in appreciation of his generous spirit shown in his willingness to extend his service for the continued good of the board, the president recctor and the seminary community.

[02:58:06]In recognition of the lasting improvements in governance, organization, and mission alignment achieved under his steady and insightful leadership, advancing in positive, meaningful ways the formation of men for the priesthood, grateful for his faithful witness to the Benedicting charism, strengthened by his practical wisdom and steadfast courage, and inspired by his vision for the seminary's enduring vitality.

[02:58:35]Men Angel Seminary is honored to confer the 2026 Lumen Jensenum Award upon Dr. Thomas Green.

[02:59:15]I now invite our chancellor epideremy to the podium to offer his remarks.

[02:59:27]I am Abbott Jeremy the abbot of this monastery and as monks and therefore exuicho uh chancellor of the seminary and speaking from both of those roles as abbott and as chancellor. I want to offer my thanks to everyone who made this school year happen and the graces that flowed through it. I thank first of all father Irvin and his whole uh formation faculty his administrative staff. I thank my faculty here who have been beautiful teachers for gifted students and I thank all of the graduates who those who have been here a long time, those who've been here just a few years, some of you are staying, some of you are on your way elsewhere. But to all of you, the monastic community wants to say Mount Angel is always a place for you. uh you know the rhythms the rhythms of prayer the rhythm of our way of life and Monel Seminary is a seminary that it's a wonderful place to come back to because you find the same rhythms of life always still here. So to those of you that are leaving do come back and for those of you that are supposed to come back be sure to do so.

[03:00:56]And meanwhile, the monks are here praying for you and keeping you in our hearts. And Bishop Schuster, thank you for being with us today. It's really an honor. And you expressed for us our closeness to the arch dasis of Seattle and the many seminarians we've had from there over the years and many priest alumni in your arch dasis. We thank you for that sign of communion.

[03:01:20]uh to all of you uh a great thanks and to the family and friends of the graduates. Thank you for coming.

[03:01:34]At this time, please listen to a beautiful song performed by the Mount Angel Chamber Choir, This is My Father's World, under the direction of Dr. Mner Kio, our director of sacred music.

[03:02:04]This is my father's world.

[03:02:17]And he seald God in the highest.

[03:02:49]I rest in the History.

[03:03:19]This is my father's word.

[03:03:24]He shines in rustling everywhere.

[03:03:50]and our father's heart is here.

[03:04:28]This is my father.

[03:04:50]This is my father.

[03:05:21]Thank you to the chamber choir and Dr. Kio for that uplifting and inspiring song.

[03:05:28]I now ask a Jeremy to return to the podium to offer a blessing.

[03:05:33]Following the recessional, all are welcome to reception in Aquinus Hall to celebrate our graduates and their families.

[03:05:40]Please stand.

[03:05:51]>> The Lord be with you.

[03:05:54]>> And with your spirit.

[03:05:56]>> Blessed be the name of the Lord.

[03:05:59]Now for >> our help is in the name of the Lord.

[03:06:09]>> May almighty God bless you. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

[03:06:34]Heat.

[03:06:53]Heat.

[03:06:58]Heat up here.

[03:07:34]Heat. Heat.

[03:08:00]Heat.

[03:08:03]Heat.

[03:08:08]Heat. Heat.

[03:08:19]Heat.

[03:08:36]Heat.

[03:08:43]Heat. Heat.

[03:09:19]Heat. Heat.

[03:09:34]Heat. Heat.

[03:09:44]Heat.

[03:10:00]Heat.

[03:10:21]Heat up here.

[03:10:44]Heat up here.

[03:10:56]Heat up here.

[03:11:39]Heat up here.

[03:11:47]Heat up here.

[03:12:10]Heat.

[03:12:30]Heat.

[03:12:35]Heat.

[03:12:56]Heat.

[03:13:07]What?